Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SALEM
Salem Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SALEM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Salem.
In Salem, a licensed tradesperson files plumbing and gas permits online. A hot water heater costs $25 on the plumbing schedule and $25 on the gas schedule, so a gas unit usually means $50 in permits. National Grid supplies electricity and gas, and water comes from the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Salem Inspectional Services (Building Department)
- Permit fee
- 1-2 unit homes: $25 plumbing permit for a hot water heater (gas or electric) and $25 gas permit for a gas hot water heater. Starting work without a permit means a $200 fine. Plumbing/gas schedule effective August 24, 2020.
- Who gets the permit
- Salem says it grants plumbing and gas permits only to licensed tradespeople.
- Electric utility
- National Grid
- Gas utility
- National Grid
- Water
- City of Salem, supplied by the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board
- Rebate worth checking
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1938 (median) · 50% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 10 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 Salem averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Salem
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee1-2 unit homes: $25 plumbing permit for a hot water heater (gas or electric) and $25 gas permit for a gas hot water heater. Starting work without a permit means a $200 fine. Plumbing/gas schedule effective August 24, 2020.. City of Salem Inspectional Services (Building Department) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Salem post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cranney Home Services, Walley's Heating & Air. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Salem average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Salem?
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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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.
Walley's Heating & Air
Lists Salem among the areas it serves. Based in Nashua, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Emergency service
Published price: Fall specials (NH service region, residential up to 4 units): electric water heater replacements starting at $1,999 (40-gal; +$100 for 50-gal); chimney vent from $2,199 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal); power vent from $2,999 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal). Includes town permit, inspection, old tank removal, install and connections as-is; code-upgrade accessories, relocation or fuel conversion extra.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised thorough proposals, competitive pricing, a 5-year labor warranty, smooth project management and clean installations, including follow-up on a post-install sediment issue.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Salem 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater New Hampshire
Lists Salem among the areas it serves. Based in Manchester, NH.
- 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 Salem 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 SALEM
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SALEM
What Salem homes are like.
1938Median year built
76%Built before 1980
50%Owner-occupied
55%Heat with utility gas
30%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.
Only 50% 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 Salem.
A flat $25 for each trade
Salem charges $25 for a water heater on the plumbing schedule and $25 on the gas schedule. A gas water heater swap usually comes to $50 in permit fees.
Salem Building Department Fee Schedule (plumbing & gas; effective Aug. 24, 2020) ↗
Local surface water, not MWRA
Salem's water comes from the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board, not the MWRA. Its 2025 report lists sodium at 53 ppm but doesn't give a hardness number.
Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board 2025 Water Quality Report ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Salem homes.
Water
City of Salem, supplied by the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board
Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board 2025 Water Quality Report ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Salem homes.
For National Grid customers in Salem. 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 Salem.
Permits and who issues them
Salem takes all building, gas and plumbing permits online on the Salem portal (choose Inspectional Services). Staff at 978-619-5641 can help, and you can bring in a paper form for them to enter. The fee schedule lists a hot water heater on both the plumbing and gas schedules.
We found no Salem contractor license on top of that; plumbers and gas fitters need their state licenses.
City of Salem Inspectional Services (Building Department) ↗ · City of Salem Inspectional Services: Fees ↗ · Salem Building Department Fee Schedule (plumbing & gas; effective Aug. 24, 2020) ↗ · City of Salem: Plumbing Permit ↗ · 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 Salem.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swampscott | 2 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Marblehead | 3 mi | Required | — | Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) |
| Lynn | 4 mi | Required | $18 | National Grid |
| Peabody | 4 mi | Required | $15 | Peabody Municipal Light Plant (PMLP) |
| Beverly | 5 mi | Required | $10 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Danvers | 6 mi | Required | $15 | Danvers Electric Division (municipal) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Salem water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Salem?
$25 on the plumbing schedule (gas or electric heater), plus $25 on the gas schedule for a gas heater, under the schedule effective August 24, 2020.
Salem Building Department Fee Schedule (plumbing & gas; effective Aug. 24, 2020) ↗ · City of Salem Inspectional Services: Fees ↗
Can I file on paper?
Permits are online now, but Inspectional Services will walk you through the online application, or enter a paper form with you at the office.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides