Short answer: Slow drains, gurgling toilets and backups that keep returning after cleaning can point to tree roots in your sewer lateral, the pipe that runs from your house to the public main. In Smyrna, the lateral belongs to the property owner. Before paying for repeated cleanings, ask for a camera inspection to see whether roots, a crack or something else is the cause, then choose between cleaning, spot repair, lining or replacement based on what the camera shows.
Why roots find sewer lines
The City of Smyrna's neighborhoods page describes Forest Hills as heavily wooded, with homes in many styles and lot sizes. Mature trees are a big part of the appeal. Underground, roots grow toward moisture and nutrients, and a sewer line carries both, according to a Mr. Rooter guide on roots in pipes.
A pipe does not have to be broken for this to start. The same guide says older underground pipes with minor cracks or corrosion leak water into the surrounding soil, and that water draws roots toward the pipe. Roots that reach a gap can grow inside and narrow the line, which makes it easier for paper and grease to catch.
Signs roots may be in your lateral
- Slow drains and gurgling, especially in more than one fixture
- Toilet backups that return after plunging or augering
- Sewer odors in the house or the yard
- Wet patches or sinkholes in the lawn
These signs are not proof. The same guide notes that fats, oils and grease can cause similar symptoms, which is why a camera inspection matters before anyone assumes roots.
Whose pipe is it? Your lateral, not the City's
Forest Hills is served by City of Smyrna water and sewer. According to the City's utility FAQ, the City repairs leaks up to your meter. The water service line from the meter to your house, and the sewer lateral from your house to the public main, belong to the homeowner.
If a backup happens and you are not sure whether the problem is in your pipe or in the street, the City says to call Water Distribution and a technician will check the main. Public Works is (770) 431-2850, and the after-hours line for water and sewer emergencies is (770) 434-6666. If the main is flowing, the blockage is on your side. Our guide to who fixes what in Smyrna has every number in one place.
What to do when a drain backs up
- Stop using water. No flushing, laundry or dishwasher until the line is clear.
- Note how many fixtures are affected. One slow sink is often a local clog. Several fixtures, or a tub that gurgles when the washer drains, point toward the main line.
- Rule out the street main by calling the City if you are not sure.
- Call a plumber to clear the line and run a camera. See drain cleaning and emergency plumbing.
A real person answers 24 hours a day and tells you what to do first, before anyone comes out.
How roots are found and removed
A plumber should start with a sewer camera. Mr. Rooter's guide says the camera shows the pipe material, age, condition and where the roots are before a method is chosen. Common methods it describes:
- Hydro jetting: high-pressure water cuts through roots. The guide gives an average of 1,500 psi, up to 3,500, and says it may not work when roots are large and strong.
- Mechanical augering: a cutting head chops roots out of the pipe. The guide calls this a temporary fix.
- Chemical root killers: the guide lists copper sulfate and foaming root killers.
Cleaning clears the roots that are in the pipe. It does not close the gap they used to get in. If you are paying for main line cleaning once a year or more, ask what the camera shows and whether a repair would end the cycle.
After the camera: your repair choices
- Clean and monitor when the pipe is in good shape and roots are light.
- Spot repair when one section is cracked, offset or broken.
- Lining to rehabilitate a pipe from the inside when its condition allows it.
- Replacement when the line is failing along much of its length.
Ask to see the footage, and ask what each option would do to your landscaping. Trenchless methods may limit digging in some cases, but not every line qualifies. Our sewer line repair page explains the options.
Protecting a lateral in a wooded yard
- Know where the line runs. A camera inspection can locate it. Call 811 before any digging.
- Plant new trees and large shrubs away from it.
- Add an outside cleanout if you do not have one, so future cleaning is faster.
- Keep grease out of the drains.
- Stay ahead of older lines. The guide recommends yearly inspections, drain cleaning and camera checks to catch problems early.
If you live in Forest Hills
The City describes Forest Hills homes as many styles on many lot sizes, so what is under your yard may not match what is under your neighbor's. Read more about plumbing in Forest Hills, or if your sink and tub drain slowly all at once, call and describe what you are seeing.
Sources
Written and reviewed by Alex, a Smyrna local with an MBA who researches and edits every page on this site, citing official and published sources. Published November 3, 2026.
Plumbing work is performed by independent, licensed Georgia plumbers. General information, not legal or insurance advice.