Plumbing emergency · Boulder, CO
Emergency Plumbing in Boulder, CO
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Boulder, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to City of Boulder; anything on your side goes to a licensed plumber, and we connect you with one.
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent plumbing contractor serving your area. Calls may be recorded for quality and training. The call and referral are free, and you are never obligated to hire.- Licensed local plumbers
- Free call and referral
- You approve the quote first
Call now for
- Burst pipes
- Major leaks
- Sewage backups
- Overflowing toilets
- Leaking water heaters
Emergency plumbing services in Boulder
- Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
- Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets.
- Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
- Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
- Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
- Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergencies we connect you with help for
- Burst or split pipes
- Water leaking through a ceiling
- Sewage backing up into drains
- An overflowing toilet that won't stop
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- No water in the house
Emergencies most likely in Boulder homes
- Boulder sees regular hard freezes. Burst pipes usually show up when the pipe thaws, so check exposed lines, garages and crawlspaces after a hard freeze.
- 55% of Boulder's homes were built before 1980 (median year built 1977). Aging galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay sewer lines are behind many sudden leaks and backups in homes of that age.
- Front Range cold snaps freeze pipes in older homes.
- Typical home built
- 1977
- Homes before 1980
- 55%
- Winter freezes
- Regular hard freezes
The first five minutes
- 1Shut off the waterMain shutoff, or the fixture's own valve.
- 2Cut power near waterOnly from a dry spot.
- 3Gas smell: leave firstCall the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- 4Call and describe itSay what failed and when.
What affects the price
The plumbing company sets the price after seeing the job; ask for it in writing before work starts.
- Time of day, weekends and holidays
- What failed and how much water got out
- Access to the pipe or fixture
- Whether a temporary fix or a full repair is done first
- Parts the plumber has to source
Plumbing work we connect Boulder homeowners with
Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes. Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets. Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature. Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps. Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage. Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergency Plumbing in Boulder: questions
What number shuts off water in Boulder during a nighttime plumbing emergency?
Call the City of Boulder at 303-441-3200 for an after-hours emergency water shutoff. During weekday business hours, Utilities at 303-441-3260 helps with shutoffs. An emergency plumber then repairs the failure inside your home.
Could an emergency pipe repair in Boulder expose a lead water line?
Unlikely. Boulder's service line inventory found no lead lines and labels all lines non-lead. Lead can still come from older in-home plumbing materials, which a plumber can identify during repairs.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Boulder?
City of Boulder handles mains and the service line up to the meter. A plumber handles the line from the meter to the house and everything inside.
What should I do if a pipe bursts during a Boulder freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. In Boulder, check garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls first.
Are older Boulder homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Boulder home was built in 1977 and 55% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have copper supply, early plastic (ABS or PVC) drains, some cast iron.
Is frozen pipe repair a common emergency in Boulder?
Front Range cold snaps freeze pipes in older homes.
Emergency Plumbing near Boulder
- Emergency Plumbing in Denver, COPlumbing emergency in Denver, CO? Who to call (Denver Water or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Denver homes.
- Emergency Plumbing in Westminster, COPlumbing emergency in Westminster, CO? Who to call (City of Westminster or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Westminster homes.
- Emergency Plumbing in Thornton, COPlumbing emergency in Thornton, CO? Who to call (City of Thornton or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Thornton homes.
More plumbing services in Boulder
- Sewer Line Repair in Boulder, COSewer Line Repair in Boulder, CO: old clay laterals crack in expansive soils.
- Water Heater Replacement in Boulder, COWater Heater Replacement in Boulder, CO: tanks in older homes and rentals reach end of life.
- Frozen Pipe Repair in Boulder, COFrozen Pipe Repair in Boulder, CO: front Range cold snaps freeze pipes in older homes.
- All plumbing services in BoulderEvery plumbing service available to Boulder homes.
Local rules and details for Boulder
Who to call in Boulder
Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in Boulder that is City of Boulder. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.
Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in Boulder; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Boulder
- Boulder Utilities assists with turning off residential or commercial water service for maintenance at 303-441-3260 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 3 p.m. on Thursday. If a customer has an emergency and needs water turned off after hours, the City of Boulder says to call 303-441-3200. [3]
- The City of Boulder's Water Service Line Inventory, begun in 2023, found no lead service lines. The city used records review, customer outreach, onsite visits and visual inspections of a statistically valid number of lines approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and labels all service lines non-lead. Water leaving Boulder's two treatment plants is essentially free of lead. [4]
Other common plumbing calls in Boulder
- Sewer Line Repair: old clay laterals crack in expansive soils.
- Water Heater Replacement: tanks in older homes and rentals reach end of life.
Boulder facts behind this page
- Boulder's water comes from Barker Reservoir on Middle Boulder Creek, Silver Lake and Lakewood Reservoir on North Boulder Creek, and Colorado-Big Thompson and Windy Gap water delivered via Carter Lake and Boulder Reservoir. [1]
- The median home in Boulder was built in 1977. [2]
- About 55% of Boulder's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- Boulder Utilities assists with turning off residential or commercial water service for maintenance at 303-441-3260 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 3 p.m. on Thursday. If a customer has an emergency and needs water turned off after hours, the City of Boulder says to call 303-441-3200. [3]
- The City of Boulder's Water Service Line Inventory, begun in 2023, found no lead service lines. The city used records review, customer outreach, onsite visits and visual inspections of a statistically valid number of lines approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and labels all service lines non-lead. Water leaving Boulder's two treatment plants is essentially free of lead. [4]
Sources (4)
- City of Boulder, Water Treatment · checked 2026-10-06
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Boulder, Water Utilities · checked 2026-10-20
- City of Boulder, Water Service Line Inventory · checked 2026-10-20