Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MEDFORD
Medford Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓MEDFORD AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Medford.
In Medford, a licensed plumber or gas fitter files online with the Building Department. A water heater is $25 on the plumbing schedule, plus $25 on the gas schedule for a gas unit, under fee schedules from 2009. The city's water is soft MWRA water. Electric and gas service are each split between Eversource and National Grid.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Medford Building Department
- Permit fee
- $25 plumbing fee for a water heater or hot water storage tank, plus a separate $25 gas fee for a gas water heater (schedules effective July 28, 2009). Work started without a permit costs four times the fee.
- Who gets the permit
- Medford notes that state law requires anyone doing plumbing or gas work to be licensed. Massachusetts issues plumbing and gas permits only to licensed people.
- Electric utility
- Eversource and National Grid
- Gas utility
- National Grid and Eversource
- Water
- City of Medford Water & Sewer, 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 1942 (median) · 54% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 9 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 Medford averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Medford
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$25 plumbing fee for a water heater or hot water storage tank, plus a separate $25 gas fee for a gas water heater (schedules effective July 28, 2009). Work started without a permit costs four times the fee.. City of Medford Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Medford 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 Medford average is shown.
What can change the price in Medford?
Automatic vent dampers are $10 each on the gas schedule. Re-inspections are $50, paid in advance.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Medford?
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 Medford 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 Medford 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.
Belanger & Sons LLC
Lists Medford 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 Medford 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.
Damaso Plumbing & Heating Inc
Lists Medford among the areas it serves. Based in Burlington.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response in emergencies (including a blizzard), next-day tank replacement, fair pricing and follow-up to confirm the heater was working.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Minuteman Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Medford 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.
Rich Mathews & Son Plumbing (Boston Water Heaters)
Lists Medford 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 Medford 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 Medford 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 Medford 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 MEDFORD
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN MEDFORD
What Medford homes are like.
1942Median year built
76%Built before 1980
54%Owner-occupied
62%Heat with utility gas
41%Single-family homes
About 76% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
62% 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 Medford.
Two utilities split the city
MassDOT's utility list shows two electric companies (Eversource and National Grid) and two gas companies in Medford. Which Mass Save sponsor handles your rebate depends on your address.
Four times the fee without a permit
Medford charges four times the fee for work started without a permit, more than the triple penalty in several nearby cities.
Medford Plumbing and Gas Fee Schedules (effective July 28, 2009) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Medford homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (MassDOT lists both Eversource and National Grid in Medford; check your bill)
- Electric: National Grid (Serves part of the city)
- Gas: National Grid (MassDOT lists both National Grid and Eversource Gas)
- Gas: Eversource (Serves part of the city)
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Medford ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
City of Medford Water & Sewer, 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 Medford homes.
For Eversource and National Grid customers in Medford. 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 Medford.
Permits and who issues them
Medford requires permit applications to be filed online (Citizenserve), including Plumbing & Gas permits. The fee schedule lists water heaters under plumbing, with a separate gas fee for gas units. No work can start until the permit card is issued.
No separate Medford contractor license was found; the trades need state licenses.
City of Medford Building Department ↗ · City of Medford Building Department ↗ · Medford Plumbing and Gas Fee Schedules (effective July 28, 2009) ↗ · Medford Citizenserve 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 Medford.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerville | 2 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Malden | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid |
| Winchester | 3 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Arlington | 3 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Everett | 3 mi | Required | — | National Grid |
| Cambridge | 3 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Medford water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Medford?
$25 on the plumbing schedule, plus a separate $25 gas fee for a gas water heater (2009 schedules).
Medford Plumbing and Gas Fee Schedules (effective July 28, 2009) ↗
Which utility serves my Medford home?
Medford is split. MassDOT lists both Eversource and National Grid for electricity and for gas. Check your bill.
What if work starts before the permit?
Medford charges four times the fee.
Medford Plumbing and Gas Fee Schedules (effective July 28, 2009) ↗
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides