If you’re having problems with your sewer line, you might be wondering who’s responsible for making the necessary repairs. It really depends on the municipality—if the problems are occurring at the street, it could be your responsibility or it could be the municipality’s. Either way, it’s important you know who to contact if you start having problems with your sewer line so you can make sure those problems get resolved as soon as possible.
The city will generally be responsible for sewer lines beginning at the main underground sewer pipe, the line that carries all waste and wastewater to your local treatment plant or another location. That sewer main typically is located past your property boundaries.
Here’s some information from a plumber in Modesto, CA about responsibility for sewer line maintenance and how you should proceed if you’re having problems.
What to know about the main sewer line
There is a variety of different designs for main sewer lines, so the sewer main for your home could be designed in any number of these fashions based on factors such as the age of the neighborhood or the nature of your home’s plumbing system. There are also often differences in sewer mains between rural and urban communities.
Your responsibility with upper and lower laterals
If the problems come from pipes that run to the main line rather than with the main line itself, you’re going to be the one responsible for making the repairs, which means you’ll need to find a plumber in Modesto, CA who is qualified to work on these types of lines.
These pipes, which run from your home to the main sewer line, are known as the upper and lower lateral sections. The upper lateral includes the cleanout for your house and your property line. This is a pipe that extends from your home to the sidewalk before it branches off to the lower lateral underneath the street. The lower lateral, meanwhile, runs from the property line to the main sewer line. This section of the pipe is not on your property, but there’s still a chance you could be responsible for fixing damage to that pipe if it’s caused by clogs or tree roots that come from your property.
If you do find there is a problem with your sewer line for which you are likely to be held responsible, you should double check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if you’ll be able to be covered by it. It’s also a good idea to undergo regular plumbing inspections. This is an absolutely crucial process to go through before you purchase a house, if you want to get a sense of the quality of the pipes (both inside and out) before you purchase it.
For more information about responsibility for problems with the main sewer line at your house and to learn about our other plumbing-related services, we encourage you to contact a plumber in Modesto, CA at Alvarado Pumping Septic Service and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.