The building stock

SOCO is the part of downtown south of Commonwealth Avenue, with restaurants, bars, shops and offices in a mix of older and updated buildings. Many structures have been remodeled several times for new tenants, so plumbing inside them can be a patchwork of original cast iron and galvanized pipe with newer plastic and copper sections.

Ground-floor food uses put heavy demand on drains, while upper floors in mixed-use buildings may share stacks with the businesses below. That makes shared-line problems and grease buildup more common here than in a typical single-family street.

At a glance

Typical buildings
Older commercial and mixed-use, often remodeled
Common drain materials
Cast iron inside, with older laterals; newer plastic in remodeled areas
Common supply materials
Mix of galvanized, copper and newer pipe
Water utility
City of Fullerton water utility
Gas
SoCalGas

Plumbing issues to watch

  • Grease buildup in kitchen branches and building drains
  • Backups showing first at the lowest ground-floor fixture
  • Odors from shared stacks or vents in upper units
  • Old galvanized supply limiting flow to restrooms or kitchens
  • Cleanouts covered by later finishes or storage

Before changing a tenant space

  1. Map existing plumbing

    Find out which fixtures connect to which stack and where the building drain leaves.

  2. Camera the shared line

    See the condition of the drain the new space will rely on.

  3. Check requirements

    Food uses may have grease control requirements; check with the City of Fullerton.

  4. Coordinate with other occupants

    Plan any shared-line work around other tenants' hours.

Questions for owners and tenants

  1. Who is responsible for the shared drain and lateral in this building?
  2. When was the building drain last camera-inspected?
  3. Where are the cleanouts, and are they accessible?
  4. What grease control is in place for food uses?
Map of SOCO District. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Is SOCO mostly commercial?

Yes, it is known as a dining and entertainment area, though some buildings include upper-floor residential or office space.

Why are backups common in older commercial buildings?

Shared older drains, heavy use and grease from kitchens add up. Camera inspections help separate the causes.

Can I send you details about a SOCO building?

This is a preview site for Downtown Fullerton Plumbing. The phone number shown is a temporary placeholder and our request form is not connected yet, so a submission is not sent anywhere. Whoever you hire, check their license at cslb.ca.gov.

General information for Downtown Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.