Plumbing guides

Check the drain valve first: a dripping drain valve can be replaced. If the drain valve is dry and water is pooling under the heater, the tank itself is usually corroded through, and the heater needs to be replaced. On a gas heater filled with very cold water, condensation can also drip onto the burner area; that stops once the tank heats up.

On a gas water heater, a lit pilot with no hot water usually means the thermostat is set too low or on vacation mode, the main burner isn't lighting because of a failing gas control valve, or a broken dip tube is mixing cold water into the hot. Check the setting first; the rest are repairs.

Testable assemblies in a water provider's program are generally tested at installation, after repairs, and once a year. Your provider's notice gives your due date.

About $90 to $125 per assembly for a standard test, based on published local prices in October 2026. New Singer Plumbing Co. customers pay $95 per device for their first test.

It may as temperatures rise, but the longer it stays frozen the more likely it is to split. Open the faucet and apply gentle heat, and watch for leaks as it thaws.

Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes inside a heated house usually aren't at risk until it's much colder outside. A common rule of thumb is about 20°F or below, and sooner for pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, and garages.

Not if you get Denver Water's water. Lawn watering and all spray irrigation are prohibited after Sept. 30, 2026. Trees, shrubs, and perennials can be watered by hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or by drip.

It varies year to year, but the Denver metro's first hard freeze usually arrives in October. Foothills neighborhoods often freeze earlier than the plains.