An electric water heater is the quiet one in the basement. No burner, no flue, no pilot light, just a steel tank with two heating elements and a heavy cable running to the panel. There is no venting to fail and no combustion air to worry about. The trade-off is recovery. An electric tank reheats more slowly than a gas tank of the same size, which shapes how we size it and when we suggest a hybrid instead.
When an electric water heater is the right choice
- Your home has no natural gas service, or gas is not run to the water heater location.
- The heater sits in a condo, an interior closet or a space where a vent cannot be routed.
- You want the lowest installed price of any heater type. A 40-gallon electric Essential starts at $1,549.
- You are replacing an existing electric tank and the 240-volt circuit is already in place.
If you have gas available, a gas tank recovers faster and usually costs less to run. If you are all-electric and have room around the heater, a hybrid heat pump water heater is the upgrade path. The gas versus electric comparison lays out both.
What the installed price includes
- The water heater, with the manufacturer tank warranty for the tier: 6 or 10 years on 40 and 50-gallon units.
- New water connections and reconnection to the existing 240-volt circuit with a new whip or conduit connection.
- A temperature and pressure relief discharge line that terminates correctly.
- The permit, pulled by us and passed through at cost.
- Haul-away and recycling of the old heater.
- Startup testing: fill and purge before power is applied, leak check, element amperage check and a 120°F setpoint on both thermostats.
- A workmanship warranty of 1, 2 or 5 years by tier.
Fill before power. An electric element that is energized in a dry tank burns out in seconds. Every install is filled and purged with a faucet running clear before the breaker is turned on. If you ever replace an element yourself, follow the same rule.
Three tiers for a 50-gallon electric water heater
The 50-gallon electric tank is our most common electric installation and serves most three and four-person households. These tiers are live and match the quote builder.
Essential
Dependable, code-compliant replacement
Starting at $1,649
- 6-yr tank + 1-yr workmanship warranty
- Heater, standard installation and haul-away
Preferred
Better efficiency and longer protection
Starting at $2,199
- 10-yr tank + 2-yr workmanship warranty
- Heater, standard installation and haul-away
- Thermal expansion tank (2 gal) included
Authority
Premium system plus enhanced protection
Starting at $5,299
- 10-yr tank + 5-yr workmanship warranty
- Heater, standard installation and haul-away
- Thermal expansion tank (2 gal) included
- Drain pan with drain connection included
- Leak sensor with automatic shutoff valve included
- +1 more included
Estimated installed prices for Central Ohio. Your online estimate is based on the installation details you provide. A technician verifies conditions before work begins, and if anything changes the price we show and explain the difference before proceeding.
Starting prices by size
| Size | Essential | Preferred | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-gallon | Starting at $1,549 | Starting at $2,049 | Not offered |
| 50-gallon | Starting at $1,649 | Starting at $2,199 | Starting at $5,299 (hybrid heat pump) |
| 80-gallon | Not offered | Starting at $2,999 | Starting at $4,399 |
Preferred includes a 2-gallon thermal expansion tank. Authority adds a drain pan with drain connection, a leak sensor with automatic shutoff valve and the first year of the annual maintenance plan. A lowboy 40-gallon electric for crawlspaces and under-stair locations starts at $1,999. Labor-only installation of a customer-supplied electric tank starts at $1,149.
The 240-volt, 30-amp circuit
A standard residential electric tank uses two 4,500-watt elements. At 240 volts that is a little under 19 amps, which is why the circuit is a dedicated 30-amp two-pole breaker on 10-gauge copper wire. Three problems come up in older Central Ohio homes. The first is aluminum branch wiring from the 1960s and 1970s, which needs proper terminations or replacement. The second is a circuit that was tapped to feed something else along the way. The third is a panel with no room for a two-pole breaker. Electrical is a separate licensed trade in Ohio, so when any of these is found we coordinate a licensed electrician for $149 and pass the electrician’s price through at cost. Verified on site
Elements and thermostats
Each element has its own thermostat, and on a standard tank they do not run at the same time. The upper thermostat heats the top of the tank first, so the hot water you draw is ready sooner, then hands off to the lower element to finish the rest. The upper thermostat also carries a high-limit reset button that trips if the tank overheats. When you hear a complaint of lukewarm water that never gets hot, the lower element has usually failed. When there is no hot water at all, it is often the upper element or a tripped high limit. Both are repairable items on a tank in good condition, and our repair page comes with a free diagnostic visit.
Recovery compared with gas
Recovery is how many gallons per hour a heater can raise from inlet temperature to setpoint. A gas burner delivers far more heat per hour than a single 4,500-watt element, so a gas tank recovers well ahead of an electric tank of the same volume. The first-hour rating on the yellow EnergyGuide label captures both the tank volume and the recovery, and it is the number we size by. In practice a 50-gallon electric tank serves the same family a 50-gallon gas tank does, but with less margin for a third shower in a row. Households of five or more, or homes with a soaking tub, are better served by the 80-gallon electric tank or a hybrid 65 or 80.
When to consider a hybrid instead
A hybrid heat pump water heater uses the same tank and the same 240-volt circuit, but it pulls heat from the surrounding air instead of generating all of it with elements. The Department of Energy reports hybrids can be two to three times more energy efficient than standard electric resistance tanks. The conditions are a space of about 700 cubic feet or more, a drain for condensate and tolerance for a fan running in the room. If your heater sits in an unfinished basement, a hybrid is usually the better long-term buy. If it sits in a small closet, or you want the lowest installed price today, a standard electric tank is the right call. The federal 25C tax credit for heat pump water heaters ended after 2025, so we do not promise a credit; check current AEP Ohio programs for any rebate.
What can change the price
| Condition | Why it matters | Installed price |
|---|---|---|
| Closed plumbing system without an expansion tank | Code requires one to control pressure spikes. Required | $249, included in Preferred and Authority |
| Undersized, aluminum or shared circuit | A licensed electrician corrects it; we coordinate. Required | $149 plus electrician’s price |
| Heater in a closet or above finished space | A drain pan routes a small leak to a drain. Recommended | $129, included in Authority |
| T&P discharge capped or undersized | The relief valve must discharge safely. Required | $189 |
- Included
- Part of the option you chose.
- Required
- This condition must be corrected for the proposed installation to be safe and code-compliant.
- Recommended
- Not required for the heater to operate, but it improves protection or serviceability.
- Optional
- A comfort or protection upgrade. Your choice.
- Requires field verification
- Priced after a technician confirms the condition on site.
Our process
Choose size and tier online
Use the quote builder or the size calculator to see the starting-at price before you give us any personal information.
Book a two-hour window
Same-day windows in Columbus and the inner suburbs when booked before 1 pm; next-day in the outer ring.
On-site verification
The technician checks the circuit and breaker, water pressure, shutoff valve, drain path and access, then confirms an estimated installed price in writing.
Installation and startup
Power off, drain and remove the old tank, set the new one, connect water and the circuit, fill and purge, then energize and verify both elements draw correctly. You receive photos, serial numbers, the permit record and warranty terms.
Safety and code notes
Work follows the 2024 Ohio Plumbing Code and the Residential Code of Ohio. Electrical connections are made to a dedicated circuit of the correct size, with a licensed electrician when a new circuit is needed. The T&P discharge is never capped. Work is performed by appropriately licensed personnel or partners. Ohio Water Heater Authority is a Transit & Flow™ company, privately owned and not affiliated with the State of Ohio or any utility.
Where we install electric water heaters
Columbus, Franklin County and the inner suburbs, with same-day windows when booked before 1 pm. Delaware, Powell, New Albany, Marysville, Lancaster, Newark and the rest of the outer ring are next-day. See the service area page.
See your electric water heater price
Pick 40, 50 or 80 gallons and a tier, see the installed starting price with permit and haul-away included, and book a two-hour window. Or call 844-792-8374, answered 24/7.
