On Friday, January 15, 2016 at 8:37:51 AM UTC-5, Vic Smith wrote:
On Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:02:59 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:13:27 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 7:31:48 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:55:40 -0700, Don Y
wrote:

On 1/14/2016 2:44 PM, TomR wrote:

But, like you, I think that if I used the pressure approach the issue of
trying to get the overflow plugged, plus the question of whether the
pressure would make the slip joints in the sink trap come apart, made me
hesitant to try it.

Then I thought, what if I took apart the sink trap, and I installed the
expandable pressure piece directly into the sink drain line, would that
work? I haven't tried it yet, but maybe that would be an option.

You still have the vent up to the roof to contend with. The pressure
solutions really only work to dislodge "dislodgeable" obstructions :
I find them preferable to resorting to chemicals as those are easily
overused.

But, if someone has made a special effort to clog your drain
(e.g., roots infiltrating the sewer line), no amount of pressure is
going to help. (a motorized snake with cutting head for root
problems)

If you really have roots clogging your drain, a backhoe is the more
appropriate tool. You can cut them back somewhat with a snake but they
will be right back. I suppose you could kill the tree but you can
still use the backhoe to dig out the stump and while you are there,
fix the pipe ;-)

I just did something similar myself with a mini Kabota.

I use Root-X twice a year. Haven't had a blockage since I started doing that about
4 years ago. I've had the line scoped and I've seen the problem. Roots are entering
the top of the pipe at a junction between 2 sections.

$5K to have it lined, not sure of the cost to have it replaced or $75 a year to introduce
2 lbs of Root-X through the clean out in the spring and fall. I consider it just another
maintenance item.

rootx.com

Others have suggested rock salt but the beauty of Root-X is that it foams up, fills the pipe
and coats the roots that are coming into the top of the pipe. Salt water will only contact
the roots that hang low enough to reach the flowing water. Since low roots aren't my
problem, I need something that gets the ones on top.

If you can identify the spot within a few feet, fixing it should not
be that expensive. A few hours of a machine, a pipe cutter, a couple
of no hub fittings and some pipe.

Up north where there's a frost line it not that easy. My sewer lines
in a suburb of Chicago are about 7-8' deep.
And you don't need a pipe cutter. Clay pipe.
Just a hammer. And a trencher capable of going 8' deep.
And plenty of men and shovels.
Probably cost 10-15 grand to replace the pipe from my house to the
city sewer line, about 60' feet.

In addition to the frost line issue, in my case the gas service and
water main are all in that same "line". They all enter/leave the house
in the same corner. The gas service is on top, then the water main, then
the sewer pipe. Any digging done with a machine could be hazardous,
especially if done by a rookie (me). The gas service is less than 3
years old, but the water main may be original. It's just not something
I would feel comfortable disturbing.

We might as well toss in the landscaping that would need to be done, etc.

$5K to have someone line the pipe for me, and give me a warranty, seems
like the better option in this case. For now, I'll stick with the Root-X
since it's really easy to apply via the clean-out and has worked for the past
few years.