Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SEATAC
SeaTac Water Heater
Replacement
Take a photo of your old water heater to start a replacement quote.
Get a water heater quotePhotos optional. No payment or booking.
See what replacement costs ↓SEATAC AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in SeaTac.
SeaTac says installing a new water heater counts as a replacement and needs a permit: $110 on a mechanical permit or $105 on a plumbing permit in 2026. Contractors need a City of SeaTac business license. Seattle City Light supplies electricity north of South 160th Street, and Puget Sound Energy south of it.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of SeaTac Permit Center / Building Services Division
- Permit fee
- Mechanical (gas unit): $110 for up to two new or replaced appliances with no new ductwork. Plumbing: $105 for adding one to five fixtures (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026; a technology fee is added).
- Who gets the permit
- The owner or the contractor, usually whoever does the work. If a homeowner pulls the permit but hires a contractor, the contractor's state license and City of SeaTac business license must be listed before the permit is issued.
- Electric utility
- Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Several water districts (the city points to its water districts map); Highline Water District operates the Angle Lake and McMicken wells in SeaTac
- Rebate worth checking
- Seattle City Light heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1972 (median) · 47% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 8 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 SeaTac averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in SeaTac
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeMechanical (gas unit): $110 for up to two new or replaced appliances with no new ductwork. Plumbing: $105 for adding one to five fixtures (2026 fee schedule, effective January 1, 2026; a technology fee is added).. City of SeaTac Permit Center / Building Services Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for SeaTac 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 SeaTac average is shown.
What can change the price in SeaTac?
SeaTac issues its own electrical permits (it's on L&I's list). Adding or changing up to five circuits without a service change is $111 in 2026. Gas piping with no appliance is $101. State law lets owners do their own electrical work, but they still need a permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in SeaTac?
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 →
Bee's Plumbing & Heating
Lists SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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.
Goldstar Plumbing
Lists SeaTac 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.
Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians
Lists SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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 SeaTac 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 SEATAC
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN SEATAC
What SeaTac homes are like.
1972Median year built
63%Built before 1980
47%Owner-occupied
28%Heat with utility gas
45%Single-family homes
About 63% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
66% of homes heat with electricity, which usually means an electric water heater. It’s worth getting a price on a heat pump model too.
Only 47% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters should ask the landlord or property manager; replacing the heater is usually the owner’s decision.
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 SeaTac.
South 160th Street divides the power companies
Seattle City Light serves SeaTac north of South 160th Street, and Puget Sound Energy serves the south. That means heat pump water heater rebates depend on your neighborhood.
Replace it now, get the permit next business day
SeaTac says you can do an emergency repair or replacement right away. If the job normally needs a permit, get it the next business day so the installation can be inspected.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies SeaTac homes.
Energy
- Electric: Seattle City Light (Serves SeaTac north of South 160th Street)
- Electric: Puget Sound Energy (Serves SeaTac south of South 160th Street)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy
Water
Several water districts (the city points to its water districts map); Highline Water District operates the Angle Lake and McMicken wells in SeaTac
City of SeaTac Utilities ↗ · Highline Water District 2025 CCR ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for SeaTac homes.
For Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy customers in SeaTac. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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.
- 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 SeaTac.
Permits and who issues them
SeaTac's building FAQ says installing a new water heater is a replacement, not a minor repair, so it needs a permit. In an emergency you can replace it right away, as long as you get the permit the next business day and have the work inspected.
Every contractor needs a City of SeaTac business license before doing any work, as well as state registration.
City of SeaTac Permit Center / Building Services Division ↗ · SeaTac Building Services Questions & Answers ↗ · SeaTac 2026 Fee Schedule (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 SeaTac.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tukwila | 3 mi | Required | $37.81 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Burien | 3 mi | Required | $98 | Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy |
| Des Moines | 4 mi | Required | $67.10 | Puget Sound Energy |
| Renton | 5 mi | Required | $69 | Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light |
| Kent | 6 mi | Required | — | Puget Sound Energy |
| Newcastle | 9 mi | Required | $80 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
SeaTac water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to install a water heater I bought at a hardware store?
Yes. SeaTac's FAQ says putting in a water heater is a replacement, not a minor repair, and needs a permit.
What if my water heater fails on a weekend?
Replace it right away. Then get the permit the next business day so the work can be inspected.
Which electric utility serves my SeaTac home?
Seattle City Light if you're north of South 160th Street, Puget Sound Energy if you're south of it.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides