Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
West University Place Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in West University Place.
A water heater replacement in West University Place is $100 under the 2026 fee schedule, and contractors pay $100 a year to register with the city. Switching from a tank to a tankless heater needs a gas riser diagram reviewed by the Building Official. CenterPoint delivers power. The city mixes its own well water about 50/50 with Houston surface water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of West University Place Community Development (Permits)
- Permit fee
- $100 for Water Heater Replacement (FY2026 fee schedule). The schedule also lists a $100 permit application fee and a $100 minimum permit fee.
- Who gets the permit
- The plumbing permit application asks for the contractor's city registration number and the state license holder's name and license number.
- Electric utility
- CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of West University Place (TX1010027): about a 50/50 blend of city well water from the Gulf Coast Aquifer and surface water bought from Houston's East Water Purification Plant
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1992 (median) · 93% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 1 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 West University Place averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in West University Place
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$100 for Water Heater Replacement (FY2026 fee schedule). The schedule also lists a $100 permit application fee and a $100 minimum permit fee.. City of West University Place Community Development (Permits) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised priceNone of the local company websites we checked list a full installed price.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no West University Place average is shown.
What can change the price in West University Place?
Switching from tank to tankless needs a gas riser diagram reviewed by the Building Official. Starting work before the permit adds a charge equal to 100% of the permit fee ($150 minimum).
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in West University Place?
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 →
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Houston)
Lists West University Place 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 West University Place 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 WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE
What West University Place homes are like.
1992Median year built
27%Built before 1980
93%Owner-occupied
69%Heat with utility gas
99%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1992. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
69% 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.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies West University Place homes.
Energy
- Electric: CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer (Power to Choose shows only CenterPoint for ZIP 77005, the one we checked)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy (The city's demolition steps ask for a CenterPoint letter confirming the gas is disconnected)
Water
City of West University Place (TX1010027): about a 50/50 blend of city well water from the Gulf Coast Aquifer and surface water bought from Houston's East Water Purification Plant
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for West University Place homes.
For CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer and CenterPoint Energy customers in West University Place. 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 West University Place.
Permits and who issues them
West U's 2026 fee schedule has a 'Water Heater Replacement' plumbing fee, and its permit page lists water heater work under plumbing permits. To switch an electric or gas water heater to tankless, the plumber must send a gas riser diagram for the Building Official to review, usually in 5–7 business days.
Yes. The fee schedule lists $100 a year for contractor registration, and the plumbing application asks for the registration number.
City of West University Place Community Development (Permits) ↗ · West University Place 2026 Master Fee Schedule ↗ · West University Place Permitting & Plan Review Process ↗ · West University Place Plumbing Permit Application ↗
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 West University Place.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellaire | 2 mi | Required | $44 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Houston | 5 mi | Required | $34.24 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
| Stafford | 10 mi | Required | $75 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Galena Park | 12 mi | Required | $35 | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider |
| Missouri City | 12 mi | Required | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
| Fresno | 12 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | — | CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (wires) with a retail electric provider chosen by the customer |
COMMON QUESTIONS
West University Place water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in West U?
The 2026 fee schedule lists $100 for a water heater replacement. It also shows a $100 application fee and a $100 minimum, so check the total with the permit office.
What extra is needed to switch to a tankless water heater?
The plumber must send in a gas riser diagram, which the Building Official reviews, usually in 5–7 business days.
More guides: Texas water heater replacement · All local guides