Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CRYSTAL
Crystal Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CRYSTAL AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Crystal.
Yes, Crystal requires a permit. Replacing a water heater at home is a flat $71 ($70 plus a $1 state surcharge), and you apply in the LOGIS ePermits portal. The city licenses plumbing and heating contractors. Crystal buys its drinking water from Minneapolis, which averaged about 5.5 grains per gallon hard in 2025.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Crystal Building Division
- Permit fee
- $71.00 in all: a $70 water heater fee plus a $1 state surcharge (ePermits fee estimator for Residential Water Heater - Replacement).
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Water
- Purchased surface water from the City of Minneapolis (Crystal 2025 Drinking Water Report) · Minneapolis plant effluent total hardness averaged 94 ppm (about 5.5 grains per gallon), range 80–113, in Minneapolis's 2025 record of data; Minneapolis softens at its plant.
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1959 (median) · 77% 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 Crystal averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Crystal
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$71.00 in all: a $70 water heater fee plus a $1 state surcharge (ePermits fee estimator for Residential Water Heater - Replacement).. City of Crystal Building Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price6 of the companies listed for Crystal post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Aquarius Home Services, Bonfe Plumbing, Heating & Air, Dean's Home Services, McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.), MSP Plumbing Heating Air, Plumb Right. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Crystal average is shown.
What can change the price in Crystal?
The portal also has a separate 'Electrical Wire Water Heater' permit and a home gas pipe permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Crystal?
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 →
Air Mechanical
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in 16411 Aberdeen St NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised knowledgeable plumbers who explained water heater condition and options, and a repair that avoided a full replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one Yelp reviewer said technicians consistently try to upsell extras, though without pressure.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Aquarius Home Services
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Current offers (expire September 30, 2026): $400 off tank model water heaters (includes basic installation); $1000 off tankless water heaters (includes basic installation); $149 water heater flush & inspection (excludes tankless); $59 water heater & sump pump safety check —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast replacements (including same-day installs), technicians who offered repair-or-replace options without pressure, and clear explanations.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said a plumber found water-pressure problems that should have been caught when their water heater was replaced, which led to an unexpected higher expense; no BBB complaints about water heater work were visible.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Greater Minneapolis
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in Ramsey.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater replacement, quick diagnosis of water heater problems, and technicians who explained maintenance.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said the lowest of three water heater replacement estimates they got from the company was $2,800 more than another reputable plumber's quote; no company response was shown.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Bonfe Plumbing, Heating & Air
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in Saint Paul.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater repair: '$99 diagnostic fee (waived if repair is completed)' — offers page also lists '$100 OFF Plumbing Services' —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer praised a quick replacement after their water heater failed, knowledgeable staff and 0% financing.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers alleged high water heater replacement prices (one said $4,391 for a 50-gallon unit after discounts), pressure to add a paid membership to get a discount, a delayed invoice, and one said a technician did not address gas leaks found near a water heater; no company responses were shown on these reviews.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dean's Home Services
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in Maple Grove.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Specials (expire 09/30/26): 'Purchase a new water heater and we'll buy back your old one for up to $650'; '$30 Water Heater Flush' (with free water quality test); 'Up to $1,000 Off Water Softener & Water Heater'; '30% Off Water Softener with Water Heater Install'; '$100 OFF PLUMBING Repair or Install' —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater appointments and installations, clear explanations, help with financing and a strong warranty.
Worth knowing In BBB complaints, one landlord said Dean's replaced a 20-year-old water heater (about $1,800) when the real problem was a utility-locked gas meter, and another said a new water heater installed without a relay kept their boiler running; Dean's responded to both, citing the heater's age and saying it fixed the boiler controls and offered a hotel stay (both listed as Answered).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.)
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in St. Paul, MN (street address not shown on pages checked).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater repair diagnostic $99 (repair page); water heater pages show 'Financing as low as $138/mo' and a '$700 off' banner whose offer details were not shown in page text — ;
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water-heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked; one complainant said earlier experiences with McQuillan had been good.
Worth knowing BBB complainants and reviewers alleged unexplained membership and warranty charges, no choice of water heater model, very high quotes and slow warranty-part follow-up; McQuillan defended its pricing in one review response, and both complaints are listed as Resolved.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
MSP Plumbing Heating Air
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in 2415 Ventura Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Tank water heater installation: $2,000 starting price; $3,000 average/most common; $4,000+ higher end. Tankless installation: $6,000 starting; $8,000 average; $10,000+ higher end. Trip fee $88. Coupons: $125 off tank install, $300 off tankless install, $49 water heater drain & flush — ; ;
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast same-day and weekend replacements, online booking, and technicians who explained options and checked gas supply for a larger heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one reviewer described the company as a little spendy.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised quick, often same-day water heater replacements, clean work, and technicians who laid out repair and replacement options without being pushy.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Plumb Right
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in Brooklyn Park.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Coupons page: $100 off water heater installation/replacement; $100 off tankless water heater installation/replacement; $50 off water heater repair; $50 off tankless repair (not valid for trip charge or diagnostic fee; page headed 2025, no expiration shown) —
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Ryan Plumbing & Heating
Lists Crystal among the areas it serves. Based in Minneapolis & Saint Paul, MN (site gives phone numbers for both areas; no street address shown).
- 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 Crystal 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. Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING CRYSTAL
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN CRYSTAL
What Crystal homes are like.
1959Median year built
86%Built before 1980
77%Owner-occupied
85%Heat with utility gas
80%Single-family homes
About 86% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
85% 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 Crystal.
Softened water from Minneapolis
Crystal buys treated Mississippi River water from Minneapolis. In 2025 it measured about 94 ppm (5.5 gpg) hard, much softer than suburban well water.
Crystal 2025 Drinking Water Report ↗ · Minneapolis 2025 record of data ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Crystal homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (the city says Xcel owns and runs nearly all street lights; it doesn't directly name the home power company)
Water
Purchased surface water from the City of Minneapolis (Crystal 2025 Drinking Water Report): Minneapolis plant effluent total hardness averaged 94 ppm (about 5.5 grains per gallon), range 80–113, in Minneapolis's 2025 record of data; Minneapolis softens at its plant.
Crystal 2025 Drinking Water Report ↗ · Minneapolis 2025 plant effluent record of data ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Crystal homes.
For Xcel Energy customers in Crystal. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) ↗Active$400 for an eligible electric heat pump water heater, or $500 for a smart heat pump water heater.
- Natural Gas Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota gas) ↗Active$75 for a standard gas tank water heater at 0.64 UEF (medium draw) or 0.68 UEF (high draw); $250 for a gas tankless water heater at 0.87 UEF or higher.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Minnesota rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Crystal.
Permits and who issues them
Crystal's LOGIS ePermits portal has a flat-fee 'Residential Water Heater - Replacement' permit you apply and pay for online. The city's building division issues permits and inspects plumbing, heating and water/sewer work under the Minnesota State Building Code.
Yes. Crystal's building division licenses plumbing and heating contractors.
City of Crystal Building Division ↗ · Crystal Permits and Inspections ↗ · Crystal ePermits fee estimator list ↗ · Crystal Residential Water Heater - Replacement estimate ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Minnesota licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Crystal.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hope | 1 mi | Required | $50 | Xcel Energy |
| Robbinsdale | 2 mi | Required | $125 | Xcel Energy |
| Brooklyn Center | 3 mi | Required | $85 | Xcel Energy |
| Golden Valley | 3 mi | Required | By job value (from $500) | Xcel Energy |
| Brooklyn Park | 5 mi | Required | — | Xcel Energy |
| Plymouth | 5 mi | Required | — | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Crystal water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Crystal?
$71 in all ($70 plus the $1 state surcharge) to replace one at home.
Where does Crystal get its water?
It buys river water from Minneapolis.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides