Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN KENT
Kent Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓KENT AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Kent.
Yes, Kent requires a permit to replace a water heater: a plumbing permit for an electric tank, or a mechanical permit for a gas tank. Both are filed online as Minor Work Permits and usually take 2-3 business days. Puget Sound Energy supplies electricity and gas. City water mixes wells, springs and Green River water, with hardness up to 123 ppm in the 2025 report.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Kent Permit Center (Economic and Community Development)
- Who gets the permit
- Kent recommends hiring a contractor registered in Washington and links to L&I's Verify tool. Owners doing their own work can use the city's Affidavit in Lieu of Contractor Registration form.
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- City of Kent water utility (wells, springs and Tacoma Water's Green River supply); some parts of Kent are served by neighboring districts such as Soos Creek Water & Sewer, Highline Water District, Lake Meridian Water District and Covington Water District · Up to 123 ppm (range 46.7-123 ppm, moderately hard at the high end), 2025 Water Quality Report; hardness varies with the mix of wells, springs and Green River water.
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1985 (median) · 57% 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 Kent averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Kent
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Kent 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 Kent average is shown.
What can change the price in Kent?
Kent's permit pages say any change to an electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system needs a permit; gas piping goes on the mechanical permit. Kent's 2026 Building Permit Fee Table (effective January 1, 2026) is based on job value, starting at $52.82 for $1-$500 of work, but it has no separate plumbing or mechanical fee for a water heater. Kent isn't on L&I's list of cities that do their own electrical inspections, so electrical permits come from L&I.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Kent?
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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 Kent 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 KENT
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN KENT
What Kent homes are like.
1985Median year built
39%Built before 1980
57%Owner-occupied
40%Heat with utility gas
58%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1985. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
56% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
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 Kent.
Hardness depends on where your water comes from
Kent mixes 16 wells and 2 springs with Tacoma Water's Green River water. The 2025 report shows hardness from 46.7 to 123 ppm, harder than Seattle or Tacoma water, so flushing your tank each year matters more here.
Electric and gas tanks use different permits
Kent puts electric tank replacements under Residential Plumbing permits and gas tank replacements under Residential Mechanical permits. You apply for either online as a Minor Work Permit.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Kent homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (PSE's electric area covers King County outside Seattle; Kent is on PSE's service map)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
Water
City of Kent water utility (wells, springs and Tacoma Water's Green River supply); some parts of Kent are served by neighboring districts such as Soos Creek Water & Sewer, Highline Water District, Lake Meridian Water District and Covington Water District: Up to 123 ppm (range 46.7-123 ppm, moderately hard at the high end), 2025 Water Quality Report; hardness varies with the mix of wells, springs and Green River water.
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Kent homes.
For Puget Sound Energy customers in Kent. 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 Kent.
Permits and who issues them
Kent handles water heater swaps as Minor Work Permits. Replacing an electric tank is a Residential Plumbing permit; replacing a gas tank is a Residential Mechanical permit. Apply on the city's paperless permit portal, with no intake appointment or formal review. The city says these usually take 2-3 business days. Schedule inspections in the Citizen Portal.
Contractors working in Kent need a City of Kent business license (apply through FileLocal) as well as state registration.
City of Kent Permit Center (Economic and Community Development) ↗ · Kent Residential Building Permits (minor work permits) ↗ · Kent Permit Center ↗ · Kent Do I Need a Permit? ↗ · Kent 2026 Building Permit Fee Table (effective Jan 1, 2026) ↗ · L&I: cities that do their own electrical permits and 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 Kent.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 5 mi | Required | $67.10 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Covington | 5 mi | Required | $63 | Puget Sound Energy |
| SeaTac | 6 mi | Required | $110 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Auburn | 6 mi | Required | $43 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Renton | 6 mi | Required | $69 | Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light |
| Tukwila | 7 mi | Required | $37.81 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Kent water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Kent?
Yes. An electric tank replacement is a Residential Plumbing permit and a gas tank replacement is a Residential Mechanical permit. Apply on the city's online permit portal.
Does my contractor need a Kent business license?
Yes. Kent says any contractor working inside city limits needs a City of Kent business license.
Is Kent water hard?
Moderately at times. The 2025 report shows 46.7 to 123 ppm, depending on the mix of sources.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides