Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SAN ANTONIO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in San Antonio.
In San Antonio, a licensed plumber can replace your water heater with the same type first and then file a Limited Service and Repair (LSR) permit within three working days. The fee is a $57.50 base plus $9.20 for the heater, before 8% in surcharges, so roughly $72. CPS Energy, the city-owned utility, supplies both power and gas. SAWS water is usually 15–20 grains per gallon hard.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD)
- Permit fee
- $57.50 plumbing permit base fee plus $9.20 per water heater/vent ($66.70), before the 4% technology and 4% development services surcharges (about $72). A 3% card fee and an $11.50 convenience fee can apply if staff process the application (FY 2027 schedule, revised September 2026). The same table covers LSR permits for existing homes.
- Who gets the permit
- LSR permits are for licensed plumbing contractors. A homeowner can apply for a plumbing permit only for an existing home that is their homestead, and only if they do the work themselves (Plumbing Homeowner Affidavit). Otherwise licensed contractors pull trade permits.
- Electric utility
- CPS Energy (City of San Antonio-owned)
- Gas utility
- CPS Energy
- Water
- San Antonio Water System (SAWS) · Typically 15–20 grains per gallon per SAWS (undated FAQ); the 2026 SAWS water quality report (2025 data) lists no hardness value.
- Typical home
- Built 1985 (median) · 52% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 9 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 San Antonio averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in San Antonio
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$57.50 plumbing permit base fee plus $9.20 per water heater/vent ($66.70), before the 4% technology and 4% development services surcharges (about $72). A 3% card fee and an $11.50 convenience fee can apply if staff process the application (FY 2027 schedule, revised September 2026). The same table covers LSR permits for existing homes.. City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price5 of the companies listed for San Antonio post water heater prices or specials on their websites: George Plumbing, Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing (San Antonio), Jon Wayne Service Company, Mr. Plumber (San Antonio), Beyer Plumbing. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no San Antonio average is shown.
What can change the price in San Antonio?
The LSR permit doesn't cover moving the heater, work that needs new or upgraded piping, plumbing work worth more than about $2,000, or a change of type or size (tank to tankless, tankless to tank, electric to gas, gas to electric). Those need a general plumbing permit and city (DSD) inspections. Gas work needs a separate gas permit ($57.50 base; $9.20 to replace a gas line).
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in San Antonio?
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 →
Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air (Service Experts San Antonio)
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised prompt, professional replacements with the tank on the truck, and reliable service on an outdoor gas tankless unit.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said Aramendia recommended $3,400 and $4,000 replacements for heaters another plumber then got working (2025, 2024).
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
George Plumbing
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Special: '$300 Off Any Tankless Water Heater Installation OR 12-Month Same-As-Cash Financing' (specials page shows expiration dates of 09/30/2026 on offers; not combinable).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised clear repair-or-replace options, punctual crews and careful work, including a replacement that fixed a previously botched install.
Worth knowing A 2023 Yelp reviewer blamed pipe quality for corrosion and a leak on a 2019 install; the owner replied that it had advised them to use another company.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing (San Antonio)
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Specials on water heater page: 'Save 10% off a brand new tankless water heater'; '$599 Water Heater Renewal Special' (relief valve check, flush, anode rod and drain valve replacement); '$129 Plumbing Rejuuuvenation' tank flush with plumbing inspection; 5% discounts for first responders, seniors 65+ and military/veterans.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised tankless conversions, quick repairs and well-explained options on water heater visits.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant said a tankless water heater failed daily for five days after technicians had trouble programming it, and objected to what they described as a $21,000 overpayment.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Jon Wayne Service Company
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Tank water heater installation 'you can expect it to start at $2,372' (estimate; varies). Coupon page: 'Get a Free Water Heater Included When You Purchase Qualifying Systems'.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback BBB reviewers praised professional installation and maintenance, and one said the technician advised that a 20-year-old heater could keep running.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said Jon Wayne would not work with a manufacturer's warranty on a heater it had installed (2026), quoted $2,400 to install a customer-supplied heater (2020), and pushed a roughly $8,000 tankless system during a pump repair (2019).
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Mr. Plumber (San Antonio)
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: 'For Limited Time: Take $250* Off a New Tankless Water Heater OR Get $150 Off* a New Tank Water Heater' (*restrictions apply).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A reviewer praised a technician who installed a new water heater and water softener.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (San Antonio)
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a technician's advice on a water heater problem and fast after-hours help with a leaking expansion tank.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers raised a 2026 permit delay that left them without hot water, a 2016 installation another plumber said would fail inspection, and a $587 pressure-valve charge.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Beyer Plumbing
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Offer: '$300 Off Water Heater Installation or Replacement with 0% financing for 18 months' — conventional and tankless heaters purchased through Beyer, new systems only, financing for well-qualified buyers.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised on-time, well-explained water heater repairs and replacements, including a 2023 heater and softener install.
Worth knowing A 2019 Yelp reviewer disputed $217 parts-acquisition and $435 difficult-installation charges, and said the first was refunded after they complained.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
San Antonio Plumbing Company
Lists San Antonio among the areas it serves. Based in Helotes.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised courteous technicians, quick scheduling and help coordinating a warranty-company water heater replacement.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers described a 2020 $4,100 quote for a 75-gallon gas heater without an itemized receipt, return visits after hot and cold lines were swapped, and a 2024 heater left unplugged.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A maintenance-plan customer praised reliable scheduling, arrival calls and thorough technicians on visits that included their water heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 29, 2026.
Order: companies based in San Antonio 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 SAN ANTONIO
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SAN ANTONIO
What San Antonio homes are like.
1985Median year built
43%Built before 1980
52%Owner-occupied
28%Heat with utility gas
61%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1985. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
70% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
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 San Antonio.
You can ask for a free inspection
Under the LSR program, the city (DSD) mails you a notice after your contractor gets the permit. You can accept the contractor's certification or ask for a city inspection within 30 days at no extra cost. You'll need to let the inspector in.
Changing heater types means a regular permit
Switching from tank to tankless, tankless to tank, or gas to electric (or the other way) isn't allowed under LSR. It goes through the regular plumbing permit and inspection process.
Very hard water
SAWS says its water is usually 15–20 grains per gallon hard, which builds up scale faster in tank and tankless heaters.
Doing it yourself takes an affidavit
To do your own plumbing on your homestead, apply with a Plumbing Homeowner Affidavit. Texas law lets homestead owners skip the plumbing license, but not the permit.
SA DSD Residential Permits ↗ · TSBPE Plumbing License Law (plain view, Sept 2025), Occ. Code §1301.051 homestead exemption ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies San Antonio homes.
Energy
- Electric: CPS Energy (City of San Antonio-owned) (Serves San Antonio and parts of seven nearby counties; you can't choose another electricity company here)
- Gas: CPS Energy (City-owned natural gas utility)
Water
San Antonio Water System (SAWS): Typically 15–20 grains per gallon per SAWS (undated FAQ); the 2026 SAWS water quality report (2025 data) lists no hardness value.
SAWS Water Quality FAQs (hardness) ↗ · SAWS 2026 Water Quality Report (2025 data) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for San Antonio homes.
For CPS Energy (City of San Antonio-owned) and CPS Energy customers in San Antonio. 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 29, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Texas rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in San Antonio.
Permits and who issues them
Replacing a water heater with the same type, in the same spot, on the existing vent, gas line and/or circuit qualifies for the city's Limited Service and Repair (LSR) plumbing permit. The licensed plumbing contractor does the work first, gets the LSR permit within three working days, and certifies that it meets code instead of scheduling a city inspection. The owner gets a notice and can ask for a free city inspection within 30 days. Work outside the LSR rules needs a general plumbing permit with city inspections.
The fee schedule says you need a Texas license to do plumbing in the city. It lists city registration fees only for water treatment and irrigator licenses ($97.75), not for plumbers.
City of San Antonio Development Services Department (DSD) ↗ · SA DSD Information Bulletin 121c: Plumbing Limited Service and Repair (LSR) permits (rev. Sept 25, 2026) ↗ · SA DSD FY 2027 Development Fee Schedule (revised Sept 2026) ↗ · SA DSD Fee Schedule & Estimator page ↗ · SA DSD Residential Permits ↗
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 San Antonio.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Valley | 6 mi | Check with city | $100 | CPS Energy |
| Live Oak | 13 mi | Required | $60 | CPS Energy |
| Converse | 14 mi | Check with city | $100 | CPS Energy |
| Universal City | 14 mi | Required | $110 | CPS Energy, GVEC |
| Selma | 15 mi | Required | $75 | CPS Energy, GVEC, Reliant Energy (Entex) |
| Timberwood Park | 17 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CPS Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
San Antonio water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in San Antonio?
Yes. If it's the same type, in the same spot, on the existing vent, gas line and circuit, your licensed plumber can get an LSR permit within three working days after the job. Other installs need a general plumbing permit and a city inspection.
How much is the permit?
The FY 2027 schedule lists a $57.50 plumbing base fee plus $9.20 per water heater, plus 4% technology and 4% development services surcharges, so roughly $72.
SA DSD FY 2027 Development Fee Schedule (revised Sept 2026) ↗
Does the quick LSR permit cover switching to tankless?
No. The city's bulletin leaves out tank-to-tankless and gas/electric swaps. Those need a general plumbing permit with inspections.
Is San Antonio water hard?
Yes. SAWS says its water usually measures 15–20 grains per gallon.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides