Water Heater Installation in Lakewood, CO
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Nine months of the year, your water heater is working against the cold
Lakewood homes need heat from September through May, and winter nights average 18°F from December through February. Cold groundwater coming into the tank means a new water heater has more work to do to bring it up to temperature, for most of the year.
Power loss is a real factor here too. Statewide, 13% of Colorado households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024, and Jefferson County has seen 113 winter storms and 114 damaging wind events over the past ten years. If you're deciding between a gas and electric model, that history is worth weighing. Whatever you choose, the tank has to meet a federal efficiency minimum, and that minimum is set by a formula tied to the tank's rated volume, not a single number, so the exact requirement depends on the size you install.
- 18°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 13%
- of Colorado households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A heat pump water heater would save about $370 a year to run in Colorado compared with an electric water heater.
Estimates for a typical Colorado home, from EIA household energy data and Colorado fuel prices. Your home will differ.
- How do I know it's time to replace my water heater?
- Age is the first thing to check, along with what the tank is doing. If it's an older unit and you're seeing rusty water, water pooling around the base, or it's not keeping up with hot water like it used to, those point to the tank itself failing rather than one part needing a repair. A tank rusting from the inside can't be patched. If the unit is fairly new, a contractor can usually tell whether it's a fixable part like a heating element or thermostat instead of the whole unit.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want out of it, not on your current heater failing. Tankless units heat water as it flows through rather than storing it, so you get continuous hot water and don't run out during a long shower or back to back loads of laundry. Installing one usually means changes to the gas line, venting, or electrical supply to the house, so a contractor needs to look at your setup before you know if it's a straightforward swap.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The unit itself is smaller and mounts on a wall instead of taking up floor space, but what changes around it depends on your house. Tankless units often need a larger gas line than a tank heater did, because they heat water on demand and draw more gas in short bursts. Venting is different too, since tankless units use their own vent type rather than the one your old tank used. Some installations also call for an upgraded electrical circuit for the unit's ignition and controls. A contractor will check your gas line size, venting path, and electrical setup before pricing the job, since any of those can add work beyond just swapping the unit.