La Mesa's housing is older than most of the county, and the sewer lateral under a 1960s or 1970s home is often where repeat backups start. A sewer camera inspection sends a camera through that private line and shows exactly what is inside it, from roots to cracked joints to heavy scale. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in La Mesa.
Signs your lateral needs a look
- Toilets that drain slowly or need a second flush even after plunging
- Water coming up in a shower pan or tub when the washer empties
- A sewage odor in the garage, crawl space or near the cleanout
- The same main line clog cleared two or three times in a year
- Damp soil or sinking ground along the route the pipe takes to the street
If only the kitchen sink is slow, the problem is probably in that branch. Repeated trouble across the house means the main line deserves a camera.
La Mesa conditions
The median La Mesa home was built around 1970, so many houses still have their original drain piping. Clay lines from that period can crack and admit roots at every joint, and cast iron tends to corrode and build up scale until the inside diameter shrinks. Homes along streets off University Avenue and Lake Murray Boulevard often have mature trees, and their roots go straight for any leaking joint.
The City of La Mesa owns and operates the public sewer, roughly 165 miles of gravity mains, and all of its flow goes to the City of San Diego's Metropolitan Wastewater System for treatment. The City maintains the city-maintained portions of laterals, while private laterals are the owner's responsibility. A camera inspection tells you where your problem sits relative to that line, which matters before anyone starts quoting.
Cost considerations
- Whether a cleanout is available or the camera must enter through a toilet or vent
- Opening a blocked line so the camera can see
- Root cutting or descaling before filming in older pipe
- The distance from the house to the main
- Locating defects from the surface and saving the video
What to expect after calling
You will reach an independent local plumber who covers La Mesa. Mention the age of the house if you know it and whether the line has been worked on before. After the inspection, the plumber can explain whether the line needs cleaning, a spot repair or replacement. The City of La Mesa Building Division notes that a plumbing permit may be needed for any addition or change to a building's existing system, so a repair should be confirmed with the City.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in La Mesa
Do tree roots really get into sewer pipes?
Which part of the sewer line am I responsible for?
Will the plumber have to clear a clog before filming the line?
Will the video show what kind of pipe I have?
More plumbing services in La Mesa
Sewer Camera Inspection nearby
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