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Water heater service(858) 465-8561
Serving Boulder, 80301 to 80305

Water Heater Repair in Boulder, CO

More than half of Boulder's homes are rentals, and a licensed rental has to pass a SmartRegs inspection that looks at the water heater. City water is soft, about 2.4 grains per gallon. Whether you own or rent, if your water heater has quit or is leaking, call and get a plumber out.

Call for service(858) 465-8561What's different in Boulder
Cold in Hot out 1 T&P relief valvedrips from high pressure 2 Anode rodused up, tank rusts 3 Dip tubecracks, hot runs out 4 Sedimenthard water, popping 5 Gas valveno heat, no pilot 6 Pilot & thermocouplepilot keeps going out
  • One callStraight to water heater help
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  • All major brandsRheem, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, Rinnai, Navien
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Boulder at a glance

What shapes water heater trouble in Boulder

53%

of Boulder homes are rented

Source: US Census Bureau
43%

of homes are in buildings with 5 or more units

Source: US Census Bureau
2.4 gpg

average hardness of city water (42 mg/L)

Source: City of Boulder
1977

median year Boulder homes were built

Source: US Census Bureau
Rentals

SmartRegs and the water heater in a rental

About 53% of Boulder homes are rented, and 43% are in buildings with five or more units. The city requires a rental license before a property can be rented, and licensed rentals have to meet the SmartRegs energy efficiency standard. The city says SmartRegs inspectors need access to mechanical rooms to evaluate the furnace and hot water heater. If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager about a water heater problem before you call anyone.

For landlords, the heater you pick changes your score. The city says 98% of properties use the Prescriptive Pathway, which needs 100 energy efficiency points and two water conservation points. On that checklist a gas heater rated 0.60 EF earns 1 point and one rated 0.64 EF earns 2. An electric heat pump or electric tankless heater can earn 6, and an electric tank rated 0.95 EF or higher can earn 1. The city has proposed updating the checklist points for 2026 and 2027, and those changes haven't been adopted yet. Rental Housing Licensing is at 303-441-3152.

Water

Soft water from two treatment plants

Boulder's water averages 42 mg/L of hardness, or 2.4 grains per gallon. The USGS counts anything from 0 to 60 mg/L as soft. The water comes from the Middle and North Boulder Creek watersheds and from Carter Lake, part of the Colorado-Big Thompson system. The Betasso plant in the foothills treats water from Barker and Silver Reservoirs, and the Boulder Reservoir plant treats the Carter Lake water. The city disinfects with chlorine.

Soft water leaves less scale in a tank, but the city names two problems that can trace back to a water heater: white flakes that don't go away may come from a deteriorating dip tube, and rusty water can come from a hot water tank. If water turns brown after a main break, the city says to run the cold taps at full force for several minutes, and if it hasn't cleared in five minutes, to wait half an hour and try again. The city's service line inventory found no lead lines. The Drinking Water Program is at 303-441-3200.

Permits

Mechanical permits and who can pull one

The City of Boulder lists water heaters under its mechanical trade permit, and every application type can be filed through the Customer Self-Service Portal. A homeowner contractor permit is only for an owner who personally does the work on their own home, not one that's for rent or resale, so a landlord replacing a rental's heater needs a licensed contractor. The city's contractor license guide says plumbing contract work requires Colorado master plumber and plumbing contractor certification. Planning & Development Services is at 303-441-1880.

Leaks

Getting a leak taken off your water bill

If a failed heater or a leaking line ran up your water bill, the city will consider a leak adjustment. The request and proof of repair, such as a plumber's bill or a parts receipt, must arrive within 90 days of the due date on the bill for the period when the leak happened. The excess water is billed at the lower Block 2 rate rather than erased, an adjustment covers at most two consecutive months, and a property can get three adjustments under the same account holder. Utility Billing is at 303-441-3260.

Gas and rebates

Xcel gas and EnergySmart rebates

Xcel Energy lists Boulder for natural gas service. If you smell gas, leave the house, call 911 from outside, then call Xcel at 800-895-2999.

Boulder County's EnergySmart program offers income-qualified rebates to households at or below 100% of area median income: 50% of the project cost, up to $2,000 a year. They can go toward an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater with an Energy Factor of 2.0 or higher, or an electric water heater that replaces a gas one. Preapproval is required before you buy anything, 2026 work must be finished and invoiced by December 31, 2026, and funding is first come, first served.

Before the plumber arrives

Safe steps for Boulder homes

  1. Leaking? Close the cold water valve on top of the tank.
  2. Turn off the gas valve or the breaker for the heater.
  3. Gas smell? Leave the house, call 911 from outside, then Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999.
Service area

Where we take calls

Boulder, Boulder County, ZIP codes 80301, 80302, 80303, 80304, 80305. Not sure your address is covered? Call and we'll check.

Nearby towns

Services in Boulder

Repair, replacement and emergencies

Plumber using a pipe wrench on the gas line of a tank water heater

Water Heater Repair

Gas, electric and tankless repairs, from pilot lights to heating elements.

Learn moreHot water running with steam from a copper kitchen faucet after a water heater repair

No Hot Water

Cold shower this morning? Get the cause found and fixed fast.

Learn moreTank water heater leaking water from its base onto a basement floor

Leaking Water Heater

Water around the tank or a dripping relief valve. Act before it floods.

Learn morePlumber's tool bag, pipe wrenches and copper fittings beside a water heater

Emergency Water Heater Repair

Burst tank, gas smell or water everywhere. Call right away.

Learn morePlumber wheeling a new tank water heater through a home hallway on a hand truck

Water Heater Replacement

When repair no longer makes sense, get a new tank or tankless unit.

Learn moreWall-mounted tankless water heater with copper and brass water and gas lines

Tankless Water Heater Repair

Error codes, lukewarm water and scale buildup on tankless units.

Learn more
Questions

Boulder water heater questions

Who is the gas company in Boulder, CO?

Xcel Energy lists Boulder for natural gas service. If you smell gas, leave first, call 911 from outside, then Xcel at 800-895-2999.

How hard is Boulder's water?

Soft. The city reports an average hardness of 42 mg/L, or 2.4 grains per gallon.

Does a rental's water heater count for SmartRegs?

Yes. Inspectors look at the hot water heater, and on the Prescriptive Pathway checklist a gas heater rated 0.64 EF earns 2 points, while an electric heat pump or electric tankless heater can earn 6.

Can a Boulder landlord pull their own water heater permit?

Not as a homeowner contractor. That permit is only for owners doing the work on their own residence that isn't for rent or resale.

Can I get a leak adjustment on my Boulder water bill?

Possibly. Send the request and proof of repair within 90 days of the bill's due date. The excess water is billed at the lower Block 2 rate.

Sources

Where these local facts come from

Figures are the latest published by each source. Pricing and availability are set by the plumber.

No hot water in Boulder?

Call now for water heater repair or replacement.

Call for service(858) 465-8561
Call (858) 465-8561