Negs
Very professional and arrived fast. Would recommend to everyone. If I could give them 10 stars I would!
SEWER LATERAL REPAIR
Sewer lateral repair for the private sewer line between your building and the city main. This is the pipe you own, you maintain, and you pay to fix when it fails. We camera the lateral, locate the damage, and repair the section that is causing the problem.
What you are seeing
Sewer Lateral Repair
Backups keep happening. You called the city and they confirmed the public main is clear. That means the problem is in the lateral - the private sewer pipe that runs from your building to the point where it connects to the city sewer. That pipe is yours, and so is the repair.
Most homeowners find this out when a backup sends them looking for answers and they learn for the first time that the sewer line under their yard is their responsibility, not the city's.
When this repair applies
The Private Line Between Your Building And The City Main
This repair applies when the structural failure is in the private sewer lateral - the pipe that carries waste from the building's main cleanout to the municipal sewer connection, typically at or near the property line. In most Northern Utah jurisdictions, everything from that connection point back to the building belongs to the property owner.
Sewer lateral repair targets that private segment specifically, not the city main beyond it.
What you walk away with
A Repaired Lateral And Documented Proof Of Condition
You walk away with the damaged section of your private lateral repaired, camera footage of the full lateral from cleanout to city connection, and a clear explanation of where the failure was, what caused it, and what the rest of the lateral looks like. If the city connection point itself is the issue, you will know that before the crew leaves - and you will know what the next step involves.
Problem
When The City Main Is Clear But Your Sewer Keeps Backing Up
If the city has cleared their side and the problem persists, the failure is in the lateral - the private pipe that connects your building to the public sewer system. That is the segment the city does not maintain, does not inspect, and will not repair.
The sewer lateral is typically a 4-inch pipe that runs from the building's main cleanout, under the yard and sometimes under the driveway or sidewalk, to a connection point at or near the property line where it ties into the city's larger sewer main. On most residential properties in Northern Utah, that run is 30 to 80 feet long and sits 3 to 6 feet underground. The entire length of it - from the building to the connection point - belongs to the property owner. Laterals fail for the same reasons any buried sewer pipe fails: root intrusion at joints, soil settlement that shifts the pipe out of grade, material deterioration from decades of use, and ground movement from freeze-thaw cycling. But lateral failures carry an additional complication that main line failures do not - many property owners do not know the lateral exists as a separate segment, do not know they own it, and do not know where it runs. That knowledge gap means lateral damage often goes undiagnosed longer than it should. Backups get blamed on the city main, on the interior plumbing, or on branch drains - when the actual failure has been sitting in the lateral the entire time. The other complication is where the lateral runs. On many properties, the lateral passes under a driveway, sidewalk, or landscaped area on its way from the building to the street. That means the repair involves not just fixing the pipe but accessing it through whatever sits on top - and restoring that surface afterward.
Solution
Camera The Lateral, Locate The Failure, Repair Your Pipe
Sewer lateral repair starts with a camera inspection of the full lateral - from the building's cleanout to the city connection point. The camera documents the pipe material, joint condition, grade, and every defect along the private run. That footage defines the repair scope and confirms exactly where the property owner's responsibility begins and ends.
Once the failure is located and measured, the repair is scoped to the damaged section. A single root-infiltrated joint gets a different repair than a 15-foot section of collapsed clay pipe. The method - spot repair, section replacement, or trenchless lining - depends on the lateral's pipe material, depth, length of damage, and the surface conditions above it. If the damage extends to or near the city connection point, that connection is assessed as part of the scope to determine whether it needs to be rebuilt during the repair.
After the repair, the camera runs the full lateral again to verify the fix and document the condition of the remaining pipe. That footage gives the property owner a clear baseline - proof of the completed work and a reference point for any future service on the lateral.
Fit and situation bullets
- The city main is clear and the failure has been traced to the private lateral segment between the building and the property line
- A camera inspection shows structural damage in the lateral - cracks, joint separation, root penetration, bellied sections, or material deterioration
- Repeated cleanings have not resolved the backups because the lateral pipe itself is damaged
- The property owner needs the private segment repaired so the connection to the city sewer functions reliably
Problem bullets
- Root intrusion has entered the lateral at one or more joints, causing recurring blockages that cleaning cannot permanently resolve
- A joint in the lateral has separated, creating a gap where soil washes in and sewage escapes into the surrounding ground
- The lateral has bellied - lost grade in a section - creating a low point that holds standing waste and catches solids on every flush
- The lateral pipe material has deteriorated to the point where the walls are cracked, thinned, or collapsing on camera
- Soil settlement or ground movement has shifted the lateral out of alignment, stressing joints and creating offset connections that restrict flow
Customer Feedback
Google Reviews From Local Sewer And Drain Calls
5.0 on Google · 22 reviews
See what customers say after a sewer lateral repair — from the camera-confirmed diagnosis and scope of the lateral damage to the clear condition report and honest recommendation on the repair method.
Leave a Review!Isaiah Medina II
These guys are great! I run a plumbing company but don’t do drains. I often sub contract them to service my customers sewer lines. They don’t only make me happy, but they keep my customers happy and that’s what matters to me most. Thanks guys!
Justine James
Amazing experience! They are knowledgeable, kind, courteous and very thorough. Our clogged kitchen pipe was a bit of a challenge but they kept going and did everything they could to get it unclogged and they did it! They were very upfront with what caused the clog, gave us video recording of our pipes so we can see exactly what was done, double checked to make sure the pipes were clean and free of clogs and gave us steps on how to maintain the pipes moving forward. Highly recommend!!
ColoTexMex
This company is Awesome!!! Highly recommend that you call them for your drain cleaning and power washing needs! A++ in service, cost, and quality of work. Alex and Jacob completed drain work, patio cleaning, and filled in cracks in cement. The patio looks brand new! Thank you Alex and Jacob!!!
Hope G
Alex was very good to work with. They were professional and punctual, working around my schedule. They were able to show me exactly before and after, even showing footage inside my pipes, which I have never seen before. I would recommend them.
Anthony Medina
Awesome experience! AJ was super professional and got us back in service. They offered us a few solutions and cleared our clogged sewer line for an excellent price
Negs
Very professional and arrived fast. Would recommend to everyone. If I could give them 10 stars I would!
Izabell Walker Gonzales
Very pleased by my wonderful experience with this company and their service. They were very efficient and fast with their time. I appreciate their professionalism and commitment to the work they did for me!
Why Mountain West
What We Bring To The Job
Camera rated to 200 feet
Covers the full lateral run from cleanout to city connection on most residential properties. Live footage review so owners see every joint, defect, and connection point in their private line - including where their responsibility ends and the city's begins.
Jetting and camera on every call
Hydro jetting equipment deploys on every service call. If the lateral is holding roots, debris, or buildup from a pipe failure, the line gets cleared first so the camera documents actual pipe condition - not the blockage sitting in front of the damage.
3,850 PSI jetting capability
Clears laterals 2 to 12 inches in diameter at 3,850 PSI and 8 GPM with 300 feet of reach - enough to clear and inspect the full private run in a single visit.
20+ years combined field experience
Two decades of diagnosing lateral failures in Northern Utah - including the judgment to distinguish a lateral-specific problem from a main line issue, and the experience to identify where the private segment ends and the city connection begins.
Licensed and insured
Licensed for sewer, drain, and drainage system work including the excavation, trenching, backfill, and surface restoration that lateral repairs under driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping require.
How Sewer Lateral Repair Works On Site
Every sewer lateral repair visit follows the same sequence: clear the lateral, camera the full private run, scope the repair to the confirmed damage, complete the work, and verify the result.
- Jet the lateral to clear debris, roots, or buildup from the damaged area, then camera the full run from the building's cleanout to the city connection - documenting pipe material, joint condition, grade changes, and the exact location of every defect within the private segment.
- Scope and complete the structural repair based on the camera findings - spot repair for an isolated joint failure, section replacement for longer damage, or trenchless methods when the pipe qualifies - including assessment of the city connection point if the damage extends to or near the property boundary.
- Camera the repaired section and the rest of the lateral after the work is finished, then walk through the footage explaining what was repaired, what the remaining lateral looks like, and where the private segment connects to the city main.
You leave the visit with a repaired lateral, before-and-after camera footage of the full private run, and a documented record of the pipe condition from your building to the city connection - including clarity on where your responsibility ends.
Related Services Worth Reviewing
A lateral repair addresses the private segment between your building and the city main. If the camera shows the damage extends beyond the lateral, or if the lateral qualifies for a less disruptive repair method, these services cover the adjacent decisions.
Evidence
Next Service RouteSewer Camera InspectionIf no camera has been run yet, start here. Sewer camera inspection documents the full lateral and confirms whether the failure is in the private segment, at the city connection, or in the main line inside the building - information that determines the correct repair scope.
Next Service RouteTrenchless Sewer RepairTrenchless sewer repair for laterals that qualify for lining or pipe bursting instead of open excavation - particularly relevant when the lateral runs under a driveway, sidewalk, or landscaping where conventional trenching carries high restoration costs.
Next Service RouteSewer ExcavationSewer excavation for lateral repairs that require open-trench access - deep lines, collapsed sections, or damage near the city connection where trenchless methods cannot reach the full scope.What Changes Price And Timing On A Lateral Repair
Scope and timing
- Length of the lateral segment that needs repair - a single joint failure versus a longer section versus the full run from building to city connection
- Whether the damage stays within the private lateral or extends to the connection point at the property line, which can add scope and coordination
- Pipe material - clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, and PVC laterals each require different repair approaches and carry different material costs
- Depth of the lateral and how much excavation is required to reach the damaged section - shallow laterals in open yard are faster than deep lines or laterals under hardscape
- What covers the surface above the lateral - open yard moves fastest, while laterals under driveways, sidewalks, or landscaping require surface removal and restoration that adds time
- Whether the lateral can be cleared, scoped, and repaired in a single visit or requires a separate camera inspection before the repair is scheduled
Cost
- Linear footage of pipe being repaired or replaced within the private lateral segment
- Access and restoration costs - excavation through and restoration of driveways, sidewalks, or landscaping above the lateral can equal or exceed the pipe work itself
- Repair method - spot repair, section replacement, and trenchless each carry different cost structures depending on the lateral's depth, material, and surface conditions
Support
What To Have Ready Before The Visit
Details that help us scope the lateral repair faster
- Whether you have contacted the city about the backups and whether they confirmed the public main is clear - this helps confirm the failure is in the private lateral before the crew arrives.
- Any previous camera footage, inspection reports, or repair history for the sewer line - even a verbal summary of past service helps narrow the starting point.
- What covers the ground between the building and the street - open yard, driveway, sidewalk, patio, or landscaping - so the crew plans access and restoration before arrival.
- Where the cleanout is located relative to the building, and whether it has been used for previous sewer service - this determines the camera's entry point for the lateral run.
Quick Answers About Sewer Lateral Repair
These are the quick answers most people want before they call, book, or decide on the next step.
What is a sewer lateral and who is responsible for repairing it?
A sewer lateral is the private pipe that connects a building's sewer system to the public sewer main, typically running from the building's cleanout under the yard to a connection point at or near the property line. In most Northern Utah jurisdictions, the property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the entire lateral from the building to the city connection. The city maintains the public main but does not service or repair private laterals.
How do I know if the problem is in my sewer lateral?
If multiple fixtures are backing up and the city has confirmed the public sewer main is clear, the failure is likely in your private sewer lateral - the pipe between your building and the city connection. A sewer camera inspection run from the building's cleanout to the property line confirms the location and type of damage within the lateral.
How does sewer lateral repair work?
The technician jets the lateral to clear it, then cameras the full private run from the cleanout to the city connection to document the damage. The repair is scoped to the confirmed failure - spot repair, section replacement, or trenchless methods depending on the damage and pipe conditions. A post-repair camera pass verifies the fix and documents the condition of the remaining lateral.
How much does sewer lateral repair cost?
Sewer pipe repair cost for a lateral depends on the length of pipe being repaired, the depth of the lateral, the pipe material, the repair method, and what covers the surface above the line. A single joint repair in a shallow lateral under open yard costs significantly less than replacing a longer section under a driveway. Mountain West provides a scope and estimate after the camera inspection confirms the damage within the private segment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Lateral Repair
Related Reading
Questions People Usually Read Next
These follow-up reads stay close to this service and answer the pricing, warning-sign, process, and comparison questions that usually come next.
Cost Question
How Much Does Sewer Line Repair Cost?
Breaks down the cost variables on sewer repair and replacement - depth, access, pipe material, repair method, and how surface restoration above the lateral affects the total price.
Warning Signs
Sewer Line Repair: Warning Signs Your Pipe Needs More Than Cleaning
How to tell whether the signs you are seeing point to a damaged lateral, a main line failure, or a blockage that cleaning can handle.
Service Explainer
Sewer Line Repair Near Me: What Homeowners Should Expect
What a sewer repair visit involves from camera inspection through completed work - including the questions worth asking about the lateral boundary and city connection.