By Double J Liner Repair · Sewer Repair · Published 2026-10-23
If your home was built roughly between the mid-1940s and the early 1970s, there is a chance your sewer line is made of Orangeburg pipe. It was a popular, inexpensive option at the time. Today it is one of the most common causes of sewer failures in homes from that era.
Here is what Orangeburg is, how it fails, and what you can do about it.
Orangeburg is a bituminized fiber pipe, made from layers of wood pulp fiber bonded with coal tar pitch. It was light, cheap, and easy to cut, which made it attractive during the post-war housing boom when metal was in short supply.
The problem is that it was never as durable as clay, cast iron, or modern plastic pipe.
Over decades, Orangeburg absorbs moisture and softens. The weight of soil above it causes the round pipe to flatten into an oval, and in some cases blister or collapse entirely. Roots also penetrate it easily.
Because the pipe deforms rather than simply cracking, it can create severe flow restrictions long before a full collapse.
The age of the home is the first clue. The definitive answer comes from a camera inspection. On camera, Orangeburg often shows a dark, layered surface, blistering, and an oval or flattened profile.
This is where we have to be honest. Lining requires a host pipe that still holds a usable shape. Orangeburg that is only lightly deformed may be a lining candidate after careful cleaning. Orangeburg that has flattened significantly or collapsed usually cannot be lined, because the liner would take on the same restricted shape.
In those cases, replacement of the failed section is the right answer. The camera inspection tells us which situation you are in.
If you suspect Orangeburg, get it inspected before it fails. Catching it early gives you more options and avoids an emergency backup. Call Double J Liner Repair at (210) 802-2018 to schedule a camera inspection.
Orangeburg was widely used for residential sewer lines from roughly the mid-1940s into the early 1970s.
It is not hazardous to handle in normal use, but it is prone to deformation and collapse, which can cause sewer backups.
A standard home inspection usually does not include the sewer line. A separate sewer camera inspection is needed.
Double J Liner Repair offers sewer camera inspections and free estimates on no-dig sewer repair in San Antonio, backed by a 10-year warranty. Learn more about sewer repair or read more sewer and pipe repair guides.
Double J Liner Repair · 1800 NE Interstate 410 Loop #216, San Antonio, TX 78217 · Phone: (210) 802-2018 · Email: Info@doublejlinerrepair.com
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, Sunday closed.