Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN BELLEVUE
Bellevue Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓BELLEVUE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Bellevue.
Yes, Bellevue issues its own water heater permits: a plumbing permit for an electric tank, or a mechanical permit for a gas tank. Under the 2026 fee ordinance, a basic replacement costs about $71–$80 in city fees. PSE supplies electricity and gas. The water is very soft Cedar and Tolt River water, bought through Cascade Water Alliance.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Bellevue Development Services
- Permit fee
- 2026 fee ordinance (Ord. 6879, effective Jan 1, 2026): electric water heater (plumbing permit) = $50 inspection fee for the first fixture plus a $21 over-the-counter operations fee. Gas water heater (mechanical permit) = $59 for each gas appliance with gas piping plus the $21 operations fee.
- Who gets the permit
- The city page doesn't say who can apply. State law lets owners do plumbing on property they own; anyone else must be an L&I-certified plumber.
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Bellevue Utilities (water bought through Cascade Water Alliance from Seattle Public Utilities; Cedar River and South Fork Tolt River) · Soft. Bellevue's 2026 report does not give a hardness figure. Seattle Public Utilities' May 2026 analysis of the source water shows about 24–26 mg/L calcium hardness, or roughly 1.5–1.7 grains per gallon (Cedar), and 1.53 gpg in Tolt distribution.
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1982 (median) · 52% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 14 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 Bellevue averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Bellevue
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee2026 fee ordinance (Ord. 6879, effective Jan 1, 2026): electric water heater (plumbing permit) = $50 inspection fee for the first fixture plus a $21 over-the-counter operations fee. Gas water heater (mechanical permit) = $59 for each gas appliance with gas piping plus the $21 operations fee.. City of Bellevue Development Services fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Bellevue post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Bee's Plumbing & Heating, CM Heating, Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Bellevue average is shown.
What can change the price in Bellevue?
Bellevue issues its own electrical permits (the fee ordinance has a separate electrical section). Mechanical fees don't cover electrical wiring, which needs its own permit. Gas piping without an appliance is $59 a permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Bellevue?
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 →
Bee's Plumbing & Heating
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Seattle.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$500-$800 OFF Water Heater Installation' ($500 off tank, $800 off tankless; not valid on dispatch fee; expires 9/30/2026). No base installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day response, clear explanation of options and quick tank and tankless installs.
Worth knowing Reviewers on BBB and Yelp said water heater prices were far above other quotes or not itemized (the company said on BBB it later sent an itemized invoice and wanted to make it right).
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Seattle.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant said a gas tank was installed facing the wrong way, blocking access to controls (Brennan apologized and scheduled a return visit to rotate it), and Yelp reviewers described a delayed Costco-sourced install and a later diagnosis they disputed.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
CM Heating
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Everett.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater replacement 'Starting at $2,349' or as low as $29.99/month with price match guarantee; tankless '$49.99/mo. Installed'. Deals page: gas or electric water heater 'starting at just $44.99/month installed' with lifetime repairs and maintenance (50-gal electric / 40-gal gas standard units, Comfort as a Service program); up to $200 off tankless or standard installation. Diagnostic fee $89.95 (waived with approved repair). ;
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a same-day water heater replacement and professional, friendly installation crews.
Worth knowing A Yelp reviewer said CM told him it no longer works on tankless water heaters after selling him one, and another said a service call yielded a replacement quote instead of an inspection, which the company refunded after he complained.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Danika Plumbing & Electric
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Everett.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Republished reviews praised same-day replacement, quotes that matched the final bill, and technicians who explained why tanks failed.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; accounts come from a company-curated page.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Fast Water Heater Co. (Washington)
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Woodinville.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised punctual, communicative technicians, quick scheduling and a competitively priced replacement.
Worth knowing BBB complainants and a Yelp reviewer said code items were sold as add-ons after a basic quote and that installs failed inspection or permits lingered; the company says it walks customers through a signed code checklist, and in several cases refunded charges or did the code work free.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Fischer Plumbing
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Mountlake Terrace.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised easy scheduling, same-day replacement and prices they described as fair.
Worth knowing A BBB complainant said a 2021 water heater install never kept water hot and tripped the breaker (Fischer said it provides a 1-year parts and labor warranty and cannot be responsible for home electrical; it refunded a service call fee), and a 2009 Yelp reviewer said the installer tried to raise a $900 quote to over $1,500.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Goldstar Plumbing
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Seattle.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised heat pump water heater installs with clear options, permit and inspection handling, cleanup and haul-away.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Green Planet Plumbing & Sewer
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Seattle.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A customer praised a next-day estimate, quick scheduling and pleasant technicians for a hot water tank replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Tacoma.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Promos (no base price): $100 off a standard water heater (or $39/month financing); $250 off a tankless water heater (or $199/month financing); 5% Heroes Discount up to $200.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised technicians who flushed water heaters and explained maintenance clearly.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers and complainants said technicians recommended whole-house repipes or new tanks for water heater problems that other plumbers fixed cheaply (Harts denied any fraudulent practice and offered manager follow-up), and one disputed $2,500 for a tankless flush and diagnosis that did not fix the issue.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Hunt's Services
Lists Bellevue among the areas it serves. Based in Milton.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day emergency water heater replacements and a technician who also corrected code issues at a reasonable price.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers said a tankless flush ended in a paid replacement without the promised phone controller (Hunt's said a controller is typically an optional upgrade) and that a $10,000 boiler hot water tank replacement left them without hot water.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Also listing Bellevue: Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating, Washington Energy Services, Ben's Plumbing, Heating & Air, Home Comfort Alliance.
Order: companies based in Bellevue 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. L&I Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING BELLEVUE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN BELLEVUE
What Bellevue homes are like.
1982Median year built
47%Built before 1980
52%Owner-occupied
46%Heat with utility gas
52%Single-family homes
About 47% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
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 Bellevue.
Gas and electric swaps use different permits
Bellevue counts an electric water heater swap as plumbing work and a gas swap as mechanical work. The permit type and fee depend on the fuel.
Energy Smart Eastside is for heating, not water heaters
Bellevue helps run Energy Smart Eastside, a heat pump program with Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond and Sammamish. Its site covers heat pumps for heating and cooling, weatherization and rebates. It doesn't list heat pump water heaters.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Bellevue homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (Bellevue's main electric company)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy (Bellevue's main gas company)
Water
Bellevue Utilities (water bought through Cascade Water Alliance from Seattle Public Utilities; Cedar River and South Fork Tolt River): Soft. Bellevue's 2026 report does not give a hardness figure. Seattle Public Utilities' May 2026 analysis of the source water shows about 24–26 mg/L calcium hardness, or roughly 1.5–1.7 grains per gallon (Cedar), and 1.53 gpg in Tolt distribution.
City of Bellevue 2026 Water Quality Report (CCR) ↗ · Seattle Public Utilities Quarterly Surface Water Analysis, May 20, 2026 ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Bellevue homes.
For Puget Sound Energy customers in Bellevue. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$1,000 back on a qualifying Tier 3 or Tier 4 heat pump water heater installed on or after January 1, 2026.
- Washington HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) ↗ActiveState-run program covering heat pump water heaters, heat pumps, induction cooking and electrical upgrades for households at or below 150% of Area Median Income.
- IRA Home Energy Rebates (HARP appliance rebates and HOMES) ↗Not launchedThe federally funded appliance (HARP) and whole-house (HOMES) rebates for households up to 150% AMI had not launched statewide.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Washington rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Bellevue.
Permits and who issues them
Bellevue requires a plumbing permit to replace an electric water heater and a mechanical permit to replace a gas one. Standard replacements need no plan review and can be issued the same day, but still need an inspection. Apply online at MyBuildingPermit.com.
City of Bellevue Development Services ↗ · City of Bellevue – Plumbing permits ↗ · City of Bellevue Ordinance No. 6879 – 2026 development services fees (effective Jan 1, 2026) ↗ · City of Bellevue – Fees and payment ↗ · Washington L&I – About the plumber certification program ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the L&I Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Washington licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Bellevue.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Island | 4 mi | Required | $120 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Newcastle | 5 mi | Required | $80 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Sammamish | 6 mi | Required | $134 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Redmond | 6 mi | Required | $140.71 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Issaquah | 6 mi | Required | $62.88 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Kirkland | 7 mi | Required | $121 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Bellevue water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Bellevue?
Yes. An electric water heater needs a plumbing permit; a gas one needs a mechanical permit. Standard replacements can be issued the same day with no plan review, but you still need an inspection.
How much is the permit?
Under the 2026 ordinance: electric, a $50 plumbing fixture fee plus a $21 operations fee. Gas, a $59 gas appliance fee plus the $21 operations fee.
Is Bellevue water hard enough to need a softener?
No. Bellevue gets Seattle's Cedar and Tolt water, which tested at roughly 1.5–1.7 grains per gallon in May 2026. That's soft.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides