Roots Clogging Main Drain Pipe
I have a neighbor with a huge tree in his yard (and the tree trunk is actually partially on my yard). The problem is this- I have been having problems with drainage out of the main 5″ waste water pipe out of my building. I am certain that this is caused by roots from the…
I have a neighbor with a huge tree in his yard (and the tree trunk is actually partially on my yard). The problem is this- I have been having problems with drainage out of the main 5″ waste water pipe out of my building. I am certain that this is caused by roots from the tree b/c this has happened before. I just had someone over to snake out the lines (again). He informed me that if the the tree is moving the pipes around… if it actually causes a pipe collapse… it would be very costly to fix this- he said it may even cost 18k! So this is what I want to do. How do I cut that damn tree down? Don’t get me wrong, I love trees but not if it is going to cost me 18k.
I second the camera, you really don’t know until you see what’s down there. My neighbor has a very large walnut tree in his front yard and I was informed that my line was most likely full of roots — but there’s not a root in sight.
Also, it sounds like the tree was originally planted near the property line and now it is encroaching onto your property. If that’s the case I think the law is on your side and you can have your neighbor remove the tree…but talking to your neighbor about it would be a good place to start.
I spent 2 days trying to get roots out of a customers line once(many years ago in a time long forgotten). We were pulling back friggin’ limbs. It got to a point where it was just costing the customer too much for us to keep trying. We got the line partially opened and wound up with a back hoe and replaced their service. I only charged them for the first day of snaking the line. PDMALS, you should get a camera down that line to see the extent of what’s in there.
Most times a good drain guy will open up the line. Sometimes it’s just beyond that point.
And true, 18K is absurd unless circumstances out of the norm are present.
“You have sewage lines running under your back yard? Is this normal? or is the tree you’re talking about in a front yard?”
Some houses have a yard drain in the back, it, and the leader from the roof gutter feed into the main waste line, which runs through the house to the street. In a house with a cellar, the main waste is exposed, where there is an english basement, it is submerged below the slab.
All Brooklyn homeowners should get in the habit of having a reliable plumber clear out all waste lines once a year.
It doesn’t matter that the tree is on your neighbor’s property: it is your responsibility. If your waste line gets clogged with roots, you will experience a most unpleasant back up of waste (ie, fecal) material through your toilets, bath and sink drains. Clogged waste lines are a fact of life in Brownstone Brooklyn and you must establish a routine of regular clean-outs (including waste lines draining your back yard, basement, etc.).
If you need a recommendation of a reliable plumber who will do this at a reasonable price (usually $200 per drain, with each drain taking him about an hour…he is VERY thorough), leave me an email address.
A drain guy could cut the roots out for like $200, then keep up treatment with copper sulphate.
You have sewage lines running under your back yard? Is this normal? or is the tree you’re talking about in a front yard?
Not sure why no one who’s had a drain replaced hasn’t posted but a new drain from the house to the street sewer line WILL NOT cost you anywhere near $18,000. I’ve heard Drain Man recommended the most here.
I never had any luck with the flushable kind, I think it just sits in the bottom of the pipe not reaching the whole root and then washes out with each succesive flush, but maybe I just didn’t repeat it enough.
I don’t think it’s the copper that trees hate, it seems hard to believe that a copper nail would kill a tree, I’d be curious to know for sure though. Anybody out there with a tree they want to whack (other than the OP)?
You could try telling the neighbor your troubles. Offer to pay to take the tree down, you might find he will jump on the offer. The wonderful neighbor behind me does nothing but let things grow out of control, but he is happy if I pay the bill to get some sun in my backyard…