Sewer line repair in Mount Airy

Mount Airy homes and their sewer lines

Mount Airy has more twin and detached houses than most of the city, many in local Wissahickon schist stone, on streets with large mature trees. East Mount Airy also has post-war townhouse blocks, which the City’s Rowhouse Manual lists among the locations of that type. Larger lots mean longer laterals, and older houses mean clay or cast iron pipe.

The neighborhood borders the Wissahickon Valley, where parts of the area drain through separate storm sewers instead of the combined system.

Common sewer problems we hear about in Mount Airy

• Root intrusion in clay laterals from large street and yard trees
• Longer laterals under lawns, walks and driveways
• Post-war laterals (about 1945 to the early 1970s) that may be Orangeburg pipe
• Downspouts and yard drains tied into the sanitary line where they shouldn’t be

What to know before you fix it

Cutting roots ($175–$460 per PlumbingPriceGuide) buys time, but roots usually return until the joints are sealed by lining or the pipe is replaced. Lining is often a good fit under mature trees and landscaped yards because it avoids a long trench. Check PWD’s sewer service area map to see whether your block is on combined or separate sewers before planning storm drain work.

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 Mount Airy

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

Nearby: Germantown · Roxborough · 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.