Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth, NH Water Heater
Replacement
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PORTSMOUTH AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Portsmouth.
A typical water heater swap in Portsmouth costs the $75 minimum permit fee. You apply online through ViewPoint Cloud for a residential plumbing permit or a mechanical/gas permit from the Inspection Department. Eversource supplies electricity and Unitil supplies natural gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Portsmouth Inspection Department (City Hall, 1 Junkins Avenue)
- Permit fee
- Residential plumbing, mechanical and gas permits cost at least $75, rounded up to the nearest $5. Item rates are $5 per gas appliance, such as a water heater, and $5 per plumbing fixture, so one water heater swap pays the $75 minimum. After several failed inspections, each re-inspection is $100. (The city's fee page has no date.)
- Who gets the permit
- Under RSA 153:36, New Hampshire doesn't require a plumber's license for the plumbing that goes with a water heater install. Homeowners may do plumbing in their own single-family home, and gas work in one they live in as their main home, when they follow local permit and inspection rules. All other gas work needs a licensed fuel gas fitter.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NH)
- Gas utility
- Unitil (Northern Utilities)
- Water
- City of Portsmouth Water Division
- Typical home
- Built 1959 (median) · 52% 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 Portsmouth averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Portsmouth
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeResidential plumbing, mechanical and gas permits cost at least $75, rounded up to the nearest $5. Item rates are $5 per gas appliance, such as a water heater, and $5 per plumbing fixture, so one water heater swap pays the $75 minimum. After several failed inspections, each re-inspection is $100. (The city's fee page has no date.). City of Portsmouth Inspection Department (City Hall, 1 Junkins Avenue) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth average is shown.
What can change the price in Portsmouth?
Gas distribution piping is $30 per gas meter. Heating equipment is $20 each.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Portsmouth?
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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 PORTSMOUTH
What Portsmouth homes are like.
1959Median year built
66%Built before 1980
52%Owner-occupied
51%Heat with utility gas
49%Single-family homes
About 66% 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.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth Water Division
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Portsmouth homes.
For Eversource (NH) and Unitil (Northern Utilities) customers in Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth.
Permits and who issues them
Portsmouth takes Residential Plumbing Permit and Residential Mechanical/Gas Permit applications online through ViewPoint Cloud. Plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire permits are separate from building permits. You can check your application's status online and get email updates.
City of Portsmouth Inspection Department (City Hall, 1 Junkins Avenue) ↗ · Portsmouth: Building Permits Fee Schedule ↗ · Portsmouth: Permit Applications ↗ · 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 Portsmouth.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton | 8 mi | Required | $60 | Unitil, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Durham | 9 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) |
| Dover | 10 mi | Required | $6 | Eversource (NH) |
| Somersworth | 14 mi | Required | $10 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Rochester | 19 mi | Required | — | Eversource (NH) |
| Derry | 28 mi | Required | $35 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire), Unitil |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Portsmouth water heater questions.
What is the permit fee for a water heater in Portsmouth?
Portsmouth charges at least $75 for residential plumbing, mechanical and gas permits. At $5 per appliance, one water heater stays at that minimum.
How do I apply?
Apply online through the city's ViewPoint Cloud permit center. Use the Residential Plumbing Permit, the Residential Mechanical/Gas Permit, or both.
More guides: New Hampshire water heater replacement · All local guides