Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN SILVER FIRS
Silver Firs Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓SILVER FIRS AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Silver Firs.
Silver Firs is unincorporated, so you buy a water heater permit online from Snohomish County: a $150 residential base fee plus $7 for each water heater (fees effective March 1, 2026). Owners can do their own plumbing. Snohomish County PUD supplies electricity and PSE supplies gas. Local water districts mostly deliver soft Everett (Spada Reservoir) water.
Silver Firs is an unincorporated community in Snohomish County, so county offices handle permits.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS)
- Permit fee
- About $157: the $150 residential mechanical/plumbing base fee plus $7 for each water heater or vent. Gas piping adds $5 an outlet (Snohomish County Code 30.86.400-.420, changed by Ord. 26-005 effective March 1, 2026).
- Who gets the permit
- With a Residential Plumbing Permit, county code lets owners do plumbing on their own property. If you hire a plumber, the county recommends checking their contractor license (RCW 18.106).
- Electric utility
- Snohomish County PUD
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Not confirmed by an official source. Silver Lake Water & Sewer District serves Mill Creek and surrounding unincorporated Snohomish County with Spada Reservoir (Everett) water; neighboring providers include Alderwood, Cross Valley Water District and Snohomish County PUD · If on Everett-sourced water (Silver Lake or Alderwood), about 12.5 ppm total hardness (range 10.2-15.8 ppm), per Everett's 2025 Water Quality Summary.
- Rebate worth checking
- PSE heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1997 (median) · 89% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 1 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 Silver Firs averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Silver Firs
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeAbout $157: the $150 residential mechanical/plumbing base fee plus $7 for each water heater or vent. Gas piping adds $5 an outlet (Snohomish County Code 30.86.400-.420, changed by Ord. 26-005 effective March 1, 2026).. Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Silver Firs 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 Silver Firs average is shown.
What can change the price in Silver Firs?
On the mechanical schedule, gas piping is $5 an outlet. Washington L&I issues electrical permits in unincorporated Snohomish County. The county bulletin says the T&P relief valve must drain to an approved receptacle or outside, and a heater on a wood-framed floor needs a drain pan.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Silver Firs?
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 →
Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC Technicians
Lists Silver Firs 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.
Order: companies based in Silver Firs 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 ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN SILVER FIRS
What Silver Firs homes are like.
1997Median year built
14%Built before 1980
89%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
95%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1997. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
71% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
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 Silver Firs.
Relief valve drain and drain pan
The county's residential plumbing bulletin says the T&P relief valve needs its own drain line to an approved receptacle or outdoors. A water heater on a wood-framed floor must sit in a drain pan.
Permit issued the moment you pay
For residential mechanical/plumbing permits, the county says the PDS Permit Portal calculates the fee right away and issues the permit automatically after payment.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Silver Firs homes.
Energy
- Electric: Snohomish County PUD (Countywide electric utility for Snohomish County)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy (Gas supplier in parts of Snohomish County)
Snohomish PUD Quick Facts ↗ · PSE service area map (08/25) ↗
Water
Not confirmed by an official source. Silver Lake Water & Sewer District serves Mill Creek and surrounding unincorporated Snohomish County with Spada Reservoir (Everett) water; neighboring providers include Alderwood, Cross Valley Water District and Snohomish County PUD: If on Everett-sourced water (Silver Lake or Alderwood), about 12.5 ppm total hardness (range 10.2-15.8 ppm), per Everett's 2025 Water Quality Summary.
Silver Lake Water & Sewer District: About Your Service ↗ · City of Everett 2025 Water Quality Summary ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Silver Firs homes.
For Snohomish County PUD and Puget Sound Energy customers in Silver Firs. 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 Silver Firs.
Permits and who issues them
Snohomish County PDS issues the permit for Silver Firs, since it isn't in a city. The county requires a permit for any work on the water supply or drains. In the PDS Permit Portal, go to Trade Permits > Mech/Plbg Permit-Residential and choose Repair/Replacement. The county says the fee is calculated for you and the permit is issued automatically when you pay online.
The county has no contractor license of its own. Contractors register with Washington L&I, which also certifies plumbers.
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services (PDS) ↗ · Snohomish County Assistance Bulletin #32, Residential Plumbing Permits (rev. Jan 2025) ↗ · SCC 30.86.400 Construction Code fees (base fees) ↗ · SCC 30.86.420 Plumbing permit fees ↗ · SCC 30.86.410 Mechanical permit fees ↗
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 Silver Firs.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek | 3 mi | Required | $175 | Snohomish County PUD |
| Snohomish | 5 mi | Required | $50 | Snohomish County PUD |
| Alderwood Manor | 6 mi | Required (county) | $150 | Snohomish County PUD |
| Bothell | 7 mi | Required | $82 | Puget Sound Energy, Snohomish County PUD |
| Everett | 7 mi | Required | $150 | Snohomish County PUD |
| Woodinville | 7 mi | Required | $119 | Puget Sound Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Silver Firs water heater questions.
Who issues water heater permits in Silver Firs?
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services, on its online PDS Permit Portal (Mech/Plbg Permit-Residential, Repair/Replacement).
How much does the county charge?
$150 for the residential mechanical/plumbing base fee, plus $7 for each water heater or vent, under county code as changed effective March 1, 2026.
Can I do the work myself?
Yes. Snohomish County lets owners do plumbing on their own property with a Residential Plumbing Permit, following the UPC.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides