How Much Does It Cost to Repair or Replace a Water Heater in Massachusetts?

You aren’t afraid of a little snow — or even a blizzard — up in Massachusetts. But you certainly don’t wanna be facing the business end of a nor’easter with a water heater that’s out of commission. Wanna know something wicked cool? From Boston to the Cape, water heater repair and replacement costs in the Bay State are lower than the national average.

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Hopefully, it won’t take being without hot water during a snowstorm for you to realize your water heater’s a pretty important piece of equipment. When it goes kaput, it's not so much a matter of whether you should have it serviced, but how much that service will cost. And if your hot water is already out, the last thing you want right now is to be blindsided by exorbitant water heater service fees. Calling around for estimates? These numbers should give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay in your state.

Repair and replacement costs vary depending on where you live. For comparison, the national average for diagnosis is $101, for repair is $359 and for replacement is $1,396. The good news? We're seeing prices that are, on the national level, lower than when we first reported this data in 2021. National average diagnosis fees are up just $2 in four years, while average repair and replacement costs are down 27% and 20% respectively.

The following average prices are based on aggregated HomeServe data reported by our network of contractors across the state of Massachusetts:

Water Heater Diagnosis: $75

The diagnostic fee is what the technician will charge you to tell you what’s wrong with your system and whether it needs to be repaired or replaced. In Massachusetts, this fee is about a quarter lower than the national average.

Water Heater Repair: $531

After your technician tells you what’s wrong with your system, they may need to do some repair work. This usually involves ordering new parts to replace a worn-out heating element, faulty thermostat or another malfunctioning component. This average repair price includes replacement parts and the labor to install them. Bay Staters pay about 48% more for water heater repairs than the average American.

Water Heater Replace: $1,770

Water heaters don’t last forever, and a breakdown might be a sign that yours is on its way out. At the end of your water heater’s usable life (about 10 years), you'll need to shell out for a new one. Massachusetts’ average replacement price is 27% higher than the nation’s.

(Note that HomeServe water heater data should generally be assumed to refer to conventional “tanked” models — the most common type — as opposed to tankless or “on-demand” models, which can cost roughly twice as much.)

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• A Tankless Job? Decide Whether a Tankless Water Heater Works for Your Home

• The Age-Old Question: Is My Water Heater Gas or Electric?

• 5 Tell-Tale Signs Your Water Heater Isn’t Doing So Hot