Tankless Water Heater in Morrison, CO

Signs to think about tankless

• An old tank with rust, mineral crust or leaks
• Hot water running out quickly
• A cramped basement or closet where a tank is hard to service
• Tankless error codes or ignition trouble
• Hot water temperature swinging during use

Morrison conditions

Morrison is a tiny historic foothills town known for its stone buildings, dinosaur fossil history and its neighbor, Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Census survey figures for its 151 housing units put the median build year at 1954, with about 91% built before 1980. In homes that old, the water heater often sits in a small basement or closet and vents through a chimney. A gas tankless unit needs its own sealed vent, and thick stone or masonry walls make choosing the exit point a real part of the job. Older gas piping may also be too small for a tankless burner at full fire.

The Town's Public Works Department provides water and sewer within town. Water comes from Bear Creek and is treated at the Town's membrane filtration plant, with two off-stream reservoirs storing raw water for droughts or poor creek conditions. The Town posts drinking water reports on its utilities page; if hardness isn't listed, a home test helps set the flush schedule. ZIP 80465 extends well beyond town limits, and those outside addresses may have different water.

What affects cost

• Vent route through old walls. Stone and masonry take more time to penetrate cleanly.
• Gas line. Upsizing older piping for full-fire demand.
• Space. Tight basements may require moving the heater.
• Condensate. A drain for condensing models.
• Permit. Through the Town's Building Department.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Morrison. Have the heater's age and fuel ready. The Town of Morrison Building Department, with code enforcement contracted to Charles Abbott Associates, handles building matters; its pages don't state water heater permit rules, so the plumber confirms requirements by emailing [email protected] or calling Town Hall at 303-697-8749. Gas service isn't confirmed on the Town's pages, so check your gas bill for the utility. If you smell gas, leave the house, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.