On Mar 6, 7:34�am, wrote:
On Mar 6, 4:26 am, "DHD" wrote:





I own a 1920s house in Columbia SC and have recently developed sewer
line problems. *Two months ago, following a rain, sewage backed up
into the basement through a floor drain. *It happened again last week,
again after a huge rain storm. * I'm assuming there is a break in the
line, that it might be terra cotta pipe or cast iron (as it is inside
the basement). *The sewer must be 10-12 feet below grade. *It connects
to the city line some 50 feet from the house.

I'm hiring someone to snake a camera down the line and pinpoint the
nature and location of the problem. *I call it a sewer colonoscopy.
I'm told this is money well spent if it can clearly locate the
problem.

What am I in for here in terms of expense? *I'm assuming the worst,
that the pipe is old, terra cotta, and that it will need to be
completely replaced. *50 ft x 12 feet deep

I trust the plumbing company that I've been working with, but I want
to know their bid is competitive and fair.

I welcome your advice.
--Don

I recently went through the same process, after increasing rates of
snaking out the line. *I opted not to video the line becuase we knew
the line was bad and repalcin it in sections was merely prolonging the
inevitable. *If you dig the trench yourself, you'll save much of the $
$. *Get a few bids from reputable firms and proceed sooner than
later . *I waited, and had to go with the first bid I got!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

theres a pittsburgh company that videos the line for free, after
snaking.

I HAD this trouble from tree roots, EVERY JOINT of the entire line but
one had tree roots in it

After more snakings I started a regular maintence item, dumping rock
salt in the washtub. add lots of hot water and stir.

Then dont use ANY water for day, like while at work!

The salt kills the roots but leaves the trees unharmed

Thats a 4 times a year job here at about 3 bucks each 12 bucks a year/
No sewer troubles and its been over 10 years unless I forget to salt
it

Early spring when the trees are getting ready to leaf out is the most
common time for trouble, they are looking for water for the coming
growing season

Its cheap, and it works.

Another option is having the line snaked cleaned and a sock installed.
It applies a interior plastic seamless line without digging.
they put a soft plastic like sock thru your line, inflate it, then
pump it up with hot water. the heat harens it into a smooth line
inside your exsting line no more roots.

Would likely be cheaper than digging Theres a this old house episode
covering this.

FORGET cutting down everything growing to fix root troubles.

Tree roots will travel at least 3 times the drip edge of the tree for
a good source of water. thats 3 times the edge of the outside iof the
foilage.

They sometimes go futher I had Fitser bushes roots 50 feet from bush
to sewer. I thought the plumber nuts till I did some digging..........

Good luck with your sewer. If its roots you can live with it like a
minor chore like mppping the floor.

Softner salt works great too.

I use a 25 pound bag 4 times a year. just dump and loeave sit.

You might try that before calling plumber, salt if things are
beginning to clog and still moves a little usually works within a
day , give this a double dose