Park Hill snapshot

Sub-areas
South Park Hill, North Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill
Common ZIP codes
Largely 80207 and 80220
Housing
Brick bungalows, Tudor and colonial revival homes, post-war houses to the north
Ownership
Mostly owner-occupied single-family homes
Permits
City and County of Denver

Where Park Hill houses tend to be vulnerable

Many South Park Hill homes date from the 1910s through the 1930s. They often have sleeping porches or sunrooms that were enclosed later and sometimes turned into bathrooms, laundry areas or kitchens. Those rooms usually sit on piers or over shallow crawlspaces with little insulation, and the plumbing that serves them can be among the coldest in the house.

Farther north, many houses date from the post-war years, with full basements and simpler layouts. Here the main concern is often the basement itself: the water service entering at the front wall, washer hookups on exterior walls, and finished basements built over old plumbing that is hard to inspect.

Mature trees and older housing also mean many owners have done large remodels over the years. A remodel that moved a kitchen to the back of the house or added a primary suite over a garage can create new exposed plumbing without anyone realizing it.

Matching your house to the right precautions

  • IfYour house has an enclosed porch or sunroom with plumbingThenCheck the crawlspace or floor below for insulation, and keep a cabinet open or add safe heat during cold snaps.
  • IfYou have a finished basement over old plumbingThenMake sure access panels exist at the main shutoff and key valves, and add leak sensors.
  • IfAn addition was built over a garageThenAsk a plumber whether lines run through the garage ceiling and how they are protected.
  • IfThe house has original plaster and old paintThenPlan for testing before demolition if water damage occurs.
Map of Park Hill. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Is a sunroom with radiators safer than one without?
Heat helps, but radiator lines can freeze too if the boiler fails or the room is shut off. Keep the room heated in cold snaps and make sure the heating pipes in the crawlspace are protected.

General information for Denver, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.