Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN KIRKLAND
Kirkland Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓KIRKLAND AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Kirkland.
Kirkland requires a mechanical permit ($121 in 2026) for a gas water heater or a plumbing permit ($60 minimum) for an electric one. Both are issued over the counter through MyBuildingPermit.com. Puget Sound Energy supplies electricity and gas. City water from the Tolt and Cedar rivers is very soft, about 1.5 grains per gallon.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Kirkland Development Services Center (Planning and Building)
- Permit fee
- Gas water heater: $121 for each appliance on the one- and two-family mechanical permit (gas piping included; 2026 schedule). Electric water heater: plumbing permit at $30 a fixture with a $60 minimum. A 3.5% technology/MyBuildingPermit surcharge is added (fees effective January 1, 2026).
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- City of Kirkland Water Division (Tolt and Cedar River water from Seattle Public Utilities via Cascade Water Alliance); Northshore and Woodinville utility districts serve parts of north Kirkland (Finn Hill, north Juanita, Kingsgate) · 1.46 grains per gallon (about 25 mg/L as CaCO3, very soft), 2026 Water Quality Report covering 2025 data; Northshore/Woodinville district areas are not included in that figure.
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1984 (median) · 61% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 16 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 Kirkland averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Kirkland
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeGas water heater: $121 for each appliance on the one- and two-family mechanical permit (gas piping included; 2026 schedule). Electric water heater: plumbing permit at $30 a fixture with a $60 minimum. A 3.5% technology/MyBuildingPermit surcharge is added (fees effective January 1, 2026).. City of Kirkland Development Services Center (Planning and Building) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price4 of the companies listed for Kirkland post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Bee's Plumbing & Heating, CM Heating, Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (Redmond). Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Kirkland average is shown.
What can change the price in Kirkland?
A gas unit also needs a plumbing permit if the water pipes are rearranged. An electric unit needs a mechanical permit if gas lines are removed or capped. Switching from gas to electric adds an electrical permit, which Kirkland issues itself instead of L&I. If walls, floors or ceilings are opened or the structure changes, you need a building permit with plan review.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Kirkland?
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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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 Kirkland 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.
Also listing Kirkland: Hunt's Services, Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating, Ben's Plumbing, Heating & Air, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (Redmond), Home Comfort Alliance, North Sound Plumbing.
Order: companies based in Kirkland 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 KIRKLAND
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN KIRKLAND
What Kirkland homes are like.
1984Median year built
44%Built before 1980
61%Owner-occupied
49%Heat with utility gas
59%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1984. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
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 Kirkland.
Book the inspection within 48 hours
Kirkland's water heater guide asks you to schedule the inspection within 48 hours of the install (by phone or on MyBuildingPermit.com). Keep the manufacturer's instructions on site and leave the bonding wires connected.
The city does electrical permits
Kirkland is one of the Washington cities that issue their own electrical permits and inspections. A gas-to-electric or heat pump conversion that needs a new circuit is permitted by the city, not L&I.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Kirkland homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (PSE's electric area covers King County outside Seattle, including Kirkland)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
Water
City of Kirkland Water Division (Tolt and Cedar River water from Seattle Public Utilities via Cascade Water Alliance); Northshore and Woodinville utility districts serve parts of north Kirkland (Finn Hill, north Juanita, Kingsgate): 1.46 grains per gallon (about 25 mg/L as CaCO3, very soft), 2026 Water Quality Report covering 2025 data; Northshore/Woodinville district areas are not included in that figure.
Kirkland 2026 Water Quality Report ↗ · Kirkland Water Quality page ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Kirkland homes.
For Puget Sound Energy customers in Kirkland. 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 Kirkland.
Permits and who issues them
Kirkland requires a mechanical permit for a gas water heater and a plumbing permit for an electric one. For single-family homes and townhouses, these are over-the-counter permits with no plan review. Apply on MyBuildingPermit.com. The city asks you to schedule the inspection within 48 hours of the install.
City of Kirkland Development Services Center (Planning and Building) ↗ · Kirkland Water Heater Replacement permit guide ↗ · Kirkland Building Services Fees (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 Kirkland.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenmore | 4 mi | Required | $165 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Redmond | 4 mi | Required | $140.71 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Woodinville | 5 mi | Required | $119 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Bothell | 5 mi | Required | $82 | Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD |
| Lake Forest Park | 6 mi | Required | $150 | Seattle City Light |
| Cottage Lake | 7 mi | Required (county) | $137 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Kirkland water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Kirkland?
A gas unit is $121 for each appliance on the mechanical permit. An electric unit is the plumbing permit minimum of $60. A 3.5% surcharge is added (2026 fees).
Does Kirkland need plans for a water heater swap?
No. For single-family homes and townhouses, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits are over the counter with no plan review, unless walls or structure change and you need a building permit.
Is Kirkland water hard?
No. The 2026 report lists 1.46 grains per gallon for the city system. If the Northshore or Woodinville district serves you, check that district's report.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides