Drain Cleaning in Calhan, CO

Calhan homes and their sewer lines

Homes in town date mostly from the early 1900s through the 1970s, with clay laterals and cast iron drains.

Acreage homes around Calhan, many built since the 1980s, use wells and septic systems. Manufactured homes are common.

Many newer homes on the plains have full basements, sometimes walk-outs on sloped ground.

Calhan drain problems

Wind and cold at 6,500 feet freeze drains in crawlspaces, under manufactured homes and between houses and septic tanks. Old town laterals fill with roots from elms and windbreak trees. Acreage homes back up when tanks are overdue.

What drain work usually costs around Calhan

High plains, high elevation

Calhan sits at about 6,500 feet on the plains east of Colorado Springs, higher than Denver and much more exposed. On a clear winter night, the temperature can drop well below zero, and the wind across the open prairie makes it feel colder. That combination freezes drain lines faster than in most Front Range towns, especially in crawlspaces, under manufactured homes and in lines between houses and septic tanks.

The county fairgrounds and the Paint Mines

Calhan is home to the El Paso County Fairgrounds, and the colorful clay formations of the Paint Mines Interpretive Park lie just southeast of town. Those clays are a reminder of the soil underfoot: much of the area has clay that shrinks and swells with moisture. Over the years, that movement can shift buried pipe, opening joints in older clay lines.

Old town homes

Calhan's original town has homes from the early 1900s through the 1970s, many with cast iron drains and clay laterals. Elms and windbreak trees planted long ago now shade those yards, and their roots find the clay joints. When an older Calhan home's main line slows, root cutting usually clears it, and a camera shows whether the pipe is cracked.

Acreage homes around town

Since the 1980s, more and more homes have gone up on acreage around Calhan, Ramah and the surrounding plains, with wells and septic systems. Many have full basements. The line from house to tank can be long. When an acreage home backs up, check the pumping date first, then call for drain cleaning if the tank isn't the problem.

Manufactured homes and skirting

Manufactured homes are common around Calhan. Their drain lines run under the floor, protected by skirting and insulation. On the open plains, wind pushes cold air through any gap. Repairing skirting, checking heat tape and insulating the drain line where it exits the home prevent most frozen drain calls.

Winter steps for a Calhan home

1. 01

   Check skirting each fall

   Close gaps under manufactured homes.

2. 02

   Fix drips

   A trickle into a septic line can freeze.

3. 03

   Leave snow over the septic line

   Snow insulates the ground.

4. 04

   Insulate cold spaces

   Crawlspaces and garages with drain lines.

Calhan drain warning signs

• A drain that quits when the plains wind howls
• Every drain slowing in a septic home
• Gurgling in a basement bathroom
• Roots in an old town lateral
• Sewer smell near the tank

Fair week and full houses

When the county fair comes to Calhan each summer, many local homes host family and friends. More people mean more water through septic systems and older laterals. Spreading out laundry and keeping wipes out of toilets keep a busy week from ending in a backup.

What affects the cost around Calhan

Simple clogs are routine. Rural travel, long septic lines, frozen pipe and old laterals take more time. Give clear directions and say whether you're in town or on acreage.

Grassland, wind and dust

The plains around Calhan are open shortgrass country, and spring and fall winds carry a lot of dust. Grit settles in roof gutters and gets tracked inside, ending up in mudroom sinks and washers. A strainer in utility sinks and a regular cleaning of floor drain baskets keep fine soil from building up in the lines.

Old buildings on the main street

Calhan's small downtown has older commercial buildings, some converted to homes or apartments. Old buildings returned to use often have drain lines that settled or dried out while empty. Running water in every fixture and scoping the main line before moving in or reopening prevent surprises.

Septic design on the plains

Septic systems on the plains around Calhan vary in age, from older systems built decades ago to newer engineered systems. Older fields may be smaller than modern rules require and more easily overloaded. If your system is old and drains slow every time you have guests, ask a septic professional whether the field is still adequate.

Commuting to Colorado Springs

Many Calhan residents commute to Colorado Springs or Falcon. It's easy to put off a slow drain during a busy week, but a slow main line can become a backup on a weekend when the house is full. Calling when a drain first slows usually means a quicker fix.

Ramah, Peyton and the eastern county

Calhan sits between Peyton and Ramah in eastern El Paso County, and homes across that area share the same conditions: open plains, high elevation, wind, wells and septic. Neighbors often use the same septic pumpers and plumbers. Keeping records of pumping dates and drain calls helps any plumber who comes out.

If you're buying an acreage home near Calhan, ask for the septic system's records and a camera inspection of the line from the house to the tank.

Fairgrounds water and nearby homes

Big events at the El Paso County Fairgrounds draw campers, livestock exhibitors and crowds to Calhan for days at a time. Homes close to the fairgrounds often host relatives with campers parked in the yard. An RV dumping into a household cleanout or septic system adds a surprising amount of water and solids in a short time. If guests need to dump an RV tank, send them to a proper dump station rather than a house cleanout, and your septic field will thank you.

After a busy fair week, watch for slow drains or gurgling for a few days. Catching a problem early, before the next weekend, keeps a small clog small.