Sewer Line Repair in La Palma, CA

Your sewer lateral

Every house has one pipe that carries all the wastewater out to the public sewer main in the street. It's usually called the sewer lateral. In most Southern California cities, the homeowner is responsible for the lateral, typically all the way from the house to the connection at the main, including the part under the sidewalk or street. Our blog post on who's responsible for the sewer line in La Palma explains this in more detail and what to check with the city.

Signs of a sewer line problem

• Several drains slow or backing up at the same time
• Water rising in the tub or shower when you flush a toilet
• Gurgling from drains or toilets
• Sewage smells inside or outside the house
• A soggy, lush or sunken patch of lawn over the line
• Repeated clogs that come back after being cleared
• Sewage coming out of a cleanout or floor drain

What goes wrong with sewer lines here

Tree roots. Roots are drawn to the moisture in sewer lines and work their way in through joints and small cracks. Once inside, they grow into a net that catches paper and waste. It's one of the most common causes of repeated backups in older neighborhoods with mature street and yard trees.

Aging pipe. Many homes built in the 1960s and 70s still have original clay or cast iron sewer lines. Clay joints separate and crack; cast iron corrodes from the inside and can scale up or split.

Bellies. A section of pipe that has sagged, often from soil settling, holds water and waste instead of letting it flow. Those spots clog again and again.

Grease and wipes. Even a healthy line can block if it's fed enough grease and "flushable" wipes.

Ground movement. Soil shifting and earthquakes can crack or offset joints.

Finding out what's really wrong

When a sewer line keeps backing up, clearing it again is a short-term fix. A camera inspection shows what's actually inside the pipe: roots, a crack, a collapsed section, a belly or an offset joint, and where it is. That information decides what the repair should be. Many plumbers can also locate the problem spot from above ground so any digging is precise.

Repair options

• Clearing and jetting. Cabling or hydro jetting removes roots and buildup. It restores flow but doesn't fix cracks or joints, so roots may return.
• Spot repair. Digging down to one damaged section and replacing it. Good for a single break in an otherwise sound line.
• Trenchless lining. A resin-saturated liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured in place, creating a new pipe inside the old one. It avoids digging up the whole yard, where the old pipe is suitable for it.
• Pipe bursting. A new pipe is pulled through the old one, breaking the old pipe apart as it goes, with only small access pits.
• Full replacement. Excavating and replacing the line, sometimes necessary when the pipe has collapsed or bellied badly.

Work in the public right-of-way, under a sidewalk or street, usually needs a permit from the city. A licensed plumber will know what's required.

If sewage is backing up right now

1. Stop using water: no flushing, showers, dishwasher or laundry.
2. Keep people and pets away from any sewage, which carries bacteria.
3. If there's an outside cleanout, a plumber can often use it to relieve the backup quickly.
4. Call for help. See emergency plumber.

Preventing sewer problems

• Keep grease, wipes and paper towels out of the drains.
• Know where your sewer cleanout is.
• Think about tree placement before planting near the sewer line.
• If roots have been a problem before, ask about a maintenance plan or a lasting repair.