Water Heater Repair in Denver, CO
About one Denver home in six was built before 1940, and Denver Water estimates 60,000 to 64,000 homes in its system may have a lead service line. Every residential water heater permit in Denver is a quick permit. If your water heater has quit or is leaking, call and get a plumber out.
What shapes water heater trouble in Denver
Prewar houses, apartments and who can pull a permit
About 17% of Denver homes were built before 1940, and the median year is 1975. Just over half of homes are rented, and 45% are in buildings with five or more units. If you rent, take a water heater problem to your landlord or building manager first.
Owners of single-family homes can apply for permits without a contractor, but the city says you must be the legal owner and live there, stay at least a year after the work is done, and pass an exam before doing plumbing or mechanical work. A state plumbing license can stand in for the plumbing exam. Homeowner permits aren't available for ADUs, townhomes, condos or duplexes.
Water heaters are quick permits
Denver lists water heaters under both its plumbing and mechanical quick permits for single-family and duplex homes, and the city says all residential space heating and water heating permits are already issued as quick permits. Applications go through E-permits, and plan review questions go to 720-865-2720.
For commercial and multifamily buildings, since September 15, 2026, water heaters under 200 MBH qualify for quick permits too, whether gas, electric resistance or heat pump. A replacement that adds electrical load or puts equipment in a new outdoor spot goes to plan review instead, usually a two-day express review. The city's 2025 climate report says heat pump water heater permits rose 38% from 2024 to 2025.
Lead service lines and Denver Water's program
Denver Water's Lead Reduction Program estimates 60,000 to 64,000 homes may have a lead service line, and its online search tool shows whether yours is one. Customers can ask for a free replacement pitcher or filter. When a lead line turns up in a water main replacement work area, Denver Water replaces it with copper at no direct charge, and it picks next year's work areas each fall.
If you want to replace the line sooner, Denver Water pays a one-time $3,800 reimbursement, about half its own cost. You have to apply and be approved before the work, the home can't already be scheduled for this year or next, and the line has to be replaced by the end of the year you're approved. For grants or low-interest loans, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority is at 303-534-3872.
Seasonal hardness and Denver Water leak credits
Denver Water calls its water soft to moderately hard: water from the southern collection system is moderately hard and the northern system is somewhat soft. It runs a little harder in winter, when waterways and reservoirs freeze, and softer from late spring through fall.
If a leak raised your bill, Denver Water takes leak adjustment requests within 12 months of the repair, with proof of the repair. One adjustment can cover up to three consecutive monthly bills, and use during the leak is compared with your three-year average for the same time of year. Leaks from outdoor watering during the prohibition that starts October 1 don't qualify. Customer Care is at 303-893-2444, and the emergency line is 303-628-6801.
Xcel Energy gas service
Xcel Energy lists Denver for both gas and electric service. If you smell gas around the water heater, leave the building, call 911 from outside, then call Xcel at 800-895-2999.
Safe steps for Denver homes
- Leaking? Close the cold water valve on top of the tank.
- Turn off the gas valve or the breaker for the heater.
- Gas smell? Leave the house, call 911 from outside, then Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999.
Where we take calls
Denver, City and County of Denver, ZIP codes 80202, 80204, 80206, 80209, 80210, 80211, 80218, 80219, 80220, 80227. Not sure your address is covered? Call and we'll check.
Nearby towns
Repair, replacement and emergencies
Water Heater Repair
Gas, electric and tankless repairs, from pilot lights to heating elements.
Learn more
No Hot Water
Cold shower this morning? Get the cause found and fixed fast.
Learn more
Leaking Water Heater
Water around the tank or a dripping relief valve. Act before it floods.
Learn more
Emergency Water Heater Repair
Burst tank, gas smell or water everywhere. Call right away.
Learn more
Water Heater Replacement
When repair no longer makes sense, get a new tank or tankless unit.
Learn more
Tankless Water Heater Repair
Error codes, lukewarm water and scale buildup on tankless units.
Learn moreDenver water heater questions
Who is the gas company in Denver, CO?
Xcel Energy lists Denver for natural gas service. If you smell gas, leave first, call 911 from outside, then Xcel at 800-895-2999.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Denver?
Yes. Denver handles water heaters as plumbing or mechanical quick permits, and the city says all residential water heating permits are issued as quick permits.
Can I pull my own water heater permit in Denver?
Only as the owner and resident of a single-family home, and you must pass the city's plumbing or mechanical exam first unless you hold a state license.
Does Denver Water replace lead service lines?
Yes, at no direct charge when your home is in a planned work area, or it pays a one-time $3,800 reimbursement if you're approved to replace it sooner.
Can I get a leak credit on my Denver Water bill?
You can request an adjustment within 12 months of the repair, with proof. It can cover up to three consecutive monthly bills.
Where these local facts come from
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 (via Census Reporter)
- City and County of Denver, applying for permits as a homeowner
- City and County of Denver, quick permits
- Denver Community Planning and Development blog, expanded quick permits for equipment replacement (2026)
- Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, 2025 annual report
- Denver Water, Lead Reduction Program
- Denver Water, lead service line replacement reimbursement
- Denver Water, water hardness
- Denver Water, leak adjustment request form
- Xcel Energy, 2022 Colorado communities served (gas and electric key)
Figures are the latest published by each source. Pricing and availability are set by the plumber.
No hot water in Denver?
Call now for water heater repair or replacement.