Highlands Ranch homes are mostly from the 1980s onward, but a supply line under a basement or ground-floor slab can still leak at a fitting or a worn spot. Highlands Ranch Water maintains the line only through the curb stop; the customer handles the pipe from there into and under the house. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Highlands Ranch.
What to expect on the call
You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Highlands Ranch. They'll want to know whether the meter moved during a quiet-house test, where you've noticed warmth or dampness, and whether the house has a basement. On site, the usual sequence is to separate the hot and cold systems, pressure test each, then use acoustic listening and sometimes thermal imaging to narrow the leak to a small area. A good locate keeps the opening in your floor as small as possible.
Cost factors
- Locating effort. Cold-side leaks under a basement slab can take longer to pin down than a hot line that shows on a thermal camera.
- Repair strategy. Spot repair through the concrete versus a reroute through walls or ceilings.
- Finishes. Finished basements, tile and hardwood add restoration work.
- Water damage. Saturated drywall or carpet pad may need drying.
- Approvals. Douglas County issues permits here, and the Metro District's own project approval comes first for work that needs it.
Local conditions
Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community built out from the 1980s, so most buried pipe here is younger than in Denver's older suburbs. Younger doesn't mean leak-proof: fittings can fail, and pipe nicked or kinked during construction can give out years later. Copper and plastic both show up depending on the builder and era, and many homes have basements, where the floor is a slab with supply lines below or inside it.
Water and wastewater come from Highlands Ranch Water, which disinfects with chloramine, lists no violations in its report and says it has no lead service lines. Its responsibility chart is clear: the district maintains the service line from the main through the curb stop and owns the meters, and the customer maintains the line from the curb stop through the building. Because Highlands Ranch is unincorporated, plumbing permits come from the Douglas County Building Division.
Quick checklist before the visit
- Do the meter test and write down both readings
- Locate the main shutoff and make sure it turns
- Clear access to the water heater and the suspect area
- Photograph any damage for your records
Slab Leak Repair questions in Highlands Ranch
Who pays to fix a leak between the meter and the house?
Can PEX or other plastic pipe under concrete still leak?
Does slab leak work need a permit here?
Should I call the water utility or a plumber first?
More plumbing services in Highlands Ranch
Slab Leak Repair nearby
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