Sewer Line Repair
Root-damaged clay laterals are the most common big job, and trenchless methods help protect old trees and hardscape.
See the detailsPlumbing for Pasadena's older homes and buildings (91101)
Pasadena's Craftsman bungalows and period homes are handsome, but much of their plumbing is as old as the woodwork. When pipes leak or the sewer backs up, call us any hour.
Plumbing in Pasadena, in short
Pasadena calls center on root-filled clay sewer laterals, galvanized supply pipe at the end of its life, cast iron drain failures, water heater replacements and gas line work. We diagnose carefully in older houses, explain repair choices and typical costs, and file permits with the City of Pasadena.
How we cover Pasadena
Pasadena is known for its early 1900s houses, especially in neighborhoods like Bungalow Heaven, Madison Heights and the streets around Caltech. Downtown, around Old Pasadena and the Civic Center, older commercial buildings stand beside newer condos and apartments with very different plumbing inside.
The city runs Pasadena Water and Power and its own permit office, and some neighborhoods are historic districts where exterior changes need extra approval. We come in on the 110, the 134 or the 210, and we plan work in older houses to protect original finishes as far as the job allows.
Homes and pipes
Craftsman homes and the plumbing inside them
- Raised-floor Craftsman bungalowsMost bungalows sit on raised foundations, which gives good crawlspace access to supply lines, drains and gas pipe.
- Original galvanized supply pipeMany older houses still have galvanized lines, sometimes partly replaced, leaving copper and steel joined at rusting fittings.
- Clay laterals under big treesPasadena's oaks, sycamores and other mature street trees send roots into clay sewer laterals between the house and the street.
- Downtown mixed-use buildingsOlder commercial buildings in Old Pasadena have long drain runs, restaurant grease lines and shared water heaters.
What people call about
Plumbing calls we see most in Pasadena
Whole-House Repiping
Mixed galvanized and copper systems leak at the transitions, so a full repipe usually beats chasing one joint failure after another.
See the detailsMain Line Clog Clearing
Backups at a floor drain or the lowest toilet usually mean roots at a lateral joint, often right after the first winter rain.
See the detailsWater Heater Replacement
Heaters in old service porches and basements often need new venting, seismic straps and a drip pan when replaced.
See the detailsGrease Trap Service
Restaurants downtown need traps pumped and lines kept clear to stay within city discharge rules.
See the detailsGas Line Installation
Kitchen remodels in older homes often move or add a gas range, which calls for new pipe sized to the appliance.
See the detailsProtecting older Pasadena homes during plumbing work
Working in a century-old house means care with walls, floors and finishes. In a raised-floor bungalow we run most new piping through the crawlspace and come up inside closets or cabinets where possible. When an opening in plaster is unavoidable, we keep it as small as the work allows and tell you before we cut. Our article on choosing between a patch and a full repipe lays out the tradeoffs.
With sewer laterals, trees are usually the cause of the trouble and the reason to avoid digging. Where the camera shows a lateral that is cracked but still continuous, trenchless pipe replacement can spare the root zone of a mature tree or an old brick walkway from a trench.
If you are planning a remodel, line up plumbing upgrades while the walls are open. A bathroom remodel is a good time to replace cast iron drains, add proper shutoff valves and update a worn shower valve.
Questions we hear
Questions from Pasadena
Does a Pasadena historic district affect plumbing work?
Interior plumbing rarely needs design approval. Changes visible from the street, like a new exterior heater enclosure, a relocated gas meter or exposed piping, may need sign-off in a historic district. Permits for the plumbing itself go through Pasadena's building office, and we can tell you early if a plan might trigger extra steps.
Why do Pasadena sewer lines back up after the first rain?
Rain soaks the soil around older clay laterals, and roots and loose joints let groundwater and silt into the pipe. That extra flow and debris can turn a slow line into a full backup. A camera inspection shows where roots are entering and whether cleaning or repair is the better choice.
Can a Pasadena Craftsman be repiped without tearing up the walls?
Mostly, yes. Raised floors give access from below, so we run new lines through the crawlspace and up into each fixture wall with small openings. Upstairs bathrooms in two-story houses may need a few more. We plan the route with you first and patch the openings as part of the job.
Do you cover all of Pasadena and nearby Altadena?
Next door
Nearby areas we also cover
Glendale 91205
Plumbing for Glendale's Spanish revival houses, hillside homes and apartment buildings, including drains, heaters, gas lines and repipes.
Local detailsEl Monte 91731
El Monte's older homes, back houses and small apartment lots need drain clearing, pipe repair and water heater work. We answer the phone 24/7.
Local detailsBurbank 91502
Plumbing repair across Burbank, from Magnolia Park bungalows and Rancho homes to foothill houses and downtown apartments.
Local detailsSunland-Tujunga 91042
Leak, sewer and gas line work for Sunland-Tujunga's older foothill homes, cabins and hillside lots below the San Gabriels, answered around the clock.
Local detailsPlumbing trouble in Pasadena?
One phone line, answered around the clock. Tell us the street and what you are seeing.