How Much Does a Water Heater Replacement Cost in Tampa? [2025 Data]

Normal Range: $709 - $1,397

The average cost for a water heater is $1,034 in Tampa, but it can range between $1,397 and $709. Your pro can discuss tank or tankless systems and if you need any additional plumbing upgrades.

How we get this data
Highlights
  • The size of the water heater you want and whether you choose tank-style or tankless are the two most important cost factors to think about.

  • Tankless water heaters are more convenient and provide on-demand hot water, but they cost about twice as much to install.

  • Electric water heaters are the most popular in Tampa for energy efficiency, but they do tend to cost a bit more than gas-fired water heaters.

  • The above-average cost of living in Tampa means labor will cost you more than it would in most other cities.

Water heater replacement costs in Tampa average $1,034, and most projects total between $709 and $1,397. Your price will depend mostly on the type of water heater you’re installing and the capacity, which a plumber will need to match to your home size. The groundwater temperature in Tampa is relatively high, so residents have lower water heater requirements than most people and need smaller, more affordable units.

Water Heater Replacement Cost Factors

Some homeowners in Tampa pay as little as $260 for water heater replacement, while the most expensive projects in the city can cost as much as $7,485. There’s such a wide range because things like the water heater size, unit type, and your household size can affect your material and labor costs.

Size

Hot water heaters come in different sizes, measured by gallons (for tank-style systems) or gallons per minute (for tankless systems). The total amount of your water heater replacement cost will largely depend on the size of your new water heater, and that will depend on the size of your household.

Your water heater installation pro can help you determine what size you need, but you can get an idea of what yours will cost based on how many people live in your home. The average household size in Tampa is 2.3 people, equating to a tank-style water heater between 30 and 40 gallons or a tankless water heater between 6 and 10 gallons per minute (GPM).

Tankless water heaters will depend on multiple other factors, like average hourly consumption, but you can use the table below to estimate your costs for a tank-style water heater.

Unit Size (Gallons)Household SizeAverage Cost
301–2$550–$1,650
402–4$600–$1,800
503–5$650–$1,950
754–6$850–$3,100
806+$1,000–$5,850

Tank vs. Tankless Water Heaters 

A traditional tank-style water heater stores water in a large tank that holds anywhere from 20 to 100 gallons. If you’re like 90% of households, you have a tank hot water heater sitting on a concrete pad in a laundry room or utility room. In comparison, a tankless water heater is the size of a small suitcase, has a coil system for heating water, and is usually mounted on the wall. Your water heater installation pro can help you decide which type of water heater is best for your replacement. 

Tank water heaters versus tankless water heaters visual comparison
Tank-style$650–$2,700Up-front costEfficiency
Tankless$1,500–$4,200Running costExpensive to install

Types of Water Heaters

Most electric and gas water heaters cost between $550 and $1,500, but the unit type will significantly impact your cost. Most homes in Tampa use electricity for home heating, and gas connections, especially in the suburbs around the city center, don’t have gas connections at all.

Electric furnaces and heat pumps are more than enough to provide the minimal heating Tampa residents need each year, and most residents will also opt for electric water heaters as a result.

These are more expensive in many cases, but since tankless electric water heaters struggle to keep up with demand, tank-style water heaters are more common in the city. This is one reason why water heaters in Tampa cost below the national average despite the more expensive fuel source.

TypeAverage Cost
Electric$600–$3,700
Gas$750–$2,900
Propane$750–$2,700

Plumber Pro Costs

When you hire a plumber or water heater installer in Tampa, you can expect around half of your total—an average of $520—to go toward labor. This normally includes removing the old water heater, moving the new one into place, and making any necessary connections. You could pay significantly more if you’re changing fuel sources, like if you have a gas water heater and need a 240-volt outlet for a new electric water heater, which many Tampa residents are doing.

The City of Tampa requires permits for all plumbing work, including water heater replacement, so you’ll need to budget for permit fees in addition to the materials and labor. The fee for water heater replacement in Tampa is $124, regardless of the type or size of water heater you’re installing. If you need changes to your electrical system to support a new electric water heater, you’ll pay an additional $124 for the electrical permit.

Finally, you should budget for sales tax, which your installer will add onto your invoice. The sales tax rate in Tampa is 7.5%, including state and city taxes. Given the average water heater replacement cost in the area, you’re looking at a total of $77.55 in sales tax.

Safety Warning

To prevent carbon monoxide exposure from a water heater, make sure it is properly ventilated. You should also have it inspected and cleaned every year and install a carbon monoxide detector nearby. If you smell gas—which can mimic the scent of rotten eggs—evacuate immediately and call your gas company.

Do Water Heater Replacements Increase Home Value?

Installing a new water heater can have a minor impact on your home value, as it can give buyers more confidence that they won’t need to lay out money for repairs or replacements after closing. You’ll see the highest return on investment (ROI) from upgrading to a tankless water heater, which can boost home value by up to 1.2%. Given the average property value in Tampa, that’s an increase of close to $5,200.

Florida is also one of the most popular states for solar adoption, so you’ll see a higher return from investing in an electric water heater if you have panels installed. Buyers will often pay more for this setup because their ongoing utility costs will be lower.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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