Signs Your Clay Sewer Line Is Failing

Slow drains all over the house, gurgling toilets, and backups that keep coming back are the classic signs of a struggling clay sewer line. Most Edmonton homes built before the early 1980s have clay tile sewers, and tree roots can grow into sewer service lines and cause backups. A camera inspection tells you for sure.

Why clay lines fail

Clay pipe comes in short sections with a joint between each. Over decades, joints can shift and crack, and tree roots can grow in through them. Once inside, roots form a mat that catches waste.

Warning signs

Inside the house

• Slow drains everywhere, not just one sink.
• Gurgling toilets when the washer drains or someone showers.
• Water in the floor drain when you run lots of water.
• Backups that return a few months after clearing.
• A sewage smell in the basement.

Outside

• A big tree between the house and the street.
• A soggy or sunken patch in the yard along the sewer path.
• Unusually green grass in a line across the lawn.

What to do

1. Get a camera inspection. It shows roots, cracks, offsets and sags.
2. Clear the line if it’s blocked. See tree roots in your sewer line.
3. Choose a lasting fix if the camera shows damage:
   • Lining for long lines in the right position.
   • Pipe bursting where lining won’t work.
   • Dig and replace for sags or slope problems.

Who pays

In Edmonton, you’re responsible for the sewer line on your property. EPCOR is responsible from the property line to the main. See who pays for your sewer line.

Add protection

Backwater valves were not required in Edmonton homes built before 1989. If you don’t have one, see the backwater valve subsidy guide.