An Arvada plumbing inspection is a plumber's review of the water service entry, supply and drain piping, fixtures, water heater and, if you want it, the sewer line on camera. Because about half of Arvada's homes predate 1980 and owners maintain their own sewer lines, it is a smart step before buying. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Arvada.
Is the private sewer line really my problem in Arvada?
Yes. The city says homeowners maintain the sewer service line all the way from the house to the city main, and the city does not cut, clean or televise residential laterals. That makes a camera run one of the most useful add-ons to an Arvada inspection, especially on an older lot. A plumber can show you roots, cracked joints or sags on video and tell you whether the line needs cleaning, a spot repair or replacement. Work on water or sewer service lines needs a city permit, and work in the public right-of-way takes a separate city contractor license.
What will a plumber find in an older Arvada house?
Census survey data puts Arvada's median year built at 1979, with about 52% of homes built before 1980. In that housing stock a plumber watches for aging galvanized pipe, worn gate valves, cast iron drains and water heaters past their useful life. On the water side, the city owns the line from the main to the meter pit and the owner owns it from the pit to the foundation. Arvada prohibits lead and pre-1960 galvanized service lines in its system, and its inventory has found mostly copper and no lead, though the program does not cover plumbing inside the house.
Does the backflow device on my sprinkler system need attention?
If there is one, it does. Under Arvada's cross connection program, every backflow assembly must be inspected and tested each year by a tester registered on the city's testing portal, who files results there. During an inspection, a plumber can check that the assembly is installed correctly and tell you whether a test is overdue. Ask the seller for the last test record.
One local note
Most of the city gets water and sewer from the City of Arvada, but some neighborhoods are served by other districts such as Ralston Valley, Clear Creek Sanitation or Consolidated Mutual. The city's district maps show which applies. Also worth knowing: Arvada code bans sump pump discharge into the sanitary sewer, so a plumber may flag a pump that is tied into a drain. Water heater replacements need a permit and inspection from Arvada Building Services.
Plumbing Inspection questions in Arvada
Is it worth adding a sewer camera run to the inspection?
Which stretch of the water service line belongs to the homeowner?
What problems are typical in a house built before 1980?
Who handles permits if the inspection leads to repairs?
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