Lyons is a statutory town in northern Boulder County with about 2,200 residents at the 2020 census. It sits at roughly 5,364 feet where the North and South St. Vrain Creeks come together, with red sandstone mountains on three sides. The drive from Longmont runs about ten miles up Highway 66.
The town was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1891, and its identity is built on sandstone. Quarries here supplied the red stone used on the University of Colorado campus, and fifteen sandstone structures in the town's historic district are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Before We Arrive
Lyons residents know what rising water looks like. For a pipe or fixture leak inside the house, the first steps are simpler and still time-sensitive.
Shut off the main water valve to stop the flow at its source.
Cut power to any outlet or fixture near standing water.
Clear the immediate area of anything that could be damaged further.
Call our 24/7 line and we'll walk you through anything else while we're on the way.
What Lyons Homeowners Call About Most
Water in the basement is the call that matters most here. In September 2013, more than seventeen inches of rain fell in a few days and the St. Vrain flooded the town. Homeowners who lived through it do not treat a damp basement lightly. A sump pump with a battery backup is a common project for houses near either creek.
Sewer backups are the second concern. The 2013 flood tore apart water distribution and sewer collection lines in town. Older homes still run original private sewer laterals alongside rebuilt public lines, so a sewer camera inspection is a sensible first step after any backup.
Lyons sits at about 5,364 feet against the foothills, and hard freezes are part of the winter. Exposed lines in crawlspaces, detached garages, and older buildings along Main Street are the usual casualties. We handle frozen pipe repair and the burst sections that follow.
Sandstone Buildings, a Creek Town, and a Flood Memory
Lyons housing mixes sandstone-era buildings with later homes and several mobile home parks. The town's own recovery records say seventy homes were destroyed in 2013, including forty-three mobile homes. That history shapes how residents think about drainage and backup protection.
Buildings in the historic district date from the 1890s through the early 1900s. The Lyons Redstone Museum, a former schoolhouse, is one example of how old the building stock is. A building that old often has several generations of plumbing behind its walls, and leak detection finds the failing section without opening every wall.
Lyons runs its own water, wastewater, and electric utilities. That means a pressure or sewer question can sometimes be a town-side issue instead of something inside your house. We check your side first and tell you plainly if the problem sits with the utility.
The same creeks that give the town its character also shape its drainage. Low-lying blocks near the creeks deserve extra attention to drainage and sump pump health during spring runoff.
ZIP Codes We Serve Near Lyons
Lyons uses ZIP code 80540. The ZIP covers more people than the town limits alone, so it includes homes in the surrounding foothills. We serve the whole 80540 area, including addresses outside the town boundary.
Some properties near Lyons sit in the unincorporated foothills with private wells or septic. The ZIP is the same, but the plumbing is not, so we confirm water and sewer service by address when you call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide emergency plumbing service in Lyons?
Yes, 24/7 emergency dispatch covers Lyons, about ten miles from our Longmont base, day and night, weekends and holidays included.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Lyons?
Lyons has one ZIP code, 80540, and we cover all of it, from the Main Street historic blocks to the foothill properties outside town limits.
Are Lyons water and sewer run by the town?
The Town of Lyons operates its own water, wastewater, and electric utilities. We start inside your house and tell you plainly if a problem looks like a utility-side issue.
Should I install a sump pump in Lyons?
Homes in low-lying blocks near the creeks often should, and a battery backup matters because storms can cut power. We look at the property and give an honest recommendation.
How did the 2013 flood affect plumbing in Lyons?
It tore apart water distribution and sewer collection lines in town and flooded many basements. Private sewer laterals and basement drainage are worth checking if your home was affected.
How long does it take to reach Lyons?
About ten miles along Highway 66, typically fifteen to twenty minutes from our Longmont base.
Nearby Areas We Also Serve
Hygiene lies between Lyons and Longmont, which is why a Lyons call reaches us quickly. Longmont is the dispatch base, and Hygiene is the nearest community along the way.
Properties farther up the canyons are a different service situation. Call and we will confirm coverage by address.