Mountain Living.
Owning a home in the Colorado foothills is a different kind of homeownership — wells and septic, wood heat, snow load, wildfire, and the occasional bear on the deck. Here’s what we pay attention to in mountain homes around Evergreen and the Front Range, and what living up here actually takes.
What we check in mountain homes
Foothills homes have systems you won’t find in the city. Here’s where we focus — though wells, septic, and chimneys each have dedicated specialist inspections too.
✓ Well & water systems
Many mountain homes are on a private well. We note the visible well equipment, pressure tank, and any treatment — water-quality and flow testing is a separate specialist service.
✓ Septic systems
Where present, we note visible components and conditions; a dedicated septic inspection (and pump) is its own service.
✓ Wood stoves & fireplaces
We check solid-fuel appliances, hearth clearances, and visible flue and chimney condition.
✓ Roof & snow load
Steep pitches, snow-shedding patterns, and the extra wear heavy snow puts on roofs, gutters, and decks.
✓ Heating & fuel
Many areas have no natural gas — we note propane tanks and lines and how the home stays warm.
✓ Wildfire exposure
Defensible space, ignition-resistant materials, and the ember-vulnerable spots around the home.
Common problems we find
✓ Undocumented well/septic
Systems with no recent service records or unclear maintenance history.
✓ Wood stove clearances
Solid-fuel appliances without proper clearances or with a flue overdue for inspection.
✓ Access & driveways
Steep grades, drainage washouts, and driveways that are tough to keep open in winter.
✓ Thin defensible space
Vegetation and debris too close to the home for wildfire safety.
✓ Snow & ice damage
Ice dams, strained gutters, and heavy snow load on decks and porch roofs.
✓ Power resilience
Outages are common up here, yet many homes have no backup heat or generator — a real concern with a well pump.
What living up here takes
✓ Tend the well & test water
Service the well and test the water periodically, and keep the records — they matter at resale.
✓ Stay on the septic schedule
Pump and inspect the septic on schedule (often every few years, depending on use).
✓ Sweep the chimney
Have wood stoves and chimneys swept and inspected before each heating season.
✓ Keep defensible space
Clear the first 5 feet of flammables and thin vegetation from 5–30 feet, year-round.
✓ Plan for snow
Rake roof edges, keep vents and exhausts clear, and stay ahead of the driveway.
✓ Prepare for outages
Backup heat, stored water, and a generator are worth it — especially if your water depends on an electric pump.
✓ Test for radon
Colorado’s mountain geology tends to run high — retest every couple of years.
This guide is for general education. It reflects what we look for during a home inspection, not a substitute for a licensed professional. If you have a specific concern, please contact a qualified local specialist — and of course, we’re always happy to take a look during an inspection.
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Read →Plumbing
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Read →Electrical
Electrical problems are among the most safety-critical things we find — and often the least visible. Here’s what we check, the red flags we look for, and what you can safely keep an eye on yourself.
Read →Concerned about your mountain living?
We’ll give your home a thorough, plain-English inspection and flag anything worth a closer look.