Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WASHINGTON
Washington Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WASHINGTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Washington.
Washington, in Franklin County, charges at least $40 for a plumbing permit, but the city doesn't say clearly whether replacing a water heater with the same type needs one, so call the Building Department first. Ameren Missouri powers Washington, and Spire delivers the gas. The city's own wells supply some of the hardest water in the region (227–279 mg/L), and a local rule requires a 2-inch drain with a trap in the room where a water heater sits.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Washington Department of Planning and Engineering Services / Building Code Enforcement
- Permit fee
- At least $40 for a plumbing permit and $40 for an HVAC permit, or construction cost × $0.0030 if that's higher (Code Sec. 500.020, Ord. 23-13877, Dec. 4, 2023).
- Electric utility
- Ameren Missouri
- Gas utility
- Spire
- Water
- City of Washington Water Department (nine deep wells; about 7,000 customers). Customers outside city limits pay 150% of city rates. · 227–279 mg/L (about 13–16 gpg) carbonate hardness in September 2023 samples, reported in the 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report
- Rebate worth checking
- Missouri IRA Home Energy Rebates (HOMES and HEAR) (Not launched)
- Typical home
- Built 1978 (median) · 74% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 1 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 Washington averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Washington
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeAt least $40 for a plumbing permit and $40 for an HVAC permit, or construction cost × $0.0030 if that's higher (Code Sec. 500.020, Ord. 23-13877, Dec. 4, 2023).. City of Washington Department of Planning and Engineering Services / Building Code Enforcement 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 Washington average is shown.
What can change the price in Washington?
The city changes the 2021 IRC and IMC so that water heaters and other appliances that make condensation must be in a room with a 2-inch drain with a trap, piped to an approved drain point, with the drain opening in the same room (within 15 feet under the home code change). Gas water heaters can't go in a bedroom, a bathroom, or a closet you reach through one.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Washington?
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 →
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (St. Louis)
Lists Washington 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 Washington 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 WASHINGTON
What Washington homes are like.
1978Median year built
53%Built before 1980
74%Owner-occupied
29%Heat with utility gas
81%Single-family homes
About 53% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
66% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
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 Washington.
Very hard well water
Washington's nine deep wells deliver water with 227–279 mg/L hardness, among the hardest in the St. Louis area. Expect scale buildup in tank and tankless heaters and faster anode wear.
Washington PWS 2025 Annual Water Quality Report ↗ · City of Washington – Water ↗
A drain is required near the water heater
A local rule says water heaters and other appliances that make condensation must sit in a room with a 2-inch drain with a trap, piped to an approved drain point, with the drain opening in the same room.
Where gas water heaters can't go
The city's gas code changes don't allow gas water heaters in bedrooms, bathrooms, or closets you reach through them.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Washington homes.
Water
City of Washington Water Department (nine deep wells; about 7,000 customers). Customers outside city limits pay 150% of city rates.: 227–279 mg/L (about 13–16 gpg) carbonate hardness in September 2023 samples, reported in the 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report
City of Washington – Water ↗ · Washington PWS 2025 Annual Water Quality Report (MO6010838) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Washington homes.
For Ameren Missouri and Spire customers in Washington. 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 Washington.
Permits and who issues them
Washington's building code charges permit fees for plumbing, mechanical and electrical work. Apply and pay on the city's SmartGov license and permit portal, or call the Building Department at (636) 390-1010. No city page or code section names water heater replacement, and the city's 2025 permit report has no plumbing or mechanical permit category.
City of Washington Department of Planning and Engineering Services / Building Code Enforcement ↗ · City of Washington – Building ↗ · City of Washington Code Ch. 500 Building Code, Sec. 500.020 Permit Fee Structure ↗ · City of Washington Ord. 23-13877 adopting 2021 codes with amendments (PDF) ↗ · City of Washington 2025 Annual Building Report (PDF) ↗ · City of Washington – Building Codes ↗
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 Washington.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | 8 mi | Check with city | $35 | Ameren Missouri |
| Wildwood | 19 mi | Required | $47 | Ameren Missouri |
| Wentzville | 20 mi | Check with city | $35, | Ameren Missouri |
| Lake St. Louis | 20 mi | Required | $50 | Cuivre River Electric Cooperative |
| Eureka | 20 mi | Required | $10 | Ameren Missouri |
| Dardenne Prairie | 21 mi | Check with city | — | Ameren Missouri, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Washington water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Washington?
The city code charges plumbing and HVAC permit fees, but no city page names water heater replacement, so check with the Building Department at (636) 390-1010 before you start. Permits are handled on the city's SmartGov portal.
City of Washington – Building ↗ · City of Washington Code Sec. 500.020 ↗
How hard is Washington's water?
The city's 2025 report lists carbonate hardness of 227–279 mg/L (about 13–16 grains per gallon) from its deep wells.
Are there local rules on where a water heater can go?
Yes. The city requires a 2-inch drain with a trap in the same room as a water heater, and gas water heaters can't go in bedrooms, bathrooms or closets opening off them.
More guides: Missouri water heater replacement · All local guides