Hills, trees and long sewer runs
Castro Valley is hill country. Many homes sit above or below the street, and the sewer line has to cross the whole lot to reach the main. A longer line has more joints. Add fifty or sixty years and a yard full of mature trees, and roots are in the pipe.
Most of central Castro Valley was built in the 1950s and 60s. Laterals from those years were commonly clay or cast iron, and many have never been replaced.
What a failing line looks like
The first sign is usually a main drain that needs clearing every year, then every few months. You may hear toilets gurgle when the washer drains. On a sloped lot you might find a soft, wet or extra-green strip of yard along the path of the pipe. Inside, the lowest drain in the house backs up first.
Our process
First, a camera inspection from the house to the street. You see the video. Second, a plain explanation: where the damage is, how much pipe is affected, and what that means. Third, your choices, each with a cost:
- A spot repair at the damaged section.
- Trenchless replacement, which avoids trenching across a sloped yard or a driveway where the line allows it.
- A full new lateral.
If the job needs a permit, we pull it.
Castro Valley Sanitary District
Castro Valley is unincorporated, and its public sewers belong to the Castro Valley Sanitary District. The district maintains the mains. The lateral on your lot is yours. If you are selling, ask the district what it requires for your address; we can tell you what condition the line is in. For clogs that only need clearing, see drain cleaning in Castro Valley.
Why us
We are next door in Hayward and have been for over 20 years. Friendly Services is family-owned, licensed under CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing) and insured with $1M general liability and workers' comp. Our own work is backed by a five-year workmanship warranty. Customers have left 100+ five-star reviews online.