Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN NEEDHAM
Needham Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓NEEDHAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Needham.
In Needham, a licensed plumber or gas fitter files plumbing and gas permits online through OpenGov. Each home permit costs at least $100; water heaters don't qualify for the town's $50 flat appliance rate. Eversource supplies electricity and gas. The town's own wells give moderately hard water, about 80 ppm.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Needham Building Department
- Permit fee
- 1-2 family plumbing and gas permits: at least $100 for work up to $10,000, then $10 for each extra $1,000 (schedule effective August 15, 2017). Water heaters don't get the $50 flat appliance replacement rate.
- Who gets the permit
- Under state rules, Needham's plumbing permits go to licensed plumbers and its gas permits to licensed gas fitters, never apprentices. We found no homeowner permit.
- Electric utility
- Eversource
- Gas utility
- Eversource
- Water
- Needham DPW Water Division (Charles River Wellfield, with MWRA as secondary source) · 'Moderately hard', approximately 80 ppm (about 4.7 gpg), per the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report; MWRA water used as a supplement is about 16 mg/L.
- Rebate worth checking
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1965 (median) · 83% 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 Needham averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Needham
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee1-2 family plumbing and gas permits: at least $100 for work up to $10,000, then $10 for each extra $1,000 (schedule effective August 15, 2017). Water heaters don't get the $50 flat appliance replacement rate.. Town of Needham Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Needham 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 Needham average is shown.
What can change the price in Needham?
Inspections after hours or during a facility shutdown are $50 an hour, with a four-hour minimum.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Needham?
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 Needham 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 Needham 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.
Ace Hardware Home Services (Boston office)
Lists Needham 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.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Boston)
Lists Needham 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.
Damaso Plumbing & Heating Inc
Lists Needham 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.
Landry Mechanical
Lists Needham 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 Needham 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 Needham 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 Needham 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 Needham 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 NEEDHAM
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN NEEDHAM
What Needham homes are like.
1965Median year built
64%Built before 1980
83%Owner-occupied
56%Heat with utility gas
80%Single-family homes
About 64% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
56% 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 Needham.
Moderately hard well water
Most of Needham's water comes from the Charles River Wellfield and is moderately hard (about 80 ppm in 2024). MWRA water is added, mostly in summer.
Needham Annual Water Quality Report 2024 ↗ · MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Partial Service communities ↗
Water heaters aren't a 'flat-rate appliance'
Needham's $50 flat permit for replacement appliances specifically leaves out boilers and water heaters. They use the regular permit, with its $100 minimum.
Needham Building Department Permit Fee Schedule (effective Aug. 15, 2017) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Needham homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource
- Gas: Eversource
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Needham ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
Needham DPW Water Division (Charles River Wellfield, with MWRA as secondary source): 'Moderately hard', approximately 80 ppm (about 4.7 gpg), per the 2024 Annual Water Quality Report; MWRA water used as a supplement is about 16 mg/L.
Needham Annual Water Quality Report 2024 ↗ · MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Partial Service communities ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Needham homes.
For Eversource customers in Needham. 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 Needham.
Permits and who issues them
Needham takes every permit application, plumbing and gas included, online through OpenGov (ViewPoint Cloud), and you can pay online. Water heaters are specifically left out of Needham's $50 flat 'replacement home appliance' permit, so they need a regular plumbing and/or gas permit.
We didn't find a Needham contractor license. Plumbers and gas fitters need state licenses.
Town of Needham Building Department ↗ · Town of Needham Building Department ↗ · Needham Building Department Permit Fee Schedule (effective Aug. 15, 2017) ↗ · 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 Needham.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellesley | 3 mi | Required | $50 | Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) |
| Newton | 4 mi | Required | $20 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Dedham | 4 mi | Required | $40 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Brookline | 6 mi | Required | $20 | Eversource |
| Watertown | 7 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource |
| Norwood | 7 mi | Required | — | Norwood Municipal Light Department (Norwood Light) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Needham water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Needham?
At least $100 for a home plumbing or gas permit, for work up to $10,000 (2017 schedule). Water heaters don't qualify for the $50 appliance rate.
Needham Building Department Permit Fee Schedule (effective Aug. 15, 2017) ↗
Is Needham water hard?
Moderately. The 2024 report puts it at about 80 ppm.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides