What water heater work costs

National ranges, before local labor differences. Each one has a full guide.

• Water Heater Replacement$1,667 to $4,167
• Tankless Water Heater Installation$2,000 to $5,500
• Water Heater Flush and Service$75 to $250
• Water Heater Pilot or Thermocouple Repair$120 to $350
• Expansion Tank Installation$250 to $500

Repair or replace

The age of the tank decides more than the symptom does.

• Under 8 years

  No hot water, pilot out, runs out fast, noise

  Repair. A thermocouple, element, dip tube or a flush fixes most of these for $100 to $400.

• 8 to 12 years

  Any of the above

  Repair if under $300 and nothing is leaking; start getting replacement quotes so the next failure is planned.

• Any age

  Water at the base of the tank, rust in the hot water

  Replace. A tank that leaks from the tank itself cannot be repaired. Shut the cold supply and the gas or breaker.

• 12 years or more

  Working fine

  Replace on your schedule in the next year or two. Quotes are cheaper and better in spring and fall than during a cold-snap emergency.

• Tankless, any age

  Error code, lukewarm water

  Flush and clean the filter first. A code that stays is a certified service visit, often under the manufacturer's warranty.

Who does this work

Questions people ask

My water heater is 12 years old and a plumber quoted $2,400 to replace it. Is that fair, and do I even need to?

At 12 years a tank is at the end of its typical 8 to 12 year life, so replacing on your schedule rather than the tank's is reasonable. $2,400 sits in the middle of the national range for a standard 40 or 50 gallon gas tank, if it includes the permit, haul-away, drain pan and expansion tank. Ask for those in writing. A quote of $6,000 or more for a like-for-like tank is outside the range and needs a line-by-line explanation.

How often should I flush a tank water heater?

Once a year, twice where the water is hard. It is an hour with a hose and a bucket, and it is the single cheapest thing that extends a tank's life. Tankless units get a vinegar descaling flush on the same schedule.

The pilot light will not stay lit. Can I fix that?

You can relight it following the label: control to Pilot, hold, click the igniter, keep holding 30 to 60 seconds. If it will not stay lit after two tries the thermocouple or pilot assembly has failed, which is a $120 to $350 plumber visit. On a tank past 10 years, weigh that against replacement.

What do Navien error codes 445 and 456 mean?

Both point at the mixing valve or flow inside a tankless unit, usually scale. A vinegar flush and a clean inlet filter clear many. A code that stays after a flush is a service call, and the manufacturer's support line will tell you whether it is covered.

It still works but runs out of hot water fast. Replace it?

Under 8 years: usually sediment, a failed dip tube or a lower heating element, all worth fixing. Past 10 years: put the money toward the replacement you will need anyway.

Is tankless worth the extra cost?

For a household that runs out of hot water, or one staying 15 years, often yes: endless hot water, lower running cost, a 20 year life. For a couple who never runs out and may move in five, a good tank at a third of the price is the better buy.

What happens if I wait and it fails?

A planned swap is the heater. A burst one is the heater plus the floor: the average water heater failure claim is about $4,400 after the deductible. Emergency and weekend plumbing rates run 1.5 to 2 times the daytime rate as well.