Orangeburg pipe is a black, tar-soaked wood-fiber sewer pipe that was widely used to connect homes to city sewers after World War II. It was designed to last around 50 years, but it often begins to flatten and fail well before that — and many Arizona homes built from the 1950s through the early 1980s may still have it in the ground. Here is how to tell if your home has Orangeburg pipe, the warning signs of failure, how to confirm it with a camera inspection, and what your replacement options look like.
Key Takeaways
- Orangeburg pipe is a black, tar-paper-like sewer pipe used widely from the 1950s through the early 1980s, including across the Phoenix Valley and Tucson.
- It flattens and deforms with age. Recurring backups are the most common warning sign.
- Snaking only buys time and can further damage a flattened pipe.
- A sewer camera inspection is the only reliable way to confirm what you have and determine the right repair method.
- If you are buying a pre-1983 home in Arizona, get the sewer scoped before closing.
What Is Orangeburg Pipe?
Orangeburg pipe takes its name from Orangeburg Manufacturing Company, which produced it in Orangeburg, New York. The pipe is classified by the Uniform Plumbing Code as a bituminous fiber sewer pipe — made by rolling bituminous material (tar) and wood pulp fibers into a tube shape. It was produced in large quantities during and after World War II when cast iron was scarce, and it became a popular choice for connecting homes to the public sewer through the postwar housing boom that reshaped cities like Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, and Glendale throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
The pipe can last up to about 50 years, but deformation and failure often begin around the 30-year mark. By most estimates, the majority of Orangeburg installed during that era is now well past its practical lifespan.
What Does Orangeburg Pipe Look Like?
Orangeburg looks like a black, layered pipe with a tar-paper-like texture — similar in appearance to stacked, compressed layers of dark paper soaked in asphalt. In good condition it holds a round shape, but as it deteriorates it softens, blisters, and flattens into an oval or irregular cross section. Sections that have been in Arizona’s ground for decades often show delamination, where the layers begin to separate.
It is distinct from cast iron (heavy, gray, metallic) and clay pipe (brittle, reddish-brown). If you can see where your sewer line exits the house or reach an exposed cleanout, a black layered pipe that looks and feels softer than metal is a strong visual indicator worth noting.
Does Your Arizona Home Have Orangeburg Pipe?
The City of Tempe has published official guidance on Orangeburg that speaks directly to the Valley. According to the city, bituminous fiber sewer pipe was commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s to connect homes to the public sewer. The Uniform Plumbing Code allowed it from 1955 to 1982, and Tempe adopted that code throughout that period. Importantly, the city notes that not every home built during this era has it — cast iron and vitrified clay were also used — and that Tempe does not have precise records of where Orangeburg was installed.
The issue extends well beyond Tempe. 12 News reached out to municipalities across the Valley and found that Glendale’s building official confirmed the pipe was used until 1982, Phoenix crews have come across sections in older parts of the city, and Avondale found it in the historical areas of town. Older neighborhoods in Chandler and Gilbert have also seen it. Scottsdale and Goodyear reported limited use.
For Tucson, homes built or connected to the sewer before 1983 fall within the Orangeburg era, and Tucson’s median year built falls squarely in that window. Midtown Tucson, the University area, South Tucson, and established neighborhoods in the northwest that developed in the 1960s and 1970s are the kinds of communities where Orangeburg is most likely to appear. Whether a specific home has it depends on what the original plumber chose — only a camera inspection can confirm it.
Signs Your Orangeburg Sewer Line Is Failing
Per the City of Tempe’s guidance, Orangeburg problems show up as repeated backups of the sewer line from the house to the public sewer. Signs to watch for include:
Desert landscaping roots, including mesquite, palo verde, oleander, and large ornamental trees common in older Tucson and Phoenix yards, readily exploit deteriorating Orangeburg. Unlike clay or cast iron, weakened bituminous fiber offers little resistance to root intrusion.
One important note: the City of Tempe specifically states that clearing Orangeburg with mechanical router tools results in only a temporary improvement and that flattened pipe can be further damaged by those tools. If you are calling for drain clearing on the same line repeatedly, that pattern points toward a deeper look rather than another rooter visit.
How to Confirm You Have Orangeburg Pipe
Build year is the starting point. Homes built or connected to the sewer between roughly 1955 and 1982 in Arizona fall within the Orangeburg window. From there:
Look where the sewer line exits the house — at the foundation wall, a cleanout access point, or an exposed section in a crawlspace. A black, layered pipe that feels softer than metal and looks like compressed tar paper is worth flagging. Many older Arizona homes sit on slab foundations, which means the sewer exits at grade level near the perimeter and is easier to examine than in homes with basements.
A sewer camera inspection is the only way to confirm what you have and assess its condition. The camera shows whether the pipe is still round, partially flattened, blistered, or heavily infiltrated with roots — and that information directly determines what repair method fits. Rite Way performs sewer camera inspections throughout Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, Sahuarita, and the Greater Phoenix Valley.
Buying an Older Home? Get the Sewer Line Scoped First
If you are purchasing a home built before 1983 in Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, or anywhere in between, a sewer scope before closing is one of the most practical inspections you can add. Orangeburg that is 40 or 50 years into its lifespan may look fine from the surface while being significantly deformed underground. Rite Way offers Residential and REALTOR® sewer camera inspections for buyers and their agents — giving you documented pipe conditions before you take ownership and negotiate accordingly.
Orangeburg Pipe Replacement Options
A camera inspection determines which repair method fits the pipe’s condition. Rite Way’s trenchless services in both Tucson and Phoenix cover the two primary options:
Pipe lining: A flexible liner is pulled through the existing pipe and cured in place, creating a new pipe inside the old one. This works when the Orangeburg still holds a relatively round shape and has not collapsed.
Pipe bursting: For badly deformed or collapsed Orangeburg, a bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, fracturing it outward while simultaneously pulling new pipe into place along the same path. This is typically the method when the pipe is heavily flattened.
In some situations — particularly where a line has already collapsed or access is straightforward — traditional excavation and full replacement is the most practical path. Rite Way handles trenchless sewer repair in Tucson and trenchless sewer repair in Phoenix, and our sewer line repair team advises on the right approach after inspection.
Serving Southern Arizona Since 1959
Rite Way’s licensed plumbers serve Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, Sahuarita, and Green Valley, as well as Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert. Whether you need a sewer camera inspection, a REALTOR® scope before closing, or trenchless replacement of a failing sewer line, we provide honest options and upfront pricing before any work begins. We have been serving Arizona homeowners since 1959 and answer phones 24/7. For urgent sewer issues, contact our Tucson emergency plumbing or Phoenix emergency plumbing team.
Orangeburg Pipe FAQs
Around 50 years by design, but deformation typically begins around the 30-year mark. Most Orangeburg installed during Arizona’s postwar building boom is well past that window, which is why recurring backups in older Valley and Tucson homes are worth taking seriously.
It depends on the condition at inspection. Pipe lining works when the pipe still holds a roughly round shape. Badly flattened or collapsed Orangeburg typically needs replacement via pipe bursting or excavation. A sewer camera inspection is the only way to know which applies.
No. It has not been used in new construction for decades. The Uniform Plumbing Code allowed bituminous fiber sewer pipe from 1955 to 1982. Existing Orangeburg was not automatically replaced, so many older homes across the Valley and in Tucson may still have it.
Partly. Build year and recurring backups are strong indicators. If you can access where the sewer exits the house and see a black, layered pipe that looks and feels like compressed tar paper, that is worth noting. But only a camera inspection confirms the material and shows the pipe’s actual condition underground.
Policies vary significantly, and coverage for sewer line replacement is not standard. Check with your insurer directly — some policies cover sudden failures while excluding gradual deterioration. Do not assume coverage without confirming the specific terms of your policy.
Most plumbers recommend not waiting. Once Orangeburg starts to flatten, each rooter visit risks further damage, and a full collapse means sewage backing up into the home rather than a planned replacement on your schedule.
Not necessarily, but it is worth knowing what you have. Some homes from that era were plumbed in cast iron or clay and are holding up fine. A camera inspection tells you which situation you are in so you can plan on your own timeline rather than respond to a crisis.
