If sewage is backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain, stop using every fixture and keep people and pets out of the wet area. Our line is open 24/7, so call right away, and do not run the washer, dishwasher or showers while you wait. Stay away from standing water near electrical outlets and appliances.
Sewer backup: what to do first, and why repair may follow
A backup that clears with a cable and returns in a few weeks is often a pipe problem, not a clog problem. Roots that entered a joint, a section that has sagged and holds water, or a crack that lets soil into the line will all bring the blockage back. Cleaning treats the symptom, and repair removes the cause.
That is why we treat repeated backups as urgent even when the first one seemed minor. The lateral also fails at the worst times, such as after heavy use on a weekend or late at night. We take those calls after hours, and a same-day visit is our goal when schedules allow.
Roots in the joints
Clay and older cast iron pipes have joints roots can enter. Cutting them back gives relief, but the opening stays unless the joint is repaired or lined.
Belly or sag in the line
A low spot holds water and waste, so paper settles and builds up. You see this on camera as a pool in a pipe that should drain dry.
Cracks and offsets
Ground movement, heavy loads or age can crack a pipe or shift a joint. A camera shows whether the damage is a clean break or a slow leak into the soil.
Corroded cast iron
Older cast iron can flake from the inside and narrow over time. Rough interior walls catch debris and the pipe may be thin where it is rusted.
Collapsed sections
A collapsed pipe cannot be cleared at all. It needs excavation or replacement, and the earlier it is found, the more options you have.
How a sewer repair job is planned
Every repair starts with seeing the damage. We do not recommend digging or lining until a camera has located the problem and measured how far it runs.
Camera and locate
A camera runs the line and a locator marks the depth and position of the damage on the surface. We record what we find so you can see it too.
Choose the repair method
Spot repair, trenchless lining or replacement each fit different damage. We explain why one suits your pipe better, what it costs in effort, and what it will do to the yard and driveway.
Plan permits and utilities
Plumbing permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles them. If digging is involved, a state utility locate ticket through 811 is required, with at least two working days of notice.
Do the work
We excavate or line the pipe, test the repair and restore the access we opened. Landscaping, concrete and paving finish work is a separate trade.
Confirm with a final camera
A camera pass after the repair shows the pipe is intact and flowing. You see the result before anything is buried or closed.
Millbrae's rules on the sewer lateral
In Millbrae the property owner builds, maintains and clears the sewer lateral on their own lot. The city maintains only the short piece between the cleanout wye and the main, and only if the cleanout is in the designated location. Everything else is your responsibility, so damage on your side is your repair.
The city code sets timelines that matter if you receive notice. After a notice of a leaking lateral, repair is due within 30 days. After a sewer overflow caused by a lateral, repair or replacement is due within 180 days, with exceptions for extensive remodels and hardship. If the city requires roots removed and the line repaired, the owner has 120 days. These are the city's rules, so confirm your dates with Public Works.
Millbrae specifics for repair planning
Millbrae's own sanitary sewer system flows to the city's Water Pollution Control Plant, and the city describes the collection system as in need of significant repair and rehabilitation. The city is inspecting and repairing pipes and house laterals under its Sewer Modernization Program. If you hear from the city about your lateral, a camera record from us is useful evidence of the pipe's condition.
The city code also calls for owner-paid sidewalk cleanouts and backflow or relief devices in listed situations, including new construction, remodels and lateral repairs. A backwater valve can keep sewage from flowing back into the house during a main blockage. We tell you whether your repair triggers either requirement before the work is booked.
A large share of Millbrae homes date from the mid-century building boom, and pipes of that age are the ones most likely to show roots, offsets and corrosion. A camera is the only way to know the condition of yours.
Repair methods compared
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | One short damaged section | Needs a dig at that point |
| Trenchless lining | Cracks, roots and rough pipe with a continuous path | Cannot fix collapsed or badly offset pipe |
| Pipe bursting | Replacing a failing line along its path | Needs entry and exit pits |
| Open trench replacement | Collapsed or sagging pipe | Most disruptive to yard and paving |
What affects the cost of sewer line repair
What changes the price of sewer line repair
Cost follows the length of damaged pipe, the depth of the line and the method that fits it.
Length of damage
A short section costs less than a long run of failing pipe.
Depth and location
Deep lines and lines under driveways or buildings are harder to reach.
Method chosen
Lining, bursting and trenching are different jobs with different effort.
Permits and utility locates
Required permits and locate tickets add steps to the schedule.
After-hours work
Emergency visits at night are priced differently from scheduled ones.
Call the 24/7 line for a clear price before work starts. Some home insurance policies exclude sewer line damage, so check with your insurer before work.
Backups keep returning after cleaning?
That is usually a pipe problem. Call us, describe how often it happens and which fixtures back up, and we will schedule a camera visit.
Related sewer work
If you are not sure the pipe is damaged, a sewer camera inspection shows what is down there. Some blockages need only sewer line cleaning to restore flow, and a stubborn buildup may call for hydro jetting first.
We work across Millbrae and the nearby areas on our service area page, including Burlingame.
Sewer line repair questions
Yes. The line is staffed 24/7, and sewage backing up at night or on a weekend is urgent. We will tell you what to shut off and what we can arrange for your address, and we start with a camera to see the damage.
A resin-coated liner is pulled into the existing pipe and cured to form a new pipe inside the old one. It avoids digging up the whole run, but it only works if the pipe is open and continuous.
Under city code, the owner is responsible for the lateral on their own lot. The city maintains only the part between the cleanout wye and the main, and only when the cleanout is in the designated location.
The code sets 30 days after notice of a leak, 180 days after a lateral-caused overflow and 120 days for root removal and repair. Confirm your own deadlines with Public Works, since exceptions can apply.
Not always. Lining and bursting need only small access points, but collapsed or sagging pipe needs excavation. The camera shows which applies, and we explain the effect on your yard before work starts.
It depends on the camera. Cast iron that is rough but sound can sometimes be cleaned and kept. Thin, flaking or cracked cast iron is usually better lined or replaced.
Permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits. Digging also needs an 811 locate ticket with at least two working days of notice. We tell you what applies to your job.
Yes, if the opening they enter through is sealed by a liner or replaced pipe. Cutting roots alone only buys time, so the repair is what stops the cycle.
Sources and standards: Millbrae Municipal Code chapter 8.20 on sewer laterals (including the 25 percent remodel inspection rule). The California Plumbing Code (based on the Uniform Plumbing Code). USA North 811 for locating buried utilities before digging.