Most of Spring Valley is on the San Diego County Sanitation District sewer, with some pockets not on municipal sewer, so the first thing a plumber wants to know is where your line ends. Either way, the drains in the house and the line leaving it are the owner's to maintain. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Spring Valley.
Spring Valley at a glance
Spring Valley is a heavily populated unincorporated community of mostly single-family homes, with denser multi-family housing added since the 1970s. The County's community plan says most of it is served by the County sewer system, and the San Diego County Sanitation District sends that wastewater to the City of San Diego's Point Loma Treatment Plant. Some pockets are not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems. Water comes from Helix Water District or Otay Water District depending on the address. Helix reports its plant water averages about 12 grains per gallon, which helps soap film build up in bathroom drains.
What to do now
- If two or more fixtures are backing up, stop all water use, including laundry and the dishwasher.
- Keep the toilet from overflowing: close the flapper inside the tank and shut the supply valve.
- Look at the lowest drain in the house, often a tub or shower, for water rising from below.
- Find the cleanout outside. If water is coming out of it, the building sewer is blocked.
- If your home is not on municipal sewer, mention it when you call so the plumber knows where the line goes.
- If sewage is coming from a manhole or the street, report it to the County, which runs the public sewer.
Symptoms and what usually causes them
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Shower drain holds an inch of water | Hair and soap scum in the trap or branch line |
| Toilet gurgles when the washer drains | Partial blockage in the building sewer |
| Kitchen sink slow after holiday cooking | Congealed grease in the kitchen line |
| Every fixture slow at once | Main line clog, or a problem farther down the line to the street or the onsite system |
| Backups that come back every few months | Roots, a sag or a cracked section |
Cost factors
The bill depends on where the clog is, how easy the cleanout is to reach and which tools the job needs: a cable, a jetter, a camera or some combination. A long line on a sloped lot takes longer to clear than a short one. If the plumber finds a broken section that has to be replaced, permits in unincorporated Spring Valley go through the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services. Calls at night or on weekends usually cost more.
Drain Cleaning questions in Spring Valley
Our house is not on municipal sewer. Can a plumber still clear the drains?
Who do I call if sewage is spilling from a manhole or the street?
Why is every drain in the house slow at the same time?
Can I flush wipes that say they are flushable?
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