How to use root killer?

[skuba]

Hi,
We have been having a problem with our plumbing for a long time. Pretty much the problem is with roots that clog the pipes.
From time to time we have an "accident" where the toilet overflows and the whole bathroom get's dirty.
When that happens we have to call roto rooter and shell out about $300.
As we can't afford doing that all the time, AND we don't want to be cleaning crap of the bathroom floor, we wanted to avoid the root clogging.

We have been using ZEP Root Killer, but we are not sure of the best way to sue it? Should we put a bunch 2 or 3 bottles at once every few months? Or pour 1 bottle every month?

How can we make this effective to avoid clogging?

is there any other solution or work around?

PS: We won't do the permanent fix, cause it costs a lot and would require breaking everything and re-doing all pipes.

Thanks so much

[MACPLUMB 777]

Get Root-x Root Killer Use I 2lb Can Mixed Together Per Each
50 Foot Run From Basement Out To Middle Of Street It's Good
For Up To 12 Mos. At A Time

[patrick88]

Get Root-x Root Killer Use I 2lb Can Mixed Together Per Each
50 Foot Run From Basement Out To Middle Of Street It's Good
For Up To 12 Mos. At A Time

I Install that for peoples main drains. IT WORKS

[hj]

Root killer only works while it is in contact with the roots. If it flows by rapidly and the roots only absorb a little bit then that is all the benefit you receive. Sometimes perception is more important than reality. If you believe it works that is all that counts as long as it does not CAUSE a problem.

[MACPLUMB 777]

Jakeru;
You Are Obviously Not A Professional Plumber,
Or Know What You Are Talking About That Kind Of Snake Is Only
Made For 11/2" & 2" Drains, "maybe" Soft Blockages In 3" Pipe
You Run That In A 4" Main Line Full Of Roots And You Are Just Asking For "bad" "bad" Trouble,
Any Professional Plumber Or Drain Man Would Not Even Consider
Something That Will Just Get Wrapped In Roots,

I Have Seen Even 3/4" Cable Run By Profession People Get Hung Up
And Have To Have The Pipe Dug Up To Get Free,

When You Use Root X One Side Of The Mix Is A Foaming Agent
You Have To Wait A Couple Of Hours For It To Work And Is Guaranteed
To Work
Go To Root X .com And Watch Video Of It Working This What

"professional" Drain People Use To Kill Roots After They Run The Snake

[Cass]

you are a good candidate for foaming root killer

[Redwood]

A smiling Rooter company employee using a 3" cutter in a 4" pipe...
How typical!

You are a candidate for Root-X!

[MACPLUMB 777]

Yes He Is Using A 3" Cutter " And " A 3/4" Cable
WHICH MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING ROOTS

[Redwood]

Yes He Is Using A 3" Cutter " And " A 3/4" Cable
WHICH MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING ROOTS

Yea, Undersize cutters will get you back in the customers pocket sooner.
Many times around here a 4" line just outside the foundation gets increased to 6"...

Make that a vitrified clay line with a root every couple of feet... Well I'd call it ripping off the customer not to run a 3-5 blade at a minimum. 4-6 preferred.

The only time I would run a 3" blade in a 4" line is if I was pushing it through a house trap with no other access.

BTW I'll bet thats a 11/16 cable....

[Bigtruck]

Yes He Is Using A 3" Cutter " And " A 3/4" Cable
WHICH MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING ROOTS

Jerry,

I am on a slab.

I have roots in the drain from the master bath to the T that drains out.

I hired a plumbing company to come out with the camera. The roots were growing all over the TOP of the drain!

Would the foaming root killer work for that?

They wanted to jack hammer the floor in the main bathroom and replace the pipe.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance!

Ray

[Redwood]

Pipe replacement is a permenant fix for root intrusion in a line.

[Bigtruck]

Pipe replacement is a permenant fix for root intrusion in a line.

Yes, of course.

I guess what I'm wondering is.....how long can I hold them at bay?

I have heard of drilling 2" holes in the earth 2ft deep between the tree and the drain pipe and then placing root killer in them to deter the tree from growing that way.

Any input?

Thanks,

Ray

[hj]

How could a camera show roots growing on the outside of the pipe? And if they are, unless your pipes are broken, which means they would have to be dug up and repaired, the roots cannot enter the pipe, anyway. Maybe you should not be using a company with "rooter" in its name, especially if it costs $300.00 every time they come. The machine may be suitable for 1 1/2" to 4" lines, but only if you use the correct cables in the drum. One of my friends had them snake their sink drain with a small cable. It went to the main sewer line and got caught in a mass of roots like that one. It wound itself into knots, and the company told my friend unless HE got the snake out of the line they would have to charge him for it. I dug down to the cleanout on the main line, and removed the snake, (I left the tangled mess on the ground for them to pick it up), and then snaked the drain with the proper sized cable.

[Bigtruck]

How could a camera show roots growing on the outside of the pipe?

Nobody ever said they were on the outside! I said they were on the top. I had no idea someone would actually think I was talking about the "outside" of the pipe. LOL.

the roots cannot enter the pipe

They can enter the pipe and they do all the time!


The roots are on the upper inside of the pipe. They seems to be avoiding the lower radius.

Thanks,

Ray

[Redwood]

but FWIW, the harbor freight unit I linked does say that it is good for up to 4" pipe. I will defer to the "pros" as to whether this is false advertising or not.

I would say that it is about the same as calling this 24" long piece of crap that has the name Pittsburg on it yet is made in China selling for $13.99 a pipe wrench...



They won't even steal those at jobsites in the middle of crackhead town...