Plumber in Rye

Rye at a glance

Rye is a statutory town in Pueblo County's Greenhorn Valley with 206 people at the 2020 census. A post office called Rye has operated there since 1881.

What that means for your plumbing

Rye has a different climate from Pueblo: a subtropical highland climate where higher elevation keeps summers cooler and brings more precipitation than the plains. That means more snow and colder nights for pipes in crawl spaces, pump houses and exterior walls, and wetter ground around septic drain fields. See sewer and septic.

Wild rye or whiskey

Some say the town was named for the wild rye that grows in the area; others believe it was named for rye whiskey. Either way, it's one of the oldest communities in the valley. Rye is also the gateway to the Greenhorn Mountain area, and many homes nearby are cabins or second homes that sit empty for part of the year, which is exactly when frozen pipes do the most damage.

Small town, careful planning

The town itself covers only about a tenth of a square mile, with homes and ranches spread out around it. Water heaters, well equipment and pipes in outbuildings all need protecting from the cold, and a heat lamp or heat tape in a pump house should be kept well clear of anything that can burn. If the water heater sits in an unheated space, insulation and a check of its venting help it work properly. For water heater problems, see water heaters.