[torontodiy]

Hey there,

I know this is probably answered somewhere and I've looked but could not find. So sorry if this is redundant.

Last week I had my toilet back up. Roto Rooter and DrainCom each came over, scoped the line, found tree roots and each said that my best bet was to replace my main train with PVC using pipe-bursting as the technique. I wasn't anticipating the cost of this ($5500 and $3800 were the estimates) so opted to just snake it out and monitor it for the short term.

I'm wondering how long I have before I need to get someone to come over with a scope and take another look to see whether it needs to be snaked again. The guy that did the snaking said I probably have a couple of months before roots start growing back again. My uncle snakes roots out of his line every couple of years and seems to avoid having issues. So-conflicting advice.

I'm sure the drain companies would love the business but at the same time I gather that they know what they are talking about - so that's why I decided on the initial short-term solution with a possible long-term repair after I did some research.

I'm thinking I'll try scoping the line again in a couple of months just to make sure nothing has caved in and new root growth isn't too bad, but I thought I'd put the question out here.

Attached are a couple of pictures I took of what was on the screen when the scoping was done.

Thanks for any future advice!

 

[joecaption]

Think the price is to high then get some more prices.
And yes it's just going to fill back in again shortly.
If you have old cast, Orangeburg, or tile pipes now you can count on it failing again.

 

[123pugsy]

I just had my drain scoped yesterday and had a few small roots.
The guy that did it mentioned some foaming stuff to kill the roots.

I found a link via google for the stuff he mentioned.

http://www.newtechbio.com/rootx-root-killer.htm

If you're going to get work done, I can recommend Carl at Draincom. Great service. BTW, I'm in no way affiliated. I had my foundation walls water proofed last spring by them.

 

[747]

I have the clay tile pipe. Buy some copper sulfate and flush it down the toilet once a month. It will help stops tree roots. I would say i get mine down once a year. I now go with a hydrojetter guy. My tree roots come from the seam in the pipe. There seamed every 3 feet. The hydrojetter guy told me 3500 if i wanted him ever to pvc the front yard. Actually he said seeing how i have 6 inch clay pipe. I might be able to just run 4 inch pvc through it. Run it by my plumber. Seeing how its a straight shot to the main in the street.

Ps The foaming stuff. If your using a old toilet drop it rite before the water is going down. New toilet doesn't matter they flush quick. I use R-D root destroyer. You flush it down the toilet

 

[Javiles]

What happen with roots is once you cut them its like pruning a tree they usually come back much faster and stronger, how much of the roots did they get out? did they tell you or just show you the roots in the line that's important to know, if the line is not broken and they are coming in via a joint/coupling etc, there are things you can do to buy yourself quite a bit of time before you have to replace or repair a line. i do at least 3 or 4 root extractions a week we give a 3 year warranty that the roots will not return within that period of time or we redo the service as of this date i have only one instance that the roots came back within the three year period, oh beware of roto rooter look them up on the web for complaints and misrepresentation . down here they showed an elderly lady a DVD of a broken pipe in her home she was about to do the repair gave the deposit and everything, her daughter got a hold of us she wanted a second opinion we went out and checked the line, she had absolutely nothing wrong anywhere, she had all PVC and the DVD they gave her was old cast iron, obviously from another job. they almost scammed this lady.

 

[COLDIRON]

My daughter had a problem with roots her main line needed cleaning every 6 months until I purchased ZEP root killer from HD. Drilled a few holes in the container and dropped it in her utility sink.
Every time the washer drains in the utility sink it picks up some of the ZEP and continues to kill the roots.
It's been about 1 1/2 years now and main line runs good.
Every time the ZEP container gets low she buys another one , maybe 6 months.

 

[torontodiy]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great advice.

Javiles - the photos I have posted are from before the line got cleaned. I wasn't there for the cleaning itself but my tenant was (whom I trust) and he told me that he watched the line get scoped afterwards and that it looked clean. So - for all intents and purposes the line is clean now. You had said there were three or four things I could do to buy myself some more time. Would you be able to let me know what these are? I'm in Toronto, Canada FYI, so I don't think I'd be able to get you to do the work unfortunately.

Thanks for the tips on ZEP and copper sulfate. I will look into these solutions. The copper sulfate makes me scratch my head because most of the time the drain isn't filled to the top and that's where the roots come in. Is this a sound question?

 

[Javiles]

My daughter had a problem with roots her main line needed cleaning every 6 months until I purchased ZEP root killer from HD. Drilled a few holes in the container and dropped it in her utility sink.
Every time the washer drains in the utility sink it picks up some of the ZEP and continues to kill the roots.
It's been about 1 1/2 years now and main line runs good.
Every time the ZEP container gets low she buys another one , maybe 6 months.

Maybe you should get a patent on that idea! :thumbsup:

 

[gregzoll]

Go to Lowe's or Home Depot, and pick up some Roebic Foaming Root Killer. Pour it down the toilet tonight (beware that it will start foaming over the bowl, if you do not flush right away as you pour the crystals into the toilet. That will give you another 18 months, before you need to repeat with the Roebic.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_93164-331-F...=foaming+root+killer&productId=3228283&rpp=48

It was suggested to us by a very reputable plumbing company that has been in business for over 31 years in my town. They also stated that last year was worst on roots in sewer & septic lines, due to the drought. Also stated trees like Soft Maple, Pine, are some of the worst ones than a couple of others, when it comes to deep root systems, that clog waste piping.

 

[COLDIRON]

Maybe you should get a patent on that idea! :thumbsup:

Thanks, We know where the roots are coming from a giant maple tree right near the line that would cost a couple thousand to cut down and take away.

She can't afford it and Poppy ain't paying. The house was built in 1909 and the replacement pipe would cost a small fortune.
replacement would also have to replace a sidewalk, very complicated job.
She can replace it with any money if theres any in the will. Plus she's thinking about selling and going to an apartment , I hope.

 

[Javiles]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great advice.

Javiles - the photos I have posted are from before the line got cleaned. I wasn't there for the cleaning itself but my tenant was (whom I trust) and he told me that he watched the line get scoped afterwards and that it looked clean. So - for all intents and purposes the line is clean now. You had said there were three or four things I could do to buy myself some more time. Would you be able to let me know what these are? I'm in Toronto, Canada FYI, so I don't think I'd be able to get you to do the work unfortunately.

Thanks for the tips on ZEP and copper sulfate. I will look into these solutions. The copper sulfate makes me scratch my head because most of the time the drain isn't filled to the top and that's where the roots come in. Is this a sound question?

Its a perfectly sound question, and yes it would make a difference i use Root X but as some of the guys have stated its tricky to use. my system works very well but i have an injection machine i pump the foam right to the source and make sure it sits in the line at least 24 hours, it kill the roots back at least 2 feet away from the pipe. again all depends were they came in and if the pipe is broken.

 

[jagans]

Five months and 21 days.

 

[Adam013085]

I had mine done 1 1/2 months ago and the plumber claims roots are back.... in the winter time..... Take it for what its worth but I think a year or 2.

 

[Fix'n it]

roto rooter is BAD NEWS ! stay away !!!!!!!! unless you want to get screwed out of your money.

 

[Javiles]

roto rooter is BAD NEWS ! stay away !!!!!!!! unless you want to get screwed out of your money.

Before you can work at roto rooter you must first take a course in proctology

 

[Adam013085]

The sad part is a good sized majority (maybe minority is the right word) of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc are just out for the $ and dont care about screwing people. Not trying to piss anyone off just saying that some, not all are this way. It gives the honest working person a bad name

 

[COLDIRON]

When I get a call to trouble shoot my mind is thinking about the problem and a solution the cost and the $ I am going to make is the farthest thing from my mind.

What really bothered my over the years is people that want it fixed 1/2 Asxed or after it's fixed don't pay or give me real hard time about the bill.

I remain honest and but jaded to people now which means no brakes the price is the price.

Seems people have a hard time finding their checkbooks and pens when it's $ time. I have solved half of that problem by giving them a free pen with the Company information on it.

Not anymore semi retired.

 

[Adam013085]

I appreciate your honesty. I just had an honest plumber at my house to fix what another unhonest plumber didnt fix and charged me 1/3 the $ for twice the work. I really appreciate people like this

 

[paintdrying]

anyone ever hear of auguring a hole above where the roots go into the pipe, putting a 1' 1/2 pipe into the hole and filling it with copper sulfate. I guess killing the root so they can not get into the pipe.

 

[Adam013085]

My sewer pipe is fairly shallow. If you are going to do that why not chop the root and replace the pipe?