North Boulder · Boulder, CO 80304
Plumber & Plumbing Services in North Boulder, CO
North Boulder plumbing calls often involve water that ends up somewhere it should not: basement backups, sump pumps and drainage near the creeks, along with the usual leaks and water heater failures. B&D Plumbing handles repair, replacement and emergency plumbing for North Boulder homes, from older houses near the foothills to newer infill.
Creeks, Basements and Sewer Backups in North Boulder
Several creeks run down from the foothills through North Boulder, including Fourmile Canyon Creek and Wonderland Creek, and homes in low spots along them face more basement water risk in heavy rain. During the September 2013 flood, parts of North Boulder along these drainages took on water, and sewer backups into basements were a widespread problem across Boulder.
The practical takeaway for a North Boulder homeowner:
- A backwater valve on the sewer service line lets wastewater leave the house but closes when sewage tries to flow back in. It is installed in the main line, usually in the basement near where the line exits, with an access cover for maintenance. Whether it makes sense depends on how your basement fixtures sit relative to the street sewer.
- Sump pumps need to work when you need them. Test yours each spring by pouring water into the pit. A pump that hums but does not move water, or a float that sticks, needs attention before a storm, not during it.
- Floor drains should have water in the trap so sewer gas stays out. A floor drain that smells has usually dried out.
- Know your responsibility. In Boulder, the owner is responsible for the sewer service line up to and including its connection to the city main. A camera inspection shows whether that line needs sewer service line repair.
Plumbing in North Boulder's Mix of Older and Newer Homes
North Boulder's housing ranges from older homes to recent infill, so plumbing condition varies house to house more than in neighborhoods built all at once. In older homes, we look at the age of drain and sewer pipe and whether any galvanized supply pipe remains. Since copper has been required in Boulder since 1955, galvanized is a sign of an earlier house or earlier work. In newer homes, problems are more often about equipment: tankless water heater service, PEX fitting failures, pressure-reducing valves and fixture issues.
Exposed lines in garages and crawl spaces in older North Boulder houses are vulnerable during hard freezes. When a cold snap hits, open the faucet on the frozen line, warm the space gently, and call for thawing and repairing frozen pipes if water appears.
Plumbing Services We Provide in North Boulder
As a licensed plumber serving all of Boulder, we handle North Boulder jobs including:
- Sewage backup cleanup calls and main line clearing
- Sewer camera inspection and service line repair
- Backwater valve installation, where the layout and code allow it
- Sump pump replacement and discharge line repair
- Water heater repair and replacement, including tankless
- Leak detection, burst pipe repair and fixture replacement
Homeowners closer to the historic core can read about the specific issues in Mapleton Hill's older homes.
Plumbing Questions From North Boulder Homeowners
Should I install a backwater valve in my North Boulder home?
It depends on your basement fixtures, how the sewer line runs, and whether you have had backups. A plumber can look at the layout and tell you whether a valve would protect your lowest drains and where it would go.
Why does my basement floor drain smell?
Most often the trap has dried out, letting sewer gas through. Pour a gallon of water into it. If the smell continues, the trap or the line may be damaged.
What should I do if sewage comes up during a storm?
Stop using water in the house, keep people out of the area, and call. If neighbors have the same problem, notify the City of Boulder too, since the public sewer may be surcharged.
Do you work on newer homes in North Boulder?
Yes. Newer homes call us for tankless water heater service, PEX and fitting leaks, pressure regulator problems and fixture work.
Need a Plumber in North Boulder?
Call B&D Plumbing at (720) 571-0891. We answer 24/7 and work from our shop at 2525 Frontier Ave in Boulder.
Licensed plumber · Answered 24/7 · 2525 Frontier Ave, Boulder