Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN TAVARES
Tavares Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓TAVARES AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Tavares.
Yes, you need a permit. Tavares, the Lake County seat, handles its own building permits by email, and contractors must register with the city. Duke Energy supplies power under a franchise, Peoples Gas lists Tavares as a community it serves, and the city supplies water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Tavares Community Development – Building Division
- Who gets the permit
- Registered contractors (the city posts contractor and subcontractor registration forms), or owners using the city's Owner-Builder Affidavit.
- Electric utility
- Duke Energy Florida
- Gas utility
- Peoples Gas (TECO)
- Water
- City of Tavares
- Rebate worth checking
- Duke Energy Florida heat pump water heater rebate (Home Energy Improvement) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1996 (median) · 77% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 3 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 Tavares averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Tavares
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Tavares post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Brodway Plumbing. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Tavares average is shown.
What can change the price in Tavares?
The permit application says electric and plumbing work may need separate permits.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Tavares?
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 →
Brodway Plumbing
Lists Tavares 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 Tavares 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.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised a same-day combined AC and hot water heater replacement at a lower bundled price and convenient water heater servicing.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Order: companies based in Tavares 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 TAVARES
What Tavares homes are like.
1996Median year built
28%Built before 1980
77%Owner-occupied
12%Heat with utility gas
57%Single-family homes
About 27% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
84% 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 Tavares.
Permits by email
Tavares takes permit applications and plans by email and sends permits back by email. You can pay online for permits and fees under $3,000.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Tavares homes.
Energy
- Electric: Duke Energy Florida (Duke's tariff lists Tavares as a franchise community)
- Gas: Peoples Gas (TECO) (Tariff lists Tavares)
Duke Energy Florida tariff Section V, communities served (2013 PSC filing) ↗ · Peoples Gas tariff Sheet 6.101, communities served (effective Jan. 1, 2026) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Tavares homes.
For Duke Energy Florida and Peoples Gas (TECO) customers in Tavares. 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 Tavares.
Permits and who issues them
Tavares' building permit application says electric, plumbing and other trades may need separate permits. Email your application and plans to the city. Permits come back by email, and you request inspections online.
Yes. Tavares posts a Contractor Registration Application and a Subcontractor Registration Form, and contractors update their registration through the permits email.
City of Tavares Community Development – Building Division ↗ · Tavares – Permits ↗ · Tavares – Building Permit Applications/Forms ↗ · Tavares Building Permit Application Packet (PDF) ↗
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 Tavares.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eustis | 8 mi | Required | $60 | Duke Energy Florida |
| Mount Dora | 8 mi | Required | $100 | Mount Dora Electric Utility (City of Mount Dora), Duke Energy Florida |
| Leesburg | 10 mi | Required | $150 | Leesburg Electric (City of Leesburg), Duke Energy Florida |
| Minneola | 11 mi | Required | By job value (from $54) | Duke Energy Florida, SECO Energy |
| Groveland | 12 mi | Required | — | Duke Energy Florida |
| Apopka | 14 mi | Required | By job value (from $7.50) | Duke Energy Florida |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Tavares water heater questions.
Does my contractor need to register in Tavares?
Yes. The city posts contractor and subcontractor registration forms, and they must be on file.
How do I apply for a water heater permit in Tavares?
Email the application to the city's permit address. The permit comes back by email, and you request inspections online.
More guides: Florida water heater replacement · All local guides