Had a similar headache last spring—water pooling up at the curb, and I figured it was just the usual leaves and wrappers getting stuck. Gave it a poke with a shovel, but the water barely budged. Next thing I know, my basement’s got a little “indoor lake” situation going on. Turns out, there was a collapsed pipe section from an old maple tree root about 40 feet down the line. The kicker? The city kept sending out crews to clear the surface grate, but nobody wanted to scope the actual pipe until I started pestering them with photos after every rain.
I wonder how often these root problems get missed because folks just assume it’s surface gunk. Do they even check for that unless someone really makes noise? And are there warning signs before it gets to full-on backup mode? Like, does anyone else notice those weird gurgling sounds or slow drains inside right before things go sideways?
Honestly, sometimes I think half the battle is convincing city maintenance it’s not just “user error.” I get why they want to rule out trash first—cheaper and easier—but it seems like ignoring the deeper issues just drags things out. Anyone else ever try those dye tests or cameras on their own, or is that overkill unless you own half the block? Just makes me wonder how many of these street floods are ticking time bombs waiting for the next big storm...
That’s a rough situation. I’ve seen a few cases where everyone just blames leaves or trash, but the real culprit is way deeper—literally. Tree roots are sneaky, especially with older pipes. You’re right, the city usually checks the easy stuff first, but unless someone keeps pushing, they don’t always look further down the line.
About warning signs—slow drains and gurgling are big red flags. If you hear that “blub-blub” sound from your basement sink or toilet after heavy rain, it’s worth paying attention. Sometimes you’ll even notice water backing up in the lowest drain in the house before it gets bad.
Dye tests can help if you’re trying to see where water’s going (or not going), but honestly, a camera inspection is the gold standard. It’s not overkill if you’ve got recurring issues or an older property with big trees nearby. Renting a camera isn’t as pricey as people think, and it can save a ton of headaches later.
I’d say don’t wait for a flood to start poking around—catching it early is way less stressful than dealing with an “indoor lake.”
“Renting a camera isn’t as pricey as people think, and it can save a ton of headaches later.”
I get the logic behind camera inspections, but honestly, I still balk at spending money on something that *might* not even turn up a problem. Maybe that’s just me being stubborn about my wallet. Last time we had slow drains, I tried the “baking soda and vinegar” trick before calling anyone—didn’t fix much, but at least it felt proactive (and cheap).
That said, you’re right about those warning signs. The infamous “blub-blub” in the basement is like the Jaws theme for homeowners. It’s wild how fast things go from “huh, that’s weird” to “why is my laundry room an aquarium?”
Still, I wish the city would step up more before we have to shell out for all this detective work ourselves. If roots are wrecking old pipes all over the block, shouldn’t they be checking further down the line instead of just blaming our rakes? Maybe I’m dreaming... but it feels like we’re always footing the bill for stuff that’s bigger than just our house.
I hear you on the wallet pain—last year, I was in the same boat. Tried every “cheap fix” under the sun (baking soda, hot water, even a coat hanger) before finally caving and renting a camera. Honestly, seeing that mess of roots on the screen was both horrifying and kind of satisfying. At least I knew what I was dealing with. Still think the city should take more responsibility when it’s clearly a neighborhood-wide issue... but until then, I guess it’s us versus the pipes.
Man, seeing roots in the pipes is wild—never thought I'd get so invested in plumbing videos. Did you end up having to dig up part of your yard, or was it something you could clear out with a snake? I always worry about making things worse if I go too far with DIY stuff...
