Hydro jetting can clean an Idaho Springs home's drain or sewer line by scouring grease, scale and roots off the pipe wall with pressurized water. In a gold rush town with plenty of older buildings, a plumber will usually look at the pipe with a camera before deciding how to run the jet. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Idaho Springs.
Idaho Springs conditions
Idaho Springs was founded in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and sits in Clear Creek Canyon along I-70. Tourist businesses line the east end and historic Miner Street downtown, with mostly residential streets on the west end. A town this old has buildings that have been re-plumbed several times over, so what's under the floor can be a mix of materials and eras.
The City of Idaho Springs runs a public water system drawing from Devils Canyon and Chicago Creek. The fact sheet we work from does not name the sewer provider, so check your utility bill or ask City Hall (303-567-4421) who handles the public sewer. If a backup seems to be coming from the street, City Hall is the place to call. If only your building is affected, the line between it and the main is the likely spot.
The City's permit rules are specific: plumbing plans are required for interior plumbing changes and must cover sewers, drains and vents, and SAFEbuilt does plan review and inspections. Replacing bathroom fixtures without replacing the plumbing lines doesn't need a permit. Jetting is cleaning, but a drain repair found on camera may fall under those plan requirements.
Options compared
| Option | Fits when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Cable | A simple clog near a fixture | Doesn't clean the pipe walls |
| Hydro jetting | Grease, scale or roots in a sound line | Older pipe should be scoped first |
| Repair | Camera shows a break or collapse | Plumbing plans may be required |
Signs to look for
- The lowest drain backs up when other fixtures run
- Recurring clogs in the same line
- Rust flakes or roots on the cable
- Gurgling toilets
- Sewer smell in a basement or crawl space
Mountain timing
Winters in the canyon are cold, and a slow line can freeze where it runs shallow or through an unheated crawl space. Clearing a sluggish drain in fall, before the hard freezes, avoids dealing with a backup and a frozen pipe at the same time.
When you call, mention roughly how old the building is, whether it has a basement or crawl space, and which drains are affected. If any part of the drain runs through an unheated space, say so, since that affects both cleaning and freeze risk. Keep water use low until the line is clear.
Hydro Jetting questions in Idaho Springs
Is a high-pressure water jet safe for an older clay or cast iron sewer line?
Can a sewer line be jetted in the middle of a Colorado winter?
Does hydro jetting a drain need a permit?
What if the house has no sewer cleanout for the plumber to work from?
More plumbing services in Idaho Springs
Hydro Jetting nearby
Sources
Last updated: