Drain cleaning in Palmdale

Palmdale is the newest and most house-heavy city on our list: of 46,588 homes, about 80 in 100 are standalone, the typical build year is 1990 and fewer than 1 in 10 pre-date 1960. The median home value is $508,300. If you came here from our areas page expecting the 1950s clay story, it mostly does not apply. The numbers below come from the city's own sewer plan.

How big is Palmdale's sewer, and how old is it?

Palmdale's Sewer System Management Plan, adopted in May 2014, counts 396 miles of pipe and 8,441 manholes across a 105 square mile service area. Over 80 percent of the pipe was built after 1980. By decade, 161.9 miles date from the 1980s, 87.9 from the 1990s and 90.5 from 2000 onward. Only 34.4 miles go back to the 1950s.

That table is from 2014, so every pipe in it is a dozen years older now, but the pattern holds. The plan expected maintenance problems to be minor at first and to rise as the system aged. Most of the mains, 337.7 miles, are 8 inches in diameter. Newer pipe means fewer cracks and joints, but it does not mean no clogs. Grease, wipes and a heavy hand with the garbage disposal clog a 1995 pipe as fast as a 1955 one.

What is the pipe made of, and does it matter?

Mostly clay, even though it is new. The plan lists 390.2 of 395.5 miles as vitrified clay pipe, with a few miles of ABS, ductile iron and one unknown.

Laterals are a separate question, and the plan does not inventory them. I think a 1990s Palmdale house more likely has plastic from the house to the street, but check with a camera. If a camera shows a problem in clay, our pages on repairing clay sewer pipe and main line drain cleaning explain what comes next.

Who is responsible for the lateral in Palmdale?

You are. The plan cites Municipal Code Chapter 13.02, section on responsibility and maintenance of facilities, and Chapter 13.14, section on house lateral maintenance. They say house laterals and connections are maintained by the property owner. The wording elsewhere in the plan adds that this covers eliminating cracks, tree roots and other debris.

The city may inspect main-line sewers, and everyone must give it access at reasonable times. If sewage spills from a private lateral, the plan says city staff may ask the owner or the water supplier to respond, and the discharge is recorded as a private lateral spill. Palmdale's sewage goes to Palmdale Water Reclamation Plant, which belongs to LA County Sanitation District 20, and some goes to the Lancaster plant in District 14.

What about homes on septic in Palmdale?

The plan notes roughly 1,000 septic tanks in the city's billing inventory. A septic house does not have a sewer lateral, so a slow drain there is a different problem: a full tank, a failed leach field or a blocked outlet. A drain cleaner is the wrong first call if the tank has not been pumped in years.

If you are not sure which you have, the water bill and the property's utility records say. Our page on cleaning a sewer cleanout shows what a sewer cleanout looks like, which a septic property will not have. Where a septic house is changing over, the city has the connection rules.

Where does Palmdale's water come from, and how hard is it?

The Palmdale Water District draws on three sources: State Water Project water, Littlerock Reservoir and groundwater. Its 2020 report, the most recent one we read for this page, lists treated surface water at 96 to 116 milligrams per liter of hardness, averaging 105, and wells at 27 to 240, averaging 125. That is soft to moderately hard.

Some online water-filter sites claim much higher figures. The district's own report is the source to trust, and a newer edition may show different numbers. Soft-to-moderate water leaves less mineral scale, so drains in Palmdale are less likely to narrow from scale. The common causes are more ordinary: hair in a tub drain, grease in a kitchen line and flushed wipes.

Does Palmdale's desert weather affect drains?

Yes, a little. Palmdale gets about 6 inches of rain a year, according to the Los Angeles almanac's relay of federal climate normals, so storm flooding of the sewer is rare. Hard winter freezes do reach the Antelope Valley, and exposed pipes and irrigation lines are the usual victims, not buried laterals.

Land settling is one possible cause when a Palmdale line has a low spot, and only a camera shows it. In dry spells, rarely used floor drains lose their trap water and let odor in. Running the tap restores the seal.

What does drain cleaning cost in Palmdale?

We did not find a Palmdale-only price survey. Los Angeles area ranges are $100 to $300 for a single fixture and $200 to $600 or more for a main line, with hydro jetting priced above. See drain cleaning cost.

Request a quote on the price request page. We'll arrange a local plumber and you see a written quote before work starts. The home page lists all services.

Questions people ask

Who maintains the sewer main in Palmdale?

The City of Palmdale's Utilities Services Division operates its collection system, which sends sewage to Los Angeles County Sanitation District trunk lines and treatment plants. A few county-served pockets also flow into the city system. The lateral from the house is the owner's.

How old are Palmdale's sewer pipes?

According to the city's 2014 plan, over 80 percent of the system was built after 1980, and 390.2 of 395.5 miles are vitrified clay. Pipe from the 1950s is a small share, about 34 miles.

Is Palmdale tap water hard?

The Palmdale Water District's 2020 report, the one we read, lists hardness of 96 to 116 milligrams per liter for surface water and 27 to 240 for wells. That is generally soft to moderately hard.

Can I clear a clog myself in Palmdale?

Yes for a simple sink or tub, with a plunger or a hand auger. Call a plumber for a main line backup, repeated clogs or gurgling at several fixtures. A camera shows the cause.