Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN HUDSON
Hudson Water Heater
Replacement
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Replacing a water heater in Hudson.
Hudson, Wisconsin covers plumbing, electrical and mechanical work with one combination permit per project. Fees start at $60 for jobs up to $6,000 under a 2018 schedule, and there's no local contractor license. Xcel Energy supplies electricity and gas, and Hudson Public Utilities' well water averages 12.5 grains per gallon.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Hudson Community Development / Building Inspector
- Permit fee
- Based on job value: $60 minimum for jobs worth $500–$6,000, and 1% of the value above that. This comes from the Building Permit Fee Schedule adopted March 12, 2018, an older schedule the city still posts.
- Who gets the permit
- Wisconsin requires plumbing contractors to hold a Master Plumber license (other plumbers work under a master plumber) and HVAC contractors to register. Those state rules don't apply to homeowners working on a home they own and live in.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Gas utility
- Xcel Energy
- Water
- Hudson Public Utilities (Jordan and Mount Simon sandstone wells, iron/manganese filtration at nine wellheads; also serves North Hudson) · Average 12.5 grains per gallon (210 ppm) per the Annual Water Quality Report published summer 2026 (posted as the 2025 Water Quality Report).
- Rebate worth checking
- Focus on Energy – Water Heating Instant Discounts (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1995 (median) · 67% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 2 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 Hudson averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Hudson
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeBased on job value: $60 minimum for jobs worth $500–$6,000, and 1% of the value above that. This comes from the Building Permit Fee Schedule adopted March 12, 2018, an older schedule the city still posts.. City of Hudson Community Development / Building Inspector fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Hudson post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Aquarius Home Services, Boldt's Plumbing & Heating Inc.. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Hudson average is shown.
What can change the price in Hudson?
The same combination permit covers plumbing, under the Wisconsin Plumbing Code (SPS 382), and electrical, under SPS 316.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Hudson?
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 →
Aquarius Home Services
Lists Hudson among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Current offers (expire September 30, 2026): $400 off tank model water heaters (includes basic installation); $1000 off tankless water heaters (includes basic installation); $149 water heater flush & inspection (excludes tankless); $59 water heater & sump pump safety check —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast replacements (including same-day installs), technicians who offered repair-or-replace options without pressure, and clear explanations.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said a plumber found water-pressure problems that should have been caught when their water heater was replaced, which led to an unexpected higher expense; no BBB complaints about water heater work were visible.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Boldt's Plumbing & Heating Inc.
Lists Hudson among the areas it serves. Based in Baldwin & Hudson, WI (two offices; Hudson office at 516 2nd St, Unit #203, Hudson, WI 54016 per Hudson Area Chamber listing).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: $100 off water heater replacement (cannot be combined); financing 'as low as $49/month' —
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Hudson 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. Wisconsin plumbing license lookup (DSPS LicensE) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING HUDSON
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN HUDSON
What Hudson homes are like.
1995Median year built
32%Built before 1980
67%Owner-occupied
76%Heat with utility gas
70%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1995. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
76% 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 Hudson.
Wisconsin rules, not Minnesota's
Hudson sits across the St. Croix from the Twin Cities but follows Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code and plumbing code (SPS 382). Licenses come from Wisconsin DSPS, not Minnesota DLI.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Hudson homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (serves city residents)
- Gas: Xcel Energy (gas for city residents)
Water
Hudson Public Utilities (Jordan and Mount Simon sandstone wells, iron/manganese filtration at nine wellheads; also serves North Hudson): Average 12.5 grains per gallon (210 ppm) per the Annual Water Quality Report published summer 2026 (posted as the 2025 Water Quality Report).
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Hudson homes.
For Xcel Energy customers in Hudson. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Focus on Energy – Water Heating Instant Discounts ↗ActiveInstant discounts taken off the invoice at purchase: at least $300 for a heat pump water heater (3.3 UEF or higher, under 120 gallons), at least $100 for a gas tankless (0.87 UEF or higher), and at least $200 for an indirect water heater paired with a 90%+ boiler.
- IRA Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) ↗ActiveUp to $1,750 for an ENERGY STAR electric heat pump water heater.
- IRA Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) ↗ActiveWhole-home rebates based on household income and predicted energy savings; all homeowners are eligible.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Wisconsin rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Hudson.
Permits and who issues them
Hudson uses a combination permit: one building permit per project covers building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. The city says general remodeling with any mechanical, electrical or plumbing changes needs a permit. We found no city page that says whether swapping in the same type of water heater needs one. Pay by cash or check only.
No. The city says it has no local contractor registration, credential or license. State of Wisconsin credentials apply.
City of Hudson Community Development / Building Inspector ↗ · Hudson Building Inspector ↗ · Hudson Building Permit Fees ↗ · Hudson Building Permit Fee Schedule (adopted 3/12/2018) ↗ · Hudson General Information on Building (updated 1/14/2026) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Wisconsin plumbing license lookup (DSPS LicensE) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Wisconsin licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Hudson.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Falls | 9 mi | Required | $22.50 | River Falls Municipal Utilities (RFMU) |
| New Richmond | 14 mi | Check with city | $75 | New Richmond Utilities |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Hudson water heater questions.
Does Hudson require a local plumbing contractor license?
No. Hudson has no local registration. Wisconsin requires plumbing contractors to hold a Master Plumber license, but homeowners working on a home they own and live in don't need one.
What is the minimum permit fee?
$60 for work worth $500–$6,000, under the fee schedule adopted March 12, 2018.
How hard is Hudson's water?
Hard: about 12.5 grains per gallon (210 ppm) on average.
More guides: Wisconsin water heater replacement · All local guides