Being in the pipe relining business, Wilco Plumbing receives a lot of emails and calls from people asking how they can clear roots from drain pipes.

If a tree manages to root its way into your drain pipes, you can encounter colossal drainage problems down the road. With time, the roots start trapping the grit, oils, grease, hair, and tissue paper flushed down the drain.

Eventually, the root invasion blocks the entire drain pipe, causing a backup. If immediate action is not taken, kitchen and toilet waste backup can cause flooding, damage property, and expose your loved ones to health risks.

Here are some essential things to know about how to kill and dissolve roots in sewer lines.

How to Kill Roots in Drains

You can kill tree roots by drying them out. The first method entails pouring half a pound of copper sulphate, sodium chloride, or rock salt into your toilet.

Flush several times to clean the toilet bowl, and then repeat the process until you have flushed approximately two pounds of rock salt into your sewer pipes.

Avoid flushing the toilet or pouring water in the sink for 8 to 12 hours to allow the rock salt enough time to kill the roots. Rock salt acts as a dehydrating agent, thus absorbing moisture from the sources.

Using rock salt several times a month can discourage tree roots from thriving in your sewer lines.

What Dissolves Tree Roots in Sewer Lines?

A foaming root killer can help dissolve roots in sewer lines and prevent germs regrowth. Chemical tree root removers contain a herbicide that kills and dissolves the roots.

The root killer leaves a residue that discourages root regrowth. Be extra cautious and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid destroying the tree or polluting the environment.

Permanent Solution for Tree Root Invasion

If you have a root invasion problem, hiring professional plumbers and sewer line specialists is the best approach. We rely on state-of-the-art equipment at Wilco Plumbing to clear roots from drain pipes.

Firstly, the specialists use an endoscope to look inside the drain pipes. The camera pinpoints the exact location of the root invasion and the extent of your problem. After gathering vital information, the specialists devise an ideal plan to remove the roots. Here are viable options:

• Mechanical auger/rooter – The drill is inserted into the pipe to slice and chop tree roots. After chopping the tree roots into small bits, high-pressure water is used for flushing and rinsing the drain pipe.
• Hydro-jetting – Water jetting removes drain pipe obstructions via high-pressure water flow. The high-pressure water jetting system (up to 4000 psi) cuts and disintegrates tree roots.

Contact us for Help Clearing Your Drains.

If you are looking for quality drain cleaning services in Sydney, we are ready to assist at Wilco Plumbing. Our technicians have the technical know-how and experience to deal with vast plumbing problems. We provide a wide range of plumbing services to Sydney residents and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get a free estimate.