Highlands Ranch Water, the community's water and wastewater provider, advises calling a plumber first when a sewer backup happens so the private service line can be checked. Most clogs here sit in that private line or in pipes inside the house. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Highlands Ranch.
What happens when you call
You are connected with an independent plumber who serves Highlands Ranch. The plumber will ask which fixtures are slow, whether water has come up anywhere, and when it started. A slow bathroom sink gets a small auger; a backup at the basement floor drain usually means a main line machine through the cleanout. Mention if you have finished basement space near the lowest drain, since that changes how urgent the visit is.
What affects the cost
- The location of the blockage, from a single trap to the main sewer service line
- Whether there is an accessible cleanout outside or in the basement
- Cabling versus water jetting for grease or heavy buildup
- A camera inspection if clogs keep returning
- Repair work if the camera finds damage
- Weekend or evening scheduling
Local conditions
Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community developed from the 1980s onward, and it is unincorporated, governed by Douglas County. Highlands Ranch Water (the Centennial Water and Sanitation District) serves the whole community and treats wastewater locally at the Marcy Gulch Wastewater Treatment Plant. The district maintains its mains; the sewer line from your house to the main is private.
Because most homes date from the 1980s or later, drain lines are typically plastic, and clogs tend to come from what goes down them: grease, wipes, hair and food scraps. In a home with a basement, the floor drain or basement bathroom is often where a main line problem shows first. Mature landscaping in the earlier neighborhoods can send roots toward sewer joints as the years go by.
If a sewer line needs repair rather than cleaning, permits come from the Douglas County Building Division, and Highlands Ranch Metro District approval is required before the county issues building permits.
Short checklist before the visit
- Stop running water if more than one drain is backing up
- Move boxes and rugs away from the basement floor drain
- Find the cleanout cap if you know where it is
- Keep pets and kids clear of any standing wastewater
- Write down which fixtures acted up and in what order
Drain Cleaning questions in Highlands Ranch
Who do I call first when sewage backs up into the basement?
What does it mean when every fixture in the house drains slowly at once?
Can I flush wipes that say flushable on the package?
Why do I smell sewer gas from a floor drain or basement shower?
More plumbing services in Highlands Ranch
Drain Cleaning nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: