Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN BROOKLINE
Brookline Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓BROOKLINE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Brookline.
In Brookline, a licensed plumber or gas fitter applies online through Accela with the Building Department. Each plumbing or gas fitting permit costs $20 for every $1,000 of job value, with a $50 minimum. Eversource supplies electricity, National Grid supplies gas, and the water is soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Brookline Building Department
- Permit fee
- Plumbing permits and gas fitting permits each cost $20 for every $1,000 of job value (or part of $1,000), with a $50 minimum (schedule effective July 18, 2022). Work started without a permit is charged $50 for every $1,000.
- Who gets the permit
- Following state rules, Brookline issues plumbing permits only to licensed plumbers and gas permits only to licensed gas fitters, never apprentices. There's no homeowner option that we found.
- Electric utility
- Eversource
- Gas utility
- National Grid
- Water
- Brookline Department of Public Works Water Division, supplied by MWRA · Soft: MWRA water is about 16 mg/L (about 1 grain per gallon).
- Rebate worth checking
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1938 (median) · 47% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 12 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 Brookline averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Brookline
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing permits and gas fitting permits each cost $20 for every $1,000 of job value (or part of $1,000), with a $50 minimum (schedule effective July 18, 2022). Work started without a permit is charged $50 for every $1,000.. Town of Brookline Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Brookline post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cranney Home Services, Vaughan Plumbing & Heating, Walley's Heating & Air. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Brookline average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Brookline?
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 Brookline 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 Brookline 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 Brookline 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 Brookline 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 Brookline 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.
Cranney Home Services
Lists Brookline among the areas it serves. Based in Danvers.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Offer: $100 Off water heater install (see offer details on site). No installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One Yelp reviewer (2024) praised a technician arriving within 30 minutes and courteous staff who explained everything up front on a water heater repair.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged high quotes for water heater replacement (e.g.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Minuteman Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Brookline 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.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Brookline 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 Brookline 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.
Walley's Heating & Air
Lists Brookline among the areas it serves. Based in Nashua, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Emergency service
Published price: Fall specials (NH service region, residential up to 4 units): electric water heater replacements starting at $1,999 (40-gal; +$100 for 50-gal); chimney vent from $2,199 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal); power vent from $2,999 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal). Includes town permit, inspection, old tank removal, install and connections as-is; code-upgrade accessories, relocation or fuel conversion extra.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised thorough proposals, competitive pricing, a 5-year labor warranty, smooth project management and clean installations, including follow-up on a post-install sediment issue.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Also listing Brookline: Dry Air Systems, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater New Hampshire.
Order: companies based in Brookline 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 BROOKLINE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN BROOKLINE
What Brookline homes are like.
1938Median year built
86%Built before 1980
47%Owner-occupied
60%Heat with utility gas
24%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.
60% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 47% 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 Brookline.
Fee by job value, $50 minimum
Brookline charges plumbing and gas permits by job value ($20 for every $1,000), with a $50 minimum. A routine water heater swap usually ends up near the minimum for each permit.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Brookline homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource
- Gas: National Grid
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Brookline ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
Brookline Department of Public Works Water Division, supplied by MWRA: Soft: MWRA water is about 16 mg/L (about 1 grain per gallon).
MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Full Service communities ↗ · MWRA: FAQ about MWRA tap water (hardness ~16 mg/L, ~1 gpg) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Brookline homes.
For Eversource and National Grid customers in Brookline. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$750 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater (UEF 3.30, or 2.20 for 120-volt plug-in units), or $1,500 for a split-system model, when replacing an existing electric, propane, natural gas or oil water heater.
- 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 Brookline.
Permits and who issues them
Brookline issues plumbing and gas fitting permits through its Accela online permit portal, which also handles building, electrical, sprinkler and mechanical permits. Building Department inspectors check the installation.
No town contractor license turned up for Brookline; permits go to state-licensed plumbers and gas fitters.
Town of Brookline Building Department ↗ · Town of Brookline Building Department ↗ · Brookline Permit & Fee Schedule (effective 7-18-22) ↗ · Brookline: Apply for an Online Permit (Accela) ↗ · 248 CMR 3.05 Permits and Inspections (LII) ↗
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 Brookline.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | 3 mi | Required | $20 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Watertown | 4 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource |
| Cambridge | 4 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Somerville | 5 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Belmont | 5 mi | Required | $30 | Belmont Light (Belmont Municipal Light Department) |
| Dedham | 6 mi | Required | $40 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Brookline water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Brookline?
Plumbing and gas fitting permits each cost $20 for every $1,000 of job value, at least $50 (schedule effective July 18, 2022).
How do I apply?
A licensed plumber or gas fitter applies on Brookline's Accela online permit portal.
Brookline: Apply for an Online Permit (Accela) ↗ · 248 CMR 3.05 Permits and Inspections (LII) ↗
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides