Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN KATY
Katy Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓KATY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Katy.
Katy lists water heaters as work that needs a permit. The fee schedule charges a $30 application fee plus $5 for the water heater, with a $15 minimum, so one replacement is likely about $45. CenterPoint delivers power. Contractors pay $200 a year to register and must carry $300,000 in liability insurance. City water comes from six city well plants drawing on the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Katy Permit & Building Services Division
- Permit fee
- Plumbing permits: $30 application fee, $5 per water heater and/or vent, and a $15 minimum fee (Appendix A, Ordinance 3001 adopted 9/27/21). So one replacement is likely about $45.
- Who gets the permit
- A contractor registered with the City of Katy (only people the contractor authorizes can call for inspections). The portal also has homeowner accounts, but the city pages we read don't spell out homeowner rules. State law lets you do your own plumbing on your homestead.
- Electric utility
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy (gas)
- Water
- City of Katy (groundwater from six city well plants on the Gulf Coast Aquifer)
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2003 (median) · 81% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 12 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 Katy averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Katy
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing permits: $30 application fee, $5 per water heater and/or vent, and a $15 minimum fee (Appendix A, Ordinance 3001 adopted 9/27/21). So one replacement is likely about $45.. City of Katy Permit & Building Services Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price7 of the companies listed for Katy post water heater prices or specials on their websites: MET Plumbing, Planet Houston Plumbing, ARS/Rescue Rooter Houston, Heaton Plumbing, John Moore Services, Nick's Plumbing & Air Conditioning, Village Plumbing, Air & Electric. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Katy average is shown.
What can change the price in Katy?
Gas permits have their own $30 application fee and a $15 minimum for up to 5 outlets. Electrical permits also have a $30 application fee. Re-inspections start at $50 and go up $25 each time.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Katy?
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 →
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day replacements, itemized quotes, clean work, and a 6-year parts-and-labor warranty.
Worth knowing A 2024 Yelp reviewer said a water heater quote appointment was a no-call no-show; the owner apologized publicly.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
MET Plumbing
Lists Katy among the areas it serves. Based in Katy.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$150 OFF Tankless Water Heater Installation'. Water heater page also gives general ranges, e.g. heat pump water heaters 'usually range from $1,000 to $3,000'.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised honest repair-before-replace advice, timely replacement, and a courtesy check of an aging tank with maintenance options.
Worth knowing A 2014 Yelp reviewer said a heater MET installed failed after three years, and the company quoted $500 labor for the warranty part before charging $1,200 for a new heater.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Planet Houston Plumbing
Lists Katy among the areas it serves. Based in Katy.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: '$100 OFF Water Heater Installation'; also 10% off for veterans and seniors.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised an affordable thermocouple repair, a tankless attic repair, and a replacement where the company found remaining warranty coverage.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
Lists Katy among the areas it serves. Based in Houston.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day replacement of a leaking heater and a technician who offered several options.
Worth knowing One reviewer alleged a burner plate was loosened during an AC maintenance visit and a quote followed; Abacus replied asking her to call.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
ARS/Rescue Rooter Houston
Lists Katy 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.
Brick Plumbing
Lists Katy among the areas it serves. Based in Pearland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A testimonial praised a professional plumber who explained the work, with prices the reviewer found reasonable.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Heaton Plumbing
Lists Katy 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.
John Moore Services
Lists Katy among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupons: 'Save $40 on a water heater replacement' (traditional), 'Save $100 on a tankless water heater system', '$99 Traditional Water Heater Flush' — limit one per household, expire 12/31/2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised clear upfront pricing for tankless service, same-day work after explaining what the water heaters needed, and prompt warranty service.
Worth knowing A 2026 BBB reviewer said an $18,000 tankless replacement quote was avoided with a $125 pump from another plumber.
6 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Nick's Plumbing & Air Conditioning
Lists Katy among the areas it serves. Based in Houston.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupon: '$2,000 Water Heater Credit with Variable Speed System Purchase' — applies toward any water heater replacement bought together with a qualifying Daikin variable-speed AC system; offer expires September 30, 2026. Also lists a '$275 Tankless Water Heater Flush'.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a friendly, efficient installer with good cleanup and help bringing a water heater up to code.
Worth knowing Customers on BBB and Yelp disputed tankless and tank replacement prices (about $7,000 and $4,900).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Also listing Katy: Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Houston), Village Plumbing, Air & Electric.
Order: companies based in Katy 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 KATY
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN KATY
What Katy homes are like.
2003Median year built
20%Built before 1980
81%Owner-occupied
63%Heat with utility gas
88%Single-family homes
About 40% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
63% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
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 Katy.
Skipping the permit doubles the cost
Katy's building permit application warns that fees double when work is done without a permit.
All well water
Katy's water report says all of the city's drinking water is groundwater pumped from the Gulf Coast Aquifer at six city-owned well plants.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Katy homes.
Energy
- Electric: CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider (Power to Choose shows only CenterPoint for ZIPs 77494 and 77450, which cover parts of Katy)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy (gas)
Texas PUC Power to Choose plan data for ZIP 77494 (company_tdu_name field) ↗ · Texas PUC Power to Choose plan data for ZIP 77450 (company_tdu_name field) ↗ · CenterPoint Energy - Texas Geographic Rate Areas by City (natural gas) ↗
Water
City of Katy (groundwater from six city well plants on the Gulf Coast Aquifer)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Katy homes.
For CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider and CenterPoint Energy (gas) customers in Katy. 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.
- 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 Katy.
Permits and who issues them
Katy's permit page lists water heaters as work that needs a permit. Apply, pay and book inspections in the city's Civic Access portal. Katy uses the 2021 International codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Yes. All contractors must register every year: $100 registration plus a $100 administration fee ($200), with proof of at least $300,000 in liability insurance naming the City of Katy.
City of Katy Permit & Building Services Division ↗ · City of Katy Permit & Building Services ↗ · Katy Code of Ordinances, Appendix A Fee Schedule, Art. A5.000 Building-related fees (Municode) ↗ · City of Katy Contractor Registration Form and pre-construction information (PDF) ↗ · Texas Plumbing License Law (Occupations Code ch. 1301), TSBPE plain-view text, Sept. 2025 ↗
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 Katy.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinco Ranch | 6 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
| Fulshear | 7 mi | Check with city | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
| Mission Bend | 12 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Pecan Grove | 13 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Four Corners | 14 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Richmond | 15 mi | Check with city | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Katy water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Katy?
The fee schedule sets a $30 application fee, $5 per water heater and a $15 minimum plumbing fee, so one replacement is likely about $45.
Katy Code of Ordinances, Appendix A Fee Schedule, Art. A5.000 Building-related fees (Municode) ↗
Does my contractor have to register with the City of Katy?
Yes. It's $200 a year ($100 plus a $100 administration fee), and they need $300,000 in liability insurance listing the city.
City of Katy Contractor Registration Form and pre-construction information (PDF) ↗
Where does Katy's water come from?
Well water from six city well plants on the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides