Reply
Tue 25 Jan, 2005 10:22 pm
My tenant called to say water is backing up in the back yard? The house was built in 1909, so I know the pipes are clay running to the main line. Is there a way to tell if its roots without hiring someone. Could it be something else? How long does the sulfate treatment take?
Roots! Pray for roots. What else it could be is displaced tiles. Those darned clay pipes can move over time. They also break.
Is the sulfate treatment you mention a root killer? If so, I bet it's much better as a preventative than a root remover.
would roots grow in the winter though. The sulfate treatment is a root killer.
I asked. My Roto Rooter guy says yes. It's nice and warm down there. Hopefully, he knew more than I.
Roger, Thanks for the info, Im sure youll see me if it doesn't go well out there tomorrow.
had the same problem last march.
except the sludge was backing up in the basement slopsink.
called a plumber, who ran a camera in the pipe.
the culprit: roots from a bush planted in the front yard.
at that spot the line was about 75% blocked with roots.
plumber snaked it out... then i transplanted the damn thing on the other side of the lawn!
never had the problem before in the 10 years we've been in the house, so we figure we'll have them run the camera thru again in about 8 years.
we might also treat it with the enzyme...