{"id":5098,"date":"2020-06-25T11:00:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/?p=5098"},"modified":"2023-07-26T01:30:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T01:30:10","slug":"how-to-clear-roots-from-drain-pipes-without-digging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/how-to-clear-roots-from-drain-pipes-without-digging.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Clear Roots from Drain Pipes Without Digging."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have a large oak tree in my front garden that has started to cause some blockages due to roots in our sewer and stormwater pipes. I presume after a long drought the tree roots went searching for water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trick is to either remove the blockage or kill the roots once and for all. In this post, we will be going over how to clear roots from drain pipes without digging and the best root killer for sewer lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The task was to find the offending tree root blockage and chop it off at the source. The stormwater pipe was an easy fix as it was just a matter of feeding in a USB camera and count how many meters from the opening. I already had a USB endoscope inspection camera<\/a> with 5m of cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use an electrical cable snake as well. Just push it through until you feel some restriction. Or if you call out a plumber and he can give you a good indication of the location as he pushes through a hydro jet to clear the blockage. I have my own hydro-jet drain hose for my car pressure washer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used the camera and the electrical snake to push it through some tough sections. Being wireless means I have more options not having to stand in the pit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to use your high-pressure washer to clear drains.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"How<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Rather than get a plumber out to auger or hydro-jet out your sewer pipes why not do it yourself. If you already have a garden high-pressure washer you can buy a special attachment hose that will turn it into a medium-pressure hydro jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I already had a Gerni pressure washer I purchased this Gerni drain cleaning hose attachment<\/a>. It comes in various sizes so I grabbed the 10m length as that is all that was required.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Gerni<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Attach the hose to the trigger assembly and push it into the pipework from an inspection point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warning – High pressure water is dangerous and can cut flesh. Never touch the high-pressure water stream and never point it at anyone.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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\"hydro-jet
Gerni Hydro-jet showing cutting water stream and forward motion water streams that push it along.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Unblocking drains<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"tree<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Turn on the water and the power to the pressure washer. Activate the pressure washer trigger with one hand and feed the hydro jet hose in with the other hand. It will be easy with another set of hands. (helper)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you feel the restriction work over the area by pushing and pulling a few times. Once the blockage is clear you can remove the hose slowly. This is how to clear roots from drain pipes easily.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"tree<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you are struggling to get the hose around a few bends you may have to dig a small hole and drill into the pipe. I used a 20mm hole saw to cut into this stormwater pipe bend. It will be patched up with a fiberglass wrap kit afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homemade Root Killer for Drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"best<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you go back to the early Roman days they used to starve out their enemies by salting the earth<\/a> of the farms and villagers. This gave the soil a high salt content which kills the vegetation. Over time the rain will wash it away providing fertile soil again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trees, plants, fruit, and vegetables don’t do well in a high-slat soil location. So a quick and cheap way to kill the roots in your drain is to dissolve 200g of rock salt into 1 liter of hot water. Pool salt is cheap and works great.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"sunray<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Add some liquid detergent and shake well. Pour this solution down your drain. Try not to use this drain for at least 8h so it will dry out and leach into the roots. If it is a sewer root restriction then flush this solution down your toilet before you go to bed. This is the perfect root killer for sewer lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue this process every night for 7 days. Then reduce it to once a week. Within 3 months your flow should have started to improve and you can reduce this process further to only once a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that if you stop completely then the roots will return so it is a preventative measure only. Rock salt is cheap and you can buy it from any hardware or pool supply store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warning: Salt may kill the offending tree or plant completely.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Rock Salt vs Copper Sulfate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Copper sulfate is an inorganic compound that combines sulfur with copper. It can kill algae, roots, bacteria, plants, snails, and fungi. It can be in crystal or liquid form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copper Sulfate<\/a> is preferred by plumbers as it tends not to kill off the tree, it will only kill part of the root that is in the pipe. It is best to place 1\/2 pound of sodium chloride or copper sulfate directly into your toilet bowl and flush just before going to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both rock salt and copper sulfate will kill roots so I use them both together. Perfect for root control. If the tree dies then so be it. Both are great root killers for sewer lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n