Drain and Sewer Questions from Loveland, CO

Most houses with basements have one in the basement floor or low on a wall where the main drain leaves the house, often near the furnace or laundry. Many also have an outdoor cleanout in the yard between the house and the street. It looks like a short capped pipe, usually 3 or 4 inches across.

Yes. A cracked or missing cap lets snowmelt, dirt and debris into the line, and caps get broken by shovels, snowblowers and mowers. Mark its spot before the first snow and replace a damaged cap promptly so a provider can still reach the line in winter.

There is no fixed schedule. A line that has never caused trouble may need nothing, while a line with recurring roots may need attention every year or two. A camera look after a cleaning is the best way to decide, because it shows whether the cause will come back.

Do not connect them without checking first. Rain and groundwater sent into a sanitary sewer can overload it during storms, and most cities restrict those connections. Ask Loveland Water and Power at 970-962-3000 before changing where a sump pump discharges.

The City of Loveland, which has treated wastewater since 1902. Its Water Reclamation Facility, expanded in 2019, serves more than 30,000 homes and businesses. Your own service line carries wastewater to the city's sewer main.

Tell your landlord or property manager first, because the owner normally arranges and pays for sewer work. The City of Loveland also requires a City Contractor's License for plumbing work on rental properties, which the owner can confirm at 970-962-2505. If sewage is backing up and you cannot reach anyone, stop using water and keep a record of when you called.

Any work in the city right-of-way, including excavation, needs a Major Right-of-Way permit from the City of Loveland. The permit is valid for 90 days and inspections are requested 48 hours ahead. Working without one can mean double fees, so the contractor should handle it before digging.

Fats and cooking oil, coffee grounds, eggshells, rice and pasta, and stringy peels such as celery or potato skins. They either harden or pack together further down the line. Run plenty of cold water while the disposal is on and for a few seconds after.

Usually the trap under the drain has dried out, so sewer gas comes straight up. Pour a few quarts of water into the drain to refill the trap. If the smell keeps coming back within days, the trap may be leaking or the line may need attention.

You can, but a main line machine is heavy and the cable can kink, get stuck or injure hands if it is not handled correctly. It also will not tell you why the line clogged. If a rented machine does not clear it in one attempt, stop and call a provider.

Gurgling means air is being pulled through a trap as water drains. A partial clog can cause it, but so can a blocked or poorly placed vent pipe on the roof. Mention which fixtures gurgle and when, since that helps the provider tell a vent problem from a drain problem.

North Loveland around North Lake Park and Lake Loveland is within the city, so calls from there are taken like any other. Nearby towns such as Berthoud, Fort Collins and Johnstown depend on the individual contractor, and coverage is confirmed by address when you call.