Just had roots “ROTO-ROOTED” from my sewer line today, for the first time in this house. ($CDN 110.00 plus taxes) Now I guess as the roots grow this will be an ongoing maintenance task, short of chopping down trees and bushes in the area.
Question: Is there anything (like saltpetre, salt, copper sulfate, bleach) than I can add down the inspection tee occasionally that will hinder the growth of the roots, and yet not be too ecologically unfriendly at the sewage plant?
Any ideas, comments, experiences appreciated.
Thanks in advance – Brian.
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Replies
Copper sulfate works. The sewage authority here doesn't like it, but the propaganda they send out with the water bills has more of the tone of imploring us not to use it rather than prohibiting it. It's always nice when somebody gets a clue about unenforceable laws.
The long term fix, of course, is to replace your sewer line. Mine is clay tile. It clogs up in 6 - 12 months without the copper sulfate, up to 24 months with. I dread even getting an estimate for replacing it, just keep getting it reamed out every year or so. $US113 the last time. I have thought of buying my own machine. I think I can get a good one for under $US1000.
Uncle Dunc- How long is the line from the house to the tank?You pompous egotistical redneck, it's not a ponytail. I'm just getting ready for a mean combover and it'll sure look a lot better than yours!
I don't have a Snake'n'Rooter invoice here, but I seem to remember that it's about 40' from the cleanout in the basement to the thickest accumulation of roots, and less than 100' to the sewer main in the street.
Well that rules out digging it up yourself. :O)You pompous egotistical redneck, it's not a ponytail. I'm just getting ready for a mean combover and it'll sure look a lot better than yours!
You can also rent one for about $40.00. I have the same problem, and got tired of forking over $120.00 US every year or so. Now I rent the machine, and it takes about an hour to run 95' with two different heads. Last time I did it was an hour before Thanksgiving dinner. LOL what a mess. But spent the $80.00 saved on better wine, and no one mentioned the smell all evening.
Never a problem, just an opportunity to create a solution... :~}
Yeah, but then I'd have to hump the #### thing up and down the #### basement stairs every #### time I used it. If I buy one, I can get it down the stairs once and leave it there.
I guess I could go ahead and install the freight elevator I've been thinking about putting in my garage.
Point taken. Sorry, I did not think about the weight. My line is in the grade level laundry room, would not want to haul that #### machine up or down any stairs myself.
Never a problem, just an opportunity to create a solution... :~}
Thanks guys. This forum is a wealth of knowledge, experience, links and information. How did we ever get along in the pre-internet days?
Regards, and best of the season to all. - Brian.
You would go to the hardware store, or walk across the street to your buddies house with a beer in hand. All the free advise you could use.
Never a problem, just an opportunity to create a solution... :~}
Steve -
The thing is, it's usually my buddies coming to ME with the beer looking for advice.
The other difference is, back then the information was (hit-and-miss) worth about what I paid for it. Here, on this forum, it's worth WAY more than I paid for it. ( but that doesn't mean you can send me a bill!) ; )
Regards - Brian
SSSSSSSH.
Don't let these guys know how good they are, or it'll cost you a fortune in dog biscuits.
Never a problem, just an opportunity to create a solution... :~}
I was always taught that a good handful of rock salt, dumped down each toilet once per month, would stop the growth of new roots. The salt becomes so diluted once it reaches the sewer main that no problem is caused, but the salt is enough to kill the new rootlets that have grown into your system. I've done this at a couple of places I've lived, and it worked for as long as I continued to live there, but I don't have any long-term experience (more than a year or so) to relate. I'm sure it depends on how much damage there's been to the clay pipe from the roots over time.
Mac
There are companies out there that do nothing but pull a seamless plastic sleeve through old, cracked sewer lines. Problem solved. I have no idea of the cost, or if they work on a residential basis. Probably not cheap, but have you priced excavating your yard and laying a new line?
Brian, I had the same problem and the Rooter guy told me the best thing for roots is a foaming root killer since it spreads over the total diameter of the pipe and just doesn't lay on the bottom. Here's a link. http://www.rootx.com/home.html
-Ed
Copper sulfate crystals in the toe of a nylon stocking. Put it in the back of your toilet. Get the crystals instead of the powder...lasts longer. The U.S. Park service used this for years very effectively.