Local Knowledge
Plumbing in Loveland: What Every Homeowner Should Know
Loveland is a city of layers when it comes to plumbing. Downtown Old Town and the mid-century South Loveland neighborhoods were built in an era of galvanized steel supply lines and clay tile sewer laterals. Those materials are reaching the end of their lifespan right now. If your home was built before 1975 and you haven't replaced your water supply piping, there's a good chance you're dealing with reduced water pressure, discolored water, or pinhole leaks that haven't surfaced yet. We see this every week in the older neighborhoods between 4th Street and the river corridor.
The Big Thompson River is central to Loveland's identity — and its plumbing challenges. The 1976 Big Thompson Canyon flood and the 2013 flooding events are reminders that low-lying properties near the river can be vulnerable to groundwater intrusion and hydrostatic pressure. Even in areas that didn't flood directly, the water table fluctuations have stressed underground infrastructure over the decades. Root intrusion from the massive cottonwoods along the river corridor is one of the most common reasons we run camera inspections on Loveland drain and sewer lines. On the east side of town, agricultural and rural residential properties on private wells deal with the high mineral content of the Big Thompson watershed water, which stresses pump components and pressure tanks more than most areas in Northern Colorado.
For permit compliance, in-city Loveland plumbing work requires a City of Loveland building permit. Water heater replacements, sewer line repairs, and any new plumbing rough-in all need permits and inspections. Rural properties east of town and those with septic systems fall under Larimer County jurisdiction, which has its own inspection and approval process. We're fully licensed for both and handle all permit applications on your behalf — you won't need to make a single call to the city or county office.
Loveland Water Quality Note: Loveland's municipal water consistently tests above 200 mg/L total dissolved solids, putting it in the "hard" to "very hard" category. Annual water heater flushes, periodic drain descaling, and quality aerators on faucets go a long way toward protecting your plumbing investment.