Elevation above 2,000 feet can affect your water heater’s performance. The thinner air at higher altitudes (Denver, 5,280 feet) (Genesee/Lookout Mountain/Evergreen, 7,500 feet) means less oxygen for gas burners, reducing a water heater’s performance and energy efficiency. Less oxygen means a water heater takes longer to heat water or requires a higher BTU capacity to deliver the same sea-level performance. For instance, a 199k BTU tankless water heater might only handle two showers and a dishwasher in Denver, while 199k BTU will handle six showers simultaneously at sea level! Call Pipecraft Plumbing if your water heater isn’t performing well; we’ll investigate what’s going on and advise on the next steps, which might be adjusting settings or performing routine maintenance.
