Veteran-built.
Inspect cast iron drain pipes before the rains
Homes built before the mid-1970s often have cast iron drains. They rust from the inside, crack along the bottom and let roots in. Heavy rain and root intrusion are when backups happen.
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Step by step
- Look for warning signs: slow drains, gurgling, sewage smell, lush green strips in the yard, or rust stains on exposed pipe.
- Find the cleanout (usually near the foundation or the front yard).
- Have a plumber run a camera to the street and save the video.
- Treat roots with foaming root killer as a stopgap.
- Ask for options: spot repair, epoxy lining (no digging), or replacement.
What you need to know
Signs cast iron is failing
- Several drains slow at the same time
- Backups after heavy rain
- Sewer smell
- Water stains or rust on walls near pipes
- Mold or a damp slab
- Rodents or roaches coming up drains
Repair options
- Hydro-jetting: clears roots and scale, a few hundred dollars.
- Spot repair: replace one bad section.
- Epoxy pipe lining: a new pipe inside the old one, usually no digging.
- Pipe bursting or full replacement: when it has collapsed.
Buying or selling?
- Get a sewer camera inspection during escrow. It is one of the most expensive surprises in older San Diego homes.
- Ask for the video, not just a report.
Get a licensed pro referral
Short on time, or the job needs a license? Tell us the project and the property address area. We will connect you with a licensed local partner and get you a written estimate.
Jobs that require a contractor's license under California law are referred to CSLB-licensed contractors. Check any license at cslb.ca.gov.
Broker, not a contractor. David Thomas Mejia is a California real estate broker (CA DRE #01448424), not a licensed contractor. Work that needs a California contractor's license should be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor; check any license at cslb.ca.gov. Cost ranges on this page are general estimates, not bids.