does Rootox work?

[John Savage]

We are having problems with tree roots getting into old sewer pipes.
The cost of replacing all the pipes is prohibitive, so I'm thinking
of staving off the inevitable for another 5 or 6 years by regular use
of Rootox or Rootkill (supplemented up by the eel when necessary).

Has anyone here had first hand experience with either of these chemical
treatments? How often do you need to flush some down the pipes for them
to work? Is one product better than the other?

I'm wondering whether the best time might be last thing of a morning
before leaving for work, or last thing at night, so that the chemical
will lie in the pipes for maximum length of time. Advice appreciated.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[HC]

G'day John

While I've never used it, the old fashioned blue bags (used in the
laundry) were supposed to be good for clearing roots from pipes. Having
said that, I'm not sure if you can still buy them....must look when I'm
next in the supermarket, but they were a good non-chemical treatment and
the lady I know who used them was treating super-invasive Ivy.

I'd go along with last thing at night or when you leave for the day as
this would give maximum exposure to whatever you use.

Thinking while typing.....wonder if Glyphosate would work??? then again
the root growth in the pipes would have low nitrogen levels and Glypho
works best on green growth....might be worth a try though, depends on
who owns the problem tree.

Reckitt's was one company making laundry blue bags, from my
understanding they are a branch of Lever & Kitchen?

Interested to read what other's think.
Bronwyn ;-)

John Savage wrote:
> We are having problems with tree roots getting into old sewer pipes.
> The cost of replacing all the pipes is prohibitive, so I'm thinking
> of staving off the inevitable for another 5 or 6 years by regular use
> of Rootox or Rootkill (supplemented up by the eel when necessary).
>
> Has anyone here had first hand experience with either of these chemical
> treatments? How often do you need to flush some down the pipes for them
> to work? Is one product better than the other?
>
> I'm wondering whether the best time might be last thing of a morning
> before leaving for work, or last thing at night, so that the chemical
> will lie in the pipes for maximum length of time. Advice appreciated.

[Terryc]

John Savage wrote:

> I'm wondering whether the best time might be last thing of a morning
> before leaving for work, or last thing at night, so that the chemical
> will lie in the pipes for maximum length of time. Advice appreciated.

If the house is empty by day, then do it last thing before leaving for
work. Doesn't really matter.

Does seem to work. We had trouble for years, then started doing it
infrequently, plus we occassionally caustic soda. I think we really have
a problem with too little water over too long a run. either way, a
program of both when the problem occurs fixes it.

[Farm1]

"HC" > wrote in message

> While I've never used it, the old fashioned blue bags (used in the
> laundry) were supposed to be good for clearing roots from pipes.
Having
> said that, I'm not sure if you can still buy them....

You can still buy them but may need to find a country supermarket.

[HC]

Thanks for that info......they were always great on bee stings, maybe I
should buy a couple to keep on hand.

Bronwyn ;-)

Farm1 wrote:
> "HC" > wrote in message
>
>
>>While I've never used it, the old fashioned blue bags (used in the
>>laundry) were supposed to be good for clearing roots from pipes.
>
> Having
>
>>said that, I'm not sure if you can still buy them....
>
>
> You can still buy them but may need to find a country supermarket.
>
>

[jules]

I use rootox and I've kept my pipes usable for 10 years. I use it all during
the growing season and forget all about it in winter. The only times I've
needed a plumber out was when I'd forget to start using it in spring.

Directions are on the packet. I get Rootox at several Woolworths and
Bunnings and I live in Sydneys west.

jules

John Savage > wrote in message
om...
> We are having problems with tree roots getting into old sewer pipes.
> The cost of replacing all the pipes is prohibitive, so I'm thinking
> of staving off the inevitable for another 5 or 6 years by regular use
> of Rootox or Rootkill (supplemented up by the eel when necessary).
>
> Has anyone here had first hand experience with either of these chemical
> treatments? How often do you need to flush some down the pipes for them
> to work? Is one product better than the other?
>
> I'm wondering whether the best time might be last thing of a morning
> before leaving for work, or last thing at night, so that the chemical
> will lie in the pipes for maximum length of time. Advice appreciated.
> --
> John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[John Savage]

"jules" > writes:
>I use rootox and I've kept my pipes usable for 10 years. I use it all during
>the growing season and forget all about it in winter. The only times I've
>needed a plumber out was when I'd forget to start using it in spring.
>
>Directions are on the packet. I get Rootox at several Woolworths and
>Bunnings and I live in Sydneys west.

Thanks for that. So I bought some at the local hardware store. $12.50 for
just 4 tablets, so that's one month's "treatment". Then I found the tablets
so large and heavy that they won't flush, and the novelty of having to roll
up my sleeve is fast wearing thin!! :-((

I think I might look for some copper sulphate powder and throw in some of
that on a daily basis.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[GreenieLeBrun]

John Savage wrote:
> "jules" > writes:
> >I use rootox and I've kept my pipes usable for 10 years. I use it all during
> >the growing season and forget all about it in winter. The only times I've
> >needed a plumber out was when I'd forget to start using it in spring.
> >
> >Directions are on the packet. I get Rootox at several Woolworths and
> >Bunnings and I live in Sydneys west.
>
> Thanks for that. So I bought some at the local hardware store. $12.50 for
> just 4 tablets, so that's one month's "treatment". Then I found the tablets
> so large and heavy that they won't flush, and the novelty of having to roll
> up my sleeve is fast wearing thin!! :-((
>
> I think I might look for some copper sulphate powder and throw in some of
> that on a daily basis.
> --
> John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

Surely your kitchen, laundry and bathroom wastes are all connected to
the same sewage system? If so then there should be inspection points
on those pipes that you can undo and drop the rootex "bombs" in.

Copper sulphate will react with zinc (galvanized) or iron (cast or
steel) leaving a layer of copper but removing a layer of zinc or iron,
it will also react with alkaline materials forming copper hydroxide
which is very insoluble.

[John Savage]

"GreenieLeBrun" > writes:
>John Savage wrote:
>> I think I might look for some copper sulphate powder and throw in some of
>> that on a daily basis.
>
>Surely your kitchen, laundry and bathroom wastes are all connected to
>the same sewage system? If so then there should be inspection points
>on those pipes that you can undo and drop the rootex "bombs" in.

The laundry goes to a different sewer line, and others probably don't have
accessible points (I'm in a unit).

>Copper sulphate will react with zinc (galvanized) or iron (cast or
>steel) leaving a layer of copper but removing a layer of zinc or iron,
>it will also react with alkaline materials forming copper hydroxide
>which is very insoluble.

The package lists the active ingredient in Rootox as copper sulphate,
and I can see it starts dissolving as soon as the tablet hits the water.

Thanks for your warnings.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

[jules]

I have to use a bucket to flush to get enough force, don't pour the water,
just upend the bucket and dump it in. Works fine unless it's already
blocked.

good luck

jules

John Savage > wrote in message
om...
> "GreenieLeBrun" > writes:
> >John Savage wrote:
> >> I think I might look for some copper sulphate powder and throw in some
of
> >> that on a daily basis.
> >
> >Surely your kitchen, laundry and bathroom wastes are all connected to
> >the same sewage system? If so then there should be inspection points
> >on those pipes that you can undo and drop the rootex "bombs" in.
>
> The laundry goes to a different sewer line, and others probably don't have
> accessible points (I'm in a unit).
>
> >Copper sulphate will react with zinc (galvanized) or iron (cast or
> >steel) leaving a layer of copper but removing a layer of zinc or iron,
> >it will also react with alkaline materials forming copper hydroxide
> >which is very insoluble.
>
> The package lists the active ingredient in Rootox as copper sulphate,
> and I can see it starts dissolving as soon as the tablet hits the water.
>
> Thanks for your warnings.
> --
> John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)