Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN PALM HARBOR
Palm Harbor Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓PALM HARBOR AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Palm Harbor.
Palm Harbor is unincorporated, so Pinellas County issues water heater permits. Replacing a tank or tankless heater with the same type is an Express Permit, usually issued the same day. Duke Energy supplies power, and Pinellas County Utilities water averaged 217 ppm hardness (11 to 14 grains per gallon) in 2025.
Palm Harbor is an unincorporated community in Pinellas County, so county offices handle permits.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services (unincorporated Pinellas)
- Who gets the permit
- Contractors with a license file online through the Pinellas County Access Portal. Owner-builders go in person to 440 Court Street, Clearwater, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Electric utility
- Duke Energy Florida
- Gas utility
- Peoples Gas
- Water
- Pinellas County Utilities (water supplied by Tampa Bay Water) · Total hardness 217 ppm average (range 189 to 244), equal to 11.1 to 14.3 grains per gallon (2025 report)
- Rebate worth checking
- Duke Energy Florida heat pump water heater rebate (Home Energy Improvement) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1985 (median) · 78% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 8 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 Palm Harbor averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Palm Harbor
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Palm Harbor post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Apex Plumbing, Farrell Plumbing, The Clean Plumbers. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Palm Harbor average is shown.
What can change the price in Palm Harbor?
Moving a water heater ("Water Relocate/Tank or Tankless or New Tank"), switching from electric to gas, and replacing a natural gas heater each have their own Express Permit type. Floodplain properties have extra rules.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Palm Harbor?
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 →
Apex Plumbing
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Clearwater.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Tankless Water Heater Special: "Endless Hot Water As Low As $33/Month" (financing-style offer, terms apply, expires September 30, 2026). No installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response (one crew arrived within an hour), fair quotes compared with other companies, same-day replacement and clean, efficient work.
Worth knowing One Yelp reviewer (Jun 2022) said a 40-gallon water heater install quoted at $1700 became $2100; the owner replied he could not find the customer's name in his records and invited contact, and another reviewer (2025) said there were issues with an install that a manager then made right.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Cool Today - Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical (Tampa)
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Tampa.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised quick response to a water heater problem, polite technicians and fast, clean water heater installation.
Worth knowing A Pinellas County customer complained to BBB (2024) that a 2023 water heater install lacked the required permit; after the complaint the company pulled the permit and the customer reported a passed final inspection.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Farrell Plumbing
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Port Richey.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Price guide built from completed jobs (historical examples, not quotes): Farrell-supplied 30–50 gal electric tank installed $1,700–$3,900 (30 gal $2,600–$3,900; 40 gal $1,700–$3,700; 50 gal $2,200–$3,600); customer-supplied electric tank install $500–$1,700; Essency electric tank $4,320–$5,400; 50 gal propane tank example $2,708.50; Rinnai gas tankless replacement example $5,607.41 (after 10% discount); 50 gal hybrid example $7,602.50 after a $1,000 discount ($8,602.50 before).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer (Feb 2019) said they were charged $335 for a heating element, then advised to replace the heater, and that the plumber left a leak that led to a guest's fall; no company response was visible.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
IERNA'S Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Lutz.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer (Aug 2025) alleged a water heater installed for a family member had an undrained, improperly routed pressure relief line and that a promised manager callback did not come; an earlier manager reply on the same review promised outreach.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment, Inc.
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Largo.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Angi reviewers praised same-day or next-day water heater replacements, fair prices compared with other quotes, tidy crews and a plumber who found a leaking pipe rather than replacing the tank.
Worth knowing An Angi reviewer (Dec 2022) said a five-year-old water heater McGill installed had to be replaced and they were charged $145 an hour to install the warranty unit; another (Aug 2017) said a gas on-demand heater needed several return visits.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Performance Air Conditioning, Electric & Plumbing
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Clearwater.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (May 2025) said that after a late arrival and a $240 diagnostic deposit on an $870 quote to install a customer-supplied hot water heater, the company did not return calls to schedule the job; the company apologized and said it had escalated the matter.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
The Clean Plumbers
Lists Palm Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Tampa.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Promotions: 5% off any water heater (tank, tankless, hybrid and lifetime); $250 off a water quality (filtration or softener) and water heater combo; waived service call fee for water heater estimates. Restrictions apply.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised a leaking water heater fixed within hours of an after-hours call and a technician who tested every faucet after installing a new heater.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant (Nov 2024) said a water heater the company installed failed after about three years and the company pushed a costly replacement; the company said its labor warranty is one year and the manufacturer's six years, and the customer disputed its details.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Palm Harbor 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. DBPR license search (MyFloridaLicense) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING PALM HARBOR
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN PALM HARBOR
What Palm Harbor homes are like.
1985Median year built
29%Built before 1980
78%Owner-occupied
3%Heat with utility gas
65%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1985. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
96% 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 Palm Harbor.
Express permit, issued the same day
Pinellas County lists a same-type water heater replacement as an Express Permit. An Express Permit covers one job and can't be combined with other work into a bigger project. The county says new fee schedules take effect July 1, 2026.
Pinellas County: Express Permits ↗ · Pinellas County: Unincorporated Permit Requirements ↗
Owner-builders apply in person
Contractors can apply online, but owner-builders have to go to the county's Clearwater office at 440 Court Street.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Palm Harbor homes.
Energy
- Electric: Duke Energy Florida (Duke serves Pinellas County; Palm Harbor addresses weren't checked one by one)
- Gas: Peoples Gas (Serves parts of Pinellas; check your address with the ZIP code tool)
Duke Energy Florida service territory map ↗ · Peoples Gas: St. Petersburg appliance & sales providers ↗ · Peoples Gas ZIP Code Check ↗
Water
Pinellas County Utilities (water supplied by Tampa Bay Water): Total hardness 217 ppm average (range 189 to 244), equal to 11.1 to 14.3 grains per gallon (2025 report)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Palm Harbor homes.
For Duke Energy Florida and Peoples Gas customers in Palm Harbor. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Duke Energy Florida heat pump water heater rebate (Home Energy Improvement) ↗Active$500 for a 50-gallon or $800 for an 80-gallon ENERGY STAR heat pump (hybrid) water heater with a UEF of at least 3.3.
- Peoples Gas residential water heating rebates ↗ActiveNatural gas tank water heater: $350 gas-to-gas or $550 electric-to-gas ($400 / $650 for ENERGY STAR tanks).
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Florida rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Palm Harbor.
Permits and who issues them
Swapping a water heater for the same type counts as an Express Permit in Pinellas County (type "Water Heater Equal Change Out, Tank or Tankless"). There's no plan review, and it's usually issued the same day.
Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services (unincorporated Pinellas) ↗ · Pinellas County: Express Permits ↗ · Pinellas County: Unincorporated Permit Requirements ↗ · Pinellas County: Building, Transportation and Zoning Fees ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the DBPR license search (MyFloridaLicense) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Florida licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Palm Harbor.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunedin | 4 mi | Required | $75 | Duke Energy Florida |
| Tarpon Springs | 5 mi | Required | $75 | Duke Energy Florida |
| East Lake | 5 mi | Required (county) | — | Duke Energy Florida |
| Oldsmar | 6 mi | Required | — | Tampa Electric (TECO) |
| Safety Harbor | 7 mi | Required | — | Duke Energy Florida |
| Holiday | 7 mi | Required (county) | $45 | Duke Energy Florida |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Palm Harbor water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Palm Harbor?
Yes. Pinellas County lists "Water Heater Equal Change Out, Tank or Tankless" as an Express Permit. It needs no plan review and is usually issued the same day.
Can I pull the permit myself?
Yes, as an owner-builder, but you must apply in person at 440 Court Street in Clearwater. Licensed contractors apply online through the Access Portal.
How hard is the water in Palm Harbor?
Hard. Pinellas County Utilities reported average total hardness of 217 ppm in 2025, about 11.1 to 14.3 grains per gallon.
More guides: Florida water heater replacement · All local guides