Water Heater Installation in Burlington, VT
Tell us about the house, and a licensed contractor who covers Chittenden County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Nine months of cold puts real demand on a water heater here
Winter nights in Chittenden County average 12°F from December through February, and homes need heat from September through May. A water heater installed here runs through that same stretch, warming water that starts out colder than it would in a milder place, for most of the year.
Power is part of the picture too. Statewide, 21 percent of Vermont households lost power for 24 hours or more in 2024, and the county has logged 53 winter storms and 124 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Some water heaters restart on their own once power returns and some do not, and that is worth asking about when you choose one. On the efficiency side, the federal minimum for storage water heaters is not one number. It is set by a formula tied to the tank's size, and it applies differently across the four draw patterns the rule defines, so two tanks of different sizes can carry different minimums even when they are the same type.
- 12°F
- the average winter night, and colder incoming water means longer heating
- 9 months
- September through May, the months homes here need heat
- 21%
- of Vermont households lost power for a day or more in 2024, and a heater with an electric element or electric ignition stops without it
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
A heat pump water heater would save about $550 a year to run in Vermont compared with an electric water heater.
Estimates for a typical Vermont home, from EIA household energy data and Vermont fuel prices. Your home will differ.
- How do I know it's time to replace my water heater?
- The clearest sign is age. Most tank water heaters wear out after enough years in service, and past that point the tank itself starts to weaken from the inside. Look for rust-colored water, a tank that's damp or wet around the base, or water that won't get as hot as it used to. If you're calling a plumber for the same repair a second time, that's usually the point where replacement makes more sense than another fix.
- Should I switch to a tankless water heater?
- It depends on what you want out of it, not on your current heater being broken. Tankless units heat water as it flows through rather than storing it, so you don't run out of hot water partway through a shower. They also tend to last longer than tank models. Going tankless usually means changes to the gas line, venting, or electrical supply, so a contractor needs to look at your home's setup before you can know if it's a straightforward swap or a bigger job.
- What changes when you install a tankless water heater?
- The unit itself is much smaller and mounts on a wall instead of taking up floor space. Because it heats water on demand instead of holding a tank of it, it often needs a larger gas line or a dedicated electrical circuit to deliver enough energy fast enough. Venting is different too, usually running through a wall rather than up through the roof. A contractor will check your home's gas supply, electrical panel, and where the unit can vent before installation, since these details decide how much work the switch actually involves.