Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WALTHAM
Waltham Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WALTHAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Waltham.
In Waltham, a licensed plumber or gas fitter gets the water heater permits from the Building Department. For a home, it's $25 for one plumbing fixture and $30 for one gas appliance. Eversource supplies electricity, National Grid supplies gas, and the city delivers soft MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Waltham Building Department, Plumbing and Gas Inspector
- Permit fee
- Home plumbing: $25 for 1 fixture, $10 for each additional one. Home gas: $30 for 1 appliance, $15 for each additional one. Home re-inspection: $25 (city fee page, no date).
- Who gets the permit
- Licensed Massachusetts plumbers and gas fitters pull Waltham's permits; state rules (248 CMR 3.05) don't allow homeowner plumbing or gas permits.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas utility
- National Grid (Boston Gas)
- Water
- City of Waltham Water Division (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 1961 (median) · 50% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 11 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 Waltham averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Waltham
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeHome plumbing: $25 for 1 fixture, $10 for each additional one. Home gas: $30 for 1 appliance, $15 for each additional one. Home re-inspection: $25 (city fee page, no date).. City of Waltham Building Department, Plumbing and Gas Inspector fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Waltham post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cranney Home Services, Landry Mechanical, Vaughan Plumbing & Heating. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Waltham average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Waltham?
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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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 Waltham 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.
Minuteman Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Waltham 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.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Waltham 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 Waltham 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.
Also listing Waltham: Dry Air Systems.
Order: companies based in Waltham 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 WALTHAM
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN WALTHAM
What Waltham homes are like.
1961Median year built
69%Built before 1980
50%Owner-occupied
53%Heat with utility gas
46%Single-family homes
About 69% 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.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Waltham homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NSTAR Electric)
- Gas: National Grid (Boston Gas)
Water
City of Waltham Water Division (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 Waltham homes.
For Eversource (NSTAR Electric) and National Grid (Boston Gas) customers in Waltham. 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 Waltham.
Permits and who issues them
Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit, plus a gas permit for a gas unit, from the Waltham Building Department (Government Center, 119 School Street, Room 25; 781-314-3275). It posts separate Gas and Plumbing applications, and the city's plumbing and gas inspector checks the work.
City of Waltham Building Department, Plumbing and Gas Inspector ↗ · Waltham: Plumbing and Gas Fees ↗ · Waltham: Plumbing and Gas ↗
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 Waltham.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 3 mi | Required | $30 | Belmont Light (Belmont Municipal Light Department) |
| Watertown | 4 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource |
| Lexington | 4 mi | Required | $60 | Eversource |
| Newton | 4 mi | Required | $20 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Arlington | 4 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Wellesley | 6 mi | Required | $50 | Wellesley Municipal Light Plant (WMLP) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Waltham water heater questions.
What does a gas water heater permit cost in Waltham?
A home gas permit is $30 for one appliance, and the plumbing permit is $25 for one fixture. Home re-inspections are $25.
Who do I contact about a plumbing or gas permit?
The Building Department at 781-314-3275. You can also email the plumbing and gas inspector at the address on the city's Plumbing and Gas page.
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides