Emergency Plumber in Northglenn, CO

Can I shut the water off at the meter myself?

Northglenn asks residents not to operate the shutoff in the meter pit. Use the main valve inside the house instead. If that valve will not close or you cannot find it, call the city: water and sewer line issues go to 303.280.7803, and after hours to 303.451.1289. The city treats and distributes its own water from its plant on West 112th Avenue, and its crews maintain the mains.

What is the city's job and what is mine?

The homeowner is responsible for the water line from the meter to the house, and leaks there are repaired at the owner's expense. The owner is also responsible for the sewer lateral from the house to the city main. The city handles the mains themselves, including about 120 miles of sewer main and 10 lift stations. Northglenn also treats its own wastewater at a facility in Weld County, about nine miles north of town, instead of sending it to Metro Water Recovery. So a backup that affects only your house is almost always a lateral problem for a plumber, while a backup on several homes at once is worth reporting to the city.

Why do Northglenn homes have these problems?

Northglenn began in 1959 as the Perl-Mack planned community, and many homes date from that original late-1950s and early-1960s build-out. Houses that age can have original shutoff valves that seize, older supply piping and drain lines that roots and grease can clog. Newer infill such as Karl's Farm is less likely to have those issues. The city's water is moderately hard, about 120 mg/L, and disinfected with chlorine. Hard freezes are the other big trigger: pipes in crawl spaces and exterior walls split, and the leak often shows up once they thaw.

Local note on permits

Northglenn's Building Division, run by SAFEbuilt for the city, requires permits for water heater replacement, plumbing modifications, outside water or sewer line repair or replacement, and gas lines. The plumber's first job is stopping the water; the permit follows for the lasting repair. For a gas smell, leave and call 911 and the gas utility listed on your bill. After-hours rates usually apply, and no arrival time is promised.