Not every sewer problem needs the same solution. A cast iron pipe with decades of scale buildup is a different situation from a clay line with root intrusion, which is a different situation from a collapsed section under the yard. What they have in common is that throwing the same approach at all of them does not work.
Father & Son Hydro-Jetting has been rehabilitating sewer lines throughout Canoga Park and the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Conejo and Simi Valley for over 45 years. We start every rehabilitation project with an honest conversation about what your line actually needs — informed by a camera inspection — and we offer multiple methods to address it. There is not one solution that fits all, and we are not interested in selling you one that does not match your situation.
Sewer Line Rehabilitation Methods We Offer
Descaling for Cast Iron Pipes
Many homes in Canoga Park and surrounding neighborhoods were built with cast iron sewer lines. Over time, cast iron develops internal scale — built-up corrosion that progressively narrows the pipe and restricts flow. Descaling uses a machine with chains attached to a spinning cable that is advanced through the pipe. The chains scrape the scale from the pipe wall without damaging the cast iron itself, because the only material they are removing is already lost — it is scale, not intact pipe.
After descaling, we always follow with hydro jetting to flush the dislodged material out of the system. In some cases, descaling reveals underlying pipe conditions that were previously obscured by scale. We will inspect the line after the process and walk you through what we find.
Pipe Bursting
Pipe Bursting replaces the existing sewer line from within, using hydraulics rather than open trenching. A bursting head is pulled through the old pipe — breaking it apart as it advances — while new Poly Pipe is simultaneously drawn in behind it. The result is a brand-new poly pipe in the same location as the old one, with minimal surface disruption.
Poly pipe has significant advantages over older materials. It is flexible enough to move with the soil without fracturing, and it is resistant to root intrusion. Pipe Bursting is typically far less disruptive to landscaping, hardscape, and driveways than traditional open-trench replacement.
CIPP Lining (Cured-In-Place Pipe)
CIPP lining is a trenchless rehabilitation method that creates a new structural liner inside the existing sewer pipe. A flexible liner saturated with resin is inserted into the pipe and then cured in place, forming a smooth, seamless inner pipe within the old one.
CIPP is especially useful in areas where excavation is impractical or costly — under decorative hardscape, landscaped areas, or streets (where permitted). The liner is flexible but structurally sound, uses only city-approved materials, and is resistant to root intrusion. It is warrantied for 50 years by the manufacturer.
Cleanout Installation
A sewer cleanout provides an accessible access point for future inspections and maintenance. Homes without a proper cleanout make camera inspections and jetting significantly more difficult and sometimes impossible from certain angles. If your property lacks a cleanout or has one in a poor location, we can install one as a practical addition to your plumbing system. Another advantage for having a clean out installed in front of your home is if there is ever a backup in your sewer system between your home and the street, the backup will overflow in your front yard where the clean out is installed not have it come into your home. That not only saves the headache, but the cost of cleaning up in your home from sewage coming into your castle.
Redrain — Cast Iron to ABS Conversion
In situations where cast iron lines have deteriorated to the point where rehabilitation is not viable, we can repipe the affected sections using modern ABS pipe. ABS is smooth-walled, corrosion-resistant, and provides a significant long-term improvement in drainage and maintenance. This is a targeted, cost-conscious option for properties where the existing cast iron is no longer serviceable.
How We Decide What You Need
Rehabilitation decisions should start with information, not assumptions. Every project begins with a camera inspection so we can see the actual condition of your line. From there, we walk you through what we found and explain which options are appropriate for what we see. You will not be recommended a full replacement when descaling would do the job, and you will not be sold descaling when the pipe actually needs to be replaced.
Financing is available on rehabilitation projects with plans ranging from 12 months same-as-cash to 72-month low-rate options.
Pair This Service With
Sewer rehabilitation typically follows or works alongside:
- Sewer Line Inspection — a camera inspection is the foundation of any rehabilitation decision
- Hydro Jetting — required after descaling to flush debris, and useful before CIPP lining to clean the pipe surface
- Drain Cleaning — once the main line is rehabilitated, addressing secondary drain lines ensures the whole system is functioning properly
Sewer Rehabilitation FAQs
How do I know if my sewer line needs to be replaced or just cleaned? That depends entirely on the condition of the pipe, which you can only know from a camera inspection. A pipe with scale or root buildup but intact walls is a cleaning or descaling candidate. A pipe with significant cracks, collapse, or corrosion through the wall is a rehabilitation or replacement candidate. We do the inspection first and let you decide from there.
Is trenchless sewer repair as reliable as digging it up and replacing it? CIPP lining and pipe bursting are well-established methods that are widely used throughout California. Both use materials and installation processes that are designed for long-term performance. CIPP liners use city-approved materials and are warrantied against reasonable seismic movement. Pipe bursting installs Poly Pipe, which is flexible and resistant to root intrusion. We would not offer these methods if we did not stand behind the results.
How disruptive is the rehabilitation process? That depends on the method. CIPP lining and pipe bursting are trenchless — they typically require only small access points at each end of the run, not a full trench. Descaling and hydro jetting are performed entirely from existing access points. Traditional excavation is reserved for situations where trenchless methods are not viable.
My neighbor told me I need a full sewer replacement. Is that true? It might be, or it might not be. We would not know without looking at your line. We offer second opinions, and we are happy to review the inspection report or video from another company and give you our honest assessment of whether the recommended work is appropriate.
Do you offer financing for sewer rehabilitation? Yes. We offer financing plans including 12-month same-as-cash and 60-month low-rate options. Call us for details.
Call Father & Son Hydro-Jetting
If you have been told you need sewer work — or if you are dealing with recurring backups, slow drains, or a camera report that raised concerns — call us at (818) 900-7493 or request a free estimate online. We serve Canoga Park, Chatsworth, West Hills, Woodland Hills, Northridge, Calabasas, and the wider San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Conejo and Simi Valley. We are open Monday through Saturday, and emergency service is available 24/7.
