Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN GRESHAM
Gresham 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 ↓GRESHAM AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Gresham.
You need a plumbing permit to replace a water heater in Gresham. One swap costs the $130 minimum fee plus Oregon's 12% surcharge, about $145.60. Since late 2025 Gresham has switched from Bull Run water to Cascade groundwater, which the city calls moderately hard at 58–108 mg/L.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Gresham Building Permit Services (also serves parts of East Multnomah County)
- Permit fee
- Replacing a water heater with the same type is $62, but the minimum permit fee is $130. Add a 12% state surcharge, for about $145.60 total (residential plumbing application revised July 1, 2026).
- Who gets the permit
- The application asks for the property owner or a contractor. Contractors must list Construction Contractors Board (CCB), plumbing business and journeyman plumber license numbers, and the city won't process a permit without a valid CCB number. Under Oregon rules, owners may do plumbing on their own home.
- Electric utility
- Portland General Electric
- Gas utility
- NW Natural
- Water
- City of Gresham Water (parts of the city are served by Rockwood Water PUD); both now use Cascade Groundwater Alliance wells · Moderately hard, 58–108 mg/L (about 3.4–6.3 grains per gallon), from the city's 2026 water quality page, after Gresham switched from Bull Run to Cascade groundwater.
- Rebate worth checking
- Energy Trust heat pump water heater incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1981 (median) · 56% 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 Gresham averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Gresham
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeReplacing a water heater with the same type is $62, but the minimum permit fee is $130. Add a 12% state surcharge, for about $145.60 total (residential plumbing application revised July 1, 2026).. City of Gresham Building Permit Services (also serves parts of East Multnomah County) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Gresham post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Portland, Rossco Plumbing. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Gresham average is shown.
What can change the price in Gresham?
Gresham's residential mechanical permit (also a $130 minimum plus 12% surcharge) covers gas appliances and vents. The pages we checked don't say when a gas water heater also needs one.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Gresham?
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 →
Central Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised quick scheduling, clear explanations and a final water heater replacement cost that matched the quote.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
D&F Plumbing, Heating and Cooling
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised same-day water heater replacements, clear explanations of options, and help diagnosing tankless parts under warranty.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said a technician left residue from water heater work across the basement floor without telling them and repeated cleanup requests went unanswered (the company apologized and said it would take the feedback into account).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Fast Water Heater Co. (Oregon)
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Troutdale (Oregon office; company HQ Woodinville, WA).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Oregon reviewers praised same-day installs after a failure, punctual and kind installers, and prices and warranties they found reasonable.
Worth knowing A Portland reviewer said a $1,749 basic install rose to $3,000 with code items including a $500 leak detector the county said was not required, and another said the company wrongly claimed rebate eligibility, costing a $1,200 rebate.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick response, next-day water heater replacement, tidy work and technicians who explained the controls.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Portland
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$200 Off Water Heater Installation' (valid toward qualifying water heater installation; expires 01/31/2027). No base installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A customer praised short-notice service that included replacing a corroded water heater part and a clean work area.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Portland)
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick, friendly water heater replacement and troubleshooting, including a small extra fix done free.
Worth knowing No Portland-specific water heater complaints were found in the sources checked; national BBB complaints about Roto-Rooter water heater work could not be tied to this location.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
1-800-Plumber +Air of Portland
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Beaverton.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Rossco Plumbing
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Battle Ground, WA.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupons: '$100 off Water Heater Installation or Replacement', '$100 off Tankless Water Heater Installation or Replacement', '$50 off Water Heater Repair', '$50 off Tankless Water Heater Repair' (one-time per home; not valid on trip charge/diagnostic fee; no expiration listed). No base installed prices published.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Sky Heating, AC, Plumbing & Electrical
Lists Gresham among the areas it serves. Based in Tualatin.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Gresham 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. Oregon CCB license search ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING GRESHAM
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN GRESHAM
What Gresham homes are like.
1981Median year built
48%Built before 1980
56%Owner-occupied
43%Heat with utility gas
59%Single-family homes
About 48% 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 Gresham.
Gresham's water got harder in 2025–26
Gresham and Rockwood started delivering Cascade Groundwater Alliance well water in late fall 2025, aiming for 100% groundwater by June 2026. The city says the new water is moderately hard (58–108 mg/L), unlike the very soft Bull Run water it used before. Bull Run and Columbia South Shore water are now backups.
City of Gresham – Water Quality ↗ · Gresham 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report ↗
The minimum fee sets the cost
The water heater line is $62, but Gresham's $130 minimum applies, so one water heater permit costs about $145.60 with the 12% state surcharge.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Gresham homes.
Energy
- Electric: Portland General Electric
- Gas: NW Natural
Oregon Department of Energy – Oregon electric utility service areas (ArcGIS layer) ↗ · NW Natural – About NW Natural ↗
Water
City of Gresham Water (parts of the city are served by Rockwood Water PUD); both now use Cascade Groundwater Alliance wells: Moderately hard, 58–108 mg/L (about 3.4–6.3 grains per gallon), from the city's 2026 water quality page, after Gresham switched from Bull Run to Cascade groundwater.
City of Gresham – Water Quality (2026) ↗ · City of Gresham – 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report (PDF) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Gresham homes.
For Portland General Electric and NW Natural customers in Gresham. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Energy Trust heat pump water heater incentive ↗Active$1,200 for a Tier 3 or higher heat pump water heater installed by a licensed contractor in an existing home, applied as an instant discount through the distributor.
- Energy Trust gas tankless water heater incentive ↗Active$400 for an ENERGY STAR gas tankless water heater that replaces an existing gas storage tank water heater.
- Oregon Home Energy Rebates (IRA HEAR and HOMES) ↗Not launchedOregon received over $113 million for the two federal rebate programs, but ODOE says no rebates are currently available and there is no application opening date.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Oregon rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Gresham.
Permits and who issues them
Gresham's building FAQ says replacing a water heater needs a permit because Oregon law requires plumbing permits for them. Use the city's residential plumbing permit application (Gresham/East Multnomah County), and call Permit Services at 503-618-2845 with questions.
Contractor applications need a valid Oregon CCB number, plus plumbing business and journeyman licenses.
City of Gresham Building Permit Services (also serves parts of East Multnomah County) ↗ · City of Gresham – Building Permit FAQ ↗ · City of Gresham – Plumbing Permit Application, Residential (rev. 07/01/2026) ↗ · City of Gresham – Mechanical Permit Application, Residential ↗ · OAR 918-695-0020 – Plumbing license exemptions (owner's own residence) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Oregon CCB license search ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Oregon licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Gresham.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview | 3 mi | Required | — | Portland General Electric |
| Troutdale | 3 mi | Required | $62, | Portland General Electric |
| Damascus | 5 mi | Required (county) | $31.75 | Portland General Electric |
| Happy Valley | 6 mi | Required | $35, | Portland General Electric |
| Milwaukie | 10 mi | Required | $33.60 | Portland General Electric |
| Oatfield | 10 mi | Required (county) | $31.75 | Portland General Electric |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Gresham water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Gresham?
Yes. The city's FAQ says Oregon law requires plumbing permits for water heaters because of fire, shock and explosion risks.
How much does the permit cost?
A same-type replacement is listed at $62, but the $130 minimum applies, plus a 12% state surcharge.
Gresham Residential Plumbing Permit Application (07/01/2026) ↗
Has Gresham's water changed?
Yes. Gresham began moving from Bull Run to Cascade groundwater in late 2025, and the city says the new water is moderately hard (58–108 mg/L). Keep that in mind for sediment and scale in the tank.
More guides: Oregon water heater replacement · All local guides