roots coming out of shower

[bruce56]

An aunt went into nursing home, and asked me to fix up her house to sell. It had been vacant for nearly 6 months. In the bathroom, I found plant roots emerging from the shower drain. Shower was dripping about once per 30 seconds - must have been enough damp for the roots to home in. Taking the grate off, the roots have gone outside the drain pipe, which is PVC set in concrete floor. I was able to trace where the drains from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry feed into the sewer. I dug up the garden around that junction, which is right outside the bathroom, but could not see any roots going along pipe. Destroying all the shrubs nearby might be one option, but my aunt does not wish that. So I was wondering if it is possible to attack the roots where they came out. Could you nuke them with some poison, given that the bathroom will not be used for quite a while?

[harryagain]

Killing them would be quite easy, but they would still cause problems when dead (blockages). They will have to be physically removed come what may/whatever it takes.

If the outside drains are earthenware, there's probably a crack/break where the roots are getting in. If so the earthenware drain is best replaced with plastic. Unless there is some really bad workmanship, it's not likely the roots would get into a plastic system.

Once into a pipe, roots can travel many feet. Best place to start is the nearest IC (manhole). You have to be able to see inside the pipe. Try probing with drain rods from there to see if you can feel any obstructions.

[Malcolm Race]

I know that this is not a DIY solution but call out a drain company. They can use a camera to find where the roots are getting in and a cutter to remove them. It would then be possible to sleve the drain to prevent any more roots getting in.

Malcolm

[alan_m]

Not wishing to be unsympathetic, but will she ever know that the shrubs have been removed?

Cowboy method. Cut the roots back until they cannot be seen and then sell the house. The problem moves to the new owner.

How thick are these roots. Are they thick woody roots that may have penetrated the pipe and are travelling up it or are they thin and soft seedling roots from something like a wind blown weed seed that has just germinated in the shower trap? The latter possibly removed by pouring down a couple of buckets of water and letting the water pressure in the pipe shift the plant.

To kill try a couple of buckets of boiling water/bleach/salt mix a few times rather than a weed killer. However a dead root may take years to decay.

[F Murtz]

Buy your own camera, they are very cheap on ebay now, can use it for all sorts of stuff

[News]

In message , Malcolm Race writes

I agree, particularly as the house is to be sold, is not the OP's house and he probably doesn't have the necessary tools to hand.

We had a similar problem, which was dealt with by our home insurers. Presumably Aunt's house is still insured? Contact the insurers. Ours arranged the contractor, who inspected with a camera then cut the roots and sleeved the drain as Malcolm says above. Our only contribution was the policy excess.

[Mike Clarke]

But be aware that there's almost certainly a clause in the policy excluding or limiting cover when the house has been continuously unoccupied for a period of time.

[tabbypurr]

A cheap endoscope camera would show you where they're getting in, and so where to dig to remove & repair.

NT

[Chris French]

I successfully used the hose cleaning attachment on the pressure washer to clear away roots in our drain.

That was some years ago and we haven't had a problem since with them (though I've not had reason to look lately.).

Yes, I know they will presumably grow back, but it is under a pattern imprinted concrete drive, so a repair will never look good. So will worry about it if it become an unsolvable problem

[newshound]

+1

Like these

[newshound]

Any more information on sleeving? Can it be done in 100 mm clay pipe? And does it really work with intrusive roots? (Currently have this problem myself!).

[News]

In message , newshound writes

Ours was a bit of a saga, over several years with the blockages getting progressively worse. I guess the roots started small, not enough to block but large enough to catch paper, which caused a blockage. The roots eventually grew and caused a blockage which I could not clear with rods.

Called a drain company who sent a camera down to confirm the blockage and suggested I contact my insurers. Long story short, insurers sent their own contractors who confirmed with their camera, cut the roots and sleeved the pipe. I didn't see the operation, unfortunately. I think the pipes must be plastic, as they were installed 1980s.

The insurers settled direct with the contractor and even paid my bill for the drain guys I first called. I just paid the policy excess.

No problems since, and that was at least five years ago. Probably nearer ten. I take the view that insurers [1], having admitted liability once, would find denying liability for any future blockages difficult, whether the same problem or similar nearby. Tress (horse chestnut) are in my neighbour's garden, not mine. My insurers did say they would chase my neighbour, or his insurers, for settlement, but I did not hear any more, and considered it not my problem. I didn't really worry who ultimately paid, as long as it was not me :-)

[1] Yes, I still have the same insurers, partly because this building is not straightforward, being part residential and part commercial.

[newshound]

Thanks, good to hear it works. Currently waiting for someone to come back with an estimate for mine. (I wouldn't see it as an insurance job, my wife got someone in to plant this little patch 25 years ago and they decided to put a bay bush, now a substantial tree, straight over the drain).

[News]

In message , newshound writes

I wish I knew more details to share, but I was at work. I know they lifted patio slabs and dug down, but how far, I don't know. They must have done a reasonable job refilling the hole, as there is no trace now i.e. whatever they moved has not sunk over the years.

Cannot even tell you the price, as I did not see the invoice.

Good luck!