How much does a water heater cost?
These are typical Midwest market ranges, not Hanna quotes; every home is different, and the honest number only comes from looking at yours. Most Marion and Cedar Rapids homeowners replacing a standard tank heater land somewhere in the middle of the range below, with tankless units running higher up front.
- Family-operated in Marion, Iowa since 2003
- Techs paid by the hour — no quotas
- 24/7 emergency & same-day service
- Free estimates on work over $500
Typical range · installed, 40-50 gallon tank unit
$1,800-$2,600
Seen as low as $1,200 · as high as $4,500
Market ranges, not a quote — your home decides the real number. Estimates are free over $500.
What moves the number
Tank vs. tankless
A standard Ruud tank heater is the lower-cost path, while a Navien tankless unit typically runs $3,500 to $6,000 installed. Tankless costs more up front but heats on demand and never runs out; whether the math works depends on your household and gas line.
Size and recovery rate
A 40-gallon heater costs less than a 50 or 75-gallon unit, and high-recovery models cost more still. Sizing to how your family actually uses hot water beats guessing, because an undersized heater is a daily annoyance and an oversized one wastes money.
Fuel type and venting
Gas heaters need proper venting, and if your flue or vent piping does not meet current code, that gets corrected during the install. Electric units skip the flue but may need a circuit check. Vent work is one of the most common reasons two identical heaters price out differently.
Code updates
Current code in most Eastern Iowa jurisdictions calls for items like an expansion tank, a proper relief valve discharge line, and seismic-style strapping in some cases. Older installs often lack these, and bringing the setup up to code adds a modest amount to the job.
Hard water condition
Marion-area water is very hard, and a heater that has been scaling up for a decade sometimes takes extra effort to remove and can leave corroded shut-offs and connections that should be replaced while everything is open.
Good to know
- Hanna technicians are paid by the hour with no quotas, so nobody is upselling you a bigger heater than you need; the pricing structure is explained before a tech ever arrives.
- Estimates are free on work over $500, and a water heater replacement qualifies.
- Utility and federal efficiency rebates come and go for high-efficiency and tankless units; it is worth asking what applies before you decide.
- An expansion tank is usually required by code on replacement installs even if your old heater never had one.
Why a Hanna number is a real number
Our techs are paid by the hour — no quotas — so the estimate you get reflects the work your home actually needs, not a sales target. You'll understand the pricing structure before anyone arrives.
Quick answers
How long does a tank water heater last in our hard water?
Figure 8 to 12 years around here. A softener and an occasional anode rod check push you toward the long end.
Is tankless worth the extra cost?
Sometimes. If you run out of hot water regularly or plan to stay in the home a long time, it often is. If a basic tank meets your needs, we will tell you that.
Can you replace a water heater the same day?
Usually, for a standard tank swap. We keep common Ruud sizes available, and we run 24/7 emergency service if yours fails at a bad time.
Cold pipe or cold house — we fix both.
One call gets a licensed Hanna tech to your door — hourly pricing you understand before we arrive, free estimates on work over $500, and 24/7 emergency service.
The Hanna crew — 22 local pros, hourly paid, no quotas.
Lic. #C145148 · #50273-CL — licensed & insured