3 services · Fort Collins
Water heaters in Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins
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 Fort Collins
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 Fort Collins: what's different
Many Fort Collins homes built from the 1970s through the 1990s are on aging water heaters, and the city's growth means a steady stream of first-time replacements in newer neighborhoods too. Rentals near CSU often run heaters hard with several tenants showering back to back.
A replacement in an older home is a chance to update venting, add an expansion tank and replace the shutoff valve. Tankless units are popular in newer east-side homes but need regular descaling. Permits come from the City of Fort Collins building services.
- Water and sewer in Fort Collins
- Fort Collins Utilities serves much of the city; some areas are served by districts such as Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and East Larimer County Water District.
- Permits in Fort Collins
- The City of Fort Collins building services issues plumbing permits; unincorporated Larimer County addresses use the county.
Fort Collins housing and plumbing
Older homes near Old Town and CSU can have clay sewer lines, galvanized supply and cast-iron drains. Neighborhoods from the 1970s–90s have copper supply and aging water heaters and fixtures. Newer east-side homes use PEX and often have sump pumps.
Other Fort Collins conditions that affect plumbing
- Clay soil movement: Expansive soils can shift slab floors and sewer lines, causing offset joints and cracks that show up on a camera inspection.
- Rental-heavy wear near campus: Rentals near CSU see heavy use of toilets, disposals and drains, and frequent turnover means problems go unreported until they're bigger.
- Cold winters: Northern Colorado winters bring long cold spells. Pipes along exterior walls, in garages and in crawl spaces freeze when heat is turned down in vacant units.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Fort Collins and Larimer County, including Old Town, Midtown, Rolland Moore, Harmony, Waterfield, Old Town North. ZIP codes: 80521 · 80524 · 80525 · 80526 · 80528.
When to call a plumber in Fort Collins
- 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 Fort Collins
How long do water heaters last in Fort Collins?
How long does a water heater replacement take?
More plumbing in Fort Collins
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