Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN GALVESTON
Galveston Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓GALVESTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Galveston.
You need a plumbing permit to replace a water heater in Galveston. The heater counts as one fixture at $8, with a $25 minimum, and a gas water heater also needs a separate gas permit. Homeowners with a homestead exemption can pull the plumbing permit but not the gas permit. Texas Gas Service supplies gas, and city water tested at 127 ppm hardness in 2023.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Galveston Development Services, Building Division
- Permit fee
- $8 per fixture (a water heater counts as one) with a $25 minimum plumbing permit fee. A gas permit for up to two floors is $25 (plumbing permit application, no date).
- Who gets the permit
- A master plumber licensed by the state, or a property owner with a homestead exemption filed with the county appraisal district. Homeowners can't get permits for natural gas or propane (LP) piping; the gas rules say 'No Homeowner permits will be issued' for gas work.
- Electric utility
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer and Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider
- Gas utility
- Texas Gas Service
- Water
- City of Galveston Municipal Utilities Department (treated water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority) · Total hardness as CaCO3 127 ppm (about 7.4 gpg), 2023 data in the Water Quality Report 2024, the newest report found
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1973 (median) · 46% 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 Galveston averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Galveston
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$8 per fixture (a water heater counts as one) with a $25 minimum plumbing permit fee. A gas permit for up to two floors is $25 (plumbing permit application, no date).. City of Galveston Development Services, Building Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Galveston post water heater prices or specials on their websites: ARS/Rescue Rooter Houston, Heaton Plumbing, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Galveston & Brazoria Counties. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Galveston average is shown.
What can change the price in Galveston?
Installing a gas water heater, or installing or changing gas piping, needs a gas permit from the Building Division. Galveston requires water heater drain pan lines at least 1 inch wide.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Galveston?
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 Houston
Lists Galveston among the areas it serves. Based in Houston.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: 'Save Up to $300 on a New Water Heater' — purchase and installation of qualifying water heater required; residential only; 'Offer expires 09/30/2026.'
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised a next-morning replacement and an installation crew that kept the customer informed and cleaned up.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers alleged an improper tankless vent and incomplete install (2025) and a reused drain line that leaked three years later, with a $2,500 charge to install a warranty unit (2026); ARS replied citing premium pricing and offered its quality team.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Heaton Plumbing
Lists Galveston among the areas it serves. Based in La Porte.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Downloadable coupon images: $100.00 off tank-type water heater installation and $200.00 off tankless water heater installation (no expiration date visible).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick installation, on-time staff, clean work, and a crew that explained and corrected a previous improper install.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised accurate phone estimates, knowledgeable technicians, and professional tankless installation and maintenance crews.
Worth knowing A 2022 Yelp reviewer said a tankless quote of $3,400–$4,200 by phone became $5,000 for a smaller unit on site.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Galveston & Brazoria Counties
Lists Galveston among the areas it serves. Based in League City.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$200 Off Water Heater Installation' — expires 01/31/2027; valid only at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Galveston; also 10% off for seniors and military (up to $100).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised professional installers who answered questions, and one said charges not covered by the home warranty were explained upfront.
Worth knowing A 2025 Yelp reviewer said a tankless flush was quoted at $325 only on arrival and a hose leaked afterward.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Houston)
Lists Galveston among the areas it serves. Based in Houston.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised a same-day replacement completed within four hours of the call and a repair that avoided a replacement.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said a near-$5,000 replacement was recommended when a second plumber relit the pilot for $100, and that a $250 part was quoted for a six-month-old heater; the company's manager asked both to send service details because the records could not be found.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Order: companies based in Galveston 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. Texas plumbing license lookup ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING GALVESTON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN GALVESTON
What Galveston homes are like.
1973Median year built
61%Built before 1980
46%Owner-occupied
35%Heat with utility gas
58%Single-family homes
About 61% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
63% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
Only 46% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters should ask the landlord or property manager; replacing the heater is usually the owner’s decision.
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 Galveston homes.
Energy
- Electric: CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer (Power to Choose shows CenterPoint for ZIP 77550)
- Electric: Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider (Power to Choose also shows TNMP for ZIP 77550; we didn't find out which addresses it serves)
- Gas: Texas Gas Service (Galveston is on Texas Gas Service's list of areas it serves.)
Texas PUC Power to Choose plan data for ZIP 77550 (company_tdu_name field) ↗ · Texas PUC Power to Choose plan data for ZIP 77551 (company_tdu_name field) ↗ · Texas Gas Service - statewide tariff (QSR-TGS) service-area community list ↗ · TNMP - Gulf Coast communities served (hurricane-season notice) ↗
Water
City of Galveston Municipal Utilities Department (treated water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority): Total hardness as CaCO3 127 ppm (about 7.4 gpg), 2023 data in the Water Quality Report 2024, the newest report found
City of Galveston Water Quality Report 2024 (year ending 12/31/23) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Galveston homes.
For CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer, Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider and Texas Gas Service customers in Galveston. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive ↗ActiveIncentive for replacing an existing electric storage water heater with an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater.
- Texas Gas Service rebates ↗ExpiredThe company says its energy efficiency program has expired and rebates are no longer available.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Texas rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Galveston.
Permits and who issues them
Galveston's plumbing code (Chapter 30) lists a 'hot water heater or hot water heater replacement' as a fixture that needs a plumbing permit, and installing a gas water heater needs a separate gas permit. Galveston uses the 2021 International Plumbing Code with local changes. Only the permit holder or their employee can call for an inspection.
Yes. The plumbing inspector's office registers each plumber's state license for free. Registration expires December 31 and must be renewed every year.
City of Galveston Development Services, Building Division ↗ · Galveston Chapter 30 Plumbing and Gas ordinance (amended in its entirety) ↗ · Galveston Plumbing Permit Application ↗ · Galveston Plumbing Inspections ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Texas plumbing license lookup ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Texas licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Galveston.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Marque | 13 mi | Required | $100 | Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Santa Fe | 16 mi | Required | $150 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Texas City | 18 mi | Required | $75 | Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Dickinson | 19 mi | Check with city | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer, Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Alvin | 23 mi | Required | $100 | Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| League City | 23 mi | Required | $75 | Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) (wires) with a retail electric provider, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Galveston water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Galveston?
Yes. Galveston's plumbing code lists water heater replacement as needing a permit, and gas water heaters also need a gas permit.
Can I replace my own gas water heater?
Partly. With a homestead exemption you can get the plumbing permit, but Galveston doesn't give homeowners gas permits, so a qualified contractor has to get the gas permit.
What does the permit cost?
The city's plumbing application lists $8 per fixture with a $25 minimum, plus $25 for a gas permit covering up to two floors.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides