Orangeburg Sewer Pipe: Which Homes Have It and What to Do

Short answer: Orangeburg is a sewer pipe made of wood or plant fiber and tar, used for the line from the house to the street mainly from about 1950 to the early 1970s (City of Ann Arbor; City of Tempe). It flattens with age and lets roots in, so the usual first step is a sewer camera inspection by a licensed plumber.

Check a specific house: Orangeburg is rated medium for homes built from 1949 to 1972. Open the House Age Decoder with 1960 loaded →

What Orangeburg pipe is

Orangeburg is a brand name for bituminous fiber pipe, named after the Orangeburg Manufacturing Company. The City of Tempe describes it as tar and paper rolled into a tube (source); the City of Ann Arbor describes it as plant fibers and asbestos soaked in a tar-like substance (source). It was lightweight and cheap, and it was used for the sewer lateral, the private line that carries waste from the house to the public sewer.

Tempe notes it was approved only for use outside buildings, never under a house. So the place to look is the yard between the house and the street.

Years used

Dates vary by city, because local plumbing codes decided when it was allowed:

Source	Dates given
City of Ann Arbor, Michigan	Accepted by the state plumbing board in November 1949; removed from the city’s approved list in May 1970. The city’s working assumption is early 1950s to early 1970s.
City of Tempe, Arizona	Commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s; the local plumbing code allowed it from 1955 to 1982.

Both cities stress that other materials, such as cast iron, clay and later plastic, were used in the same years. A house from 1960 may or may not have Orangeburg. Neither city keeps a list of houses that do.

Why it fails

The two city pages describe the same pattern:

Flattening: the material deteriorates and is pressed out of round by the weight of the soil.
Roots: tree roots enter at joints and weak spots and restrict or block flow.
Joint separation: shifting bedding can pull sections apart.
Chemical damage: Ann Arbor notes that solvents and cleaners poured down drains weaken the tar, so the pipe fails from the inside out.

Tempe adds that clearing the line with a router is only a temporary improvement and can damage a flattened pipe further (source).

Signs of a problem

Repeated sewer backups or slow drains throughout the house, not just one fixture.
Gurgling from drains or toilets.
A history of calling a plumber to clear the main line.
Soggy or unusually green patches of lawn along the sewer route.

None of these proves Orangeburg. They are reasons to inspect the line.

How to find out what you have

You cannot see a buried sewer line, so identification takes a little effort. The city pages list these options:

Sewer camera inspection: a plumber runs a camera through the line. Ann Arbor notes the damage pattern can reveal the pipe type.
Snaking: a plumber clearing the line may pull back fragments that identify the material, though this can damage the pipe further.
Excavation: digging gives certain identification but is disruptive.
Records: some cities keep records of sewer replacements or side sewer cards. Ask your local building or utility department.

Tempe recommends having a licensed plumber confirm the material.

Questions to ask

The seller

Has the sewer line to the street ever been replaced or lined? When, and is there a permit?
How often has the main line been cleared?
Have there been backups into the house?

The home inspector

Is a sewer camera inspection part of your service, or can you refer someone?
Did you see any signs of sewer backups in the basement or crawl space?

The plumber

What material is the line, and what condition is it in along its whole length?
Where does the private line end and the city’s begin?
Will replacement need a permit and an inspection before backfill?

What to do if you have it

Get the camera video and keep it. It documents the condition for you, a future buyer and your insurer.
Get written estimates. Tempe suggests bids from at least three licensed contractors and checking their licenses and references.
Pull a permit. Tempe requires a plumbing permit and an inspection before the new line is covered. Rules vary by city.
Ask about responsibility. Cities differ on who owns which part of the lateral.
If you are buying, schedule the camera inspection within your inspection period.

Orangeburg and the rest of a mid-century house

Homes built in the 1950s and 1960s often have other materials from the same era: galvanized supply pipes, the first aluminum branch wiring at the end of the 1960s, and lead paint in many cases. Run a 1958 house through the decoder to see the full list.

Common misunderstandings

“The drains work, so the sewer is fine.” Deterioration happens underground and can progress before you notice.
“The city will fix it.” Responsibility for the lateral depends on your city. Ask.
“Rooting it out solves the problem.” Tempe calls clearing a temporary improvement.
“Every 1960s house has Orangeburg.” Cast iron, clay and plastic were used too.

Quick answers

Can Orangeburg be lined instead of replaced?

Trenchless lining exists, but whether it suits a flattened or collapsed fiber pipe is a question for a licensed plumber who has seen the camera footage. Ask them to explain the options and the permit requirements in your city.

How long does Orangeburg last?

Neither city page gives a lifespan. Ann Arbor notes that failures of this pipe have dominated its sewer problems for about two decades, which tells you it is a known weak point rather than how long any one line will last.

Does homeowners insurance cover a failed sewer line?

Policies vary. Ask your insurer directly whether sewer line failure or backup is covered, and whether an endorsement is available.

Before-you-buy checklist

Schedule a sewer camera inspection within the inspection period.
Ask for records of past clearing, repairs or replacement.
Find out from the city who owns which part of the lateral.
Get written estimates if replacement looks likely, and factor them into negotiations.

Who to call

A licensed plumber with a sewer camera is the usual starting point. For replacement, ask whether the plumber pulls the permit or whether you must, who arranges the city inspection before the trench is filled, and how the lawn, driveway or sidewalk will be restored. Tempe also suggests checking each contractor’s license with the state registrar and asking for references, which is good practice anywhere.

If the camera shows a different material, such as cast iron or clay, the same questions about condition, roots and joints still apply. Orangeburg is the best-known problem, not the only one.

The bottom line

If a house was built between roughly 1950 and the early 1970s and the sewer line has never been replaced, a camera inspection is a small step that can prevent an expensive surprise. Confirm the material, document the condition and decide on repair with a licensed plumber before the problem decides for you.

Orangeburg Sewer Pipe: Which Homes Have It