Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN DERRY
Derry 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 ↓DERRY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Derry.
Yes, you need a permit in Derry, and a gas water heater can need two. The Building Division issues the plumbing permit online for $35 plus $7 for a standard tank. Derry Fire Administration issues the gas piping and mechanical permits. Homeowners who live in the house can do their own plumbing after filing a notarized affidavit.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Derry Code Enforcement / Building Division (plumbing); Derry Fire Administration (gas piping and mechanical)
- Permit fee
- $35 application fee (not refundable) plus $7 for a water storage tank of 0-100 gallons. Larger tanks are $9-$18. Derry says plumbing fees did not change in 2023.
- Who gets the permit
- Only a licensed NH Master Plumber can apply for a Derry plumbing permit. The exception is an owner who lives in the house as their primary home. They can do the work after filing a notarized Homeowner Affidavit, a copy of their driver's license and a plumbing diagram approved by the building inspector, and they must come to the office in person. State law (RSA 153:36) also lets owners who live in their single-family home do their own gas fitting.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) and Unitil
- Gas utility
- Liberty Utilities
- Water
- Derry Water Division (town system) or private wells
- Rebate worth checking
- NHSaves heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1982 (median) · 59% 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 Derry averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Derry
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$35 application fee (not refundable) plus $7 for a water storage tank of 0-100 gallons. Larger tanks are $9-$18. Derry says plumbing fees did not change in 2023.. Town of Derry Code Enforcement / Building Division (plumbing); Derry Fire Administration (gas piping and mechanical) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Derry post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Walley's Heating & Air. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Derry average is shown.
What can change the price in Derry?
Gas piping and mechanical work need a separate permit from Derry Fire Administration. New electrical wiring needs a separate electrical permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Derry?
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 →
Ace Hardware Home Services (Boston office)
Lists Derry among the areas it serves. Based in Billerica.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised a same-day emergency tankless installation and punctual, well-explained maintenance that included a hot water heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
East Coast HVAC
Lists Derry among the areas it serves. Based in Dover, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A Yelp reviewer (2020) praised the team's communication, scheduling flexibility and respect for the home during a propane on-demand water heater installation.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer (Dec 2024) said a $4,100 water heater quote had no itemized costs, and another (2018) said they were told the company was not taking new customers; no company responses were visible.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Walley's Heating & Air
Lists Derry among the areas it serves. Based in Nashua, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Emergency service
Published price: Fall specials (NH service region, residential up to 4 units): electric water heater replacements starting at $1,999 (40-gal; +$100 for 50-gal); chimney vent from $2,199 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal); power vent from $2,999 (40-gal; +$200 for 50-gal). Includes town permit, inspection, old tank removal, install and connections as-is; code-upgrade accessories, relocation or fuel conversion extra.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised thorough proposals, competitive pricing, a 5-year labor warranty, smooth project management and clean installations, including follow-up on a post-install sediment issue.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Derry among the areas it serves. Based in Newburyport.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater New Hampshire
Lists Derry among the areas it serves. Based in Manchester, NH.
- 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 Derry 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. NH OPLC license lookup ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN DERRY
What Derry homes are like.
1982Median year built
43%Built before 1980
59%Owner-occupied
11%Heat with utility gas
53%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1982. 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 Derry.
Gas work goes to the Fire Department
In Derry, the Fire Administration issues gas piping and mechanical permits, while the Building Division handles plumbing. Swapping a gas water heater means getting a Fire Department permit on top of any plumbing permit.
Town of Derry: Online Permits ↗ · Town of Derry Fee Schedules ↗
Homeowners can do their own plumbing
If you own and live in the house, you can get the plumbing permit yourself with a notarized Homeowner Affidavit and an approved plumbing diagram.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Derry homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) (most of town)
- Electric: Unitil (serves part of Derry)
- Gas: Liberty Utilities (very small part of Derry)
Eversource: Communities we serve ↗ · Unitil: Service Areas ↗
Water
Derry Water Division (town system) or private wells
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Derry homes.
For Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire), Unitil and Liberty Utilities customers in Derry. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- NHSaves heat pump water heater rebate ↗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).
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: New Hampshire rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Derry.
Permits and who issues them
Derry requires a plumbing permit for any plumbing work, new or repair, and you can only apply online. Mechanical, gas piping and oil burner permits come from Derry Fire Administration (603-432-6751), so a gas water heater also involves the Fire Department.
We found no separate town contractor license.
Town of Derry Code Enforcement / Building Division (plumbing); Derry Fire Administration (gas piping and mechanical) ↗ · Town of Derry: Online Permits ↗ · Town of Derry: Items That Require a Building Permit ↗ · Town of Derry Plumbing Fees (Code ch. 30, Attachment 3) ↗ · Town of Derry Fee Schedules ↗ · NH RSA 153:36 Exceptions (mechanical licensing) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the NH OPLC license lookup ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. New Hampshire licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Derry.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Londonderry | 5 mi | Check with city | $100 | Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) |
| Hampton | 23 mi | Required | $60 | Unitil, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Durham | 25 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) |
| Portsmouth | 28 mi | Required | $75, | Eversource (NH) |
| Dover | 29 mi | Required | $6 | Eversource (NH) |
| Somersworth | 32 mi | Required | $10 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Derry water heater questions.
Who issues the permit for a gas water heater in Derry?
The Building Division issues the plumbing permit. Derry Fire Administration issues the gas piping and mechanical permits.
Town of Derry: Online Permits ↗ · Town of Derry Fee Schedules ↗
How much is the plumbing permit?
$35 to apply, plus $7 for a water storage tank up to 100 gallons.
Can I install my own water heater in Derry?
Yes, if you own and live in the house. Apply for the plumbing permit with a notarized Homeowner Affidavit and an approved plumbing diagram. NH law also lets you do your own gas fitting in a single-family home you live in.
Town of Derry: Online Permits ↗ · NH RSA 153:36 Exceptions (mechanical licensing) ↗
More guides: New Hampshire water heater replacement · All local guides