Fix your leaking toilet - it's really easy, they said

Treebeard

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I didn't know that. So I Googled it. Well, it turns out that RoundUp can, and will, effectively kill a plant via root absorption.

Here's the text I got from The Effect of Glyphosate on Tree Roots :
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is an organic, high-phosphate compound widely used as a broad-spectrum herbicide to kill unwanted plants of many different types. It is usually diluted in liquid and applied as a spray directly on the weeds' foliage. When it contacts a plant, the compound is taken up by its roots and foliage, where it blocks an enzyme required for plant survival, eventually causing it to die. During spraying, glyphosate also comes into contact with soil. It binds strongly to soil particles and can remain in the ground for many months, according to Cornell University.

Tree Roots
Roots serve many roles in supporting all plant life, including trees. They take up water and nutrients from the soil, allowing them to move into and through a tree's transport system to reach all of its parts. According to Utah State University, when glyphosate is applied to an undesirable plant and kills it, the dying plant releases some of the chemical back into the soil through its roots. Tree roots in the area can take up some of this chemical, either by contact with the roots of the dying plant or by directly taking up residual glyphosate from the soil.


I am not an expert on herbicides, but glyphosate is not considered soil active. As noted it may bind to soil but that does not make it "available" to plant roots - it is bound to the soil. Some direct root contact may allow uptake prior to binding with soil. The big but here is labeling - it is not labelled to be used in this manner, and it is therefore actually illegal to use it against the label. Especially important for restricted use formulations.
 

Detroitgator

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I am not an expert on herbicides, but glyphosate is not considered soil active. As noted it may bind to soil but that does not make it "available" to plant roots - it is bound to the soil. Some direct root contact may allow uptake prior to binding with soil. The big but here is labeling - it is not labelled to be used in this manner, and it is therefore actually illegal to use it against the label. Especially important for restricted use formulations.
Thanks... you label Nazi! ;)
 

Gator515151

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Had a backed up toilet.
Snaked it but kept hitting something solid.
Removed the toilet.
Found a knob from the exercise bike. Damn two-year old.
Reinstalled toilet. Hid knob so it wouldn't happen again. I'm smart like that.
Two weeks later toilet is stopped up again.
Snake it again.
Something solid again.
Remove toilet again.
Damn it. It's the knob again.
Go look in hiding place, the knob is still hiding.
Go look at bike. There was a second knob.
Damn kid is nothing if not persistent.

Moral of story - don't have kids.
I've got that one beat all to hell. When my youngest son was like 3 I kept hearing the toilet flush then him laughing. This went on for a few minutes so I figured I had better go in and check it out. I got there just in time to see his brothers pet hamster crawling back out of the hole.
 

Gator515151

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I am not an expert on herbicides, but glyphosate is not considered soil active. As noted it may bind to soil but that does not make it "available" to plant roots - it is bound to the soil. Some direct root contact may allow uptake prior to binding with soil. The big but here is labeling - it is not labelled to be used in this manner, and it is therefore actually illegal to use it against the label. Especially important for restricted use formulations.
I know nothing about herbicides but I have used roundup and I know if you spray roundup and it rains you are going to have to retreat which tells me it wouldn't work so well in this application. One thing I do know is I have seen products for roots in plumbing sold at Home depot. I can't vouch for how well they work but I'd try one of those products before trying roundup.
 

TLB

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I've got that one beat all to hell. When my youngest son was like 3 I kept hearing the toilet flush then him laughing. This went on for a few minutes so I figured I had better go in and check it out. I got there just in time to see his brothers pet hamster crawling back out of the hole.

When I was 12 and stayed at my grandparents one night, we had to bring the cat with us to stay there. Around 2AM, every few minutes, we heard the hallway toilet flush. Ok, someone must be going...and having trouble flushing. By the fourth flush I see my grandfather looking in on me, so it isn't him and he confirms it isn't me. We go to the bathroom and the cat is sitting on top of the tank. She'd figured out how to push the handle and was entertaining herself watching the water spin down the bowl.

= = =

Not a malicious pet in toilet story, but I had a really dumb cat for awhile. One day I came home from work to hear him crying from the bathroom. I go there and find he had somehow fallen in, but was too small and too wet to climb out. I have no idea how long he'd been standing in there trying to get out. I felt bad for him. Since then I always kept the seats down.
 

MidwestChomp

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I can't believe Treebeard is talking about killing tree roots.
 
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After some of the stories and visuals in this thread, I am going to have trouble sleeping tonite & will probably have nightmares!!!!! My oldest son is a master plumber & owns his own plumbing & tile company. He now leaves the dirty work to his employees Most plumbers now charge in excess of $100./hr. and there are very few people going into plumbing. Supply/demand will drive the fees up even more.
 
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LagoonGator68

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My God, am I worried. I couldn't even sleep last night.

I've got more important things to worry about.


It took about 7 years for that palm to find the real source of those nutrients.....it won’t take that long this next time.
 

oxrageous

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It took about 7 years for that palm to find the real source of those nutrients.....it won’t take that long this next time.
Where did you get 7 years? That was the original toilet from when the house was new 15 years ago, not 7.

If the toilet starts leaking again I’ll readdress this problem, but I don’t expect any more issues for at least several years. In the meantime, I’m not wringing my hands over some tree roots.

I wish I was sitting on my ass retired like a bunch of you so I could spend time worrying about this complete non-issue like you do.
 

Detroitgator

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Where did you get 7 years? That was the original toilet from when the house was new 15 years ago, not 7.

If the toilet starts leaking again I’ll readdress this problem, but I don’t expect any more issues for at least several years. In the meantime, I’m not wringing my hands over some tree roots.

I wish I was sitting on my ass retired like a bunch of you so I could spend time worrying about this complete non-issue like you do.

-Captain Edward J. Smith

FIFY
 

AuggieDosta

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Where did you get 7 years? That was the original toilet from when the house was new 15 years ago, not 7.

If the toilet starts leaking again I’ll readdress this problem, but I don’t expect any more issues for at least several years. In the meantime, I’m not wringing my hands over some tree roots.

I wish I was sitting on my ass retired like a bunch of you so I could spend time worrying about this complete non-issue like you do.
Damn man, don't post your shiity stories if you don't want us to talk about it.
:exactly:
 

oxrageous

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Auggie, you should just stay focused on moving out of your parents house.
 

Concrete Helmet

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Where did you get 7 years? That was the original toilet from when the house was new 15 years ago, not 7.

If the toilet starts leaking again I’ll readdress this problem, but I don’t expect any more issues for at least several years. In the meantime, I’m not wringing my hands over some tree roots.

I wish I was sitting on my ass retired like a bunch of you so I could spend time worrying about this complete non-issue like you do.
Are you on septic? If so just flush a container of root killer every so often...you can also dump some straight down the septic tank by opening the lid if you have trees near the system.....
Lagoon is right though, the tree roots will be back even faster the next time.
 

crosscreekcooter

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It may be too late to correct the issue (remove the offending tree). I would contact @NVGator and have him refer you to an agent. You need to sell right away while there is still time. You may be concerned about the disclosure statement. Soon those roots will be coming through the kitchen sink. I understand they are especially fond of moist areas.
 

NVGator

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It may be too late to correct the issue (remove the offending tree). I would contact @NVGator and have him refer you to an agent. You need to sell right away while there is still time. You may be concerned about the disclosure statement. Soon those roots will be coming through the kitchen sink. I understand they are especially fond of moist areas.
There in lies the rub. You go searching for the cause of a problem and before you know it you have now discovered issues that you have to disclose.
 

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