Avon Center, West Avon and the roads we use to reach you
Avon is a Farmington Valley town of about 19,100 people, and it sits north of our shop on Scott Swamp Road. Crews head up Route 10, which is Main Street in Farmington, turns into Waterville Road and reaches Avon Center, where it runs together with US 44.
West Avon is a different approach. Route 167 starts as West Avon Road at Route 4 in Unionville and runs through that side of town, so a street name and the nearest cross street tell dispatch which way to send you.
Around-the-clock dispatch for Avon homes
The emergency line is answered 24/7, nights, weekends and holidays included. Tell dispatch you are in Avon, describe what is leaking or backing up, and ask for a same-day appointment. You hear a clear price before any work starts.
Single-family houses, and a minority of really old ones
About 84 percent of Avon housing is single-family, and Census figures put the owner-occupied rate at 85.4 percent. That means most callers are the people who own the pipes and the finished space around them. A median owner-occupied home value near $480,000 means a basement flood usually threatens carpet, built-ins and equipment worth real money.
Only about 17 percent of households live in structures built before 1960, according to a DataHaven analysis of 2019 Census data. Those older houses tend to have the original shutoff valves and drain lines, which is where a sewer inspection camera earns its keep. The newer majority fails in other places: water heaters, fixture supplies and sump pumps.
Sewer line or septic tank: know which one you have
Public sewer in Avon is not universal. The town's Water Pollution Control Authority surveyed 36 properties on Stony Corners and Stony Corners Circle in 2023 about extending a main, and connecting was optional. So the house next door may drain differently than yours, and the first question on any backup call is which system you are on.
On the town sewer
- Several fixtures backing up at once points to the building sewer or the main
- The town sewer office is at 860-409-4322 and can say what it maintains
- A sewer line cleaning visit with a drain cable or hydro jetter often clears it, and a camera shows what caused it
On septic
- Slow drains, gurgling and a wet or smelly yard patch suggest the tank or leach field
- The Farmington Valley Health District requires a permit before any part of a subsurface sewage disposal system is altered or repaired
- Add a bedroom or a pool and the same office may need to review the plans
If you are selling, note that Avon sewer authority minutes have flagged an aging septic system as something that can complicate a sale. A camera inspection before you list gives you a record and time to fix problems on your terms.
Groundwater supply and private wells
Connecticut Water's Avon system serves Avon, Farmington and Simsbury from groundwater wells, and its 2023 report lists sodium, nitrate and radon results alongside a statement that the water meets state and federal standards. The report says home plumbing is the usual lead and copper concern and advises running a tap from 30 seconds to two minutes after it sits unused.
We do not quote a hardness number for Avon. Ask the utility for its annual water quality report, or test your tap.
Homes on private wells are on their own for water quality, and the state health department advises testing basic indicators every year and after any pump or pipe repair. Well pumps and water conditioning equipment fall under their own state license classes, J-1 and J-2, so ask any contractor which license covers your job.
Water where it should not be in Avon?
Close the main valve, stop using drains and call the line. Dispatch will talk through the next step.
The Farmington River and wet basements
All of Avon sits in the Farmington River watershed. The town regulates both the 1 percent and 0.2 percent annual-chance floodplains, and FEMA remapping is underway, so a basement that was dry for decades can end up on a newer map. A working sump pump with a tested backup is the first defense, and basement waterproofing is the longer fix if water returns every spring.
Insurance matters here. The Connecticut Insurance Department says standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage and that sewer backup may need separate coverage. Read your policy before storm season, not after.
What to expect from us at an Avon address
| What you see | Likely cause | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Water pooling under the tank | Failed tank or fitting | Water heater replacement |
| Low pressure at every tap | Supply line or pressure fault | Water line repair |
| Bill climbs, no visible leak | Hidden pipe leak | Leak detection |
| Basement drain gurgles | Building sewer blockage | Sewer line cleaning |
Before we arrive in Avon
Shut off the water
Close the main valve nearest the meter, or where the line enters the house. On a private well, also switch off the pump breaker.
Kill power near water
Turn off breakers for a flooded basement only if you can reach the panel on dry ground.
Clear the area
Lift boxes and rugs off the floor and keep children and pets out of standing water.
Stop using drains
On septic or sewer, hold the laundry and showers. More water only makes a backup worse.
Call the line
Ring (860) 397-8103. Give your street, the nearest cross street and whether you have sewer, septic or a well.
Permits, licenses and neighboring towns
Permit rules vary, so ask the Avon Building Department at 860-409-4300 before a larger job. Check any plumber's license on the state's eLicense lookup, where a P-1 is an unlimited plumbing contractor and a P-2 a journeyperson who must work under one.
Crews on the Avon route also cover West Hartford over Avon Mountain and Plainville south of Farmington. Browse the full service list if your problem is not above.