Cost breakdowns, troubleshooting and the Oregon-specific detail a national “water heater guide” will not cover — seismic strapping, Energy Trust rebates, and what Bull Run water does to an anode rod.
Written by the technicians doing the work, for Portland water, Portland housing stock and Oregon code.
What a replacement actually costs here — by tank size and fuel, with the permit and the haul-away included, and what pushes a job above the range.
Cost · 8 minUpfront cost, ten-year running cost, the gas line and venting question, and the household sizes where a tankless unit genuinely pays back.
Tankless · 10 minThe four things worth checking before you call anyone — and the point at which carrying on yourself stops being safe.
Repair · 7 minWhere the water is coming from decides whether this is a $200 part or a replacement. How to tell, and how to shut it down safely.
Repair · 6 minReal lifespans by type, what Portland’s soft water does to an anode rod, and the repair-or-replace line.
Replacement · 6 minWho qualifies, how much comes back on a heat pump versus a tankless unit, which utility you need to be on, and how the paperwork actually works.
Rebates · 5 minThe one piece of maintenance that measurably extends a tank’s life, done properly, with the mistakes that cause a flood.
Maintenance · 5 minRheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith, Navien and Rinnai compared on the things that matter locally: parts availability, warranty service and how they fail.
Buying · 9 minEvery guide on this site quotes these numbers and no others.
| Unit | Brands we fit | Installed price |
|---|---|---|
| 40-gallon gas tank | Rheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith | $1,100–$1,600 |
| 50-gallon gas tank | Rheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith | $1,300–$1,900 |
| 50-gallon electric tank | Rheem, Bradford White, A.O. Smith | $1,100–$1,700 |
| Gas tankless | Navien NPE, Rinnai RUR, Noritz | $1,800–$3,800 |
| Heat pump (hybrid) | Rheem ProTerra, A.O. Smith | $2,000–$3,600 |
Installed prices for Portland in 2026 — unit, labour, haul-away of the old heater and the Portland BDS permit included. A heat pump installation drops to roughly $1,300–$2,800 once the Energy Trust of Oregon rebate is applied. Anything that changes the scope — a fuel conversion, new venting, a gas line upsize, a relocation — is quoted separately and in writing before we start.
If the tank is leaking, making a noise you have not heard before, or completely cold, reading about it is not the next step.
If the tank is actively leaking or completely cold, call. The line is answered 24 hours a day with no after-hours surcharge.