Had a similar issue a couple years back, and yeah, the powered snake saved me from a weekend of misery. But honestly, roots are stubborn as heck. Even after clearing them out, they kept coming back every few months until I finally bit the bullet and replaced part of the old clay pipe with PVC. Haven't had trouble since.
One thing I'd add—if you're not ready to dig up your yard yet, you might try using copper sulfate crystals periodically. They're pretty effective at discouraging root growth temporarily without harming your pipes. Just flush some down the toilet every few months or so.
Curious though, do you know how old your plumbing is? Older homes often have clay or cast iron pipes that are magnets for roots...
"One thing I'd add—if you're not ready to dig up your yard yet, you might try using copper sulfate crystals periodically."
Copper sulfate's a solid tip, but honestly, it's more of a band-aid than a fix. I dealt with this nightmare at one of my rentals for years—roots kept coming back like a bad sequel. Eventually, I had to bite the bullet and replace the old clay pipes with PVC. Not cheap, but worth every penny in saved headaches and plumber calls. If your plumbing's ancient, might be time to start budgeting...
Eventually, I had to bite the bullet and replace the old clay pipes with PVC.
Yeah, copper sulfate helps short-term, but you're spot on—it's just delaying the inevitable. Had the same issue at my place, roots kept invading no matter what I tried. Finally replaced with PVC and haven't had a backup since... pricey but totally worth it.
PVC's great, sure, but honestly I think it's a bit overrated. Had similar root issues, and ended up lining the old pipes instead—way cheaper and less invasive. Three years now and still no backups... knock on wood!
"Had similar root issues, and ended up lining the old pipes instead—way cheaper and less invasive."
Interesting to hear you had success with lining. I've always leaned toward PVC replacements myself, mostly because I'm cautious about long-term durability. But your three-year run without backups is pretty solid evidence. Makes me wonder about the longevity of pipe lining in general... have you (or anyone else) heard how long these liners typically hold up? I mean, saving money and avoiding tearing up landscaping sounds great, but I'd hate to be dealing with the same problem again five or six years down the line.
