Cost to Install or Replace Tank Style Water Heaters

While water heater technology has changed a lot over the past few decades, many homeowners choose to stick with the conventional tank style water heaters. They offer the cheapest upfront cost for both the water heater units and installation. They are also the most familiar so they are simple to maintain and diagnose any issues. It is possible for homeowners to handle installation themselves, but there are still risks involved any time you are working with gas or electricity.

The master plumbers at Reliant Plumbing have put together this page to help you understand the costs involved if you choose to hire a licensed plumber for your project. All pricing on this page is based on average prices we see around Austin, Texas. Your costs could vary depending on the price of plumbing labor and supplies in your local area.

Cost to Install or Replace a Gas Tank Style Water Heater

The cost to install or replace tank style water heaters is virtually the same. The only exception would be if your gas water heater already has the proper venting & draining system. We have included this as separate line items so you can disregard that cost if needed.

New gas tank style water heaters must be installed according to code. In Texas, that means gas water heaters:

• Must be accessible for observation & maintenance
• Must be elevated at least 18” off the floor
• Must be vented to the outdoors with a double wall vent that is at least 5 feet long
• Must have weatherstripping on the closet door, if in a closet
• Cannot be located in a bedroom or in any room with an AC unit
• Must be equipped with a drain pan that drains into a floor drain or to the exterior of the house
• Must be able to be shut down from the electric supply

Cost to Install or Replace an Electric Tank Style Water Heater

The cost to install or replace tank style water heaters is virtually the same. The only exception would be if your electric water heater already has the proper drainage system. We have included this as separate line items so you can disregard that cost if needed.

New electric tank style water heaters must be installed according to code. In Texas, that means electric water heaters:

• Must be accessible for observation & maintenance
• Must be elevated at least 18” off the floor
• Cannot be located in a bedroom or in any room with an AC unit
• Must be equipped with a drain pan that drains into a floor drain or to the exterior of the house
• Must be able to be shut down from the electric supply

How to Get an Estimate

It’s difficult to guess the price of plumbing projects because every home varies so much. Often, we get on a job and find the existing plumbing needs to be brought up to code before we can even get started. You should always discuss pricing with your plumber up front. They should come visit your house to evaluate your project & provide an estimate. Don’t expect this to be free though! It takes time for a plumber to come out to your house and they often need to do some diagnostics before getting to your price.

If a plumber is not able to provide you with an upfront estimate, you should still discuss pricing. Do they charge for labor hourly or use flat rate pricing? If they charge hourly, you might want to call a few different plumbers to compare rates.

If you’re in the Austin area, we’d love to help you with your tank style water heater install! Give our office a call to discuss your project.