Question 1

What does it mean to be compliant with sewer regulations?

Accepted Answer

The issue at hand is not the leakage of sewage water into the ground, but rather rainwater infiltrating the sewage system. It's essential for your sewer line to be watertight, preventing rainwater from entering the sewers. Excessive rainwater can cause the sewage treatment plants to overflow into the San Francisco Bay. 
Your sewer is considered compliant if your property's sewer lateral has been issued a Compliance Certificate by your local sanitary district. For more information on your responsibilities regarding your property’s upper and lower laterals, please contact PIPE SPY for the latest information.

Obtaining a Compliance Certificate may be as straightforward as scheduling an inspection. After your PIPE SPY Marin service technician examines your sewer, we will inform you whether we believe your sewer will pass the compliance evaluation without needing repairs.

Question 2

What steps can I take to avoid a sewer backup?

Accepted Answer

Sewer line backups can result from damage to your property's sewer line or issues within the city’s main sewer system. The leading cause of sewer spills and backups on private property is tree root infiltration.

While no one wants a backup event, it’s preferable for it to occur outside your home rather than inside. To avoid indoor backups, consider hiring a skilled sewer plumber to install a backup prevention device on the outdoor section of your sewer lateral. There are various devices and techniques available to prevent sewer water from flowing into your home. PIPE SPY Marin can assist you in selecting the most suitable device and its optimal placement on your property.

The second most common cause of backups and spills is the accumulation of fats, oils, and grease (known as "F.O.G.") in the sewer line. Never dispose of cooking oil, animal fat, or grease down your sink or drain, as even small amounts can accumulate over time. Instead, scrape and wipe cooking pots, utensils, and dishes into the trash before rinsing them in the sink.

PIPE SPY Marin advises homeowners to schedule a sewer pipe inspection every 4-5 years, or more often if you've experienced issues in the past. Snaking and hydro-jetting can help clear the line if the video inspection indicates it's necessary. By keeping an eye on root intrusion and material buildup in your sewer line, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a sewer backup event.

Question 3

What exactly is a sewer cleanout?

Accepted Answer

Situated above the ground, a sewer clean out provides access to your sewer line for inspection or clearing. You might find your sewer clean out near your home, close to a bathroom, along your sidewalk, or at your property lines. In certain locations, it may also be found in a crawl space or basement. If you're unsure of its location, PIPE SPY Marin can assist you in finding your clean out.

Having a clean out is beneficial for servicing the sewer lateral and for compliance testing, and it may be necessary for conducting a sewer camera inspection. If your property lacks a clean out, PIPE SPY Marin is available to install one for you.

As a property owner, it's important to familiarize yourself with the location of your clean out so that you can promptly address any sewer blockages and avoid potential overflows.

Question 4

What is the typical lifespan of a sewer line?

Accepted Answer

A sewer line should ideally last a lifetime, with a typical lifespan ranging from 50 to 100 years. The integrity of a sewer line is influenced by several factors, including the original installation quality, changes in the surrounding ground over time, and the conditions of the area around the sewer. Common causes of sewer line damage include improper embedment, inadequate ground compaction, and soil movement. While the pipe itself may remain intact, joint failures can occur, leading to root intrusion from trees or seepage issues.

Sewer systems were installed 50 to 100 years ago using materials such as terracotta clay, cast iron, and occasionally Orangeburg (tar paper) pipes. These aging sewer lines are increasingly prone to recurring issues and potential failure. Pipe Spy addresses this by replacing sewer pipes with HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe, which has a lifespan expected to exceed 100 years.

HDPE was first developed in Australia during the mid-1900s for use in mining conduits, and it was subsequently adopted in the United States for transporting gas, water, and various industrial fluids. PIPE SPY Marin has played a key role in promoting HDPE as a viable solution for sewer compliance in the Bay Area, collaborating with local governments to secure approval for its use.

Why choose HDPE? This material is exceptionally flexible and durable. Since HDPE pipe is installed with only two connection points—at the property and the city main—its trenchless installation is less susceptible to root intrusion compared to clay and cast iron pipes. Heat fusion welding techniques create strong, seamless joints that can be as robust, or even stronger, than the pipe itself, ensuring pipeline integrity at installation points.

Additionally, HDPE is resistant to rust, corrosion, and cracking, making it less vulnerable to seepage, leaks, and erosion of the surrounding earth.
Other advantages of using HDPE include:

- Minimizes the risk of chips, cracks, and breaks
- Sustainability, with a lifespan of 100 years and recyclability for reuse in waste management
- Cost savings due to its longevity and low maintenance requirements

PIPE SPY Marin specializes in sewer lateral installations, ensuring that each pipe installed has the best chance of reaching its 100-year lifespan. Our skilled crews also excel in restoring the surface areas of yards, sidewalks, and streets, leaving them looking natural and undisturbed after project completion.

Business owners and homeowners can feel confident knowing that their properties are enhanced with high-quality materials. After a PIPE SPY Marin sewer line replacement, your sewer is set to last well into the next century, providing you with peace of mind.

Question 5

What exactly is HDPE pipe?

Accepted Answer

Our expertise in HDPE pipe is extensive—PIPE SPY's trenchless advocates played a crucial role in transitioning from outdated clay pipes to HDPE during the approval process with local utility inspectors. They provided crucial insights to these inspectors about HDPE's durability and its advantages for residential property owners, including a lifespan exceeding 100 years, cost savings, quicker sewer repairs, and reduced disruption to sidewalks, streets, and properties. Additionally, HDPE is easier for our team to handle; its lightweight nature allows one person to carry a 20-foot section without the risk of breakage or injury if dropped.

Question 6

What could be the cause of a bad odor in your kitchen or bathroom?

Accepted Answer

A sewer smell emanating from your sink doesn't necessarily indicate a malfunction, but it does suggest that a part of the plumbing system isn't operating correctly.

Sewer gas is intended to rise and exit through vent pipes that are designed to release it at the top of your home. You may notice these pipes on the exterior of your house or as vents on the roof.

A frequent cause of sewer odors is a sink or drain that isn't used often. When these fixtures go unused, the P-Trap beneath the drain may not retain enough water to block sewer gas from escaping. This issue commonly occurs in guest bathrooms and powder room toilets that receive little use, as well as basement floor drains. The P-Traps under these drains lose water through evaporation, allowing sewer gas to seep back into the home. To prevent this, try flushing the toilet, washing your hands, or pouring mop water down the basement floor drain from time to time.

However, if you do detect a sewer gas smell inside your house, there may be a malfunction. A fixture vent could be damaged or blocked, which may result in suction that causes the P-Trap to lose water. Additionally, the P-Trap itself could be damaged or improperly connected. There may also be an issue within the sewer line; a PIPE SPY Marin sewer line video inspection can assist in identifying a solution to your sewer odor problem.

Question 7

What causes my toilet to flush slowly?

Accepted Answer

An active whirlpool in the toilet upon flushing is the desired outcome.

If you notice bubbles, gurgling sounds, or a toilet that drains slowly, these are signs of plumbing issues.

A toilet that backs up or flushes slowly can arise from several reasons. An object may have been flushed that is obstructing the pipe. If the toilet experiencing issues is located on the second floor, an internal blockage is likely to blame. If your neighbors are facing similar problems, the issue might be in the city sewer main – in that case, contact the local sanitary district or city public works department to report it.

Start with a DIY approach by using a standard plunger. If plunging doesn't restore water flow, use of toilet auger is an effective next step. While you can attempt to use a snake on your own, basic tools from the hardware store may not be long or powerful enough. For persistent slow-flushing issues, it may be necessary to call a professional who can employ a power snake or hydro-jet tools to eliminate the blockage in the sanitary line, followed by using a video camera to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Question 8

Ways to Inspect Your Sewer Line Following an Earthquake

Accepted Answer

Take immediate action to prevent a sewer line issue from escalating into an unpleasant backup in your home.

Older clay sewer pipes can crack due to ground movement; if your home is older, there's a good chance it has clay pipes. Additionally, iron pipe joints may become misaligned after even a minor quake. If you have a newer HDPE plastic sewer line, it's unlikely to have sustained damage.

What should you do if you suspect earthquake damage to your sewer line? Contact PIPE SPY Marin for a CCTV pipe inspection. Our technician will examine your sewer line between the city main and your home's entry point, inform you of any damage, and provide a thorough assessment of any necessary repairs.

If you experience sudden low water pressure or air in your water flow after an earthquake, PIPE SPY Marin can connect you with a local qualified plumber to address potential damage to your internal plumbing.

Everyone should be vigilant for these signs of trouble following an earthquake:

Gurgling toilet, bubbles rising to the surface, weak flush, or low water levels after flushing.
Sinkholes in your lawn or unexpected wet areas.
Rodent droppings or sightings of rats and other rodents, which may be nesting in broken sewer pipes.
Unpleasant odors inside or outside your home.
Increased frequency of your sump pump running.
Sewage backup into floor drains, showers, or tubs.

Question 9

What steps should I follow to turn off the water supply in my home?

Accepted Answer

Learn how to turn off the water in your home BEFORE a plumbing emergency strikes!

Homeowners can protect their properties by being ready to shut off all utilities, including gas lines, water systems, and meters.

Do you have a leak in your ceiling or are you installing a new fixture? To turn off the water, locate the shut-off valve where the water pipeline enters your home from the water meter. Most homes will have a “gate valve” – for this type, turn it Clockwise = Closed or Off, and Counter-clockwise = Open or On. A newer option is the “ball valve” (handle valve) – for this, turn the handle Away from the water line (perpendicular) = Closed or Off, and Parallel to the water line = Open or On.

If you're unable to locate your shut-off valve, it’s best to consult a plumber for assistance.

Question 10

How do drainage lines function?

Accepted Answer

All the water pipes in your home are designed to utilize gravity, allowing wastewater to flow downward, either vertically or at an angle, into your sewer lateral pipe. This sewer lateral is also sloped to direct the water downhill into the sewer main located in the street. In some properties where the home is situated below street level, a pump is installed to lift the water when the sewer main is higher than the house's drain lines.

What could be causing issues with your sewer drain line? Several factors can lead to backups in your sewer and drain lines, including improper slope, aging or damaged pipes from impact or ground movement, and tree root infiltration—these are the most common culprits of slow-running drains or blocked sewer pipes.

To accurately identify the issue with your sewer pipe or drain line, a sewer line camera inspection is the most effective starting point. PIPE SPY Marin's service technicians are well-trained and experienced in diagnosing and troubleshooting sewer line issues. We can resolve your backed-up or sluggish sewer pipe problems through repairs, snaking, hydro-jetting, or even sewer line replacement. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you experience any issues with your drain lines.

Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions