Sewer Line Repair in Riverside, CA

Signs the problem is in the sewer line

• Several fixtures slow down or back up at the same time
• Water rises in a tub or shower when a toilet is flushed
• Gurgling from drains after the washer empties
• Sewage odor indoors or in the yard
• A soggy or unusually green strip of lawn over the line

One slow sink is usually a branch drain clog. Trouble across the whole house points to the main line.

What usually goes wrong

Roots find the joints of older clay pipe and grow inside. Cast iron can rust through or scale up until little room is left. Soil movement can shift a joint out of line or create a low spot where waste settles. Riverside's median home dates to around 1976, so many laterals have decades of service behind them, and older core districts can still have clay or cast iron underground.

Repair choices

City sewer or private line?

In most of Riverside, the City's Public Works department operates the wastewater collection and treatment system, and Western Municipal Water District handles wastewater for a small portion of the city. If you suspect the public main is backed up, for example when neighbors are having the same problem, call Public Works at (951) 826-5311. Ask the City where its responsibility ends for your address before assuming who pays for a given section.

What affects cost

• Depth of the pipe and what sits on top of it, such as concrete or landscaping
• Length of the damaged section
• Repair method chosen
• Whether a permit and inspection are needed

Get the camera findings and a written scope before agreeing to a method.

Before the plumber arrives

Hold off on running water and flushing if drains are backing up. Note where the cleanout is if you know, and clear access to it. If sewage has come up inside, keep children and pets away from it.