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View Full Version : How do I remove roots from my drain pipes?


Tom ball
Mar 23, 2013, 04:15 PM
A shower, a toilet, and a washing machine drain all seem to be clogged. I'm guessing it is roots. I've tried drano with no luck.

Gernald
Mar 23, 2013, 04:32 PM
Your best bet would be to get a plumber to make sure that's actually what's wrong, but if you're certain it's roots you can get a power auger from a hardware store and introduce it into a main line to clear out the roots. There's also a chemical called Rootx that you can put in the pipes to help get rid of the roots. You could use this by itself, but it's better to clean the pipes properly with the power auger first.

I hope this helps!

Milo Dolezal
Mar 23, 2013, 10:48 PM
Best way to find out is to do Video Inspection of your sewer line. That will tell you exactly what's in your pipes.

Milo

hkstroud
Mar 24, 2013, 06:20 AM
I'm guessing it is roots

Why do you think that? That's not the first thing that comes to my mind when someone says the plumbing is stopped up. First think I think is you put something in the toilet you shouldn't have.

speedball1
Mar 24, 2013, 10:39 AM
Hi tom ball and welcome to The Plumbing Page at ANHD.com.
The very first thing I would do is snake the line and see what comes back on the auger tip. As a rule roots grow from a break in the outside sewer line and not in the house. Good luck, Tom

mygirlsdad77
Mar 24, 2013, 03:29 PM
Agree with all posts here. First auger the line, then have a camera sent down to see what you really have. If you don't auger the line first, most camera snakes won't be able to get past the first blockage to see if there are more problems down the line.