What can I use in sewer pipes to get rid of tree roots?

Answer 1

That's a job for a professional plumber. That person has the tool needed - called a "plumber's snake" that has the proper cutting head on it. The snake, a long flexible metal pipe with the cutting head, is fed through your sewer pipe by a machine which rotates the head as it advances through the pipe until it reaches the sewer main - the pipe that runs along under your street where all your and your neighbors' sewer pipes empty into.
Sometimes the problem gets so bad before you notice a problem that your pipe has to be excavated and replaced. But your first step is to call the plumber because you also have to be licensed to do this kind of work - and if you were a licensed plumber, you wouldn't be asking this question.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, since the roots are already in the sewer pipes, that means that they have already broken through. I would not, however, recommend trying to dig up the pipe yourself, because of the fact that this is a job for a licensed plumber only. Even if you know where the root is at and everything like that, you need a professional because of the fact that depending on where you live, you need to pull permits, and unless you're Wonder-woman, or something like that , you'll want something like a backhoe or some other kind of heavy equipment to dig that up, just because heavy equipment will make the job quicker and easier.

Answer 3

Depends on the severity of the problem.

1) If your lines are stopped, you need a plumber with one of those "Roto-Rooters" (cutters). This opens your line, but does not "fix" the problem.
2) A band-aid fix, to stall while saving for a proper fix (which is having the lines dug up and replaced) is Copper Sulfate. These crystals should be in your hardware store right next to the regular drain cleaners. Copper Sulfate kills tree roots. So far I have not seen this treatment kill the tree. You follow the directions which usually involve flushing them down the toilet and don't use the drains all night for it to do its job.

I use two bottles (4 treatments) a year. Cost is $3.25 a bottle. Maybe 8 years now. The neighbor removed his tree which reduced the source of the roots by 50%.

Answer 4

If the tree roots are already there that means they already broke through so get your shovel out and start digging. Dig around the broken line, get rid of the roots and them repair your pipe.

Answer 5

I can add to this question lol cause I am having problems also.
Is there anything that you get to put in septic tank that will get rid of suppected roots in drain fill lines on outlet side of tank?
Just noticed i may have a problem, trying to find out just what I can do before it gets real real bad.