Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SMITHVILLE
Smithville Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SMITHVILLE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Smithville.
In Smithville, a home water heater adds $5 to a $30 plumbing base fee under the November 2025 fee schedule. Plumbers need a city occupation license backed by a master's license. Electricity comes from Evergy or Platte-Clay Electric, depending on your address, and Spire supplies gas where it's available. The city treats its own Smithville Lake water, which measured 115 mg/L hardness in 2025.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Smithville Development Department
- Permit fee
- Plumbing permit: $30 minimum base fee plus $5 for a home water heater, plus $10 each for the rough and final inspections (2026 Comprehensive Schedule of Fees, effective November 1, 2025).
- Who gets the permit
- The property owner or someone authorized to act for them signs the application, and contractors must list a Smithville occupation license number. City pages don't spell out rules for homeowners installing their own heater.
- Electric utility
- Evergy and Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative
- Gas utility
- Spire
- Water
- City of Smithville (treats Smithville Lake water) · 115 mg/L (listed as carbonate hardness, about 6.7 grains per gallon), sampled 3/18/2025, in the 2025 Annual Water Quality Report.
- Rebate worth checking
- Missouri IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) (Not launched)
- Typical home
- Built 1996 (median) · 84% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 5 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 Smithville averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Smithville
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing permit: $30 minimum base fee plus $5 for a home water heater, plus $10 each for the rough and final inspections (2026 Comprehensive Schedule of Fees, effective November 1, 2025).. City of Smithville Development Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Smithville post water heater prices or specials on their websites: KC Water Heaters, Service Experts Kansas City. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Smithville average is shown.
What can change the price in Smithville?
Mechanical permits have their own $30 base fee plus $5 per furnace. The city charges double the permit fee for work done without a required permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Smithville?
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 →
Hamilton Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Rooter
Lists Smithville among the areas it serves. Based in 8155 Lenexa Dr, Overland Park, KS 66214.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised a meticulous, polite plumber, same-day consultation and installation, and a quick emergency response to a leaking water heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
KC Water Heaters
Lists Smithville among the areas it serves. Based in Kansas City, KS 66106 (city/ZIP per Houzz profile; no street address on company site).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price:
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The one reviewer praised the owner as knowledgeable and fair, and a fast, easy water heater install with no sales pitch.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Snake 'n' Rooter Plumbing Company
Lists Smithville among the areas it serves. Based in 3370 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64064.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The one testimonial praised a technician who explained everything and stayed professional and upbeat through a long, complicated replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; the testimonial itself describes a replacement that took almost 7 hours because the first heater was too big and the right fittings had to be fetched.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Summit Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Lists Smithville among the areas it serves. Based in 1455 Iron St., North Kansas City, MO 64116 (second office: 7331 W 80th St Suite B, Overland Park, KS 66204).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The one reviewer called the company very professional for a tankless water heater, furnace and AC installation.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; the reviewer said the job cost a lot.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Service Experts Kansas City
Lists Smithville among the areas it serves. Based in 9040 Cody Street, Overland Park, KS 66214 (local branch of national company).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price:
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Smithville 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 SMITHVILLE
What Smithville homes are like.
1996Median year built
23%Built before 1980
84%Owner-occupied
40%Heat with utility gas
86%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1996. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
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 Smithville.
Protect your water heater after a water main break
After water main work, Smithville suggests running cold-water faucets until the water is clear and not using hot water, so discolored water doesn't get pulled into the water heater. It also says white or tan bits in the water may come from the water heater.
Water from Smithville Lake
Smithville's own plant treats water from Smithville Lake and can handle 2.5 million gallons a day.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Smithville homes.
Energy
- Electric: Evergy (Listed by the city)
- Electric: Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative (Listed by the city; which company serves you depends on your address)
- Gas: Spire (Listed by the city, but not every home has natural gas. The city says gas is likely downtown and in the Hills of Shannon, Ashmont and Greyhawke subdivisions)
City of Smithville Resident Guide (Evergy, Platte/Clay Electric Cooperative, Spire) ↗ · Spire Missouri West tariff, Index of Communities Served (Sheet 19.1) via MO PSC EFIS ↗
Water
City of Smithville (treats Smithville Lake water): 115 mg/L (listed as carbonate hardness, about 6.7 grains per gallon), sampled 3/18/2025, in the 2025 Annual Water Quality Report.
Smithville Water & Sewer ↗ · Smithville 2025 Annual Water Quality Report ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Smithville homes.
For Evergy, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative and Spire customers in Smithville. 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 Smithville.
Permits and who issues them
Smithville's fee schedule lists a home water heater as a plumbing permit item. Use the city's Incidental Construction (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) permit application, which you can email to development@smithvillemo.org. Inspections need at least four hours' notice.
Yes. Contractors need a Smithville occupation license ($75 renewal). Plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors must also show a master's license from a city that gives a nationally recognized exam.
City of Smithville Development Department ↗ · Smithville Building Inspections ↗ · Smithville 2026 Comprehensive Schedule of Fees ↗ · Smithville Incidental Construction Permit Application ↗ · Smithville Occupation License ↗ · Smithville FAQs ↗
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 Smithville.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kearney | 12 mi | Required | $30 | Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Ameren Missouri |
| Gladstone | 13 mi | Required | By job value (from $31) | Evergy |
| Liberty | 13 mi | Required | By job value (from $12) | Evergy, Ameren Missouri |
| Excelsior Springs | 18 mi | Required | By job value (from $57) | Ameren Missouri, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative |
| Kansas City | 19 mi | Required | — | Evergy |
| Independence | 24 mi | Required | $50 | Independence Power & Light (IPL) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Smithville water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Smithville?
A $30 plumbing base fee plus $5 for a home water heater. The schedule also lists $10 fees for the rough and final inspections (effective November 1, 2025).
What happens if the work is done without a permit?
Smithville charges twice the original permit fee and may make you open up the work for inspection.
Where does Smithville's water come from?
The city treats water from Smithville Lake at its own plant.
More guides: Missouri water heater replacement · All local guides