In Lakewood, a plumbing inspection means a plumber tests and looks over the supply lines, drains, vents, fixtures and water heater, and can send a camera down the sewer line. With so much of the city built before 1980, it is a sensible step before buying and a useful baseline for long-time owners. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lakewood.
Lakewood housing and utilities
Census survey figures put Lakewood's median home at 1977, with about 56% of houses built before 1980. In homes of that age a plumber keeps an eye out for galvanized supply pipe, original cast iron drains and older clay sewer lines, alongside the usual worn shutoffs and tired water heaters.
Water service is a patchwork. Denver Water sells to nearly 20 providers inside the city, and the City of Lakewood's own water utility is only one of them; Consolidated Mutual, Green Mountain, Bear Creek and several other districts serve other parts of town. Sewer is split the same way among the city utility and a list of sanitation districts. The city's "My Neighborhood" tool shows the provider for an address. Where the city utility serves, it maintains the line to the meter pit and the owner maintains everything from the pit to the house.
Inspection only, or inspection plus camera?
| Option | What it covers | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-through inspection | Visible supply and drain piping, shutoffs, fixtures, pressure, water heater | Newer homes, condos, routine checkups |
| Inspection plus sewer camera | All of the above plus a video of the line from the house toward the main | Pre-1980 homes, mature trees, past backups |
| Targeted check | One concern, such as a water heater or a damp wall | Owners chasing a single symptom |
Signs the house deserves a closer look
- Rusty or brown water when a tap first opens
- Pressure that sags when two fixtures run at once
- Gurgling from a basement drain or a sewer smell after rain
- A water heater with corrosion at the fittings or a dripping relief valve
- Patched drywall or fresh paint on a ceiling below a bathroom, which can hide an old leak
- Shutoff valves under sinks that are stiff, crusted or won't turn at all
Timing notes
Book it as early in your contract window as you can so there is time to get repair quotes. Late fall is a good time for owners too: a plumber can check exterior hose bibs and sprinkler connections before Front Range freezes set in. Plumbing repairs in Lakewood generally need a permit from the city's Building Department.
Plumbing Inspection questions in Lakewood
How do I figure out which water and sewer provider serves the house?
What problems are typical in a house built before 1980?
Is it worth adding a sewer camera run to the inspection?
Which stretch of the water service line belongs to the homeowner?
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