Roto Rootiing

[Ohio Joe]

Just babbling a bit... 

Well we have the plumber here this morning - after fighting a slow drain for the last two weeks, I threw in the towel and told my wife Cindy, "I don't know what the heck the problem is? Let's call our plumber..."

One day our drains are just fine, and the next day or two it's a dice roll whether or not we get some backup and or gurgle.

As I understand it, my neighbor down the hill (a few houses from me) she has also been having drain problems - and they even scoped her main line and found nothing???

I'd like to blame it on roots, (we have been having a lot of "Spring" time warm weather with no moister, but the nearest growing things to my main line is the neighbors' hedges 20 feet away... The roots would have to go basically - up hill to search for water, so I guess that's a possibility?

So,,, we'll spend the money today and find out what our plumber finds out???

My plumber just told me (and I heard the gurgle) he found some blockage at 83 feet (he'll be at the main city drain in about 24 more feet... 

[Hanshi]

Been there, done that. 

[Winter Hawk]

Yep, had to have the line to the sewer main replaced last year.  No fun!  Hit the check book pretty hard also.  I hope you come out better than us!

~Kees~

[Ohio Joe]

We're draining good once again.

After checking where he hit blockage, I did a little digging where I thought I had the root system from two old cherry trees taken care of, but I found a (what I believe) was the root causing the problem. So,,, I dug down as best i could / cut it off and put some powder "root killer" in the hole on the stubs and topped that off with some rock salt - then filled the hole back in.

Will take a better look at that situation in the Spring and get it dug out completely... I kind of think that's where the problem lays from measuring off the info the plumber gave me. 

[Oldetexian]

 

Sounds like you did a complete and righteous frontal assault on the issue. Hopefully you will have no more problems.

[Nessmuk]

Suddenly   I'm  feeling  better about having a septic  system. 

No Offense, Joe.

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Ray.

We are suppose to be getting our "main sewer line" that we drain into - replaced out back in the alley sometime down the road??? We thought it was going to take place last year, but it didn't happen, and now for the second year in a row they are constantly flagging the alley again, but no work as yet...

Anyway, when they do - I'd kind of would like to see if they could put in a outer or inner "liner" in that particular area (or just replace that 10 foot section) - but I have to wait and see whenever they get started on this project... And who knows, it could be years down the line as the small town is slated for "main sewer line / replacement or up grade...

But, I sure hope what I did in the meantime, works. 

[Ohio Joe]

Suddenly   I'm  feeling  better about having a septic  system. 

No Offense, Joe.

LOL!!!

Nessmuk, I just said to my wife yesterday that I wish we had a septic tank... 

[BEAVERMAN]

Suddenly   I'm  feeling  better about having a septic  system. 

No Offense, Joe.

LOL!!!

Nessmuk, I just said to my wife yesterday that I wish we had a septic tank... 

Yea but septic systems have their challenges also, even a healthy tank needs to be pumped around 5 to 7 years and roots can find their way into the main line or the drain fields, that being said most folks can do their own work on the lines if needed without serious equipment for dirt work and plastic lines are  cheap!

[Ohio Joe]

Very true, Jim. 

[Butler Ford 40]

Hope you got'er fixed! That digging of drain pipe 'tis no fun at all!

[rollingb]

There's only 2 things a fella has to know, in order to qualify as a plumber,..........

1. Crap doesn't run uphill.

2. .... and payday is on Friday.   

My uncle (who was a plumber) told me this over 50 years ago. 

[Hank in WV]

Wow, I shudda been a plumber. Looks like I'm qualified. 

[Ohio Joe]

Couple things in answer / thoughts from above posts;

Being a plumber is one of the jobs Mike Row (Dirty Jobs) suggest a person should pursue as you won't have a nagging hanging college debt to pay off for the rest of your life, and chances are you can "OJT" (on' the job training) to learn the skills and get paid good money at the same time...

We have an old septic tank buried out back on the other side of the yard... I expect just about every old house in town here has one buried in their yard... I use to know the date when our town modernized to "city sewage" but sadly I can't remember now, but it's been some time back if I recall correctly.

[Nessmuk]

Our "City" sewer line is still 4 miles away but creeping closer every year, not sure if that's  a good thing or not. Only had my septic drained last year, first time in 20 years.