On a chilly Denver winter morning, there’s nothing more frustrating than stepping into your shower and feeling cold water. This leaves you wondering what’s happening with your water heater, and you’re not alone. In fact, many Denver homeowners experience this very normal occurrence. It really all comes down to water heater maintenance, and Squeak’s Plumbing has the top reasons for winter water heater failures, troubleshooting tips, and ways to prepare for next winter.
Why Water Heaters Struggle in Denver’s Winter
Winters in the Mile High City are no joke, with temperatures that consistently drop to the -10s and sometimes to -20°F. When this happens, your water heater has to work harder to achieve the desired temperature. Below are the reasons your water heater is not keeping up in Denver winters:
- Cold groundwater: Groundwater in Denver can drop to 40–50°F in winter, unlike the 55–60°F we see in the warmer months. This makes it more difficult for the water heater unit to reach a warm 120 to 140 degrees.
- Increased hot water demand: People generally take showers or baths to warm up during winter, so hot water is used more frequently.
- High altitudes: Denver is 5,280 ft above sea level, meaning we live in thinner air. Lower air density means less air for combustion when heating water. This greatly affects efficiency, especially with gas water heaters.
- Poor insulation: Pre-1980s-built homes are usually lacking insulation to keep up with Denver’s heavy winters. This makes your home lose precious heat quickly.
How Denver Winters Impact Water Heaters
Let’s get more specific about cold water. When temperatures drop below freezing, your incoming water comes in cold, so your water heater needs to heat it to 70 to 90 degrees, rather than 60 to 70 degrees in warmer months. That extra 10 to 30 degrees makes a huge difference in how quickly your water heater recovers after, say, a shower.
An undersized water heater or one nearing the end of its lifespan will also struggle during the winter. In December, when everyone is using more hot water, a 40-gallon tank that was barely functioning in July won’t be able to keep up. An aging system with worn parts, like the important heating element, won’t generate heat as quickly as it once did.
Common Reasons Your Water Heater Can’t Keep Up
Below are some more expanded and other reasons your water heater is not heating enough in Denver:
- Cold groundwater supply: Colder inlet water means it takes longer to heat. When inlet water temperatures drop by 10 to 15 degrees, your recovery time — the time it takes to reheat a full tank — increases.
- Sediment buildup: Denver’s water is quite hard, with minerals that can cause scale buildup and reduce the efficiency of your hot water tank. Scale buildup can even affect the heat exchanger and be the reason a tankless water heater is not keeping up in winter.
- Aging or undersized tank: Older systems or small-capacity heaters can’t meet winter demand. Most tanks reach 8 to 12 years, so if yours is in this range, it’s probably not working efficiently.
- Thermostat or heating element issues: Temperature settings or malfunctioning parts reduce heat output. During the winter, the ideal setting is between 120 and 140 degrees, with 130 being a good middle ground.
- Improper Insulation: Lack of insulation around the heater or pipes leads to heat loss. Passive heat loss forces your system to work just to maintain temperature, leaving less capacity for generating hot water.
Troubleshooting Tips for Homeowners
If you’re having cold-weather water heater issues, there are a few things you can do before calling Squeak’s for water heater repairs. Follow this list of tips:
- Check your thermostat temperature: Locate the temperature dial or control pad and ensure it’s set to 120–140°F. If it’s not, adjust it and wait a few hours. Sometimes this is all you need.
- Flush your tank: Flushing your tank removes sediment buildup that affects your water heater’s efficiency, and it’s quite easy. Turn off the power or gas, connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank, and drain several gallons into a bucket until the water runs clear. This simple water heater maintenance task in Denver can restore a water heater’s heating capacity.
- Add insulation: Water heater blankets are quite cheap and reduce standby heat loss by 25 to 45 percent. Pipe insulation foam is even cheaper and helps keep hot water hot as it travels through cold spaces to your fixtures. Add it to the first six feet of pipe coming out of your water heater.
- Reduce your hot water usage: Taking shorter showers and running the dishwasher overnight when no other hot water is in use will make a significant difference.
When you schedule a maintenance service with Squeak’s, we will restore your water heater to normal condition and give you even more tips to prepare for winter.
When To Call a Denver Water Heater Professional
There are only so many problems DIY troubleshooting tips can fix. Here are the instances to leave your water heater winter problems to the pros:
- Your unit is approaching that 8- to 12-year lifespan. If the unit is struggling in this age range, it’s usually more economical to replace it.
- Your unit is making strange noises. Rumbling, popping, or banging sounds typically mean severe sediment buildup or loose parts.
- Your unit is leaking. A leaking tank is never a good sign and usually indicates corrosion, which means it has to be replaced entirely.
A qualified Denver Squeak’s plumber will diagnose issues that aren’t obvious to homeowners, such as faulty dip tubes, malfunctioning pressure relief valves, or complex combustion problems in gas systems. Whether you need expert inspection, repair, or replacement, consider it fixed.
Upgrade Options: Prepare for Next Winter
If you’re looking to replace your water heater, consider upgrades that will better serve you through next winter.
Tankless water heaters have become popular in Denver for their long-lasting efficiency and ability to heat water on demand. They are a bit more costly upfront, but it’s worth it for the energy savings.
High-efficiency tank models also have better insulation, more powerful heating elements or burners, and faster recovery times. They’re designed specifically to handle challenging winter conditions like those in Denver.
If you have the space, a hybrid heat pump water heater could also be a good idea. They pull heat from the air to heat water and are by far the most efficient model available today (60% less energy).
With upgrades come rebates. Xcel Energy offers local Denver rebates for electric heat pump water heaters. The Energy Office of Colorado also has a new Weatherization Assistance Program for income-specific households. Finally, the nonprofit Rewiring America helps Denver residents find federal tax credits for upgrading to more efficient energy systems.
Bring Your Hot Water Back This Winter With Squeak’s
Hot water issues are common in Denver, and whether your water heater needs simple maintenance, professional repair, or complete replacement, addressing the problem now will make the rest of winter far warmer and more comfortable. As a trusted Denver water heater repair specialist, Squeak’s has helped countless Denver homeowners solve their winter water issues. Call us today to schedule a consultation and restore your hot water this winter.
