The sewer line, often called the lateral, is the pipe that carries everything from your house to the public sewer. In a city where the median home was built in 1949 and 39.2% of homes date from 1939 or earlier, many of these lines are as old as the house. Old laterals are a common source of repeat backups in Erie basements.
Why old sewer lines fail
Old pipe material.
Older homes were often built with clay tile or cast iron sewer pipe. Clay joints can shift and let roots in. Cast iron rusts and scales inside until it cracks.
Tree roots.
Roots find the small leaks at old joints and grow into the pipe, catching paper and waste.
Sags and bellies.
Soil settles over decades. A low spot holds water and waste, which builds up into a blockage.
Frost and heavy ground.
Ground that freezes and thaws through long winters puts stress on old joints.
Earlier repairs.
Many older lines have patches from past owners, with mixed materials joined together.
Signs of a sewer line problem
- Several drains are slow at the same time.
- The basement floor drain backs up, especially after laundry or a shower.
- Toilets gurgle or bubble when other fixtures drain.
- Sewage smell in the basement or yard.
- A wet, sunken or extra green patch of lawn between the house and the street.
- The main line has to be cleared again and again.
Camera inspection first
Before anyone digs, ask for a sewer camera inspection. A plumber runs a small camera on a cable through a cleanout and records the inside of the line. You see what the plumber sees: roots, cracks, a belly, a broken joint or a collapse, and how far from the house it is. Ask for a copy of the video. It helps you compare quotes and is useful if you sell the house later.
Repair options
Depending on what the camera shows, a plumber may suggest:
Clearing and root cutting
when the pipe is sound but roots or buildup are the problem. This is often a short term fix if roots keep coming back.
Spot repair
of one broken section, by digging at that point.
Full replacement
of the line when it is cracked or sagging in several places.
Trenchless options,
such as lining the old pipe, where the line is a good candidate. Not every old line is.
Ask the plumber to explain why they recommend one option over another, and what the price covers, including digging, restoring the yard and any permit.
Who is responsible for the sewer line
The part of the line from your house toward the public sewer is usually the property owner's to maintain, but where your part ends depends on your municipality. Before a big repair, ask the City of Erie, or your township if you live outside the city, where your responsibility stops. For permits in the city, only master license holders can obtain a plumbing permit, according to the city's Code Enforcement page.
Buying an older Erie home
If you are buying a house built before 1960, which is most of the housing in the city, think about a sewer camera inspection before closing. A standard home inspection usually does not look inside the sewer line, and a broken lateral is one of the costlier surprises in an old house.
Common questions
How do I know if my sewer line is broken?
Watch for several slow drains at once, backups in the basement floor drain, gurgling toilets, or a sewage smell. A camera inspection is the way to know for sure.
Can tree roots really break a sewer pipe?
Roots usually enter through small gaps at old joints, then grow and widen them. Over time they can crack clay pipe and block the line completely.
Do I need to dig up my yard to fix a sewer line?
Not always. A camera shows exactly where the problem is. A single break may need a small dig, and some lines can be lined from inside without a trench.