Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SOMERVILLE
Somerville Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SOMERVILLE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Somerville.
In Somerville, a licensed plumber or gas fitter gets water heater permits from ISD on the city's CitizenServe online portal. It's $60 for the first three fixtures in an existing home. Eversource supplies electricity, and gas comes from National Grid or Eversource depending on your street. The city delivers soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Somerville Inspectional Services Department (ISD)
- Permit fee
- Existing home: $60 for the first 3 fixtures, $10 for each additional fixture. Re-inspection: $50, paid before the inspection (ISD Plumbing & Gas Fee Schedule, no date).
- Who gets the permit
- Somerville permits go to plumbers and gas fitters licensed by the state; Massachusetts doesn't allow homeowner plumbing or gas permits (248 CMR 3.05).
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas) and Eversource (NSTAR Gas)
- Water
- Somerville Water and Sewer 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)
- Typical home
- Built 1938 (median) · 34% 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 Somerville averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Somerville
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeExisting home: $60 for the first 3 fixtures, $10 for each additional fixture. Re-inspection: $50, paid before the inspection (ISD Plumbing & Gas Fee Schedule, no date).. City of Somerville Inspectional Services Department (ISD) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Somerville post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cranney Home Services, Vaughan Plumbing & Heating. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Somerville average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Somerville?
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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 Somerville 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 SOMERVILLE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SOMERVILLE
What Somerville homes are like.
1938Median year built
80%Built before 1980
34%Owner-occupied
70%Heat with utility gas
15%Single-family homes
About 80% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
70% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 34% 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.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Somerville homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas) (The DPU lists both National Grid and Eversource (NSTAR Gas) for Somerville)
- Gas: Eversource (NSTAR Gas) (Serves parts of the city)
Water
Somerville Water and Sewer 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) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Somerville homes.
For Eversource (NSTAR Electric), National Grid (Boston Gas) and Eversource (NSTAR Gas) customers in Somerville. 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 Somerville.
Permits and who issues them
Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing and/or gas permit from Somerville ISD. Apply online on the city's CitizenServe portal, or in person at ISD, 1 Franey Road, if you can't file online. ISD's plumbing and gas inspector then checks the work.
City of Somerville Inspectional Services Department (ISD) ↗ · Somerville ISD Plumbing & Gas Fee Schedule (PDF) ↗ · Somerville: Licenses and Permits - How to Apply (CitizenServe) ↗
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 Somerville.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 1 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource |
| Medford | 2 mi | Required | $25 | Eversource, National Grid |
| Everett | 3 mi | Required | — | National Grid |
| Malden | 3 mi | Required | $50 | National Grid |
| Chelsea | 4 mi | Required | — | Eversource |
| Arlington | 4 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Somerville water heater questions.
How much is a plumbing or gas permit in Somerville?
For an existing home, $60 covers the first three fixtures and each extra fixture is $10. Re-inspections are $50, paid before the inspection.
Where do contractors apply?
Online through CitizenServe. If you can't apply online, you can file in person at ISD, 1 Franey Road.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides