Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SAUGUS
Saugus Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SAUGUS AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Saugus.
Saugus charges a flat $40 to permit a replacement gas water heater, plumbing and gas together, and $30 for an electric one, according to its posted fee sheet. National Grid supplies electricity and gas, and the town delivers soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Saugus Inspectional Services (298 Central Street), Plumbing Inspector
- Permit fee
- Home replacement: gas water heater, $40 (gas and plumbing). Electric water heater, $10 for each fixture plus a $20 permit fee. Re-inspection: $50. Fees double if work starts without a permit (town fee sheet, no date).
- Who gets the permit
- Saugus follows the state rule: a licensed plumber or gas fitter pulls the permit, and homeowners can't (248 CMR 3.05).
- Electric utility
- National Grid (Massachusetts Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas)
- Water
- Town of Saugus DPW (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)
- Typical home
- Built 1962 (median) · 72% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 8 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 Saugus averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Saugus
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeHome replacement: gas water heater, $40 (gas and plumbing). Electric water heater, $10 for each fixture plus a $20 permit fee. Re-inspection: $50. Fees double if work starts without a permit (town fee sheet, no date).. Town of Saugus Inspectional Services (298 Central Street), Plumbing Inspector fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Saugus 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 Saugus average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Saugus?
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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 Saugus 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 SAUGUS
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SAUGUS
What Saugus homes are like.
1962Median year built
72%Built before 1980
72%Owner-occupied
55%Heat with utility gas
70%Single-family homes
About 72% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
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.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Saugus homes.
Energy
- Electric: National Grid (Massachusetts Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas)
Water
Town of Saugus DPW (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, Saugus edition ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Saugus homes.
For National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) and National Grid (Boston Gas) customers in Saugus. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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 Saugus.
Permits and who issues them
Saugus Inspectional Services issues plumbing and gas fitting permits using its posted Plumbing Permit and Gas Fitting Permit applications. Its fee sheet has specific lines for home water heaters. The town plumbing inspector checks the work.
Town of Saugus Inspectional Services (298 Central Street), Plumbing Inspector ↗ · Saugus Plumbing and Gas Permit Fees (PDF) ↗ · Saugus: Plumbing Forms & Information ↗
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 Saugus.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | 2 mi | Required | $40 | National Grid |
| Lynn | 3 mi | Required | $18 | National Grid |
| Revere | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid (Massachusetts Electric) |
| Malden | 4 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid |
| Wakefield | 4 mi | Required | $25 | Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (WMGLD) |
| Stoneham | 4 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Saugus water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Saugus?
$40 for a gas water heater (gas and plumbing). For an electric one, $10 for each fixture plus a $20 permit fee. Fees double if work starts without a permit.
Where are Saugus permit applications?
The Plumbing and Gas Fitting permit applications are on the town's Plumbing Forms & Information page.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides