Hydro jetting cleans a Northglenn home's sewer lateral with a high-pressure water jet that removes roots, scale and grease along the pipe. Northglenn puts the lateral from the house to the city main on the homeowner, so this is usually a private repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Northglenn.
Who owns the sewer lateral in Northglenn?
The homeowner. The City of Northglenn maintains about 120 miles of sewer mains and 10 lift stations, and the homeowner is responsible for the sewer service lateral from the house to the city main. The city treats its own wastewater at a facility in Weld County about nine miles north of town, rather than sending it to Metro Water Recovery. If the city's main backs up, that's the city's to fix; if only your house is backing up, the lateral is where a plumber looks.
Why do Northglenn's older homes clog so often?
Northglenn began in 1959 as Perl-Mack's planned community, which Life magazine once called the most perfectly planned community in America. Much of the housing dates from the late 1950s and 1960s, with newer infill such as Karl's Farm. Homes of that era commonly have cast iron drains inside and clay laterals outside. After more than 60 years, cast iron is often narrowed by scale and rust, and clay joints have shifted enough to let roots in. A cable opens a channel; a jet cleans the whole pipe. Because the pipe is old, a camera look first is a sensible step.
Will a repair need a permit?
Yes, if it goes beyond cleaning. Northglenn requires permits for outside water and sewer line replacement or repair, and the Building Division, run by SAFEbuilt, handles them (303-450-8745; inspections 303-450-8748). Jetting itself is maintenance. If the camera shows a broken or sagging section, ask the plumber to walk you through the repair options and the permit before work starts.
A local note
When you call, say whether the house is an original Perl-Mack home or newer infill, which drains are affected and whether the line has been cleaned before. Keep laundry on hold until the line is clear.
One more thing: in many original homes the cleanout is in the basement or crawl space rather than the yard. If you can find it before the plumber arrives and clear a path, the job goes faster. Skip chemical drain openers, which are hard on 60-year-old cast iron.
Hydro Jetting questions in Northglenn
Who is responsible for the sewer line between the house and the main?
Is a high-pressure water jet safe for an older clay or cast iron sewer line?
Does hydro jetting a drain need a permit?
Will tree roots grow back into the sewer line after jetting?
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