Clay, cast iron or Orangeburg? Know your sewer pipe.
What your sewer line is made of tells you a lot about how it will fail — and which repairs make sense. Many older homes in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, LA and the San Fernando Valley still have their original pipe. Here's how to figure out what yours is.
Updated October 2026 · Rooter Pros, Burbank-based mobile plumber · CSLB #917630
What you'll need
To identify your pipe:
- Your home's build year — from the deed, listing or county assessor
- Flashlight — to look at the cleanout and exposed pipe
- Permit history — from your city's building department
- A camera inspection — the only way to see the whole line
How to tell what you have.
Clues first, then certainty.
Start with the build year
The age of the house is the first clue. Many homes built before the 1970s were built with clay or cast-iron sewer laterals. Orangeburg — a bituminous fiber pipe — shows up in some homes built around the middle of the 20th century.
Look at the cleanout and exposed pipe
Look at the cleanout and any drain pipe you can see under the house or in the garage. Black or rust-colored heavy metal is likely cast iron. Reddish-brown or tan ceramic is clay. White or black plastic is PVC or ABS — often a newer section or a past repair.
Check permits and records
Your city's building department may have records of past sewer repairs or replacements. A previous owner's disclosures or old inspection reports can help too.
Get a camera inspection
Pipe material can change along the line — a plastic cleanout on top of clay pipe is common. A camera inspection shows the material, joints and condition from the house to the street. See what the footage shows.
How each pipe fails.
Each material has its own typical problems.
Joints and roots
Clay pipe itself is durable, but it comes in short sections with many joints. Over time the joints separate or crack and roots grow in. Ground movement can offset sections. See tree roots in your sewer line.
Corrosion and scale
Cast iron corrodes from the inside. Scale builds up and narrows the pipe, the bottom can wear thin, and cracks develop — common under slabs in older homes. Hydro jetting can remove scale; badly deteriorated pipe needs lining or replacement.
Deforming and collapse
Orangeburg is made of layered wood fiber and pitch. Over time it can soften, flatten into an oval, blister and collapse. Lining usually isn't an option for deformed Orangeburg; replacement is typical.
Why LA ground is hard on old pipe
Expansive clay soils in parts of the LA basin swell when wet and shrink when dry, and earthquakes shift the ground. Both work on old joints over decades. That's one reason a line can look fine for years and then start backing up.
When to call a pro.
Repair options at a glance:
Spot repair
One damaged section in otherwise sound pipe can sometimes be fixed by excavating just that spot.
Trenchless lining
A new pipe formed inside the old one — a good fit for cracked or root-damaged pipe that still holds its shape. See trenchless lining.
Replacement
Pipe bursting or open-trench replacement when the pipe is collapsed, badly offset or bellied. Trenchless vs. digging explains the choice.
Rooter Pros is open 24/7 — flat-rate pricing agreed before work starts.
Call (818) 669-9019Sewer pipe FAQ
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
How long does a clay or cast-iron sewer line last?
It varies widely with soil, roots, installation and use. Many old lines are still working; others failed long ago. A camera inspection tells you the condition of yours.
Is Orangeburg pipe still used?
No — it hasn't been used in new construction for decades. If a camera shows Orangeburg, plan for replacement.
Does homeowners insurance cover old sewer pipe?
Coverage varies — many policies exclude wear and tear on the line itself. Check your policy and ask about service-line coverage.
Can lining go inside cast iron?
Often, yes, after the pipe is cleaned and descaled — as long as it still holds its shape. The camera decides.
Not sure what's under your yard?
If this doesn't work or you'd rather not mess with it, call (818) 669-9019. 24/7 emergency service · Free estimates · Upfront flat-rate pricing