Serving Boulder
Snowmelt & Runoff Flooding Boulder, CO
A winter of snow melts in a few weeks. Frozen or saturated ground sends it toward the lowest point, which is often a basement. Melt water follows the snowpack's calendar rather than the weather's, and the source usually keeps running for weeks. The entry point is found and the lower walls and floors are opened where water reached them.
Shut the water off first, then call
Often needed alongside
- Emergency Water Extraction
Standing water removed before it travels further into the building - the first step after any failure, and the one that shows how far the water went.
- Structural Drying
Water that ran unnoticed reaches further than it shows. Drying brings walls, floors and framing back, measured point by point.
- Sewage & Septic Backup Cleanup
A septic system that cannot drain - frozen lines, thawing ground - sends water back to the lowest drain in the building. It is sewage whatever it looks like.
Frequently asked questions
What should Boulder landlords of older houses do before the holidays?
Remind tenants to leave the heat on at a moderate setting, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, and arrange a look inside while the house is empty. Older houses have plumbing in cold places, and December brings the coldest nights here.
Why do Boulder apartment leaks often show up in a different unit?
Because water follows gravity and framing, down through floors and along shared walls, so it appears in the unit below or beside the one where it started. That unit may be empty. Reporting water right away, and saying exactly where it appeared, helps management find the source.
Are Boulder houses built before 1940 harder to keep from freezing?
Usually, yes. Their plumbing was added after they were built, often along exterior walls, in crawl spaces or through additions. Those lines lose heat first in a cold snap. Keeping those rooms warm and knowing where the main shutoff is prevents most damage.
The Boulder page sets these questions next to the local figures.