Sewer Line Repair and Replacement in Gardena, CA

What is the main sewer line (sewer lateral)?

Short answer: the sewer lateral is the pipe that carries all wastewater from your house to the public sewer in the street. In Gardena, the private lateral is generally the property owner's to maintain, while the public sewer main is maintained by the city. Confirm the exact split for your address with the City of Gardena.

Unlike the water service line, which carries clean water in under pressure, the sewer line carries wastewater out by gravity. That's why sewer problems show up as slow drains and backups rather than low pressure.

Signs of a sewer line problem

• Several drains are slow at once, not just one sink.
• Water comes up in the tub or shower when a toilet is flushed or the washer drains.
• Gurgling from toilets or drains.
• Sewage odor inside or in the yard.
• A soggy, smelly patch of lawn along the sewer route, or unusually green grass.
• Water or sewage coming out of the cleanout, the capped pipe outside the house.

If only one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's drain, not the main line. Our comparison of supply line and sewer line symptoms explains the difference.

Why sewer laterals fail

• Tree roots enter through joints and cracks, then grow and trap debris.
• Older pipe materials such as clay or cast iron can crack, corrode or separate at the joints.
• Sags ("bellies") where soil has settled and wastewater collects.
• Grease, wipes and other items that don't break down.
• Offset or broken joints from soil movement.

How providers diagnose sewer problems

The usual first step is a sewer camera inspection: a small camera is pushed through the line from a cleanout to show roots, cracks, sags and breaks, and to measure where they are. Ask for a copy of the video. It helps you compare recommendations and avoid paying for work that isn't needed.

Sewer line repair and replacement options

• Cleaning: cabling (snaking) or hydro jetting to clear roots and buildup. This restores flow but doesn't fix a broken pipe. See also drain cleaning.
• Spot repair: digging at one point to replace a damaged section.
• Pipe lining (CIPP): a resin liner cured inside the old pipe, forming a new pipe within it. A trenchless option for suitable lines.
• Pipe bursting: a new pipe is pulled through the old one, breaking it apart, with small access pits at each end.
• Open-trench replacement: the traditional method, used when the line is badly damaged or trenchless methods don't fit.

Which option makes sense depends on the camera findings, the pipe's depth and route, and what sits above it. Work that connects to the public sewer in the street typically needs a city permit. The ideas in trenchless repair: when it may be an option apply to sewer lines too.

Cost factors

We don't publish prices; each provider sets its own. Price usually depends on the length and depth of the line, the repair method, how many problem spots the camera finds, whether a driveway or landscaping has to be opened and restored, and city permit and street work requirements.

What to do during a sewage backup

1. Stop using water: no flushing, laundry or dishwasher.
2. Keep children and pets away from sewage, and wear gloves if you have to touch anything.
3. Don't pour chemical drain cleaners into a backed-up main line.
4. If sewage is coming from a manhole or the street sewer, report it to the City of Gardena.
5. For a backup inside the home, call a provider. More steps are on our emergency plumbing page.

Questions to ask a sewer provider

• Can I have the camera inspection video and the locations of the problems?
• Is cleaning enough, or is the pipe damaged? Why?
• Is trenchless repair possible here? If not, why not?
• Who handles the permit and any work in the street?
• What is your California contractor license number? You can check it with the CSLB.