Replacing a water heater runs $1,200 to $3,500 for most households. People usually make that decision the same day the old one dies, in a hurry, holding exactly one quote and nothing to check it against. This site exists to be the thing you check it against.

What we do

We collect published installation and unit prices from contractor networks and consumer research groups, compare them against each other, and publish the range with the date we last checked it. When sources disagree, we say so instead of averaging the disagreement away. The method is written out on the how we calculate page, and the sourcing rules are on editorial standards.

What we don't do

We don't install water heaters. Nobody here is a plumber and we won't pretend otherwise. We can tell you what a 50-gallon gas replacement should cost in 2026. We can't tell you whether yours needs replacing, whether your venting is up to code, or whether that noise is normal. Those are a licensed plumber's calls.

How we pay for it

Some pages carry advertising. Some link to products on Amazon, and if you buy through one we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We also earn a fee when a reader is connected to a plumber through us.

None of that changes a price on this site. We have never been paid to raise or lower a number, we don't publish sponsored content, and we don't order recommendations by who pays us. If a contractor network ever asks us to, we'll publish the request.

Who runs it

heatercosts.com is published by GoMav Media, an independent performance publisher. Editorial responsibility for everything on this site — accuracy, sourcing and corrections — sits with GoMav Media editorial. Reach us at partners@gomavmedia.com and a person will read it.

When we get it wrong

Prices move and we will be wrong sometimes. Email us and we'll fix the page, date the change, and leave a note on it saying what changed. We don't quietly edit numbers.