Water heaters
Water heater repair and replacement
Water heater service covers repairing gas and electric tank heaters (thermocouples, igniters, gas valves, elements, thermostats), replacing tanks that leak or are past about 10 to 12 years, and installing tankless units. In Colorado, replacements usually need a permit and must be vented and sized correctly for altitude.
- Typical time
- Repairs take one to two hours; replacements a few hours plus inspection.
- Repair or replace
- Repair under about 8 years with a sound tank; replace leaking or older units.
At roughly 5,000 feet, gas appliances burn with less oxygen, so venting and combustion air matter more than at sea level. Many basements and utility closets also share space with furnaces, which affects venting and combustion air.
A leaking tank bottom means replacement, not repair. Most other problems, from a pilot that won't stay lit to lukewarm water, are repairable.
Water Heaters at a glance
- What it is
- Water heater service covers repairing gas and electric tank heaters (thermocouples, igniters, gas valves, elements, thermostats), replacing tanks that leak or are past about 10 to 12 years, and installing tankless units.
- Service category
- Water heaters
Signs you need water heater help
- No hot water or it runs out fast
- Water around the base of the tank
- Rumbling or popping from sediment
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- Pilot won't stay lit
Quick answers
Water Heaters: the short version
How long water heaters takes
Repairs take one to two hours; replacements a few hours plus inspection.
When water heater can wait, and when it can't
Same day for leaks or no hot water.
Fix or replace water heater?
Repair under about 8 years with a sound tank; replace leaking or older units.
Why water heater happens
Sediment, failed igniters or elements, and tank corrosion.
Water Heaters
Water Heaters services
Each page covers one problem in depth: signs, what the plumber does, timing and cost drivers.
- Water Heater RepairWater heater repair fixes the parts that commonly fail: thermocouples, flame sensors and igniters, gas control valves, heating elements and thermostats, and temperature/pressure relief valves.
- Water Heater ReplacementWater heater replacement removes the old tank and installs a correctly sized new unit with code-required items: proper venting, gas connection, expansion tank, drain pan where needed, and a permit and inspection.
- Tankless Water HeatersTankless water heaters heat water on demand instead of storing it.
The work
How water heaters is done
- 1
Diagnose
Check gas or power, controls, venting and the tank itself.
- 2
Repair or quote replacement
Repair parts on the spot, or quote a replacement with options.
- 3
Install to code
Permit, venting, expansion tank, pan and drain, gas connection and seismic straps where required.
- 4
Test
Check combustion, temperature and for leaks; haul away the old unit.
What moves the price of water heaters
Driven by repair part vs. replacement, fuel type, venting and permits.
- Repair part vs. full replacement
- Gas vs. electric vs. tankless
- Tank size and first-hour rating
- Venting changes
- Permit and code updates (expansion tank, pan)
- Access in tight closets
Water Heaters: common questions
How long do water heaters last in Northern Colorado?
Tank heaters usually last about 8 to 12 years. Flushing sediment yearly and replacing the anode rod help them last longer.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Usually, yes. Most Northern Colorado jurisdictions require a permit and inspection for water heater replacement, mainly for gas venting and safety. Your plumber should pull it.
Service area
Water Heaters across Northern Colorado
Related
Services often paired with water heaters
Water Heater Repair
Water heater repair fixes the parts that commonly fail: thermocouples, flame sensors and igniters, gas control valves, heating elements and thermostats, and temperature/pressure relief valves.
Learn more
Water Heater Replacement
Water heater replacement removes the old tank and installs a correctly sized new unit with code-required items: proper venting, gas connection, expansion tank, drain pan where needed, and a permit and inspection.
Learn more
Tankless Water Heaters
Tankless water heaters heat water on demand instead of storing it.
Learn moreGuides
Reading on water heater
Call about a water heater
Sediment, failed igniters or elements, and tank corrosion.