I have a ficus tree in our yard (planted by the previous homeowner) that is growing too fast and the roots have breached the main sewer line on our property. The trunk of the tree is maybe eight inches in diameter, and completely removing the tree is dicey due to terrain and sewer line considerations. I live in Hawaii. Any suggestions?
posted by ldenneau on Jun 3, 2009 - 3 answers

Last Wednesday I was assaulted by a foul smell in my front (guest) bathroom. I have been trying to pinpoint the cause for several days. I'm about to go out of town and need advice on what to do, especially since I'm extremely broke and have tried all the usual methods of attack. Details inside... [more inside]
posted by Unicorn on the cob on Oct 27, 2008 - 13 answers

How far below street level are the NYC Sewers? And by sewers, I mean the large tunnels that you see on TV and in the movies. What might be the minimum distance below someone's basement or cellar? Anyone have any ideas?
posted by vVCHAZVv on Apr 13, 2008 - 18 answers

Is there some sort of cap that can be put on a rooftop sewer vent to prevent to people from throwing stuff down it? My roommates and I recently endured a prolonged plumbing disaster (other people's sewage bubbling up in our toilets and tubs, flooded hallways, bailing out tubs and toilets with garbage cans at 3 a.m., etc.) and we are eager to avert a future crisis. The plumbers finally discovered large pieces of wood in our pipe, which we can only assume were thrown down from the roof, since they seem impossible to flush. There is easy access to the roof of our four-story building, and we're not interested in having some drunken putz foul up our plumbing again.
posted by zembla3 on Sep 17, 2007 - 9 answers

I'm thinking about buying a house that's out in the country a little bit. It's on a septic system. It's a new construction that the contractor built and is living in while he builds the one next to it. The septic system is reported to be a "Low Pressure Drip System for Residential Sewers" made by Murdon. Is this good/bad/potentially costly? [more inside]
posted by ontic on May 11, 2005 - 4 answers

SewerGasFilter. Help![+] [more inside]
posted by nj_subgenius on Jan 29, 2005 - 8 answers