Erie gets natural gas from Black Hills Energy, so if you smell gas, leave the house, call 911, then call Black Hills Energy at the emergency number on your bill. For leaks after the meter and new appliance lines, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Erie.
About gas service in Erie
Erie straddles the Boulder-Weld county line, and its 2020 population was split roughly 58% Weld and 42% Boulder. Wherever you live in town, the gas utility is Black Hills Energy, which lists Erie in its Colorado service territory, rather than Xcel Energy. The emergency number is printed on the gas bill.
Erie was a coal-mining town settled in 1867, and the historic Old Town around Briggs Street holds the oldest homes. Most of the town, though, is newer suburban construction from its recent growth, which usually means flexible tubing and a gas system sized for the appliances the builder installed. Adding a range, an outdoor kitchen or a tankless heater later is when undersizing shows up.
The Town of Erie Building Division at 645 Holbrook Street requires a permit for plumbing modifications and for water heater installations or replacements; replacing a fixture in the same spot does not need one.
Tank or tankless: the gas side
| Question | Tank water heater | Tankless water heater |
|---|---|---|
| Gas demand at full fire | Moderate | Much higher |
| Existing line usually adequate? | Often | Often needs upsizing |
| Venting changes | Sometimes | Usually |
| Erie permit needed? | Yes | Yes |
Warning signs
- A sulfur smell: leave the house and call from outside
- Hissing from a valve or appliance connector
- Orange flames on a range or furnace
- A water heater that will not stay lit
- Soot near a vent
When to schedule
If you are thinking about a tankless upgrade, plan it before the old tank fails. A permitted swap with a gas line upgrade takes more coordination than a straight replacement, and doing it on your schedule avoids days without hot water. Outdoor lines to patios and fire pits are best trenched in spring or early fall, before frozen ground. Heading into winter, have any appliance that has been acting up checked so the furnace and water heater are ready for steady use.
For homes in Old Town Erie, which can be much older than the surrounding subdivisions, a full look at the piping before adding any appliance is a good idea. Iron pipe in those houses may have been extended several times, and a pressure test tells the plumber whether the system can safely take more. In newer homes, the most common finding is a line that is simply too small for the added load.
Gas Line Services questions in Erie
Does switching to a tankless water heater affect the gas line?
Does gas piping work here need a permit?
How do I know which gas utility serves my address?
Can a gas line be run outside for a grill, fire pit or patio heater?
More plumbing services in Erie
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