Tankless Water Heater in Frederick, CO

Signs it's worth a look

• Your original builder-grade tank is getting older and noisier
• Busy mornings leave someone with a cold shower
• You'd like to free up garage or basement space
• Your tankless unit shows codes or shuts down during long showers
• Hot water takes ages to reach the far bathroom

Frederick conditions

Frederick began as a coal-mining town and is now one of the fastest-growing family suburbs in the Carbon Valley, which means plenty of garages and basements with an exterior wall close to the heater. That keeps a sealed vent short. The gas line is the usual question. A whole-house tankless burner can pull several times the gas of a tank at full fire, and the pipe from the Black Hills Energy meter has to carry it alongside the furnace and range.

Water service splits along the interstate: the Town of Frederick serves everyone east of I-25, and Left Hand Water District serves residents to the west, with Central Weld County Water District also serving part of town. Town water is Colorado-Big Thompson water from Carter Lake, plus Town-owned Windy Gap units, treated at the Carter Lake Filter Plant and disinfected with chlorine. The Town's report doesn't list hardness, so a simple test helps set a flush schedule. If you're west of I-25, check Left Hand's report instead.

Sewer comes from St. Vrain Sanitation District, which is where a condensing unit's condensate ultimately drains through the house plumbing.

What affects the price

• Gas line work. Upsizing part of the run from the meter is common.
• Vent route. Sidewall exits from garages and basements are simplest.
• Condensing or not. Condensing units need a drain; non-condensing need stainless venting.
• Recirculation. Adding a pump or loop for two-story homes.
• Permit and inspection. Arranged with the Town Building Department.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Frederick. Have the heater's age, fuel and location ready. The Town Building Department at 401 Locust Street handles permits and inspections (permit technician 720-382-5516; inspection line 720-382-5620), and the plumber confirms what a tankless swap requires. Frederick inspectors may verify the identity of the plumber of record at inspection, so expect the installer to be on hand or have that sorted. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Black Hills Energy at the number on your gas bill.