Sewer Line Replacement in Youngtown, AZ

Warning signs

• The main line needs clearing more and more often
• Several drains slow down or back up at once
• Dirty water rises in the tub or shower when the toilet is flushed
• A sewer smell or damp spot in the yard
• Camera video showing roots, cracks, scale or a sag along the line

If the footage shows trouble at many points, more clearing only buys time. Replacing the line deals with all of it at once.

Youngtown's homes and utilities

Youngtown sits on the east bank of the Agua Fria River between El Mirage and Sun City. Building started in 1954 as the first planned retirement community in the U.S., the town incorporated in 1960, and its age restrictions were repealed in 1999, so it is now a mixed-age community. Houses from those first decades were often connected with clay or cast iron drain pipe. Clay joints shift and let roots in, while cast iron corrodes from the inside until it cracks, so by now the damage is often spread along the run.

The Town says it does not own its water and utilities and that private companies provide them. Water comes from EPCOR's Sun City system, which serves Sun City and Youngtown. We couldn't confirm from official sources which company handles sewer for every Youngtown address, so check your bill before work starts; the provider on it owns the main and is the one to call if sewage surfaces in the street.

What affects the price

• Length and depth of pipe to the public sewer
• Method: trenchless where the old route still has good slope, trench where it doesn't
• Restoration of gravel, concrete, walls and landscaping over the line
• Under-slab drain pipe of the same age that may also need attention
• Permit and inspection through the Town

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who works in Youngtown. Expect a camera inspection and locate before any firm price. Permits and plans go to the Town of Youngtown Community Development Department at Town Hall, 12030 North Clubhouse Square, 623-933-8286; its page doesn't spell out plumbing permit rules, so the plumber should confirm requirements and arrange the inspection.