When Your Pipes Say Goodbye: A Riverside Homeowner’s Guide to Sewer Replacement

Let’s face it — your home’s sewer line probably isn’t something you think about very often. It’s buried underground, out of sight and out of mind… until it isn’t.

When something goes wrong with your sewer line, it can bring your entire household to a screeching halt. Backups, smells, and slow drains aren’t just annoying — they can be signs of a much bigger issue beneath your feet.

At Elite Plumbing & Drains LLC, we’ve helped hundreds of Riverside homeowners tackle sewer problems — and one of the biggest questions we hear is:

“How do I know if I need to replace my sewer line?”

Let’s break that down.

It All Starts With the Signs

The first clue that something’s wrong usually comes from your fixtures — slow drains, weird gurgling sounds, and backups are all classic symptoms. But a few other red flags often fly under the radar:

• Your yard has a mystery green patch that’s thriving more than the rest. 
• You smell sewage in or around your home — yikes. 
• Multiple drains clog up at once, especially lower-level ones. 
• You’ve had repeated sewer line “clean-outs” that don’t last long. 
• There’s visible water pooling in the yard, even when it hasn’t rained. 

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Sewer lines don’t last forever — especially in older Riverside neighborhoods, where many homes were built before modern PVC piping became standard.

But Can’t It Just Be Repaired?

Good question. Sometimes, yes — especially if the problem is isolated. Minor cracks or blockages can often be fixed with trenchless methods or sectional repairs.

But if your pipe is:

• Collapsed or bellied (sagging), 
• Severely corroded, especially older cast iron or clay pipes, 
• Invaded by tree roots, or 
• Repeatedly clogging despite cleanings… 

Then it’s time to start thinking about full replacement.

And trust us — we get that replacing your sewer line doesn’t exactly sound like fun. But the longer you wait, the more damage it can cause — both to your plumbing and your home.

What Makes Sewer Lines in Riverside So Problematic?

Living in Riverside has its perks — sunshine, palm trees, and gorgeous desert landscapes. But when it comes to sewer lines? The area has its quirks.

1. Aging infrastructure – Many homes in central and older parts of Riverside still have clay or cast iron sewer lines from the 1950s and ‘60s. 
2. Expansive soil – The ground here can shift a lot, especially with droughts or heavy rain seasons. That puts stress on underground pipes. 
3. Tree roots – Let’s be honest, we all love our shady trees. But their roots love old, leaky sewer lines even more. 
4. Hard water and mineral buildup – Not directly a sewer issue, but over time it can slow water flow and encourage blockages. 

So if you’re living in the Mission Grove, Canyon Crest, or even downtown neighborhoods, chances are your sewer line might be overdue for a check-up.

What Does Sewer Replacement Actually Involve?

This is the part where most homeowners panic — but it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds.

At Elite Plumbing & Drains, we like to break it down step by step:

1. Camera Inspection

We snake a small, waterproof camera into your sewer line to see exactly what’s going on. This tells us if it’s a minor clog, a root intrusion, or full-on collapse.

2. Evaluation

If it’s a major issue, we’ll talk through your options — including whether you need a full replacement or just a partial fix.

3. Traditional vs. Trenchless

Sometimes we have to dig, but many times we can use trenchless replacement methods, like pipe bursting or pipe lining. These save your yard, driveway, and landscaping.

4. Installation

We remove the damaged sections and install new, long-lasting pipes (usually PVC) that should last 50+ years.

5. Restoration

We make sure everything is back in place, clean up the work area, and restore your home’s functionality.

Pro Tip: Don’t Ignore That First Backup

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make? Ignoring the first sign of a problem because things “go back to normal.”

That first gurgle, that one-time toilet overflow, that weird smell in the guest bathroom — those are your warning lights. And catching sewer problems early can mean the difference between a $400 repair and a $10,000 dig-up.

Stories from the Field: One Riverside Family’s Sewer Nightmare

Earlier this year, we got a call from a family in the Wood Streets neighborhood. Their home had a funky smell coming from the shower, and a couple of slow drains. Nothing urgent, right?

Turns out their 70-year-old clay sewer line had completely collapsed under the driveway. One wrong step, and their whole plumbing system would’ve failed.

Thankfully, our team used a trenchless pipe-bursting technique to install a brand-new line — without digging up their driveway. Two days later, the family was back to normal, and the only thing they noticed was better water flow and no more smells.

Final Thoughts: Sewer Replacement Doesn’t Have to Be a Disaster

We get it — no one wants to deal with sewer problems. It’s messy, it’s expensive, and it always seems to happen at the worst possible time.

But replacing your sewer line doesn’t have to mean weeks of disruption or a giant backhoe in your front yard.

With the right tools, experienced professionals, and a plan, it can be a smooth and even surprisingly fast process. At Elite Plumbing & Drains LLC, that’s our specialty.

We’re proud to be part of the Riverside community, helping homeowners protect their properties and avoid major plumbing headaches.