When your basement smells like rotten eggs: weird facts about wastewater mishaps

Bamboo roots are a nightmare - I totally get it. A few years back, we had willow roots sneak into our old clay sewer line, and the smell was unreal. I tried one of those physical root barriers (the kind made from thick plastic sheets), but honestly, it was hit or miss. If you don’t get them deep enough, some roots just go under or around. I will say, they helped slow things down, but didn’t solve it forever.

I’ve also heard of folks using copper sulfate as a root deterrent, though I’m not wild about dumping chemicals in the yard either. There’s a “greener” method where people plant a row of sacrificial plants with aggressive roots between the problem tree and the pipes - that way, those plants soak up most of the root energy before it hits your lines. Never tried it myself but it sounds interesting.

Honestly, after all that digging and patching, I just ended up switching out the old pipe for PVC and haven’t had issues since. It’s not the cheapest fix up front, but sometimes ripping out the problem is less headache in the long run...

Honestly, after all that digging and patching, I just ended up switching out the old pipe for PVC and haven’t had issues since. It’s not the cheapest fix up front, but sometimes ripping out the problem is less headache in the long run...

Did you have to dig up your whole yard to swap out the clay for PVC, or just sections? I keep hearing mixed things about how invasive that process is. Also, does PVC actually stop roots completely, or do they just take longer to get in?

Did you have to dig up your whole yard to swap out the clay for PVC, or just sections? I keep hearing mixed things about how invasive that process is. Also, does PVC actually stop roots completely, or do they just take longer to get in?

We only had to dig up the section where the tree roots were causing issues, not the whole yard, but it still left a mess for a while. As for PVC, it’s definitely better than clay - roots can’t break in as easily - but if there’s even a tiny gap at a joint, roots will find it eventually. I wish there was a truly root-proof option, but I haven’t seen one yet.

Yeah, that lines up with what happened at my place. We just dug up a chunk of the yard - right where the roots had basically wrapped around the old pipe like they owned it. Still, that “small section” turned into a mud pit for weeks. I’m with you on PVC being better, but honestly, those roots are relentless. My neighbor swears by some copper sulfate treatment every spring to keep them at bay, but I’ve seen roots make their way through concrete cracks given enough time. Nothing’s totally foolproof, sadly.

Funny you mention copper sulfate - I tried that a couple years back after a plumber suggested it. Didn’t seem to do much for me, honestly. Have you ever tried those root barriers? I’ve heard mixed things, but digging up the yard every few years isn’t my idea of fun. Roots just seem to find a way, no matter what.