Repiping in Littleton, CO

Why do so many Littleton homes come up for repiping?

Littleton is an established suburb about 9 miles south of downtown Denver, with a historic Main Street along the South Platte River. The city grew quickly in the 1950s and 1960s, and much of its housing is detached single-family homes from that boom. The fact sheet does not include a precise year-built breakdown, but homes from those decades were commonly plumbed with galvanized steel, which rusts from the inside and narrows over time, or with copper that has now been in place for 60 years or more. Many have also picked up patches of newer pipe through remodels, so it is common to find more than one material.

Is my water provider involved?

Only at the edge of the property. The City of Littleton says all city residents are served by Denver Water, and the city's Public Works Department does not provide water. The city's utilities page does not spell out where Denver Water's responsibility for the buried service line ends at a Littleton address, so ask the plumber to confirm that before any yard work is added to the job. Sewer is different: it is a City of Littleton service, with wastewater treated at South Platte Renew, the plant Littleton owns jointly with Englewood.

Littleton ZIP codes also cover unincorporated communities such as Columbine and Ken Caryl, which are served by other districts. If your address says Littleton but sits outside city limits, your water provider may not be Denver Water.

Who issues the permit?

Inside city limits, the City of Littleton Building and Development Permit Center requires permits to install, alter, repair or replace any plumbing system. Homeowners doing their own single-discipline work sign a Homeowner Affidavit, but most repipes are handled by a plumber who pulls the permit. Addresses with a Littleton mailing address outside city limits go to Arapahoe, Jefferson or Douglas County, depending on location, and the city's District Map Tool shows which applies.

A seasonal note

Older galvanized and copper lines in exterior walls take a beating from Front Range freezes and fast temperature swings. Scheduling a repipe before winter avoids having a cold night make the decision for you.