[badgermike77]

Hi my name is Michael and I am having a major issue with the sewer pipes in my house. The problem began this summer when the tub began to drain slowly. Although my house is in Milwaukee WI, it has no basement and is built on a slab. I tried chemicals, but didn't have any luck. Then I tried a 25ft hand snake through the toilet (took toilet off), and that seemed to do a little. I finally took the time to try and fix the issue 2 weeks ago. I rented a 3/4 inch snake and fed 100 ft through the toilet with a 2 inch cutter. I then fed 100 feet through the clean out located at the front of the house. The sake seemed to remove a lot of blockage in both locations and a ton of tree roots when I fed it through the clean out. The only problem is that now the problem is worse than ever. Pooring water down any drain in the house with cause a back-up through the tub and toilet. It will not back-up through the cleanout at the front of the house (I've let a hose run in the cleanout and it seems clear to the street)? The blockage seems to be under the house. How could this be if I fed 100 ft of snake through the toilet? I inspected the vents and they seemed clear. Just to make sure I poured water down the roof vent, and sure enough it backed up through the tub. Water does still drain, just really slowly (maybe 10 gallons per hour). I'm frustrated and concerned. I could call a plumber but what would they do that I have not done? Please help.

[speedball1]

Greetings from a Beloit transplant. If you don't wish to pull the toilet going down a roof vent's just effective. Snake the lines again and this time flush each one out. For immediate relief and to kill the existing roots and prevent further growth you can purchase RootX or Robics Foaming Root Killer that contain Dichlobrnic.
A less expensive way would be to call around to garden supply stores and ask for fine grain Copper Sulphate. Put a 1/2 pound in your toilet and flush it down. Repeat in 6 months.
Let me say that sooner or later you're going to have to bite the bullet and replace that old sewer line with PVC. Regards, Tom

[badgermike77]

Thanks for the quick response. Snaking through the roof vent is impractical because of the roof, so I guess you're recommending I snake through the toilet again. I'm not sure how you recommend I fluch out the line? Do I run water while I snake, or just after. Is the idea to keep snaking until the water flows?

Long term, I realize the roots are a real issue. There is only one tree that the roots could be coming from. I'd rather cut down the tree than dig up the sewer line. Would my sewer lines be okay if I cut down the tree?

[speedball1]

"I realize the roots are a real issue. There is only one tree that the roots could be comming from. I'd rather cut down the tree than dig up the sewer line. Would my sewer lines be okay if I cut down the tree?"

If you cut the tree down the source would be eliminated but the crack/opening that let the roots in there in the first place would still be there.
There's no guarantee that it won't happen again. Roots can travel great distences seeking water. Good luck, Tomk

[badgermike77]

Tom, thanks for the advice. I finally got the drain cleared. When I was snaking through the toilet the large motorized snake was going up through the vent and onto the roof. So, the entire time I snaked the last time, the snake was flopping around in the vent, on the roof, and eventually on the lawn. Sort of funny, and embarrassing, but I'm sure I'm not the first person to make the mistake. I could get a small snake to go down towards the sewer, but not the large one. Anyway, although the roof was steep, I ended up snaking through roof vent. There was years of build up. The roots built a dam and all sorts of stuff built up behind it. I hope to use chemicals to kill any remaining roots and to keep them from coming back. Thanks again