Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN ROCHESTER
Rochester Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓ROCHESTER AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Rochester.
A gas water heater swap in Rochester usually needs two permits: a Plumbing Permit and a Mechanical Permit for gas lines and venting. You can get both online from Building & Licensing Services. Eversource provides electricity and Unitil provides natural gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Rochester Building & Licensing Services (City Hall Annex, 33 Wakefield Street)
- Who gets the permit
- State law (RSA 153:36) exempts water heater plumbing from New Hampshire's plumber license rule. A homeowner can also do plumbing in their own single-family home and gas work in a single-family home that is their main residence, following local permit and inspection rules. Otherwise, gas work takes a licensed fuel gas fitter.
- Electric utility
- Eversource (NH)
- Gas utility
- Unitil (Northern Utilities)
- Water
- City of Rochester water system
- Typical home
- Built 1978 (median) · 66% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 6 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 Rochester averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Rochester
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Rochester post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing (Somersworth). Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Rochester average is shown.
What can change the price in Rochester?
The Mechanical Permit covers gas line and piping work, venting and propane tanks.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Rochester?
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 →
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Boston)
Lists Rochester 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.
East Coast HVAC
Lists Rochester 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Southern Massachusetts
Lists Rochester among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water-heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged repeated leaks and unfinished warranty repairs on an on-demand water heater install (2024) and a $400 charge for a filter cleaning (2021); the 2024 reviewer said the company later called to try to resolve it but asked that the review be removed first.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing (Somersworth)
Lists Rochester 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.
Dry Air Systems
Lists Rochester 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 Rochester 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 Rochester 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 ROCHESTER
What Rochester homes are like.
1978Median year built
52%Built before 1980
66%Owner-occupied
20%Heat with utility gas
54%Single-family homes
About 52% 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 Rochester 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 Rochester water system
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Rochester homes.
For Eversource (NH) and Unitil (Northern Utilities) customers in Rochester. 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 Rochester.
Permits and who issues them
Rochester requires a Plumbing Permit for all plumbing work. Heating, gas lines and piping, ventilation and propane tanks need a Mechanical Permit, so a gas water heater swap usually needs both. You can file online or on paper forms. Pay the application fee when you apply, and wait for approval before starting work.
City of Rochester Building & Licensing Services (City Hall Annex, 33 Wakefield Street) ↗ · Rochester Building & Licensing Services: Permits (Wayback copy, Jan 2026; live site returned 403) ↗ · 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 Rochester.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somersworth | 5 mi | Required | $10 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Dover | 9 mi | Required | $6 | Eversource (NH) |
| Durham | 11 mi | Required | $50 | Eversource (NH), New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) |
| Portsmouth | 19 mi | Required | $75, | Eversource (NH) |
| Hampton | 26 mi | Required | $60 | Unitil, Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire) |
| Derry | 32 mi | Required | $35 | Eversource (Public Service of New Hampshire), Unitil |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Rochester water heater questions.
Which permits cover a gas water heater replacement in Rochester?
Rochester lists a Plumbing Permit for all plumbing work and a Mechanical Permit for heating, gas lines and piping, ventilation and propane tanks.
Can a homeowner do the work?
Yes. New Hampshire law lets homeowners do plumbing in their own single-family home and gas fitting in a single-family home they live in. You still have to follow Rochester's permit and inspection rules.
More guides: New Hampshire water heater replacement · All local guides