Drain Cleaning in Jamestown, CO

Jamestown homes and their sewer lines

Jamestown's houses range from miners' cabins from the late 1800s to homes rebuilt after 2013 to current codes.

The town runs a small water treatment plant and distribution system, rebuilt after the flood. There is no town sewer; homes treat wastewater with onsite septic systems.

Lots are narrow along the creeks and steep on the hillsides, which limits where tanks and fields can go.

Jamestown drain problems

Most Jamestown drain calls involve septic: a line to the tank that clogs, freezes or has roots, or a tank that needs pumping. Old cabin plumbing joined to newer additions creates awkward joints, shaded canyon lots stay cold all winter, and homes near the creeks sit in damp ground where roots and groundwater find old lines.

What drain work usually costs in Jamestown

A mining town in a narrow canyon

Jamestown, often called Jimtown, grew up in the 1860s around gold and later fluorspar mining in the hills above James Creek. The town sits where Little James Creek joins the main creek, in a narrow canyon off Lefthand Canyon northwest of Boulder. Houses line both creeks and climb the slopes, with mine dumps and old workings still visible above town.

The 2013 flood

In September 2013, record rain sent James Creek and Little James Creek through town with enormous force. Eighteen homes were destroyed and 44 damaged. The flood wrecked the underground parts of the town's water treatment plant, contaminated its sand filters and destroyed about half of the water distribution lines. The water lines were rebuilt by August 2014, and drinkable water returned that November. Damage at Elysian Park also let mine tailings into James Creek, which the EPA worked to repair.

Septic after the flood

Jamestown has no sewer system, so homes treat wastewater with onsite septic. The flood buried, moved or damaged many tanks and fields near the creeks. Homes rebuilt since 2013 have newer systems designed under current rules. Older homes that survived may have tanks and lines that were silted in, shifted or never inspected afterward. If an older Jamestown home has had slow drains since the flood, a camera inspection of the line and a check of the tank are worth doing.

Cold canyon winters

The canyon walls shade much of Jamestown for long stretches of the winter day. Lines to septic tanks over rocky ground may be shallow, and drains in crawlspaces and additions freeze when the cold settles in. Keeping crawlspace vents closed, insulating exposed lines and keeping a steady flow of water through the system in a hard freeze help.

Cabins that grew

Many older Jamestown homes began as small miners' cabins and have been enlarged. Each addition tied into the drain at a different point, with joints that catch debris. A camera shows where the old and new pipe meet and whether a sag or offset is causing repeat clogs.

If your Jamestown home backs up

1. 01

   Stop using water

   Every flush adds to the tank and the backup.

2. 02

   Check when the tank was pumped

   That decides whether to pump or clear the line first.

3. 03

   Find the cleanout and tank lids

   Shovel snow away if needed.

4. 04

   Tell the plumber about the road

   James Canyon Drive is narrow and can be icy.

Jamestown warning signs

• Every drain slowing at once
• Gurgling in the lowest toilet
• A line that stops in a cold snap
• Sewage smell near the tank
• Soggy ground over the drain field

Roots near the creeks

Trees along James Creek and Little James Creek have constant water and send roots toward any leaking joint. Older lines near the creek are the most likely to have roots. Cutting clears them, and a camera shows whether the joint can be sealed.

What affects the cost in Jamestown

A simple clog is quick. Septic lines, frozen pipe, rocky ground and canyon travel take more time. Knowing where the tank is and when it was last pumped keeps the visit short.

Rebuilt homes and new systems

After 2013, many Jamestown homes were rebuilt or replaced, and new septic systems went in under current Boulder County rules. A waterline extension completed in early 2016 allowed more homes to be rebuilt. Newer systems are generally more reliable, but a new tank and line still need the same care: regular pumping, no grease or wipes, and attention to freezing in winter.

Mine waste and the creek

Jamestown's mining past left tailings and waste rock in the hills, and some washed into James Creek during the flood. Homeowners don't need to deal with that directly, but it's a reason to keep septic systems in good shape: a failing system near the creek adds to the water quality problems the town and EPA have worked to fix.

Fluorspar, gold and old cabins

Jamestown's mines produced gold early on and later fluorspar, and miners' cabins from both eras still stand. Many have been added onto several times. Their drains may run through cold crawlspaces or under additions with little insulation. Those lines freeze first, and their joints are where clogs form.

Getting to Jamestown

The road to Jamestown winds up from Lefthand Canyon along James Creek and was rebuilt after the flood. In winter it can be icy, and in summer it's busy with cyclists and visitors. Describing your location and the access when you call helps the plumber plan the trip, especially if your home is up a steep side road or across the creek on a private bridge.

Water use and a small town supply

Jamestown's water system is small, and the town has spent years rebuilding it. Fixing running toilets and dripping faucets saves water for the town and keeps extra flow out of your septic system, which helps the drain field last.