Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN ST. CLOUD
St. Cloud Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓ST. CLOUD AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in St. Cloud.
Yes, St. Cloud requires a permit. Water heaters are the one exception on its no-permit appliance list, so a replacement needs a stand-alone plumbing permit, with a $50 residential base fee under the 2026 schedule. OUC supplies electricity under an agreement with the city, and Toho Water Authority runs the city's water system.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of St. Cloud Building Department
- Permit fee
- $50 base fee for a residential stand-alone plumbing permit, plus the schedule's added percentages, such as DCA 1%, DBPR 1.5% and a 3% technology fee (Resolution 2026-048R).
- Who gets the permit
- A Florida-licensed plumbing contractor, or the homeowner as owner-builder under the Florida Statutes 489.103(7) exemption, for work on their own home that isn't for sale or rent.
- Electric utility
- Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)
- Gas utility
- Peoples Gas (TECO)
- Water
- Toho Water Authority (City of St. Cloud Water System)
- Rebate worth checking
- Peoples Gas residential water heating rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2003 (median) · 73% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 5 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 St. Cloud averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in St. Cloud
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$50 base fee for a residential stand-alone plumbing permit, plus the schedule's added percentages, such as DCA 1%, DBPR 1.5% and a 3% technology fee (Resolution 2026-048R).. City of St. Cloud Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for St. Cloud post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Osceola Air, Brodway Plumbing. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no St. Cloud average is shown.
What can change the price in St. Cloud?
The city groups mechanical, electrical, plumbing and gas work under its Stand Alone MEPG permit, so a new circuit or gas line uses the same kind of permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in St. Cloud?
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 →
Osceola Air
Lists St. Cloud among the areas it serves. Based in St. Cloud.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Offer on water heater installation page: "Water Heater Install + Free Proposal $49/mo" (financing-style monthly offer; see offer details). No full installed prices.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Brodway Plumbing
Lists St. Cloud among the areas it serves. Based in Kissimmee.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Installed prices (include permit, new unit, disposal, pan and expansion tank; existing unit must be on the ground in the garage): Rheem 50 gal Performance electric (6-yr) $1,649 ($1,399 + $250 permit); AO Smith 50 gal ProLine electric (8-yr) $1,749; Rheem 50 gal Professional Classic (10-yr) $1,849; Rheem 50 gal Gladiator (12-yr) $1,949; Rheem 50 gal Hybrid Heat Pump Performance Platinum (10-yr) $3,349; Rheem 80 gal commercial light duty electric $3,749. FAQ gives a general $1,500–$4,500+ range.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised prompt scheduling, fair pricing compared with other quotes, knowledgeable technicians who explained maintenance, and next-day repair of a malfunctioning new hybrid unit.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (Nov 2025) alleged they paid $300 for permitted work with no permit or inspection and that their water heater was never serviced; Brodway responded that it initially could not verify the reviewer, later said the customer had declined to pay until notified of lien rights, and disputed the claims.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Frank Gay Services
Lists St. Cloud among the areas it serves. Based in Orlando.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised water heater replacements finished within hours of the call, clean-up, and technicians who explained the equipment.
Worth knowing Two BBB complainants (2025, 2026) said Frank Gay had not obtained or closed out the county permit for a water heater install months later; the company said it was working on one and that the other customer declined access.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
R.J. Kielty Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric (Orlando)
Lists St. Cloud among the areas it serves. Based in Orlando.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One BBB reviewer said the company responded quickly to install a water heater when theirs broke.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers alleged a hybrid water heater still under a 10-year warranty was replaced at their cost, an element repair failed to fix a heater that needed replacing, a different tank shape was installed than requested, and a short flush cost $300; the company said it refunded $478.62, $105 and $164.11 in three of those cases.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Cool Today - Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical (Orlando)
Lists St. Cloud among the areas it serves. Based in Altamonte Springs.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- 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 St. Cloud 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) ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN ST. CLOUD
What St. Cloud homes are like.
2003Median year built
20%Built before 1980
73%Owner-occupied
2%Heat with utility gas
82%Single-family homes
About 33% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
93% 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 St. Cloud.
Water heaters are the exception to St. Cloud's appliance rule
The city's no-permit list includes appliance replacement 'excluding hot water heater', and it lists solar water heaters as their own permit type.
Power from OUC, water from Toho
OUC supplies St. Cloud's electricity under an agreement with the city, and Toho Water Authority runs the City of St. Cloud water system.
OUC petition to Florida PSC, Docket 20200107-EM ↗ · Toho 2025 St. Cloud Water Quality Report ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies St. Cloud homes.
Energy
- Electric: Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) (Under an agreement with the city, OUC supplies all of St. Cloud's electricity (2020 PSC filing))
- Gas: Peoples Gas (TECO) (Saint Cloud is listed among Peoples Gas' Osceola County communities)
OUC petition to Florida PSC, Docket 20200107-EM ↗ · Peoples Gas tariff Sheet 6.101, counties and communities served ↗
Water
Toho Water Authority (City of St. Cloud Water System)
Toho 2025 St. Cloud Water Quality Report ↗ · Toho Water Authority: Our Service Area ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for St. Cloud homes.
For Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) and Peoples Gas (TECO) customers in St. Cloud. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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 St. Cloud.
Permits and who issues them
St. Cloud's 'Is a permit required?' page lets you replace appliances without a permit but specifically leaves out the hot water heater. So a water heater replacement needs a Stand Alone MEPG (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, gas) permit. Apply on the city's online application portal.
City of St. Cloud Building Department ↗ · City of St. Cloud: Permit Information (Is a permit required?) ↗ · City of St. Cloud Building Department Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-048R ↗
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 St. Cloud.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buenaventura Lakes | 8 mi | Required (county) | $25 | Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) |
| Kissimmee | 9 mi | Required | — | Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) |
| Meadow Woods | 10 mi | Required (county) | $38 | Duke Energy Florida or Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) |
| Southchase | 12 mi | Required (county) | $38, | Duke Energy Florida or Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) |
| Orlando | 12 mi | Required | $66.24 | Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) |
| Hunters Creek | 13 mi | Required (county) | $38 | Duke Energy Florida |
COMMON QUESTIONS
St. Cloud water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in St. Cloud?
Yes. The city's no-permit list covers replacing appliances but specifically leaves out hot water heaters.
What does the permit cost?
$50 for a residential stand-alone plumbing permit on the 2026 schedule, plus percentage fees (for example 3% technology, 1.5% DBPR and 1% DCA).
City of St. Cloud Building Department Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-048R ↗
More guides: Florida water heater replacement · All local guides