Drain Cleaning in Black Forest, CO

Black Forest homes and their sewer lines

Homes range from older cabins and ranch houses from the 1960s and 1970s to large custom homes built in the decades since. Many were rebuilt after the 2013 Black Forest Fire, so a single road can mix original houses with homes only ten years old.

With no public sewer in most of the area, the line from the house runs to a septic tank in the yard rather than to a main in the street. A clog can sit in the house drains, in the building sewer out to the tank, or at the tank's inlet.

Long runs between the house and the tank, and between the tank and the leach field, are common on these big lots. That gives solids more distance to settle if the slope isn't right.

What drain trouble looks like in Black Forest

Kitchen and bathroom clogs are just as common here as anywhere. The difference is the main line: a plumber can clear the pipe from the house to the tank, but if the tank is full or the field is failing, the water has nowhere to go. Pine roots can also work into the building sewer, and lines on the north side of a house can freeze in deep cold.

What drain work usually costs in Black Forest

How septic changes a drain call

In town, a main line clog sits between the house and the city main. In Black Forest, that same pipe ends at a septic tank, often a long way across the lot. A plumber clears clogs in the house drains and in the building sewer leading to the tank. If the line is open but water still backs up, the tank is likely full or the leach field isn't accepting water, and that's a job for a septic company. Many homeowners save money by checking when the tank was last pumped before calling.

If you don't know where the tank is, your county records or the original septic permit usually show it, and a plumber can trace the line with a locator during the visit.

After the fire

The 2013 Black Forest Fire destroyed hundreds of homes, and many were rebuilt in the years that followed. Those rebuilt homes have modern plastic drain lines and newer septic systems. Older homes that survived may still have their original plumbing, sometimes with cast iron inside the house and older pipe out to the tank. When buying in the area, it helps to know which kind of house you're looking at, and a camera inspection of the line to the tank is a sensible check either way.

Pines, roots and long runs

Ponderosa roots are less aggressive toward pipes than cottonwood or willow, but they will still find a leaking joint, especially in older lines. The bigger issue on large lots is distance. A building sewer that runs a long way to the tank needs a steady downhill slope, and any low spot along that run collects solids. If your line clogs at the same point every time, a camera with a locator can mark it so the low section can be dug and re-laid.

If your Black Forest home backs up

1. 01

   Stop all water use

   Hold laundry, showers and dishwashers until you know where the blockage is.

2. 02

   Check the tank records

   If it hasn't been pumped in three to five years, that's a likely cause.

3. 03

   Look for a cleanout

   There's often one outside the house where the line leaves for the tank.

4. 04

   Call with details

   Mention septic, the tank's age and how far it is from the house.

Habits that protect a Black Forest system

• Spread out laundry instead of running several loads in a row
• Keep grease, wipes and paper towels out of the drains
• Avoid running water softener backwash to the septic if your installer advised against it
• Pump the tank on the schedule your installer recommends
• Don't park or build over the tank or field

Winter on acreage

Black Forest is higher than Colorado Springs and gets more snow. Drain lines in exterior walls or crawlspaces can freeze, and so can the building sewer if it runs shallow near the house. Snow cover actually insulates the ground, so the riskiest times are deep cold snaps with little snow on the ground.

Water softeners, wells and drains

Many Black Forest wells draw hard water, so softeners are common. A softener backwashes regularly, sending salty water into the drain system. Septic installers have different views on whether that discharge should go to the tank, and some systems route it elsewhere. Whatever your setup, it's useful to know where the softener drains, because that line can clog with mineral buildup, and if it drains to a floor drain, a slow floor drain is often the first sign of trouble.

Telling the plumber about your Black Forest property

Say that you're on septic, roughly where the tank is, when it was last pumped and how long the driveway is. If the road is unpaved or steep, mention it, especially in snow. Ask whether the plumber carries a long enough cable or jetter hose for your run to the tank. Those few details help get the job done in one trip.

Buying a home in the forest

On a Black Forest purchase, plan for two separate checks: a septic inspection by a septic professional and, if the house is older or has had backups, a camera inspection of the line from the house to the tank. The septic inspection looks at the tank and field. The camera covers the pipe in between, which septic inspections don't always include.