Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WINCHESTER
Winchester Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WINCHESTER AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Winchester.
Under Winchester's April 2026 fee schedule, a gas water heater takes one $50 combined plumbing/gas permit, pulled by licensed trades. Other home plumbing work starts at $100. Eversource supplies electricity and National Grid supplies gas. The town mixes water from its own reservoirs with MWRA water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Winchester Building Department (Plumbing/Gas Inspector)
- Permit fee
- Gas water heater: $50 combined plumbing/gas permit. Otherwise, a plumbing or gas permit for an existing home is $100 for 1-10 fixtures plus $10 for each additional one. Approved by the Select Board Feb. 23, 2026, effective April 1, 2026.
- Who gets the permit
- Winchester follows state rules: the plumbing permit goes to a licensed plumber and the gas permit to a licensed gas fitter, never an apprentice. No homeowner option was found.
- Electric utility
- Eversource
- Gas utility
- National Grid
- Water
- Town of Winchester (local reservoirs, with partial MWRA supply)
- Rebate worth checking
- Mass Save heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1954 (median) · 82% 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 Winchester averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Winchester
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeGas water heater: $50 combined plumbing/gas permit. Otherwise, a plumbing or gas permit for an existing home is $100 for 1-10 fixtures plus $10 for each additional one. Approved by the Select Board Feb. 23, 2026, effective April 1, 2026.. Town of Winchester Building Department (Plumbing/Gas Inspector) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Winchester 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 Winchester average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Winchester?
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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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.
Rich Mathews & Son Plumbing (Boston Water Heaters)
Lists Winchester 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 Winchester 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 Winchester 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.
Vaughan Plumbing & Heating
Lists Winchester 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 Winchester: Dry Air Systems.
Order: companies based in Winchester 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 WINCHESTER
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN WINCHESTER
What Winchester homes are like.
1954Median year built
78%Built before 1980
82%Owner-occupied
58%Heat with utility gas
78%Single-family homes
About 78% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
58% 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 Winchester.
Electric heaters may cost more to permit
Winchester's $50 combined permit is only for gas water heaters. Under the 2026 schedule, an electric replacement falls under the $100 plumbing rate for existing homes.
Winchester Building Department Fee Schedule (approved Feb. 23, 2026; effective April 1, 2026) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Winchester homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource
- Gas: National Grid
MassDOT Utility Contacts by Municipality: Winchester ↗ · Eversource: Communities we serve ↗
Water
Town of Winchester (local reservoirs, with partial MWRA supply)
MWRA 2025 Annual Water Quality Test Results - Partial Service communities ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Winchester homes.
For Eversource and National Grid customers in Winchester. 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 Winchester.
Permits and who issues them
Winchester's Building Department issues plumbing and gas permits, and building permits can be filed online. Its 2026 fee schedule has one combined plumbing/gas permit for a gas water heater.
Winchester has no contractor license of its own that we found; permits go to state-licensed plumbers and gas fitters.
Town of Winchester Building Department (Plumbing/Gas Inspector) ↗ · Town of Winchester Building Department ↗ · Winchester Building Department Fee Schedule (approved Feb. 23, 2026; effective April 1, 2026) ↗ · Winchester Online Building Permits ↗ · 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 Winchester.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woburn | 3 mi | Required | — | Eversource |
| Arlington | 3 mi | Required | $30 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Medford | 3 mi | Required | $25 | Eversource, National Grid |
| Stoneham | 3 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NSTAR Electric) |
| Melrose | 4 mi | Required | $40 | National Grid |
| Belmont | 4 mi | Required | $30 | Belmont Light (Belmont Municipal Light Department) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Winchester water heater questions.
How much is a gas water heater permit in Winchester?
$50 for a combined plumbing/gas permit (effective April 1, 2026).
Winchester Building Department Fee Schedule (approved Feb. 23, 2026; effective April 1, 2026) ↗
What about an electric water heater?
The schedule has no separate line for electric water heaters. Plumbing permits for existing homes are $100 for 1-10 fixtures.
Winchester Building Department Fee Schedule (approved Feb. 23, 2026; effective April 1, 2026) ↗
More guides: Massachusetts water heater replacement · All local guides