Burst Pipe Repair in Erie, CO

Erie's water system and homes

The Town of Erie owns and runs its water system, treating mostly Colorado-Big Thompson water at the Lynn R. Morgan Water Treatment Facility, and bills water and sewer together. Erie's growth has come fast, so many homes are newer construction, with a historic Old Town on Briggs Street at the center. In newer houses, bursts usually come from supply lines routed through garages, attics, exterior walls or bump-outs that don't get as much heat as the rest of the house. Wind across the open ground east of town makes those spots colder still.

The Town's published information doesn't spell out where its share of a water service line ends. If water is coming up near the meter or the street, call the Town before hiring anyone to dig: Utility Billing is at 303-926-2700 on weekdays, and Water Treatment at 303-926-2860. A break inside the house is a private repair.

Patch, replace or reroute

Signs to watch for

• Water dripping from a ceiling or light fixture
• Pressure suddenly low across the house
• A hiss in a wall with nothing running
• Puddles near the water heater or in the garage
• A wet strip of lawn between the street and foundation

Seasonal notes and permits

Erie's worst freeze damage tends to follow a sudden arctic front, and the leak often doesn't show until the next day's thaw. Erie requires a building permit for plumbing modifications, and the town's plumbing permit types include water line repair and sewer line repair, so a yard-line fix will almost certainly need one. The Building Division at 645 Holbrook Street (303-926-2780) handles applications, and the plumber typically files it. After the repair, insulating any line that runs through the garage or an exterior wall, and keeping the garage door closed on frigid nights, cuts the odds of a repeat break the next time temperatures plunge.