Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MERRIAM
Merriam, KS Water Heater
Replacement
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MERRIAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Merriam.
Yes, Merriam requires a permit for home plumbing and mechanical work. The fee is based on job value and starts at $23.50. If you own and live in the house, you can get the permit yourself in person with an affidavit. The city's Residential Sustainability Grant has paid back 30% of an efficient water heater upgrade, but the 2026 round needed work done by September 21, 2026.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Merriam Community Development Department
- Permit fee
- Based on job value: $23.50 for $0-$500, going up $3.05 for every $100. For example, $54.00 at $1,401-$1,500 and $69.25 at $1,901-$2,000. The posted fee schedule has no date.
- Who gets the permit
- A licensed contractor, or a homeowner working on a home they live in. Homeowners must come to Merriam City Hall to sign an Owner Occupant Affidavit and apply in person.
- Electric utility
- Evergy
- Gas utility
- Kansas Gas Service
- Water
- WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County) · Total hardness averaged 135 ppm (range 110-157 ppm), about 7.9 grains per gallon, in WaterOne's 2026 Water Quality Report.
- Rebate worth checking
- Franchise Fee Rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1970 (median) · 61% 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 Merriam averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Merriam
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeBased on job value: $23.50 for $0-$500, going up $3.05 for every $100. For example, $54.00 at $1,401-$1,500 and $69.25 at $1,901-$2,000. The posted fee schedule has no date.. City of Merriam Community Development Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Merriam post water heater prices or specials on their websites: KC Water Heaters. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Merriam average is shown.
What can change the price in Merriam?
Electrical, mechanical and HVAC changes use the same permit type. Interior updates that aren't structural don't need a permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Merriam?
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 →
A.B. May Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical
Lists Merriam among the areas it serves. Based in 7100 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64129 (second office: 13839 S. Murlen Road, Unit H, Olathe, KS 66062).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised specific plumbers for efficient, clean water heater and tankless installs and for explaining the equipment and shutoffs.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers alleged high charges for relighting pilot lights and for member water heater replacements, and one 2026 BBB complaint said a member quote came to about $5,045 before credits for a 40-gallon replacement; A.B.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Kansas City
Lists Merriam among the areas it serves. Based in 712 SW 6th St, Lee's Summit, MO 64081.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water-heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged a leaking new water heater that cost $3,000, a loose drain after a coupon flush, and upselling on healthy water heaters; the company replied to the flush complaint, saying it would have come back to tighten the drain.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dragonfly Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Lists Merriam among the areas it serves. Based in 3004 US-40, Suite C, Blue Springs, MO 64015 (second shop: 6500 W 110th St, Suite 101, Overland Park, KS 66211).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised quick estimates before work, prompt scheduling, and a technician who pursued a manufacturer warranty claim on his own time.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
KC Water Heaters
Lists Merriam among the areas it serves. Based in Kansas City, KS 66106 (city/ZIP per Houzz profile; no street address on company site).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price:
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The one reviewer praised the owner as knowledgeable and fair, and a fast, easy water heater install with no sales pitch.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Plumbline Plumbing
Lists Merriam among the areas it serves. Based in Overland Park, KS 66212 (no street address shown).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Merriam 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. Johnson County contractor license search (Kansas licensing is local) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING MERRIAM
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN MERRIAM
What Merriam homes are like.
1970Median year built
69%Built before 1980
61%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
67%Single-family homes
About 69% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
71% 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 Merriam.
Sustainability grant covers water heaters
Merriam's Residential Sustainability Grant covers energy-efficient water heaters. The grant must be approved before work starts, so it helps with a planned replacement, not an emergency one.
Merriam Residential Sustainability Grant ↗ · Merriam Grant Opportunities ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Merriam homes.
Water
WaterOne (Water District No. 1 of Johnson County): Total hardness averaged 135 ppm (range 110-157 ppm), about 7.9 grains per gallon, in WaterOne's 2026 Water Quality Report.
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Merriam homes.
For Evergy and Kansas Gas Service customers in Merriam. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Residential Sustainability Grant ↗EndedPays back 30% of energy-saving upgrades, including an energy-efficient water heater.
- Franchise Fee Rebate ↗ActiveResidents with low to moderate incomes can apply to get back the city franchise fees on their utility bills.
- Kansas Home Rebates (IRA HEAR and HOMES) ↗Not launchedKansas was allocated $52.6 million for electrification and appliance rebates and $52.9 million for home efficiency rebates.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Kansas rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Merriam.
Permits and who issues them
Merriam requires a permit (Permit Type B) for home electrical, plumbing, mechanical and HVAC changes. The city's page doesn't mention water heaters by name. Contact Community Development at 913-322-5520 or comdev@merriam.org.
Yes. Contractors need a license through the Johnson County Contractor Licensing Program and a current Merriam Occupational License.
City of Merriam Community Development Department ↗ · Merriam Building Permits ↗ · Merriam Building Permit Fee Schedule ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Johnson County contractor license search (Kansas licensing is local) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Kansas licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Merriam.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Village | 4 mi | Required | By job value (from $22) | Evergy |
| Shawnee | 6 mi | Required | By job value (from $20) | Evergy |
| Lenexa | 7 mi | Required | By job value (from $30) | Evergy |
| Kansas City | 8 mi | Required | By job value (from $30) | Board of Public Utilities (BPU) |
| Leawood | 8 mi | Required | — | Evergy |
| Overland Park | 9 mi | Required | $1 | Evergy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Merriam water heater questions.
Can I pull a permit for my own water heater in Merriam?
Yes, if you live in the home you own. Come to Merriam City Hall to sign an Owner Occupant Affidavit and apply in person. Contractors need Johnson County and Merriam licenses.
What does the permit cost?
Merriam's fees start at $23.50 for work up to $500. A job worth $1,401-$1,500 is $54.00.
Is there a city grant for an efficient water heater?
Yes. Merriam's Residential Sustainability Grant pays back 30% (up to $3,000) of energy-saving upgrades, including efficient water heaters. You need approval before work starts, and the 2026 round required work to be done by September 21, 2026.
More guides: Kansas water heater replacement · All local guides