The joys of septic tanks

[Thomas]

Look on the bright side,not 2' snow frost least 6" down and the wind howling while doing the task.

 

[Oldoak]

Tree roots can not enter a closed pipe. It means a break in the pipe or an open/loose joint. That is why the section of main line needs to be replaced.

That was my first thought when reading in what section of the septic line the root clog was located.

 

[Zerk]

Never had an issue. I have heard of of it, in sewers too. I suspect cheaper to clean out lines. But pro should advice.

Drain field has holes.

 

[Ford850]

A foaming root killer is an option rather than digging, if they can clear the clog for now. https://www.homedepot.com/p/ROEBIC-1-lb-Foaming-Root-Killer-FRK-6/100202520 You flush it down your toilet and then use no water for at least 6 hours. It contains a contact herbicide and should only kill the roots and not the tree. It depends on how expensive and invasive the patio destruction would be.

 

[Jchonline]

Good lesson for me when building the house in the next couple of years. No structures or material over any portion of the septic!

 

[cat fever]

And more important is no trees or shrubs anywhere near the sewer/septic/leach lines. Once the roots get in you can not get them out.

Good luck DE. I think for a permanent fix replacing the line is the best way to go. I'm curious how old the house is? That would tell me what kind of drain pipe it is. Clay/Cast iron/PVC, just can't see PVC/ABS cracking and letting a root in. You guys up there do get earthquakes and that could have cracked the pipe. Be really interested in this.
Good luck and let us know where the root got in and what kind of pipe you have.

 

[Ford850]

And more important is no trees or shrubs anywhere near the sewer/septic/leach lines. Once the roots get in you can not get them out.

Good luck DE. I think for a permanent fix replacing the line is the best way to go. I'm curious how old the house is? That would tell me what kind of drain pipe it is. Clay/Cast iron/PVC, just can't see PVC/ABS cracking and letting a root in. You guys up there do get earthquakes and that could have cracked the pipe. Be really interested in this.
Good luck and let us know where the root got in and what kind of pipe you have.

My dad's house had a PVC (3" or 4") that was crushed and cracked by a root. It was 5' deep, and the pipe was collapsed approximately half way eventually cracking and letting the roots invade. The best part was within inches of the damage was the original brand name still visible on the pipe. It said "Root-Proof". I wish I took a picture of it.

 

[RoyKing]

And more important is no trees or shrubs anywhere near the sewer/septic/leach lines. Once the roots get in you can not get them out.

Good luck DE. I think for a permanent fix replacing the line is the best way to go. I'm curious how old the house is? That would tell me what kind of drain pipe it is. Clay/Cast iron/PVC, just can't see PVC/ABS cracking and letting a root in. You guys up there do get earthquakes and that could have cracked the pipe. Be really interested in this.
Good luck and let us know where the root got in and what kind of pipe you have.

I disagree my line goes right thru a bunch of water oaks and pines and it 35 years old, with twice a years dose of copper sulfate.

Also have dug up plugged system and found the root packing to be mainly in the distribution box, more food there. Clean it out, stick hose in each drain field line and test. Found the root that crawled up the drain pipe did not put out the fibrous material until it got to the box. So just yank out what we could and put 2lbs of cu in pipe and wash it down patched the field up and started using cu in dist. box and that field is still working

 

[RoyKing]

And more important is no trees or shrubs anywhere near the sewer/septic/leach lines. Once the roots get in you can not get them out.

Good luck DE. I think for a permanent fix replacing the line is the best way to go. I'm curious how old the house is? That would tell me what kind of drain pipe it is. Clay/Cast iron/PVC, just can't see PVC/ABS cracking and letting a root in. You guys up there do get earthquakes and that could have cracked the pipe. Be really interested in this.
Good luck and let us know where the root got in and what kind of pipe you have.

I disagree my line goes right thru a bunch of water oaks and pines and it 35 years old, with twice a years dose of copper sulfate.

Also have dug up plugged system and found the root packing to be mainly in the distribution box, more food there. Clean it out, stick hose in each drain field line and test. Found the root that crawled up the drain pipe did not put out the fibrous material until it got to the box. So just yank out what we could and put 2lbs of cu in pipe and wash it down patched the field up and started using cu in dist. box and that field is still working

 

[cat fever]

You are proving my point; the fact that you have to add the copper sulfate means the root is still there. I don't add anything to mine except fecal matter and TP.:laughing: Once in a great while I'll put some yeast down the drain to keep the bugs happy/growing.