//Glossary
Sewer lateral (main line)
The single pipe that carries all of a building's wastewater from the house to the city sewer main in the street. Every drain in the house eventually joins it, which is why a lateral problem shows up as several fixtures backing up at once.
Who is responsible for the lateral?
In general the property owner is responsible for the lateral on the property side, and the utility for the main in the street. Where exactly responsibility changes hands varies by city, so confirm it with your local sewer agency before assuming a repair is theirs.
What usually goes wrong with a lateral?
Root intrusion at the joints, a belly that holds water and solids, offset joints from ground movement, and old pipe material breaking down. A camera inspection tells you which one you have.
Guides that use this term
- › Why the same drain keeps clogging
- › What a sewer camera inspection shows, and why it comes before the quote
- › Trenchless sewer repair, explained: lining, bursting, and when each fits
- › Root intrusion in sewer lines: how roots get in and what to do about it
- › What damages a sewer line: roots, old materials, ground movement and grease
- › Signs of a sewer line problem: what to watch for before it backs up
- › What to do in a plumbing emergency: shut off, stay safe, contain, call
- › Do you need a permit for sewer line repair or replacement?
- › Restaurant plumbing: grease, the line to the interceptor, and hot water that cannot stop
- › Salon and retail plumbing: hair, hot water and the restroom that has to work
- › Multi-unit and property management plumbing: shared lines, shared water heaters, one phone call
- › Slow drain: what it usually means and what to do first
- › Gurgling toilet: why it happens and what it is telling you
- › Sewer smell in the house: dry traps, vents, and when it is the line
- › Spot repair vs full sewer replacement: when each is the honest answer
- › Trenchless vs digging: which sewer repair do you need?
- › Residential vs commercial plumbing service: what changes when the customer is a business
Related terms
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