What Is a Sewer Lateral Test?

Today we are at 708 Crossway, sharing a great update: the sewer lateral test has passed, and no repair is needed.

I also had the chance to speak with the Burlingame city sewer inspection team and learned a lot about how sewer lateral testing and repairs work.

In this video, I will walk you through:

1. Why there are usually 2 cleanout openings outside the home

2. Why many Peninsula cities require sewer lateral testing before a sale

3. How Burlingame’s pressure test works

4. What it means when the city allows up to 4 gallons of water loss within 30 minutes

5. What happens if the sewer lateral does not pass

6. When a pipe liner may work, and when full excavation may be needed

7. Common sewer lateral materials, including SDR26, ABS, and clay pipes

Many homes in the Bay Area, especially on the Peninsula, were built after World War II. At that time, materials were limited, and some sewer lines were made with bituminized fiber pipe. After decades of tree roots, ground movement, and natural aging, these pipes can crack, leak, or sag.

That is why sewer lateral testing is such an important part of the buying and selling process.

Hope this video helps you better understand one of the hidden but important details behind a real estate transaction.

Wen Guo Real Estate Group

Buying or selling a home, just say Wen!