Another source, NerdWallet, lists $600 to $2,500 for a tank heater installed across fuel types. The spread is wide because the tank itself is only part of the bill. Venting, old-unit removal, code upgrades and access decide the rest.
What the published numbers include
The Fixr 40 gallon page puts gas and propane tank installs at $700 to $2,300 and says labor is roughly 20% to 50% of the price. A standard replacement takes two to four hours at $45 to $200 per hour.
Treat those as a starting range, not a quote. Fixr’s own install page lists a different range for a natural gas tank, which shows how much sources disagree. We give you a clear price before work starts, after seeing the heater, the vent and the space.
Where the money goes in a gas install
A gas unit has more line items than an electric one. The dollar figures are from Fixr’s 2026 install page unless noted.
| Line item | What it covers | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Heater (40 gallon gas) | The tank, burner and controls | Included in the $700 to $2,300 range |
| Labor | Draining, disconnecting, setting, reconnecting | About 20% to 50% of total |
| Power venting | Fan-assisted vent when a chimney will not work | $300 to $1,000 added |
| Old unit removal | Hauling away the failed tank | $75 to $500 if not in the quote |
| Permits | Local permit and inspection | $25 to $1,500 depending on scope |
| Code items | Pan, drain, seismic straps | Varies by job |
What moves the price up or down
Venting. A gas heater needs a vent that carries exhaust outside. If the old chimney liner is damaged or sized for a different unit, a new liner or power vent adds cost. Electric units do not need venting, which is one reason electric installs run lower.
Location and access. A heater in a basement closet with a clear path costs less to swap than one in a tight attic or behind a finished wall. Stairs add time, and a full 40 gallon tank holds about 330 pounds of water.
Fuel line and shutoff. A gas line that is corroded, undersized or missing a shutoff valve and a sediment trap adds parts and labor. Switching from electric to gas is not a swap but a new gas run and a vent, which adds a gas run, a vent and a permit to the job.
Efficiency and warranty. Standard 40 gallon tanks cost less than higher-efficiency models with longer warranties. The cheaper tank costs more to run over its life and that gap matters more the longer you stay in the house.
Code upgrades. Pans, drains and seismic straps are the line items that surprise people, and Fixr lists them as a reason installed prices climb.
Utah code items that add to a North Salt Lake install
Utah amends the plumbing code so water heaters must be anchored or strapped against earthquake movement, with straps in the upper one-third and lower one-third of the tank. The straps are a small cost, and a tank without them can fail inspection.
Utah’s plumbing code is the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) from July 1, 2026. The state also has pan-drain language: a pan under the heater can drain to a waste line when the code official approves, with its own trap and vent. If the closet has no floor drain, ask what the pan will connect to before you accept a quote.
No hot water this morning?
Call the 24/7 line. If you smell gas, leave the building and call Enbridge Gas first.
Safety checklist before the install day
- Know where the gas shutoff is and keep the area around the heater clear.
- Do not keep paint, solvents or gasoline near a gas heater.
- Confirm the plumber will test the vent for draft and the gas line for leaks.
- Ask that the old unit be taken away or priced separately.
- Ask whether a permit is included and who pulls it.
- If you smell gas, leave the building. Call Enbridge Gas (formerly Dominion Energy Utah) at 1-800-767-1689 or 911 from a safe distance before calling a plumber.
Repair or replace a 40 gallon gas heater?
A leaking tank cannot be repaired, because the leak is in the steel. A heater that no longer ignites, has a bad thermocouple or a worn gas valve can often be repaired. If you want to compare, see our water heater repair page for what a repair involves and our water heater replacement page for the swap itself. A leak from the tank bottom means replacement.
Rust-colored water at the tap, a rumbling tank and a unit older than its warranty are other signs that a swap will cost less than another repair. The installed price in the table is also the number to compare against a repair quote.
North Salt Lake notes for a gas water heater
Gas service here comes from Enbridge Gas, formerly Dominion Energy Utah. The gas emergency number is 1-800-767-1689, and 911 also works from a safe distance.
Plumbing permits come from the Building Department at 10 E Center Street through City Inspect. The city’s quick-facts sheet lists plumbing permits as generally needing no plan review, with a $50.50 over-the-counter fee and inspections Monday to Thursday. Ask whether your quote includes the permit.
North Salt Lake’s winter design temperature is 8 F and its frost depth is 30 inches. A heater in an unheated garage or exterior closet faces that cold, so vent and condensate details deserve a check.
Service area
We dispatch from North Salt Lake to Bountiful and West Bountiful on the same 24/7 line. Prices published for those towns follow the same drivers, so the table applies there too.
Frequently asked questions
Fixr (January 2026) lists $700 to $2,300 installed for gas and propane, with about $1,650 for a straightforward replacement. NerdWallet lists $600 to $2,500 for a tank heater of any fuel. Your quote depends on venting and access.
It needs a vent, a gas connection, a sediment trap and a shutoff, plus a combustion air check. Electric units skip all of that.
Plumbing permits are issued by the Building Department. The over-the-counter fee is $50.50. Ask the plumber who pulls it and confirm before the install.
Fixr puts a standard replacement at two to four hours. A new vent, a gas line change or a tight space adds time.
Yes. Utah’s amendment requires the heater to be anchored or strapped, with straps in the upper and lower thirds of the tank.
That depends on how many people shower at once and how fast the heater recovers. A plumber can look at your fixtures and suggest a size.