Plumbing Inspection in Boulder, CO

Reasons people schedule one

• A home purchase with a short inspection window
• An older house where nobody knows what is behind the walls
• A backflow assembly that may be out of compliance
• Plans to remodel a kitchen or bath
• Recurring slow drains or a water heater of unknown age

Boulder-specific things to know

City of Boulder Utilities supplies water from Barker Reservoir, North Boulder Creek, Carter Lake and Boulder Reservoir, depending on the season, and disinfects with chlorine. The city also runs a corrosion control program meant to reduce lead picked up from home plumbing. Its service line inventory found no lead service lines, and owners of homes built before 1956 are encouraged to confirm their pipe material on the city's online map.

Backflow gets real attention here. Property owners must install, test and maintain backflow assemblies, and each one has to be tested every calendar year by an ABPA- or ASSE-certified tester who reports results to the city portal. Properties that fall behind can get a hang tag and, eventually, a water shutoff. A plumber can tell you whether the house has an assembly and when it was last tested.

City code makes customers responsible for upkeep of the area between their meter pit and the street, and only city staff may open meter pits.

Cost factors

• House size and the number of bathrooms and fixtures
• Whether a sewer camera run is added
• Ease of access to crawl spaces, basements and the cleanout
• Whether a backflow test is done on the same visit by a certified tester
• Whether you need a written report

Older central neighborhoods tend to take longer, since more of the original piping is worth checking closely.

What to expect after calling

The call connects you with an independent plumber who works in Boulder. Have the address, the approximate year built and your deadline ready. If the inspection leads to work, note that Boulder treats replacing concealed drain or supply piping as new work that needs a permit from Planning and Development Services, while minor repairs such as clearing a stoppage or fixing a leak are exempt.