Drain Cleaning in Hillside, CO

Hillside homes and their sewer lines

Hillside-area homes include old ranch houses and outbuildings, mid-century houses and newer homes on acreages along Highway 69 and the county roads into the foothills.

Hillside ranches and homes each rely on a private septic system and a well.

Many ranch houses have been added onto over the years, with long drain runs to a tank placed well away from the house.

Hillside drain problems

Hillside drain calls come from the cold, the distance and old ranch plumbing. At nearly 7,500 feet, cold air settles into the valley on clear nights and freezes shallow septic lines, older ranch houses have drains in crawlspaces and additions, and long runs to the tank give grease and paper room to build up.

What drain work usually costs in Hillside

The north end of the Wet Mountain Valley

Hillside sits on State Highway 69 where the Wet Mountain Valley begins, south of the Arkansas River at Texas Creek and north of Westcliffe. The valley is a broad, high basin between the Wet Mountains to the east and the Sangre de Cristo Range to the west, with hay meadows, cattle pastures and ranch houses spread across it. Hillside has a post office and a scattering of homes, and most residents live on ranches and acreages along the highway and the county roads.

Cold air in a high basin

At about 7,490 feet, Hillside gets long, cold winters. On clear, calm nights, cold air drains off the surrounding mountains and settles on the valley floor, and temperatures can drop far below zero. Septic lines laid shallow, especially under driveways and paths where snow is packed or plowed, freeze first. Drains in crawlspaces and additions with little insulation are also at risk. If a drain stops on a frigid morning, stop using water and call; a plumber can thaw the line from the cleanout.

Long runs on ranch properties

Ranch houses around Hillside often have their septic tank and field well away from the house, sometimes a hundred feet or more, so the drain line is long. Kitchen grease cools in that long, cold line and sticks to the walls, and paper and solids settle in any low spot. Over the years, the line narrows until it backs up. Hydro jetting cleans the full length of a long line better than a cable, and a camera shows any sags or damaged sections along the way.

Old ranch houses and their additions

Many Hillside ranch houses have been added onto over generations, with new bathrooms, bigger kitchens and laundry rooms tied into older drains. The joints between old and new pipe, and branches that join at awkward angles, are where clogs start. If one part of the house clogs repeatedly while the rest drains well, the problem is likely in that branch rather than the main line.

Snowmelt and spring fields

In spring, snowmelt and irrigation on the hay meadows can saturate the ground around a septic field. A field that can't absorb water causes slow drains and gurgling in the house, even when the line is clear. If drains slow every spring and recover by summer, mention it when you call.

When a Hillside drain stops

1. 01

   Check the temperature

   A sudden stop after a frigid night usually means ice.

2. 02

   Stop using water

   Don't run more water into a frozen or blocked line.

3. 03

   Find the cleanout

   Clear snow from the cleanout and the path to it.

4. 04

   Give clear directions

   Mention the county road, ranch gate and how far the house is from Highway 69.

Hillside warning signs

• No drainage after a clear, cold night
• Grease buildup in a long kitchen line
• Slow drains in a ranch house addition
• Gurgling as the field struggles in spring
• Wet ground over the field during snowmelt

Mudrooms and ranch work

On a working ranch, a lot of mud, hay and grit comes into the house on boots and clothes. Mudroom sinks, laundry drains and showers carry it into the line, where it settles in low spots and mixes with grease. Rinsing the worst of it outside, using a strainer in the laundry sink and cleaning lint traps often keep a Hillside line clear longer.

When the power goes out

Storms in the Wet Mountain Valley can cut power for hours or days. Without heat, a ranch house can freeze its drains and traps in a single cold night. A Hillside home with a wood stove can usually stay warm enough; keep it burning through the night. Without one, and with a long outage ahead, turn off the water, drain the lines and put RV antifreeze in each trap.

A fall checklist for Hillside homes

Before winter, find and mark the cleanout and tank lids with stakes taller than the snow. Check that crawlspace vents and skirting are closed. Insulate any drain in an unheated space. Have the tank pumped if it is due. Keep vehicles and livestock off the ground over the septic line so snow can stay on it and keep the frost shallow.

Septic tanks and the long winter

In Hillside, the ground over a septic tank can stay frozen for months, and a pumper truck may not be able to reach the lid until spring. Plan pumping for late summer or early fall, when the ground is open and ranch roads are dry. A tank pumped on schedule before winter is much less likely to cause a backup in January, when getting help out Highway 69 is hardest.

What changes the price in Hillside

Fixture clogs are quick. Thawing, long lines, ranch access and the drive from Cañon City or Westcliffe add time. When you call about a Hillside home, mention how far the tank sits from the house, and ask what range to expect.