Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CHELSEA
Chelsea Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CHELSEA AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Chelsea.
In Chelsea, a licensed plumber or gas fitter files the water heater permit on the city's OpenGov system, and Inspectional Services at City Hall (500 Broadway, Room 201) inspects it. Much of Chelsea's housing is rented, so in a rental the new heater also has to pass the city's Certificate of Habitability inspections. The city is also replacing lead and galvanized water service lines for free.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Chelsea Inspectional Services Department (Plumbing / Gas Inspector)
- Who gets the permit
- Chelsea follows state rules: plumbing permits go to licensed plumbers and gas permits to licensed gas fitters, never to apprentices. We found no homeowner option.
- Electric utility
- Eversource
- Gas utility
- National Grid
- Water
- City of Chelsea, 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 1941 (median) · 26% 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 Chelsea averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Chelsea
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Chelsea post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cranney Home Services. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Chelsea average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Chelsea?
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 Chelsea 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 Chelsea 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.
Cranney Home Services
Lists Chelsea 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.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Chelsea 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 Chelsea 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 Chelsea 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 CHELSEA
What Chelsea homes are like.
1941Median year built
69%Built before 1980
26%Owner-occupied
61%Heat with utility gas
13%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.
61% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 26% 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 Chelsea.
Certificate of Habitability for rentals
Under Chelsea's Certificate of Habitability ordinance (effective April 15, 2014), landlords must have ISD inspect a rental unit before new tenants move in, and every rental unit at least every five years. The inspection checks the unit against the state sanitary code, which includes hot water. Only units lived in by an owner who holds them in their own name are exempt; rented condos and units owned by a trust or LLC are included.
City of Chelsea: Housing Code Ordinance (Certificate of Habitability) ↗
Free lead and galvanized pipe replacement
With funding from EPA Get the Lead Out, the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the MWRA, Chelsea's Water & Sewer Division replaces private lead and galvanized service lines for free for owners, landlords and businesses. The city is also replacing all lead and galvanized pipe on the public side. If an old galvanized line feeds the basement where your water heater is, book the free check first (Chelsea 311 lead hotline, 617-466-4209).
City of Chelsea: Lead Removal Programs ↗ · City of Chelsea: book a free service line inspection ↗
Help for owners of 1-4 unit buildings
Owners of 1- to 4-unit buildings in eligible areas can apply to the city's CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program. It gives deferred-payment loans to income-eligible households to fix code violations. Chelsea's Energy Advocate can also point you to Mass Save's free home energy assessments.
City of Chelsea: Housing Code Ordinance (CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program) ↗ · City of Chelsea: Energy Programs ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Chelsea homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource
- Gas: National Grid
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Chelsea ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
City of Chelsea, 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 Chelsea homes.
For Eversource and National Grid customers in Chelsea. 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 Chelsea.
Permits and who issues them
Chelsea ISD has a plumbing/gas inspector and now handles permits online through OpenGov. Under state rules, replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit, plus a gas permit for a gas unit, before work starts.
We found no separate Chelsea contractor license. The state licenses the plumbers and gas fitters.
City of Chelsea Inspectional Services Department (Plumbing / Gas Inspector) ↗ · City of Chelsea Inspectional Services ↗ · City of Chelsea: ISD permit processing moves to OpenGov ↗ · 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 Chelsea.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everett | 1 mi | Required | — | National Grid |
| Malden | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid |
| Revere | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Somerville | 4 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Boston | 4 mi | Required | $20 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Melrose | 4 mi | Required | $40 | National Grid |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Chelsea water heater questions.
Does replacing a water heater in a Chelsea rental affect the Certificate of Habitability?
The certificate comes from an ISD inspection against the state sanitary code, before new tenants move in and at least every five years, so the unit needs working hot water to pass. Replacing the water heater is a separate plumbing (and gas) permit pulled by a licensed tradesperson.
City of Chelsea: Housing Code Ordinance (Certificate of Habitability) ↗
Where is Chelsea's Inspectional Services office?
Chelsea City Hall, 500 Broadway, Room 201. It's open Monday and Wednesday-Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday until 7 p.m., and Friday until noon. The ISD phone number is 617-466-4132. Permits are filed online.
City of Chelsea: Housing Code Ordinance (ISD office hours) ↗ · City of Chelsea: ISD permit processing moves to OpenGov ↗
Can Chelsea replace my lead water line when I redo my plumbing?
Yes. The city checks what your service line is made of by appointment, and replaces private lead or galvanized lines for free through its Lead Service Replacement Program.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides