I bought this house 5 months ago and keep coming across nice surprises. The latest came about while cutting down some bushes and spending hours ripping out its intricate root system encroaching the house. Upon digging, I found a PVC pipe that I suppose used to drain the downspout above it and ties into a drain system I know to exist 10 yards away.

Another (french drain) pipe connects to it and runs along the foundation, but the drain pipe goes straight down. I can't see past 6 inches due to tons of roots and clay mud caked in. I've tried ZEP root killer from Home Depot, but it's not really doing anything. Especially due to the mud.

Any recommendations to clean this out? Cost to get a plumber to do it? Water does not flow at all.

is the downspout still tied into the french drain?
french drains, especially around a foundation, should not be tied into downspouts or any other outlet w/ high water volume. Should have separate lines to discharge point like the street

It's not tied in right now as I'm trying to clear it out. I could care less about the french drain and will remove it if needed. Just need ideas on clearing out the drain. It runs under a huge patio and replacing the whole thing is very low on my priority list.

Dump a little copper sulfate in the drain a couple times a month or so. It won't perform magic, but it may improve drainage some.

That's what the ZEP is. I used it once and it did absolutely nothing. It may have worked better if there wasn't so much mud.

Have you tried a high pressure nozzle on the end of a hose and shoving the hose down the pipe?

That's an idea. Problem is the hose will get tangled in all the roots. Maybe I'll keep putting the copper sulfate and try that later.

I'm more thinking the possible cost of something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmQhtGDfx18

have u snaked it w/ a root bit on the end?

Where do I buy that? My search shows something like that costs $1000+.