Sewer line repair targets one damaged part of the lateral that carries wastewater from your house toward the City sewer, such as a cracked pipe, a joint full of roots or a sunken stretch. In San Diego, homeowners are responsible for the lateral between the house and the property line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in San Diego.
Signs the problem is in the main line
- Several drains slow down at the same time
- The toilet gurgles or bubbles when a tub or washer drains
- Water comes up in the shower or tub when other fixtures run
- Sewage smell near the cleanout or a soggy patch in the yard
- Backups return shortly after the line was cleared
A single slow fixture is more often a clog in that fixture's branch.
Where your responsibility ends
The City of San Diego operates the public sewer mains and the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant. Under the City's plumbing guidance, the homeowner repairs the sewer lateral between the house and the property line. If the break turns out to be beyond the property line, a plumber files a Plumber's Report with the City's Sewer Emergency Line so the City can look at its side. Sewage coming out of a manhole or into the street is a City issue, not a homeowner repair.
How the damaged spot is found
Most repairs start with clearing the line and running a camera from a cleanout. The plumber notes the distance to the defect and uses a locator to mark it on the surface along with its depth. That footage shows whether the pipe is cracked, offset, root-filled or holding water in a belly, and it lets you compare quotes on the same evidence.
Common repairs
| What the camera shows | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| A single broken or crushed length | Open one pit and replace that piece |
| Roots at a joint in pipe that is otherwise round | Clear the roots, then a spot liner from inside |
| A belly where waste settles | Dig up and re-lay the pipe at correct slope |
| Problems along much of the run | Get a replacement quote alongside the repair quote |
Older laterals and hillside lots
About half of San Diego homes were built before 1980, and older communities such as Hillcrest and North Park can have cast iron drains and older clay or cast iron laterals that crack and let roots in. Canyon and hillside lots can mean a deeper or longer lateral and tighter access for equipment.
Permits and cost
The City's Development Services Department requires a Plumbing/Gas Permit for alteration or replacement of a plumbing system, and your plumber should confirm which permit applies. Cost depends on depth, length of the damaged section, pipe material, whether a liner will work, and what sits on top, such as concrete, a driveway or landscaping.
Sewer Line Repair questions from San Diego homeowners
Who is responsible for the sewer line at my San Diego home?
Can a sewer lateral be repaired without digging?
Do I need a permit to repair my sewer line in San Diego?
Why do roots keep getting into my sewer line?
Related plumbing services in San Diego
Sewer Line Repair in nearby cities and towns
San Diego County
Sources
Last updated: