NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire Water Heater
Replacement

Licensing, rebates, running costs and local guides for 8 New Hampshire communities.

Written by Victoria StewartTechnical review by Phil Montoya, licensed plumber, September 30, 2026Updated September 29, 2026How we research

Local guides in New Hampshire

Licensing in New Hampshire

The Mechanical Licensing Board, a unit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), licenses Master, Journeyman and Apprentice Plumbers and fuel gas fitters (including fuel gas installation and service technicians and piping installers) under RSA 153:27-36. RSA 153:36 exempts plumbing done in connection with installing domestic water heating systems from the plumbing license requirement (the work must still meet code, permit and inspection requirements), but gas piping and gas water heater work still needs a licensed fuel gas fitter unless an exemption applies.

Plumbing and fuel gas rules can be enforced by the city or town building inspection department (RSA 153:35), and homeowners may do plumbing in their own single-family or townhouse home, or gas fitting in an owner-occupied single-family primary residence, without a license if they meet local code, application and inspection requirements (RSA 153:36).

NH OPLC license lookup ↗ · RSA 153:27-153:36 Mechanical Licensing (NH General Court) ↗ · OPLC License Lookup and license status definitions (links the lookup tool) ↗ · OPLC board list (Mechanical Licensing Board) ↗

Rebates and credits in New Hampshire

NHSaves heat pump water heater rebate

NHSaves utilities (Eversource, Liberty Utilities, Unitil, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative) · Active

$900 for a new ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater up to 85 gallons (UEF 3.30 or higher for integrated units, 2.80 or higher for split-system or 120-volt models).

For residential electric customers who buy between January 1 and December 31, 2026, with applications due January 31, 2027. Instant through licensed installers at participating distributors for tanks up to 55 gallons (mail-in for 56–85 gallons), or $900 instant at Home Depot and Lowe's for Eversource customers.

Program details ↗

Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C)

IRS · Ended

Covered improvements made through December 31, 2025. Not available for 2026 installations.

Program details ↗

Checked September 29, 2026. NHSaves also promotes natural gas tankless, storage and condensing water heaters, but its public page listed no amounts. New Hampshire's IRA HEAR status could not be confirmed because energy.nh.gov blocked automated access. Utility rebates are only for that utility’s customers. Each city guide shows the rebates for its utilities.

What it costs to run in New Hampshire

Estimated yearly energy cost at New Hampshire’s average residential prices: 26.79¢ per kWh (year to date through July 2026) and $18.61 per thousand cubic feet of gas (2025 annual average).

Estimated yearly energy cost by water heater type in New Hampshire
Type	Efficiency (UEF)	Energy per year	Est. cost per year
Gas storage tank	0.64	174 therms	$313
Gas tankless	0.93	120 therms	$215
Electric storage tank	0.92	3,556 kWh	$953
Heat-pump tank	3.5	935 kWh	$250

Assumes the Department of Energy’s medium-use test: 55 gallons a day heated 67°F, and typical efficiency ratings for each type. Colder incoming water, larger households and your utility’s actual rates change the result. Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B ↗ · EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential ↗ · ENERGY STAR test conditions ↗.

New Hampshire Water HeaterReplacement