Hot and cold water pipes and a manifold

Water Heater Guides for Northern Colorado Homes

Plain-English water heater guides for Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County homes.

  • Honest repair-or-replace advice
  • Written, itemized quotes
  • Licensed and insured

Answers to the questions Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County homeowners ask most about water heaters: why the hot water ran out, whether to repair or replace, tank versus tankless, what it costs, and what you can safely check yourself.

All guides

Latest water heater guides

A bathroom laundry area with a water heater on the wall
Repair and Troubleshooting

Hot Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs? Causes and Fixes in Fort Collins

Hot water smells like rotten eggs? Why it happens, how an anode rod swap or chlorination fixes it, and when it is a gas leak.

8 min readRead guide
Water running from a kitchen faucet
Repair and Troubleshooting

No Hot Water in the House? How to Troubleshoot Gas, Electric and Tankless Water Heaters in Fort Collins

No hot water in the house? Check the pilot, breaker or tankless error code first. Safe steps for gas, electric and tankless, and when to call.

9 min readRead guide
A tank water heater and its pipes in a basement
Repair and Troubleshooting

Water Heater Leaking in Fort Collins? How to Find the Source and What to Do

Water heater leaking from the top, bottom or relief valve? Find the source, what to do now and when it means a new tank.

9 min readRead guide
Insulated heating and water pipes
Repair and Troubleshooting

Water Heater Making Noise? What Each Sound Means and How to Fix It in Fort Collins

Water heater making noise? What popping, rumbling, hissing and banging mean, when a flush fixes it and when to call.

7 min readRead guide
A clean blue gas burner flame
Repair and Troubleshooting

Water Heater Pilot Light Keeps Going Out? Causes and Safe Fixes in Fort Collins

Water heater pilot light keeps going out? See the usual causes, how to relight it safely and when a plumber should fix it.

8 min readRead guide
The digital control panel of an electric storage water heater
Buying and Replacing

Gas vs Electric Water Heater: Which Is Right for Your Fort Collins Home?

Gas vs electric water heater: cost, running cost, recovery, lifespan, venting, heat pump models and Colorado’s 2026 rules.

8 min readRead guide
Rust and corrosion on an old water heater
Buying and Replacing

How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Lifespan, Warning Signs and When to Replace in Fort Collins

Tanks last 10 to 15 years and tankless over 20, per DOE. Warning signs, how to read your heater’s age and when to replace it.

9 min readRead guide
A tall yellow gas flame
Buying and Replacing

Power Vent Water Heater vs Atmospheric, Direct Vent and Condensing: Venting Types and Larimer County Rules

How a power vent water heater compares with atmospheric, direct vent and condensing models, plus Larimer County vent rules. Call before you replace.

8 min readRead guide
A modern bathroom faucet
Buying and Replacing

What Size Water Heater Do I Need? A Fort Collins Sizing Guide

What size water heater do you need? Tanks by first-hour rating, tankless by flow and rise at Fort Collins altitude. Call (970) 305-5633 for help.

9 min readRead guide
A laundry room with a wall-mounted water heater
Tankless and Heat Pumps

Are Heat Pump Water Heaters Worth It? Pros, Cons and Payback in Fort Collins

Are heat pump water heaters worth it? Honest pros and cons, a payback example with 2026 rebates and Colorado winter tips.

9 min readRead guide
Hot water pipes and valves
Tankless and Heat Pumps

How to Descale a Tankless Water Heater: Steps and How Often

How to descale a tankless water heater with a pump and vinegar, per Rinnai, Navien and Noritz manuals, and how often on Fort Collins’ soft water.

8 min readRead guide
A wall-mounted gas water heater
Tankless and Heat Pumps

Tankless Water Heater Error Codes: What Rinnai Code 11 and 12, Navien E003 and Noritz 11 Mean

Rinnai code 11 means no ignition and code 12 a lost flame. What Rinnai, Navien and Noritz codes mean, safe checks and when to call a plumber.

8 min readRead guide
Tankless water heaters mounted on an exterior wall
Tankless and Heat Pumps

Tankless Water Heater Pros and Cons: Tank vs Tankless in Fort Collins

Tankless water heater pros and cons vs a tank: cost, lifespan, flow limits, altitude derating and when a heat pump fits better.

9 min readRead guide
Pressure gauge and valve on an outdoor water pipe
Maintenance

Do I Need a Water Heater Expansion Tank? The Rules in Fort Collins and Larimer County

When code requires a water heater expansion tank, how to tell if your home is a closed system, and signs a tank has failed.

7 min readRead guide
Pipe wrenches on plumbing
Maintenance

How to Flush a Water Heater Safely: Gas and Electric Steps for Fort Collins Homes

How to flush or drain a gas or electric water heater safely, how often to do it on Fort Collins’ soft water, and when to call.

8 min readRead guide
Temperature dial on a gas water heater control
Rebates, Permits and Rules

Colorado's Low-NOx Water Heater Law: What Changes When You Replace a Gas Water Heater in 2026

What Colorado’s low NOx water heater law means for a 2026 gas replacement: limits, propane, altitude and exemptions. Call (970) 305-5633 for a quote.

7 min readRead guide
Older two-story white house with a flowering tree and picket fence
Rebates, Permits and Rules

Do I Need a Permit to Replace a Water Heater? Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County Rules

Yes. Every town around Fort Collins requires a water heater permit. Who issues it in 16 towns, fees and homeowner rules.

8 min readRead guide
Plumbing tools and fittings laid on a project plan for a repair estimate
Rebates, Permits and Rules

Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates in Fort Collins, Loveland and Northern Colorado (2026)

2026 heat pump water heater rebates by town: Efficiency Works, Xcel, PVREA, Atmos and Colorado’s $250 credit, with deadlines.

7 min readRead guide

Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons): Water Heater Leaking in Fort Collins? How to Find the Source and What to Do: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Gas vs Electric Water Heater: Which Is Right for Your Fort Collins Home?: Pittigrilli, CC BY-SA 4.0; How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Lifespan, Warning Signs and When to Replace in Fort Collins: Czarking0, CC0; Tankless Water Heater Pros and Cons: Tank vs Tankless in Fort Collins: Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0; Colorado's Low-NOx Water Heater Law: What Changes When You Replace a Gas Water Heater in 2026: Jason Woodhead, CC BY 2.0.

Water heater trouble?

Call for a diagnosis and a written quote.

Honest repair-or-replace advice, written and itemized quotes, and tank, tankless or heat pump options.

(970) 305-5633

© 2026 Fort Collins Water Heater Pros. Water heater replacement and repair in Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County, Colorado.

Call (970) 305-5633