Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MARBLEHEAD
Marblehead Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓MARBLEHEAD AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Marblehead.
In Marblehead, licensed trades get the plumbing and gas permits for a water heater swap from the town's Plumbing & Gas Inspector. Electricity comes from the Marblehead Municipal Light Department, whose NextZero program pays $500 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater. Gas is National Grid, and water is soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Marblehead Plumbing & Gas Inspector (Building Department, Mary Alley Municipal Building, 7 Widger Road)
- Who gets the permit
- Marblehead permits go to plumbers and gas fitters licensed in Massachusetts. Homeowners can't get plumbing or gas permits (248 CMR 3.05).
- Electric utility
- Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas)
- Water
- Marblehead Water Department (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)
- Rebate worth checking
- MMLD NextZero heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1944 (median) · 85% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 7 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 Marblehead averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Marblehead
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Marblehead 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 Marblehead average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Marblehead?
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 Marblehead 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 Marblehead 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 Marblehead 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.
Rich Mathews & Son Plumbing (Boston Water Heaters)
Lists Marblehead among the areas it serves. Based in Lynnfield.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response, reasonable pricing, permits filed, venting brought to code and tidy installations.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Marblehead 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.
Spencer Home Services
Lists Marblehead among the areas it serves. Based in Peabody.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The reviewer praised professional, responsive management and hard-working crews across projects including a hot water heater installation.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Marblehead 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 Marblehead 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 MARBLEHEAD
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN MARBLEHEAD
What Marblehead homes are like.
1944Median year built
87%Built before 1980
85%Owner-occupied
74%Heat with utility gas
81%Single-family homes
About 87% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
74% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
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 Marblehead.
Town electric, not Mass Save
Marblehead's electricity comes from the town's own light department, and its efficiency rebates run through MMWEC's NextZero program. NextZero also points to the MLP Z-Loan for customers who can't use Mass Save programs.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Marblehead homes.
Energy
- Electric: Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) (Town-owned light plant)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas)
Water
Marblehead Water Department (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, Marblehead edition ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Marblehead homes.
For Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) and National Grid (Boston Gas) customers in Marblehead. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- MMLD NextZero heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$500 back on an ENERGY STAR electric heat pump 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 Marblehead.
Permits and who issues them
Marblehead's Plumbing & Gas Inspector issues plumbing and gas fitting permits, with fee pages and online permit pages for each. Replacing a gas water heater takes a gas permit and a plumbing permit, pulled by licensed trades.
Town of Marblehead Plumbing & Gas Inspector (Building Department, Mary Alley Municipal Building, 7 Widger Road) ↗ · Marblehead: Gas Fitting Fees & Online Permits (blocked, HTTP 403) ↗
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 Marblehead.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | 3 mi | Required | $25 | National Grid |
| Swampscott | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Beverly | 4 mi | Required | $10 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Lynn | 7 mi | Required | $18 | National Grid |
| Peabody | 7 mi | Required | $15 | Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) |
| Danvers | 8 mi | Required | $15 | Danvers Electric Division (municipal) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Marblehead water heater questions.
Is there a heat pump water heater rebate in Marblehead?
Yes. MMLD, through NextZero, pays $500 for an ENERGY STAR electric heat pump water heater.
Who supplies electricity in Marblehead?
The Marblehead Municipal Light Department, which the town owns.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides