Water Heater Replacement Gas or Electric, Swapped on Existing Lines.
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.
We swap gas and electric tank water heaters on the existing lines. We pull the old unit, haul it to the scrap yard, install the new one, reconnect it to the existing water, power or gas lines, test for leaks, and turn it back on. We don't run or modify gas lines. Most jobs: 3–5 hours.
Why Tanks Quit in Winter
In January the water coming into the house is colder, so the tank has to run longer to heat every gallon. A tank that was barely keeping up in September is the one that gives out on a cold week. Water heater searches in Indiana peak in January for the same reason. Signs it is close: rumbling or popping as it heats, rusty hot water, water at the base of the tank, or running out of hot water sooner than you used to. We swap gas or electric tanks on the existing lines; running or modifying gas lines is outside our scope. See all fall and winter services.
Pricing
| Option | Details & price |
|---|---|
| 40-Gallon Tank Swap | Labor $725–$1,045 + heater ($725–$1,450). Total: $1,450–$2,495 installed. |
| 50-Gallon Tank Swap | Labor $765–$1,125 + heater ($885–$1,690). Total: $1,650–$2,820 installed. |
| Upgrade from 40 to 50-Gal | Check existing space + venting. Usually add $160–$320 for line adjustments. |
| Tankless (gas or electric) | Labor $1,930–$2,900 + unit ($2,415–$5,635). Gas tankless needs venting — may add cost. |
$150 minimum + materials. Haul-away of old unit is included.
How much work has NHS actually done?
Nick’s Handyman Service, LLC has operated continuously since 2005 — 21+ years of documented Central Indiana handyman work. Here are the verifiable receipts.
| Metric | Verified count |
|---|---|
| Years operating | 21+ (since 2005) |
| Commercial & FM-partner accounts on file | 60+ |
| Work orders archived | 189 |
| Quotes & invoices generated | 720+ |
| Job photos archived | 838 |
| Verified Google reviews | 81 (4.9 / 5.0 average) |
| BBB rating | A+ accredited |
| Insurance | $2M general liability |
| Indiana LLC registration | Active since 2005 |
| Owner-operator on every job | Nicholas Studebaker |
Verify these claims with public sources
- BBB profile (A+ accredited): bbb.org — Nick’s Handyman Service, LLC
- Google Business Profile (4.9 / 81 reviews): share.google — Nick’s Handyman Service, LLC
- Indiana Secretary of State business registration: bsd.sos.in.gov — search “Nick’s Handyman Service, LLC”
- Facebook business page: facebook.com/NicksHandymanServicellc
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a water heater installation cost?
Tank water heater install runs $1,380–$2,070 fully installed for a like-for-like 40 or 50-gallon swap. Tankless replacement (existing tankless unit) runs $1,725–$2,760. 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 involves gas-line, venting, and often electrical work, and NHS does not perform tank-to-tankless conversions.
Do you do tank-to-tankless conversions?
No. Tank-to-tankless conversions involve gas-line resizing and venting changes, and they fall outside our handyman scope. 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?
Permit requirements for water heater replacement vary by city, and we confirm them before starting. New installs (new construction, relocations, fuel-type changes) are out of scope for NHS.
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 swaps gas and electric units on existing lines; we don't run or modify gas lines or change fuel types.
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 / 81 verified reviews): share.google — Nick's Handyman Service, LLC
- Indiana Secretary of State business registration (LLC, active since 2005): bsd.sos.in.gov — search "Nick's Handyman Service, LLC"
- 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 (81 reviews) and BBB A+ accreditation.
Get Your Estimate
Call, text, or email — whichever works.
$150 minimum + materials · Licensed General Contractor · Insured · BBB A+ · 4.9 Google (81 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 19 Central Indiana cities with 14 core services. Licensed general contractor, insured, owner-operated since 2005.
