Plumber in Arvada, CO

Split-levels, ranches and Olde Town

Olde Town Arvada's historic district anchors the oldest part of the city. Around it, much of the housing is from the 1950s through the '70s: ranches, bi-levels and split-levels on established streets in areas like Ralston Valley and around Lake Arbor. Newer development continues toward the foothills on the northwest side, in communities like Candelas and Leyden Rock.

Split-level and bi-level homes have their own plumbing habits. The water heater and laundry usually sit on the lower level, often squeezed into a closet that was built for a smaller tank, with bathrooms stacked above. Replacing a heater in one of those closets means paying attention to clearances, combustion air and how the new model fits through the door.

Kitchens in these homes are often on exterior walls, so the supply lines under the sink are the first to freeze in a cold snap. And original two-handle shower valves from the 1960s and '70s are common upstairs.

Living with a split-level's plumbing

Split-level and bi-level homes stack their plumbing: bathrooms over the lower level, the kitchen on an exterior wall, and the water heater in a closet below. That layout is efficient, but it means a leak upstairs travels down quickly, and the lower-level ceiling is usually where you see it first.

A few habits make Arvada split-levels easier to live with. Know where the main shutoff is on the lower level and keep the path to it clear. Open the kitchen sink cabinet on the coldest nights. Check under the upstairs bathroom sink and behind the toilet once in a while for damp, because a slow drip there is the usual source of a mystery stain below.

When the closet water heater needs replacing, measure the door and the space first. Newer low-NOx gas models required under HB23-1161 aren't always the same size as the tank they replace, and closets have little room to spare.

Arvada's water

The City of Arvada treats its own water, but most of it starts with Denver Water. Per the city, Ralston Reservoir is filled from Denver Water's North System (including Gross Reservoir), and Arvada Reservoir is filled from Ralston Creek and Clear Creek; a long-standing contract puts the split at roughly 75 percent Denver Water and 25 percent Arvada's own rights. The Ralston Water Treatment Plant does most of the work, with the Arvada plant running mainly in the higher-demand season.

Arvada's annual Water Quality Report lists hardness. Like most Front Range water, it leaves minerals in tanks and on fixtures over time.

Permits in Arvada

Arvada's Building Division handles plumbing permits, including water heater replacements. Closet installs in split-levels sometimes need small changes, like a louvered door for combustion air, to meet code on replacement.