Hey, if not for its cold mountain climate, Colorado wouldn’t be the famed skiing (or at least ski-lodge-hot-toddy-sipping) destination that it is. But if the mercury plunges deep enough to freeze your home’s underground water service line, like a Double Black Diamond run at Breckenridge, things can go downhill real quick. Unless you’re attempting — ill-advisedly and paradoxically, as it were — to singlehandedly restore the overtaxed Colorado River to its former glory right from your subdivision lot, you’re gonna want to get that leaky pipe causing water to pool up in your lawn fixed, pronto. Be prepared for the worst, however, because while Centennial State denizens enjoy significant savings on water line repairs relative to the average American, a full replacement will require digging much deeper into your pockets.

This May Also Interest You: How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Replace a Water Service Line?

Your exterior water service line carries water from the public water main into your home. But make no mistake: Once the pipes run under your property, they’re your responsibility — so you’re likely on the hook for any repair or replacement costs.

How deep your pipes are buried deeply impacts the price you pay for these services. Water service lines are buried as deep as local building codes require — but usually, the depth is determined by the frost line in your area. And the deeper the technician must dig to get to your broken or otherwise compromised line, the higher the cost.

The nationwide average water service line depth is 4.58 feet, but in Colorado, water lines are more than a foot and a half deeper than that, on average, at 6.16 feet. For further context, in f-f-f-freezing Minnesota, pipe depth is more than 8 feet.

Repair and replacement costs also vary depending on where you live. The national average for diagnosis is $222, for repair is $1,039 and for replacement is $3,581.

Below, you’ll find average service prices based on aggregated HomeServe data reported by our network of contractors across Colorado, which should give you an approximation of how much you’ll pay to fix your out-of-commission water service line.

Water Service Line Diagnosis: $152

Before any work can begin, the technician will need to come out and run some tests to see what’s wrong with your system. In Colorado, the fee for this is 32% lower than the national average.

Water Service Line Repair: $797

A whole host of things can cause trouble with your exterior water service line — from invading tree roots to clogs to general wear and tear. Whatever’s up with your system, the repair process will likely start with excavation to expose the pipe. Depending on your situation, the technician may need to clear a blockage, find a leak or fix the pipe — and, of course, fill the hole back in.

Colorado’s average repair price is about 23% lower than the nation’s.

Water Service Line Replace: $4,423

Small sections of leaky or broken pipe can be repaired, but massive clogs or fully compromised pipes might necessitate a full replacement. Water service line replacements cost Coloradans 24% more than the average American.

More Related Articles:

• How Much Does Water Main Line Repair Cost?
• How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Water Service Line?
• Water Line Insurance: What It Is and Why You Need It
• Should You Go Pro or Try DIY for Your Sewer Line Repair? Here’s What You Should Know
• Prevent Frozen-Pipe Problems by Knowing These Things Down Cold

Video produced and directed by Eric Rossi: