3 services · Colorado Springs
Water heaters in Colorado Springs, CO
Most tank water heaters last about 8 to 12 years. A plumber can often repair a heater that stops making hot water, but a tank that leaks from the bottom has failed and needs to be replaced. Tankless heaters last longer but cost more to install, especially if the gas line or venting has to change.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Water heaters services in Colorado Springs
Water heater repair
UrgentIf a gas water heater has no hot water, the pilot, thermocouple or gas valve is the usual cause; on an electric heater it's usually an element or thermostat. Those parts are repairable. A tank that leaks from the bottom can't be repaired and needs to be replaced.
Water heater replacement in Colorado Springs
A leaking tank or a heater past about 10 years old is usually replaced rather than repaired. A proper install includes a permit, correct venting (adjusted for altitude where needed), an expansion tank where required, a drip leg on the gas line and a relief valve discharge pipe.
Tankless water heaters
A tankless water heater heats water as it flows, so it doesn't run out, but it needs a larger gas line, its own venting and a unit rated for your elevation. Installed correctly and descaled regularly, it can outlast a tank heater.
Local conditions
Water heaters in Colorado Springs: what's different
At about 6,000 feet, gas water heaters in Colorado Springs need venting and sizing for altitude, and replacements go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, which covers both the city and El Paso County.
With several military installations nearby, many homes are rentals with frequent turnover, and failing water heaters often go unreported until move-out. Colorado Springs Utilities provides water and natural gas, and adding an expansion tank and new shutoff valve is common at replacement.
- Water and sewer in Colorado Springs
- Colorado Springs Utilities provides water, wastewater, natural gas and electric service to the city.
- Permits in Colorado Springs
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, which covers Colorado Springs and El Paso County.
Colorado Springs housing and plumbing
The Old North End and Old Colorado City have homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s with older drains and supply. Most of the city is 1970s and later construction with basements, copper or PEX supply and expansive soils underneath.
Other Colorado Springs conditions that affect plumbing
- Expansive soils: Bentonite clay in parts of the city swells and shrinks, stressing slab plumbing, basement floors and sewer lines.
- Altitude and water heaters: At about 6,000 feet, gas water heaters need venting and sizing for altitude, and replacements go through Pikes Peak Regional Building.
- Wind and freezes: Winds off the mountains and sub-zero nights freeze pipes on north and west walls and in garages.
- Military and rental housing: With several military installations nearby, many homes are rentals with frequent turnover, and small leaks or failing water heaters often go unreported until move-out.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Colorado Springs and El Paso County, including Old North End, Broadmoor, Briargate, Old Colorado City, Stetson Hills, Rockrimmon. ZIP codes: 80901 · 80902 · 80903 · 80904 · 80905 · 80906.
When to call a plumber in Colorado Springs
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out much faster than it used to
- Water pooling around the base of the tank
- Rumbling or popping from the tank
- Rusty or smelly hot water
- A pilot that won't stay lit or a tankless unit showing an error code
- A heater more than 10 years old before it fails
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the water heaters guide.
Water heaters questions in Colorado Springs
Who issues water heater permits in Colorado Springs?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
More plumbing in Colorado Springs
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