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Get a fair quoteBy Our research team · Last verified · 10 jobs priced · Methodology
Water heater repair (element, thermostat, igniter, gas valve). The full price list is below.
How we get this dataRepair it if the tank isn't leaking and it's under about 8 years old: most repairs run $150–$700. Replace it if the tank itself leaks or it's past 10 to 12 years: a new 40–50 gallon tank runs $800–$3,100 installed.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 36+ American pricing sources · See methodology
National prices, cheapest first. Your city's prices are on the water heater cost guide.
| Job | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permit and inspectionper job | $50 | $125 | $300 |
| Tankless flush and descaleper job | $100 | $200 | $350 |
| Old tank haul-away and disposalper job | $75 | $200 | $400 |
| Anode rod replacementper job | $150 | $250 | $350 |
| Expansion tankinstalled | $100 | $250 | $400 |
| Water heater repair (element, thermostat, igniter, gas valve)per job | $150 | $450 | $700 |
| Tank water heater replacement, 40–50 galinstalled | $800 | $1,800 | $3,100 |
| Emergency same-day replacement, 40–50 gal tankinstalled | $1,000 | $2,150 | $3,600 |
| Heat pump water heater, 50 gal, installed (replacing an electric tank)installed | $2,000 | $3,300 | $5,500 |
| Whole-home tankless gas (replacing a tank)installed | $2,000 | $3,500 | $5,600 |
US prices, November 2026. Low is a simple job in a low-cost area; high is a bigger job or a high-cost city.
Yes. The same job costs more where labor and rent cost more. Here's how water heater prices in the biggest US metros compare with the US typical of $1800.
Labor, rent and demand move every job on this page in the same direction. Open your city's guide for its full local price list.
Water pooling under the tank, or rust and drips coming from the tank body, means the inside is rusted through. That can't be repaired: the heater has to be replaced. Turn off the water to the heater (the valve on the cold pipe at the top) and its power or gas.
Water from a pipe fitting, the drain valve or the pressure-relief valve is different: those parts can be fixed or replaced.
The tank is dry and under about 8 years old. Electric heaters usually need a new heating element or thermostat; gas heaters a new igniter, thermocouple or gas valve. These repairs run $150–$700. A new anode rod ($150–$350) helps an older tank last longer.
The tank leaks, it's past 10 to 12 years old (the date is on the label), or a repair would cost more than about half a new one. A like-for-like 40–50 gallon tank runs $800–$3,100 installed. Need it today? A same-day emergency swap runs $1,000–$3,600.
Check what the quote includes: a permit ($50–$300), an expansion tank if your code needs one ($100–$400) and hauling the old tank away ($75–$400) are often extra.
A heat pump water heater ($2,000–$5,500) uses much less electricity than a standard electric tank, so it can pay back over a few years. Whole-home gas tankless runs $2,000–$5,600 and never runs out mid-shower.
The federal 25C credit for heat pump water heaters ended for units installed after December 31, 2025. Many utilities still pay rebates on heat pump models, so ask yours before you buy.
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Usually not if it needs a big repair. Most tanks last about 8 to 12 years. If the tank is dry and the fix is small, like a heating element ($150–$700), it can be worth it.
$800–$3,100 for a 40–50 gallon tank, installed, $1,800 typical.
Not if the tank itself leaks. If the water comes from a fitting or valve, a plumber can usually fix it.