An Edgewater water heater that stops heating or starts leaking usually needs one part, like an element, thermostat, thermocouple or valve, and a plumber can often replace it in one visit. If the tank shell is leaking, the heater has to be replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Edgewater.
Edgewater is a small, fully built-out city bordered by Denver, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, and its housing is old. Census estimates put the median build year at 1958, with about 79.4% of homes built before 1980. In houses that age, water heaters often sit in tight basement corners or closets that were laid out long before today's tank sizes, and the supply valves, flue connectors and gas lines feeding them may be decades old. Repairs here often involve a little more than the failed part.
What to do now
- Check the obvious. A tripped breaker on an electric heater, or an unlit pilot on a gas one.
- Stop a leak at the source. Turn off power or gas to the heater and close the cold water valve above it. If an old valve will not turn, do not force it.
- Protect the basement. Move boxes and set out towels or a pan.
- Gas smell? Leave first. Get outside, then call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999.
- Note the label. Brand, gallons, fuel type and date help the plumber plan.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No hot water | Element, thermostat, high-limit or pilot assembly |
| Hot water runs short | Lower element, sediment or a broken dip tube |
| Pilot goes out | Thermocouple, or a flue that drafts poorly in an older chimney |
| Rust at the top connections | Corroded nipples or old galvanized fittings |
| Water under the tank | Drain valve, relief valve, fittings or a failed tank |
Cost factors
- Age of the surrounding plumbing. Seized valves and old fittings often need replacing along with the part.
- Venting. Older chimneys and flue connectors may need correction.
- Access. Narrow basement stairs and small closets slow the work.
- Replacement and permits. The City of Edgewater Building Department issues plumbing permits; a homeowner can pull one only by certifying they will do the work personally on a property not for sale or rent.
Edgewater buys its water from Denver Water through six master meters and runs its own distribution system. Denver Water's latest report shows average hardness around 105 mg/L, which is moderate, so older tanks often carry a good layer of sediment. Homeowners own their water service line and meter here, so leaks on the house side are a plumber call rather than a city one.
Water Heater Repair questions in Edgewater
Is a water heater over 10 years old worth repairing?
Why is the hot water coming out rusty or cloudy?
Does water heater work here need a permit?
Should I call the water utility or a plumber about a hot water problem?
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