Home Depot Water Heater Replacement Cost
Home Depot does not publish a water heater installation price: it quotes after a consultation. What it does publish is the tank. On 13 November 2026 homedepot.com listed Rheem Performance tanks from $459 (30 gal electric) to $1,149 (75 gal gas). Its installation page promises free delivery and haul-away, permits handled, a labour warranty of up to 3 years, and same-day installation Monday to Friday if you book before noon and live within 30 miles of a store, and a match of any licensed, insured plumber's like-for-like price before or up to 30 days after the install. Below: the published unit prices, what the installation includes, what gets quoted on top, and how to compare it with an independent plumber.
Home Depot's published water heater prices
Home Depot says its installation price has four parts: the cost of the product, basic installation, permit charges, and bringing the system up to code. Only the first is published. These are the Rheem Performance tanks as listed on homedepot.com.
| Featured model | Unit price | Fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Rheem Performance 30 gal medium, 4500W | $459 | Electric tank |
| Rheem Performance 40 gal medium, 4500W | $469 | Electric tank |
| Rheem Performance 50 gal medium, 4500W | $569 | Electric tank |
| Rheem Performance 50 gal tall, 4500W | $669 | Electric tank |
| Rheem Performance 40 gal tall, 36,000 BTU | $649 | Gas tank |
| Rheem Performance 50 gal tall, 38,000 BTU | $749 | Gas tank |
| Rheem Performance 75 gal tall, 76,000 BTU | $1,149 | Gas tank |
Regular prices as listed on homedepot.com product pages, read 13 November 2026 (store context Ellsworth, Maine; some heat pump and tankless models were on a Black Friday sale for less). Prices change and vary by store. Installation terms from Home Depot's water heater installation page, read the same day. Installation, permit and any code-upgrade charges are quoted on top. For what plumbers charge for the labour part, see our labor cost guide.
What is and is not in the Home Depot bundle
Included: the unit and its delivery
You choose the heater; the tanks priced above are Rheem Performance models. Home Depot delivers the new water heater for free. The tank warranty is the manufacturer's; check its length on the product page or spec sheet for the exact model you are quoted.
Included: basic install labour
Home Depot lists: disconnect and remove the existing water heater; set up and secure the new one in the same, unobstructed area; connect it to existing code-approved venting, electrical, gas and water lines; leak and cycle test; a final inspection and walk-through; and clean-up. It says the installation itself typically takes two to three hours.
Included: haul-away
Home Depot says it hauls away the old unit for free.
Quoted extra: expansion tank
Home Depot names the expansion tank as an installation component for code compliance, with additional charges if an upgrade is needed. It is commonly required where the water supply has a check valve or pressure-reducing valve (a closed system). See our expansion tank cost page.
Quoted extra: drain pan
Required by IRC P2801.6 where a leak from the tank or its connections would cause damage, such as an attic or upper-floor install. Home Depot names the drain pan as a code-compliance component charged separately when needed. See our drain pan cost page.
Quoted extra: other code upgrades
Home Depot says that if upgrades are needed to meet current code, additional charges may apply, naming venting and drain lines among the components. Ask for each one as its own line on the quote.
Permit charges
Home Depot says permits are governed by local cities and municipalities, and lists permit charges as one of the four parts of its price. The fee is set by your local building department, so check its fee schedule or ask for the permit line on the quote.
HD bundle vs independent plumber: when each wins
The Home Depot bundle wins for homeowners who want the simplest path: one quote, one company, free haul-away, a labour warranty of up to 3 years, and financing (Home Depot advertises 12 months special financing and up to 180 months financing). It suits a clean like-for-like swap with one of the featured Rheem Performance tanks.
An independent plumber wins for: evening, weekend and true emergency replacement (Home Depot's same-day window is weekdays only, before noon, within 30 miles of a store), a specific brand that is not in Home Depot's install program in your area (its installation page features Rheem), complex installs with non-standard connections or a new location (Home Depot's scope is the same, unobstructed area), and tight budgets where a local plumber's itemised quote comes in lower. The trade-off on independent: you manage the relationship and warranty service yourself, which is fine but not as turnkey as a national chain.
The honest recommendation: get 2 to 3 quotes always. Include Home Depot, the closest big-name plumber, and one local independent that a neighbour or friend has used. Compare bundle vs itemised; some HD quotes include adds that the independent quote does not, so apples-to-apples is important. For Lowe's comparison see Lowes replacement cost. For broader labour-cost guidance see labor cost guide.
The two warranties, and who handles each
A Home Depot installation carries two separate warranties. The first is the manufacturer's limited warranty on the tank and parts; its length depends on the model, so check the product page or spec sheet for the exact unit on your quote. The second is Home Depot's own: its installation page says all its water heater installations are backed by a labour warranty for up to 3 years.
They are claimed in different places. A problem with the installation work goes to Home Depot under its labour warranty. A tank or parts failure is a manufacturer claim: Rheem's warranty page tells owners to contact their local Rheem Pro with the product serial number ready. Ask on your quote what labour would cost on a warranty repair after Home Depot's labour warranty ends. For the full picture see warranty cost.