Tankless Water Heater in Brighton, CO

Brighton started as a farm and railroad depot town and has grown into a busy part of the northern metro. Its water is unusual: the city runs one of the largest municipal reverse osmosis plants west of the Mississippi for its South Platte groundwater and a greensand plant that removes manganese from Beebe Draw groundwater, then blends the two and adds purchased water from Thornton and Denver Water. Here's how to handle a tankless decision or a failing unit.

What to do now

1. If the old heater has failed, shut off its gas valve and the cold water supply. Brighton allows an emergency water heater replacement before permitting, as long as the permit is applied for through OpenGov by the next business day.
2. Check who supplies your water. Most homes are on City of Brighton Utilities, but some newer subdivisions and nearby unincorporated areas are in metro or water districts such as Todd Creek Village or Hi-Land Acres.
3. Look at the gas line. Xcel Energy supplies gas, and a tankless burner at full fire needs much more than a tank. The plumber sizes the pipe from the meter.
4. Pick the vent route. A garage or basement wall close to the heater keeps a sealed vent short.
5. Know your side of the meter. City crews repair water lines up to and including the meter; from the house-side hand valve inward, the piping is yours.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

The main drivers are any gas line upsizing, the length of the vent run, condensate drainage on condensing models, and whether the new unit sits where the old tank did. Homes with a private well tied into household plumbing must also have a containment backflow assembly under city rules, which can come up when plumbing is changed. The permit runs through Brighton's Community Development permit counter (303-655-2017). If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999.