Lowes Water Heater Replacement Cost
Lowe's does not publish a water heater installation price. An independent installer quotes the job after a free consultation, and the tank and installation are bought together as one package. Here is what Lowe's says the installation includes, which fees it adds, the warranty, and how its terms compare with Home Depot and with buying the tank yourself for a plumber to fit.
How much does Lowe's charge to install a water heater?
There is no published Lowe's installation price. Lowe's installation page says the cost depends on the type of heater (tank or tankless), the fuel (gas usually costs more to install than electric), and local labour and permit fees. The installer quotes it during a free consultation, and you buy the tank and labour together.
The tank part is visible on lowes.com. On 17 October 2026 it showed the A.O. Smith Signature 100 40 gallon tall electric (E6-40H45DV) at $444.60 and the 50 gallon tall natural gas, 9-year (G9-UT5040NVR) at $999.00. Store prices vary and promotions change them. Add the attic or crawlspace fee if your heater is in one, and an emergency fee for same-day work bought after noon.
What Lowe's installation includes, and what costs extra
Disconnecting the old water heater, basic replacement of an electric or gas heater in the same location with the same power source, testing, disposal of the old unit and clean-up.
The permit, handled by the installer, unless local rules make permitting the customer's responsibility.
Installations where the water heater is in an attic or crawlspace carry an additional fee.
An emergency fee may apply to same-day work bought after noon that day, or to weekend and holiday work.
Lowe's installs and replaces water heaters but does not service, repair or maintain them.
Installing a tank you already bought. Lowe's sells the product and labour together as one package.
From the FAQ on Lowe's water heater installation page, read 17 October 2026. Lowe's does not publish the size of the attic, crawlspace or emergency fees; ask for them as separate lines on the quote.
Lowe's vs Home Depot: the published terms
| Term | Lowe's | Home Depot |
|---|---|---|
| Publishes an installation price | No; quoted after a free consultation | No; quoted after a consultation |
| Tank and labour | Must be bought together | Unit price published; install quoted on top |
| Same-day install | Select markets, Mon-Fri before noon; emergency fee may apply | Mon-Fri before noon, within 30 miles of a store |
| Installation labour warranty | 1 year for most categories | Up to 3 years |
| Haul-away of old unit | Included | Free |
| Permits | Installer handles, unless local rules say otherwise | Home Depot obtains them |
| Attic or crawlspace | Additional fee | Code upgrades charged extra if needed |
| Price match on installation | Lowest Install Project Price Guarantee | Not stated on its install page |
Lowe's terms from its installation page and installation warranty statement; Home Depot terms from its water heater installation page. Both read 17 October 2026. More on Home Depot: Home Depot water heater installation cost.
Neither chain publishes a price, so the comparison that matters is between written quotes. Two practical points come out of the terms. Lowe's Lowest Install Project Price Guarantee says it will match a qualifying lower estimate for a comparable installation from another local retailer, so a Home Depot quote for the same job is worth having in hand. And Home Depot's installation labour warranty runs up to 3 years against Lowe's 1 year for most categories, which is worth weighing if the two quotes are close.
Buying the tank and hiring your own plumber
You can buy a water heater at Lowe's and have an independent plumber fit it, but Lowe's itself will not install a tank you bought earlier: its installation is sold only as a product-and-labour package. The independent route means you get the plumber's own quote and their workmanship warranty instead of Lowe's, and the manufacturer's warranty still applies to the heater.
Check the labour terms in the manufacturer's warranty before you choose a model. At Lowe's, the A.O. Smith Signature 100 40 gallon electric lists a 6-year limited tank and parts warranty with a 1-year limited labour warranty, while the 50 gallon 9-year gas model lists a 2-year limited labour warranty. For what plumbers charge for the labour, see the labor cost guide.