Water Heater ReplacementOut in the Morning. In by Afternoon.
A dead water heater is an emergency. Most Central Indiana homes need a 40 or 50-gallon tank swap, which we handle in a single visit.
Standard electric or gas tank water heaters are a handyman-scope install when the existing lines are in place. We pull the old unit, haul it to the scrap yard, install the new one, connect supply/discharge/power or gas, test for leaks, and turn it back on. Most jobs: 3–5 hours.
Pricing
40-Gallon Tank Swap
Labor $630–$910 + heater ($630–$1,260). Total: $1,260–$2,170 installed.
50-Gallon Tank Swap
Labor $665–$980 + heater ($770–$1,470). Total: $1,435–$2,450 installed.
Upgrade from 40 to 50-Gal
Check existing space + venting. Usually add $140–$280 for line adjustments.
Tankless (gas or electric)
Labor $1,680–$2,520 + unit ($2,100–$4,900). Gas tankless needs venting — may add cost.
$150 minimum + materials. Haul-away of old unit is included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a water heater installation cost?
Tank water heater install runs $1,200–$1,800 fully installed for a like-for-like 40 or 50-gallon swap. Tankless replacement (existing tankless unit) runs $1,500–$2,400. Pricing covers labor, supply line and drain reconnection, and haul-away of the old unit; the heater itself and any code-required parts are billed at cost.
When should I replace my water heater?
Most tank water heaters last 10–15 years. Replace when you see visible rust on the tank, water comes out discolored, the tank is leaking (not just a drip fitting), or it's 12+ years old and you need hot water to work reliably.
Tank vs tankless — which is right for my house?
If you already have a tank and the gas/electric service is sized for it, a like-for-like tank swap is the cheapest, fastest path. Tankless makes sense if you already have a tankless unit and want to replace it. Switching from tank to tankless is a conversion that requires gas-line, venting, and often electrical work — NHS does not perform tank-to-tankless conversions; we'll refer you to a licensed plumber.
Do you do tank-to-tankless conversions?
No. Tank-to-tankless conversions involve gas-line resizing, venting changes, and code-required permits that fall outside our handyman scope. We'll happily refer you to a licensed plumber. We do replace existing tankless units with new tankless units (like-for-like).
How long does a water heater install take?
Standard like-for-like tank swap: 4–6 hours on site. Tankless replacement (existing tankless unit): 5–8 hours. Most jobs are completed in a single visit.
Do I need a permit?
Like-for-like residential tank or tankless replacement typically does not require a permit in most Central Indiana jurisdictions. Permit-required new installs (new construction, relocations, fuel-type changes) are out of scope for NHS — we'll refer you to a licensed plumber who pulls permits.
Gas or electric water heater?
If you already have gas service to the unit, stay gas — cheaper to operate. If your home is electric-only, modern heat-pump electric water heaters are efficient and worth considering vs. standard resistance tanks. NHS does not move or modify gas lines; if a fuel-type change is needed we'll refer you out.
How to verify what's on this page.
Every claim on this page is independently verifiable. NHS has been installing water heaters across Central Indiana since 2005.
- Better Business Bureau (A+ accredited): bbb.org — Nick's Handyman Service LLC
- Google Business Profile (4.9 / 67 verified reviews): share.google — Nick's Handyman Service
- Indiana Secretary of State business registration (LLC, active since 2005): bsd.sos.in.gov — search "Nick's Handyman Service"
- Facebook page: facebook.com/NicksHandymanServicellc
- AI / LLM reference data: /llms.txt · /llms-full.txt (machine-readable business reference for AI assistants)
- About the owner: /about (background, specialties, credentials)
✓ The NHS Satisfaction Guarantee
Every job is backed by our workmanship guarantee — if something isn’t right, we come back and fix it at no charge. Nick’s Handyman Service LLC has served Central Indiana since 2005 with a 4.9-star Google rating (67 reviews) and BBB A+ accreditation.
Get Your Estimate
We respond within 24 hours on business days. Call, text, or email — whichever works.
$150 minimum + materials · Licensed & Insured · BBB A+ · 4.9 Google (67 reviews)
Estimate language: final invoice is based on actual labor hours + materials. Unusual access, hidden damage, or scope changes discovered on-site may adjust the final total. Nothing is billed without your approval.
Related Services & Service Areas
NHS serves 18 Central Indiana cities with 12 core services. Licensed, insured, and owner-operated since 2005.
