A sewer backup is the plumbing problem most likely to need help within hours. If wastewater is rising in the lowest drain or you can smell sewage in the yard, stop using water in the house and call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can usually be booked for the same day when availability allows.
While you wait, do not flush, run the dishwasher or start a load of laundry, and keep children and pets away from any standing wastewater. Then call (805) 249-7135 and tell us where the backup shows and whether your neighbors are affected.
Sewer backup: what to do first
Stop adding water
No flushing, laundry or dishwasher until the line is cleared.
Find the cleanout
A capped pipe near the foundation or in a side yard. Do not open it if the line is full.
Check the other drains
If every fixture is affected, the main is blocked. If only one, it is a branch.
Keep people clear
Stay out of wet areas and keep pets away. Wear boots and gloves if you must enter.
Call the 24/7 line
We will confirm whether a cable can clear it or the pipe needs repair.
Signs the sewer line, not the drain, is failing
A blockage can be cleared. A failed pipe cannot. These signs suggest the pipe itself is damaged.
Repeat backups
A line cleared every few months that clogs again.
Wet or sunken lawn
Water or a depression above the lateral between the house and the street.
Sewage smell outdoors
Odor near the cleanout, the yard or the foundation.
Roots on the camera
Fine hair roots or a root mass at a joint.
Offset or cracked pipe
A camera view of a bellied, collapsed or separated section.
Cleaning solves a clog. Repair solves a pipe that has broken, shifted or grown shut. If the line is simply greasy, hydro jetting is the right first step instead.
Sewage backing up? Stop using water.
Call the 24/7 line. We will confirm what to shut off and send a plumber with a cable and camera.
Who is responsible for the lateral in Lompoc
The City of Lompoc states that lateral sewer clogs, cleanouts and maintenance are the property owner's responsibility. The lateral runs from your house to the city main, and a failure on it is yours to fix. Where it connects to the city main is the city's responsibility, and the wastewater division can help you locate the connection point.
The city also says a sanitary sewer overflow violates the municipal code and must be reported, and that you should contact the wastewater division before digging on your property. In Vandenberg Village, sewer service comes from the Vandenberg Village Community Service District, which the city page lists for residents there.
That is why the first useful step on a bad night is a camera. It shows whether the failure is on your side of the property line or at the main.
Repair methods compared
| Method | How it works | Good fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Dig to a single failed section and replace it | One short break in a pipe that is otherwise sound | Digs a trench at the break |
| Open-cut replacement | Dig the full run and lay new pipe | Collapsed, bellied or crushed lines | Most disruptive, most reliable |
| Pipe lining | Insert a resin liner that cures inside the old pipe | Cracked or root-prone pipe that still holds shape | Not for collapsed or badly offset pipe |
| Pipe bursting | Pull new pipe through while breaking the old | Long runs with limited surface access | Needs entry and exit pits |
Trenchless options reduce digging but depend on what the camera shows. We say which fits and which does not, even when the answer is the more invasive one.
Roots, cast iron and clay in older sewers
Roots enter at joints and cracks looking for water, then grow into a mass that catches paper and waste. Cutting roots clears the line, but the opening stays. Lining or replacement seals it.
Older homes may have clay, cast iron or Orangeburg pipe. Each fails differently. Cast iron corrodes from the inside, clay cracks and separates at joints, and Orangeburg can deform and collapse. We identify the material on camera and base the recommendation on it. For a cleaning without repair, see sewer line cleaning.
Permits, 811 and what affects the price
The Lompoc building division says additions or relocations of sewer lines always need a permit, so confirm any repair plan with the counter. Call 811 before any dig so buried utilities are marked.
Backups often show insurance questions about water damage. Check with your insurer, and call (805) 249-7135 for a clear price before work starts. Homeowners in Santa Maria can use the same process.
According to the City of Lompoc, the property owner is responsible for the lateral and its maintenance, and the wastewater division should be contacted before digging. Replacement pipe follows the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, 2025 edition, effective January 1, 2026), which is based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Sewer Line Repair questions, answered
Yes. The line is answered 24/7, including holidays. A licensed plumber is booked for the same day when availability allows.
A clog can be cleared by cabling. A broken line backs up again soon after clearing, and a camera shows cracks, roots or offsets.
In Lompoc, the City says lateral clogs, cleanout and maintenance are the property owner's responsibility. Ask the wastewater division where your lateral meets the main.
Sometimes. Lining and bursting reduce digging if the pipe still holds its shape. A camera decides.
A camera is how we diagnose a suspected failure. See sewer inspection for what the video shows and what you receive.
Lompoc says additions or relocations of sewer lines always need a permit. For other repairs, ask the building division at the city counter.