Plumber in Cottondale

Cottondale at a glance

Cottondale is a census-designated place in Tuscaloosa County, now part of Tuscaloosa's eastern suburbs. It had 3,130 people at the 2020 census, the first census to count it as a CDP, and its ZIP Code is 35453.

What that means for your plumbing

As an unincorporated suburb, Cottondale has a mix of homes, and some may be on septic systems rather than public sewer. Knowing which you have matters when every drain slows at once. If you're not sure, a plumber can help you find out; see lake and rural plumbing.

Suburban growth

Being newly counted as its own place reflects growth on Tuscaloosa's east side. Newer homes often have plastic water lines and modern water heaters, but builder-grade connectors and valves can fail early. A quick check of supply hoses and shut-offs a year or two after move-in is worth doing.

A mill village

Cottondale was the site of cotton mills in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was originally called Kennedale in honor of Joseph Kennedy, one of the owners of a local cotton mill, and alternative spellings such as Cotton Dale and Kennidale still turn up in old records. Where mill houses once stood, some of the oldest homes in the area may still have very old service lines and drains. If you own an older house here, a camera inspection of the sewer line and a look at the supply pipe can show whether anything original is left. It's better to know before a backup or a burst tells you.