Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN COVINGTON
Covington Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓COVINGTON AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Covington.
Under Covington's amended 2026 fee schedule, a water heater plumbing permit costs $63 to issue plus $16 for the heater, with a $50 technology fee on each permit. You apply online for simple home plumbing permits. PSE supplies power and gas, and most homes get Green River water from Covington Water District.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Covington Community Development – Permit Services
- Permit fee
- $63 to issue the plumbing permit + $16 for the water heater and/or vent, plus a $50 technology management fee on each permit (about $129). Amended 2026 fee schedule, effective May 20, 2026.
- Who gets the permit
- Anyone can work on their own property or home (not for resale). Homeowners doing their own work fill out the city's Contractor License Requirements form. Contractors you hire must be registered with L&I.
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Covington Water District for most of the city (Green River Regional Water Supply System plus district wells); the city also lists Lake Meridian Water District and Soos Creek Water & Sewer District
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1994 (median) · 79% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 7 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 Covington averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Covington
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$63 to issue the plumbing permit + $16 for the water heater and/or vent, plus a $50 technology management fee on each permit (about $129). Amended 2026 fee schedule, effective May 20, 2026.. City of Covington Community Development – Permit Services fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Covington post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Bee's Plumbing & Heating, Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Covington average is shown.
What can change the price in Covington?
A gas piping system with 1–5 outlets is $14 on the plumbing schedule ($13 on the mechanical schedule, which costs $77 to issue). A vent on a mechanical permit is $16.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Covington?
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 Covington 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 Covington 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.
Fast Water Heater Co. (Washington)
Lists Covington 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.
Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians
Lists Covington 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 Covington 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.
Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating
Lists Covington among the areas it serves. Based in Burien.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised fast response to a leaking water heater, fair pricing and dispatch updates on arrival times.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Home Comfort Alliance
Lists Covington among the areas it serves. Based in Sumner.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Covington 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 COVINGTON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN COVINGTON
What Covington homes are like.
1994Median year built
29%Built before 1980
79%Owner-occupied
58%Heat with utility gas
87%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1994. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
58% 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 Covington.
A flat technology fee
Covington adds a $50 technology management fee to every building, plumbing or mechanical permit. On a simple water heater permit, that's a big part of the cost.
Green River water
Covington Water District gets most of its water from the Green River through the Regional Water Supply System, filtered at the Green River Filtration Facility since 2015, plus some from district wells.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Covington homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (The city lists PSE as its power and gas company)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
Water
Covington Water District for most of the city (Green River Regional Water Supply System plus district wells); the city also lists Lake Meridian Water District and Soos Creek Water & Sewer District
Covington Local Utilities ↗ · Covington Water District About Us ↗ · Covington Water District 2025 Water Quality Report ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Covington homes.
For Puget Sound Energy customers in Covington. 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 Covington.
Permits and who issues them
Covington issues simple residential plumbing permits online through its ePermits portal, and a water heater and/or vent is a line on the plumbing fee schedule. The city says you still need a permit when you work on your own property.
City of Covington Community Development – Permit Services ↗ · Covington Permit Fees ↗ · Covington amended 2026 Fee Schedule (effective May 20, 2026) ↗ · Covington Permit FAQs ↗ · Covington Plumbing Permits ↗
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 Covington.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Valley | 3 mi | Required | $125 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Kent | 5 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Auburn | 6 mi | Required | $43 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Renton | 9 mi | Required | $69 | Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light |
| Des Moines | 10 mi | Required | $67.10 | Puget Sound Energy |
| SeaTac | 11 mi | Required | $110 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Covington water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Covington?
About $129: $63 to issue, $16 for the water heater and/or vent, and the $50 technology management fee (2026 schedule, effective May 20, 2026).
Can I replace my own water heater in Covington?
Yes, if it's your own home and not for resale. You still need a permit, and you fill out the Contractor License Requirements form.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides