Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SOUTH HOUSTON
South Houston, TX Water Heater
Replacement
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SOUTH HOUSTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in South Houston.
In South Houston, the plumbing permit form charges $25 per water heater, with a $35 minimum and a $10 application fee. You request inspections by phone. CenterPoint delivers power. City water is a mix of Houston surface water and Gulf Coast Aquifer wells.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of South Houston Inspection Department
- Permit fee
- $25 per water heater on the plumbing permit application, with a $35 minimum permit fee and a $10 application fee (the form has no date and refers to a 2014 ordinance).
- Who gets the permit
- The plumbing company files the form. State law requires a plumber licensed by the state board (TSBPE), unless you're working on your own homestead.
- Electric utility
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of South Houston (City of Houston Southeast Water Purification Plant surface water plus Gulf Coast Aquifer wells)
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1969 (median) · 55% 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 South Houston averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in South Houston
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$25 per water heater on the plumbing permit application, with a $35 minimum permit fee and a $10 application fee (the form has no date and refers to a 2014 ordinance).. City of South Houston Inspection Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for South Houston post water heater prices or specials on their websites: ARS/Rescue Rooter Houston, Mission Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Galveston & Brazoria Counties. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no South Houston average is shown.
What can change the price in South Houston?
The same form lists gas (1–3 openings) at $35, a water line tie-in at $10 and the yearly gas test at $40. Working without a permit brings a $250 fee.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in South Houston?
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 South Houston 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 South Houston 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.
Mission Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Lists South Houston among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Coupons: '$100 Off Water Heater Replacement' and '$89 Off Water Heater Flush' (expire 09/30/2026); tankless promo 'Endless Hot Water Starting at $124/mo'.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised several options and price points without pressure, fast installation with haul-away, and professional installers.
Worth knowing A 2026 Yelp reviewer said a scheduled water heater flush was postponed twice due to plumber availability.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Galveston & Brazoria Counties
Lists South Houston 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 South Houston 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 South Houston 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 SOUTH HOUSTON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SOUTH HOUSTON
What South Houston homes are like.
1969Median year built
69%Built before 1980
55%Owner-occupied
61%Heat with utility gas
70%Single-family homes
About 69% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
61% 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 South Houston.
Old fee form
South Houston's plumbing permit form has no date and cites a 2014 ordinance. Check current fees with the Inspection Department (713-947-7700 ext. 121/126).
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies South Houston homes.
Energy
- Electric: CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider (Power to Choose shows only CenterPoint for ZIP 77587)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy (We couldn't confirm this from an official source for South Houston)
Texas PUC Power to Choose plan data for ZIP 77587 (company_tdu_name field) ↗ · CenterPoint Energy - Texas Geographic Rate Areas by City (natural gas) ↗
Water
City of South Houston (City of Houston Southeast Water Purification Plant surface water plus Gulf Coast Aquifer wells)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for South Houston homes.
For CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider and CenterPoint Energy customers in South Houston. 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 South Houston.
Permits and who issues them
South Houston's plumbing permit application has a line for gas, electric or solar water heaters. Apply at the Inspection Department in City Hall (1018 Dallas St.), and call before 3 p.m. to request an inspection.
City of South Houston Inspection Department ↗ · South Houston Permits / Inspection ↗ · South Houston Plumbing Permit Application ↗ · TSBPE Plumbing License Law (Sept 2025 plain view): Sec. 1301.051, 1301.551 ↗
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 South Houston.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena | 5 mi | Required | $15 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
| Galena Park | 6 mi | Required | $35 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Deer Park | 7 mi | Required | $25 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Pearland | 9 mi | Required | $60 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider, Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Cloverleaf | 9 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Friendswood | 11 mi | Required | $140 | Texas-New Mexico Power (wires) with a retail electric provider, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
COMMON QUESTIONS
South Houston water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in South Houston?
The plumbing form lists $25 per water heater, a $35 minimum permit fee and a $10 application fee. The form has no date.
Where does South Houston's water come from?
From Houston's Southeast Water Purification Plant (Trinity and San Jacinto rivers) and city wells in the Gulf Coast Aquifer. No hardness number is given.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides