Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN DES MOINES
Des Moines Water Heater
Replacement
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Replacing a water heater in Des Moines.
Yes, Des Moines requires a permit to install, remove or replace a water heater. Under the 2026 schedule it's about $114: $67.10 base, $11.55 for the heater and a $35 minimum technology fee. The city also issues electrical permits. Its handout bans plumber's tape for strapping and requires an expansion tank and insulated hot water pipes.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Des Moines Building Division
- Permit fee
- 2026 residential fee schedule (effective Jan 1, 2026): $67.10 for the plumbing or mechanical permit plus $11.55 for each water heater, plus a technology fee of $35 or 5%, whichever is more. About $113.65.
- Who gets the permit
- The pages we read don't say; the city sends residents to L&I to find a registered contractor. State law lets owners do their own plumbing on property they own.
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Highline Water District (most of the city; 77% SPU Cedar River water and 23% district wells, including the Des Moines Well, in 2025). Lakehaven Water & Sewer District serves the southern end of the city. · Highline's 2025 CCR gives no hardness figure. Its Cedar River supply is soft (about 1.5 gpg in SPU's May 2026 analysis). Lakehaven's 2025 blended average was 54.07 mg/L (slightly hard).
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1974 (median) · 61% 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 Des Moines averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Des Moines
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee2026 residential fee schedule (effective Jan 1, 2026): $67.10 for the plumbing or mechanical permit plus $11.55 for each water heater, plus a technology fee of $35 or 5%, whichever is more. About $113.65.. City of Des Moines Building Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Des Moines 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 Des Moines average is shown.
What can change the price in Des Moines?
Des Moines issues its own electrical permits (it's on L&I's list of cities with their own programs). On the residential schedule, gas piping is $6.60 for 1–4 outlets and a vent is $7.98.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Des Moines?
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 →
Beacon Plumbing, Heating & Electric
Lists Des Moines among the areas it serves. Based in Seattle.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Yelp reviewers praised quick response, same-day or next-day water heater replacement, and a technician willing to repair an 11-year-old tankless unit.
Worth knowing BBB complainants disputed a water heater replacement price paid under emergency conditions and a $2,000 deposit largely kept after a verbally cancelled water heater job (Beacon said its contract terms, including written cancellation, were clearly stated), and a Yelp reviewer called $5,700 for a 50-gallon gas tank double what he expected.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Bee's Plumbing & Heating
Lists Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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.
Green Planet Plumbing & Sewer
Lists Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 DES MOINES
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN DES MOINES
What Des Moines homes are like.
1974Median year built
60%Built before 1980
61%Owner-occupied
37%Heat with utility gas
58%Single-family homes
About 60% 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 Des Moines.
No plumber's tape for straps
The city's handout says perforated iron strap (plumber's tape) isn't accepted for earthquake strapping. Use metal straps at least 22 gauge x 3/4 inch in the upper and lower thirds of the tank, with the lower strap at least 4 inches above the controls.
Expansion tank, pipe insulation and garage rules
The handout requires an expansion tank on closed plumbing systems and insulation on every hot water pipe. In garages, gas appliances must be 18 inches off the floor, and a steel or concrete post is required if the heater sits in front of a parking spot.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Des Moines homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (PSE serves King County outside Seattle; not confirmed on a Des Moines city page)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
Water
Highline Water District (most of the city; 77% SPU Cedar River water and 23% district wells, including the Des Moines Well, in 2025). Lakehaven Water & Sewer District serves the southern end of the city.: Highline's 2025 CCR gives no hardness figure. Its Cedar River supply is soft (about 1.5 gpg in SPU's May 2026 analysis). Lakehaven's 2025 blended average was 54.07 mg/L (slightly hard).
Highline Water District 2025 Consumer Confidence Report ↗ · Lakehaven Water & Sewer District 2025 Water Quality Report (service map includes Des Moines) ↗ · SPU Quarterly Surface Water Analysis, May 20, 2026 ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Des Moines homes.
For Puget Sound Energy customers in Des Moines. 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 Des Moines.
Permits and who issues them
The city's water heater handout quotes UPC 502.1: it's against the law to install, remove or replace a water heater without a permit. Apply for building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits on the MyPermits (PermitTrax) portal. The Building Division inspects.
The Building Division sends residents to L&I's website to find a registered contractor. We didn't find a separate city contractor registration.
City of Des Moines Building Division ↗ · City of Des Moines – Building Division ↗ · City of Des Moines – Permit applications & information ↗ · Des Moines Building Division Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2026) ↗ · Des Moines Water Heater Installation Handout BH-002 ↗ · Washington L&I – City electrical permits & inspections ↗
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 Des Moines.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeaTac | 4 mi | Required | $110 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Kent | 5 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Federal Way | 5 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Burien | 6 mi | Required | $98 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Tukwila | 6 mi | Required | $37.81 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Auburn | 8 mi | Required | $43 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Des Moines water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Des Moines?
About $113.65 in 2026: a $67.10 permit fee, $11.55 for each water heater, and a technology fee of $35 or 5%, whichever is more.
Can I use plumber's tape to strap my water heater?
No. The city's handout says perforated iron strap won't be accepted. Use 22-gauge x 3/4 inch metal straps fastened to the studs with lag screws.
Who issues the electrical permit?
The City of Des Moines issues it, not L&I.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides