Water Heater Replacement in Littleton, CO

In Littleton, a water heater should be replaced when the tank leaks, the hot water turns rusty, or an older unit keeps needing repairs. The City of Littleton requires permits to replace any plumbing or gas system, though addresses outside city limits go to the county. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Littleton.

Is my address under the city or the county?

It's worth checking first. Littleton's ZIP codes cover far more than the city itself, including Columbine, Ken Caryl and Highlands Ranch. Inside city limits, the Building & Development Permit Center requires permits to install, alter, repair or replace any plumbing, gas or mechanical system, which includes a water heater. Homeowners doing single-discipline work themselves sign a Homeowner Affidavit. If your Littleton mailing address is outside the city, the permit comes from Arapahoe, Jefferson or Douglas County instead, and the city's District Map Tool will tell you which. The Permit Center is at 303-795-3751.

Who supplies my water, and does it matter for a new heater?

The city says all City of Littleton residents are served by Denver Water; the city itself doesn't run a water utility. Denver Water's annual quality report lists hardness and other details if you're weighing a softener or deciding how often to flush. Areas outside the city with Littleton addresses are on other districts, each with its own report. Sewer, on the other hand, is a city service for most residents, with treatment at South Platte Renew, which Littleton owns jointly with Englewood.

Will an older Littleton home complicate the swap?

Littleton grew quickly in the 1950s and 1960s, and many houses from that era still have utility rooms built around smaller, less insulated tanks. A plumber may need to update the flue, replace an aging gas connector, add a sediment trap or move the relief line to meet current code. None of it is unusual, but it can change the price, so ask for those items to be called out in writing. Xcel Energy is the city's gas provider. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and Xcel at 1-800-895-2999 from outside.

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Littleton.

(303) 529-9880

A Littleton tip

If a failing heater has flooded a basement and the floor drain is backing up, that's a separate sewer issue. After hours, the city takes sewer emergencies at 303-794-1551; during normal hours, call 303-795-3959. Fix the heater and the drain together if the water damage points to both, and keep photos of the leak for any insurance claim you file. A plumber on site for the heater can usually check the drain on the same visit.

Water Heater Replacement questions in Littleton

Does a water heater replacement here need a permit, and who issues it?

Inside city limits, the City of Littleton Permit Center requires a permit to replace any plumbing or gas system. Littleton addresses outside the city go to Arapahoe, Jefferson or Douglas County.

What can make a replacement harder in an older home?

Many Littleton homes date from the 1950s and 1960s. Old flues, gas connectors and tight utility rooms can add parts and labor, so get those items listed in the quote.

Will the new heater need a thermal expansion tank?

Many do. When the plumbing system can't relieve the extra pressure from heated water, an expansion tank absorbs it. The plumber will check your setup and what the inspector expects.

What happens to the old water heater?

Most plumbers remove and dispose of the old tank as part of the job. Ask that it be written into the quote.