Frozen Pipes & Water Damage in Westcliffe, Wetmore & Custer County, CO: Winter Prep Guide

If you own a home or cabin in Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, or Wetmore, you already know the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristos make for beautiful views and brutal winters. At roughly 8,000 feet, Custer County sees hard freezes starting in October, and nights well below zero are normal in January. That combination is rough on plumbing, especially in houses that sit empty part of the year.

We are a small, family-run, veteran-owned company out of Colorado City, and we get calls from the Wet Mountain Valley every winter. Here is what we see most often and what you can do about it.

Why Custer County pipes freeze

A few local factors stack up:

• Altitude and cold snaps. Overnight lows drop fast, and a clear, windless night can be colder than the forecast for the nearest big town.
• Seasonal and vacation homes. A cabin left at 45 degrees (or off entirely) is the classic setup for a split pipe that runs for days before anyone notices.
• Well and pump systems. Many rural homes have a pressure tank, pump house, or exposed supply line that is not on the same heat as the living space.
• Crawl spaces and exterior walls. Older mountain construction often has supply lines in uninsulated chases.

Before the first hard freeze

None of this costs much, and you can do it without us:

1. Know where your main shutoff is and test it. A valve that will not turn is a problem you want to find in October, not at 2 a.m.
2. Insulate exposed lines in crawl spaces, garages, pump houses, and along north-facing walls.
3. Disconnect hoses and shut off outdoor spigots from inside.
4. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls on cold nights.
5. Set a minimum temperature. Most plumbers suggest never letting the house drop below about 55 degrees.
6. Seal air leaks near pipes, such as gaps around where lines enter the house.

Our fall home maintenance checklist has a broader walkthrough, and the frozen pipe guide for the San Luis Valley covers many of the same cold-weather habits.

If you leave the property for the winter

Seasonal owners have two real options. You can keep the heat on at a safe minimum and have someone check the house regularly, or you can have the system properly drained and winterized by a plumber. Do not half-do it. A shutoff closed with water still in the lines will still freeze and split.

A few extra steps worth considering:

• Ask a neighbor or property caretaker to walk through after any big cold snap or power outage.
• Consider a water leak sensor or a temperature sensor that texts you. They are inexpensive and they work.
• Know what your insurance policy says about vacancy. Some policies limit coverage if a home is unoccupied for a set number of days, so read yours or call your agent.

What to do when a pipe has already burst

1. Shut off the main water right away.
2. Turn off power to affected areas if water is near outlets or the panel, but only if you can do it safely.
3. Take photos and video before you move things.
4. Call your insurance company to open a claim.
5. Start removing standing water and pulling up soaked items if it is safe. Wet drywall and insulation hold moisture for a long time.
6. Call us at (719) 676-2456. We run 24/7 emergency response.

For the claim process in more detail, see our Colorado water damage insurance claims guide.

Why drying fast matters in the mountains

Cold slows evaporation, so wet materials in a mountain home dry slowly unless heat and equipment are brought in. Left alone, wet insulation and wall cavities can start growing mold in a matter of days. If that is already happening, see our mold remediation service page. Our crew includes IICRC-certified technicians, and we dry structures with measured moisture readings rather than guessing.

Getting to Custer County

We know the drive up Highway 96 and over from the Wet Mountain side is not short, and weather can change it. That is part of why we encourage owners to take the preventive steps above. If you do need help, call, tell us where you are, and we will give you a straight answer about timing. You can read more about our Westcliffe service area or Wetmore, and our water damage restoration service covers the full process.

Bottom line

A burst pipe in a Custer County home is almost always preventable, and when it is not, speed is what limits the damage. Do the October checklist, keep the heat above 55, and keep our number handy: (719) 676-2456.