roots in the sewer line

[black50]

Have had roots in the sewer line for about 2 years now..Is there a company who can run a fiber optic line down the pipe and tell me exactly where the roots are so I can dig it up and replace that section of pipe?

[Txstang1]

I know someone that can do it but its expensive and he's probably not local to you. He's in farmersville. I would think most bigger plumbing companies could do it.

[Chas_svo]

You can also do it yourself witha sewer snake. You can buy cheap one, or rent one, and just run it from your cleanout until it hits roots, pull it out without rolling it back up, and start digging that far from the cleanout. It's work, but nothing overly complicated.

[black50]

You can also do it yourself witha sewer snake. You can buy cheap one, or rent one, and just run it from your cleanout until it hits roots, pull it out without rolling it back up, and start digging that far from the cleanout. It's work, but nothing overly complicated.

I have done this with the water hose, and I think I have pinpointed the blockage within a 5ft area or so, but the line I think is about 2-3 feet down..And I was hoping that a optic line could get me within a foot or so of the roots

Someone told me that most city water municiples have fiber opitcs and will come do it for about 100 bucks...Havent called yet though

[Armedtrigger01]

Last time I had the issue had a guy run a rooter through it and now I will flush a cup of rock salt every few weeks so it salts the line and have not had an issue since the roots hate salt

[beefed88]

Rent a tractor from depot for 150, hand dig around the house. Then replace the line. Took me a day with a buddy for 30ft. Plumber wanted 2500 and already got 200 for using fiber to check it out.

Also I had a buddy tell me about putting a fiberglass board around the pipe so it didnt happen again. Already had it filled in so I didn't look into the prevention side of things.

[Lone Sailor]

There are tons of companies that do this around the Metroplex. Some of the larger municipalities probably have their own tv equipment to be able to run a camera down the line to find problem spots, leaks, etc, but getting them to come out and do it for you will likely be tougher than it sounds. Even if you offer to pay, if the line is on your side then it's not a priority to them and you may find yourself calling day after day to get some kind of answers. It's faster and less of a hassle to pay the professionals to come out and do this kind of thing, IMO.

[rob95]

if you do it your self and have to use a rubber boot to make one of the connections pour lots of rocksalt around it before you cover it back up.

[unkoricky]

I would call the city and tell them that you think the citys pipes are broken on the other side of your sidewalk. They'll run a camera for you.

They did it for me, no charge compared to other plumbing companies.

[black50]

I would call the city and tell them that you think the citys pipes are broken on the other side of your sidewalk. They'll run a camera for you.

They did it for me, no charge compared to other plumbing companies.

haha, that sounds like an idea, I may try that

[unkoricky]

haha, that sounds like an idea, I may try that

The guys from the city came and actually said they were just gonna clear the line for me since it was clogged. They said the city didnt like having their "expensive' cameras being used because someone felt like the city pipe line is broken. The only way they would run a camera down is if you called the city three times to keep complaining about the city sewer line.

They cleared the line and i said i've had a plumber clear my line a week ago and i felt like it was the cities line. Two days later the city came and ran a camera down. I wasn't home but they left a note on the front door telling me exactly where the roots were. No charge.

[YALE]

If you have old clay pipe for a waste line, do yourself a favor and replace the whole damn thing. It's a 1 day project with a ditch witch.

[sspstang]

If you have old clay pipe for a waste line, do yourself a favor and replace the whole damn thing. It's a 1 day project with a ditch witch.

We had all kinds of issues with our first house. We had cast iron pipes. It always had roots in it. When shit backed up into the shower, my wife had enough. We had rented a rooter to clean it out several times. We eventually just dug it all up, and replaced it with PVC. We have had no issues after that.

[dewayne6243]

Try this first. Get you a couple bags of rock salt. Fill tub up with water and rock salt. Let it sit and disolve. Then drain tub. The salt water will kill those roots fast.