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Water Heater Advisor

Your trusted source for expert, local water heater advice

Which water heater is right for your home?

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What is happening with your water heater right now?

Free, and no contact details until you have seen your recommendation.

Answer a few simple questions and get personalized recommendations in 2 minutes.

We do not install anything
Every figure sourced and dated
One vetted installer, not four
Recommendation before contact details
How this works

Recommendation first. Contact details later, and only if you want them.

Every lead site in this category collects your phone number and then figures out what to tell you. We think that is backwards, and it is why their advice is worthless.

  1. 01

    Answer fifteen questions

    Your current setup, your household, where the unit lives, and what you actually care about. Two minutes.

  2. 02

    Get a real recommendation

    A system type and size, what it should cost in a house like yours, the rebates worth chasing, and what we ruled out.

  3. 03

    Then, if you want it, an installer

    We introduce you to one local contractor who does that specific work. Not four of them calling you at dinner.

Start here

What kind of water heating makes sense for your house?

Four options cover almost every home, and the best answer depends on your home and current situation.

Gas storage tank

The default replacement. Lowest upfront cost and the fastest job when your old tank has already failed.

Good fit when

  • Your gas tank died and you need hot water today
  • You want the smallest possible upfront bill
  • Like for like swap, no gas or venting changes

Think twice when

  • Operating cost is the highest of the gas options
  • You are planning to electrify the house later
Read the full guide

Gas tankless

Endless hot water and a much smaller footprint, but the install is where the money goes, not the unit.

Good fit when

  • Several showers or fixtures run at once
  • You want the floor space back
  • Gas service is already adequate

Think twice when

  • Gas line, venting or electrical work can double the job
  • Needs descaling, and hard water makes that non optional
Read the full guide

Heat pump

By far the cheapest to run in most Central Valley homes. It needs space, air and the right electrical service.

Good fit when

  • Garage or utility room with room to breathe
  • Lower energy bills matter more than upfront cost
  • You already have solar, or you are heading that way

Think twice when

  • A tight closet will not work without ducting
  • Panel capacity and a condensate route both have to check out
Read the full guide

Electric storage tank

Simple and cheap to install. Usually the right answer only when a heat pump genuinely will not fit.

Good fit when

  • Replacing an existing electric tank
  • No room or airflow for a heat pump
  • Upfront budget is the binding constraint

Think twice when

  • Running cost is high on most rate plans
  • You may be leaving a utility rebate on the table
Read the full guide
Where we differ

Almost every water heater recommendation you read comes from someone who profits from the answer

We do not install anything, so we have nothing to gain from talking you into the expensive option. Every plumber with a dedicated tankless page has an economic reason to emphasise the benefits. If your household uses modest amounts of hot water, your gas line needs upsizing and venting is awkward, the payback maths does not work, and we will say so.

The number nobody quotes you

A tankless unit is often the cheapest line on a tankless quote. Gas line work, venting, a dedicated circuit and condensate routing regularly add more than the appliance costs. That is why a national average price is close to useless, and why we itemise the job instead of publishing one figure.

When tankless is the wrong call
Modesto, California

Your utility changes the recommendation

Not the city. The utility. A Modesto home on MID and a Turlock home fifteen miles away sit in different rebate territories, which can move a heat pump from marginal to obvious. Any page that treats a metro as one market is guessing.

Modesto rebates, permits and prices

Local data last verified 7 Aug 2026

  • Turlock Irrigation District, heat pump$1,000Active
  • Modesto Irrigation District, heat pumpVerify
  • California HEEHRA, single familyFully reserved
  • Federal 25C tax creditExpired
Source: TID rebate application, IRS, California HEEHRA program statusChecked 7 Aug 2026

An outlined badge means we have not confirmed it ourselves yet. We would rather show you that than quietly present a guess as a fact.

Find out what your house needs

Fifteen questions. You get the recommendation, the likely cost range and the rebates worth chasing before we ask for a single contact detail.

Start the two minute check

Not ready? Read the comparison first.