A water heater is rarely a planned purchase. Most people buy one the week the old one fails, and the question of how to pay for it arrives at the same time. This page explains what we accept, when payment is due, how our pricing model makes the number predictable, and where we stand on financing. We would rather be plain about that last part than dress it up.
Where financing stands
Financing is available through Acorn Finance, a loan marketplace that compares offers from its lending partners. Ohio Water Heater Authority does not lend money, set rates or approve loans; the lender you choose does, based on your application. We will not quote a number on the phone that a lender might later change.
Because rates, terms and any fees come from the lender, this page does not publish them. You see actual offers on Acorn, with their rates, terms and fees, before you accept anything. If a payment plan is the difference between replacing your water heater now and waiting, call 844-792-8374. We will tell you exactly where things stand and help you find the lowest installed price that solves the problem safely.
Financing through Acorn Finance
You continue to Acorn Finance, a loan marketplace, to compare offers from its lending partners. Ohio Water Heater Authority does not lend money, set rates or approve loans. With most Acorn lenders, checking offers uses a soft credit pull that does not affect your credit score; the lender runs a hard credit pull if you choose an offer and proceed.
What we will not do. We will not advertise a zero percent offer, quote a lender’s rate as ours, or tell you that you are approved. Rates, terms and approval come only from the lender after you apply. The estimator below is a planning tool you control, not an offer.
Explore your estimated monthly payment
Move a slider or type a number. The math runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or saved. These settings are calculator ranges for planning, not loan terms available from Acorn or any lender.
The estimator needs JavaScript. You can still check your financing options with Acorn below, or call 844-792-8374.
Your estimated water heater project total. Calculator range $1,000 to $15,000. Starts at our Preferred 40-gallon gas installed price.
Cash you put toward the project. It cannot be more than the project amount.
In months, 6 to 144. 5 years
Set any rate from 0% to 36% to see how it changes the payment. Not a rate offered to you.
Estimated monthly payment
$54.48/mo
12.00% illustrative APR for 60 months (5 years)
- Estimated amount financed
- $2,449.00
- Estimated total loan payments
- $3,268.60
- Estimated interest
- $819.60
- Estimated total project outlay incl. down payment
- $3,268.60
You continue to Acorn Finance to see actual offers. Ohio Water Heater Authority does not provide financing or approve loans.
Estimates are illustrative and are not a loan offer. Actual rates, terms, fees, eligibility and payments depend on the lender and your application. Approval is not guaranteed. This calculator does not include lender fees such as origination fees, and assumes equal monthly payments with no change to your project price.
Accepted payment methods
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Major credit and debit cards | No card fee. Processed on site by the technician when the work is complete, or by a secure link if you prefer to pay from your own device. |
| ACH bank transfer | Direct payment from your checking account through a secure link. No fee. Useful for larger installations such as tankless or hybrid units. |
| Personal or cashier’s check | Made out to Ohio Water Heater Authority and handed to the technician at completion, or mailed to 10 N. High St., Suite 217, Columbus, OH 43215 within the terms on your invoice. |
When payment is due
A 50% deposit confirms your installation window and is applied in full to your final invoice. It is fully refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before your window. The balance is due when the installation is complete, tested and documented. You review the estimated installed price on site and approve it in writing before any work begins. When the heater is running, the technician walks you through the photos, the permit record and the warranty terms, and you pay the balance on the estimate. If anything changed during the job, it was approved by you in writing before it was done, so the invoice never carries a surprise.
For repairs, the diagnostic visit is free whether or not you approve the repair. For maintenance, the $189 annual plan is billed once a year at the time of the visit.
How installed pricing helps you budget
An installed price is the whole cost of the job, not a starting point for a negotiation. Every tier on the pricing page includes the unit, standard installation, the permit at cost, haul-away and startup testing. The items that could change it are published with their prices. That makes the budgeting question answerable before you book.
- A like-for-like 50-gallon gas replacement starts at $1,949 in the Essential tier, with a 6-year tank and a 1-year workmanship warranty.
- The Preferred tier for the same heater is $2,599 with a 10-year tank, a 2-year workmanship warranty and an expansion tank included.
- The Authority tier is $3,899 with a 12-year tank, a 5-year workmanship warranty, a drain pan, a leak sensor with automatic shutoff and a year of maintenance.
- A 40-gallon electric Essential starts at $1,549, the lowest installed price we offer.
- If you already own a suitable unit, labor-only installation starts at $1,149 for a standard tank.
If cost is the deciding factor, the Essential tier of a like-for-like replacement is the lowest price that solves the problem correctly, with a permit and a warranty. It is a good water heater installed properly. Upgrading to a longer tank warranty or to a different technology is a choice you can make with the numbers in front of you, and the quote builder shows every combination.
Ways to lower the total
- Replace before it fails. A planned replacement avoids the $199 emergency fee and gives you time to compare tiers. A tank past 10 to 12 years with rust at the fittings is a candidate. The lifespan guide explains how to read the age from the serial number.
- Stay like-for-like unless there is a reason not to. Changing fuel, vent type or location adds gas, vent or electrical work. If the old heater kept up, the same size and type is the lowest installed price.
- Check utility programs yourself. AEP Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio run rebate programs for certain high-efficiency and heat pump water heaters. The amounts and eligibility change, so check their sites before you decide. We do not state rebate amounts and we do not promise tax credits.
- Add only what is required. Every adder is marked required, recommended or optional. Code items are not negotiable, because they are what makes the installation safe and permitted. Recommended and optional items are your call, and declining them does not change our workmanship warranty on the installation itself.
- Consider the maintenance plan. At $189 per year, one visit that catches a consumed anode rod or a failed expansion tank costs less than the failure it prevents. Authority tier includes the first year.
Your right to cancel
When the sale is made at your home, Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act gives you three business days to cancel without penalty. We give you the notice of cancellation in writing at the time of sale, and we honor it. You can also cancel a scheduled appointment at any time before the crew arrives at no charge. Full terms are on the terms page.
Questions about paying
Call 844-792-8374, answered 24/7, or use the contact page. Ask us where financing stands, how the estimate will be structured, or what the lowest safe option is for your home. You will get the same numbers that are published on this site. Ohio Water Heater Authority is a Transit & Flow™ company, independent and privately owned, and not affiliated with the State of Ohio or any utility.
See the installed price first
Every tier, every adder, published. Build your price and book a window, or call to ask about payment options.
