Tankless Water Heater in Larkspur, CO

What happens when you call

The call connects you with an independent plumber who works in Larkspur and the surrounding valley. You'll be asked about the current heater's age and fuel, the number of bathrooms and whether you're inside town limits. The plumber then checks the gas supply, the vent route and an outlet for the unit's controls, and explains options. Inside town limits, the Town Building Department processes applications and SAFEbuilt does the inspections; the page reviewed doesn't spell out plumbing permit rules, so the plumber confirms what a tankless swap requires with the Town at (303) 681-2324.

What affects the cost

• Gas line capacity. A tankless burner can draw several times the gas of a tank; the line from the Black Hills Energy meter may need upsizing.
• Venting. A new sealed vent through a sidewall or roof.
• Condensate. Condensing models need a drain.
• Water treatment. Well water may justify a scale filter or softener.
• Permit and inspection. Through the Town, with SAFEbuilt inspecting.

Larkspur conditions

Larkspur is a small town of about 200 people in the East Plum Creek valley of southern Douglas County, best known for the Colorado Renaissance Festival. The Town's Public Works Department runs the water and wastewater systems within town limits, with the water system operated under contract by Semocor. Drinking water comes from three wells in the Denver and Arapahoe aquifers rather than surface water. Groundwater can carry more minerals than mountain runoff, and those minerals settle inside a tankless heat exchanger, so a hardness test before installation helps set a flush schedule and decide whether treatment is worth it.

Black Hills Energy supplies natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Black Hills Energy at the number on your gas bill. For a water emergency in town, call Town Hall at (303) 681-2324 during business hours or Semocor at (303) 681-2253 after hours. Areas of the 80118 ZIP outside town limits aren't on Town water.

Before the plumber arrives

• Note the heater's age and model from its label
• Clear access to the heater and gas meter
• Look for white scale on faucets, a sign of harder water
• Confirm whether your address is inside town limits