Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN DOVER
Dover Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓DOVER AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Dover.
Yes, you need a permit in Dover, even if you replace the water heater yourself. Inspection Services charges $6 per fixture plus a $25 application fee for a residential plumbing permit. Eversource supplies electricity and Unitil supplies natural gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Dover Inspection Services (Planning and Community Development)
- Permit fee
- Residential plumbing permit: $6.00 per fixture plus a $25.00 application fee. This is the FY24 adopted fee, which stayed the same in the FY25 proposed schedule. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued, with a $250 minimum.
- Who gets the permit
- New Hampshire law (RSA 153:36) says the plumbing for a water heater install doesn't need a licensed plumber. Homeowners can do plumbing in their own single-family home, and gas work in a single-family home they live in, if they follow local permit and inspection rules. Anyone else doing gas work needs a fuel gas fitter license. Dover's FAQ says homeowners doing their own work still need a permit.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NH)
- Gas utility
- Unitil (Northern Utilities)
- Water
- City of Dover water system
- Typical home
- Built 1976 (median) · 53% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 10 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 Dover averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Dover
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeResidential plumbing permit: $6.00 per fixture plus a $25.00 application fee. This is the FY24 adopted fee, which stayed the same in the FY25 proposed schedule. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued, with a $250 minimum.. City of Dover Inspection Services (Planning and Community Development) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Dover post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Landry Mechanical, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing (Somersworth), Simmons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Dover average is shown.
What can change the price in Dover?
A gas meter installation is $6 per fixture plus a $25 application fee. Residential HVAC is $10 for every $1,000 of installation value, plus $25.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Dover?
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 →
East Coast HVAC
Lists Dover 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.
128 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Wakefield.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback The reviewer praised a prompt next-day estimate and a technician who explained options, pricing and scheduling.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Accurate Baker Elman
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Franklin (second office in Newton).
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick same-day or next-day replacement of failed tanks, tidy installers and a tankless installation they said came in below competitors' quotes.
Worth knowing One Yelp reviewer (John H., 2019) complained about long booking waits and 'graduated scale' warranty pricing on a water heater replacement; no company response was visible.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Boston)
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Stoughton.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater praise specific to the Boston branch was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (Wally S., July 2026) said a hybrid hot water system installed by the Stoughton, Mass.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Landry Mechanical
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Millbury (Framingham location at 763 Waverly St unit 32).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: $75 off tank-type water heater installs or $125 off tankless water heater installs (present at time of sale; not combinable).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised fast response (including weekend and next-day replacements), manufacturer-warranty coordination on tankless and hybrid units, and technicians who explained options.
Worth knowing A BBB reviewer (DR.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing (Somersworth)
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Somersworth, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Offer: 'Get Hot Water Today — Or Get $500 Off' (book by 3pm for same-day installation; valid through 10/15/2026). Also water heater lease option (no money down) and 10% military discount. No installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A Yelp reviewer (2022) praised on-time, friendly crews, clean detailed pipework and an explanation of the system after a boiler and hot water tank replacement.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer (2018) said a two-visit gas water heater repair totaled $222.87, with a part billed at about double its retail price and separate service and labor fees for a 15-minute return visit; no company response was visible.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Sila Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical (Greater Boston)
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Stoneham.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised a free control adjustment and flat-rate flush (2026), a clear diagnosis of a leaking Bosch tankless unit (2026), and professional water heater and boiler replacements.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged replacement quotes ($5,400 in 2019; at least $12,000 in 2024) for problems others fixed for $350 and $750, and one (Jan 2026) said National Grid found a significant gas leak at a newly installed water heater's joint the day after installation; no company responses were visible on these.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Simmons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
Lists Dover among the areas it serves. Based in Seabrook, NH.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: $40 Off All Water Heater Installs. No installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised professional, clean installs, a fair price, and technicians who explained repairs on less common units such as on-demand and solar heaters.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Dover 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 Dover 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 Dover 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 DOVER
What Dover homes are like.
1976Median year built
55%Built before 1980
53%Owner-occupied
42%Heat with utility gas
48%Single-family homes
About 55% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
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 Dover.
Starting early is expensive
If work starts before the permit is issued, Dover doubles the fee, with a minimum of $250 per permit (Resolution R-2023.08.23-139).
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Dover homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NH)
- Gas: Unitil (Northern Utilities)
NH Department of Energy: Utilities by City/Town (Wayback copy, Sept 2026; live site returned 403) ↗ · NH PUC natural gas communities served map (Wayback copy, July 2024) ↗
Water
City of Dover water system
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Dover homes.
For Eversource (NH) and Unitil (Northern Utilities) customers in Dover. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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 Dover.
Permits and who issues them
Dover issues residential plumbing permits, and gas permits for gas appliances, through its online permit portal. You also use the portal to request inspections. The city FAQ says you need a permit even when you work on your own house.
City of Dover Inspection Services (Planning and Community Development) ↗ · Dover FY2025 Proposed Schedule of Fees (shows FY24 adopted fees) ↗ · Dover Inspection Services FAQ ↗ · RSA 153:36 Exceptions (NH General Court) ↗
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 Dover.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | 4 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) |
| Somersworth | 5 mi | Required | $10 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Rochester | 9 mi | Required | — | Eversource (NH) |
| Portsmouth | 10 mi | Required | $75, | Eversource (NH) |
| Hampton | 17 mi | Required | $60 | Unitil, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Derry | 29 mi | Required | $35 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire), Unitil |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Dover water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace my own water heater in Dover?
Yes. Dover's FAQ says homeowners working on their own house need a permit. New Hampshire law lets you do your own plumbing in a single-family home as long as you follow local permit and inspection rules.
Dover Inspection Services FAQ ↗ · RSA 153:36 Exceptions (NH General Court) ↗
What does a residential plumbing permit cost in Dover?
$6 per fixture plus a $25 application fee. If you start before you have the permit, fees double, with a $250 minimum.
More guides: New Hampshire water heater replacement · All local guides