How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Water Heater?

By Matt Schmitz

May 26, 2021

If your water heater is on the fritz and you wind up needing just a repair versus a total replacement, you’re in luck. The national average cost for water heater repairs is less than a third of what it would cost you for a total unit replacement. According to HomeServe data, the average water heater repair totals less than $500 compared with a replacement, which’ll run you more than $1,700 on average.

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Several variables will go into the calculation of what you’ll ultimately pay for your water heater repairs. First off, don’t forget to factor in an average $99 diagnostic fee — as the contractor you call almost certainly will charge you to show up and determine what’s wrong and how to fix it. Moreover, it’s likely that the problem will be the result of a combination of factors, which in turn will necessitate a combination of solutions carrying their own individual costs that, taken together, figure into the national average.

Read on for a rundown on the common causes of a water heater breakdown and their associated costs for repair, plus a state-by-state breakdown of average water heater repair costs to help you get an idea of what you should expect to pay where you live, all told.

For a broader look at water heater pricing, check out our cost guide covering pricing averages for both repair and replacement state by state. And for a deeper dive into what factors into how much you’ll pay to get your water heater replaced outright, go to our state-by-state replacement cost guide.

All figures are based on aggregated HomeServe data reported by our network of thousands of contractors across the nation. Where insufficient data was available to determine a verifiable average, we’ve noted so. Also 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.

Common Parts Replacements Contributing to Water Heater Repair Costs

Gas control valve: $303.38
Gas flex: $91.40
Gas shutoff valve: $99.22
Hot and cold flex lines: $126.23
Lower element: $147.70
Lower thermostat: $142.58
Pilot assembly: $198.17
Pilot safety sensor: $201.11
T&P or pressure relief valve: $149.79
Thermocouple: $151.40
Upper and lower element: $254.01
Upper and lower thermostat: $251.44
Upper element: $146.45
Upper thermostat: $143.34
T&P discharge tube: $59.59 per foot

National Average Total Cost for Water Heater Diagnosis, Repairs

Diagnosis: $99
Repair: $493

State by State Average Total Costs for Water Heater Diagnoses, Repairs

Find the average cost to diagnose and repair a water heater in your state, and compare that cost to other states, with the state-by-state breakdown below.

1. Alabama

Diagnosis: $87
Repair: $405

2. Alaska

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: Insufficient data

3. Arizona

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: Insufficient data

4. Arkansas

Diagnosis: $78
Repair: $318

5. California

Diagnosis: $71
Repair: $340

6. Colorado

Diagnosis: $92
Repair: $283

7. Connecticut

Diagnosis: $59
Repair: $509

8. Delaware

Diagnosis: $74
Repair: $319

9. District of Columbia

Diagnosis: $87
Repair: $398

10. Florida

Diagnosis: $102
Repair: $494

11. Georgia

Diagnosis: $91
Repair: $351

12. Hawaii

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: Insufficient data

13. Idaho

Diagnosis: $87
Repair: $454

14. Illinois

Diagnosis: $87
Repair: $357

15. Indiana

Diagnosis: $82
Repair: $290

16. Iowa

Diagnosis: $85
Repair: $261

17. Kansas

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $263

18. Kentucky

Diagnosis: $88
Repair: $310

19. Louisiana

Diagnosis: $87
Repair: $278

20. Maine

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: Insufficient data

21. Maryland

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $466

22. Massachusetts

Diagnosis: $69
Repair: $439

23. Michigan

Diagnosis: $82
Repair: $236

24. Minnesota

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $339

25. Mississippi

Diagnosis: $80
Repair: $246

26. Missouri

Diagnosis: $83
Repair: $332

27. Montana

Diagnosis: $94
Repair: $310

28. Nebraska

Diagnosis: $92
Repair: $274

29. Nevada

Diagnosis: $59
Repair: $197

30. New Hampshire

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: $468

31. New Jersey

Diagnosis: $64
Repair: $333

32. New Mexico

Diagnosis: $74
Repair: $484

33. New York

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $310

34. North Carolina

Diagnosis: $89
Repair: $364

35. North Dakota

Diagnosis: $102
Repair: $288

36. Ohio

Diagnosis: $88
Repair: $567

37. Oklahoma

Diagnosis: $89
Repair: $343

38. Oregon

Diagnosis: $104
Repair: $386

39. Pennsylvania

Diagnosis: $76
Repair: $515

40. Rhode Island

Diagnosis: $81
Repair: Insufficient data

41. South Carolina

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $295

42. South Dakota

Diagnosis: $94
Repair: $283

43. Tennessee

Diagnosis: $82
Repair: $398

44. Texas

Diagnosis: $88
Repair: $325

45. Utah

Diagnosis: $76
Repair: $360

46. Vermont

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: Insufficient data

47. Virginia

Diagnosis: $84
Repair: $295

48. Washington

Diagnosis: $89
Repair: $261

49. West Virginia

Diagnosis: $81
Repair: $393

50. Wisconsin

Diagnosis: $81
Repair: $326

51. Wyoming

Diagnosis: Insufficient data
Repair: $271

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