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Water heater repair and installation in San Diego County

30 pros with an active CSLB plumbing license, checked October 22, 2026. Listed A–Z. Nobody pays to rank.

Licensed water heater pros in San Diego County

Showing 30 pros

VettedHeater may be paid by some pros in the future. Payment never affects which pros we list or the order they appear in.

Pros by city

Alpine (1)

Stride Plumbing & Drains

Carlsbad (5)

Coastal Plumbing, Haugen Plumbing, John Stevenson Plumbing, Pure Plumbing Company, True Plumbing

Chula Vista (2)

LGE Prime Plumbing, Rapid Water Heater

El Cajon (2)

High Tech Plumbing, TLC Plumbing

Escondido (3)

Aelott AC, Heating & Plumbing, Proactive Plumbing, Zech Plumbing

Fallbrook (1)

Fowler Plumbing

La Mesa (2)

JG Water Heaters, ProMax Tankless

Lakeside (1)

SD Plumbing

Oceanside (2)

Drains4Less, The Plumber Man

Poway (1)

Repipe & Water Heaters 4 Less

San Diego (8)

805 Plumbing and Drains, Bill Howe Plumbing, City Plumber, Core Plumbing, PrimeLine Plumbing, Repipe Home Hero, Tankless Works, Valstrong Plumbing

San Marcos (1)

Swift Flow Plumbing

Vista (1)

Hack's Plumbing and Drain

Water heater permits in San Diego

City of San Diego vs other cities

Inside City of San Diego limits, a water heater replacement (except tankless types) is covered by a simple no-plan Plumbing/Gas Permit; tankless replacements need a plan-required permit (City of San Diego, Plumbing/Gas Permit). Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido and the other incorporated cities, plus unincorporated County areas, run their own building departments. Ask your installer who pulls the permit.

Seismic strapping

State law requires new and replacement water heaters to be braced, anchored or strapped against earthquake motion, with the California Plumbing Code as the minimum (California Health & Safety Code §19211 (water heater bracing)).

Rebates for San Diego homeowners

TECH Clean California: single-family heat pump water heater incentives reserved statewide since November 14, 2025 (TECH Clean California, Single-Family Incentives). SDG&E: its rebates page listed a heat pump water heater coupon when we checked on October 22, 2026 (SDG&E Rebates). Federal 25C: only for property placed in service through December 31, 2025 (IRS, FAQs on 25C changes under Public Law 119-21).

What replacement costs in San Diego

One San Diego County plumber publishes tank replacement from $1,400 installed (40-gallon), $1,800 for a 50-gallon gas tank, and tankless from $1,800 (Tri Express Plumbing, Chula Vista water heater page (published prices)). Another lists water heater installation at $800 to $5,500 (Valstrong Plumbing, Clairemont page (published price ranges)). Full cost guide.

How to choose a pro

Ask for the license number and check it, get a written quote that says whether the permit, strapping and haul-away are included, and walk away from cash-only, no-permit offers. Use our hiring checklist.

Compare license-checked San Diego pros

See each pro's CSLB license, bond and workers' comp, then call 2 or 3 for written quotes. It is free.

See licensed pros

VettedHeater may be paid by some pros in the future. Payment never affects which pros we list or the order they appear in.

FAQs

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in the City of San Diego?

Yes. A replacement (except tankless types) can use the City's simple no-plan Plumbing/Gas Permit. Tankless replacements are excluded from the no-plan permit.

How do I check a San Diego plumber's license?

Use the CSLB Check a License tool and enter the license number. Each pro on this page links straight to its CSLB record.

Is there a rebate for heat pump water heaters in San Diego?

TECH Clean California single-family heat pump water heater incentives have been reserved statewide since November 14, 2025. Check SDG&E's rebates page for current utility offers.

Which San Diego cities do your pros serve?

Listed pros are based in Alpine, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, Fallbrook, La Mesa, Lakeside, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Vista. Many serve a wider area, so confirm with the pro.

Sources