When a tank water heater fails, it usually fails completely — no warning, just cold water. MQ Plumbing replaces tank water heaters across Charlotte and the surrounding metro, often same day for units that have stopped working. You get a written quote before we touch anything, the right unit installed correctly and to code, permits pulled where required, and the old unit hauled away. No surprises on the invoice.

Gas Tank Water Heater Replacement

The most common residential water heater type. We remove the old unit, install the correct replacement for your household size and existing setup, verify the gas connection and venting, test before we leave. Typically completed in 2–3 hours.

Electric Tank Water Heater Replacement

Common in homes without gas service. We replace the unit, verify the electrical connections and dedicated circuit, and test the system.

New Installation

Adding a water heater to a new space, converting from electric to gas (or vice versa), or installing a second unit for a large household or an addition. We assess the space, run any required supply or gas lines, and install to code.

How To Choose The Right Size

The most common mistake in water heater replacement is installing the same size unit that failed — even if it was never quite right for the household.

General sizing guide:

  • 1–2 people: 30–40 gallon
  • 2–4 people: 40–50 gallon
  • 4–6 people: 50–80 gallon

Usage patterns matter more than headcount. A household with a soaker tub, back-to-back morning showers, and a dishwasher running overnight uses hot water differently than a family of four on staggered schedules. We ask before we quote.

Gas vs. Electric — What To Consider

If your home already has gas service and a gas water heater, replacing with gas is almost always the right call — lower operating cost, faster recovery time, and the existing infrastructure is already there.

If you’re all-electric, electric is straightforward. The main consideration is whether your electrical panel has capacity — electric water heaters require a dedicated 240V circuit rated for 30 amps.

If you’re considering switching fuel types, the cost of adding gas service or upgrading electrical changes the math considerably. We’ll walk through it with you on-site.

Permits — Why They Matter

Water heater replacements require permits in most North Carolina jurisdictions, including Mecklenburg County. We pull the permit, schedule the inspection, and make sure the installation is on record. This matters when you sell your home — unpermitted work gets flagged in disclosure and can complicate closings. It also matters for insurance: a water heater failure that causes water damage may not be covered if the unit was installed without a permit.

Venting is the other factor. Tankless units vent combustion gases differently than tank heaters — direct-vent configurations, specific clearance requirements, and in some cases new penetrations to an exterior wall. We plan the venting route before the install, not after.

Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Upfront Written Pricing

Same-Day Service Available

Permits Pulled on Every Install

5★ Rated on Google

Serving Charlotte Metro Since 2021

They talk about us

What Our Clients in Charlotte Are Saying

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Laura Kansburg profile picture
Laura Kansburg
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MQ Plumbing is truly the best out there . Plumbers who came were professional and did a great job to replace the water heater . Everything was left clean and tidy afterwards. They were polite, wore shoe covers to protect my floor, and explained the pricing upfront . Price was reasonable Highly recommended.
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Brian Chaffin profile picture
Brian Chaffin
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Very helpful with water pressure issue
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Brent Gildberg profile picture
Brent Gildberg
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Max and his crew did an excellent job replacing my water heater. It was in tight quarters and they protected walls and flooring. The installation of the piping was nice and clean. They did a good job of cleaning up when they were finished.
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Olivia Brady profile picture
Olivia Brady
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Max is the best! Highly recommend
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Dan Black profile picture
Dan Black
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Max and Peter at MQ Plumbing are the real deal! Extremely knowledgeable, professional, and on time from start to finish. They quickly addressed the issue, explained everything clearly, and delivered top quality work at a very reasonable price. Honest, reliable, and skilled, hard to find service like this nowadays! They had my basement sump pump up and running in less than half an hour. I highly recommend MQ Plumbing.
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Rama Narayan Raju Uddaraju profile picture
Rama Narayan Raju Uddaraju
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We recently completed our basement project and hired MQ Plumbing for our full bathroom and whole-house water filtration system, and they did an outstanding job. The bathroom turned out beautiful with amazing attention to detail and high-quality workmanship. Our family is extremely happy with the final result. The whole-house Aquasana filtration system was also installed very neatly and professionally with a super clean and organized piping layout. Max was one of the best contractors we worked with during this project. He is professional, patient, and truly listens to every detail before starting the work. Unlike some contractors who become less responsive once the project begins, Max stayed responsive throughout and even came back twice after completion to make sure there were no leaks and that we were fully satisfied. You can clearly see that he takes pride in his work and cares about customer satisfaction. I would highly recommend MQ Plumbing and would definitely call Max again for any future plumbing needs.
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Joseph Dominguez profile picture
Joseph Dominguez
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Max and his team did an amazing job installing a tankless water heater in my home. Their work was professional, well-explained and came at a very reasonable price.
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T G profile picture
T G
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Max was a great communicator and helped fixed a pressure valve. He raised the issue with us and explained to us the impact of not fixing. He was very professional and reasonable. Highly recommend his services!
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Colton Houston profile picture
Colton Houston
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Max is very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. He did a great job with all the plumbing work in our new build and was happy to help with additional changes and upgrades we requested. Everything from start to finish was precise and quality work. Would definitely recommend him for your new home plumbing work.

You Call, We Listen

Tell us what's happening — no hot water, strange noises, a leak, or you're just ready to replace an aging unit. We'll ask a few quick questions and get you on the schedule. Same-day slots are available for urgent situations.

We Diagnose and Quote On-Site

A licensed plumber arrives, inspects your current unit, and tells you exactly what's going on. Before any work begins, you get a written quote. That number doesn't change once you approve it — no "we found something else" surprises mid-job.

Work Done, Hot Water Back

We complete the installation or repair, test the system, clean up the work area, and haul away your old unit if it's being replaced. We pull permits where required and handle scheduling the inspection. You don't deal with any of it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tank water heater replacement cost in Charlotte, NC?
A standard gas or electric tank replacement typically runs $900–$1,800 installed, depending on unit size, fuel type, and whether any code upgrades are needed. We give you an exact written quote before any work begins.
How long does a tank water heater last?
Most tank water heaters last 10–15 years with normal use. If yours is approaching or past that age, budget for replacement on your schedule rather than waiting for an emergency replacement on the unit's schedule.
My water heater is leaking from the bottom. Does it need to be replaced?
A leak from the tank body itself almost always means replacement — the tank has corroded through, and patching doesn't work. A leak from the pressure relief valve or a supply connection may be repairable. Call us and describe what you're seeing — we'll tell you what's likely before we even come out.
Can you do same-day water heater replacement?
In most cases, yes for standard units. Call (980) 900-7649 and we'll tell you current availability.
Should I consider upgrading to tankless while I'm replacing it?
If you're dealing with a failed unit and need hot water today, a direct tank replacement is often the right move — it's faster and simpler. If you have any flexibility, it's worth a quick conversation. We can walk you through the comparison on-site. The main factors are your gas supply capacity, whether new venting is needed, and your budget for the upfront cost difference.

Tank failed?

MQ Plumbing replaces tank water heaters same day across Charlotte. Licensed. Permitted. Upfront pricing.