In Westminster, the property owner maintains the sewer lateral from the house all the way to the city main, including the tap, so nearly every backup is a private plumbing job. The city's own wastewater page tells residents to call a plumber for backups in the private line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Westminster.
Westminster at a glance
The City of Westminster owns about 411 miles of sanitary sewer pipe and treats wastewater at its Big Dry Creek facility or through partner Metro Water Recovery. Everything upstream of the tap on the main belongs to the homeowner. Census survey estimates put the median home at 1987, with about a third built before 1980, so the city has a real mix of older cast iron and newer plastic drain lines. Older pipe tends to clog from scale and roots; newer pipe mostly clogs from grease, wipes and food scraps. Either way, the city points residents with a backup in the private line toward a plumber rather than its own crews, and the city's sewer staff deal with the public main only.
What to do right now
- Stop the water. If more than one fixture is backing up, stop running taps, the dishwasher and the washer.
- Find the lowest drain. A basement floor drain or shower shows first when the main is blocked. Keep belongings away from it.
- Skip the chemicals. Drain openers rarely clear a main line and make the job hazardous for whoever opens the pipe.
- Locate the cleanout. Look for a capped pipe outside near the foundation or in the basement. Do not open it if water is backed up behind it.
- Call for help. A plumber can clear the line and tell you whether a camera inspection is warranted.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| One sink or tub slow | Hair, soap or food in that fixture's trap or branch |
| Toilet gurgles when the washer drains | Partial blockage in the main or a venting problem |
| Water in the basement floor drain | Main line or lateral blocked downstream |
| Backups every few months | Roots, a sag or buildup that cleaning alone does not fix |
| Sewer smell with no clog | Dry trap or a cracked drain or vent pipe |
What drives the cost
- How far down the line the blockage sits
- Whether the plumber can work from an accessible cleanout
- The method: cable, cutter head or water jetting
- Camera inspection, if the line keeps clogging
- After-hours scheduling
- Repairs, which in Westminster need a building permit when they involve underground sewer lines
Drain Cleaning questions in Westminster
Who pays to fix the sewer line between my house and the street?
Where is the sewer cleanout on a typical house, and why does it matter?
Why does a drain clog again a few weeks after it was cleared?
Do I need a permit to have a drain cleared?
More plumbing services in Westminster
Drain Cleaning nearby
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