Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN RENTON
Renton Water Heater
Replacement
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Replacing a water heater in Renton.
Renton issues its own plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits online, over the counter. A residential plumbing permit costs $69 plus $12 for each fixture in 2026, plus a 5% technology surcharge. Water hardness ranges from 48 to 125 ppm, depending on which well or spring supplies your home.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Renton Permit Services (Community & Economic Development)
- Permit fee
- Residential plumbing permit: $69 base fee plus $12 for each fixture (2026 column of the 2025-2026 fee schedule, rev. March 2026), plus a 5% technology surcharge. Water heaters don't have their own line on the schedule.
- Who gets the permit
- Once the permits are issued, an owner can do the work on their own property. The exception is electrical work: homeowners can do it only if they've lived in the house at least three years. Plumbers you hire must be L&I-registered contractors.
- Electric utility
- Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- City of Renton Water Utility (wells and Springbrook Springs, with Seattle Public Utilities water as a backup and for the Boeing plant) · Depends on the source: 48 ppm at the downtown wells (slightly hard), 69 ppm at Maplewood (moderately hard) and 125 ppm at Springbrook Springs (hard), from the most recent testing reported in the 2026 Water Quality Report
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1988 (median) · 54% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 13 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 Renton averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Renton
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeResidential plumbing permit: $69 base fee plus $12 for each fixture (2026 column of the 2025-2026 fee schedule, rev. March 2026), plus a 5% technology surcharge. Water heaters don't have their own line on the schedule.. City of Renton Permit Services (Community & Economic Development) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Renton 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 Renton average is shown.
What can change the price in Renton?
Fuel gas piping adds $28 for each system (up to 6 outlets) on a residential plumbing or mechanical permit. Renton issues its own electrical permits for any new circuit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Renton?
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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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 Renton 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.
Also listing Renton: Ben's Plumbing, Heating & Air, Convenient Water Heaters & Plumbing, Home Comfort Alliance.
Order: companies based in Renton 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 RENTON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN RENTON
What Renton homes are like.
1988Median year built
39%Built before 1980
54%Owner-occupied
41%Heat with utility gas
58%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1988. 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 Renton.
Hardness depends on your water source
Renton uses several water sources, and hardness runs from slightly hard to hard depending on which one reaches your home. The City notes hard water can cause scale in water heaters, and the utility can tell you which source serves you.
Three-year rule for doing your own electrical
Renton lets homeowners do their own electrical work only after living in the house at least three years. That matters if a heat pump or electric tankless heater needs a new circuit.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Renton homes.
Energy
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (Serves most of Renton)
- Electric: Seattle City Light (Serves part of Renton under its franchise for the suburbs)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
PSE locations and service area (King County: electric and gas, not Seattle) ↗ · Seattle City Light: franchise cities include Renton ↗
Water
City of Renton Water Utility (wells and Springbrook Springs, with Seattle Public Utilities water as a backup and for the Boeing plant): Depends on the source: 48 ppm at the downtown wells (slightly hard), 69 ppm at Maplewood (moderately hard) and 125 ppm at Springbrook Springs (hard), from the most recent testing reported in the 2026 Water Quality Report
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Renton homes.
For Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light customers in Renton. 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.
- Seattle City Light heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$750 for an ENERGY STAR Tier 3 or 4 heat pump water heater: passed through participating distributors for contractor installs, or as a $750 instant coupon at Home Depot or Lowe's or a $750 mail-in rebate for DIY.
- 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 Renton.
Permits and who issues them
Renton code requires a permit to install, change, repair or replace any regulated gas, mechanical, plumbing or electrical system (RMC 4-5-060E.1), with some listed exemptions. Plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits are simple over-the-counter permits; apply online on the Civic Access Self-Service Portal.
City of Renton Permit Services (Community & Economic Development) ↗ · Renton Building Permits FAQ ↗ · City of Renton Fee Schedule 2025-2026 (rev. March 2026) ↗ · L&I: Renton issues its own electrical 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 Renton.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tukwila | 4 mi | Required | $37.81 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Newcastle | 4 mi | Required | $80 | Puget Sound Energy |
| SeaTac | 5 mi | Required | $110 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Mercer Island | 6 mi | Required | $120 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Kent | 6 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Burien | 7 mi | Required | $98 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Renton water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Renton?
Yes. Renton code requires a permit to replace any regulated plumbing, gas or mechanical system. Plumbing permits are issued over the counter on the online portal.
What does a Renton plumbing permit cost?
For a house in 2026: $69 base plus $12 for each fixture, plus a 5% technology surcharge. Gas piping adds $28 for each system.
Is Renton's water hard?
Depends on your source: 48 ppm downtown, 69 ppm at Maplewood and 125 ppm at Springbrook Springs.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides