Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN FRAMINGHAM
Framingham Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓FRAMINGHAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Framingham.
In Framingham, licensed plumbers and gas fitters get permits from Inspectional Services through OpenGov, which the city started using in July 2025. The posted fees haven't changed since 2008 and start at $50 for the first fixture or appliance. Eversource supplies electricity and gas, and the city's water comes from the MWRA.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Framingham Inspectional Services (Building Division, Plumbing and Gas Inspector)
- Permit fee
- 1-2 family homes: plumbing permit, $50 for the first fixture plus $6 for each additional one. Gas fitter permit, $50 for the first appliance plus $6 for each additional one. Schedule effective April 1, 2008 (Board of Selectmen, Feb. 19, 2008), and still the one posted.
- Who gets the permit
- Framingham, like every Massachusetts town, issues plumbing permits to licensed plumbers and gas permits to licensed gas fitters, not apprentices. We found no homeowner option.
- Electric utility
- Eversource
- Gas utility
- Eversource
- Water
- Framingham Department of Public Works, 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 1966 (median) · 55% 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 Framingham averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Framingham
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee1-2 family homes: plumbing permit, $50 for the first fixture plus $6 for each additional one. Gas fitter permit, $50 for the first appliance plus $6 for each additional one. Schedule effective April 1, 2008 (Board of Selectmen, Feb. 19, 2008), and still the one posted.. City of Framingham Inspectional Services (Building Division, Plumbing and Gas Inspector) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Framingham post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Landry Mechanical, Vaughan Plumbing & Heating. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Framingham average is shown.
What can change the price in Framingham?
Elevated gas pressure permits or appliances cost $50 extra. Starting work without a permit adds $100. Re-inspections are $50 for each notice.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Framingham?
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 Framingham 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 Framingham 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.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Boston)
Lists Framingham 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.
Landry Mechanical
Lists Framingham among the areas it serves. Based in Millbury (Framingham location at 763 Waverly St unit 32).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: $75 off tank-type water heater installs or $125 off tankless water heater installs (present at time of sale; not combinable).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised fast response (including weekend and next-day replacements), manufacturer-warranty coordination on tankless and hybrid units, and technicians who explained options.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (DR.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Framingham 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 Framingham 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 Framingham 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.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Marlborough)
Lists Framingham among the areas it serves. Based in Marlborough.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- 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 Framingham 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 FRAMINGHAM
What Framingham homes are like.
1966Median year built
73%Built before 1980
55%Owner-occupied
46%Heat with utility gas
57%Single-family homes
About 73% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
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 Framingham.
Old fees are still posted
Framingham's posted plumbing and gas fees date from April 2008. Check the current charge in OpenGov when you file.
Framingham Plumbing and Gas Permit Fees (effective April 1, 2008) ↗
Soft MWRA water
Framingham gets all its water from the MWRA. It's soft (about 1 gpg), so less scale builds up in tank water heaters.
MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Full Service communities ↗ · MWRA: FAQ about MWRA tap water (hardness ~16 mg/L, ~1 gpg) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Framingham homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource
- Gas: Eversource
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Framingham ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
Framingham Department of Public Works, 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 Framingham homes.
For Eversource customers in Framingham. 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 Framingham.
Permits and who issues them
Framingham moved its online permits to OpenGov on July 1, 2025, and plumbing and gas fitter permits are filed there. The city's plumbing and gas inspector checks the work. Request a same-day inspection by 9:30 a.m.
We found no city contractor license in Framingham. Plumbers and gas fitters need state licenses.
City of Framingham Inspectional Services (Building Division, Plumbing and Gas Inspector) ↗ · City of Framingham Inspectional Services ↗ · Framingham Plumbing and Gas Permit Fees (effective April 1, 2008) ↗ · Framingham OpenGov permit portal ↗ · 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 Framingham.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough | 6 mi | Required | $40 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Wellesley | 8 mi | Required | $50 | Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) |
| Maynard | 8 mi | Required | — | Eversource |
| Hudson | 9 mi | Required | $50 | Hudson Light & Power Department (municipal) |
| Needham | 10 mi | Required | $100 | Eversource |
| Waltham | 11 mi | Required | $25 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Framingham water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Framingham?
The posted home schedule charges $50 for the first fixture on a plumbing permit and $50 for the first appliance on a gas fitter permit (2008 schedule).
Framingham Plumbing and Gas Permit Fees (effective April 1, 2008) ↗
Where do I apply?
Licensed plumbers and gas fitters apply on Framingham's OpenGov portal.
City of Framingham Inspectional Services ↗ · Framingham OpenGov permit portal ↗
Is Framingham water hard?
No. Framingham gets MWRA water, which is soft at about 16 mg/L (1 gpg).
MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Full Service communities ↗ · MWRA: FAQ about MWRA tap water (hardness ~16 mg/L, ~1 gpg) ↗
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides