When a gas-operated heater stops producing hot water, usually after a good service life of 10 years or more, a replacement unit is needed sooner, not later, to keep everyone happy and humming along. You or a family member will be the first to know and react, because a hot water heater is one of those behind-the-scenes appliances that always produces a steady stream of hot water—until it doesn’t.
A plumber will charge $1,110 to remove an old unit and replace it with a 40-gallon energy-efficient, gas hot water heater. In most cases, the cost will include removing the old unit.
