Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SUN CITY
Sun City Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SUN CITY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Sun City.
In Sun City, Maricopa County lets you replace a water heater without a permit if you follow the manufacturer's instructions. Homes here are older (median built 1973) and mostly all-electric, on hard EPCOR groundwater. Sun City is the active-adult community Del Webb opened in 1960, and its deed rules still require at least one resident 55 or older in every home.
Sun City is an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, so county offices handle permits.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- No, for a qualifying same-type replacement
- Electric utility
- APS
- Gas utility
- Southwest Gas
- Water
- EPCOR Water (Sun City system, which also serves Youngtown) · 7 to 11 grains per gallon (EPCOR 2025 Sun City report)
- Rebate worth checking
- Efficiency Arizona (Income-qualified)
- Typical home
- Built 1973 (median) · 84% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 12 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 Sun City averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Sun City
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price5 of the companies listed for Sun City post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Phoenix, Parker & Sons, Plumbing Masters, Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Howard Air & Plumbing. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Sun City average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Sun City?
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 →
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Phoenix
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A BBB reviewer praised the quick response and a new water heater installed right away, saying the service was worth the somewhat high price.
Worth knowing A tankless owner told BBB the technician recommended a larger replacement, charged $260, and missed problems the owner later fixed himself.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Bumble Bee Home Services (Bumble Bee Plumbing)
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Glendale.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised same-day water heater replacement and patient explanations from the installers.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Cool Blew, Inc.
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Peoria.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day diagnosis and replacement, and a technician who called manufacturers to find a specific unit.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said they were overcharged by $960 for a water heater installation (per quotes from three other companies) and that the technician arrived hours after the window.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised tankless water heater installation support and recirculation-pump work.
Worth knowing One tankless water heater conversion required repeated visits for valve noise; the customer said it was ultimately resolved.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Phoenix
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Mesa.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$200 Off Water Heater Installation' (expires 01/31/2027); also $75 off any plumbing service and 10% senior/military discount up to $100 —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers in the feed praised same-day emergency replacements, clear pricing up front, and a smooth tankless installation.
Worth knowing One reviewer said the installer brought a heater that did not fit the closet and said a county office called that a code issue.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Parker & Sons
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$100 Off Traditional Tank Water Heater' (code WATERTANK100, expires 12/29/2026); '$20 Off Any Service or Repair'
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer praised a thorough water heater maintenance visit.
Worth knowing A Scottsdale customer disputed a water heater replacement recommendation after getting a second opinion.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Penguin Air, Plumbing & Electrical
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised a same-weekend emergency replacement in which the technician drained the old tank to limit flooding, and a replacement in which the technician called a restoration company.
Worth knowing One service-plan member said a $600 (after discount) quote for water heater elements was excessive and that the technician shorted the unit.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Plumbing Masters
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Peoria.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Offer: 'Standard Water Heater Flush' $89 + same day service no replacement price published
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised efficient water heater replacement and a technician who found high water pressure and brought water heater pressure equipment up to code.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant whose main dispute was a leaking shower repair said an earlier water heater install went well but they believed they overpaid.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Phoenix)
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A Phoenix customer's testimonial on the company site praised the technician who replaced their hot water heater.
Worth knowing No Phoenix-specific water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Lists Sun City among the areas it serves. Based in Phoenix.
- Tank
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater assessment: '$49 trip charge', waived if you proceed with service on the day of the initial appointment
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Also listing Sun City: Howard Air & Plumbing, Rooter Hero Plumbing & Air (Phoenix).
Order: companies based in Sun City 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. Arizona ROC contractor search ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING SUN CITY
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SUN CITY
What Sun City homes are like.
1973Median year built
89%Built before 1980
84%Owner-occupied
28%Heat with utility gas
88%Single-family homes
About 89% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
67% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
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 Sun City.
Hard groundwater
EPCOR's 2025 report puts Sun City water at 7 to 11 grains per gallon, which EPCOR rates 'hard' to 'very hard'.
Age rules and HOA rules
The Sun City Home Owners Association (SCHOA) rules require at least one person in each home to be 55 or older and don't let residents under 19 stay more than 90 days a year. Equipment and service yards must be screened from view, and machinery can't be left on lots except during construction or remodeling. Before putting a tankless unit outside, or any equipment people can see from the street or golf course, call SCHOA compliance (623-974-4718). Condos and areas such as Rancho Estates, Dawn Lake and Viewpoint Lake have their own rules.
Older, mostly electric homes
Census estimates for 2020–2024 put Sun City's median year built at 1973, and about 61% of homes are single-family detached. About 67% of households heat with electricity and 28% with gas, so most replacements are electric tanks.
U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25035 (via Census Reporter) ↗ · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25024 (via Census Reporter) ↗ · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year, table B25040 (via Census Reporter) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Sun City homes.
Energy
- Electric: APS (APS's metro map shows Sun City in APS's area)
- Gas: Southwest Gas (Arizona's natural gas company; not checked by address)
APS Phoenix metro service area map (dated 9/17/2013) ↗ · Southwest Gas – Who We Are ↗
Water
EPCOR Water (Sun City system, which also serves Youngtown): 7 to 11 grains per gallon (EPCOR 2025 Sun City report)
EPCOR 2025 Sun City Water Quality Report ↗ · EPCOR Arizona water quality reports ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Sun City homes.
For APS and Southwest Gas customers in Sun City. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Efficiency Arizona ↗Income-qualifiedUp to $1,750 toward a heat pump water heater for households at or below 150% of area median income.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Arizona rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Sun City.
Permits and who issues them
Maricopa County no longer requires a permit to replace an existing water heater, provided the work follows the manufacturer's specifications. You can apply for one anyway to have the county inspect it.
Maricopa County Planning and Development Department ↗ · Maricopa County Construction Permit Information ↗ · Maricopa County Local Additions & Addenda (Oct 8, 2014), Sec. 205 ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Arizona ROC contractor search ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Arizona licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Sun City.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Mirage | 3 mi | Required | By job value (from $75) | APS |
| Sun City West | 6 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | APS |
| Glendale | 8 mi | Required | $29.79 | APS, SRP |
| Surprise | 10 mi | Not required (conditions apply) | $100 | APS |
| Phoenix | 12 mi | Not required (conditions apply) | — | Salt River Project, APS |
| Peoria | 12 mi | Not required (conditions apply) | $87 | APS, SRP |
This guide also covers Anthem and New River, which share Sun City’s permit office, utilities, water provider and companies.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Sun City water heater questions.
Do I need HOA approval to replace a water heater in Sun City?
Not for a same-type indoor swap, under the rules we reviewed. But equipment must be hidden from view, so ask SCHOA before putting a unit outside. Condo owners should check their own association's rules.
Do I need a permit?
No, if the work follows the manufacturer's specifications. Maricopa County will issue a permit if you want an inspection.
More guides: Arizona water heater replacement · All local guides