Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN UNIVERSAL CITY
Universal City Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓UNIVERSAL CITY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Universal City.
Universal City lists water heaters as plumbing work that needs a permit before you start, and it won't issue a permit until the plumber is registered with the city. Its posted 2019 fee schedule lists a $110 plumbing permit. Water comes from the city's Edwards Aquifer wells.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Universal City Development Services, Building and Inspections
- Permit fee
- The posted fee schedule (updated 09/30/2019) lists a $110 plumbing permit (Fee Class B) and also a $50 plumbing fee for changes and repairs. It doesn't say which one applies to a water heater swap.
- Who gets the permit
- Registered contractors. Plumbers must have a Texas license registered with the city. We didn't find rules for homeowners.
- Electric utility
- CPS Energy and GVEC
- Gas utility
- CPS Energy and CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of Universal City (Edwards Aquifer groundwater)
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1984 (median) · 58% 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 Universal City averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Universal City
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeThe posted fee schedule (updated 09/30/2019) lists a $110 plumbing permit (Fee Class B) and also a $50 plumbing fee for changes and repairs. It doesn't say which one applies to a water heater swap.. City of Universal City Development Services, Building and Inspections fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price5 of the companies listed for Universal City post water heater prices or specials on their websites: 4M Plumbing, George Plumbing, Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing (San Antonio), Jon Wayne Service Company, Mr. Plumber (San Antonio). Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Universal City average is shown.
What can change the price in Universal City?
Digging or trenching for water, sewer or gas service lines also needs a plumbing permit. We didn't find other triggers.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Universal City?
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 →
4M Plumbing
Lists Universal City among the areas it serves. Based in San Antonio.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Special: 'Trade in your water heater and get $500 towards a new one' (restrictions apply).
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised thorough diagnosis, competitive pricing, communication and clean, careful installation.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 29, 2026.
Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air (Service Experts San Antonio)
Lists Universal City 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 Universal City 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 Universal City 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 Universal City 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 Universal City 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 Universal City 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.
San Antonio Plumbing Company
Lists Universal City 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.
Tiger Home Services
Lists Universal City among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
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 Universal City 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 UNIVERSAL CITY
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN UNIVERSAL CITY
What Universal City homes are like.
1984Median year built
42%Built before 1980
58%Owner-occupied
39%Heat with utility gas
65%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1984. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
59% 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 Universal City.
Plumbers must register here
Universal City doesn't accept contractor registrations from other cities. A plumber must register here with a state license and insurance before a permit can be issued.
Universal City Contractor Registration ↗ · Universal City Development Services Package (rev. 2022) ↗
Old fee schedule
The fee schedule on the city's site is dated September 2019. Check the current plumbing fee with Development Services.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Universal City homes.
Energy
- Electric: CPS Energy
- Electric: GVEC
- Gas: CPS Energy
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy
Water
City of Universal City (Edwards Aquifer groundwater)
Universal City Utility Service Providers ↗ · Universal City 2025 Annual Drinking Water Report ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Universal City homes.
For CPS Energy, GVEC and CenterPoint Energy customers in Universal City. 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 Universal City.
Permits and who issues them
Universal City requires a permit before plumbing work starts, and its development services package names water heaters and water softeners. Apply, pay and get permits in the city's online portal. Permits can't be processed until the contractor is registered.
Yes. Every contractor must register with the city (registrations from other cities don't count). Plumbers register a Texas license with proof of at least $300,000 in insurance, and there's no yearly fee.
City of Universal City Development Services, Building and Inspections ↗ · Universal City Building and Inspections ↗ · Universal City Development Services Package (rev. 2022) ↗ · Universal City Fee Schedule (updated 09/30/2019) ↗ · Universal City Contractor Registration ↗
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 Universal City.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | 2 mi | Required | $60 | CPS Energy |
| Selma | 2 mi | Required | $75 | CPS Energy, GVEC, Reliant Energy (Entex) |
| Converse | 3 mi | Check with city | $100 | CPS Energy |
| Schertz | 3 mi | Required | $60 | Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC), CPS Energy, New Braunfels Utilities |
| Cibolo | 6 mi | Required | $75 | Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) |
| San Antonio | 14 mi | Required | $57.50 | CPS Energy (City of San Antonio-owned) |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Universal City water heater questions.
Is a permit required for a water heater in Universal City?
Yes. The city's development services package lists water heaters as plumbing work that needs a permit before work begins.
Can any licensed plumber pull the permit?
Only after registering with Universal City. Registrations from other cities don't count.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides