Which is cheaper to run in Denver?

Gas, in most cases, because natural gas costs less per unit of heat than electricity on typical Front Range rates. A heat pump electric unit narrows the gap considerably.

Can I switch from electric to gas?

Yes, but budget for a gas line and venting. It only pencils out when you are already opening walls or the gas line is close.

Is a heat pump water heater worth it?

In a warm, roomy basement with a floor drain, it is the most efficient electric option. In a tight closet it struggles and gets noisy.

Does fuel type change what size I need?

Yes. Gas recovers faster, so a smaller gas tank often serves the same household as a larger electric one.

How much does a plumber cost in the Denver metro?

Cost depends on the job, not a flat menu. Afford-A-Rooter scopes the work first, then gives you a free quote before anything starts, so you approve the number in advance. Drain and rooter calls sit at the lower end. Sewer line and water line repairs sit higher because they involve locating, access, and restoration.

How fast can you get here, and how long will the work take?

Most standard repairs are booked for the next available window and finished in one visit. Drain cleaning and fixture work usually take a few hours. Sewer and water line work can take a day or more because of excavation and inspection. You get a realistic time window up front, not a guess.

Do you handle emergency plumbing at night and on weekends?

Yes. Afford-A-Rooter runs 24/7 emergency plumbing across the Denver metro. Call for active leaks, sewage backups, no hot water, and burst pipes. Shut off the water at the main valve first, then call so we can stage the right truck.

Is your plumbing work guaranteed, and are you licensed?

Afford-A-Rooter is a Colorado Master Plumber and licensed Colorado State Plumbing Contractor, family owned and serving Denver since 2006. Work is performed to code, permitted where required, and backed by a workmanship guarantee. Manufacturer warranties apply to installed equipment such as water heaters.

Gas vs Electric Water Heater: How to Choose in Denver

Gas recovers about twice as fast and usually costs less to run on Front Range utility rates. Electric costs less to install, needs no venting, and fits places gas cannot go. What you already have in the house usually decides it.

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Straight comparison on recovery, operating cost, and install cost
Venting, gas load, and circuit capacity checked before you commit
Free quote on either path

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What it is

Gas water heater and electric water heater A gas water heater burns natural gas or propane to heat water and vents exhaust outside, while an electric water heater uses electric heating elements inside the tank and needs no venting.

Denver's high altitude affects gas appliance venting and combustion, so the choice between gas and electric can change what installation work and permitting are required.

Switching fuel types is a bigger job than switching tanks

Going electric to gas means a gas line, a flue, and combustion air. Going gas to electric means a dedicated 240 volt circuit with enough panel capacity. Staying with what the house already has is almost always the cheapest sound decision.

Gas: faster recovery, lower running cost, needs venting
Electric: cheaper install, no combustion air, slower recovery
Heat pump electric: very efficient, needs space and warm air around it
Panel and gas meter capacity decide what is even possible

Lean gas when

You already have a gas line and flue at the heater
The household drains hot water fast and needs quick recovery
The unit lives in an unconditioned basement or garage
You want the lowest monthly operating cost

Wider view of the work area, gas and electric tank water heaters side by side in a Denver utility room

What we check before recommending a fuel type

Existing gas line size and total appliance load on the meter
Flue condition, and whether it is shared with a furnace
Electrical panel capacity and available 240 volt space
Combustion air volume in the room for an atmospheric gas unit
Whether a heat pump water heater has the air volume and drain it needs
Operating cost estimate on your actual utility rates

What to expect and how the work gets done

1
Site check
Look at the meter, the panel, the flue, and the room the heater sits in.
2
Compare
Install cost, recovery rate, and monthly operating cost side by side.
3
Decide
Usually stay with the existing fuel unless there is a clear reason to switch.
4
Install
Permitted install with venting or circuit work included in the scope.

Fuel type is one decision. Tank versus tankless is the other. The full side by side table lives on our Denver water heaters hub.

Compare tank and tankless water heaters

Credentials, reviews, and company proof

Colorado Master PlumberFixture and appliance work is permitted and code-compliant, not handyman work.
Plumbing Contractor license 2110Licensed to pull permits and pass inspection on gas, water, and drain work.
Serving Denver since 2006Two decades of Front Range water chemistry, altitude, and inspection practice.

Ready when you are

Tell us what is happening and your Denver neighborhood. We will route it fast.

(720) 296-7972 Request a Free Quote

Cost drivers on each path

Install price and running price move in opposite directions, which is why the comparison has to include both.

Request a Free Quote (720) 296-7972

Need help right now? 24/7 emergency plumbing service. Planning a larger repair? See financing options.

Running a new gas line and sizing it for total appliance load
New or relined flue versus a power-vent unit that sidewall vents
New 240 volt circuit and available panel space for electric
Heat pump models need clearance, air volume, and a condensate drain
Local permit and inspection fees for gas or electrical work

Frequently asked questions

Colorado Master Plumber
License MP-00189274
Colorado State Plumbing Contractor
License 2110
Family Owned & Operated
Serving Denver since 2006, 20 years
Better Business Bureau
Accredited Business, A+ rating
Angie's List Super Service Award
2012 through 2017
Serving Denver since 2006
Residential and commercial properties across the metro

More plumbing help from Afford-A-Rooter

Gas or electric? We will tell you straight

Free assessment of what your house can actually support.

Get a Free Quote (720) 296-7972