Sewage in the house is an emergency
Sewage carries bacteria, and it soaks into drywall, carpet and subflooring faster than clean water. Do not run any water in the house, including toilets, showers and the washing machine. Keep children, pets and anyone with a weakened immune system out of the affected room.
Photograph the backup before any cleanup because insurers usually want it. Do not use a wet vacuum on sewage and do not mix cleaning chemicals. Then call and tell the dispatcher which drains are affected.
Main line, lateral or City main
Three different pipes can cause the same symptom, and the call differs for each. The main drain runs inside and under the house to the property. The lateral runs from the house to the City sewer main in the street. The City main serves the whole street.
The City of Mountain View's water and sewer FAQ says owners are responsible for blockages in the home plumbing and the lateral, while the City clears its own mains. If your neighbors are also backing up, or you see sewage surfacing at a street manhole, call the City's Public Works as well as us.
| Pipe | Who owns it | Who clears it |
|---|---|---|
| Home drain lines | Property owner | Your plumber |
| Lateral, house to main | Property owner | Your plumber, with a City courtesy clean from the property-line cleanout if one exists |
| City sewer main | City of Mountain View | City Public Works |
What a line cleaning visit includes
- Locate the cleanout. Most homes have a cleanout near the foundation or at the property line. The plumber finds it or opens an alternative access.
- Relieve the backup. A machine with the right cutter head is fed down the line until the blockage breaks and the line drains.
- Check the flow. The plumber runs water, flushes fixtures and watches the cleanout to confirm the line is moving.
- Name the cause. Paper and grease, roots and a belly in the pipe each point to a different next step. You hear which one it looks like.
If roots are the cause, the cleaning is a stopgap and the honest recommendation is a camera inspection to find where they enter. If the line has a cracked section, see sewer line repair.
Sewage rising? Call the 24/7 line now.
Call (650) 860-1670What drives the cost of sewer line cleaning
- Length and depth of the run. A long lateral under a driveway is harder to work than a short one.
- Pipe size and material. Larger lines and older pipe change the head, hose and approach.
- Type of blockage. A paper clog clears faster than roots or compacted grease.
- Access. A cleanout speeds things up. A missing one means pulling a toilet or cutting in access.
- Time of call. After-hours dispatch carries a higher rate than a daytime visit.
Insurance may help with damage to the house but often excludes sewer backup unless you carry an endorsement. Check your policy. Ask for the price on the phone and again before the machine goes in.
Where Mountain View sewage goes
Wastewater from Mountain View flows to the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant, which also treats sewage for Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Stanford and the East Palo Alto Sanitary District. The plant treats what arrives, but it does not clear your lateral. What you flush or pour down still matters upstream.
Blossom Valley and Monta Loma date to the 1950s, and laterals that age are the most likely to hold root intrusion. If your home was built in those decades and the line has been cleared twice, ask about the pipe, not just the blockage.
Cleanouts and building sewer lines fall under the California Plumbing Code, the state's adopted plumbing standard in Part 5 of Title 24, so a plumber who adds access to your lateral is working to that code.
Sewer Line Cleaning questions
Is emergency sewer line cleaning available at night in Mountain View?
Yes. Call (650) 860-1670 at any hour. A licensed plumber is dispatched for sewage backups and full blockages.
Should I call the City or a plumber first?
Call a plumber if only your house is affected. Call the City as well if neighbors are backed up or sewage surfaces at a street manhole, because the main may be blocked.
Can I keep using the toilet until the plumber arrives?
No. Every flush adds water to a full line. Stop all water use, including laundry and showers, until the line is cleared.
Will my insurance cover sewage backup?
Many policies cover it only with a specific endorsement. Check your policy and photograph the damage before cleanup. We can give you an itemized invoice.
How do I stop the line from backing up again?
Keep grease, wipes and paper towels out of drains. If roots are the cause, no habit fixes it. A camera look shows the entry point and the repair options.