Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN BOSTON
Boston Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓BOSTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Boston.
In Boston, Inspectional Services (ISD) handles water heater permits. A licensed contractor applies online for a Gas Permit (for gas units) and a Plumbing Permit; homeowners can't pull these permits. The gas permit for a heater is $20 plus $50 for each appliance plus $0.09 per 1,000 BTU. Eversource supplies electricity, National Grid or Eversource supplies gas, and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission delivers soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
- Permit fee
- Gas permit for boilers, heaters and furnaces: $20 plus $50 each plus $0.09 per 1,000 BTU. Plumbing permit: $20 plus $5 for each fixture (boston.gov permit pages, no date). Starting work before the permit is issued can double the cost.
- Who gets the permit
- Only licensed contractors, and the applicant must be the licensed contractor doing the work. ISD says homeowners can't apply and must hire a licensed contractor.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas) and Eversource (NSTAR Gas)
- Water
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission (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 1947 (median) · 36% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 8 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 Boston averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Boston
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeGas permit for boilers, heaters and furnaces: $20 plus $50 each plus $0.09 per 1,000 BTU. Plumbing permit: $20 plus $5 for each fixture (boston.gov permit pages, no date). Starting work before the permit is issued can double the cost.. City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Boston 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 Boston average is shown.
What can change the price in Boston?
The Gas Permit also covers new gas lines and installing gas appliances. Work must start within six months of the permit being issued.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Boston?
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 →
Vaughan Plumbing & Heating
Lists Boston 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.
128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric
Lists Boston 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.
Ace Hardware Home Services (Boston office)
Lists Boston 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.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Boston)
Lists Boston among the areas it serves. Based in Stoughton.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater praise specific to the Boston branch was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (Wally S., July 2026) said a hybrid hot water system installed by the Stoughton, Mass.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Belanger & Sons LLC
Lists Boston 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.
Boston Budget Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Lists Boston among the areas it serves. Based in Quincy.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised fast response (often same-day replacement), clear quotes, reasonable prices and crews that cleaned up.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; reviewers mentioned that a fee is required to book an appointment and that full payment is due after service.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Boston 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.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Boston 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 Boston 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 ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN BOSTON
What Boston homes are like.
1947Median year built
72%Built before 1980
36%Owner-occupied
56%Heat with utility gas
18%Single-family homes
About 72% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
56% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 36% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters should ask the landlord or property manager; replacing the heater is usually the owner’s decision.
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 Boston.
Wait for the permit before starting
ISD warns that starting before the permit is issued can double the permit cost or count as a building code violation. The licensed contractor must be at the inspection.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Boston homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas) (The DPU lists both National Grid and Eversource (NSTAR Gas) for Boston; check which one serves your address)
- Gas: Eversource (NSTAR Gas) (Serves parts of the city)
Water
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (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, Boston edition ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Boston homes.
For Eversource (NSTAR Electric), National Grid (Boston Gas) and Eversource (NSTAR Gas) customers in Boston. 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 Boston.
Permits and who issues them
Replacing a gas water heater needs an ISD Gas Permit, which covers replacing gas appliances and heaters. Water piping work needs an ISD Plumbing Permit. Licensed contractors apply on the ISD online portal (people who come in person are also sent through the portal). Book the inspection through the ISD call center (617-635-5300) or the portal; the licensed contractor must be there.
We found no separate city contractor registration. The application needs the contractor's state trade license (front and back), a certificate of liability insurance and a Massachusetts workers' comp affidavit.
City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) ↗ · Boston.gov: Gas Permit ↗ · Boston.gov: Plumbing Permit ↗
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 Boston.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 4 mi | Required | — | Eversource |
| Everett | 5 mi | Required | — | National Grid |
| Quincy | 5 mi | Required | — | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Somerville | 6 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Cambridge | 6 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Revere | 6 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Boston water heater questions.
Can I pull a water heater permit myself in Boston?
No. ISD says homeowners must hire a licensed contractor, and the person applying must be the licensed contractor doing the work.
How much is a Boston gas permit for a water heater?
ISD lists $20 plus $50 for each boiler, heater or furnace plus $0.09 per 1,000 BTU. Plumbing permits are $20 plus $5 for each fixture.
How is the inspection scheduled?
When the work is done, book it through the ISD call center (617-635-5300) or the online portal. An inspector contacts you within 48 hours, and the contractor must be there.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides