Help for Blocked Sewer and Septic Lines

Sewer cross bores

A blocked sewer line could be a safety hazard

A cross bore occurs when a natural gas line intersects with a sewer or septic pipe that can present a safety hazard if left unattended. Our cross bore program addresses this issue by fixing any identified cross bores within our system. If your address has been identified as potentially having a natural gas cross bore, you may receive a door hanger, phone call, letter, or postcard from our service partner, Hydromax USA.

Sewer or septic line blockage?

If you have a sewer or septic line blockage, it could be a cross bore. Before any cutting tools are put into the sewer or septic line, either by you or a contractor, contact PSE to have a technician meet you, for free, to confirm if a cross bore exists. Contact us at 1-888-225-5773 to have a PSE technician dispatched to your property for a free safety check.

Schedule your free sewer safety inspection today

If you received a postcard requesting to contact Hydromax USA to schedule a free safety inspection of your sewer or septic line, call (206) 512-8032 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. to schedule an inspection.

To schedule an appointment online, go to Hydromax USA’s self-scheduling page at ScheduleHydromaxUSA.com/SchedulePSE.

PSE & Hydromax USA

PSE has partnered with Hydromax USA to coordinate sewer and septic line safety inspections. If your property is included in the program, you may have received a postcard, an excavation notification letter, or a two-year inspection reminder letter. Below is an example of the postcard you may have received.

About the inspection process

After the inspection appointment has been scheduled, Hydromax will contact you the day before to confirm the appointment.
The technician(s) will determine the best access point to the sewer or septic line, which may include a cleanout, a first-floor toilet, crawl space or roof vent.
The technician(s) will find the most effective access point whether from a clean-out, a first floor toilet, or another viable option if possible.
Our experienced technicians will insert a specialized camera into your toilet drain line to view any obstructions within the sewer line. This process may require temporarily removing the toilet. Rest assured, the technicians are highly proficient in this procedure and will handle your fixtures with care.
These inspections take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
If all other inspection efforts have been exhausted and there is still a risk of a gas cross bore, we may request to install a new cleanout or to excavate so that we can get a visual of the intersecting risk. This additional work would be at no cost to you and would be done at a future scheduled appointment.

Scheduling the sewer or septic line safety inspection online

To schedule an appointment online, go to Hydromax USA’s self-scheduling portal. If you prefer, you can also contact Hydromax USA by email at sewerinspections@hydromaxusa.com or by phone at (206) 512-8032. Customer care agents are available Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cross bore facts

What is a cross bore?

If natural gas was installed in your neighborhood without digging trenches, a gas pipeline may have been inadvertently inserted through a sewer or septic line, even for homes without natural gas service. This is called a "cross bore".

Cross bores are safe unless they become damaged by cutting tools that clear blocked sewer and septic lines. Rupturing these pipelines would allow natural gas to enter your home and endanger your safety.

How cross bores happen

For many years, utilities nationwide have installed gas pipelines by boring underground rather than digging trenches, to avoid tearing up paving and landscaping. Existing underground pipes and wires are marked before work begins, whenever possible.

However, sewer and septic lines may go unnoticed because they're not regularly mapped and are undetectable using above-ground locating devices. Cross bores are a rare side effect that occurs when the machine used to install gas pipelines inadvertently bores through sewers, leaving the gas pipelines vulnerable to damage by cutting tools.

About Hydromax USA

PSE's sewer inspection service partner, Hydromax USA, examines all new trenchless installations of PSE natural gas pipelines to ensure that no cross bores have been created. Additionally, they check at-risk sewer and septic lines near past trenchless installations.

Hydromax USA drives white trucks with PSE logos, and their employees carry PSE badges. They've already discovered hundreds of cross bores within PSE's natural gas service area and find more every week.

Hydromax USA may need access inside of your home or business to complete their inspection. They will leave door hangers, call you, and mail letters asking you to call them at 206-512-8032 to schedule an appointment. You can also contact them by email at sewerinspections@hydromaxusa.com. Sewer examinations are designed to ensure your safety and are paid for by PSE. If a cross bore is found, PSE will have the sewer repaired by one of our contractors at no cost to you.