Faucet Repair in Watkins, CO

Why does my faucet drip in a newer Watkins home?

Because cartridges wear with use, even in fairly new houses. Watkins is a rural community with dry-farming and ranching roots, and it has added new housing, including a neighborhood of nearly 100 homes. The median home was built in 2002, and about 25% are older than 1980. In the newer homes, single-lever cartridge faucets are typical, and after years of daily use the seals inside flatten or crack. In older farmhouses, two-handle faucets with washers and seats are more common, along with stop valves that have not been turned in a long time. In both cases, new parts usually stop the leak.

Who supplies water in Watkins?

No public water provider for Watkins could be confirmed, and providers vary by address. Adams County's Water Master Plan says Denver Basin aquifers are the main source of drinking water throughout eastern Adams County, and that self-supplied users there include metro districts, homeowner associations and farmers, but it does not name Watkins' provider. Some Watkins-addressed properties are inside Aurora city limits, since the Watkins post office itself is in Aurora, and those homes may be on Aurora utilities. Check your water bill, or contact Adams or Arapahoe County, to confirm. If your home has its own well, tell the plumber, since well water can clog aerators and wear seals faster.

Where do permits come from?

Watkins is unincorporated and spans two counties. In the Adams County portion, permits come from the One Stop Permitting Center; in the Arapahoe County portion, from the Arapahoe County Building Division. Parcels inside Aurora city limits fall under the City of Aurora. A simple faucet repair rarely needs a permit, but the plumber can tell you whether yours does.

A local note

On the open plains east of Aurora, winter winds and hard freezes are tough on outdoor spigots. Disconnect hoses before the first freeze so the bib can drain. If a spigot leaks inside the wall when you first use it in spring, shut it off right away and have it replaced, ideally with a frost-free model. Many newer Watkins homes already have frost-free bibs, but they still fail if a hose stays attached over winter.