Sewer rodding is one of the most common ways plumbers clear a clogged main sewer line, and if you own a home in Chicago, there’s a good chance you’ll need it at some point. One of the main reasons you’ll need sewer rodding is because our city is full of beautiful, older buildings which are surrounded by an abundance of trees. Unfortunately these classically timeless buildings have aging clay and cast iron main sewer lines, which are prone to tree root intrusion. When your main line clogs, you’re not dealing with one slow sink. You’re dealing with water and sewage that have nowhere to go but back up into your home.
Sewer rodding accounts for 25% of the service calls we have dealt with here at Baethke Plumbing in the last 12 months, and a standard rodding service will start at $600. Primarily, we were called out to the Northwest Side of Chicago neighborhoods, which are known for having historical buildings and huge trees, and those trees have extensive root systems. Those roots infiltrate into the older cast iron pipes in the region, causing them to crack and break further. If you’ve noticed sewer odors, gurgling, or backups in your home, especially if you’re on the Northwest Side of Chicago, we might have some bad news for you.
Today, we’ll answer the three questions our clients ask us most. How to know if you need sewer rodding, whether it can remove tree roots, and how it’s different from hydro-jetting? By the end, you’ll know what to watch for, what to expect, and which option makes the most sense for your home.
Sewer rodding clears a clogged main sewer line by sending a spinning steel cable with a cutting head through the pipe. It’s the go-to fix for tree roots, the most common cause of sewer clogs in Chicago’s older homes. You likely need it when several drains back up at once, and hydro-jetting is usually the better choice when grease or sludge is the main problem.Â
What Is Sewer Rodding and How Does It Work?
Sewer rodding, often called “snaking,” is the traditional, time-tested way to clear a blocked sewer line. A plumber uses a heavy-duty motorized machine to feed a flexible steel cable through a cleanout and deep into your main line. The tip of the cable has a specialized cutting head that spins rapidly as it moves through the pipe, breaking up clogs and cutting through obstructions.
It’s important to understand what rodding does and doesn’t do. Think of it like a hole punch. The cutting head opens a path through the blockage so water can flow again, but it doesn’t scrub the walls of the pipe clean. At Baethke, we use a progressive rodding method, making multiple passes with larger cutting heads to clear more of the blockage than a single pass would. Even so, some grease, sludge, or scale can remain on the pipe walls after rodding.
Why a Camera Inspection Comes First When Sewer Rodding
Before any sewer cleaning, a reputable plumber should perform a sewer camera inspection. This means feeding a waterproof video camera into your line to see exactly what’s causing the blockage and to check the condition of your pipes.Â
This step matters because the right solution depends on what’s inside the pipe. A camera shows whether you’re dealing with roots, grease, a solid object, or a cracked or collapsing pipe. If a company wants to sell you an expensive cleaning without looking inside your line first, we recommend declining the service.
5 Warning Signs Your Home Needs Sewer Rodding?
A single clogged toilet or sink usually isn’t a sewer line problem. That’s typically a clog in one fixture’s drain. A main sewer line clog is different because every drain in your home flows into that one pipe, so the symptoms show up in more than one place.
- Several drains are slow at the same time. If your tub, sinks, and toilets all drain slowly, the problem is likely further down the line.
- Water backs up through your basement floor drain. The floor drain is usually the lowest opening in your plumbing, so it’s often where sewage appears first.
- Gurgling sounds come from drains or toilets. Trapped air bubbling through the water is a sign the line isn’t flowing freely.
- Water rises in one fixture when you use another. For example, the tub fills with water when you flush the toilet or run the washing machine.
- Sewer odors appear in your basement or yard. A blocked line can push sewer gas back into your home.
If you notice any of these, call a plumber before the problem becomes a full basement backup. Cleaning up a sewage backup is almost always more expensive and stressful than clearing the line early.
Can Sewer Rodding Remove Tree Roots?
Yes. Tree roots are one of the main reasons Chicago homeowners need sewer rodding. Roots are naturally drawn to the water and nutrients inside sewer pipes. They work their way in through small cracks and loose joints. These roots can grow into thick masses that catch toilet paper and debris on its way out of your home, especially in the city’s older clay and cast iron lines.
Rodding is one of the most effective tools against tree root intrusion. The spinning blades act like an underground chainsaw, chopping through the root mass to restore flow.
However, the unfortunate truth is cutting roots doesn’t stop them from coming back. Once roots are cut, they can grow back larger. That’s why, when roots are the main problem, we recommend a RootX treatment after the initial rodding. RootX helps keep roots from growing back into your pipes for up to a year, so you’re less likely to need another costly rodding down the road.
At Baethke Plumbing we will apply RootX around six weeks AFTER a rodding or jetting to prevent tree roots from growing inside the main sewer lines. The initial treatment will clear three feet of space around the pipe area. Proper application will prevent roots from growing for about 12 months.
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A typical RootX treatment starts around $400, opposed to a $600 (or more) rodding. Not only will this save you money in the long run by preventing more costly roddings, but it’s also less intrusive on your old clay pipes. We recommend you have one of our licensed plumbers do a Root-X treatment for you annually, especially if you live on the Northwest Side of Chicago.
How Is Sewer Rodding Different From Hydro-Jetting?
Sewer rodding and hydro-jetting both clear your sewer lines, but they work very differently.
In short, rodding is usually the better choice for roots, solid objects, and older pipes, while hydro-jetting is best for grease and sludge in pipes that are structurally sound. Keep in mind that either method can potentially damage pipes that are very old or worn, which is another reason a camera inspection comes first.
Keep Your Chicago Sewer Line Flowing
Sewer rodding uses a spinning steel cable to cut through clogs, tree roots, and solid blockages in your main sewer line. If you’re dealing with slow drains throughout your home, gurgling toilets, sewer odors, or water coming up through your basement floor drain, your main line is likely telling you it needs attention. Don’t let a clogged sewer line put your home at risk. Schedule your sewer camera inspection or rodding service online today with one of our Baethke Plumbing technicians.
For Chicago’s older sewer lines, rodding is often the safest and most affordable way to get things flowing again, especially when tree roots are the problem. A standard main line rodding starts around $600. Pairing it with a yearly RootX treatment helps keep those roots from growing back. When grease or heavy buildup is the issue and your pipes are in good shape, hydro-jetting may be the better fit.Â
Our advice is to always start with a sewer camera inspection. Seeing exactly what’s inside your line lets us choose the method that’s safest for your pipes, so you never pay for the wrong fix. And don’t wait for a basement backup to make the call. Clearing a slow sewer line early is always easier on your home and your budget.
For over three decades, Chicago homeowners have trusted Baethke Plumbing to keep their sewer lines flowing. As a family-owned company, we treat every home like our own. Our licensed plumbers will find the cause of your clog, walk you through your options honestly, and give you upfront pricing before any work begins.
For a deeper look at costs, risks, and when to choose a particular method of sewer line cleaning, read our article, Rodding vs. Hydro-Jetting: Which Sewer Line Cleaning Method Wins?
Sewer Rodding Questions We Hear Most
How often should a sewer line be rodded?
- There’s no universal schedule. It depends on the age of your pipes and how close mature trees are to your sewer line. Homes with recurring root problems often need rodding every year, while lines without roots can go years between cleanings. A yearly RootX treatment can help stretch the time between rodding visits.Â
Can sewer rodding completely clear out grease and tree roots?
- Sewer rodding works well on tree roots, but not on grease. The spinning blades chop through thick root masses and restore flow right away, though roots can grow back without a treatment like RootX. Grease, fat, and oil are different: a rod only punches a hole through them, and because it can’t scour the pipe walls, the grease often closes back up. Grease-heavy blockages usually need hydro-jetting.Â
How much does sewer rodding cost?
- A standard main line sewer rodding in Chicago starts around $600. The final price depends on how severe the blockage is and how accessible the cleanout is. Baethke Plumbing gives you upfront, flat-rate pricing before any work begins.Â
