How much does a water heater replacement cost in Tampa / St. Pete / Clearwater / West Central Florida?
In this article I’m going to break down the price ranges for installing water heaters in the Greater Tampa Bay area which includes Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and should be equally applicable in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. Keep in mind these numbers are averages and the final price you pay may depend on which plumber you choose to hire.
I’m going to start with the cheapest possible scenario and work my way up to the most expensive.
Installation Considerations - 3 Scenarios
The Handy Homeowner:
The cheapest possible installation scenario is when you, the consumer, purchase the water heater and install the unit yourself. Assuming you have the tools and the confidence (and the knowledge) to install it successfully, you’ll probably spend anywhere from $600 - $800 to purchase a basic electric tank water heater and materials, deliver it to your house, install the new one, and then haul the old one away. The breakdown on the materials are about $500 - 600 for the water heater and about $100-200 in material, depending on what kind of pipe you have, whether you need to replace the shut-off valve, etc. This is obviously the cheapest and most affordable way to install the water heater and it is a great idea if you’ve got the experience to pull this off!
The Middle Road:
The next most affordable option is to buy your own water heater and pay a plumber to install it. Most companies are going to charge between $500 and $1000 to install a basic electric water heater. Keep in mind that is usually not all labor, as there are usually pipe and fittings involved in installing the water heater and miscellaneous materials needed like a thermal expansion valve or expansion tank, new shut-off valve, etc.
The Professional Option:
After that, you can hire a plumber to do the entire job for you. This will obviously be the most expensive option but it will save you trouble and headaches as long as you hire a reputable plumbing company that offers a decent warranty on their work. This will run you anywhere from about $1500 at the absolute bare minimum to $2500 on the high end (again, for a basic electric tank install. I’ll go install pricing considerations on different types of water heaters later in this conversation.) Most plumbers I’ve worked with over the years tend to be in the $1800-2200 range for an electric tank swap out with parts, labor, and warranty all included. If you’re not a handy person and you’d prefer a professional to handle the job, this is probably the best option for you.
Different types of water heaters: Tank and Tankless (Electric and Gas)
In this next section I want to talk about cost of the different types of water heaters. Keep in mind this is just the cost of the units themselves, and doesn’t include the necessary miscellaneous materials to install, and doesn’t include the labor if you hire the plumber. This is purely cost of the actual unit if you were to walk into a Home Depot or Lowe’s and purchase one yourself.
Electric Tank water heaters tend to be the cheapest to purchase and install. Price for just the tank is between $550-650 depending on where you buy, the warranty period, etc.
Natural Gas and Propane tank water heaters with standard venting tend to be the next most affordable to purchase and install. These units are more complex to install and are probably something most homeowners shouldn’t consider doing themselves, unless they have experience in Plumbing. These units run anywheres from $650 - $1000 depending on fuel type, capacity, dimensions, etc.
Power Vent Natural Gas and Propane tank water heaters are the next cost step up. These are usually between $1300 and $2000 for the tank, again, depending on a variety of factors like capacity, fuel type, height and width, etc.
Hybrid electric heat pump tank water heaters are similar in cost to the power vent water heaters, with a price range between $1500-2000.
Point-of-use tankless electric water heaters are often very affordable but will only heat a single fixture such as a hand wash sink. These are often as cheap as $200, but some units cost up to $500.
Whole Home Tankless Electric Water Heaters tend to be more affordable in terms of just purchasing the unit (anywhere from $600-1000 for the unit itself) but the installation can be rather difficult for a homeowner. The most extensive type of installation for a tankless electric water heater is when you’re going from a tank electric to a tankless electric. You have to ensure your main breaker panel and incoming electric service wiring is rated for a minimum of 150 Amps (and often 200 amps is preferred for a whole-house installation) before even considering upgrading your tankless electric water heater. You also generally need to run an additional 240V circuit to the new tankless water heater, so no matter what, you’ll end up having to have an electrician do the wiring for you. This is definitely NOT a homeowner level job. You could be looking at between $800 and $2000 for your electrician to do the necessary changes on top of what your plumber may charge to install.
Whole Home Natural Gas / Propane Tankless Water Heaters are the king of kings when it comes to water heaters, and their price is reflective of that. These units tend to run between $1500 - $2000 just for the unit, and the additional materials needed to install often run between $200 up to $1000 or more depending on the type of installation. The most expensive type of installation will be converting from a tank style water heater to a tankless water heater. This is probably the most complex type of water heater to install and is something a homeowner shouldn’t even consider doing.
Location and Access Considerations
If a water heater is in a place that is open and accessible vs a spot that is very difficult to reach, that is going to have a big effect on the price if you choose to hire a plumber. Here’s a short list of potential water heater locations and the effect it will have on the price.
Garage or open space: very little change to price. Literally the best place a water heater can be for a plumber to replace it for you.
Inside of a water heater shed: may change the price somewhat, because it will take more time to pull the old water heater out safely and reinstall the new one.
Under a stairway or inside a closet: will certainly change the price by a few hundred dollars for additional labor.
On a second, or third, or tenth floor: price is definitely going up. The higher the floor, the higher your labor bill. The plumber has to spend more time and effort transporting tools from the ground floor to the work area. This bill will probably sting.
Under an air conditioning unit in a closet: commonly found in Florida condos and townhomes, this one is just a plain pain in the ass for the plumber. Prepare for the bill to hurt accordingly.
In an attic: this is the worst possible location for a water heater. The plumber has to safely drain down the old water heater, manhandle the old rusted unit out of the attic and out of your house without damaging anything, and then he has to magically transport the new unit up into said attic and re-install everything. Your attic is hot, stuffy, and full of insulation and is probably a tight squeeze. You should be prepared to pull some money out of savings to pay for this bill, because it’s going to be very painful for you.
Code Upgrades, Recirculating Pumps, and Miscellaneous Considerations
When a professional plumbing contractor is replacing your water heater, he is obligated to ensure the new installation meets the new code requirements and is installed to the highest trade standards. He may need to install an expansion tank or an expansion valve, a new pan and pan drain, or route the t&p relief line outside. He also may be required to pay for a permit depending on which jurisdiction you are located in.
For example, the City of Tampa requires that a water heater permit be pulled for all installations, whereas Temple Terrace doesn’t require a permit if the water heater is installed by a licensed plumbing contractor.
He also may need to replace your existing recirculating pump. These items can add anywhere from $250 to $1000 (or more) to your installation cost.
Final Thoughts and Sample Price Ranges
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Hopefully you get the point that I was hinting at all along, which is this: every water heater job is different and the price from one job to the next can vary wildly. Water heater type, location, and equipment will all play a role in the cost of your water heater replacement job.
Here are a few sample price ranges based own what we’ve discussed so far. These are price ranges for a Licensed Plumbing Contractor to remove your existing water heater, install the new one, and include all labor, parts, and a warranty on the work performed:
| Location | Water Heater Type | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Garage | Electric Tank W.H. | $1500 - $2500 |
| Propane / Natural Gas Tank W.H. | $2200 - $3000 | |
| Power Vent Tank W.H. | $3000 - $5000 | |
| Hybrid (Heat Pump) Tank W.H. | $3000 - $5000 | |
| Tankless Electric W.H. | $2200 - $3000 (not including electrical costs) | |
| Tankless Gas W.H. | $2400 - $3000 for a replacement, $4500 - $6000+ for an upgrade from an existing tank | |
| Water Heater Shed | Add $200 - $500 if replacing the shed. | |
| Under Stairs / Closet | Add $300 - $600 for additional labor. | |
| 2nd / 3rd / 10th Floor | Add $500 minimum, up to $1000 or more. | |
| Under an AC Unit (Florida Condominium Special) | Add $500 - $750. | |
| In an Attic | Add $1000+ |
But, but, but…. I saw an advertisement for a water heater replacement for only $899!
I saw an advertisement that promised me health, wealth, happiness, and good looks for only $19.99 a month but I didn’t purchase it because I knew it was either a bait and switch or a scam. If you see a company advertising such a low price, ask yourself: what are the caveats? What are they not telling me? And do I want to risk doing business with someone who wants to potentially trick me into buying all these add-ons instead of just being honest about the real price to begin with?
