I do wonder if those root killers are secretly messing up my pipes, though... seems like a gamble either way.
I’ve had the same worry. Years back, I tried copper sulfate and it seemed to help, but I always wondered what else it was doing down there. The auger routine isn’t glamorous, but honestly, it’s kept my old clay pipes going longer than I expected. Tree removal quotes are wild—sometimes feels like you’re paying for a new car just to get rid of a stubborn maple. You’re not alone in sticking with the “lesser evil” approach.
I hear you on the tree removal costs—last time I got a quote, I had to double-check if they were quoting for the whole block or just my yard. As for root killers, I’ve always been a bit skeptical. Copper sulfate did clear things up for me once, but I kept thinking about what it might be doing to the rest of the system, or even the environment.
Honestly, I’ve leaned more on mechanical cleaning too. It’s not fun, but at least you know exactly what’s happening. Plus, those old clay pipes can be surprisingly tough if you treat them right. I did try foaming root killer once, but it felt like rolling the dice—never really sure if it was helping or just delaying the inevitable.
If you’re dealing with a stubborn maple, I get it. Sometimes it feels like you’re choosing between two headaches. At least with the auger, you’re not introducing mystery chemicals into the mix... just a lot of elbow grease and maybe a few curse words.
I get where you’re coming from on the chemicals, but I’m not totally convinced the auger is always the way to go either. Last time I rented one, I ended up scratching up a section of my pipe and had to patch it. Maybe I’m just clumsy, but sometimes those “old clay pipes” aren’t as forgiving as folks say. I guess it’s pick your poison—either way, it’s never cheap or easy.
I hear you on the auger thing—those clay pipes are way more fragile than people let on. I’ve had my fair share of “oops” moments, especially when the blade catches on a root and jerks around. One trick I’ve picked up is to go super slow and use a smaller head if you can, but even then, it’s kind of a gamble.
Honestly, for me, digging up a section and just replacing the worst part with PVC ended up saving more headaches in the long run. Not cheap, and definitely not fun, but at least I’m not worrying about the auger or chemicals eating through old clay. Sometimes I wonder if all these fixes are just buying time until the next problem crops up.
Anyway, I get the appeal of the chemical route, but I’m always wary about what those do to the pipes and the environment. Just feels like there’s never a perfect solution—just slightly less awful ones.
Sometimes I wonder if all these fixes are just buying time until the next problem crops up.
That’s basically the story of old houses, right? I’ve replaced a couple clay sections with PVC too, and honestly, digging is brutal but at least you know what you’re dealing with. Ever tried those pipe lining methods? I’ve seen mixed reviews, but the idea of not having to dig again is tempting... just not sure about longevity. And yeah, I always feel weird dumping chemicals down there—like, am I solving the problem or just making next year’s headache worse?
