Do you know what an 'Electric Eel' is.........

[fongie]

.......it is a gadget that help unblock your drain pipes. My drain pipe had roots growing in it, what a pain. Stopping excess water from my roof going out and over flowing my tank and flooding my place.
Anyway, I have never used one of these gadgets before plus, you need a plumbers license to operate one. Well I didn't have a license but I went ahead anyway.
Okay if you ever want to know how to use one of these, I can tell you, it is as easy as hell. Just join the 'eels/arms' one at the time, push into the drain pipe and turn the machine on and using the stop/start remote to operate.
There are different teeth/round spring saw blades to attach for cutting roots etc the are blocking the pipe. It is so easy, just put in the pipe and feed it in slowly. If you ever have a problem like mine and don't know how to operate one these gadgets, give us a call. Glad to help.

[ryler]

I now know what an electric eel is.  And by gum, I'll tap your shoulder if we ever need the DIY expertise on the pipes.  I'm glad your foray into the plumbing world worked out and saved you a ton of money.

[fongie]

I now know what an electric eel is.  And by gum, I'll tap your shoulder if we ever need the DIY expertise on the pipes.  I'm glad your foray into the plumbing world worked out and saved you a ton of money.

Ha ha ha you do that Ryler, I will be at your service. Oh yes the Plumber quoted me $200 for the first hour and then 100 every hour after that. This gadget only cost me 120 for the whole weekend and not to mention gained a whole new experience.

[ducktrapper]

Roto Rooter!

[fongie]

Roto Rooter!

Same to you 

Joke aside, that's what they call it? Good to know. 

[ducktrapper]

Same to you 

Joke aside, that's what they call it? Good to know. 

Yeah it's a brand name for a company but same thing.   

[Riverbend]

Many years ago when I owned a home in the city I had a recurring issue with roots in the sewer line. We'd find out when it was plugged when "stuff" would suddenly appear from the washing machine's standpipe and end up on the basement floor. Nasty mess. The Roto Rooter guy would charge me $85.00 to open the line and I considered that money well spent, and earned, every couple of years. Then one time he shows up with a camera thing, fishes it down the line, and shows me the jungle he's been chopping thru. These were old tile lines running to the alley where it connected to a sewer main pipe. He then told me about a reasonably safe chemical he could shoot in there to kill the roots. Cost was around $125.00 as I recall, but that was 20 years ago, and I never had the issue again for the next five years I lived there or the five years following when I rented it out. He could've called himself the Roto Rooter Shooter.   

[fongie]

Many years ago when I owned a home in the city I had a recurring issue with roots in the sewer line. We'd find out when it was plugged when "stuff" would suddenly appear from the washing machine's standpipe and end up on the basement floor. Nasty mess. The Roto Rooter guy would charge me $85.00 to open the line and I considered that money well spent, and earned, every couple of years. Then one time he shows up with a camera thing, fishes it down the line, and shows me the jungle he's been chopping thru. These were old tile lines running to the alley where it connected to a sewer main pipe. He then told me about a reasonably safe chemical he could shoot in there to kill the roots. Cost was around $125.00 as I recall, but that was 20 years ago, and I never had the issue again for the next five years I lived there or the five years following when I rented it out. He could've called himself the Roto Rooter Shooter.   

I am so glad to read this Riverbend. Yes I have thought about putting in some kind of poison called 'Round Up' down the pipe. The tree root that I dug out is more to the road, lots of small roots. You are a legend, I will do this.
Glad to hear everything worked out for you, yes it is nasty.

[Riverbend]

I am so glad to read this Riverbend. Yes I have thought about putting in some kind of poison called 'Round Up' down the pipe. The tree root that I dug out is more to the road, lots of small roots. You are a legend, I will do this.
Glad to hear everything worked out for you, yes it is nasty.

Personally, I'd hire a pro to put any chemicals in your sewer system. There are most likely regulations and/or restrictions. And that Round-up stuff is not one I would even consider. I don't want to get political here, but the makers of Round-Up, Monsanto, which was sold to Bayer, have been spending untold millions trying to hide the fact that the main ingredient glyphosate is a carcinogen of the highest order. They are paying dearly in court lately for their misinformation campaign. Much of that is just now coming to the light of day, of course, because, well, there's a LOT of money on the line. Whatever your personal code of conduct is, I'd hire a pro with specific knowledge and equipment before I'd go, um, flushing anything other than you-know-what down your sewer line.   

[ducktrapper]

Personally, I'd hire a pro to put any chemicals in your sewer system. There are most likely regulations and/or restrictions. And that Round-up stuff is not one I would even consider. I don't want to get political here, but the makers of Round-Up, Monsanto, which was sold to Bayer, have been spending untold millions trying to hide the fact that the main ingredient glyphosate is a carcinogen of the highest order. They are paying dearly in court lately for their misinformation campaign. Much of that is just now coming to the light of day, of course, because, well, there's a LOT of money on the line. Whatever your personal code of conduct is, I'd hire a pro with specific knowledge and equipment before I'd go, um, flushing anything other than you-know-what down your sewer line.   

Ain't it funny when someone says they don't want to get political ... they get political? Do you have any idea of what the original professional put in your drain? Or what that pro would use today? Would you ask?   

[fongie]

Ain't it funny when someone says they don't want to get political ... they get political? Do you have any idea of what the original professional put in your drain? Or what that pro would use today? Would you ask?   

Ha ha ha for all we know it could be round up.

Joke aside, I will ask a plumber.

[Mr_LV19E]

When I had tree roots blocking my line the roto- rooter guy rooted them out with his machine then told me to put several salt tablets down the drain a few times a year. The theory being that water would slowly dissolve the salt and the salt water would kill the roots in the line. This would be a preventative measure.

I think that $85 to snake a drain is a thing of the past, probably more like $200 to clear the first 20 feet.

FYI I wouldn't recommend putting salt down the drain if you have a septic system.

[fongie]

When I had tree roots blocking my line the roto- rooter guy rooted them out with his machine then told me to put several salt tablets down the drain a few times a year. The theory being that water would slowly dissolve the salt and the salt water would kill the roots in the line. This would be a preventative measure.

I think that $85 to snake a drain is a thing of the past, probably more like $200 to clear the first 20 feet.

FYI I wouldn't recommend putting salt down the drain if you have a septic system.

Salt tablets huh? Provided it works I think I may try it for myself. Oh yeah I was quoted 200 by the plumber for the first hour, 100 for every hour after that.

[Riverbend]

Ain't it funny when someone says they don't want to get political ... they get political? Do you have any idea of what the original professional put in your drain? Or what that pro would use today? Would you ask?   

I guess we have a very different definition of "political", as I tried quite deliberately to stay away from the vaster, and political, commentary of why the stuff was approved in the first place. And yes, I do know what was used to discourage the roots, though I had to call the friend who performed the service for me all those years ago. He's a pretty good guitar player, by the way, and also has been building nice mandolins for several years. He reminded me it was something called Dichlobenil, an aquatic herbicide that was considered pretty safe. I hadn't even heard of glyphosate at the time. I sure hope that I'm not still being political.        

[fongie]

I guess we have a very different definition of "political", as I tried quite deliberately to stay away from the vaster, and political, commentary of why the stuff was approved in the first place. And yes, I do know what was used to discourage the roots, though I had to call the friend who performed the service for me all those years ago. He's a pretty good guitar player, by the way, and also has been building nice mandolins for several years. He reminded me it was something called Dichlobenil, an aquatic herbicide that was considered pretty safe. I hadn't even heard of glyphosate at the time. I sure hope that I'm not still being political.      

Thanks for doing that........I did a search on Dichlobenil, yes it has been used since 1968 for killing roots. There are some countries like EU that has ban it from being used. Very expensive, licence Plumbers only can purchase. Cheers again Riverbend I will try to find some through a Plumber..

[tlp2]

Roots in the drain are a result of cracked or broken sewer lines.  Water and nutrients in the wastewater cause roots to grow in. 
If you can afford it, have the line dug out and replaced with PVC. 

Depending on the age of your house, the line may be the old type of clay or cement pipe, they're prone to this.  IF it's PVC, the break can be located, dug up and repaired.  You'll need a pro for that. 

Check with your municipality, they are probably responsible for the segment of line from your property line or right of way to the gravity sewer main or manhole.  You are probably responsible for anything on your side of that divide. 

Toxins down the drain are a temporary fix and not in the best interest of the sewage treatment plant or the environment.

Just 2 cents from a non-plumber in the business of water and wastewater.   

[tlp2]

Oh yeah, I forgot.  You know why they call those guys plumbers, right?
It's from "plumbum", latin for lead, the stuff pipes were made of in Roman times.
A lead pipe cinch. 

[fongie]

Oh yeah, I forgot.  You know why they call those guys plumbers, right?
It's from "plumbum", latin for lead, the stuff pipes were made of in Roman times.
A lead pipe cinch. 

Ha ha ha good to know, thanks mate.