RootX Vs. Copper Sulfate: Which Root-Killing Agent Is Better?

Clogged drains are no fun. When a clog in your main drain line becomes a recurring problem, it is a disaster. There are several options for addressing a clogged main drain that suffers from root infiltration. Two of the most popular are RootX and copper sulfate. The question is, which is better?

RootX is an effective root-killing agent that creates foam in your sewer line to destroy and remove roots. The active ingredient in RootX is dichlobenil, a contact herbicide. You can use copper sulfate to clear roots from pipes. Tree roots exposed to copper sulfate absorb copper and die without harming the rest of the plant.

Getting rid of tree roots in your main sewer line is a challenge. The solution often depends on the situation, the severity of the clog, and the condition of your sewer pipes. Deciding which product fits your situation requires an understanding of each product, how they work, and when to look for other solutions.

Many other products are effective for removing tree roots from drain and sewer pipes. The major drawback is the application method. Flushing these products down the toilet and into the drain system effectively introduces the chemical. However, the drain water tends to run only along the bottom of the pipe.

This tendency to flow along the bottom leaves large portions of the drain and sewer pipe untreated. The result is less than satisfactory exposure. The RootX foaming action ensures exposure of the entire sewer or drainpipe from top to bottom.

The major disadvantage to RootX is the need to retreat the sewer or drain line consistently. The active ingredient in RootX attacks the live-growing roots in the sewer line. These roots will die and disintegrate, leaving the sewer line relatively clean.

However, RootX doesn’t affect the untouched portions of the tree. The nature of trees is to find the closest and easiest to access the source of water. If that happens to be your sewer lines, the roots will start to grow back almost immediately.

RootX does not leave any residual killing agent. You must retreat your sewer and drain lines periodically to keep them free of tree roots. How often this treatment must happen depends in large part on the tree that is producing the roots.

In general, RootX is a safe and effective treatment for sewer and drain lines suffering from tree roots. The ease of use and the safe formulation make RootX an attractive option for homeowners. The fact that large municipal sewer systems routinely use RootX to treat main lines speaks to the efficacy and safety of this product.

The downside is the need to consistently re-treat your sewer and drain lines to keep them root-free. There is also the problem of damaged sewer lines or those heavily clogged with roots that the RootX foam cannot effectively reach all the roots.

Copper sulfate, an organic compound of sulfur and copper, has been registered as a pesticide since 1956. Copper sulfate is often used in sewer and drainpipes to destroy and remove invading tree roots.

Using copper sulfate in sewer and drainpipes to control root growth has lost some of its popularity because of its effectiveness. When properly applied, copper sulfate tends to kill the entire tree whose roots it encounters. Many homeowners who have treated their sewer and drainpipes with copper sulfate have suffered catastrophic losses of old established trees.

Copper is a deadly agent when introduced into the system of growing plants in large quantities. All living organisms need a certain amount of copper, but the copper becomes toxic in large doses.

When you put copper sulfate into your sewer and drainpipes, the roots of the tree or trees absorb the copper sulfate. The copper then acts as a poison to the plant. There is no way to control the amounts of copper sulfate the tree absorbs through the roots. In most cases, a treatment that will quickly and efficiently remove the tree roots from your sewer system will probably eventually kill the tree.

As an herbicide or pesticide, copper sulfate is highly effective. The problem with using copper sulfate in your sewer or drain lines, apart from the toxicity, is getting adequate coverage of the roots.

Roots tend to invade sewer and drain lines from all directions. The most common method of applying copper sulfate is to pour the dry chemical into a toilet and flush until all the product is in the drain system.

Since water in sewer and drain lines moves along the lowest portion of the pipe, the tree roots near the top portions of the pipe don’t get exposed to the copper sulfate. This method of application leaves a large portion of the sewer and drainpipe untreated in most cases.

In our opinion, copper sulfate should not be considered by homeowners with a root problem in their sewers. We admit that copper sulfate will work to remove the existing roots. However, if you don’t kill the tree producing the roots, you must continue to apply copper sulfate, which can cause further problems.

There are safer and more effective products on the market for removing tree roots from your sewer system. For the good of yourself, your family, and the environment, we believe you should consider alternatives.