Water Heaters
Water Heater Installation & Repair in Pueblo
No hot water, rusty water, or a tank that has finally given up? We install, repair and replace both traditional tank and tankless water heaters across Pueblo and Pueblo West — and we’ll tell you honestly which one you actually need.
New water heater installation
Replacing a water heater is not just a matter of swapping one tank for another. The unit has to be sized to how much hot water your household actually uses, connected and vented to code, and fitted with the right expansion control for your water supply. Get any of that wrong and you end up with a heater that runs out halfway through the second shower, or one that fails years before it should.
We size the replacement to your home rather than simply matching whatever was there before, which is often the wrong capacity to begin with. A standard install includes draining and hauling away the old unit, new connections and shut-off valve, a temperature and pressure relief valve with a correctly routed discharge line, and testing the whole thing before we leave. We’ll walk you through what we found and what we did, and the work is backed by our 1-year guarantee on water heater installations.
Happy to install a unit you bought yourself, too. In that case the guarantee covers our installation labor and the manufacturer’s warranty covers the heater.
Water heater repair
Not every failing water heater needs replacing. Plenty of the calls we take come down to a part rather than the tank itself, and a repair that costs a fraction of a new unit will often buy you several more years. Common problems we fix:
- No hot water at all — usually a failed heating element or thermostat on an electric unit, or a pilot, thermocouple or gas control valve on a gas one.
- Not enough hot water — a burnt-out lower element, a broken dip tube, sediment stealing tank capacity, or simply a unit too small for the household.
- Water that is too hot, or temperature that swings — typically a failing thermostat, and worth fixing promptly because it is a scalding risk.
- Rumbling, popping or knocking from the tank — sediment hardened on the bottom, cooking against the burner. A flush sometimes clears it; if it is far along, the tank is on borrowed time.
- Leaking fittings or valves — connections, the drain valve and the T&P valve are all repairable.
- Water pooling under the tank — if the tank itself has corroded through, no repair will fix it, and replacement is the only safe answer.
Water heaters rarely fail at a convenient hour, which is why we run 24/7 emergency service. If a tank is actively leaking, shut off the water supply to the heater and call us.
Tank or tankless?
Both are good options, and the right answer depends on your home rather than on which is newer. The honest summary:
Traditional tank
- Lower up-front cost and a simpler swap, especially when replacing like for like
- Typically lasts 8–12 years
- Holds a fixed reserve, so a long shower or back-to-back loads can exhaust it
- Takes up floor space and keeps a tank of water hot around the clock
Tankless
- Heats on demand, so hot water does not run out
- Typically lasts 15–20 years or longer with maintenance
- Mounts on a wall and frees up floor space
- Costs more up front, and may need gas line, venting or electrical changes
If your household regularly runs out of hot water, or you want the space back, tankless is worth pricing. If you simply need a reliable replacement for a unit that has reached the end of its life, a quality tank heater is usually the sensible choice. We’ll quote whichever you ask for, and tell you plainly if we think the other one suits your home better.
When it is time to replace
Age is the single best predictor. Under about 8 years, a repair is usually worth doing. Past 10, the economics shift, and money spent on an old tank tends to be money spent twice. Watch for inconsistent or insufficient hot water, rust-colored water, noise from the tank, water around the base, and energy bills creeping up without an obvious cause.
If you are not sure which side of that line you are on, we will come and look, tell you what we find, and give you a free estimate for both the repair and the replacement so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.
Getting the most out of it
Pueblo’s water leaves sediment, and sediment is what kills water heaters early. Flushing the tank once a year clears it out, keeps the burner working against water instead of a crust of minerals, and is the single most effective thing you can do to reach the upper end of that lifespan. It is a quick job, and one worth putting on the calendar alongside the furnace filter.
What it costs
Repairs are $120 per hour during regular hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. Emergency repairs outside those hours, when you need help right away, are $240 per hour. Installs and replacements are quoted after a free estimate, so you have the full price before any work begins. See the full rate table.
What customers say
Eric with Burner Brothers Plumbing was so great! He was able to come the very next day when my hot water went out. He was super professional and extremely knowledgeable! Very impressed and definitely recommend!
Eric at Burner Brothers Plumbing was awesome. He replaced our water heater and made the whole process way easier than I expected. Super polite, friendly, and very professional the entire time. He worked quickly, didn’t disrupt anything in our home, and when he finished, the area was cleaner than when he started.
People Ask
Water heater questions
How long do water heaters typically last and when should I replace mine?
Most traditional tank water heaters last 8–12 years, while tankless systems can last 15–20 years or longer with proper maintenance. Signs it may be time to replace your water heater include:
- Inconsistent or insufficient hot water
- Rust-colored water
- Strange noises coming from the tank
- Water leaking around the unit
- Rising energy bills
If you’re unsure, Burner Brothers Plumbing can inspect your system and help you decide whether repair or replacement is the better option.
Should I repair or replace my water heater?
Whether you should repair or replace your water heater depends on its age and the type of problem you’re experiencing. In general, if the unit is under 8 years old, repairs are often the best option; if it’s 10+ years old, replacement may be more cost-effective. Frequent repairs, rust-colored water, or leaks around the tank are strong signs that replacement may be needed. Burner Brothers Plumbing can inspect your water heater and help you choose the most cost-effective solution for your home.
