Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MANCHESTER
Manchester Water Heater
Replacement
Take a photo of your old water heater to start a replacement quote.
Get a water heater quotePhotos optional. No payment or booking.
See what replacement costs ↓MANCHESTER AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Manchester.
Manchester hires St. Louis County to handle building permits and inspections, so a water heater replacement is a county No-Plan Plumbing Permit costing $47 in total under the county's November 2025 fee ordinance. Only county-licensed plumbers and water heater replacement specialists can get one, plus owners doing their own work on a detached house they live in. For utilities, Manchester has Ameren Missouri (electric), Spire (gas) and Missouri American Water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works (under contract with the City of Manchester)
- Permit fee
- The county charges $47 in total for a home water heater replacement and skips its separate $47 processing fee (St. Louis County Code §1100.200, Ord. 29445, Nov. 5, 2025).
- Who gets the permit
- St. Louis County gives water heater replacement permits to county-licensed master plumbers or master water heater replacement specialists. An owner who lives in their detached single-family home can get a homeowner permit (which can include one water heater) if they do the work themselves.
- Electric utility
- Ameren Missouri
- Gas utility
- Spire
- Water
- Missouri American Water · Total hardness 82–164 ppm (about 5–10 gpg) from Missouri American's Missouri River plants and 60–150 ppm (about 3.5–9 gpg) from its Meramec River plant, per the 2025 report; the report does not say which plant serves which neighborhood.
- Rebate worth checking
- Missouri IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) (Not launched)
- Typical home
- Built 1977 (median) · 75% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 6 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 Manchester averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Manchester
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeThe county charges $47 in total for a home water heater replacement and skips its separate $47 processing fee (St. Louis County Code §1100.200, Ord. 29445, Nov. 5, 2025).. St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works (under contract with the City of Manchester) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised priceNone of the local company websites we checked list a full installed price.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Manchester average is shown.
What can change the price in Manchester?
Water heaters over 120 gallons (or over 40 kW or 140,000 BTU) are charged under county mechanical permit fees. Electrical work, such as a new circuit, needs a separate county electrical permit. Projects that need a county building permit first need Manchester Municipal Zoning Authorization.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Manchester?
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 →
Beis Plumbing
Lists Manchester among the areas it serves. Based in 280 Vance Rd, Valley Park, MO 63088.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater replacements, code updates explained clearly, careful cleanup and responsive office staff.
Worth knowing Reviewers alleged problems after water heater installs, including ceiling water damage from a misrouted line that the company would not repair, an incorrect installation that caused corrosion and leaking, and dismissive service-manager follow-up; no company responses were visible on these reviews.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Kirkwood Plumbing
Lists Manchester among the areas it serves. Based in 248 Grand Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised an on-time, code-compliant water heater install and a fast same-morning repair.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one testimonial described the install as quite pricey, citing the customer's choice of heater and upgrades.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised kind, knowledgeable plumbers, a temporary fix that restored hot water until replacement, and pricing they considered fair.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Superior Service
Lists Manchester among the areas it serves. Based in 101 Stag Industrial Blvd., Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 (second location: 17722 Chesterfield Airport Rd., Chesterfield, MO 63005).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a well-done gas water heater installation and a technician who caught water heater corrosion during routine maintenance.
Worth knowing A 2025 BBB complaint alleged a water heater and drain-pan install that was never tested and later let water leak into a neighbor's unit, and that Superior charged a $100 visit fee and would not correct it; Superior responded that the work was permitted, passed inspection, excluded the existing drain system, and that the overflow came from equipment it never serviced (listed as Answered).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Faszold Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Faszold Service Co.)
Lists Manchester among the areas it serves. Based in 1613 East Terra Ln, O’Fallon, MO 63366.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (St. Louis)
Lists Manchester among the areas it serves. Based in 2671 Washington Ave, St Louis, MO 63103 (local branch of national company).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- 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 Manchester 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. Missouri has no statewide plumbing license (check your city or county) ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN MANCHESTER
What Manchester homes are like.
1977Median year built
63%Built before 1980
75%Owner-occupied
73%Heat with utility gas
78%Single-family homes
About 63% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
73% 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 Manchester.
Expansion tank required
Under St. Louis County's plumbing code, any new or replacement water heater needs a listed thermal expansion tank on the cold line within 10 feet, labeled with the water pressure and the tank's pre-charge, and a shutoff valve you can reach within 10 feet.
St. Louis County Plumbing Code, Ch. 1103 (2015 UPC with county amendments) ↗
City zoning approval comes first
Manchester's Planning and Zoning Department must give Municipal Zoning Approval before you apply for a county building permit. After the county's final inspection, the county sends an occupancy approval back to the city.
Manchester – Building Permits ↗ · Manchester – Planning, Zoning and Economic Development ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Manchester homes.
Water
Missouri American Water: Total hardness 82–164 ppm (about 5–10 gpg) from Missouri American's Missouri River plants and 60–150 ppm (about 3.5–9 gpg) from its Meramec River plant, per the 2025 report; the report does not say which plant serves which neighborhood.
Missouri PSC Utility Locator ↗ · Missouri American Water 2025 Water Quality Report, St. Louis County / St. Charles County ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Manchester homes.
For Ameren Missouri and Spire customers in Manchester. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Missouri IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) ↗Not launchedMissouri expects about $76 million for HOMES and $75 million for electrification and appliance rebates.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Missouri rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Manchester.
Permits and who issues them
Manchester doesn't issue building permits; it hires St. Louis County to do permits and inspections. The county handles a new or replacement water heater up to 120 gallons as a No-Plan Plumbing Permit: apply and pay online on its permit portal, and an inspection follows. Manchester says its Municipal Zoning Review comes before a county building permit, but doesn't say whether a plumbing-only water heater swap needs one.
Installers need a St. Louis County license as a master or journeyman plumber or water heater replacement specialist.
St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works (under contract with the City of Manchester) ↗ · Manchester – Building Permits ↗ · Manchester – Planning, Zoning and Economic Development ↗ · St. Louis County – No-Plan Plumbing Permits ↗ · St. Louis County Code §1100.200 Plumbing Inspection and Permit Fees (Ord. 29445, Nov. 5, 2025) ↗ · St. Louis County Plumbing Code, Ch. 1103 (2015 UPC with county amendments) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Missouri has no statewide plumbing license (check your city or county) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Missouri licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Manchester.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballwin | 2 mi | Required | — | Ameren Missouri |
| Town and Country | 4 mi | Required | $47 | Ameren Missouri |
| Ellisville | 4 mi | Required | $12 | Ameren Missouri |
| Kirkwood | 5 mi | Required | — | Kirkwood Electric (municipal), Ameren Missouri |
| Chesterfield | 6 mi | Required | $47 | Ameren Missouri |
| Creve Coeur | 6 mi | Required | $47 | Ameren Missouri |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Manchester water heater questions.
Does the City of Manchester issue water heater permits?
No. The city says it doesn't issue building permits and sends you to St. Louis County, which issues water heater replacements as online No-Plan Plumbing Permits.
Manchester – Building Permits ↗ · St. Louis County – No-Plan Plumbing Permits ↗
How much is the permit?
St. Louis County's fee table sets $47 total to replace a home water heater, with no extra processing fee.
St. Louis County Code §1100.200 Plumbing Inspection and Permit Fees (Ord. 29445, Nov. 5, 2025) ↗
Do I need an expansion tank?
Yes. St. Louis County's plumbing code requires a thermal expansion tank within 10 feet of every new or replacement water heater.
St. Louis County Plumbing Code, Ch. 1103 (2015 UPC with county amendments) ↗
More guides: Missouri water heater replacement · All local guides