Tankless Water Heater Installation Across the Denver Metro
Tankless Water Heater Installation in Denver
Tankless water heater installation across the Denver metro. Rinnai, Navien, and Rheem certified install with gas line upsize, Category III stainless venting, condensate drain, and Denver permit pulled. Deft Plumbing handles the full conversion: removing the old tank, running the larger gas line, installing the unit, venting through wall or roof, and commissioning the system. Flat-rate quote. Licensed and insured. Call (720) 880-8064.
A tankless install isn't a like-for-like swap. The gas line, venting, electrical, and condensate drain all need to be sized correctly for a unit pulling 150,000 to 199,000 BTU. Most tank-fed gas lines are 1/2" or 3/4" and won't support that demand, we run a dedicated 1" line from the meter when the load math requires it. Get this wrong and you starve the unit during peak demand and the burner short-cycles.
Gas Line Sizing and Pressure
Most Denver homes have a 3/4" gas line running to the existing tank water heater. A 199,000 BTU tankless unit needs roughly 1" gas line from the meter, depending on run length and elevation. We measure the existing pipe and the run distance, calculate the load (water heater + furnace + range + dryer), and upsize the gas line when required. We pull the Denver permit, pressure-test the line at 10 PSI for 15 minutes per code, and schedule the inspection. Skip this step and the unit either underperforms or trips out on flame failure. This is the same natural gas piping work we permit and pressure-test on every gas job.
Category III Stainless Venting
Tankless units are high-efficiency, which means they exhaust at a lower temperature than standard tank units and condense water vapor inside the heat exchanger. The venting has to be sealed Category III stainless (Rinnai, Navien), not the B-vent that's on your old tank. The vent runs through an outside wall or up through the roof, with a sealed termination cap. Total vent run is limited to roughly 50 equivalent feet for most units. We size and install the venting to manufacturer spec on every install.
Condensate Drain and Electrical
Condensing tankless units produce about a gallon of condensate per day. We route the condensate through a neutralizer (the condensate is mildly acidic and will eat copper) and into a floor drain or utility sink. The unit also needs a dedicated 120V outlet for the controls and the powered exhaust fan. Most installs require running a new circuit from the panel, we coordinate with an electrician when that's required. Skipping the neutralizer is a common shortcut that destroys cast iron drain pipes within a year. A failing condensate line ties into our water and drain piping repairs.
Sizing the Unit to Your Household
Tankless capacity is measured in gallons per minute (GPM) at a given temperature rise. In Denver, incoming cold water sits around 50°F in summer and 35-40°F in winter. To get 120°F hot water, that's a 70-85°F temperature rise. A Rinnai RU199iN delivers about 4 GPM at that rise, enough for two simultaneous showers OR a shower plus a dishwasher. A larger household running two showers plus a kitchen sink simultaneously needs either a larger unit (Navien NPE-240A) or two units in parallel. We size based on actual fixture count and family usage, not a sales-driven default. If your existing tank is newer, a straight hot water heater replacement can beat a conversion.
Need Tankless Water Heater Installation?
Contact Deft Plumbing for a free, upfront quote. No surprises, no hidden fees. We're licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection.
Call (720) 880-8064 or request a free estimate online.
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We provide tankless water heater installation services across the Denver metro area, including Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Broomfield, and more.