Tankless Water Heater in Henderson, CO

Signs it may be time

• Your storage tank is aging and showing rust or seepage
• Hot water runs out faster than it used to
• You'd like to free up floor space
• Your tankless unit displays codes or shuts down mid-use
• Scale crust on fixtures suggests mineral-heavy water

Henderson's patchwork

Henderson is a small unincorporated community whose post office dates to 1894, with older buildings along Brighton Road north of 120th Avenue. Much of the surrounding land has been annexed into Commerce City, Brighton or Thornton, so parts of the 80640 ZIP fall under those cities instead of the county. That changes both the permit office and the water provider.

We couldn't confirm a single water provider for Henderson homes. Annexed parcels may be on Commerce City's provider, South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, or on Brighton or Thornton water, and Hazeltine Heights Water and Sanitation District, a small district based in Henderson, also supplies domestic water. Your water bill names your provider, and its water quality report tells you what the heater will face. If you can't tell, Adams County or the plumber can help sort it out. Where Hazeltine Heights serves, customers own the service line from the meter pit to the home and any required backflow devices.

Gas service wasn't verified for Henderson either; your gas bill shows the utility. A tankless burner needs a gas line sized for full fire, so the plumber measures the run either way.

What affects cost

• Gas line capacity. Upsizing from the meter is a common add-on.
• Venting. A new sealed vent instead of an old flue.
• Water treatment. Depends on your provider's water or a home test.
• Condensate drain. Needed for condensing models.
• Permit. County or city, depending on where the address falls.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in the Henderson area. Have your address, heater age and fuel ready so the plumber can confirm jurisdiction. In unincorporated Adams County, the One Stop Permitting Center (720-523-6800) requires a building permit for water heater installation or replacement, and contractors must be registered with the county. If your parcel is annexed, the city's building office handles it. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.