Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MCDONOUGH
McDonough Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓MCDONOUGH AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in McDonough.
Replacing any plumbing system in McDonough takes a permit. The water heater line is $10, but the minimum fee is $75, so that's what you'll pay. A master plumber has to sign the form. The city runs its own water system.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of McDonough Community Development – Building & Inspection Division
- Permit fee
- The plumbing form lists $10 per water heater, but the smallest permit fee is $75. One replacement costs $75 (form dated September 2023).
- Who gets the permit
- A master plumber must sign the plumbing form and promise to oversee the install. The form asks for business license and state license numbers. The city says Georgia's licensing rules for trade work apply to homeowners doing their own work, too.
- Electric utility
- Central Georgia EMC
- Water
- City of McDonough water system
- Rebate worth checking
- Electric water heater rebate with load management switch (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2006 (median) · 55% 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 McDonough averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in McDonough
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeThe plumbing form lists $10 per water heater, but the smallest permit fee is $75. One replacement costs $75 (form dated September 2023).. City of McDonough Community Development – Building & Inspection Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price4 of the companies listed for McDonough post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Estes Services, High Priority Plumbing and Services, Inc., Reliable Heating & Air, Plumbing & Electrical, Allgood Home Services (ARS/Rescue Rooter). Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no McDonough average is shown.
What can change the price in McDonough?
Gas line work costs $0.18 per linear foot on the plumbing form. Starting before you have the permit adds penalty fees.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in McDonough?
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 →
Ace Hardware Home Services Atlanta (North Georgia)
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves. Based in Marietta.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a tankless job, a quick replacement of a leaking heater, and a technician who explained gas and electric options.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Casteel Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The reviewer reported that a county inspector said the new water heater installation was done well.
Worth knowing The same reviewer was concerned by the inspector's implication about earlier installs; Casteel replied that a manager would review the installation history with the customer.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Estes Services
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves. Based in Atlanta.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupons: '$250 OFF Tankless Water Heater Installation. Same-Day Installation' and 'Free Water Heater Estimates'
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A company-hosted testimonial mentions satisfaction with Estes replacing a water heater as part of years of service.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
High Priority Plumbing and Services, Inc.
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: '$250 OFF tankless water heater installation' (not valid with other offers); also '10% off up to $100' and '$150 off' general coupons.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a same-day replacement with a leak pan, shutoff and monitor added, and a prompt, well-stocked warranty repair visit.
Worth knowing One Yelp reviewer said the diagnosis report led their home warranty to deny a replacement; the company said the warranty required the temperature to be recorded.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a clean, well-explained water heater replacement and satisfactory tankless installations.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant said a spigot was disconnected during a water heater job and the company declined to fix it for free (unanswered).
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Reliable Heating & Air, Plumbing & Electrical
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves. Based in Kennesaw.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Water heater replacement 'Starting at $2,349 or as low as $29.99/month'; Atlanta installation cost ranges shown as Low $2,199 / Average $2,500 / High $3,999+ Specials page: Rheem Standard Electric Water Heater $2,399.00 installed; tankless 'Starting At... $4,999.00 Installed' or $49.99/mo; 40-gallon for $29.99/mo installed via Comfort as a Service $89.95 diagnostic fee waived with approved repair.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater praise found in the BBB entries checked.
Worth knowing Complainants reported install delays, a 37-gallon heater swapped for a 50-gallon, disputed anode/maintenance coverage, and lease terms they said were not explained; Reliable asked for documentation in one case, and a lease complaint and a payoff complaint were later resolved or credited.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Allgood Home Services (ARS/Rescue Rooter)
Lists McDonough among the areas it serves. Based in Norcross.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: 'Save Up to $300 on a New Water Heater' (purchase and installation of qualifying water heater required; residential only; expires 09/30/2026).
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in McDonough 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. Georgia plumbing license lookup (GOALS licensee search) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING MCDONOUGH
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN MCDONOUGH
What McDonough homes are like.
2006Median year built
11%Built before 1980
55%Owner-occupied
38%Heat with utility gas
71%Single-family homes
About 32% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
59% 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 McDonough.
Home repair help for owners who live there
The city's Building & Inspection page links to an application for the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.
A master plumber must sign
On McDonough's plumbing form, a master plumber signs to say they'll personally oversee the install.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies McDonough homes.
Energy
- Electric: Central Georgia EMC (Covers parts of Henry County; check your address)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for McDonough homes.
For Central Georgia EMC customers in McDonough. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Electric water heater rebate with load management switch ↗Active$100 back on an electric water heater (40 gallons or larger) put in on or after January 1, 2026, as long as it has a load management switch.
- Georgia Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) ↗ClosedGeorgia's IRA-funded HEAR point-of-sale rebates for heat pump water heaters and other electric appliances are not accepting new applications; project submissions are paused until further notice.
- Georgia Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) ↗ActiveWhole-home efficiency rebates sized by household income (AMI) and modeled energy savings; the site says households can get up to $16,000 combined across Georgia's home energy rebate programs.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Georgia rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in McDonough.
Permits and who issues them
In McDonough you need a permit before you install, change or replace any plumbing, gas, mechanical or electrical system. Use the city's plumbing permit form. Call the inspection line (678-782-6217) before 4 p.m. to get an inspection the next day.
The form asks for a business license number and a state license number.
City of McDonough Community Development – Building & Inspection Division ↗ · McDonough – Building & Inspection Division (FAQs) ↗ · McDonough Plumbing Permit Application (PDF) ↗ · McDonough FAQ – What permits are required? ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Georgia plumbing license lookup (GOALS licensee search) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Georgia licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near McDonough.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locust Grove | 7 mi | Check with city | $75 | Georgia Power, Central Georgia EMC |
| Stockbridge | 8 mi | Required | $75 | Georgia Power, Snapping Shoals EMC, Central Georgia EMC |
| Lovejoy | 10 mi | Required | $300 | Georgia Power |
| Griffin | 15 mi | Required | $100 | Griffin Power (City of Griffin electric), Central Georgia EMC |
| Stonecrest | 16 mi | Required | $100 | Georgia Power, Snapping Shoals EMC |
| Forest Park | 17 mi | Required | — | Georgia Power |
COMMON QUESTIONS
McDonough water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in McDonough?
$75. The form lists $10 per water heater, but the minimum permit fee is $75.
Can I replace the water heater myself in McDonough?
The city says state licensing rules for plumbing apply to homeowners doing their own work. The form also needs a master plumber's signature.
Does the electric co-op offer a rebate in McDonough?
Central Georgia EMC pays $100 for an electric water heater of 40 gallons or more, installed in 2026 with a load management switch.
More guides: Georgia water heater replacement · All local guides