Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN LOUISVILLE
Louisville Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓LOUISVILLE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Louisville.
Louisville requires a permit to replace a water heater. Apply online for an MEP single-trade permit and attach the manufacturer's specs. The fee is based on job value: $28 for work up to $500, plus $4 for each extra $100 up to $2,000, plus county and city use tax. Contractors need a City of Louisville contractor license before they can be listed on the permit.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Louisville Building Safety
- Permit fee
- Based on job value (Minor/MEP Single Trade fee form, rev. 01.01.2024): $28 for $0-$500; $28 plus $4 for each extra $100 up to $2,000; $82 plus $16 for each extra $1,000 up to $25,000. Add Boulder County use tax (1.185% of 50% of the job value) and City use tax (3.775% of 50% of the job value). A 65% plan review fee applies only if a plan review is needed.
- Who gets the permit
- Contractors must have a City of Louisville contractor license before they can be listed on a permit. We didn't find homeowner permit rules.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Water
- City of Louisville
- Rebate worth checking
- Boulder County EnergySmart Income-Qualified Rebates (2026) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1991 (median) · 72% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 7 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 Louisville averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Louisville
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeBased on job value (Minor/MEP Single Trade fee form, rev. 01.01.2024): $28 for $0-$500; $28 plus $4 for each extra $100 up to $2,000; $82 plus $16 for each extra $1,000 up to $25,000. Add Boulder County use tax (1.185% of 50% of the job value) and City use tax (3.775% of 50% of the job value). A 65% plan review fee applies only if a plan review is needed.. City of Louisville Building Safety fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price7 of the companies listed for Louisville post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric, Colorado Green Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Flatirons Plumbing, Heating & Air, Hot Water Now!, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Northern Colorado, Plumbline Services, Canyon Plumbing & Heating, Inc.. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Louisville average is shown.
What can change the price in Louisville?
New gas lines or gas line repairs are a separate MEP single-trade permit that needs building plans.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Louisville?
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 →
Brothers Plumbing, Heating and Electric
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: "$150.00 Off Water Heater Installation" (also a general "$50 Off Work Performed*" offer) — and
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One customer praised fast scheduling and communication after their water heater failed.
Worth knowing Another customer reported recurring water heater faults and poor follow-up.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Colorado Green Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves. Based in Erie, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: "$200 off the purchase and installation of a new water heater." —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Company-hosted testimonials praise responsive scheduling, maintenance advice and clear explanations during tank and tankless installs.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Flatirons Plumbing, Heating & Air
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves. Based in Arvada, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: "$75 Off Water Heater Services" (must be presented at time of service/estimate; not valid for work previously completed; cannot be combined) —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Angi reviewers praised same-day or same-night water heater replacement, technicians who explained options with photos, and professional installers.
Worth knowing A February 2025 BBB complainant said a $4,589.24 replacement cost far more than another contractor's price, was never inspected despite promised code work, ran loudly, and came without an itemized invoice.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Hot Water Now!
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves. Based in Lakewood, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Homepage coupons: "MILITARY 5% DISCOUNT", "FIRST RESPONDERS 5% DISCOUNT", "TEACHERS 5% DISCOUNT". No water heater price published —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer praised tankless water heater exhaust-piping work and cleanup.
Worth knowing Too little water heater replacement feedback to assess installation pricing or outcomes.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Northern Colorado
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Special offers: "$200 Off Water Heater Special" and "$500 Off Tankless Water Heater Installation" (Expires: 09/30/2026) — Installation page FAQ states homeowners "tend to pay an expected sum of $500 to $3,000 for the complete installation, including the price of the water heater itself" —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers quoted on the company's site praised weekend water heater replacements with added code or safety improvements, and help with tankless units.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one company-hosted review mentions a supplier-damaged unit delaying a replacement, which the reviewer did not attribute to the plumber.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Plumbline Services
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: "$250 Off a Water Heater Installation" (promo code 250-waterheater, expires 12/29/2026; existing residential only) — Water heater page also states a "$49 service fee (we waive the service charge if you choose us to repair the issue)" and that in-home estimates are free —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised replacements of old water heaters, clear explanations of options and code-related parts, and quotes that held without add-ons.
Worth knowing In a September 2026 BBB review, a customer said a water heater installed August 21, 2026 needed four return visits for the same loss of hot water; no business reply was shown.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Canyon Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Lists Louisville among the areas it serves. Based in Boulder, CO.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupons: "$150 OFF Water Heater Installation or Replacement" and "$250 OFF Tankless Water Heater Installation or Replacement" (also "$50 Any Service") —
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Louisville 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 LOUISVILLE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN LOUISVILLE
What Louisville homes are like.
1991Median year built
20%Built before 1980
72%Owner-occupied
76%Heat with utility gas
75%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1991. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
76% 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 Louisville.
Penalty for work without a permit
Louisville charges double the permit fee (at least $200) the first time work is done without a permit, and four times the fee (at least $400) for a second time within 12 months.
Energy code applies to equipment replacements
Louisville's energy code applies to mechanical and electrical system replacements 'when applicable', and the city's energy page encourages swapping gas water heaters for heat pumps.
City of Louisville: Meeting energy efficiency codes ↗ · City of Louisville: Energy ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Louisville homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (The city's energy page points residents to Xcel Energy rebates)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Louisville homes.
For Xcel Energy customers in Louisville. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Boulder County EnergySmart Income-Qualified Rebates (2026) ↗ActiveFor Boulder County households earning at or below 100% of area median income: EnergySmart covers 50% of the cost, up to $2,000 a year, for upgrades such as a heat pump 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 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Colorado rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Louisville.
Permits and who issues them
You need a permit to replace a water heater in Louisville. Apply online for 'MEP - Single Trade: A/C, Furnace/Boiler, Water Heater' and upload the manufacturer's specs. The work is then inspected.
Yes. You need a City of Louisville contractor license. Plumbing contractors must show current state licenses, and mechanical contractors must show passing ICC test results.
City of Louisville Building Safety ↗ · City of Louisville: Permit Requirements ↗ · City of Louisville: MEP Single Trade application requirements ↗ · City of Louisville: Minor/MEP Single Trade fee form ↗ · City of Louisville: Building Permit Fees ↗ · City of Louisville: Contractor Licensing Policy (updated 05/12/26) ↗
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 Louisville.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | 3 mi | Required | By job value (from $28.50) | Xcel Energy |
| Lafayette | 3 mi | Required | $100 | Xcel Energy |
| Broomfield | 5 mi | Required | By job value (from $23.50) | United Power, Xcel Energy |
| Gunbarrel | 7 mi | Required (county) | By job value (from $38.95) | Xcel Energy |
| Boulder | 7 mi | Required | By job value (from $13.60) | Xcel Energy |
| Erie | 7 mi | Required | $35 | United Power, Xcel Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Louisville water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Louisville?
Yes. The city lists replacing an A/C, furnace or water heater as needing a permit.
How is the fee calculated?
From the total job value (materials, labor and profit): $28 up to $500, then $4 for each extra $100 up to $2,000, plus Boulder County and City use taxes on half the job value.
More guides: Colorado water heater replacement · All local guides