Sewer Repair in Johnstown, CO

New build backing up in year one? Older home with a line that keeps clogging? Call SewerProof Greeley 24/7 to talk to a local sewer pro about your line. Below: who owns what under the Town of Johnstown code, when to repair or replace, and what to sort out before anyone digs.

Call (970) 771-0141Who owns the line?

Talk to a local sewer pro

Sewer trouble in Johnstown?

Call and describe what’s backing up and how old the house is. A local sewer pro can tell you whether it needs clearing, a camera check or a repair.

Call (970) 771-0141
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  • Ask for the price before work starts
  • Ask to see the camera footage
  • Answered 24/7, nights and weekends
  • Camera check before any dig
  • Price explained before work starts
  • Local Greeley-area sewer pros

Who owns the sewer line in Johnstown?

You do, all the way to the main, including the tap. The Town of Johnstown’s municipal code says the Town maintains the sewer main only, and the property owner is responsible for the service line in total to the main, including the tap.

Who is responsible for a Johnstown sewer lineUnder the Town of Johnstown code, the Town maintains the sewer main only. The property owner is responsible for the whole service line from the house to the main, including the tap where the line joins the main. Work needs a written Town permit, connections are tested under Town supervision, and any street or sidewalk that is dug up must be restored promptly.Owner’s responsibility, including the tapTownHouseCleanoutSidewalkStreetService line (your side)Tap: yoursTown sewermainWritten permitFrom the Town beforework on the sewerTested connectionGas- and watertight,under Town supervisionRestorationStreet and sidewalkrestored promptlyNewer home?Keep the camera videoand warranty papersBased on the Town of Johnstown municipal code. Simplified drawing, not to scale.

That matters for sewer line repair in Johnstown, CO. A crack under your yard, a bad joint under the sidewalk or a failed tap at the main is usually the owner’s job to fix. The same code requires a written Town permit before work on the sewer, a tested, watertight connection made under Town supervision, and prompt repair of any street or sidewalk that gets dug up.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Old-town line or new-build backup?
  2. Backing up right now? First steps, then the camera
  3. Sewer repair in Johnstown: fix one section or replace the line?
  4. New build in Thompson River Ranch or another new neighborhood?
  5. Permits: Town, county or right-of-way?
  6. Septic or Town sewer?
  7. How much does sewer repair in Johnstown cost?
  8. Will homeowners insurance cover it?
  9. Before you sign: a bid checklist
  10. Johnstown sewer questions

Old-town line or new-build backup?

Johnstown is two towns in one. It was platted in 1902, and it has grown fast since: about 9,900 people in 2010, about 17,300 in 2020, and more than 22,000 by 2025. The fix often depends on which kind of house you have.

Older home near downtown

Older lines may be clay or cast iron, unless they were already replaced. Repeat clogs often come from:

  • Roots at pipe joints
  • Cracked or offset joints
  • Cast iron scale or rust
  • A sag where the ground settled

Start with a camera inspection, then decide.

Newer home in a new neighborhood

Newer lines are usually PVC. A backup in the first years can still happen. Possible causes:

  • Construction debris left in the line
  • A trench that settled and made a low spot
  • A loose or offset joint near the tap or cleanout
  • Later damage from fence posts, sprinklers or landscaping

Only the camera can say which one you have. See the new-build steps below.

Backing up right now? First steps, then the camera

  • 1 Stop using water. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher.
  • 2 Check with a neighbor. If they’re backing up too, the Town main may be the problem. Call the Town.
  • 3 Don’t open a cleanout cap on a full line. Sewage can push out under pressure.
  • 4 Call a sewer pro to clear the line. An emergency plumber in Johnstown for a sewer backup should explain fees before coming out.
  • 5 Get the camera run after clearing. That shows whether it was a clog or a break.
  • The footage A copy of the video, so you can see the problem and show it to the builder or a second company.
  • The distance How many feet from the cleanout the problem sits. That decides where any dig happens.
  • A locate The spot and depth marked on your yard, found by tracking the camera head.
  • Written findings What was found, where, and what the sewer pro recommends.

For more on what to do during a backup, see our emergency sewer repair steps.

Sewer repair in Johnstown: fix one section or replace the line?

My Johnstown house is from the 1970s. Repair one section or replace it all? The camera findings answer that, not the age of the house:

What the camera finds

Usually

Why

Roots or buildup, pipe still sound

Clearing or hydro jetting

Nothing is broken yet

One crack, one bad joint or one root entry

Spot repair or a short liner

The rest of the pipe is fine

Cracks along much of a pipe that keeps its shape

CIPP lining

Seals the line without a long trench

Pipe worn out but still in line

Pipe bursting

Pulls new pipe along the old path

Collapse, repeat failures, or a sag along much of the line

Replace the line

Patching keeps failing

Trenchless sewer repair in Johnstown can save a yard, a driveway or new landscaping, but it needs a pipe that still holds its shape. A deep sag usually needs a dig, because a liner follows the dip. A full sewer replacement in Johnstown, CO is usually saved for pipe that is collapsed or failing end to end. Learn about trenchless repair, a spot repair, a sagging line or a full sewer line replacement.

Not sure if it’s a repair or a replacement?

Call any time. A local sewer pro can explain what a camera check would show and what each option costs.

Call (970) 771-0141

New build in Thompson River Ranch or another new neighborhood?

We bought a new build and the sewer backed up in year one. Builder’s problem or mine? That depends on the cause and on your warranty, and nobody can tell you without the camera. Here’s a sensible order:

  • 1 Get the line cleared so the house is usable.
  • 2 Get a camera run and keep the video, with the distance to the problem.
  • 3 Gather your papers: closing documents, the builder’s warranty, and any HOA or metro district rules for digging in your yard or common areas.
  • 4 Contact the builder before anyone digs, and send them the video. Ask in writing whether it’s a warranty item.
  • 5 Check with your HOA before a dig that touches landscaping, fences or shared areas.
Sewer line repair in Johnstown, CO: camera screen showing construction debris in a newer PVC line
Construction debris sitting in a newer PVC sewer line, as seen on a camera screen.

Don’t let anyone dig up a newer line before you’ve seen the footage and talked to the builder. Once the pipe is cut, the evidence of what went wrong may be gone.

Tablet showing sewer camera video on a kitchen table next to home papers and a warranty booklet
Keep the camera video next to your closing papers and warranty.

Permits: Town, county or right-of-way?

Johnstown sits in both Larimer and Weld counties, so homeowners ask which office applies. Part of my area is in another county. Which permit office applies? Here’s the general path:

  • Inside town limits The Town of Johnstown issues the sewer permit. The code requires a written permit before work, applied for by the owner or the owner’s agent on a Town form. The Town’s eTRAKiT portal is used for permits and inspections.
  • Connection and inspection The code says connections must be gas-tight and watertight, tested, and made under Town supervision.
  • Street or sidewalk work If the dig reaches a street, sidewalk or parkway, it must be restored promptly. Work in a county road right-of-way may also need a county permit.
  • Outside town limits A property outside town limits, or one served by another utility, may follow different rules. Confirm with the Town before work starts.

Call Colorado 811 before any digging so buried utility lines are marked. The exact office and route depend on your address and where the work happens, so confirm before you book.

Septic or Town sewer?

Some properties on the edges of Johnstown use a septic system instead of Town sewer. Never assume. To check:

  • Look for a sewer charge on your utility bill
  • Ask the county health department for any septic permit on file
  • Look for a septic tank lid in the yard, not just a cleanout
  • Check the seller’s disclosure from when you bought

Why it matters

A sewer line and a septic system need different fixes, different permits and different contractors. If your home is on septic, a sewer camera can still show the pipe from the house to the tank, but the tank and field are a separate job.

If the property was converted from septic to sewer, ask for those records too. They show where the old tank was and how the new line runs.

How much does sewer repair in Johnstown cost?

Many calls end with clearing, which costs far less than a repair. Numbers to plan around, cheapest first:

Job

Typical price

Drain cleaning in Johnstown, 2026 local data

About $102 to $461

Clearing a main line clog with a cable

About $125 to $315

Hydro jetting the line

About $300 to $600

Line repair, low end of one 2025 Weld County calculator

About $872

Same calculator, average job

About $3,706

Same calculator, larger jobs

Up to about $6,541

The repair figures are regional context, not a Johnstown quote. One national plumbing franchise also publishes a general guideline of $50 to $300 per foot for line work. That’s a national rule of thumb, not Johnstown pricing.

  • Length How many feet of pipe need work.
  • Depth Deeper lines take more digging.
  • Access Driveways, patios, fences and new landscaping.
  • Method Spot repair, lining, bursting or open trench.
  • Permits Town permit, and a county permit if needed.
  • Restoration Sod, rock, concrete, sidewalk or street.

See more on our sewer line repair cost page.

Will homeowners insurance cover it?

Check your policy before you count on it. Standard policies often leave sewer lines out. Colorado’s Division of Insurance describes two add-ons to look for:

  • Water backup endorsement: can cover damage inside the home from a sewer backup.
  • Service line endorsement: can cover repair of the buried line itself.

What to save for a claim

  • Photos and video of any damage
  • The camera footage and written findings
  • Every invoice: clearing, repair, cleanup
  • The dates: when it started and who came

For a newer home, ask the builder about warranty coverage before filing.

Before you sign: a bid checklist

Hiring a plumber in Johnstown, CO for sewer work goes better when every bid answers the same questions in writing:

  • What the camera found, and at what distance
  • The method: spot repair, lining, bursting or dig
  • How many feet of pipe the price covers
  • Whether the tap is included in the work
  • Who pulls the Town permit and books inspection
  • What restoration is included
  • A camera run after the repair, with video
  • Any warranty terms, written down

A bid that skips the camera, the permit or the restoration usually isn’t the same job as one that includes them.

Johnstown sewer questions

Under the Town of Johnstown municipal code, the Town maintains the sewer main only. The property owner is responsible for the service line all the way to the main, including the tap.

It depends on the cause and your warranty. Get the line cleared, keep the camera video, and contact the builder in writing before anyone digs.

Let the camera decide. One bad joint or crack can often be spot repaired. Repeat failures, a collapse or a sag along much of the line usually mean replacement.

Inside town limits, the Town of Johnstown issues the sewer permit. Work in a county road right-of-way, or on a property outside town limits, may need a county permit. Confirm with the Town first.

Only if your policy includes it. Look for a water backup endorsement and a service line endorsement, and save photos, video and invoices.

Check your utility bill for a sewer charge, ask the county health department about any septic permit, and look for a septic tank lid in the yard.

Clearing a clog often runs about $102 to $461. For repairs, one 2025 Weld County calculator showed about $872 at the low end and about $3,706 on average.

Call about sewer repair in Johnstown, CO

Tell a local sewer pro what’s backing up, how old the house is, and whether it’s still under a builder warranty. Ask for the camera footage and a written scope. Call any time, day or night, for sewer line repair in Johnstown, Colorado. Not in Johnstown? See all our service areas around Greeley.

Call (970) 771-0141