I have a 4″ waste line clogged up with redwood roots. It is a seldom used toilet and I suspect the roots have been growing at a phenomenal pace over the summer. About two months ago I was told it wasn’t flushing well and I was just reminded to get it back in operation for a party tomorrow nite.
I am looking for any tips or pointers on renting a snake and using it to clear the roots. I have a cleanout about 8 feet downstream from the lowest point of the root mass. It is blocked up to the point that water drains very slowly (if at all) through the clogged section. I can also access the pipe upstream about 15 feet ahead of the clog.
I am anticipating suggestions that I should just call roto rooter and I may end up doing that but am curious what I should do or be prepared for if I tackle it myself.
Thanks,
Karl
Replies
Karl,
Quick fix? Go to a rental place or maybe Lowes,(?), and rent an auger, you want to get the bullet, (or arrow head), and a cutter head. The operation of the machine is pretty straight forward. Take it easy and don't get in a hurry.
Best fix? If roots are getting in the drain, then it probably won't stop. The line needs replaced.
Thats just my opinion.
pb
Yeah, I've used a rented power auger before, and it wasn't all that difficult. Only mistake I made was failing to run water constantly as I was augering, and I created a total clog that I then had to dig through.
As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
Dan,Sometimes you gotta run that bullet head through once or twice first.
While I've never had to deal with redwood roots, I know that root clogs in general can be terrible. Another crew got a sewer snake stuck so bad once, they had to pull it out with a truck, that's hard on a snake. Anyway, have a good one!pb
Plumberbob,Thanks for the tips. Both my local yards only have the rootcutter head. I rented a 1/2" machine for $26/2hrs. It took 30 minutes or so from set up to coiling it back up. There was a big plug of soft stringy roots the root cutter somehow worked its way past and I was able to pull the whole mess out by pulling out the snake.It took a bit of experimentation to know how much pressure to put on the cutter head but it worked out fine.I flushed a steady flow of water down the line and ran the snake through the length of the line with the water flush running.I will probably dig up the section that roots are getting in. I hate to have the root killer runoff in the septic tank killing off any good bacteria in it.Thank you as well to all the other messages posted.Karl
Karl,The way you did that, sounds like it wasn't your first rodeo, or turdeo!Glad it could help some.pb
I dunno what the others think, but once you get it unstopped, I'd dump some of the root-killer crystals down there. Always worked for me - spring and fall does the trick. If it'll work on silver maple roots, I'm guessing redwood won't present much problem either. Might have to do it more often, though.
You can really get in trouble with bad root problem using a rental machine that is most likely not the proper machine. Forget the franchise outfits, get referral of good local guy with proper machine and experience. Root-X is a good foaming root killer but only after clearing the roots.
wookie