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Most water heaters get replaced on an emergency schedule: the shower runs cold on a Tuesday, or there’s a puddle around the base of the tank. Tank models last 8 to 12 years on gas and 10 to 15 years on electric, so if yours is past that window, it’s worth planning the replacement instead of waiting. Homeowners in Columbus who shop ahead almost always pay less than those calling at 7 a.m. with no hot water.

A like-for-like tank replacement runs $600 to $3,100 in most markets, with many homeowners landing between $1,200 and $2,500 for a standard 40- or 50-gallon unit. Labor is $500 to $1,200, and the job takes two to four hours. Tankless is a different scope: $1,400 to $5,600 installed, six to ten hours of labor, and often gas line resizing, new venting through an exterior wall, or a dedicated circuit. Quotes in Columbus vary mostly on those upgrades.

Sizing is the other decision. A 40- to 50-gallon tank covers most three- to four-person households; five to seven people usually need 60 to 80 gallons. Tankless is rated in gallons per minute, and 5 to 6 GPM suits a typical family. Undersizing means cold showers; oversizing means paying to heat water nobody uses.

Nearly every jurisdiction requires a permit and inspection, typically $50 to $200, and inspectors check gas connections, venting, T&P valve discharge, seismic strapping where applicable, and an expansion tank on closed systems. Improper installation risks carbon monoxide exposure and voids most manufacturer warranties. Below you’ll find licensed plumbers handling water heater installation in Columbus, tank and tankless replacement, gas and electrical upgrades, and permit coordination. Compare licensing, reviews, and itemized quotes; ask what’s included beyond the unit itself.

List of Water Heater Installation Services In Columbus

Based on our criteria
Workman Score
72.1 /100
Based on
81 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Strong evidence
High confidence data
  • Project Completion 73%
  • Professionalism 74%
  • Experience 80%
  • Price-friendly 63%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Alexander Plumbing earns strong marks for technical skill and workmanship, with numerous reviewers praising knowledgeable technicians like Paul, Adam, and Patrick who go above and beyond to fully resolve problems and explain their work clearly. Professionalism scores are pulled down significantly by a recurring pattern of complaints about rude, dismissive, or explosive behavior — primarily attribu... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
72.1 /100
Based on
72 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Strong evidence
High confidence data
  • Project Completion 75%
  • Professionalism 74%
  • Experience 78%
  • Price-friendly 58%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has a strong base of loyal, satisfied customers who consistently praise individual technicians by name for being professional, knowledgeable, punctual, and personable. However, the review set contains a meaningful number of serious negative reviews that significantly temper the overall picture — particularly around pricing, which drew repeated complaints of dramatically ... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
71.4 /100
Based on
37 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Strong evidence
High confidence data
  • Project Completion 62%
  • Professionalism 68%
  • Experience 84%
  • Price-friendly 82%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

RCG Plumbing and Robert receive strong praise across pricing, workmanship, and technical knowledge, with many reviewers explicitly noting fair and competitive pricing, skilled repairs, and clear communication. However, a recurring and serious pattern of no-shows and ghosting — documented in at least 5 separate reviews — significantly drags down both professionalism and project completion scores. T... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
84.2 /100
Based on
9 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 87%
  • Professionalism 88%
  • Experience 85%
  • Price-friendly 73%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Gunther Plumbing demonstrates strong professionalism across multiple reviews, with consistent praise for punctuality, politeness, responsiveness, and clear communication from named technicians (Mike, Travis). Project completion is solid with evidence of same-day callbacks and thorough work. Experience is well-supported by mentions of skilled workmanship and technical knowledge. However, pricing sh... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
82.3 /100
Based on
13 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 78%
  • Professionalism 85%
  • Experience 88%
  • Price-friendly 73%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

The contractor demonstrates strong professionalism with consistent punctuality, responsiveness, and courteous behavior across 8 mentions. Technical expertise is evident with skilled diagnostics and quality workmanship noted in 6 reviews. Project completion shows solid follow-through, though one significant no-show incident and one incomplete repair requiring callbacks lower this dimension. Pricing... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
82.3 /100
Based on
7 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 75%
  • Professionalism 89%
  • Experience 85%
  • Price-friendly 80%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

The contractor demonstrates strong professionalism with consistent mentions of quick response times, professional demeanor, and excellent customer service across multiple reviews. Pricing appears fair based on limited explicit mentions, with one customer pleasantly surprised by competitive rates. Project completion shows some concern—while most work was completed, one review explicitly noted incom... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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How much does water heater installation cost?

A standard tank replacement runs $600 to $3,100, with most homeowners paying $1,200 to $2,500 for a 40- or 50-gallon unit installed. Tankless costs $1,400 to $5,600 installed. Labor is $500 to $1,200 for tank work and $1,500 to $3,500 for tankless. Prices sit in these ranges. Permits add $50 to $200, old unit disposal $89 to $165, and venting, gas line, or electrical upgrades $300 to $3,000. Expansion tanks and drain pans are often required by code too.

What size water heater do I need?

For tanks, count people. Two people can manage on 30 to 40 gallons; three to four need 40 to 60; five to seven need 60 to 80. Usage patterns matter as much as headcount; running the dishwasher during morning showers pushes you up a size. For tankless, sizing is in gallons per minute, with 5 to 6 GPM covering a typical family. Plumbers size against peak demand rather than average daily use. Ask how they arrived at the number.

Tank or tankless which should I install?

Tank if you’re replacing like-for-like on a budget: lower upfront cost, simpler install, two to four hours of work. Tankless if you want endless hot water, want the floor space back, and plan to stay long enough for the energy savings roughly 20% better efficiency to matter. The catch is conversion cost. Going tank-to-tankless often requires gas line resizing, new venting, or a dedicated circuit. Ask plumbers to quote both so you can compare the real numbers.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?

Almost always. Most municipalities require a permit for water heater replacement, typically $50 to $200, pulled by the licensed plumber doing the work. Inspectors verify gas connections, venting, electrical wiring, T&P valve discharge piping, seismic strapping in earthquake zones, and an expansion tank on closed systems. Skipping the permit risks a failed inspection at resale and can void the manufacturer’s warranty. Confirm requirements with the local building department in if a contractor tells you otherwise. Rules vary by jurisdiction.

How long does water heater installation take?

Two to four hours for a straightforward tank replacement on existing connections: disconnect the old unit, position the new one, reconnect water and gas or electric, and test operation. Tankless runs six to ten hours because of wall mounting, new venting, dedicated fuel connections, and commissioning. Add time if code upgrades like an expansion tank or drain pan are required. Most plumbers can handle a tank swap same-day when the unit is in stock. Inspection usually follows on a separate day.

When should I replace my water heater?

Replace it once a gas tank passes 8 to 12 years or an electric one passes 10 to 15. Water pooling around the base means the tank has corroded through, and that’s not repairable. Rust-colored hot water, rumbling or popping from sediment, and steadily shrinking hot water supply all signal the end. Hard water shortens lifespan to 7 to 10 years. If yours is close, plumbers usually charge less for a planned swap than an emergency call-out.

Can I install a water heater myself?

It isn’t recommended, and in many places a permit requires licensed work. A gas unit involves fuel connections and venting, where a mistake means carbon monoxide in the house. Electric units mean 240-volt wiring. Tanks weigh a lot, full or empty. DIY installation also voids most manufacturer warranties and fails inspection without a permit. Draining, hauling, and disposing of the old unit is its own job. Hire a licensed plumber and keep the paperwork for any warranty claim.

Other Related Plumbing Services in Columbus

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IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

What does the Wise Workman score mean?
<70 Low
71–80 Moderate
81–100 High
77.5
WW Score
Learn more about how the Wise Workman scoring system works, along with our data governance policy.
What things affect the Wise Workman score?
Price-Friendly
💰Professionalism:
Experience
🛠️Project
Completion

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