Coronado places more of the sewer line on the homeowner than many cities do: the owner is responsible for the lateral up to and including its connection to the City main. A plumber can clear a slow fixture or a blocked lateral and tell you whether the pipe needs repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Coronado.
Coronado drains in brief
Coronado is a historic resort city on a tied island, with an established village around Orange Avenue, the Coronado Cays to the south and Naval Air Station North Island on the north end. The City of Coronado runs the sewer, and its rule on laterals is worth knowing before anything goes wrong: the property owner is responsible for the sewer lateral up to and including the connection to the City sewer main. That makes a root intrusion or broken joint near the street the owner's repair, not the City's.
California American Water supplies Coronado under a contract with the City, using treated water bought from the City of San Diego. Its report lists hardness at the source plants of 8.5 to 16.4 grains per gallon, which adds mineral film to soap scum in shower and tub drains.
What to do now
- If more than one fixture is backing up, stop all water use, including the washer and dishwasher.
- Shut off a rising toilet at the valve behind it and press the flapper closed.
- Check the lowest drain in the house for water coming up from below.
- Find the cleanout. Water seeping from it means the lateral is blocked.
- Rinse sand off feet and gear outdoors rather than in an indoor shower while a drain is slow.
- Call a plumber, and skip chemical openers in the meantime.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Shower drains slowly after beach days | Sand, hair and soap packed in the trap |
| Toilet gurgles when the tub drains | Partial blockage in the lateral |
| Kitchen sink slow after entertaining | Grease and food solids in the kitchen line |
| Water at the cleanout cap | Main lateral blocked between the house and the street |
| Repeat backups on the same line | Roots, a sag or a cracked joint near the connection |
Cost factors
Price depends on where the clog is, how easy the cleanout is to reach and whether the job calls for a cable, a jetter or a camera. Because Coronado owners are responsible all the way to the main, a camera inspection that shows damage near the street can turn a cleaning into a repair, and repairs bring permit questions for the City's Building Services Division at 619-522-7331. After-hours visits usually cost more.
Drain Cleaning questions in Coronado
Who is responsible for the sewer lateral between my house and the main?
Is a camera inspection worth it after the main line backs up?
Does hard water play a part in slow drains?
Should I pour a store-bought drain cleaner in before calling anyone?
More plumbing services in Coronado
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