- Seen the same thing with dried-out gaskets—roots will find any weakness, no matter what material you use.
- Clay pipe is the worst for root intrusion, but I’ve also had issues with older Orangeburg (basically paper).
- Patching is tempting, but in my experience, it’s usually a short-term fix.
- Curious—has anyone tried those root barrier treatments? I’m skeptical they actually work long-term...
Patching is tempting, but in my experience, it’s usually a short-term fix.
Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Tried patching a small crack last year—felt like putting a Band-Aid on a sinking ship. The roots just found another way in a few months later. As for root barrier treatments, I did some research and honestly, most seem like wishful thinking unless you’re redoing the whole line. Chemicals might slow things down, but nothing beats replacing bad pipe if you can swing it. Roots are relentless... they don’t care about your wallet.
Honestly, patching just feels like wishful thinking after you’ve seen roots come back a second or third time. I tried one of those foaming chemical things and, yeah, it bought me maybe six months. Ended up replacing a whole section anyway. Pipes aren’t cheap, but neither is constant stress over backups.
Totally get where you’re coming from—patches are more like a band-aid than a fix when roots keep finding their way back. I’ve seen folks pour all sorts of stuff down the line, but unless you actually cut out the problem section, it’s just a matter of time. Out of curiosity, did you go with PVC or stick with cast iron for the replacement? Some materials seem to hold up better long-term, but nothing’s totally root-proof.
Cutting out the bad section is really the only way to get ahead of roots, I agree. You mentioned:
patches are more like a band-aid than a fix when roots keep finding their way back
That’s been my experience too. I’ve seen people try foaming root killers or copper sulfate, but it just buys a little time. Full replacement is a pain up front, but you’re way less likely to be snaking the line every year.
I’m curious about your material choice too. PVC is supposed to be less prone to leaks at the joints, but I’ve heard stories about roots still getting in if the install isn’t perfect. Cast iron seems tougher, but it’s not immune either and can corrode over decades. Honestly, nothing’s really “root-proof” if there are trees nearby—roots are relentless.
Either way, sounds like you made the right call tackling it head-on. It’s a hassle, but at least now you’re not living with that constant worry about backups.
