Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN JOHNSTOWN
Johnstown Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓JOHNSTOWN AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Johnstown.
Johnstown requires a permit to replace a water heater. The fee comes from the 2026 job value table, starting at $23.50 for jobs up to $500, plus 3.5% town use tax. Contractors need a $100-a-year town license. Electricity comes from Xcel Energy, United Power or Poudre Valley REA, depending on your neighborhood.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Johnstown Building Department (plan review and inspections contracted to SAFEbuilt)
- Permit fee
- Based on job value: $23.50 for $1–$500, then $23.50 plus $3.05 for each $100 from $500 to $2,000, and $69.25 plus $14.00 for each $1,000 from $2,000 to $25,000 (2026 fee schedule adopted 1/5/2026). Johnstown use tax (3.5%) is added, plus Larimer County use tax where it applies. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued.
- Who gets the permit
- A plumbing contractor licensed or registered with the Town of Johnstown, or the homeowner for their own home with proof of ownership. If you do your own work, put your own information in the contractor section.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy, United Power and Poudre Valley REA
- Gas utility
- Xcel Energy
- Water
- Town of Johnstown Utilities (some areas are served by Little Thompson Water District)
- Rebate worth checking
- PVREA water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2007 (median) · 78% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 1 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 Johnstown averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Johnstown
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeBased on job value: $23.50 for $1–$500, then $23.50 plus $3.05 for each $100 from $500 to $2,000, and $69.25 plus $14.00 for each $1,000 from $2,000 to $25,000 (2026 fee schedule adopted 1/5/2026). Johnstown use tax (3.5%) is added, plus Larimer County use tax where it applies. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued.. Town of Johnstown Building Department (plan review and inspections contracted to SAFEbuilt) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised priceNone of the local company websites we checked list a full installed price.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Johnstown average is shown.
What can change the price in Johnstown?
Plumbing work, electrical work, and new or replacement furnaces and AC also need permits. Boiler installs need the BTU rating.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Johnstown?
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 →
Jenny's Plumbing & Heating
Lists Johnstown among the areas it serves. Based in Northern Colorado (site targets Fort Collins; no street address found on site — third-party listings show 406 S Lincoln St, Loveland, CO 80537).
- Tank
- Tankless
- 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 Johnstown 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 JOHNSTOWN
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN JOHNSTOWN
What Johnstown homes are like.
2007Median year built
10%Built before 1980
78%Owner-occupied
73%Heat with utility gas
83%Single-family homes
About 41% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
73% 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 Johnstown.
Three electric companies
Johnstown lists three electric companies by area: Xcel Energy downtown and in the 2534 area, United Power in Pioneer Ridge and to the south, and Poudre Valley REA north of CR 48½ and west of I-25. Which heat pump water heater rebates you can get depends on which one serves you.
Water heater page still cites 2018 codes
Johnstown's water heater permit page lists the 2018 I-Codes, while its main building page lists the 2024 codes. The water heater page adds 'or current codes at the time the permit is obtained', meaning whatever codes are in effect when you get the permit.
Town of Johnstown – Water Heater permit page ↗ · Town of Johnstown – Building Department (permit-required list) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Johnstown homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (Central downtown Johnstown and the 2534 area)
- Electric: United Power (Pioneer Ridge area and south)
- Electric: Poudre Valley REA (North of CR 48½ and west of I-25)
- Gas: Xcel Energy
Water
Town of Johnstown Utilities (some areas are served by Little Thompson Water District)
Town of Johnstown – Water & Sewer ↗ · Little Thompson Water District 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report (posted by Johnstown) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Johnstown homes.
For Xcel Energy, United Power and Poudre Valley REA customers in Johnstown. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- PVREA water heater rebates ↗ActiveFor Poudre Valley REA members (the part of Johnstown north of CR 48½ and west of I-25): $350 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater, $100 for a ground-source heat pump desuperheater, or $50 for an electric resistance water heater.
- 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 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Colorado rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Johnstown.
Permits and who issues them
Johnstown lists 'new/replace water heater' as needing a permit. Apply on the town's eTRAKiT portal with the owner's details, the plumbing contractor (or proof you own the home if you're installing it yourself), and the tank size. Review takes up to 7 business days. The town emails you when fees are ready to pay, and you book the final plumbing inspection with SAFEbuilt.
Yes. All contractors must be licensed with the Town of Johnstown. The license costs $100 a year and is applied for in eTRAKiT.
Town of Johnstown Building Department (plan review and inspections contracted to SAFEbuilt) ↗ · Town of Johnstown – Water Heater permit page ↗ · Town of Johnstown – Building Department (permit-required list) ↗ · Town of Johnstown – 2026 Fee Schedule (adopted 1/5/2026), Chapter 18 building permit fees ↗ · Town of Johnstown – Contractor Licensing ↗
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 Johnstown.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berthoud | 3 mi | Required | $150 | Xcel Energy, Poudre Valley REA |
| Loveland | 11 mi | Required | — | Loveland Water and Power |
| Windsor | 12 mi | Check with city | Windsor charges SAFEbuil | Xcel Energy, Poudre Valley REA |
| Longmont | 14 mi | Required | $40 | Longmont Power & Communications (LPC) |
| Fort Collins | 19 mi | Required | $65 | Fort Collins Utilities |
| Erie | 20 mi | Required | $35 | United Power, Xcel Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Johnstown water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Johnstown?
Yes. 'New/replace water heater' is on the town's list of work that needs a permit, and the town has its own water heater permit.
Town of Johnstown – Building Department (permit-required list) ↗ · Town of Johnstown – Water Heater permit page ↗
How long does approval take?
Johnstown says water heater permit applications take up to 7 business days. A final plumbing inspection comes after the install.
Which electric company serves my home?
Xcel Energy (central downtown and the 2534 area), United Power (Pioneer Ridge and south), or Poudre Valley REA (north of CR 48½ and west of I-25).
More guides: Colorado water heater replacement · All local guides