Hydro Jetting in Boulder, CO

When the line needs more than a snake

• The same sink or tub clogs again within a month or two of being cleared
• Water rises in a lower-level shower or floor drain when other fixtures run
• Several drains slow down at once instead of just one
• Roots, grease or rusty flakes come back on the cable
• Gurgling from a toilet when the washing machine pumps out

A single slow fixture usually has a local clog in its trap or branch. Trouble in the lowest drains all at once points to the building drain or the lateral running to the street.

Boulder's sewer and housing

The City of Boulder runs its own wastewater system. Sewage is treated at the Boulder Water Resource Recovery Facility, which returns treated water to Boulder Creek. For sewer problems in the public system, including after hours, the city's maintenance line is 303-441-3200. The private line from your house to the city main is where most single-home backups start, and that part is a job for a plumber.

Boulder's homes run from early houses near downtown, the Hill and Chautauqua to postwar ranches and newer construction toward the edges of town. The city asks owners of homes built before 1956 to check their water service pipe material on its online map, which is a reminder of how much older plumbing is still in use here. On the drain side, older houses can have cast iron inside and clay outside, and mature street trees send roots toward any loose joint.

Boulder's permit rules help here: clearing a drain stoppage is listed as minor work that does not need a permit. Replacing concealed drain piping is new work and does, through Planning & Development Services.

Cost factors

• Access point: outdoor cleanout, basement cleanout, toilet flange or vent
• Length of the lateral and depth of the pipe
• Type of buildup, from soft grease to dense root masses
• Camera inspection before or after jetting
• After-hours scheduling

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Boulder. Mention which fixtures are affected, the age of the house and any past drain work. Hold off on laundry and long showers until the line is open.