If you own an older home in South Carolina, there’s a type of pipe that might be buried on your property right now that you’ve never heard of — and it’s one worth knowing about. KT Plumbing has replaced plenty of it over the years, and in almost every case, the homeowners had no idea it was there until things started going wrong.
It’s called Orangeburg pipe. Here’s the full story.
Orangeburg pipe gets its name from Orangeburg, New York, where it was manufactured starting in the 1860s. It saw widespread use from the 1940s through the 1970s, particularly after World War II when metal was scarce and builders needed an affordable alternative for sewer lines.
The material is essentially layers of wood pulp and pitch — a tar-like substance — pressed together and formed into a pipe. It was cheap, lightweight, and easy to work with. It was also never designed to last more than 50 years, and in many cases, it hasn’t even made it that long.
Orangeburg pipe absorbs moisture over time. As it does, it softens, warps, and eventually collapses. The cross-section of a healthy sewer pipe should be round. Orangeburg, after years of ground pressure and moisture exposure, frequently deforms into an oval or even a figure-eight shape — restricting flow and inviting clogs.
Beyond deformation, the material simply breaks down. It becomes brittle, cracks, and crumbles. Tree roots love it because they can penetrate it easily. Once that happens, you’re dealing with root intrusion, blockages, and potentially raw sewage backing up into your home or leaking into the surrounding soil.
The failure isn’t if. It’s when.
Orangeburg pipe was commonly used for sewer lateral lines — the pipes that run from your house to the main sewer line at the street. Here’s how to find out if your home has it:
If you’re buying an older home anywhere in South Carolina, a sewer scope inspection is worth adding to your due diligence list. It’s not always included in a standard home inspection, but it should be.
When Orangeburg pipe needs to go, there are a couple of approaches depending on the situation.
Traditional open-trench replacement involves excavating along the pipe’s path, removing the old material, and installing new PVC. It gives a plumber complete visibility into what’s underground, but it does mean digging up the yard.
Trenchless pipe replacement is an option in many cases and involves far less disruption to your landscaping. Pipe bursting, for example, pulls a new pipe through the existing line while simultaneously breaking apart the old one. It’s not always viable depending on the pipe’s condition and depth, but when it is, most homeowners prefer it.
Either way, new PVC sewer lines are built to last 50 to 100 years under normal conditions. It’s a one-time fix that removes a ticking clock from your property.
Waiting until a sewer line actually fails is almost always more expensive than replacing it on your own schedule. A collapsed or backed-up line can mean sewage backing up into your home, damage to flooring and walls, emergency service fees, and potential environmental liability if the leak is significant.
If you’ve been noticing slow drains or recurring clogs, those symptoms are worth taking seriously. A sewer cleaning in Greer appointment can clear an immediate blockage, but if Orangeburg is the underlying issue, cleaning it is a temporary fix at best.
The only way to know for certain what’s under your property is to have a professional take a look. If your home is older and you’ve never had your sewer line inspected, it’s worth scheduling a camera inspection sooner rather than later.
KT Plumbing serves homeowners across South Carolina and has the equipment and experience to assess your sewer line and give you a clear picture of what you’re working with. Contact us here to get scheduled.
Book an appointment online today to get a skilled plumber to fix your problem!
Book Online Book Online
