Hydro Jetting in Redlands, CA

Is a backup my responsibility or the city's?

The City of Redlands Municipal Utilities & Engineering Department provides drinking water to Redlands, Mentone, parts of Crafton Hills and San Timoteo Canyon and a small part of San Bernardino, and wastewater treatment is a section of that department. Who provides sewer service, and where the public line ends, varies by address, so check your bill for the sewer charge and the agency behind it. As a practical rule, if only your house is backing up, the clog is in your building drain or lateral. If several homes on the street are affected, contact the city; Redlands water customer service is (909) 798-7516.

Why does an older Redlands line clog so often?

Housing age varies across the city, and in general, older homes can have cast iron drains with rough, corroded interiors and clay laterals whose joints let roots in. Mature street and yard trees push roots toward the moisture around those joints, especially in hot, dry summers. Redlands water adds a mineral factor: the City's 2022 report lists groundwater hardness averaging 152 mg/L and treated surface water averaging 135 mg/L. Over years, minerals combine with soap and grease to coat the inside of a drain. A cable cuts a channel; a jet removes the coating and the roots across the whole pipe.

Kitchen lines are their own case. Grease poured down a sink cools and hardens as it travels toward the main, and under a slab floor it can build up for years before the sink finally stops draining. Jetting is the most reliable way to clear that kind of buildup.

Should I get a camera inspection first?

For an older line or a repeat problem, it is usually worth it. A camera shows the pipe material, the blockage and any cracks, offsets or sags before high-pressure water goes in. If the pipe is damaged, jetting is not the fix. Repairs need a permit from the City of Redlands Building & Safety Division's One Stop Permit Center at 35 Cajon Street, which issues plumbing permits and also offers an online portal for starting applications.

Local note

When you call the number on this page, tell the plumber which drains are affected, how often it happens and whether roots have turned up before. Until then, keep water use light.