Sewer line repair in Northeast Philadelphia

Northeast Philadelphia homes and their sewer lines

Much of Northeast Philadelphia was built out in the years after World War II. Mayfair, for example, was largely built in the post-war decades and featured bigger rowhouses with garages in the back. The Northeast also includes older river-ward sections, such as Holmesburg and Tacony, and newer areas toward the county line.

Two things follow from that history. First, as the city expanded after the war, separate storm and sanitary sewers were built in many newer areas, unlike the combined system in older neighborhoods. PWD’s sewer service area map shows which your block has. Second, homes built from about 1945 to the early 1970s may have laterals of Orangeburg (bituminous fiber) pipe, which can flatten and fail as it ages.

Common sewer problems we hear about in Northeast Philadelphia

• Orangeburg or early-plastic laterals deforming, cracking or letting roots in
• Rear-garage layouts where the drain or lateral path isn’t where you expect
• In separate-sewer areas: house storm drains and downspouts tied into the wrong line
• Cast iron house drains narrowed by internal scale

What to know before you fix it

If your Northeast home still has its original mid-century lateral, a camera inspection ($125–$500 per PlumbingPriceGuide) identifies the material. That is worth doing before you buy or finish a basement. Orangeburg pipe can be damaged by aggressive rodding, so mention it if you suspect it. Rear-yard access is one of the cheaper excavation categories in PlumbingPriceGuide’s Philadelphia pricing ($4,600–$12,000), which helps on homes where the line runs out back.

The rules are the same citywide

In every Philadelphia neighborhood, the owner is responsible for the house drain, curb trap, lateral and the connection to the sewer. A licensed plumber must do the work, and PWD can issue a Notice of Defect with a deadline to fix it. Eligible owners can spread the cost over 60 months at zero interest with the HELP loan. Read the PWD & HELP guide · See typical costs · Problems in older Philly homes

Services in Northeast Philadelphia

• Sewer line replacement
• Trenchless sewer repair
• Sewer camera inspection
• Sewer backup & emergencies
• Lateral, curb trap & main line issues

Nearby: Port Richmond · Fishtown · All neighborhoods

We are a free referral service, not a plumber. We connect you with an independent, licensed Philadelphia plumber who quotes and does the work.