Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN DURHAM
Durham Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓DURHAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Durham.
Yes, you need a permit to replace a water heater in Durham, and the town's ordinance says a licensed Master Plumber must get it. Residential permits cost $50 plus $7 for every $1,000 of job cost (December 2025 fee schedule). Eversource supplies most electricity, with NHEC serving some of town, and Unitil supplies gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Town of Durham Building/Code Enforcement Office
- Permit fee
- Residential electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits: $50 to apply plus $7 for every $1,000 of construction cost. Work done without a permit costs at least $100 or 200% of the fee (Master Fee Schedule updated 12/15/25).
- Who gets the permit
- Durham's ordinance (97-8) says a New Hampshire-licensed Master Plumber must get the plumbing permit. State law (RSA 153:36) says water heater plumbing and homeowners working on their own home don't need a license, so ask the Code Enforcement Officer how Durham handles this.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NH) and New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC)
- Gas utility
- Unitil (Northern Utilities)
- Typical home
- Built 1973 (median) · 54% 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 Durham averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Durham
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeResidential electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits: $50 to apply plus $7 for every $1,000 of construction cost. Work done without a permit costs at least $100 or 200% of the fee (Master Fee Schedule updated 12/15/25).. Town of Durham Building/Code Enforcement Office fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Durham post water heater prices or specials on their websites: 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 Durham average is shown.
What can change the price in Durham?
Installing a gas furnace or oil burner is a separate $50-per-unit charge in the fee schedule.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Durham?
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 Durham 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.
Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing (Somersworth)
Lists Durham 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.
Simmons Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
Lists Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham 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 DURHAM
What Durham homes are like.
1973Median year built
57%Built before 1980
54%Owner-occupied
22%Heat with utility gas
48%Single-family homes
About 57% 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 Durham.
Town rule calls for a Master Plumber
Durham's plumbing ordinance says a state-licensed Master Plumber must get the permit. That is stricter than state law (RSA 153:36), which exempts homeowners and water heater work from licensing.
Durham Ch. 97 ↗ · RSA 153:36 Exceptions (NH General Court) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Durham homes.
Energy
- Electric: Eversource (NH)
- Electric: New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) (NH DOE lists NHEC as also serving parts of Durham)
- 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) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Durham homes.
For Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) and Unitil (Northern Utilities) customers in Durham. 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 Durham.
Permits and who issues them
Durham's plumbing ordinance (Chapter 97) says you can't install or change any part of the water piping system without a plumbing permit first. That includes replacing a water heater. The town uses one combined application for plumbing, gas, mechanical, fire and septic permits (updated December 2025).
Town of Durham Building/Code Enforcement Office ↗ · Durham Municipal Code Ch. 97 Plumbing Code & Regulations ↗ · Durham Master Fee Schedule (updated 12/15/25) ↗ · Durham Plumbing, Gas, Mechanical, Fire and Septic Permit Application (12/17/2025) ↗ · 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 Durham.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 4 mi | Required | $6 | Eversource (NH) |
| Somersworth | 8 mi | Required | $10 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Portsmouth | 9 mi | Required | $75, | Eversource (NH) |
| Rochester | 11 mi | Required | — | Eversource (NH) |
| Hampton | 15 mi | Required | $60 | Unitil, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Derry | 25 mi | Required | $35 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire), Unitil |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Durham water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Durham?
Yes. Durham's plumbing ordinance makes it illegal to install or change any part of the water piping without a plumbing permit.
What does the permit cost?
$50 to apply plus $7 for every $1,000 of construction cost for residential plumbing or mechanical permits (updated 12/15/25).
More guides: New Hampshire water heater replacement · All local guides