Copper sulfate—now there’s a throwback. I’ve seen it work, but you’ve gotta be careful with that stuff if you’re on a septic system. It can mess with the good bacteria if you use too much. Honestly, I’m with you on the camera inspections being underrated. Folks always think it’s overkill until they see what’s actually lurking down there... One time I found a whole mess of roots wrapped around a toy car from the 80s. Pipes are like time capsules sometimes.
Hydro jetting is great in the right hands, but yeah, older clay or cast iron can be a gamble. I’ve patched more than one pipe that got a little too “cleaned out.” Lining’s pricey up front, but you only want to dig up your yard once if you can help it. Root barriers feel like fighting nature with paperwork—good luck getting those roots to read directions.
At the end of the day, sometimes it’s just about buying yourself more time until you’re ready for the big fix.
I get where you’re coming from on hydro jetting, but I’ve actually had pretty good luck with it on older clay lines—if you dial the pressure way down and use the right nozzle, it’s not as risky as folks think. The trick is knowing when to stop and not getting greedy with the cleanout. Lining’s solid, but I’ve seen a few jobs where the prep wasn’t done right and it ended up delaminating. Sometimes, a careful mechanical auger is still the safest bet for those really fragile pipes. Every house is its own puzzle, honestly.
Funny you mention dialing down the pressure—I learned that the hard way a few years back. Hired a guy who cranked it up too high and ended up blowing out a section of 70-year-old clay. Cost me way more than just roots would’ve. Since then, I’m super cautious with hydro jetting on anything pre-1960s. Ever tried copper sulfate treatments as a preventative? I’ve had mixed results, but sometimes it buys me a year or two between root invasions.
Hydro jetting on old clay is always a gamble—seen too many pipes fail because someone got impatient with the pressure. Copper sulfate’s hit or miss for me too. Sometimes it works, sometimes it just delays the inevitable. Ever tried foaming root killers instead? I’ve had a bit more luck with those, especially where the roots keep coming back in the same spot. Curious if anyone’s had better long-term results with them...
Foaming root killers have definitely given me better odds than copper sulfate, especially in those old clay lines where you just know the roots are gonna find their way back. Hydro jetting’s always a last resort for me on clay—seen too many pipes collapse or crack when someone cranks up the PSI thinking it’ll save time. If I have to jet, I keep it under 1500 PSI and use a spinner nozzle, but even then, it’s a risk.
With foaming products, I’ve had the best luck when I follow a pretty strict process: first, clear the line mechanically (cable or small jet at low pressure), then apply the foam root killer right after. The foam actually coats the pipe walls and gets into those little cracks where roots sneak in. I usually repeat every six months for the first year, then once a year after that. It’s not a forever fix, but it buys a lot more time than copper sulfate ever did for me.
One thing I’d add—if you’ve got a spot where roots keep coming back, it’s worth scoping the line. Sometimes there’s a bigger break or offset that needs a repair, otherwise you’re just treating symptoms. Learned that the hard way after three years of “maintenance” on one stubborn line...
