Edited: July 25, 2025
At Mainstream, we’ve seen our share of older homes with sewer pipes that are well past their prime. One of the biggest culprits? Orangeburg pipe—a material that seemed like a good idea back in the day but hasn’t aged well.
If your Spokane home was built between the 1940s and 1970s, there’s a real chance Orangeburg was used underground. And if you’re starting to notice slow drains, recurring clogs, or soft spots in your yard, the pipe might already be failing.
Whether you’re just starting to research what kind of pipe your home has—or you’ve already been told it’s time to replace your sewer line—this post will walk you through what Orangeburg is, how to identify it, and what your options are for repair or replacement.
What is Orangeburg Pipe?
Orangeburg pipe is made of compressed wood pulp soaked in coal tar, named after the town of Orangeburg, New York, where it was first manufactured. These pipes were lightweight and easy to install, made mostly of wood fibers bound with a tar-like resin.
They became popular in the 1940s through the 1970s because they were cheap, quick to produce, and filled a major supply gap during the postwar building boom. Think of it as the postwar version of “good enough.”
The problem? It doesn’t hold up. Moisture, shifting soil, and root intrusion all take a heavy toll. While Orangeburg was marketed with a 50-year lifespan, most pipes start to deform or collapse within 30 years—and often much sooner under Spokane’s freeze-thaw cycles and soil pressure.
If your home was built during that era, there’s a strong chance your sewer line is Orangeburg—and if it hasn’t failed yet, it probably will soon. Spokane homeowners need to know this material is still hiding underground in many older neighborhoods. If your pipe was installed in the 1970s, its expiration date is right around the corner.
How to Identify Orangeburg Pipe
If you’re wondering whether your home might have Orangeburg, a professional camera inspection is the most reliable way to find out. Orangeburg typically appears as dark, smooth tubing with a soft, layered look—almost like tar-soaked cardboard. It lacks the strength and structure of modern PVC or cast iron, and its shape often warps over time.
In Spokane, neighborhoods like South Hill, Browne’s Addition, and Garland have many homes built during the Orangeburg era. If your home was built before 1975 and the sewer line has never been replaced, there’s a good chance Orangeburg is still in the ground.
The Problem With Orangeburg Piping
The biggest issue with Orangeburg pipe is what it’s made of. It consists mostly of wood pulp, sealed with layers of tar, which made it lightweight and easy to install back in the day. But that same composition also makes it fragile and vulnerable to collapse under soil pressure.
Orangeburg pipes absorb moisture, which causes them to soften, bubble, and lose shape. When that happens, the pipe can deform or cave in, leading to major blockages and restricted water flow.
Not sure what kind of pipe you have? These warning signs could point to a failing Orangeburg sewer line:
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Frequent sewer backups or slow drains
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Musty smells or unexplained damp spots in your yard
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A dip or soft depression forming above the sewer line
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Patches of grass that are unusually lush (sewage makes a strong fertilizer—unfortunately)
Orangeburg pipes come with more risks than benefits. If you’re noticing any of these red flags, it’s time to take a closer look. We can perform a video camera inspection to check the condition of your sewer line—and help you prevent a full collapse before it happens.
What Happens If Orangeburg Collapses?
Orangeburg doesn’t just crack—it flattens under pressure. As the pipe weakens over time, moisture and soil pressure cause it to lose its shape, buckle, and sometimes completely cave in.
When that happens, you could experience:
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Fully blocked waste flow
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Root intrusion breaking through softened pipe walls
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Sewage leaks into your yard or even your crawlspace
Once a pipe starts to collapse, repair is no longer an option. Orangeburg almost always needs full replacement at this stage.
Replacing Orangeburg Without Digging Up Your Whole Yard
The good news? We don’t need to tear up your lawn or driveway to fix it.
At Mainstream, we offer both trenchless pipe repair and excavation services, depending on what’s best for your home and soil conditions in Spokane or Northern Idaho.
For many homeowners, trenchless replacement is the ideal solution. Using methods like pipe bursting or cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, we can replace your sewer line through small access points—without digging a trench the length of your yard.
That means:
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Less disruption to your landscaping
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Faster project timelines
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A new, durable pipe (typically HDPE or PVC) with a 75+ year lifespan
If trenchless isn’t an option—for example, if the pipe has fully collapsed or the path is obstructed—we’ll recommend excavation. Either way, we walk you through your options, explain the pros and cons, and offer guaranteed work with financing available to make the fix more manageable.
We are Plumbing. We are Mainstream.
We’ve replaced Orangeburg sewer lines across Spokane and Northern Idaho for decades—and we know how to spot the warning signs before a full collapse happens.
When you call Mainstream, here’s what you can expect:
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Clear, plain-language explanations
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Real-time video from our camera inspection
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Honest, upfront pricing
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Work backed by our satisfaction guarantee
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Flexible financing options to make your repair or replacement easier
If you’re not sure what kind of pipe is under your home—or you’ve already seen signs of trouble—now is the time to schedule a camera inspection. We’ll find out exactly what’s going on, walk you through your options, and give you peace of mind about your sewer line.
Don’t wait for a messy emergency. Let’s fix the problem before it gets worse.
