Orangeburg pipe is a bituminized fiber sewer pipe made of wood pulp and tar that was installed in many homes built between 1945 and 1972. It was a low-cost alternative to clay and cast iron but has a useful life of only about 50 years — meaning every remaining Orangeburg line is now near or past failure.
Why Orangeburg fails
- Pipe walls soften and deform from groundwater exposure
- Crushes under soil load and vehicle weight
- Bellies (sags) form, trapping waste and triggering backups
- Roots intrude easily through softened pipe
If your home was built between 1945 and 1972 and the sewer line has never been replaced, there’s a high chance it’s Orangeburg. A sewer camera inspection confirms the pipe material and condition. Replacement is almost always required — we handle it with trenchless replacement or full sewer line replacement.
