Tankless Water Heater in Arvada, CO

Does Arvada need a permit for a tankless swap?

Yes. Arvada Building Services requires a permit and inspection before a water heater is replaced or installed, and the city says a BTU change of 5% or more counts as a modification rather than a like-for-like replacement. Moving from a typical tank to a whole-house tankless unit usually crosses that line by a wide margin, so expect the gas piping and venting to be looked at closely. Contractors holding an active City of Arvada license apply online through Arvada Permits; owner-occupants doing their own work apply in person at City Hall, 8101 Ralston Road. The building line is 720-898-7620.

Is Arvada water hard on a tankless heat exchanger?

Less than in many metro cities. Arvada treats its water at the Ralston and Arvada plants, and the city's latest water quality report puts average total hardness at about 43 ppm and 65 ppm for the two plants. That is on the soft side, which means slower scale buildup inside the narrow passages of a tankless unit. A yearly flush is still what most manufacturers call for, but few Arvada owners need a softener just to protect the heater. Some pockets of the city get water from outside districts such as Ralston Valley, Consolidated Mutual or Denver Water, so check your bill to see which report applies to you.

Will an older Arvada house take a tankless unit?

Usually, with some planning. Census survey figures put Arvada's median build year at 1979, and about 52.5% of homes went up before 1980. Ranches and split-levels from that era often keep the water heater in a basement utility room, sharing a chimney flue with the furnace. A gas tankless unit can't use that flue; it needs its own sealed vent through a sidewall or the roof, and condensing models also need a drain for acidic condensate. The gas line from the meter is the other check, since a tankless burner at full fire pulls far more fuel than the tank it replaces. Houses around Olde Town Arvada can be older still, so a plumber walks the route before naming a model.

One Arvada note

Xcel Energy supplies natural gas in Arvada. If you smell gas near the heater or anywhere in the house, get everyone outside first, then call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999 from a safe distance.