Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WELBY
Welby Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WELBY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Welby.
Welby is unincorporated Adams County, so a water heater replacement needs a county building permit (from $24). On the east side, South Adams County Water & Sanitation District mixes its own South Platte and Arapahoe well water with Denver Water; its 2026 report shows sodium averaging about 124 ppm. Its PFAS treatment plant at the Klein facility is due in fall 2026. About 8% of Welby's homes are manufactured homes.
Welby is an unincorporated community in Adams County, so county offices handle permits.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Adams County Community & Economic Development, Building Safety (unincorporated Adams County)
- Permit fee
- The fee follows job value: $24 for $1–$500, $39 at $1,000, $54 at $1,500, $69 at $2,000, and $75 for a re-inspection. The county still links this table, but it's from 2017–2018, so confirm today's fee.
- Who gets the permit
- Either a contractor registered with Adams County (the Class D specialty includes plumbing) or the homeowner. Homeowners sign an affidavit and statement of understanding accepting responsibility for the work.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Gas utility
- Xcel Energy
- Water
- North Washington Street W&SD (Denver Water) in the west; South Adams County W&SD toward the east (11 South Platte alluvial wells + 3 Arapahoe wells, treated at Klein, blended with Denver Water) · Denver Water distribution system total hardness averaged about 105 mg/L (about 6.1 gpg), range 55-124 mg/L, 2025 data in Denver Water's 2026 report (system-wide, not district-specific); SACWSD blends Denver Water with its own groundwater and runs the Ennis Water Softening Facility, but no SACWSD-specific hardness figure was found
- Rebate worth checking
- Xcel Energy heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1974 (median) · 73% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 3 that advertise water heater work
01 / TYPICAL PRICES
What a new water heater costs.
Know before you call.
Heat-pump tank
$2,500–$5,000Typical cost, including installation
Tankless
$2,400–$5,400Typical cost, including installation
AI equipment illustrations; models vary and images are not to scale. Typical national prices from Home Depot ↗, checked September 28, 2026. The source doesn’t say how many jobs the ranges are based on. These are not Welby averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Welby
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeThe fee follows job value: $24 for $1–$500, $39 at $1,000, $54 at $1,500, $69 at $2,000, and $75 for a re-inspection. The county still links this table, but it's from 2017–2018, so confirm today's fee.. Adams County Community & Economic Development, Building Safety (unincorporated Adams County) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Welby post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Welby average is shown.
What can change the price in Welby?
Adams County lists gas lines as a separate permit. It has no specific guidance on tankless heaters or relocating one.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Welby?
Companies that advertise water heater replacement here, with what their water heater customers say.
Companies we found in our research. They are not Ember & Tank providers or partners. We show selected reviews, not a rating or every review. How we choose reviews →
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric
Lists Welby among the areas it serves. Based in Denver, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: "$50 OFF Any Plumbing Service" — covers items including "Water Heater Tune Up and Flush" (Limit one coupon per transaction; Valid through September 30, 2026). No water heater replacement price published —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A reviewer praised next-morning water heater replacement.
Worth knowing A water heater customer disputed the installation price and warranty choices.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
SWAN Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric
Lists Welby among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water-heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant said SWAN misjudged a water heater's age and recommended replacing it urgently, and that refunding the $3,600 deposit took multiple calls.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Denver)
Lists Welby among the areas it serves. Based in Denver, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Welby first, then companies whose water heater reviews we’ve read. Each group is alphabetical. These businesses are not our employees or vetted partners and do not receive requests from Ember & Tank. We haven’t checked their license, insurance or quality of work. Colorado DORA license lookup ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING WELBY
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN WELBY
What Welby homes are like.
1974Median year built
66%Built before 1980
73%Owner-occupied
76%Heat with utility gas
71%Single-family homes
About 66% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
76% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2024 5-year ↗ (2020-2024). Heating fuel is what homes use to heat the house. It often, but not always, matches the water heater’s fuel.
LOCAL CONDITIONS
What’s different in Welby.
Well water mixed with Denver Water
SACWSD's 2026 Water Quality Report (2025 data) says its water comes from eleven wells in groundwater connected to the South Platte, three deep Arapahoe formation wells, and treated Denver Water. Water from those eleven wells is treated at the Klein Water Treatment Facility and mixed with Denver Water before storage. Sodium averaged 123.54 ppm (86.5 to 174.1).
SACWSD 2026 Water Quality Report ↗ · South Adams County W&S District – Water Quality ↗
New PFAS plant due fall 2026
SACWSD started building a new treatment plant in 2024 so its water will meet EPA's new PFAS limits for the long term. The Klein Enhancement Project adds ion exchange treatment and should be done in fall 2026, paid for mostly by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On the west side of Welby, North Washington Street W&SD customers get Denver Water instead, which reports PFAS below the levels it's required to report at its plants.
SACWSD 2026 Water Quality Report ↗ · North Washington Street Water & Sanitation District ↗
Manufactured homes and older houses
Census estimates for 2020–2024 count about 8% of Welby's homes as mobile homes and put the median home at 1974. About 76% of households heat with utility gas. A replacement heater in a manufactured home must meet HUD-code rules: a sealed burner for gas units and a drain pan under the tank.
U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25024 (via Census Reporter) ↗ · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25035 (via Census Reporter) ↗ · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25040 (via Census Reporter) ↗ · 24 CFR 3280.707 – Heat producing appliances (eCFR) ↗ · 24 CFR 3280.709 – Installation of appliances (eCFR) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Welby homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (Xcel Energy serves most of the Denver metro; we haven't checked an official service map for Welby)
- Gas: Xcel Energy (Not confirmed with an official source)
Xcel Energy: Colorado communities served (lists the community for gas and electric) ↗
Water
North Washington Street W&SD (Denver Water) in the west; South Adams County W&SD toward the east (11 South Platte alluvial wells + 3 Arapahoe wells, treated at Klein, blended with Denver Water): Denver Water distribution system total hardness averaged about 105 mg/L (about 6.1 gpg), range 55-124 mg/L, 2025 data in Denver Water's 2026 report (system-wide, not district-specific); SACWSD blends Denver Water with its own groundwater and runs the Ennis Water Softening Facility, but no SACWSD-specific hardness figure was found
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Welby homes.
For Xcel Energy customers in Welby. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Xcel Energy heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$750 for an Xcel customer who installs a qualifying heat pump water heater.
- Colorado heat pump tax credit ↗Active for 2026 installs$250 credit for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater installed in 2026, claimed by a state-registered contractor, who must pass at least $83 to you as an invoice discount.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Colorado rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Welby.
Permits and who issues them
Adams County puts 'water heater installation or replacement' on its list of work requiring a building permit. Applications go through the county's ePermit Center (Accela) online. For questions, call Building Safety at 720-523-6800.
Yes. Before pulling a permit, every contractor registers with Adams County Building Safety; there's no fee. Plumbing contractors also show a Colorado state contractor or master license.
Adams County Community & Economic Development, Building Safety (unincorporated Adams County) ↗ · Adams County: Apply for a Building Permit ↗ · Adams County Building Permit Requirements (lists water heater installation or replacement) ↗ · Adams County Permit Fees & Contractor Registration ↗ · Adams County 2024 Fee Schedule, Planning & CED (building permit fees based on valuation) ↗ · Adams County Homeowner Affidavit and Statement of Understanding ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Colorado DORA license lookup ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Colorado licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Welby.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherrelwood | 2 mi | Required (county) | By job value (from $24) | Xcel Energy |
| Federal Heights | 3 mi | Required | By job value (from $23.50) | Xcel Energy |
| Berkley | 4 mi | Required (county) | By job value (from $24) | Xcel Energy |
| Northglenn | 5 mi | Required | By job value (from $23.50) | Xcel Energy |
| Thornton | 6 mi | Required | By job value (from $30) | Xcel Energy, United Power |
| Westminster | 6 mi | Required | $40 | Xcel Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Welby water heater questions.
Is Welby's water hard?
It depends on your district. North Washington customers get Denver Water (system average about 105 mg/L hardness in 2025). SACWSD customers get a mix that includes local groundwater; SACWSD doesn't publish a hardness number for it, but its sodium averages about 124 ppm.
SACWSD 2026 Water Quality Report ↗ · Denver Water 2026 Water Quality Report ↗
How is the Adams County permit fee figured?
By what the job is worth. The county's posted table starts at $24 for work up to $500 and reaches $54 at $1,500 and $69 at $2,000. If an inspection fails or the work isn't ready, a $75 re-inspection fee can be added.
More guides: Colorado water heater replacement · All local guides