Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN LOWELL
Lowell Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓LOWELL AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Lowell.
In Lowell, Development Services issues the plumbing and gas permits for a water heater replacement to licensed trades. Fees start at $50 for jobs up to $1,000, plus $10 for each additional $1,000. National Grid supplies electricity and gas. Water comes from the Lowell Regional Water Utility's Merrimack River plant.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Lowell Division of Development Services (Inspectional Services)
- Permit fee
- Plumbing/gas permits: $50 for work costing $1,000 or less, plus $10 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) over that. Re-inspection: $50. Work without a permit costs triple the original fee (city fee page, no date).
- Who gets the permit
- Lowell's permits go to plumbers and gas fitters licensed in Massachusetts; homeowners can't get plumbing or gas permits under state rule 248 CMR 3.05.
- Electric utility
- National Grid (Massachusetts Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid
- Water
- Lowell Regional Water Utility (Merrimack River surface water)
- Rebate worth checking
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1953 (median) · 43% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 6 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 Lowell averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Lowell
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing/gas permits: $50 for work costing $1,000 or less, plus $10 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) over that. Re-inspection: $50. Work without a permit costs triple the original fee (city fee page, no date).. City of Lowell Division of Development Services (Inspectional Services) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Lowell 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 Lowell average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Lowell?
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 →
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Lowell)
Lists Lowell among the areas it serves. Based in Lowell.
- 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.
128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric
Lists Lowell 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.
Belanger & Sons LLC
Lists Lowell 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.
Cranney Home Services
Lists Lowell 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 Lowell 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 Lowell 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 Lowell 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 LOWELL
What Lowell homes are like.
1953Median year built
75%Built before 1980
43%Owner-occupied
67%Heat with utility gas
37%Single-family homes
About 75% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
67% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 43% 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 Lowell.
No permit costs triple
Lowell charges three times the original plumbing or gas permit fee when work is done without a permit.
Water from the Merrimack River
Lowell's only treatment plant uses Merrimack River water. The 2025 report lists a pH of 7.5 to 8.5 for treated water, and no lead results over the action level in 50 samples.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Lowell homes.
Energy
- Electric: National Grid (Massachusetts Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (The DPU lists National Grid (Boston Gas) for Lowell)
Water
Lowell Regional Water Utility (Merrimack River surface water)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Lowell homes.
For National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) and National Grid customers in Lowell. 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 Lowell.
Permits and who issues them
Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit, and for a gas unit a gas permit, from Development Services. It posts separate Gas Permit and Plumbing Permit applications (PDFs) and a checklist for the trades. The Massachusetts plumbing and gas code (248 CMR) requires the local permit before work starts and an inspection after.
We found no separate city contractor registration. Applications include a workers' comp affidavit.
City of Lowell Division of Development Services (Inspectional Services) ↗ · Lowell: Plumbing/Gas Permit Fees ↗ · Lowell: Building and Trades Permits ↗
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 Lowell.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | 9 mi | Required | $21 | National Grid |
| Wilmington | 9 mi | Required | $50 | Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) |
| Methuen | 10 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Burlington | 11 mi | Required | $45 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Reading | 13 mi | Required | $50 | Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) |
| Woburn | 13 mi | Required | — | Eversource |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Lowell water heater questions.
What does a Lowell plumbing or gas permit cost?
$50 for work costing $1,000 or less, plus $10 for each $1,000 over that. Re-inspections are $50.
What happens if a water heater is installed without a permit?
Lowell's fee page charges triple the original fee for work done without a permit.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides