Tree roots growing inside drain pipes
Invasive tree roots invading indoor toilet drain pipes and sewer lines can be discovered after pulling a toilet and finding small root bits with an auger. This damage leads to leaks and heavy plumbing repairs that force homeowners to determine whether the job requires professional intervention or can be completed independently.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1running an auger
- 2running a camera to inspect the line
- 3Sweat out the old copper DWV from the brass bushing and reinstall a new piece with a transition shielded band
- 4Use a Fernco adapter from the hardware store
- 5rebuilding the floor higher
- 6using a 4 to 3 inch flange
- 7cutting the pipe flush with the floor using a sawzall or internal pipe cutter
- 8Taking time off work to fix the sewer line yourself
- 9Using an unshielded coupling when shielded versions are unavailable locally
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Ran an auger and pulled back small root bits. Found this after pulling the toilet.”source ↗
“The plumber wanted $xxxx to replace a 1-foot section of sewer line that was filled with roots. I took the day off work to fix it myself, spent about $xxx on materials, and added a two-way cleanout.”source ↗
“So I found a leak last night in my garage. The original copper DWV where it stubs into the cast iron drain line is rotted.”source ↗
“How big of a job is this repair? Something I should just do myself?”source ↗
“paid garbage plumbers to repipe cast iron for a new layout. they left this 3". other than rebuilding the floor higher and using a 4"/3" flange, other options? there is no way to run it lower to maintain slope.”source ↗