Plumber & Plumbing Services in Mapleton Hill, Boulder, CO

What to Expect From Plumbing in a Turn-of-the-Century Boulder Home

In Mapleton Hill, most plumbing problems trace back to three things: galvanized steel supply pipe, aging cast iron and clay drain and sewer pipe, and mature tree roots. Most of the neighborhood was built in the 1890s and 1900s, long before modern materials, and nearly 30 percent of its homes went up between 1895 and 1900.

Galvanized supply pipe and low water pressure

Galvanized steel pipe corrodes from the inside. Over decades, rust builds up and narrows the pipe until a shower that once had strong flow barely runs when the washer is on. The same corrosion eventually causes pinhole leaks and failing threaded joints. Copper has been required in Boulder since 1955, so galvanized in a Mapleton Hill house is original or early work. Replacing galvanized in sections when walls are open for other reasons is a sensible approach.

Checking for lead

The City of Boulder's service line inventory found no lead service lines, but the city still encourages owners of pre-1956 homes to confirm their pipes. Lead is dull gray, scratches easily with a coin to show bright metal, and a magnet will not stick to it. Galvanized looks similar, but a strong magnet will cling to it. If you are unsure, ask the plumber to look while on site.

Old sewer laterals and roots

Mapleton Hill's large, mature street and yard trees are part of its character. Those trees are the main reason old clay sewer laterals here fill with roots. Recurring backups, roots on the cable, or a line that needs rooting every year call for a camera inspection. The camera shows root mats, offset joints and cracks, which decide between spot repair and replacement during sewer camera inspection and lateral repair.

Plumbing Services for Mapleton Hill Homes

B&D Plumbing provides plumbing repair throughout Boulder, and in Mapleton Hill that most often means:

• Replacing galvanized supply pipe in sections or as a full-house repipe
• Main line drain cleaning and root cutting
• Sewer camera inspection and lateral repair or replacement
• Leak repair on old threaded joints and corroded cast iron drains
• Water heater replacement in tight basements and with old venting
• Frozen pipe repair on lines in exterior walls

Homes to the north, in North Boulder, deal more often with creek-side basement backups than with turn-of-the-century pipe.

Plumbing Questions From Mapleton Hill Homeowners

Should I repipe my whole Mapleton Hill house at once?

Not always. If galvanized supply is causing low pressure and leaks throughout, a full repipe is often the better value. If only some sections remain, replacing them during other projects works well. A plumber can map what is still galvanized.

Do I need historic approval for plumbing work in Mapleton Hill?

No, not for interior plumbing work. Exterior changes visible from outside can require City of Boulder historic review. Check with the city early if your project affects the exterior.

Why is my water pressure low only on hot water?

In an older home, that usually points to corroded galvanized pipe on the hot side, sediment in the water heater outlet, or a failing valve. Low pressure on both hot and cold points to the main supply or a pressure regulator.

How old is the sewer line under my Mapleton Hill home?

It could be original or replaced at any point. A camera inspection shows the pipe material and condition, which tells you more than the age does.