Hydro jetting cleans a Westminster home's sewer lateral with a high-pressure water jet that removes roots, grease and scale along the pipe. The City says the line from the property to the city main, including the tap, is private, and it advises hiring a plumber for backups in that line. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Westminster.
Westminster is a suburban Front Range city north of Denver with farming roots, known for its trails and more than 3,000 acres of open space. The City owns about 411 miles of sanitary sewer and treats wastewater at its Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility or through partner Metro Water Recovery. Property owners maintain the sewer lateral from the house to the city main, including the tap. Census survey figures put the median home at 1987, with about 34% built before 1980.
What to do now
- Stop running water in the house.
- Check whether neighbors are backing up too; if they are, contact the City about its main.
- If only your house is affected, the private lateral is the likely problem.
- Find the cleanout and clear access.
- Skip chemical drain openers, especially in older homes.
- Call the number on this page.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Roots on the cable | Open joint in an older clay lateral |
| Rust flakes on the cable | Scale in old cast iron |
| Kitchen line keeps clogging | Grease on the pipe walls |
| Basement drain fills during laundry | Blockage in the main drain or lateral |
| Whole street affected | City main |
Westminster's older homes, about a third of the housing, can have cast iron and clay lines where roots and scale build up; a camera look first shows whether the pipe can take the jet. Newer homes near Standley Lake and along US 36 are mostly plastic, where grease and wipes cause most clogs.
What affects cost
- Cleanout access
- Length of the lateral to the city main
- Roots, scale or grease, and how much
- Camera inspection
- After-hours timing
Cleaning is maintenance, but underground repair or replacement of a sewer line needs a City of Westminster building permit through eTRAKiT (303-658-2075).
When you call, say roughly when the house was built, which drains are affected and whether the City has already checked its main. If the City found its main clear, that points straight to your lateral. Mention whether the line has been cleaned before and whether roots came back on the cable last time. Until the plumber arrives, keep laundry and dishwashing on hold.
Hydro Jetting questions in Westminster
Who is responsible for the sewer line between the house and the main?
Is a high-pressure water jet safe for an older clay or cast iron sewer line?
Does hydro jetting a drain need a permit?
How often does a main sewer line need to be jetted?
More plumbing services in Westminster
Hydro Jetting nearby
Helpful guides
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