Costs To Install A Hot Water Heater In 2018

Currently, the average hot water heater cost is $800-2,500, including installation. If the last time you replaced a water heater was 10 years or more, and its starting to give you trouble, it may be time to get a new device.

Lets take a look at the installation costs for different water heater types, as well as factors that impact the total price.

How much does a water heater cost?

Water Heater Repair

$250 - $350

40 Ga. Water Heater

$850 - $1100

Tankless Water Heater

$1200 - $3500

See costs in your areaStart Here - Enter Your Zip Code

Homeowners across the US are paying $850-2,500 to install a new water heater (including device and labor). Such a wide price ranges depends on the following:

type of heater (tank vs. tankless) size/capacity (40, 50, 75 gallons) power type (gas, electric, solar).

The installation cost itself may also vary greatly, depending on the complexity of the job.

In some cases, homeowners end up paying $1,000-3,000 for the install, on top of the cost of the heater itself. You can expect higher than average installation charges if you want to switch from a storage tank to an on demand heater.

There are four general types of water heaters: tank-style, tankless, hybrid and solar.

Tank and tankless are the most popular, so we will focus on them.

Tank (storage) style: this is the most common and budget friendly hot water heater. It continuously heats and stores a specific amount of water (40, 50, 75, 100 gallons), in an insulated tank. The stored water is delivered via pipes, when its needed. Lower-end models can cost as little as $300, but on average they run $650-850, by brands like Westinghouse. High- end tank heaters can cost over $1000, by brands like A.O.Smith.

Tankless (on demand): these water heaters DONT store water. Instead, they use special heating coils to heat water when you need it. These devices can cost significantly more than tank models of the same size (although high-end water heaters cost about the same). Prices start at around $800 for a gas heater from brands like Rheem, and can go up as high as $1,500+ for premium brands like Noritz.

Electric tankless water heaters cost $160-500, with EcoSmart, being a very popular, highly rated brand.

If you have been researching various water heater options, you way be wondering if its worth it to pay more for a tankless model. Perhaps a traditional hot water heater would be just as good?

Well, here is some advice from the pros to help you choose the best product for your household needs.

Why a tankless water heater may be the right choice:

A typical on-demand unit is more expensive than a storage one, because it offers a number of significant advantages:

Why a storage tank heater may be the right choice:

With tank-style models, the size of the water heater has a direct impact on the price. The bigger the tank, the higher the price. The difference between 40 vs 50 gallons is about $150-250, depending on the manufacturer. However the difference between 50 vs. 75 gallons can be as high $400-600. Tanks that hold 100 gallons are very expensive. They often cost double or even triple the price of a 50 gallon tank of the same brand.

How much does a water heater cost?

Water Heater Repair

$250 - $350

40 Ga. Water Heater

$850 - $1100

Tankless Water Heater

$1200 - $3500

See costs in your areaStart Here - Enter Your Zip Code

How to choose a water heater (video):

How to quickly determine the right size water heater for your house

It all boils down to how much hot water you use. Some people like 30-minute showers and long baths, while others are in and out in 5 minutes, and never/rarely take a bath.

I was going to get us a 40 gallon tank, because I take 3-5 minute showers. But my plumber convinced me to go with 50 gallons, and he was absolutely right! My kids take baths (we have a large jacuzzi tub), and when they do, hot water disappears!

With tankless models, efficiency is determined by the maximum temperature rise possible at a given flow rate, known as GPM. Average size tankless heaters have a GPM rating between 5-6. More powerful devices can go as high as 11-12 GPM. Roughly, every additional GPM costs about $100 extra, depending on the manufacturer.

Keep in mind that gas tankless water heaters produce a larger temperature rise per GPM than electric models. This means that if your household water usage is very high and frequent, you are better off paying more for a tankless gas model.

Note, whether you go for a storage or tankless device, its important to get the RIGHT size, based on a real calculation of your households water usage. This may mean spending more money upfront, but its well worth it!

If you get a heater that is too small, your family will be very uncomfortable for the next 10-12 years in all daily tasks, from taking showers to doing laundry.

Electric heaters cost significantly less than gas ones. Among tankless models, the majority cost between $200-350. A device that costs between$700-800 is considered the very top of the line, from brands like Stiebel. By comparison, the $700 dollar range is a fairly low average for a tankless gas water heater. The vast majority of gas devices cost between $1,200-1,800.

When it comes to storage water heaters the difference in price between electric vs gas-powered models is less pronounced. The range for most electric devices is $300-600, and you can find many gas heaters in the same price range. Still, gas tank style heaters are more expensive overall, with many costing well over $1,500.

When you browse different devices, you will quickly notice that some water heater brands cost at least double the price of others, when all else is equal.

However, high-end brands are often more expensive for the following reasons:

they have better quality internal parts that last longer overall better design offer longer, more comprehensive warranties

Surely, you will also be paying a premium for the prestige of certain brands.

It may not be worth it to splurge thousands of dollars on a heater by A.O Smith or Westinghouse, but it is also safer to steer clear of budget brands. While you will save a few hundred dollars upfront, in the long run, you will spend more on repairing or replacing a device that stopped working way before the expected end of life.

Your best bet is to go for good quality brands such as Rheem, Tagaki, this is where the BEST VALUE is.

There are a number of things that will effect how much a plumber charges for labor on a particular install:

1. Type of heater: if you are installing a regular gas storage tank, the job is fairly straightforward. This is especially true if you are simply replacing a heater that you had before with a new model. Consequently, you should expect to pay no more than $300-450 for this work.

Installation of a tankless gas heater starts at around $1,200 because the process is more involved and time-consuming.

If you have a storage unit and want to switch to a tankless one, you should be prepared to spend a lot more. This is because, in most homes the existing gas piping, meter and gas line to the meter, may not be able to handle the high gas load of a tankless device.

Consequently, there will be a lot of complex labor involved in the switch, such as:

retrofitting the existing gas line perhaps putting in a new line installing a proper venting system possibly having additional electrical wiring done (you will need to hire an electrician) maybe re-routing gas and water lines, and possibly electricity, depending on the layout of your basement and ventilation.

Moreover, you may not be able to vent the gas tankless heater into the chimney and may need to do a direct vent outside. Homeowners looking to make this switch should budget $1,500-3,5000 for labor.

Similarly, if you are switching to an electric tankless device, an electrician will need to do a lot of work to rewire and expand your homes existing system to handle the extra power usage from the heater (which is VERY high). Some of the most powerful electric tankless models can use as much as 120 amps. So if you have a 100 amp service, you cant use an electric tankless water without upgrading the electric panel to at least 200 amps. This will cost an extra $1,000-1,500 on average, but can be as much as $3,000 depending on the complexity of labor involved, such as having to open walls, etc.

2. Your location: while this may not seem fair to you as a homeowner, the reality is that contractors rates vary depending on where you live. In high-income suburban areas, as well as expensive cities such as San Francisco, New York, Boston, Miami, a plumber will charge as much as 15-25% more for labor, compared to areas where incomes are significantly lower.

3. Unreasonable pricing scams: because most homeowners have no idea about plumbing and what this work entails, many plumbers take the liberty of charging EXTREMELY high prices for NO REASON. For example, many companies may offer to buy the hot water heater for you (they will help you select one), and then will roll their labor fees into the total cost. As a result, many people end up paying as much as the cost of the heater itself, for an easy, straight forward installation! For example, if your heater costs $700, your total charge will be $1,400, or more.

To avoid these types of companies, it is important to get estimates from 3-4 local professionals, and ask them exactly what type of work they will be performing. It is also a good idea to conduct your own research online, ask your neighbors, etc, to see how much people in your area are paying for this home improvement project. If a contractor sees that you have done your research, he will most likely give you a fair price.

We strongly recommend paying for professional installation, as opposed to going DIY, because dealing with gas and electricity can be very dangerous!

How much does a water heater cost?

Water Heater Repair

$250 - $350

40 Ga. Water Heater

$850 - $1100

Tankless Water Heater

$1200 - $3500

See costs in your areaStart Here - Enter Your Zip Code

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Costs To Install A Hot Water Heater In 2018