What makes 85281 different
This is where Tempe started. Maple-Ash, between University Drive and Hayden Lane from Mill Avenue to Ash Avenue, began construction in the early 1900s and is one of the city's oldest existing historic neighborhoods. It still uses flood irrigation, which is part of why the area has such big, old shade trees.
Older homes and mature trees are the classic setup for root intrusion and aging pipe. If a home here has a main line that clogs every year or two, a camera inspection is the first step.
Rentals, student housing and the downtown core
Much of 85281 is rental housing and apartments near ASU and Mill Avenue. Owners and property managers dealing with repeat clogs across units often start with jetting the main line and a camera pass to find the cause. Downtown restaurants fall under Tempe's grease trap and interceptor rules. See commercial kitchen drain jetting.
Common calls in 85281
- Main line backups in older homes
- Root removal where mature trees sit near the sewer path
- Pre-purchase sewer scopes for older homes
- Restaurant line jetting downtown
Who owns the sewer line?
In Tempe, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line from the house to the city's sewer main, including clogs, roots and breaks in that line. The city maintains the main. If homes around you are backing up at the same time, the main may be the problem, and the City of Tempe's Wastewater Collection group maintains it.
Sewer questions in 85281
Are older 85281 homes more likely to have sewer problems?
Age alone does not decide it, but older pipe and mature trees raise the odds of roots, scale and joint problems. A camera inspection shows the real condition.
I manage a rental near ASU with repeat clogs. Where do I start?
Have the main line cleared and inspected on camera. The video shows whether the cause is grease, roots, scale or damage, which decides the lasting fix.
Does the ASU campus fall under this page?
The ASU campus has its own ZIP code, 85287, and campus facilities are managed by the university. This page is for homes and businesses in 85281.