Water Heater Repair in Elizabeth, CO

Is my home's water hard on the heater?

Inside Town limits, Elizabeth Public Works produces and treats groundwater from five Town wells in Elbert County and disinfects it with chlorine. Groundwater generally carries more dissolved minerals than mountain surface water, though the Town's report does not state a hardness figure. The practical result is that some tanks build up sediment faster than others, and a plumber can tell a lot by draining a few gallons. Many Elizabeth-addressed properties are outside Town limits and not on Town water, so homes on acreage may have their own supply; if that is your situation, a water test is worth considering when the heater keeps filling with grit.

My house is from the 1990s or 2000s. Should I repair or replace?

Elizabeth has grown as a commuter town since the 1990s. Census estimates put the median home build year at 1999, with about 26.8% of homes built before 1980. That means a lot of heaters here are either originals now well into their second decade or replacements nearing the end of their own life. A failed element, thermostat or thermocouple on a tank under about ten years old is usually worth repairing. A tank that leaks from its shell or shows rust around the top is usually better replaced.

Do I need a permit, and from whom?

The Town of Elizabeth Building Department, with permits and inspections handled by SAFEbuilt, requires a building permit whenever plumbing systems are involved. Water heaters qualify for the Town's Simple Building Permit Application, with no plan review. That only covers addresses inside Town limits; properties outside the limits get permits from Elbert County. The plumber doing the replacement can usually take care of it.

A note on gas and emergencies

Natural gas around Elizabeth is supplied by Black Hills Energy. If you smell gas, leave the house before calling anyone, then call 911 and Black Hills Energy using the emergency number on your gas bill. If your property uses propane, call 911 and your propane supplier. For a water or sewer emergency in Town that threatens life or property after hours, Public Works has a dedicated line at (303) 284-1709; a cold or leaking water heater, though, is a call for a plumber.