Burton Valley sits on land that was once part of the Rancho de Laguna de los Palos Colorados, a grant held by Joaquin Moraga. Street names such as Los Palos Drive and Via Los Colorados still point back to it. If a drain, water heater or supply line at your Burton Valley home has failed, this page covers what is worth checking before you call.
We take plumbing calls from Burton Valley and the rest of Lafayette. We cannot quote a timing in advance, so ask what to expect for your street when you call. If you live across the line in the next town, see our plumber in Moraga page.
How Burton Valley was built, and why it matters to your pipes
Local reporting describes the valley as pear and walnut orchards until the 1920s. The Sacramento Northern Railroad ran through the area, along the line where the Lafayette-Moraga trail runs now. After the railroad closed in the 1950s the land became suburban. A 1957 county photograph shows houses going up along St. Mary's Road near Glenside Drive, and a second phase of building followed in the early 1970s.
Two building phases mean two houses on the same street can differ inside, even when they look alike from the curb. A neighbor's repair history is not a record of what is in your walls. The reliable ways to know are to look at the visible pipes at the water heater and under the sinks, and to have a camera look into the drain when something keeps backing up.
The same reporting says the homes are mostly single-story ranch houses. On a one-level house the water heater, the main shutoff and the sewer cleanout are often close to the ground, so you can find them on a calm day. That is worth doing now, not during a leak.
Three things to find before you need a plumber
Ten minutes on a dry afternoon can save a lot of confusion later.
- The main water shutoff for the house, so you can stop a leak at once.
- The shutoff and the relief valve on your water heater, and where the discharge pipe ends.
- The sewer cleanout cap, which Central San says every owner should know how to find.
Tell everyone in the house where these are. A shutoff nobody can find does not help at midnight.
Common Burton Valley calls and the first thing to try
These are general plumbing steps, not a diagnosis of any one house.
| What you notice | First step | Related service |
|---|---|---|
| One sink drains slowly. | Run hot water, use a plunger, skip chemical openers. | Drain cleaning |
| Several drains slow or gurgling together. | Stop using water and check the cleanout. | Sewer line cleaning. |
| Water pooling under the water heater. | Shut off the water supply to the heater. | Water heater repair. |
| Backups keep returning after cleaning. | Ask for a camera look inside the line. | Sewer inspection |
If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 first, then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
Creeks, trees and the sewer lateral you own
Local coverage names Las Trampas Creek and Grizzly Creek among Burton Valley's features. A creek nearby does not mean your sewer has a problem. What matters is the line between your house and the district main. Central San says the property owner owns that whole lateral, including the part under the sidewalk or street.
Central San also says root intrusion is the leading cause of sewer backups, and that lateral work other than routine cleaning needs a Central San permit. If you have mature trees near the line and your drains keep backing up, a camera inspection tells you where the roots are before anyone digs.
If a drain backs up tonight
- Stop running water and do not flush, since it has nowhere to go.
- Check whether one fixture or several are affected.
- Skip chemical drain openers, which can splash on whoever works on the line next.
- Call and tell us which fixtures are affected and when it started.
Sources for this page
Burton Valley history: Lamorinda Weekly, "Valley of it All" (2013). Sewer lateral ownership, root intrusion and permits: Central San home guide. Meter and leak checks: EBMUD guide for leaks and high bills. Plumbing work follows the California Plumbing Code (Part 5 of Title 24, based on the Uniform Plumbing Code or UPC), and you can check a contractor's license at the CSLB license check.
Burton Valley plumbing questions
Yes. Burton Valley is part of Lafayette, and we take plumbing calls from the whole city. Give the street name when you call so the dispatcher can confirm the address before anything is scheduled.
You do, all the way to the district main, including the stretch under the sidewalk. Central San owns the main itself. Its home guide explains the split.
Not reliably. Burton Valley was built in more than one phase, and repairs over the years change what is actually in a house. Looking at the visible pipes and putting a camera in the drain gives a real answer.
We advise against it. It rarely clears roots or a deep blockage and leaves caustic liquid in the pipe. Plunge first, and call if the drain stays slow.
Central San says lateral work other than routine cleaning needs its permit, and digging in a street or public right of way needs a city encroachment permit. Ask the plumber who does the work to explain which applies.
Not sure which of these fits your house? Call and describe it to us.
Call (855) 575-2890