Englewood's housing is mostly older, so a tankless water heater usually means a new vent and a check of the gas line in a house built for a tank. The City lists water heater replacement as work that needs a building permit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Englewood.
Englewood conditions
Census survey figures put Englewood's median build year at 1964, with about two-thirds of homes built before 1980, and the northwest corner still has housing from the 1910s. In those homes the water heater usually sits in a basement and vents through a masonry chimney shared with the furnace. A gas tankless unit can't use that chimney; it needs a dedicated sealed vent, often out a basement rim joist or sidewall. Older gas piping may also be too small for a tankless burner at full fire, so the line from the meter gets checked.
Englewood runs its own water utility, separate from Denver Water. It draws South Platte River water through the City Ditch and the Union Avenue Pump Station, stores it in McLellan Reservoir and treats it at the Allen Water Treatment Plant with free chlorine, ultraviolet units and chloramines. The City's report doesn't give a hardness figure, so a home test is the best way to set a descaling schedule for the heat exchanger.
Options side by side
| Option | Suits | Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Gas condensing tankless | Basement heater near an outside wall | New PVC vent, condensate drain, likely gas line work |
| Gas non-condensing tankless | Short, straight vent routes | Stainless vent pipe and the same gas check |
| Electric tankless | Small homes with spare panel capacity | Large circuits, often a panel upgrade in older houses |
| Replace the tank | Chimney liner and gas line in good shape | Lowest disruption, same standby losses |
Signs it's time
- A tank that's leaking, rusting or rumbling
- Hot water running out faster than it used to
- A tankless unit with recurring ignition or flame errors
- Reduced hot water flow throughout the house
Timing and paperwork
Incoming water is colder in winter, which cuts tankless output, so size for the cold months and plan a swap in mild weather if the old tank is still working. The City of Englewood Building Division requires a permit for water heater replacement and water line alterations; applications go through the City's online permit system, and DIY homeowners sign an affidavit. The Building Division is at 1000 Englewood Pkwy, 303-762-2357. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
Tankless Water Heaters questions in Englewood
Is a permit required to install a tankless water heater?
Where does a tankless heater vent?
Is an electric tankless heater realistic for a whole house?
Who do I call if I smell gas near the water heater?
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