4 services · Colorado

Drains & sewer in Colorado

Older Colorado neighborhoods in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins have clay sewer laterals under mature trees, and roots are the usual cause of repeat main-line clogs. Homeowners generally own the sewer service line out to the main.

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Statewide conditions

Drains & sewer in Colorado: what to know

Bentonite clay soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, shifting slab floors and stressing buried sewer lines, which creates offset joints and sags. Spring snowmelt and summer storms put basement floor drains and sump pumps to work.

Larger cities like Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins and Boulder run their own permit offices, while unincorporated areas use the county. A camera inspection shows whether a recurring clog needs cleaning or repair.

Climate: Hard freezes are a regular part of winter in Colorado, so pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawl spaces and attics need protection every year, and outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines must be drained before the first freeze.
Typical foundations: Housing runs from 1890s brick in Denver to new subdivisions on the plains, and many homes have basements. Most common: basements.

Drains & sewer services

Drain cleaning

If one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line. If several drains back up at once, or the basement floor drain fills when you run the washer, the main sewer line is blocked and needs a larger cable or a jetter.

Hydro jetting

Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through. It works best on sound pipe and is usually done after a camera inspection confirms the pipe can take it.

Sewer camera inspection

A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.

Sewer line repair

A damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement. Which one fits depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, and what's on top of it, such as a driveway, trees or landscaping.

Drains & sewer by city in Colorado

Local pages cover each city's water provider, permit office and housing. Not listed? Check your ZIP code below.

Drains & sewer questions in Colorado

Can Colorado's clay soil damage sewer lines?

Yes. Bentonite clay swells and shrinks with moisture, shifting buried lines and creating offset joints a camera can find.

Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?

They can damage older pipes and fixtures, and they make the job hazardous for the plumber if they don't work. A plunger or a drain snake is safer for a single slow drain.

How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the drains & sewer guide.

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