Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN GIG HARBOR
Gig Harbor Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓GIG HARBOR AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Gig Harbor.
A water heater permit in Gig Harbor costs $34 to issue plus $12 for each water heater, one of the lowest fees in the region. Peninsula Light Company supplies electricity and offers an instant $1,800 rebate on heat pump water heaters. PSE supplies gas. Most homes get city well water; several other systems serve the rest.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Gig Harbor Building & Fire Safety
- Permit fee
- Plumbing permit: $34 to issue plus $12 for each water heater and/or vent, so $46 (city fee sheet, Table 1-3; it has no date and says the current fee resolution applies). A gas piping system with 1–5 outlets adds $10. Mechanical/fuel gas permits cost $40 to issue.
- Who gets the permit
- The pages we read don't say. State law lets owners do plumbing on property they own; anyone else must be an L&I-certified plumber.
- Electric utility
- Peninsula Light Company
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- City of Gig Harbor water utility (groundwater wells) for most homes; others are served by Washington Water Service, Rainier View Water, Stroh's Water, Peninsula Light Water, Thurston PUD or private wells
- Rebate worth checking
- Instant heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1998 (median) · 62% 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 Gig Harbor averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Gig Harbor
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing permit: $34 to issue plus $12 for each water heater and/or vent, so $46 (city fee sheet, Table 1-3; it has no date and says the current fee resolution applies). A gas piping system with 1–5 outlets adds $10. Mechanical/fuel gas permits cost $40 to issue.. City of Gig Harbor Building & Fire Safety fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Gig Harbor post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Gig Harbor average is shown.
What can change the price in Gig Harbor?
Gig Harbor isn't on L&I's list of cities that issue their own electrical permits, and it's outside Tacoma Power's permit area. So electrical permits come from L&I.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Gig Harbor?
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 →
Bob Larson Plumbing
Lists Gig Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Tacoma.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater service, knowledgeable technicians and a clean tankless installation.
Worth knowing A reviewer on BBB and Yelp said elderly parents were charged $7,779.14 for a gas tank without an itemized invoice (the company said three estimates were presented, including a $4,025.85 basic option), and a BBB complainant's warrantied tankless heater kept shutting off until the complaint was marked resolved with the company fixing it.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning
Lists Gig Harbor 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 Gig Harbor 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 Gig Harbor 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 Gig Harbor 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Tacoma
Lists Gig Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Tacoma.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A customer praised next-day service with a new hot water heater installed by 11am.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating
Lists Gig Harbor 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.
Convenient Water Heaters & Plumbing
Lists Gig Harbor among the areas it serves. Based in Graham.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Home Comfort Alliance
Lists Gig Harbor 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 Gig Harbor 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 GIG HARBOR
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN GIG HARBOR
What Gig Harbor homes are like.
1998Median year built
24%Built before 1980
62%Owner-occupied
45%Heat with utility gas
69%Single-family homes
About 36% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
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 Gig Harbor.
Well water
The city's water comes only from wells. Several small water systems and private wells also serve parts of Gig Harbor, so the water can differ from one address to the next.
Gig Harbor Utilities element (draft) ↗ · City of Gig Harbor – Water ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Gig Harbor homes.
Energy
- Electric: Peninsula Light Company (Member-owned co-op; the city's utilities plan names PenLight as Gig Harbor's electric supplier)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
City of Gig Harbor – Other local utility providers ↗ · City of Gig Harbor Comprehensive Plan – Utilities element (draft) ↗
Water
City of Gig Harbor water utility (groundwater wells) for most homes; others are served by Washington Water Service, Rainier View Water, Stroh's Water, Peninsula Light Water, Thurston PUD or private wells
City of Gig Harbor – Water ↗ · City of Gig Harbor – Annual water quality report ↗ · City of Gig Harbor Comprehensive Plan – Utilities element (draft) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Gig Harbor homes.
For Peninsula Light Company and Puget Sound Energy customers in Gig Harbor. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Instant heat pump water heater rebate ↗ActiveFor a limited time, members replacing a standard water heater can buy a heat pump model from PenLight's online store with $1,800 taken off at checkout.
- 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 Gig Harbor.
Permits and who issues them
Gig Harbor's plumbing fee table charges a unit fee 'for each water heater and/or vent,' and its mechanical/fuel gas table covers gas appliances. Forms and fee sheets are on the city's Building Permits, Forms & Fees page, and you apply through the city's permit portal.
City of Gig Harbor Building & Fire Safety ↗ · City of Gig Harbor – Building permits, forms & fees ↗ · City of Gig Harbor – Plumbing permit fees (Table 1-3) ↗ · City of Gig Harbor – Mechanical permit fees (Table 1-4) ↗ · 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 Gig Harbor.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artondale | 3 mi | Required (county) | $86 | Peninsula Light Company |
| University Place | 9 mi | Required | $32.40 | Tacoma Power |
| Tacoma | 9 mi | Required | By job value (from $180) | Tacoma Power |
| Federal Way | 12 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Lakewood | 13 mi | Required | $34 | Lakeview Light & Power, Tacoma Power, Puget Sound Energy |
| Des Moines | 14 mi | Required | $67.10 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Gig Harbor water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Gig Harbor?
$46: $34 to issue plus $12 for each water heater and/or vent, from the city's plumbing fee sheet.
Is there a rebate for a heat pump water heater?
Yes, for a limited time. PenLight residential members get an $1,800 instant rebate when they buy a heat pump water heater from PenLight's store.
Who supplies electricity in Gig Harbor?
Peninsula Light Company, a co-op owned by its members. PSE supplies natural gas.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides