A line that keeps backing up
Repeated backups after the drains have been cleared suggest a problem in the pipe itself. The plumber you hire looks into the cause and talks through the options.
Sewer Line Repair in San Jose
A backup that returns after the drains have been cleared can mean damage somewhere in the line to the street. Call and describe it, and the plumber you hire examines the line and what it needs.
We cover roots in the line, broken or collapsed sections, and replacing the lateral. The notes below explain who looks after which part of the line in San Jose.
Sewer line options
Roots in the line
Roots that work into the joints of a sewer pipe can choke it. Call if you suspect roots, and the plumber you hire looks at the pipe.
A broken or collapsed section
A damaged stretch of pipe may be repaired on its own or may call for a longer replacement. The plumber you hire explains which part of the pipe needs work.
Replacing the lateral
A pipe damaged along its whole length is a case for a new lateral, a fresh line from the house out toward the street. Tell us what you have found so far.
Sewer lateral rules in San Jose
In San Jose the property owner looks after the sewage pipe up to the sewer main in the street, and the City’s Department of Transportation staff can check the main sewer line. If the City finds the blockage in your lateral, you call a plumber to clear it.
A building also needs an approved backwater valve where its lowest plumbing fixture sits less than one foot above the cover of the next upstream manhole. A licensed plumber verifies and installs it, and the work takes a plumbing permit and an inspection.
House age and the sewer line
Your build year goes into the sewer line age checker, and it returns the pipe materials in use when your house went up. Treat it as a rough guide to what the yard may hold, not a diagnosis.
Also see drain cleaning, the repiping page and the homepage.
Call for a free plumbing quote
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426