If your kitchen sink on Sherman Way is gurgling every time the upstairs shower drains, or you’re seeing sewage back up near Roscoe Boulevard and Topanga Canyon Boulevard, you’re not dealing with a generic “LA plumbing problem”—you’re dealing with specific drain and sewer issues common in Canoga Park’s 91303 and 91304 zip codes.
Hi-Tech Plumbing Services Inc. provides drain and sewer cleaning that’s engineered for the way Canoga Park is built: older clay mains under Sherman Way, dense multi‑family housing between Owensmouth Ave and De Soto Ave, and heavy grease loads from restaurants around Westfield Topanga & The Village.
This article focuses on Canoga Park 91303 and 91304—and what homeowners and small businesses here need to know about drain and sewer service.
Understanding Canoga Park’s Drain & Sewer Layout
Zip Codes, Streets, and Landmarks We Work Around Daily
Canoga Park is primarily covered by:
- ZIP 91303: Centered around Canoga Ave, De Soto Ave, Sherman Way, and Roscoe Blvd
- ZIP 91304: Extending west toward Topanga Canyon Blvd and the foothills, including Roscoe Blvd to Nordhoff St
Key corridors for your drains and sewers:
- Sherman Way: Older mixed-use buildings, restaurants, and small strip centers from De Soto Ave to Topanga Canyon Blvd
- Roscoe Blvd: Heavier residential density and older 1960s‑era sewer laterals
- Topanga Canyon Blvd (SR‑27): High‑traffic commercial strip near Westfield Topanga & The Village, with deep sewer mains and many restaurant laterals
- Owensmouth Ave & Canoga Ave: Numerous older apartment buildings with shared drain stacks and laundry lines
When we get a call from a 91303 address on Sherman Way near Owensmouth, we’re immediately thinking about grease buildup and older clay laterals. When the address is 91304 north of Roscoe, we’re more suspicious of root intrusion and sloped yard issues.
Clay Mains, Root Intrusion & the LA River Channel
Large parts of Canoga Park drain toward the Los Angeles River channel that runs between Owensmouth Ave and Canoga Ave. That means:
- Many older mains are clay tile, installed in the 1940s–1960s
- Trees planted decades ago along Roscoe, Saticoy, and Parthenia have had plenty of time to invade joints
- Heavy winter storms can saturate soil and worsen root intrusion around these joints
If you live in a 1950s–1970s home off Cohasset St, Schoenborn St, or Hart St, odds are high that your sewer line has some level of root intrusion—even if you haven’t noticed obvious symptoms yet.
Common Drain & Sewer Problems in Canoga Park
1. Restaurant District Grease Clogs (Sherman Way & Topanga Canyon)
The restaurant clusters near Sherman Way & Canoga Ave and around Westfield Topanga & The Village create heavy grease loads in shared sewer lines:
- Apartment residents above or behind restaurants see recurring kitchen backups
- Floor drains in commercial kitchens back up during peak hours
- Main building cleanouts near alleyways overflow in rain
For these areas, we typically:
- Use commercial‑grade augers for heavy blockages
- Follow with hydrojetting services to scrub the inside of the pipe wall
- Recommend recurring maintenance cleaning (every 6–12 months) for buildings with commercial kitchens
2. Tree Root Intrusion in 1960s Neighborhoods (91304)
West of Topanga Canyon Blvd in 91304—streets like Ingomar St, Cohasset St, and Prairie St—larger single‑family lots often have:
- Original clay sewer laterals with multiple turns
- Deep cleanouts at the sidewalk that haven’t been serviced in decades
- Established trees (camphor, pine, ficus) planted directly above laterals
Symptoms we see:
- Toilets bubbling when you use the shower
- Bathtub drains that never quite run freely, even after “store‑bought” drain cleaners
- Main line cleanouts that intermittently overflow in the front yard
Our typical approach:
- Camera inspection from the cleanout (common in driveways or front planter beds in 1960s Canoga Park homes)
- Hydrojetting with a root‑cutting nozzle to open the line
- For severe cases, trenchless sewer repair or pipe bursting to replace the line without tearing up driveways off Roscoe or Sherman Way
3. Multi‑Unit Drain Stack Issues by Owensmouth & De Soto
Older three‑story walkups and garden apartments between De Soto Ave, Owensmouth Ave, and Roscoe Blvd often share vertical drain stacks:
- A clog on the first floor can be caused by a hair/soap blockage on the third floor
- Older galvanized or cast‑iron stacks develop internal corrosion and rough surfaces that catch debris
- Laundry drains in the basement or ground floor can become a weak point
We:
- Map which units feed which stacks
- Use camera inspection from rooftop vents when appropriate
- Clear, descale, and, if needed, recommend phased replacement of worst sections
When Do You Need a Permit for Sewer Work in LA City?
For basic cleaning (snaking, hydrojetting, camera inspections), no permit is required.
You start to need permits from the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) when:
- Replacing or relocating building sewer lines on your property
- Adding cleanouts or altering drainage beyond simple maintenance
- Tying into a different location on the city main in the street or alley
We handle plan check and permitting with LADBS and, where applicable, coordinate with LA City Bureau of Sanitation when work interfaces with the public main. You don’t need to navigate LADBS Van Nuys or downtown on your own.
Our Canoga Park Drain & Sewer Process
Step 1 – Local Diagnosis
When you call from 91303 or 91304, we identify:
- Exact address and cross streets (for example, “Sherman Way & Variel Ave” or “just north of Roscoe off Topanga Canyon Blvd”)
- Building type (single‑family, duplex, apartment, retail center near Topanga, etc.)
- Symptom pattern (single fixture vs. whole house vs. building‑wide)
Step 2 – On‑Site Camera Inspection (If Needed)
We recommend camera inspection when:
- You have repeated clogs in the same line
- There are signs of root intrusion or collapse
- You’re buying a home anywhere in Canoga Park built before 1980
Our leak detection services use advanced camera technology to pinpoint issues without destructive testing.
Step 3 – Right Tool for the Right Pipe
- Standard snaking/augering for simple, localized clogs
- Hydrojetting services for heavy grease or long root runs (especially near restaurants and older clay mains)
- Trenchless sewer repair if the line is severely compromised
Step 4 – Maintenance Plan for High‑Risk Properties
For older buildings near:
- Canoga Park High School (Owensmouth Ave & Vanowen St)
- Metro G Line (Orange Line) Canoga Station corridor
- The commercial strip along Topanga Canyon Blvd
we often recommend scheduled maintenance to keep operations smooth and avoid surprise backups.
Hyper‑Local Tips for Canoga Park Homeowners
- Avoid pouring cooking oil or grease down kitchen sinks—especially in older buildings along Sherman Way
- If you live under mature trees west of Topanga Canyon Blvd, schedule a sewer line camera inspection every 2–3 years
- Check for accessible cleanouts near your driveway or front walk—knowing where they are saves time in an emergency
- If you experience frequent backups, consider our hydrojetting maintenance plan to prevent major blockages
When to Call for Emergency Drain Service
Immediate call situations:
- Sewage backing up into tubs or floor drains (anywhere in 91303 or 91304)
- Multiple fixtures clogged simultaneously
- Water pooling in yard near cleanouts (especially on Roscoe Blvd, Parthenia St, or near the Metro station)
- Foul odors from drains that don’t clear with simple plunging
- Commercial kitchen backups during business hours near Westfield Topanga
Same‑day service situations:
- Slow kitchen drain that’s getting worse
- Recurring bathroom sink clogs every few weeks
- Want a camera inspection before buying a home on Nordhoff St or Lassen St
Our 91303 & 91304 Drain & Sewer Guarantee
When you call (818) 941-6741 from Canoga Park:
- We answer 24/7 and dispatch from our base near Winnetka Ave & Victory Blvd
- Typical arrival in Canoga Park: 20–35 minutes
- $75 diagnostic fee (applies to repair work)
- Clear, upfront pricing for cleaning, hydrojetting, or repairs
- We handle all LADBS permit coordination if excavation or replacement is needed
- Final camera inspection provided so you can see the line is clear
For commercial properties on Topanga Canyon Blvd near The Village: We offer after‑hours emergency service to minimize disruption to your business.
Don’t let a clogged drain become a sewage disaster. Call Hi‑Tech Plumbing Services Inc. at (818) 941-6741 for fast, local drain and sewer cleaning in Canoga Park 91303 and 91304.