Sewage is backing up right now
If wastewater is coming up in the lowest drain in the house, treat it as an emergency. Stop running water, skip the washing machine and dishwasher, and keep children and pets out of the wet area. Our 24/7 dispatch picks up overnight and on weekends, and we book same-day visits whenever the day has room.
If the water has reached outlets or floor-level appliances, leave the power off in that area. Do not pour chemical drain openers into a backed-up line, because they sit in the pipe and make the work harder and less safe for whoever opens it. Then (562) 488-9614 and tell dispatch which drains are affected.
Which drains back up tells us where the problem sits
Use this before we arrive. It helps us bring the right equipment.
- Only one sink or tub is slow. That is usually a branch clog, and our Sewer Line Cleaning page explains when a main line is involved instead.
- The lowest tub, shower or floor drain gurgles or fills when you flush a toilet or run the washer. That points to the main line.
- More than one fixture is affected at the same time, and clearing one does not help the others.
- Sewage smell outside near a cleanout, or damp ground along the path of the line.
- A line that clears for a few weeks and then backs up again. Repeat backups are the signal to look inside the pipe rather than clear it again.
- Tell us if your property has a septic tank. That changes what we check, so mention it when you call us.
What the camera finds and what each finding means
After the line is open, a camera shows what the backup was really about. We show you the footage and explain it.
| Camera finding | What it usually means | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Roots entering at joints | Roots found a gap and have grown through it | Cut the roots, then decide between lining or a section repair. |
| Cracked or offset pipe | A section has shifted or broken | Spot repair if short, replacement if the damage runs on. |
| Belly or low spot | Pipe has sagged, so waste settles | Regrade that section. Clearing alone will not hold. |
| Heavy scale or buildup | Slow narrowing over time | Cleaning or jetting may be enough. |
| Collapsed section | Pipe has failed completely | Excavation and replacement of the failed run. |
A clear line on camera is good news. Not every backup needs a repair.
Backup tonight, plan tomorrow
Tell dispatch which drains are rising. Dial the 24/7 line and we will stop the backup first, then show you what the camera finds.
Lining, spot repair or full replacement
There are three broad choices. A spot repair fixes one short failed section. Pipe lining, often called trenchless, builds a new liner inside the existing pipe. Replacement removes the old run and installs new pipe, either by digging or by a pull method where the layout allows.
Trenchless sounds like the clean answer, and sometimes it is, but it has limits. It needs a pipe that is still open enough to line, it does not cure a belly where waste pools, and a badly collapsed section may still need digging. We tell you which of those applies to your line before you decide.
Cast iron pipe repair
Pico Rivera's median home was built in 1957 per Census ACS 2024 data, and older drain lines can be cast iron. We do not assume what is in your walls or under the yard. If the camera shows cast iron, we describe its condition section by section, and recommend repair only where the pipe is actually failing.
What drives the cost of a sewer repair
The price is spelled out before any work begins. These are the factors behind it.
Depth and length
A short, shallow section is a smaller job than a long run under a driveway.
Surface above the pipe
Lawn, concrete and landscaping each change the restoration work.
Repair method
Spot repair, lining and replacement differ in materials and labor.
Access
A good cleanout makes camera work and repair simpler, and it is a reason to ask us about adding one.
Damage found
Roots, offsets and bellies each change the scope once the footage is reviewed.
Dispatch is based at 8600 Whittier Blvd, with service reaching towns such as Santa Fe Springs. The camera visit is what separates a guess from a plan.
From the first call to a working drain
Here is the order of an emergency sewer visit.
- 1
Stop the backup
We open the line so wastewater stops rising and the home is safe to use again.
- 2
Camera the line
We run a camera to find the cause, the distance to it and the pipe's condition.
- 3
Review the footage with you
You see what we saw, in plain terms, along with the repair options.
- 4
Agree on the work
Price and scope are settled with you first, and you decide.
- 5
Repair and re-check
After the repair, we run the camera again and confirm the line flows.
Standards and sources behind this page
Repair methods such as open trench and pipe lining each have manufacturer and local permit requirements, so ask us which apply to your line. Sewer work is covered by the California Plumbing Code, and we tell you whether your repair needs a permit before digging.
Questions we hear most
Yes. Dispatch runs 24/7, and an active sewage backup goes to the front of the line after hours. Same-day visits are scheduled whenever there is room, and (562) 488-9614 reaches the dispatcher.
For a first-time slow drain, clearing may be enough. If the backup repeats or more than one fixture is affected, the camera is how we find the cause.
No. Lining avoids a trench, but the pipe has to be open enough to line and cannot fix a low spot where waste settles. We explain which route fits.
If your property has a septic tank, tell us when you call. We will adjust the visit and let you know what we can and cannot do.
We advise against it for a main line backup. The chemicals can sit in the pipe and make the work harder and less safe.
Sometimes. Spot repairs and lining keep digging to a minimum, and the camera shows how much is needed. We explain the surface impact before you agree.
A cleanout is an access point to the sewer line. If you can tell us where yours is, it can save time at the start of the visit.
Camera first, decisions second
A backup tells you something is wrong. Call us any hour and we will clear it, show you the footage, and put the price in front of you before any repair.