Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN UNIVERSITY PLACE
University Place Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓UNIVERSITY PLACE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in University Place.
A water heater permit in University Place costs about $48.55: $32.40 to issue plus $16.15 for the heater. Electric units go on a plumbing permit and gas units on a mechanical permit. Tacoma Power supplies electricity, PSE supplies gas and Tacoma Water supplies water. Contractors need a city business license.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of University Place Planning & Development Services
- Permit fee
- Plumbing: $32.40 to issue + $16.15 for each electric water heater ($48.55). Mechanical: $32.40 to issue + $16.15 for a gas water heater and venting ($48.55). The fee sheets show Resolution No. 988, and the city says it updates the schedule at the start of each year.
- Who gets the permit
- Contractors must be licensed and bonded with Washington L&I and have a City of University Place business license. Homeowners doing plumbing at their own home don't need a state plumbing license (RCW 18.106.150).
- Electric utility
- Tacoma Power
- Gas utility
- Puget Sound Energy
- Water
- Tacoma Water (mostly Green River surface water, with groundwater wells supplying about 4–11% of demand in a typical year)
- Rebate worth checking
- Tacoma Power hybrid water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1981 (median) · 57% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 10 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 University Place averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in University Place
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feePlumbing: $32.40 to issue + $16.15 for each electric water heater ($48.55). Mechanical: $32.40 to issue + $16.15 for a gas water heater and venting ($48.55). The fee sheets show Resolution No. 988, and the city says it updates the schedule at the start of each year.. City of University Place Planning & Development Services fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for University Place 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 University Place average is shown.
What can change the price in University Place?
On the mechanical permit, a gas piping system with one to four outlets is $9.69. For electrical permits, the city sends you to Tacoma Public Utilities (253-383-2471).
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in University Place?
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 University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Tacoma
Lists University Place among the areas it serves. Based in Tacoma.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A customer praised next-day service with a new hot water heater installed by 11am.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Puget Sound Plumbing & Heating
Lists University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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 University Place 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 UNIVERSITY PLACE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN UNIVERSITY PLACE
What University Place homes are like.
1981Median year built
48%Built before 1980
57%Owner-occupied
36%Heat with utility gas
61%Single-family homes
About 48% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
62% 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 University Place.
Contractors need a city business license
Before working in University Place, every contractor needs a city business license, as well as L&I licensing and bonding.
Well water mixed in during summer and fall
Tacoma Water mixes in water from its wells, mostly in summer and fall, so your water can change a bit with the seasons. The 2025 report says some wells stay shut off until PFAS treatment is in place.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies University Place homes.
Energy
- Electric: Tacoma Power (City-run utility that serves University Place)
- Gas: Puget Sound Energy (PSE supplies gas in Pierce County)
Water
Tacoma Water (mostly Green River surface water, with groundwater wells supplying about 4–11% of demand in a typical year)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for University Place homes.
For Tacoma Power and Puget Sound Energy customers in University Place. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Tacoma Power hybrid water heater rebate ↗Active$500 rebate when a Tacoma Power customer replaces a standard electric water heater with a BPA Tier 3 or 4 hybrid (heat pump) model, contractor or self-installed.
- 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 University Place.
Permits and who issues them
University Place requires a permit to install, change, repair or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. An electric water heater is a line on the plumbing permit; a gas water heater and its venting go on the mechanical permit. Email permit documents and applications to Permits@Cityofup.com.
Every contractor needs a valid City of University Place business license before working in the city, on top of L&I licensing and bonding.
City of University Place Planning & Development Services ↗ · University Place Permit Information ↗ · University Place Plumbing Code Fees (Resolution No. 988) ↗ · University Place Mechanical Code Fees (Resolution No. 988) ↗ · University Place Residential Submittal Requirements ↗ · University Place Commercial Submittal Requirements (electrical permit note) ↗
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 University Place.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood | 4 mi | Required | $34 | Lakeview Light & Power, Tacoma Power, Puget Sound Energy |
| Tacoma | 5 mi | Required | By job value (from $180) | Tacoma Power |
| Parkland | 7 mi | Required (county) | $58 | Parkland Light & Water Company, Tacoma Power |
| Artondale | 8 mi | Required (county) | $86 | Peninsula Light Company |
| Gig Harbor | 9 mi | Required | $34 | Peninsula Light Company |
| Spanaway | 10 mi | Required (county) | $86 | Tacoma Power, Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light |
COMMON QUESTIONS
University Place water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in University Place?
$32.40 to issue plus $16.15 for the water heater. Electric heaters go on the plumbing permit; gas heaters, with their venting, go on the mechanical permit.
Who handles electrical permits in University Place?
The city sends electrical permit questions to Tacoma Public Utilities at 253-383-2471.
Which rebate applies to a heat pump water heater in University Place?
Tacoma Power's hybrid water heater program, since University Place is in Tacoma Power's service area.
More guides: Washington water heater replacement · All local guides