Roots can cause a lot of problems in underground lines and there isn’t much you can do about it. Calling me will always get you out of a jam but the best option is to find out where the roots habitually grow and figure out what is in your best interest. This could be just a snake, or a snake with a tool to cut roots. It could be a jetter, which is a high pressure washer, also to cut roots. Lastly you could opt for replacing the piping between your home and the city street.
The City of Edmonton owns the sewer from 1 Meter on your property outward weather it be toward the alley or the street. They are responsible for the clearing of any clogs that occur in the piping from there on out. Make sure you get, in a written form, where the plug is located! If the problem is roots, they tend to reappear every 3 years, so constant maintenance is always going to keep your sewer from backing up.
Most companies (when I called around myself) do a mainline cleaning for $350+tax. The city of Edmonton does it for $341 if its on your property and if the plug is not on your property, they don’t bill you. Also they add the charge to your next Epcor bill if your line is clogged on your property…convenient for most.
As much as I like cleaning sewers, the city has all the high end gadgets and gizmos to make your life comfortable and the best rates out there. By all means call me Christmas day, because the city probably isn’t coming, but for a business day, unless you know where the plug is being generated in your home, the city is my referral almost every time for a main line cleaning.