Water heater replacement cost in Fairfax and Northern Virginia
Conventional tank, installed
Local installer pages do not all use the same assumptions, which is why the bands overlap.
| What local sources describe | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tank replacement, Fairfax | $800–$1,800 | Phoenician Plumbing |
| Quality tank + installation, Northern Virginia | $800–$1,500 | P&D Plumbing |
| 40-gallon gas, Fairfax County (equipment + labor + disposal) | $900–$1,400 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| 50-gallon gas, same basis | $1,000–$1,600 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| 40-gallon electric | $800–$1,200 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| 50-gallon electric | $900–$1,400 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| 75-gallon gas / electric | $1,400–$2,200 / $1,200–$1,900 | Baumbach Plumbing |
If a quote sits well below the ranges above, ask what was left out — permit, expansion tank, haul-away, drain pan, or vent work.
Tankless, installed
| What local sources describe | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tankless, Fairfax | $1,500–$3,500 | Phoenician Plumbing |
| Gas whole-home tankless, Fairfax County | $1,800–$3,500 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| Electric whole-home tankless | $1,200–$2,800 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| Point-of-use electric | $400–$900 | Baumbach Plumbing |
| Whole-home tankless with gas-line and venting work | $2,500–$4,500 | P&D Plumbing |
Heat pump (hybrid) units are less consistently priced on these local pages. Treat them as their own quote, and subtract any Dominion rebate you actually qualify for — after you confirm the current program.
Baumbach notes that Fairfax County permit fees are required and “typically add $50 to $150,” depending on the jurisdiction. Use that only as orientation; official fee schedules are the authority, and they change. See permits.
Want a number for your home? An itemized quote beats any range.
Request a free quoteWhat actually moves a quote
- Type and size of the unit (gallons, or tankless gallons per minute)
- Fuel, and whether you are switching fuels
- Access — open basement vs a condo or townhome closet vs a crawl space
- Gas-line or electrical upgrades, and venting or chimney work
- Code items: expansion tank on a closed system, TPR discharge routing, drain pan and drain, strapping
- Permit and inspection for the real jurisdiction (City of Fairfax is not Fairfax County; some “Alexandria” addresses are in the county)
- Disposal of the old unit
- Rebate paperwork if you want a participating-contractor path (Washington Gas, Dominion)
A useful estimate is itemized. If two quotes are far apart, compare line by line rather than picking the lowest total.
Rebates and credits (not a discount we invented)
- Washington Gas (Virginia): $200 / $300 / $400 on qualifying storage or ENERGY STAR tankless units, through a participating contractor. Official page (retrieved 2026-11-13).
- Dominion Energy Virginia: $250 or $400 on qualifying heat pump water heaters that replace an electric unit; the utility’s page noted on 2026-11-13 that the current program iteration ends December 31. Official page.
- Federal 25C tax credit: not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. We do not subtract a 2026 federal credit from these ranges.
FAQ
Why is this not “our price”?
Because the job is not the same in every house. These ranges exist to help you recognize a complete quote — not to replace one.
Why do some websites say $800 and others say $4,000?
They are often describing different work. An $800 figure may be a lean tank swap without much code work. A multi-thousand-dollar figure may include tankless equipment, a gas-line upgrade, venting, permit, and disposal. Ask what is in the number.