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.
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.