Tankless Water Heater in Lyons, CO

Lyons sits where North and South St. Vrain Creeks meet, ringed by red sandstone hills at the Double Gateway to the Rockies on US 36 and SH 7. It's a small town with a historic downtown, and its homes range from older cottages to newer construction. Here's how to approach a tankless install or a unit that isn't performing.

What to do now

1. Look at where the heater vents. A gas tankless unit needs its own sealed vent; an older home may need a new route through a wall or roof.
2. Have the gas line checked. Xcel Energy supplies gas here. A tankless burner at full fire can need a larger pipe from the meter than a tank.
3. Know your water. The Town draws water from North St. Vrain Creek and treats it at its own plant. Its annual report is the place to check water quality; if hardness isn't listed, a simple test guides the flush schedule.
4. Plan for cold and outages. Keep the unit and its condensate drain in heated space, since built-in freeze protection only works with power.
5. Use the Town's process. SAFEbuilt runs all building department activity for Lyons through its Community Core system. Boulder County has no building code jurisdiction inside town.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

Gas line upsizing, the vent route, condensate drainage, freeze protection and unit size are the main drivers. Older homes can take more labor to vent cleanly, and a unit tucked into a tight closet may need to move to a spot with an exterior wall nearby. The SAFEbuilt permit technician is at 970-545-3512, inspections are requested at 303-774-0454, and Town Hall is at 432 5th Avenue (303-823-6622). For after-hours water emergencies, Lyons lists 303-441-4444. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999.