The best plumber in Durango for most homes is Element Plumbing. It answers calls 24/7, posts a Colorado master plumber license number that checks out with the state, and holds a 4.8 Google rating across 476 reviews. M&R Service (24/7 crews, 4.9 stars) ranks second. VIP Plumbing, run by a certified master plumber, ranks third. This guide ranks eight Durango-area plumbers on things you can check yourself, then covers licenses, pricing and frozen pipes.
How we handle conflicts: durangocolorado.org is run by Animas Marketing. No plumber pays for a spot on this page, and the order below follows the criteria in the next section. Every fact comes from each company's own website, the state license data or the Google listing in our directory, checked in October 2026.
Who are the best plumbers in Durango, CO?
Here is our ranking, with what each company does best:
- Element Plumbing: 24/7 emergency service, upfront pricing and a verified master plumber license.
- M&R Service: a four-trade shop (plumbing, HVAC, electrical, restoration) with the most reviews in town.
- VIP Plumbing: master plumber owner and trenchless pipe lining.
- Solid Plumbing and Heating: 20-plus years, in-floor heating, boilers and remodels.
- Roto-Rooter: 24/7 drain and sewer work with camera inspection.
- Mile High Plumbing: in Durango since 1994, with a verified master license but a lower rating.
- Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating: new construction plumbing and HVAC.
- Legacy Plumbing Durango: downtown office, 24/7 emergency line.
How did we rank them?
We scored each plumber on five checks a homeowner can repeat:
- State license you can verify. Colorado requires a license to do plumbing for hire. We checked each posted license number, or the owner's name, against the state's public license data.
- 24/7 emergency service, as stated. A burst pipe at 2 a.m. does not wait. We only credit what the company says on its own site.
- Pricing and estimates. Posted prices, upfront quotes or free estimates.
- Years in business. Only where the company states it.
- Google rating with a floor. At least 10 Google reviews to be ranked at all. Volume counts as much as the star score.
We did not grade the quality of the work. Ask for two references you can call.
How do the Durango plumbers compare at a glance?
| Company | Address or service area | 24/7 emergency | Services stated | Posted service-call fee | License checked | Google rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element Plumbing | 511 Turner Dr, Durango | Yes | Water heaters (tank and tankless), drains, trenchless sewer, leak detection, septic repair | Not listed (free estimates) | Yes, active master plumber | 4.8 (476) |
| M&R Service | 178 Bodo Dr Ste C, Durango | Yes | Drains, trenchless sewer, water heaters, gas lines, water treatment, repiping | Not listed | License number not posted | 4.9 (1,342) |
| VIP Plumbing | La Plata County, no street address | Not stated | Pipe lining, sewer repair, water heaters, remodels | Not listed | Yes, owner is an active master plumber | 4.9 (69) |
| Solid Plumbing and Heating | Durango, Bayfield, Mancos | Not stated | Water heaters, boilers, in-floor heat, gas lines, sewer and drain cleaning | Not listed (free consultation) | License number not posted | 4.9 (93) |
| Roto-Rooter | 570-A Turner Dr, Durango | Yes (drains) | Drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer camera | Not listed | License number not posted | 4.7 (23) |
| Mile High Plumbing | 248 Bodo Dr, Durango | Not stated | Sewer and drain cleaning, water jetting, sewer inspection, water heaters | Not listed | Yes, active master plumber | 3.4 (19) |
| Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating | Southwest Colorado | Not stated | Fixtures, water heaters, gas piping, softeners, remodels | Not listed | License number not posted | 5.0 (42) |
| Legacy Plumbing Durango | 305 E 7th Ave, Durango | Yes (stated on site) | Not detailed on site | Not listed | License number not posted | 4.9 (14) |
Ratings are as synced to this directory in October 2026 and will drift. M&R's own site cites 429-plus five-star reviews in Durango, so its Google count may include its other offices.
Is your Durango plumber licensed?
Colorado licenses plumbers through the State Plumbing Board at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The Colorado State Plumbing Board runs a tiered system from apprentice to master plumber. The City of Durango says homeowners may do their own plumbing, but anyone they hire must be licensed by the state. A plumbing contractor also needs a city business license, and master plumbing contractors post a $5,000 bond with the City Clerk.
We queried DORA's public license data on 2026-10-23 through the state open data portal. It lists 55 active master plumbers with mailing addresses in Durango, Bayfield, Hesperus or Ignacio. Of those, 33 are in Durango and 18 in Bayfield. We matched three businesses to a license:
- Element Plumbing posts license MP.03001859. DORA shows it active for a Durango master plumber through 2027-02-28.
- Mile High Plumbing posts master plumber license 180327. DORA shows it active through 2027-02-28. The site also posts a contractor license number that we could not check in the public data.
- VIP Plumbing names owner James Cook, a certified master plumber. DORA lists an active Durango master plumber of that name through 2027-02-28.
A fourth, All Star Plumbing & Heating, names owner Paul Mills, and DORA shows an active master license for him. All Star has only three Google reviews, so it sits below our floor.
Five other plumbers on our list post no license number or owner name. That is not proof they are unlicensed. Ask for the number, then look it up on the DORA license lookup.
What does a plumber cost in Durango?
None of the eight plumbers on our list publish a service-call fee or hourly rate, so any number you see elsewhere for Durango is an estimate, not a posted price. Local plumbers use three pricing models:
- Trip or diagnostic fee plus time and parts. You pay a set fee to have someone look, then labor and materials. Ask whether the fee is credited toward the repair.
- Flat rate by task. The company quotes one price for the whole job, such as a water heater swap, before work starts. Element Plumbing says you approve the price before it begins.
- Hourly. You pay for the clock. Ask about the minimum charge and whether travel time counts.
The only posted rates we found in the plumbing trade here are from a septic company. Mountain Septic lists a 1,000-gallon tank pump-out at $495, a 1,500-gallon pump-out at $550, a sewer line video scope at $400 and labor at $165 an hour, billed in 15-minute steps. Those are septic prices, not plumber prices. They do give you a posted benchmark for a camera inspection.
Emergency and after-hours calls usually cost more. Ask the price before the truck leaves the shop.
The plumbers, one by one
1. Element Plumbing
Element Plumbing covers Durango and La Plata County from 511 Turner Dr. Its site promises same-day service, upfront pricing, free estimates and financing. Services run from leak repair and drain cleaning to trenchless sewer repair, water filtration and tankless water heaters. It leads on license, emergency coverage and review volume.
2. M&R Service
M&R Service says it has served the Four Corners since 1954. Plumbing is one of four divisions with their own crews and on-call rotation. It lists pipe lining, hydro-jetting, repiping and Navien-certified water heater service. The site says it is licensed in New Mexico and Colorado but posts no license number. Its electrical side is covered in our electricians guide.
3. VIP Plumbing
VIP Plumbing is run by James Cook, a second-generation certified master plumber. It uses an epoxy pipe lining system to repair drain lines without digging. It serves Bayfield, Hermosa, Hesperus, Ignacio and Vallecito as well as Durango. It does not state 24/7 service.
4. Solid Plumbing and Heating
Solid Plumbing and Heating has worked in the area for over 20 years. It does new builds, remodels, gas lines, boilers and in-floor heating, plus sewer and drain cleaning. It offers a free consultation. Best for a remodel or heated floors.
5. Roto-Rooter
Roto-Rooter is a national brand with a Turner Dr office. Its Durango page promises 24/7 dispatch every day of the year for drains, with camera inspection and hydro jetting. Best for a main-line backup at night.
6. Mile High Plumbing
Mile High Plumbing has served Durango since 1994, the longest tenure on this list. It does sewer inspection, water line location and water heaters. Its 3.4 rating is the lowest here, so read the recent reviews before you book.
7. Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating
Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating leans toward new construction. It also lists fixtures, water softeners, gas piping and remodels. It holds 5.0 stars across 42 reviews.
8. Legacy Plumbing Durango
Legacy Plumbing Durango sits at 305 E 7th Ave. Its site lists weekday office hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and says emergency service is available 24/7. It has 4.9 stars across 14 reviews. Its site lists few details, so call and ask.
How do you prevent frozen pipes in Durango?
Pipes can freeze when outdoor temperatures drop to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, according to the City of Durango. The city adds that dry winters leave meter pits without snow cover, so the line and meter freeze more easily. Its prevention list:
- Drain and disconnect outdoor hoses, and wrap outdoor faucets.
- Insulate water lines in crawlspaces, attics, garages and basements.
- Keep the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher, even when you are away.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes.
- When a freeze is coming, run a stream about as thick as a pencil at the faucet farthest from the meter.
If a line freezes, the property owner is responsible for thawing the whole service line, per the city's Public Works page. That is when a 24/7 plumber earns the fee. Our seasonal home maintenance guide puts the winter deadline on a calendar.
Which plumber fits which job?
- Burst pipe or no water at night: Element Plumbing or M&R Service. Both state 24/7 response.
- Sewer backup: Roto-Rooter for a fast clear. Element Plumbing or VIP Plumbing for a trenchless repair.
- Water heater swap: Element Plumbing (tankless listed) or M&R Service (Navien certified).
- Remodel or heated floors: Solid Plumbing and Heating.
- New build: Gold Water Plumbing Cooling and Heating or Solid Plumbing and Heating.
- Septic tank: a septic firm such as Mountain Septic or Southwest Septic, not a general plumber. Browse septic services.
What should you ask before you book?
- What is the service-call fee, and is it credited toward the repair?
- What is your Colorado plumbing license number?
- Can you quote a flat price before you start?
- Who pulls the permit? As of July 1, 2026, the City of Durango Building Division permits and inspects all plumbing and gas installations inside city limits, per the city.
- Is the work warrantied in writing?
For jobs outside city limits, La Plata County building officials inspect plumbing on permitted work. Our building permit answer explains who to call.
Where can you find more Durango plumbers and home pros?
Browse every plumber in our directory, the ranked best plumbers roundup, or HVAC contractors for heating work. Our heating contractors guide covers boilers and heat pumps. Our home services guide covers roofers and general contractors. Need power work instead? See our electricians guide. Run a Durango plumbing company we missed? Claim your free listing and send us your details.