Roots growing into toilet

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Sbslider

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Forgive the lengthy preamble, but it could affect folks advice. Roughly ten years ago I had problems with roots in my main sewer line. At that time my main line was the clay stuff, and with trees and shrubs in the front yard it was no surprise. A professional plumber friend recommended that I replace the main line, or I would be calling him to clear it out. I took his advise and replaced it from the house to the street with 4" ABS. Fast forward to a year ago, my sluggish drain returned. I suspected that the trees matured and found my drain under the street. So I began using Roebic foaming root killer. My closest clean out to the street (in the front yard) is roughly 50' away from the street. The first time, I used a single 1# application, and when that did not work I used 2#, and that did seem to work. I have been doing this every 6 months. When it came to the most recent application, I decided to put the root killer down the toilet closest to the street, as it had been sluggish as of late. Really, it has been off and on for probably a couple years. Anyway, the first application (2#) did not seem to do the trick, so I did a second application (2#) in the front yard clean out. Main line clear again. Unfortunately, toilet not.

So today I removed the toilet to find an abundace of roots growing it it. They were at the level of the floor and lower. Not quite sure where they are getting in, but I don't want them back. Looking for advice, other than removing the trees, as to how to keep them from coming back here. I would have hoped the foaming root killer would remove them, but perhaps because they were growing in a vertical section of pipe. I will note that this room is an addition to the house after it was built, and I have been told the plymbing here does not appear up to code. When the toilet backs up it goes into the adjacent shower (Farther up the drain line). Also, when I look down into the line 1/2 hour or more since water has been put in, there is still some standing water in there. I improved the level of water by putting my flat sewer rod and drain king (pressurized water) in the line to help clear it, but some still remains.

So now that the toilet is out, what precautionary measures can I take to minimize the roots from coming back.
 

Reach4

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Here are some questions that might clarify those who would be better able to help:

1. Is the toilet that you had been putting the Roebic foaming root killer the same as the one that had its soil pipe and flange full of roots or was that a different toilet?

2. What is sewer line under the house -- clay tiles?

3. Is he sewer line buried under concrete, dirt in a crawl space, or what?

I am not a pro. Here are some additional thoughts.

What I would be thinking of is a new sewer line outside of the house that bypasses the problem area. That would still require some work under the house, but it might minimize that. A sewer specialist with a camera would probably be most useful.

I you will try to postpone sewer work with cutters and foaming root cleaner, consider RootX as the more recommended foaming root killer.

When you put he root cleaner into the toilet, do you flush? I would think the answer should be no, but I may be wrong.
 

Sbslider

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Thank you for your quick response. You asked (along with my answers)

1. Is the toilet that you had been putting the Roebic foaming root killer the same as the one that had its soil pipe and flange full of roots or was that a different toilet? Yes, same toilet.

2. What is sewer line under the house -- clay tiles? The sewer line in this area of the house is ABS. I know I hooked into the line when I replaced the main line and it was ABS there also, so I presume it is ABS in between as well. This was an addition to the hours after it was built (so cal, 1957), but older than 1997 when I moved in.

3. Is he sewer line buried under concrete, dirt in a crawl space, or what? This portion of the line is in the concrete foundation. Going around the line would be rather expensive for sure.

When you put he root cleaner into the toilet, do you flush? Yes, if you do not flush then it would foam out of the toilet and into the bathroom. Now that I have seen the problem I have pondered putting some of the root killer in the adjacent shower drain, and try to get the foam to go up the toilet line. May be a bit tricky to hit that spot and not over apply the water.

Thanks for the Root x recommendation, I think I looked into that when I first started using the foaming root killer, I will consider it for the next application. At least right now 2# appears cheaper that the Roebic product, so double win.
 

Gary Swart

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Just a quick FWIW comment. I believe you are way beyond a DIY. There's only one way roots get into a sewer line and that is through a break in the line. The repair is not going to be a chemical or quick patch. You need to get a reliable plumber to professionally evaluate the problem and advice you on the repair. I'm not a pro, but I have learned that there are some problems that are best left to experts.
 

hj

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They are growing UNDER your slab floor and coming up around the toilet riser and then around the flange and into the pipe. Pull them out of the toilet pipe, carefully so you don't break them off. The pour salt or root destroyer into the opening around the flange so it goes under the floor. It will NOT kill them, or the tree, but will keep them at bay for a year or two. Taking the tree out will do absolutely NOTHING to stop them.I could tell you many stories of homes and businesses where this has happened. In one case it was at a friend's house and his toilet was in the middle of the building and the closest tree was 15' from the house. He had a mass of roots 3" in diameter and 48" long. He had been hollering at his kids for putting things into the toilet and plugging it up.
 

Sbslider

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They are growing UNDER your slab floor and coming up around the toilet riser and then around the flange and into the pipe. Pull them out of the toilet pipe, carefully so you don't break them off. The pour salt or root destroyer into the opening around the flange so it goes under the floor. It will NOT kill them, or the tree, but will keep them at bay for a year or two. Taking the tree out will do absolutely NOTHING to stop them.I could tell you many stories of homes and businesses where this has happened. In one case it was at a friend's house and his toilet was in the middle of the building and the closest tree was 15' from the house. He had a mass of roots 3" in diameter and 48" long. He had been hollering at his kids for putting things into the toilet and plugging it up.

You my friend, nailed it. I did not inspect as closely as I could before my original post. But your comments and further inspection show that is exactly how the roots got in there. I will filling the space between the pipe and the slab with salt or copper sulfate solution followed with the salt or copper sulfate crystals filling the air space. This will buy me only a year or two?
 
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