Housing that shapes the risk
Much of Centennial was built as suburbs of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and later incorporated as a city. Tri-levels and bi-levels are common in the older sections. In a typical tri-level, the kitchen and living room sit on a middle level over a crawl space, bedrooms are up half a flight, and a family room and laundry are down half a flight, often beside the garage. Bi-levels put the entry between two floors, with a lower level partly below grade and often a bathroom or laundry against the garage wall.
Those layouts put supply lines near three cold zones at once: the crawl space under the main level, the garage wall beside the lower level, and the band joist where the upper floor meets the lower. Original copper in these homes has had decades of service, and some may have been partially replaced with other materials. Polybutylene was used in some homes built in the late 1970s through the early 1990s nationwide, so it is worth confirming what you have.
Tri-level versus bi-level freeze points
| Tri-level | Bi-level |
|---|---|
| Kitchen lines may pass through a crawl space under the main level | Lower-level bath or laundry partly below grade, partly exposed |
| Crawl space vents and access hatches often neglected | Rim joist at the level change can be drafty |
| Lower-level laundry frequently shares a wall with the garage | Upper-floor kitchen sink often on an exterior wall over the entry |
| Hose bib often comes off the crawl space or lower-level wall | Garage frequently tucked under or beside living space |
Centennial pre-winter checks for split-level homes
- Open the crawl space hatch and look for dropped insulation, open vents and damp soil.
- Feel the lower-level laundry wall shared with the garage on a cold day.
- Check the band joist at each level change for drafts near pipes.
- Identify the pipe material at the water heater and the main.
- Replace a stiff or leaking original main valve before winter.
- Make sure the garage door seals, since many lower levels share a wall with it.
Who to contact in Centennial
- IfYou need a permit for rerouting or repipingThenAsk the City of Centennial which office reviews building and plumbing permits for your address.
- IfYou need the water shut off at the curbThenContact your water provider; in Centennial this depends on the neighborhood, so check your bill.
- IfYou live in a townhome or condoThenAsk the HOA where your unit's shutoff is and what the master policy covers.
- IfThe house predates the 1980s and walls must be openedThenAsk whether testing for older building materials is needed before cutting drywall or disturbing textured ceilings.
General information for Parker, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.