Hot water and dish soap is one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” tricks. I used to go straight for the heavy artillery too, but honestly, sometimes the simplest stuff works. That said, I’m a bit skeptical about how much it helps with serious root invasions—roots seem to laugh at soap, at least in my pipes. Still, it’s worth a shot before hauling out the auger and making a mess.
I’m with you on being nervous about old joints. Once you’ve seen what roots can do—like that spaghetti tangle you mentioned—it’s hard to trust any of those ancient connections. I made the mistake of ignoring a slow drain for too long and ended up with a mini excavation project in my yard. Patching early is definitely the way to go. It’s not glamorous work, but it beats having your backyard look like a construction zone... or worse, dealing with sewage backup inside.
I get the appeal of patching early, but honestly, sometimes I think folks jump to digging way too fast. I had a slow drain last year and was convinced it was roots, but after a bit of DIY troubleshooting (and a lot of YouTube), it turned out to be a buildup of grease and gunk—not tree roots at all. I tried the hot water and dish soap thing, and it actually worked for me. Maybe I just got lucky, but before calling in the backhoe, I’d say it’s worth trying the cheap fixes first. Worst case, you’re only out a few bucks and some time.
before calling in the backhoe, I’d say it’s worth trying the cheap fixes first.
That’s a solid point. I’ve seen plenty of folks jump straight to heavy equipment or chemical root killers, only to find out later it was just a clog from years of buildup. Still, I’d add—if you’re ever dealing with repeated slow drains, especially after storms or in older homes, it’s smart to check for signs of root intrusion. Sometimes, those “cheap fixes” can mask a bigger issue for a while. Just don’t forget to use gloves and eye protection when you’re messing with any drain cleaning chemicals or tools... I’ve seen some nasty accidents from folks getting too casual.
Honestly, I get the “try the cheap fixes first” logic, but sometimes that just drags things out.
That’s exactly what happened to me—kept snaking the drain, pouring stuff down, and it just kept coming back. Ended up costing more in the long run because I waited too long to get a camera down there. If you’ve got an older house and trees nearby, I’d say skip the bandaids and check for roots early.Sometimes, those “cheap fixes” can mask a bigger issue for a while.
I get where you’re coming from, but isn’t it a bit of a gamble to jump straight to the camera every time? I mean, I’ve seen cases where it’s just a minor clog and a quick snake actually does the trick for years. How often do you think roots are really the culprit versus just buildup? I always wonder if I’m overthinking it when I reach for the big tools right away.
