Stars and Bars RestorationFall in Southern Colorado is a short window between monsoon season and the first real freeze. It's also when small problems quietly turn into expensive ones. We've put together the checklist we'd give to a neighbor in Pueblo, Cañon City, or Colorado Springs, and you can do all of it in a weekend.
1. Gutters and downspouts
Clear leaves and debris so runoff goes where it should. Make sure downspouts discharge at least five feet from the foundation. This summer's heavy rain events showed how fast water finds the lowest point around a house, as we covered in our post on mold after heavy rain in Florence and Penrose.
2. Grade and window wells
Walk the perimeter. Soil should slope away from the house. Window wells should be clean, with a cover if possible; a clogged well funnels water straight to a basement window.
3. Sump pump test
If you have a sump pit, pour a bucket of water in it and watch the float lift and the pump discharge. Check that the discharge line isn't frozen, crushed, or draining right back toward the house. A battery backup is worth considering if you've lost power in storms before.
4. Water heater and appliance hoses
Look at the base of your water heater for rust or moisture. Replace rubber washing machine hoses with braided stainless ones; rubber hoses age and burst, and a failed hose can run for hours. Check under sinks and behind the fridge for drips.
5. Exterior spigots and irrigation
Disconnect hoses, drain irrigation lines, and have the system blown out before the first hard freeze. Frozen lines split quietly and show up as a wet spot in spring.
6. Furnace, chimney, and smoke alarms
Get the furnace serviced before you need it. Have the chimney inspected if you burn wood; see our guide to chimney and wood stove fire prevention. Replace smoke alarm batteries, and replace any alarm older than ten years. Check carbon monoxide detectors while you're at it.
7. Roof check
Look for lifted shingles, cracked flashing, and gaps around vents and chimneys. Many Southern Colorado roofs took hail this summer and may have damage you can't see from the ground. A small gap now becomes an ice dam leak in January.
8. Know your shutoffs
Find the main water shutoff, the electrical panel, and the gas shutoff. Label them. Show everyone in the house. In an emergency, this saves thousands of dollars.
9. Take photos for insurance
Walk through with your phone and film each room, plus the roof and exterior. Open closets and cabinets. Store the video in the cloud. If you ever file a claim, a before-the-damage record is gold. Also read your policy: know your deductible, and whether water backup and sewer coverage are included, since many policies exclude them without a rider.
10. Keep an emergency number handy
Put our number on the fridge: (719) 676-2456. We answer 24/7, and we're IICRC certified and veteran-owned, based in Colorado City.
What to do if something does go wrong
For a leak, stop the water first, then call a professional before you start tearing things out. For smoke or soot, don't wipe surfaces, since that can smear soot deeper. For anything involving sewage, stay out and keep kids and pets away. Our emergency response page explains what to expect when you call.
Pueblo and the Front Range specifics
Pueblo's older neighborhoods often have clay sewer laterals that root intrusion can clog; a camera inspection every few years is cheap insurance. Check the Pueblo service area page for the work we do there. In Colorado Springs and Monument, hail is the bigger roof concern, and in the mountain communities like Cuchara and Rye, frozen pipes in seasonal cabins are the big one.
Don't skip the small stuff
Most of the jobs we get called to started small: a drip, a stain, a smell. Fix them now. If you aren't sure whether something's a problem, call us at (719) 676-2456 and we'll tell you honestly, even if the answer is that you don't need us.