Faucet Repair in Longmont, CO

Why does my faucet drip if Longmont's water is soft?

Longmont's annual water quality report describes the city's water as soft, typically 1 to 2 grains per gallon, or roughly 19 to 25 ppm hardness. The supply comes from North and South St. Vrain Creeks and Colorado-Big Thompson water, and the city disinfects with chlorine. Soft water means less scale on aerators and cartridges than in many Front Range cities, so when a faucet drips here, the cause is usually ordinary wear: rubber washers that have hardened, cartridge seals that have flattened or O-rings that have cracked with age. Those parts wear with use regardless of the water, and they are usually inexpensive to replace.

Are older Longmont homes more likely to need faucet work?

Often, yes. The median home in Longmont was built in 1991, but about 37% date from before 1980. In the older neighborhoods near downtown Main Street, two-handle compression faucets and multi-turn stops are still common, and those stops tend to stick after years of sitting open. Newer areas such as Prospect New Town and the subdivisions toward the edges of the city tend to have single-lever faucets, many now old enough for new cartridges. The city's service line inventory classified all water service lines as non-lead, but a faucet built before current lead-free standards can still contain leaded brass.

Who handles a leak inside my house, the city or me?

Inside the house, the owner is responsible. Faucets, stop valves and supply lines are private plumbing, and the city also states that the sewer service line belongs to the property owner. For a water main break or trouble in the street, contact Longmont Water Utilities at (303) 651-8416 during business hours; after hours the city directs callers to Longmont Public Safety Dispatch. Larger plumbing changes go through the City of Longmont Building Services at the Development Services Center on Kimbark Street, and the plumber can tell you whether a permit applies.

A note on outdoor faucets

Longmont's freezing nights can split a hose bib or the pipe behind it if a hose is left connected. The crack often stays hidden until spring, when the first use sends water into the wall. Disconnect hoses in the fall, and if a bib leaks indoors when you first turn it on, shut it off right away and call for a repair.