[jdheaney]

I have tree roots in my sewer, what is the best way to remove these without replacing the section of sewer?

[parttime]

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbi...ts-191907.html

Here's some reading on the subject. Good luck

[noob_at_yahoo]

Copper suphate, you can find this in a crystal pellet form from hardware and home improvement stores

[speedball1]

Going in, let me say that sooner or later you're going to have to bite the bullet and replace that old sewer line with PVC. If you wish to control roots RootX or Robics Foaming Root Killer that contain Dichlobrnic are two products you could try.
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.
Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer, Tom

[massplumber2008]

Hi JD,

If you really want to put off digging up and replacing the sewer line you will need to know where the roots enter the pipe and just how bad the damage is.

I would recommend that you get a plumber or a drain company in to use a camera down the drain line to see the roots and condition of the pipe along its entire length.

If the roots/root penetrations aren't too bad, have the drain line snaked to clear/cut the majority of the roots from the drain line and then start using a foaming root treatment twice a year as indicated by Tom above.

Snaking the drain is usually required because some of the major root lines into the sewer can be very large and hard to kill. New cut root ends will accept chemical treatments readily and speed the killing of the all roots and be sure to keep the pipes cleared using a treatment plan.

And without question, foaming root treatments are really the only way to go in these cases as the foam can adhere to 360 degrees of the inner pipe wall and really hit/kill all the roots entering the drain pipe... liquid root treatments only flow along the bottom 1/3 of the drain pipe missing the roots most of the time.

Check out a foaming root treatment at this link:

RootX - Foaming Root Killer

Any questions just let us know...

Mark

[Milo Dolezal]

Unfortunately - once in, always in. Roots are almost impossible to remove from sewer pipe. They grow fast and they grow well inside the pipe. Presence of roots inside sewer indicates serious problem: a break in pipe or loose connections. You cut them, they'll grow right back. You may want to try to control the situation with chemicals but good luck. Eventually, your sewer pipe will look like the one in the photo below...

Replacing sewer pipes is all about labor. Cost of materials is minimal. If you are handy, it is not expensive to replace section of sewer pipe. Do this: Have the trouble area located with video camera to pin-point exactly where to excavate. ( Some plumbers will give you video inspection for free in hopes to get the job ). Excavate. Cut out old pipe, install new ABS / PVC pipe. Test. Refill. The entire job can be done in one day. Cost of materials is minimal and can run you under $100.00. We can lead you through the entire job.

Good luck... Milo