Burst Pipe Repair in Boulder, CO

Signs a pipe has given way

• Water spraying from a pipe in a basement, crawl space or garage
• A swelling stain on the ceiling below a bathroom
• All the faucets losing pressure at once
• Running water heard in a wall with nothing on
• Puddles along an exterior wall after a cold night

Spraying or a sagging ceiling means close the main now. A slow drip can wait a day or two for a plumber, but not much longer.

Boulder conditions and who owns what

The City of Boulder operates its own water and sewer utility. City code makes every water customer responsible for upkeep of the area between their meter pit and the street, and only city crews may open a meter pit. If you need the water shut off at the pit after hours, Boulder asks customers to call 303-441-3200. For a break inside the house, close your own main valve and call a plumber.

Boulder's housing spans more than a century, from older homes near downtown and the University of Colorado campus to newer houses farther out. The city's service line inventory found no lead service lines, though it encourages owners of pre-1956 homes to confirm their pipe material on the city's online map. Older houses that have been remodeled more than once often have a mix of pipe types, and the joints where materials meet are common failure points in a hard freeze.

What affects the price

• Access: an exposed line is quicker than one behind plaster or tile.
• Pipe type: splicing into copper, PEX or older galvanized each takes different parts.
• More than one break: freezes often crack a line in several spots.
• Permits: Boulder exempts minor leak repairs, but replacing concealed supply or drain piping counts as new work and needs a permit from Planning and Development Services.
• After-hours timing.

When the plumber arrives

Your call goes to an independent plumber working in Boulder. Tell them where the water is coming from and whether the main is closed. The plumber finds the rupture, removes the damaged length, installs new pipe and turns the water back on slowly, then checks nearby fittings and any other line on the same cold wall. If the job crosses from a simple leak repair into replacing hidden pipe, they'll explain the permit step before going further.