Common Questions about Vaporooter
A A herbicide treatment pumped as foam into your
sewer to keep root growth out of the pipes
Q Will Vaporooter destroy the roots in my sewer pipes
that cause sewer blockages ?
A Yes Vaporooter has a herbicide that will destroy all
roots it comes in contact with.
Q Will Vaporooter stop roots from growing back?
A Yes with repeated annual applications the roots will
stop entering the pipe.
Q How does it do this?
A Vaporooter has a root growth inhibitor Dichlobenil
50W that attaches to organic material and sterilises
the soil where the roots enter the pipe.
Q Will Vaporooter harm my plants and trees near the
sewer pipe?
A No Vaporooter is a non systemic herbicide, meaning
it will only affect the root material it comes in contact
with and only travel a very short distance up the root.
Q Is Vaporooter safe to use?
A Yes Vaporooter is safe to use and the main ingredients
of Vaporooter are commonly used on food crops to
control weed growth.
Q Why does Vaporooter foam up?
A Roots typically enter the pipe at the sides and top
of the sewer pipe. The foam is used to carry the
ingredients of Vaporooter to the roots at the top of the
pipe where the roots enter. The foam also controls
how long Vaporooter is in contact with the root mass.
Q Can we just pour it down the toilet and flush?
A There is no control over how long the chemical is in
contact with the roots if it is poured into the toilet like
some caustic and copper sulphate products.
Q Can I apply Vaporooter myself?
A No Vaporooter is applied with a Mini Foamer
machine by a licensed applicator. The machine
generates the foam and pumps it into the sewer.
The applicator is trained to ensure the pipes are
completely filled with the foam to ensure good contact
with the roots.
Q Can I use my plumbing while the application process
is being done?
A Yes the foam holds the Vaporooter in place and the
waste water flows under the foam
Q How long does it take to apply Vaporooter?
A The application process takes less than one hour but
depends largely on the length of the pipes.
Q How long does Vaporooter take to work?
A Vaporooter begins destroying the roots immediately.
The roots in the pipe, in the pipe wall and just outside
the pipe die, rot and drop off into the flow. This allows
ground pressure to assist closing the cracks and gaps
in the pipe caused by the root growth.
Q Why do we have to wait 6 to 8 weeks after clearing
a blockage before treating the pipes with Vaporooter?
A When roots are cut out with an electric eel or jetter
while clearing a blockage the roots respond very
quickly by” bleeding” a sap that assists healing and
regrowth. This retards the intake of any chemical for a
period of days. When the “bleeding” stops, nutrients
start travelling up the root system, promoting growth.
After 6 to 8 weeks fine white root stems have formed
that absorb the Vaporooter herbicide very efficiently
maximising the effectiveness of the Vaporooter
process.
Q If I have to treat the line annually with Vaporooter
why don’t I just wait for the pipe to block and then
call a plumber?
A Once trees have entered your sewer line you
unfortunately have an ongoing problem. Usually
sewer blockages occur when the plumbing system is
being heavily used. When there are a lot of people at
home like school holidays, Christmas and Grand Final
day. This will result in inconvenience and a costly call
out fee to a plumber.
Q If I have to treat the line annually with Vaporooter why
don’t I just have a plumber come on a regular basis to
keep the pipe flowing?
A The process of clearing a sewer pipe, particularly
with a rodding machine is an abrasive action on your
sewer pipes. While essential to clear a blockage
this process can deteriorate the condition of the pipe
when ripping and cutting the roots. Each time the
plumber clears the roots out of your sewer the plant
responds by growing thicker and more vigorously, just
like pruning a hedge. This thicker growth opens the
cracks and joins where the roots enter the pipe. This
allows more sewerage to contaminate your soil and
attracts more roots into the sewer pipe to enjoy the
warm and nutrient rich environment your sewer offers.
This reduces the time period between each blockage.
Q Will Vaporooter stop the tree roots smashing the
pipes?
A Yes Vaporooter will destroy the roots in the pipe and
in the pipe wall. The roots will not grow back through
the cracks and defects in the pipe. This will allow
ground pressure to assist in closing the cracks and
maintaining the condition of your sewer pipes