Drain Root Cutting Auckland
Tree roots in the drain? Our root cutter clears established roots from inside the pipe, no digging. Always explained and agreed with you before we start.
What the Root Cutter Does
Tree roots get into a drain through the smallest gap in a joint or crack, then grow towards the water. Hydro jetting clears most root growth. Where roots are thick and established, the root cutter comes in.
The root cutter is a specialised machine that cuts established roots out from inside the drain. It significantly speeds up the work and, in many cases, clears a line that would otherwise need an invasive and costly dig-up. It is expensive to run and needs ongoing maintenance to stay sharp, which is why it carries an extra charge of $100 per hour on top of the unblocking price.
Because it is an extra, we treat it as your decision. If the camera shows roots the jetter will not shift, your technician explains what they have found and what it will cost. You choose whether to continue with hydro jetting alone or go ahead with the root cutter.
How a Root Cutting Visit Goes
Hydro jetting first
High-pressure water at 4,000 PSI clears the loose material and most root growth, and gives the camera a clear view. This is the standard unblocking, $350+GST.
Camera check
We look down the line. If what is left is thick, established roots that the jetter will not move, we show you.
You decide
Your technician explains the root cutter and the $100 per hour. Carry on with jetting alone or go ahead with the cutter. Your call.
Cut and clear
The root cutter cuts the roots out and the line is flushed clear.
Camera and advice
We put the camera back down to confirm the line is clear and show you where the roots got in. If that gap needs a repair to stop them coming back, we quote it. No pressure either way.
Root Cutting Pricing
Two parts, both told to you before anything starts.
Drain unblocking
$350+GST
Hydro jetting plus CCTV camera check
Root cutter, if needed
$100 per hour
Only with your go-ahead on site
Roots keep coming back until the gap they grow through is repaired. If the camera finds one, we quote the fix separately. See drain repairs, or stay ahead of it with a maintenance plan.
Call 021 709 783Frequently Asked Questions
Root cutting removes established tree roots from inside a drain with a specialised root cutter, without digging the line up. Hydro jetting on its own clears most root growth. Where roots are thick and established, the root cutter cuts them out so the line flows again and the camera can see the full length.
The root cutter is $100 per hour on top of the drain unblocking price ($350+GST, which includes hydro jetting and the CCTV camera check). It is a specialised and expensive machine that needs regular maintenance to stay sharp, which is what the hourly charge covers. Your technician will tell you if roots call for it and agree the cost with you before going ahead.
No. Our technicians advise you before proceeding with the root cutter, so you can choose whether to continue with hydro jetting alone or go ahead with root cutting. Nothing extra goes on your invoice that you have not agreed to.
It clears the line. Roots only get into a drain through a gap: a cracked pipe, an open joint, or a pipe that has moved. Unless that gap is repaired, roots will grow back over time. Our CCTV check shows where they are getting in, and we quote the repair if you want it fixed permanently.
Usually, by a long way. A dig-up to repair root damage in Auckland typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 or more. Root cutting plus a camera check is done in one visit, without disturbing your lawn or driveway, and in many cases avoids the dig-up altogether or lets you plan a repair rather than face an emergency.
Slow drains that keep coming back, gurgling, and blockages that return a few months after clearing are the usual signs, especially in Auckland's older suburbs with mature trees. Our CCTV camera confirms it: you see the roots on screen and we tell you how far down the line they are.
Hydro jetting is included and deals with most root growth. If a plan visit finds thick roots that need the root cutter, it is the same $100 per hour extra, and the same rule applies: we ask first, you decide.