Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN ARLINGTON
Arlington Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓ARLINGTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Arlington.
In Arlington, a licensed plumber or gas fitter gets permits from Inspectional Services. Plumbing and gas permits cost $30 for every $1,000 of job cost, with a $50 minimum, and fees triple if work starts without a permit. Eversource supplies electricity, National Grid supplies gas, and the town delivers soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Arlington Inspectional Services Department (51 Grove Street)
- Permit fee
- Plumbing and gas permits: $30 for every $1,000 of estimated job cost, $50 minimum for each permit. Re-inspection: $50, paid in advance (ISD Schedule of Building Permit Fees, 2024 document).
- Who gets the permit
- An Arlington permit needs a Massachusetts-licensed plumber or gas fitter; homeowner plumbing and gas permits aren't allowed (248 CMR 3.05).
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas)
- Water
- Town of Arlington DPW Water Division (MWRA water) · soft: MWRA water is about 15-20 mg/L (ppm) hardness, roughly 1 gpg (Cambridge Water Dept. description of MWRA water); MWRA adds sodium carbonate and CO2 for corrosion control (2025 report)
- Typical home
- Built 1945 (median) · 62% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 10 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 Arlington averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Arlington
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing and gas permits: $30 for every $1,000 of estimated job cost, $50 minimum for each permit. Re-inspection: $50, paid in advance (ISD Schedule of Building Permit Fees, 2024 document).. Town of Arlington Inspectional Services Department (51 Grove Street) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Arlington post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Vaughan Plumbing & Heating. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Arlington average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Arlington?
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 →
128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Wakefield.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The reviewer praised a prompt next-day estimate and a technician who explained options, pricing and scheduling.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Accurate Baker Elman
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Franklin (second office in Newton).
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick same-day or next-day replacement of failed tanks, tidy installers and a tankless installation they said came in below competitors' quotes.
Worth knowing One Yelp reviewer (John H., 2019) complained about long booking waits and 'graduated scale' warranty pricing on a water heater replacement; no company response was visible.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Ace Hardware Home Services (Boston office)
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Billerica.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised a same-day emergency tankless installation and punctual, well-explained maintenance that included a hot water heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Belanger & Sons LLC
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Wilmington.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised owner Steve's fast response, next-day or same-day replacements of leaking or failing heaters, and follow-up after installation.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Damaso Plumbing & Heating Inc
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Burlington.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response in emergencies (including a blizzard), next-day tank replacement, fair pricing and follow-up to confirm the heater was working.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Minuteman Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Cambridge.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Angi reviewers praised same-day response, replacements finished within a few hours, fair pricing (including for a weekend emergency) and tidy, well-explained work.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one Angi reviewer (Aug 2025) noted a technician arrived later than expected due to an earlier emergency.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Rich Mathews & Son Plumbing (Boston Water Heaters)
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Lynnfield.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response, reasonable pricing, permits filed, venting brought to code and tidy installations.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Stoneham.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised a free control adjustment and flat-rate flush (2026), a clear diagnosis of a leaking Bosch tankless unit (2026), and professional water heater and boiler replacements.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged replacement quotes ($5,400 in 2019; at least $12,000 in 2024) for problems others fixed for $350 and $750, and one (Jan 2026) said National Grid found a significant gas leak at a newly installed water heater's joint the day after installation; no company responses were visible on these.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Vaughan Plumbing & Heating
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Boston (Hyde Park, 02136).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: $125 OFF water heater installation; also $45 off Navien heat & hot water full service with organic flush. No installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised fast response, reasonable prices (one said nearly $5,000 below another quote), help with a manufacturer warranty replacement, and a no-charge return visit to check a new unit.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer (Dec 2016) said a hot water heater had the same issue the day after service and the company declined to return; the owner replied that the technician had given an estimate for further repairs that the customer declined.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Arlington among the areas it serves. Based in Newburyport.
- Tank
- Tankless
- 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 Arlington 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. Massachusetts eLIPSE license lookup ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING ARLINGTON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN ARLINGTON
What Arlington homes are like.
1945Median year built
86%Built before 1980
62%Owner-occupied
59%Heat with utility gas
45%Single-family homes
About 86% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
59% 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 Arlington.
No permit, triple fees
Arlington triples every permit fee if work starts without a permit.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Arlington homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas)
Water
Town of Arlington DPW Water Division (MWRA water): soft: MWRA water is about 15-20 mg/L (ppm) hardness, roughly 1 gpg (Cambridge Water Dept. description of MWRA water); MWRA adds sodium carbonate and CO2 for corrosion control (2025 report)
Cambridge Water Dept: water hardness (MWRA water about 15-20 ppm) ↗ · MWRA 2025 water quality report, Arlington edition ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Arlington homes.
For Eversource (NSTAR Electric) and National Grid (Boston Gas) customers in Arlington. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Massachusetts rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Arlington.
Permits and who issues them
Arlington ISD issues plumbing and gas permits, which you need before work starts. The town's Plumbing & Gas Inspector checks the installation. ISD is at 51 Grove Street, 1st floor (781-316-3390).
Town of Arlington Inspectional Services Department (51 Grove Street) ↗ · Arlington ISD Schedule of Building Permit Fees (Wayback copy June 2025; live site returned 403) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Massachusetts eLIPSE license lookup ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Massachusetts licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Arlington.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 2 mi | Required | $30 | Belmont Light (Belmont Municipal Light Department) |
| Winchester | 3 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Medford | 3 mi | Required | $25 | Eversource, National Grid |
| Watertown | 3 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource |
| Cambridge | 4 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Somerville | 4 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Arlington water heater questions.
What is the minimum plumbing or gas permit fee in Arlington?
$50. Otherwise permits are $30 for every $1,000 of estimated cost.
What if the water heater was installed without a permit?
Arlington triples all permit fees when work starts without a permit.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides