Tankless Water Heater in Edgewater, CO

Edgewater, nicknamed The Edge, is a small, fully built-out city bordered by Denver, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge. Census survey figures put its median build year at 1958, with about 79% of homes built before 1980. That age shapes almost every tankless job here: heaters often sit in basements or small utility closets and vent through an old chimney shared with the furnace.

What to do now

1. Look at the existing vent. If the heater and furnace share a masonry chimney, a gas tankless unit will need its own sealed vent. Find the nearest exterior wall to the heater location.
2. Check the gas pipe. Older homes often have smaller gas lines sized for a tank, a furnace and a range. A tankless burner may need a larger run from the Xcel meter.
3. Consider the furnace. Removing the water heater from a shared chimney can leave the furnace alone in a flue too big for it, which a plumber or HVAC tech should evaluate.
4. Know the water. Edgewater buys Denver Water through six master meters. Denver Water's report lists average hardness of about 105 mg/L, so plan on regular flushing.
5. Sort out the permit. The City of Edgewater Building Department handles plumbing permits; homeowners can pull their own only if they certify they'll personally do the work and the property isn't for sale or rent.

Symptoms and likely causes

Cost factors

In Edgewater the price usually turns on the new vent route through an older house, gas line upsizing, any furnace venting adjustments, and whether the heater stays in the basement or moves. Condensing units add a drain. Edgewater homeowners own their water service line and meter, so if the plumber spots problems there, that work is yours as well. Community Development is at 720-763-3001 and inspections at 303-450-8748. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999.