I get why folks want the quick fix, but in my (admittedly limited) experience, those roots are like bad in-laws—they always find a way back unless you deal with the real problem.
Couldn’t agree more. Quick fixes just buy you time, and sometimes not much of it. I’ve seen folks pour root killer down year after year, but if the pipe’s cracked, roots will keep coming. Hydro-jetting’s great for clearing, but if you don’t patch up the breach, it’s just a matter of when, not if. Digging up the yard’s a pain, but it beats emergency backups at 2am... trust me.
Hydro-jetting’s great for clearing, but if you don’t patch up the breach, it’s just a matter of when, not if.
That’s the thing—hydro-jetting feels satisfying in the moment, but it’s like bailing water from a leaky boat. Ever tried a trenchless liner? Curious if that actually holds up long-term or just delays the inevitable dig.
I’ve wondered the same about trenchless liners. My neighbor swears by his—he had one put in a couple years ago and hasn’t had root issues since. But I keep hearing stories where they eventually fail and you end up digging anyway. Feels like a toss-up... but man, digging up the yard is my last resort.
I get where you’re coming from. Trenchless liners sound great on paper, but I’ve seen a few jobs where they didn’t last as long as promised. Sometimes it’s roots sneaking in at the joints, or the liner just not bonding right. Other times, they hold up fine for years—guess it depends on the install and what kind of trees you’ve got nearby.
Digging up the yard is a pain, no doubt. But if your line’s already in rough shape or has a bunch of bends, sometimes there’s just no way around it. I’d say if your pipes are mostly straight and you trust the crew doing the liner, it might be worth a shot. Just don’t expect it to be a forever fix, especially if you’ve got aggressive roots in the area. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles...
That’s kind of what I worry about with liners too—like, what happens if the roots come back stronger next year? Or if the liner doesn’t cure right and you don’t know until it’s too late? I’ve seen a couple jobs where they had to dig up the same spot again because the liner shifted at a bend. Not saying it never works, but I guess I’m always asking “what’s hiding under there?” before calling it done. Anyone else get a little paranoid about stuff you can’t see underground, or is that just me being overly cautious?
