Sewage in the shower, every drain slowing at once, or a camera report that says “roots” or “offset joint”? Target Plumbers repairs and replaces damaged main sewer lines for homes across Los Angeles and Orange County. Before we quote, we put a camera in the line, so the price is based on what is actually down there, and you choose between digging and trenchless options with the footage in front of you.
One slow sink is a drain problem. The main line is the pipe every drain shares, so its failures show up in more than one place. Use this table to judge what you’re seeing:
| What you notice | What it usually points to | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet water rises when the washing machine drains | Blockage or break in the main line, downstream of both fixtures | Stop using water; call for a cleanout and camera |
| Sewage at the lowest floor drain, tub or yard cleanout | Main line fully blocked or collapsed | Treat as urgent; call (844) 941-2727 |
| Main line cleared, but it backs up again within weeks | Roots, a belly or a broken section the cleaning can’t fix | Camera inspection to locate the damage |
| Sewer smell outdoors, or a soggy, greener strip of lawn | Cracked or separated pipe leaking into the soil | Camera inspection with a locator |
| Gurgling from several fixtures | Restricted flow or venting issue in the main line | Camera inspection |
| Only one fixture is slow | A local clog, usually not the sewer line | Drain cleaning |
Each of these calls for a different fix, which is why we diagnose before we price.
When the camera shows one damaged section and the rest of the pipe is sound, we dig only at that point, cut out the bad section and couple in new pipe. It is the smallest repair, and the right one when the damage is isolated.
A flexible liner soaked in resin is inserted through a cleanout and cured against the old pipe wall, creating a seamless pipe inside the existing one. It seals cracks and root entry points without opening the yard, as long as the old pipe still has its shape and slope.
A cone-shaped head is pulled through the old line, splitting it outward while it drags a new pipe into the same path. You get a new sewer line through two small pits instead of a trench, which is why people search for it as “no-dig sewer replacement.”
For a collapsed pipe, a deep belly or a line laid at the wrong slope, the dependable fix is to excavate and lay new pipe at the correct grade, adding cleanouts that meet current code.
| Method | Best when | Digging | Fixes slope or bellies? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Damage limited to one reachable section | One small excavation | Only at that spot |
| Pipe lining | Cracks or roots; pipe still round and sloped correctly | None (cleanout access) | No |
| Pipe bursting | Whole line failing; mostly straight run | Two access pits | Partly |
| Open-trench replacement | Collapsed pipe, deep bellies, wrong slope | Full trench | Yes |
If the line runs under a slab, a pool or planned construction, giving it a new path can beat repairing it in place. See sewer line rerouting.
In Los Angeles County, the pipe from your house to the public sewer main, called the house lateral, belongs to the property owner; Public Works maintains the main in the street. Inside the City of Los Angeles, repairing or reconnecting a house connection requires a Bureau of Engineering S-Permit, and work in the public right-of-way has to be done by a Bonded Sewer Contractor. Orange County cities and sanitation districts set their own rules. We check which ones apply to your address and file the paperwork.
No two sewer lines are buried the same way, so we price after the camera run. These are the variables that change a sewer quote most:
A sewer replacement is rarely planned for. Approved customers can spread the cost over up to 48 months at 0% interest.
The method, the length and depth of the damage, and what sits on top of the pipe set the price. Replacing a few feet under lawn is a very different job from replacing the whole lateral under a driveway. We quote in writing after the camera inspection, before any digging.
Often. Lining needs no excavation, and pipe bursting needs two small pits. Neither works on a collapsed pipe or a deep belly, and the camera shows which group your line falls into.
Repair one spot when the rest of the pipe looks sound on camera. When roots, cracks or sags show up along much of the run, lining or replacing the full length usually costs less than paying for repeat repairs.
Yes. Sewer repairs need a plumbing permit and a city inspection. In the City of Los Angeles, house-connection work also needs a Bureau of Engineering S-Permit, and anything in the street must be done by a Bonded Sewer Contractor. We file the permits.
In Los Angeles County the owner is responsible for the house lateral, all the way to the public main. The public agency maintains the main itself.
It varies by policy. Many policies exclude wear, age and root damage, and some sell a separate service-line endorsement. Ask your insurer; our camera footage and written findings can support a claim.
Spot repairs and trenchless jobs are often done the same day. Open-trench replacements take longer, depending on length, depth and permit inspections. Your quote includes the expected schedule.
Stop running water and call (844) 941-2727 at any hour. We clear the line first so the house is usable, then camera it to see whether a repair is needed.
Sewer jobs are scheduled from whichever office is closest to the property. Office addresses and direct numbers:
Backup happening now? Call (844) 941-2727, day or night. Planning a repair or comparing quotes? Use the form and we’ll schedule the camera inspection.