Centennial, Colorado · Residential plumbing

Plumber in Centennial, CO

Underhill Plumbing Services serves homeowners across Centennial in the south metro. We repair and replace water heaters, install and service tankless units, fix faucets, toilets and shower valves, and repair leaks.

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CentennialColorado · South metro

Centennial's established neighborhoods

Centennial incorporated in 2001, but most of its neighborhoods are older than the city. Much of the housing went up from the 1970s through the 1990s: two-story and split-level homes, most with basements, in areas like Southglenn, Willow Creek, Walnut Hills, Cherry Knolls and Piney Creek.

Two-story homes put bathrooms over finished living space. A slow leak at an upstairs toilet seal, supply line or shower valve often shows up first as a stain on the family room ceiling below, long after the leak started.

Many homes from this era have reached the point where the water heater, original faucets, toilet internals and shower cartridges are all due at once. Some built from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s also have gray polybutylene supply pipe, which is worth checking.

Upstairs bathrooms and the ceiling below

In Centennial's two-story homes, the most common call begins with a stain on a finished ceiling. The usual sources, in order: the wax seal under an upstairs toilet, a toilet or vanity supply line, the tub and shower valve, and the tub spout's diverter. Finding which one it is before opening the ceiling keeps the drywall repair small.

These homes are also at the age where several original parts are due together. A practical approach is to replace the water heater on your own schedule as it nears the end of typical tank life, swap tired shutoff valves while you're at it, and rebuild shower cartridges before they start dripping.

With several different water providers serving Centennial, hardness varies by neighborhood. Your provider's annual report gives the number, and it's a good guide to how often to flush a tank or descale a tankless unit.

Centennial's water

Centennial doesn't run a single city water utility. Depending on your neighborhood, water comes from providers such as Southgate Water District, East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District (which serves eastern Centennial) or the Arapahoe County Water & Wastewater Authority, each with its own sources and annual water quality report. Your bill names your provider.

Because sources differ, hardness can differ from one side of Centennial to the other; the provider's report has your figure.

Permits in Centennial

The City of Centennial's Building Division handles building permits and offers online permitting. We confirm what your job needs before we start.

Centennial plumbing questions

There's a water stain on my ceiling below the upstairs bathroom. What's leaking?

Common sources are a toilet's wax seal, a toilet or sink supply line, or the tub and shower valve. Shut off water to that bathroom if you can and call.

My Centennial home was built in the 1980s. What plumbing should I watch?

The water heater's age, original shutoff valves and supply lines, and shower valve cartridges. Some homes from that era also have gray polybutylene supply pipe.

Is it worth replacing a 20-year-old water heater that still works?

It's past typical tank life, so plan for it. Replacing on your schedule beats replacing after it leaks.

Who supplies my water in Centennial?

It depends on where you live: Southgate, East Cherry Creek Valley or ACWWA are common. Your bill names your provider.

How do you find a leak behind a finished ceiling?

We check the fixtures above first: toilet seal, supply lines, shower valve and diverter. Pinning down the source keeps the opening small.

How often should I flush my water heater in Centennial?

It depends on your provider's water hardness and your use. Many manufacturers suggest about once a year.

My Centennial home has a finished basement. Where is the water heater access?

Usually in an unfinished mechanical room or behind an access door. Keep a clear path to it and to the main shutoff; finished basements sometimes box these in, which makes an emergency harder to handle.

Do you replace shower cartridges in Centennial's 1980s and '90s homes?

Yes. Many original single-handle valves from that era are still serviceable with a new cartridge, which stops drips and restores temperature control without opening the wall.

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Plumbing problem in Centennial?

Call and tell us what's going on, or book online. If we can't help, we'll tell you on the phone.