Gas tank water heater replacement cost in Nashville, TN
Installed, 50 gallon, standard vent
A typical gas water heater (50 gallon, standard vent) costs about $1,950 installed in the Nashville area, 3% below the national figure, because plumbers here earn a median $29 an hour against $31 nationally.
Prices by size in Nashville
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 gallon, standard vent | $1,650 | $1,850 | $2,300 | $1,900 |
| 50 gallon, standard vent | $1,700 | $1,950 | $2,450 | $2,000 |
| 75 gallon, standard vent | $2,450 | $2,750 | $3,200 | $2,800 |
| 40 gallon, power vent | $2,450 | $2,700 | $3,050 | $2,750 |
| 50 gallon, power vent | $2,600 | $2,800 | $3,300 | $2,850 |
Local labor: what plumbers earn here
| Hourly wage | Nashville metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $24 | $24 |
| Median | $29 | $31 |
| 75th percentile | $36 | $41 |
The Nashville market
Metro Nashville's Department of Codes and Building Safety prices a hot water heater under both plumbing permits ($43) and gas/mechanical permits ($21), with a $75 minimum per permit. Furnaces, AC units and package units are gas/mechanical appliances, with each residential appliance beyond the first at $11 and a charge of $32 per 100,000 Btuh. Reinspections cost $50. Licensed contractors apply online; anyone else applies in person, and the owner-occupant self-permit affidavit covers building work only, with separate plumbing and gas/mechanical permits still required. Electricity dominates in Tennessee: EIA's 2020 survey found 60% of homes heat with electricity and 35% with a central heat pump, 86% have central air, and 74% heat water electrically. TVA's EnergyRight program offers equipment rebates through its Quality Contractor Network.
Most Nashville swaps are electric tank for electric tank. Matching the old tank's size and voltage keeps the job simple. A heat pump water heater is the other electric choice, and it needs open space plus a drain for condensate, so ask whether your utility room or garage has the room. TVA's EnergyRight program pays its heat pump water heater rebate through its Quality Contractor Network, so ask whether your installer belongs.
Permits in Nashville
| Permit for this job | Yes (inferred: Metro fee schedule prices a 'Hot water heater' under both plumbing and gas/mechanical permits; no page found that states the requirement in words) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Plumbing: minimum $75 per permit; hot water heater $43. Gas/mechanical: minimum $75 per permit; hot water heater $21; each residential appliance beyond the first $11; HVAC also charged 'at the rate of thirty-two dollars ($32.00) per one hundred thousand Btuh or fraction thereof'; reinspection $50. |
| Who can pull it | Unclear for homeowners; licensed contractors apply online, others apply in person |
| Inspection | Yes (reinspection fees and inspection requests apply to plumbing and gas/mechanical permits) |
Rebates in Tennessee
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: TDEC Office of Energy Programs, checked October 13, 2026.
- TVA EnergyRight rebates: Heat pump $500-$800, central AC $200-$400, HPWH $900 via Quality Contractor Network
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Nashville
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Gas tank water heater cost in other metros
Sources
- Nashville, TN permit source (water heater permit)
- Nashville, TN permit source (who can pull)
- Nashville, TN permit source (notable local rule)
- Nashville, TN permit source: Lists Metro Mechanical, Gas and Appliance and Plumbing exam
- TVA EnergyRight: residential rebates
- Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation: IRA home energy rebates
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (47-2152 plumbers)
- DOE Consumer Water Heaters Final Rule TSD (Apr 2024), Table 8.2.7 (2022$); labor share from App. 8D (3.75 h + trip, $420 of $791)