Key takeaways
- Every number on this page is a national average, not a quote. Each one names the publisher and the year or date.
- Nationally, a tank water heater replacement is listed at $600 to $3,100 by one source and $1,600 to $5,400 by another. The two don't agree, and the reasons are below.
- Drain cleaning is cheaper than most people fear. A single drain is a small job. A main line costs more.
- Sewer line work has the widest range because the price depends on length, depth and method.
- Get a written estimate, and check the license before you agree. Your plumber sets the actual price.
How to read these numbers
We don't set prices and we don't do the work. Every price below comes from a published cost guide, and each is labelled "national average, not a quote." They show the shape of the market, not what a plumber will charge you. Prices in Johnson City may be higher or lower than these ranges, and we have no data that says which.
Two things to know:
- Cost guides disagree. They use different data, different dates and different definitions of "installed." Where two reputable sources differ, we show both.
- A range is a range. The low end is usually a simple job with easy access. The high end often includes extras such as permits, venting changes, or a hard-to-reach location.
Water heater replacement
Cost depends first on the type of heater you choose, then on the work around it.
Tank water heaters.
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 cost guide lists a standard tank water heater replacement at $600 to $3,100 (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, This Old House (updated June 17, 2026) lists water heater installation at $1,600 to $5,400, averaging $1,950, based on Home Depot data, with basic tank models starting at $1,200 installed (national average, not a quote).
The two sources are far apart. Part of the reason is what each counts: This Old House's range covers several heater types, up to solar models, while HomeGuide's is for a standard tank. Part is where the data comes from: This Old House uses Home Depot data and its own market research, while HomeGuide says it tracks estimates homeowners get from contractors. Read both as a rough band. Read water heater replacement for what a swap involves.
Tankless water heaters.
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 cost guide lists tankless installation at $1,400 to $5,600 (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, This Old House (updated June 12, 2026) lists tankless installation at $1,200 to $3,500, averaging $2,800, with equipment and labor (national average, not a quote).
Tankless units cost more to install than a like-for-like tank in both sources, partly because gas lines, venting or electrical service may need work. The tankless water heater page explains what a conversion involves. How long a heater lasts affects the real cost over time, and the water heater lifespan guide covers that.
Drain cleaning
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 cost guide lists $100 to $275 to clean one drain, and $175 to $600 to clean multiple drains or a main line (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists $200 to $500 to snake a sewer line and $600 to $1,400 for hydro jetting (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, This Old House (updated June 6, 2026) says small jobs like drain snaking can cost as little as $100, and puts the average plumbing job at $150 to $500 (national average, not a quote).
A drain that backs up again within weeks usually points to a problem farther down the line, which a camera can find. The drain cleaning page covers snaking, jetting and when each is used. A sewer camera inspection is a separate line item. Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists it at $125 to $500 (national average, not a quote).
Sewer line repair and replacement
Sewer work has the widest range because the length of the pipe, how deep it is, and what is on top of it all change the price.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) puts the average sewer line replacement at $3,320, with most homeowners paying $1,390 to $5,320 (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists replacement at $50 to $250 per linear foot, or $2,000 to $10,000 for 40 linear feet, with a national average of $6,000 (national average, not a quote).
Nationally, the two published averages are far apart, $3,320 and $6,000. That is a good reason to treat any single figure with caution and to get a written estimate for your own line.
By method, nationally:
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) lists trenchless replacement at $60 to $250 per linear foot and traditional excavation at $50 to $200 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists pipe bursting at $60 to $200 per linear foot and cured-in-place lining at $90 to $250 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
Trenchless methods can cost more per foot but may reduce the digging up of a yard or driveway, which affects the total. See sewer line repair and trenchless sewer repair for how each works.
Service calls and hourly rates
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 plumber cost guide says most plumbers charge $45 to $150 per hour, with a minimum service call-out fee or flat rate of $50 to $200 (national average, not a quote).
Many plumbers charge a service fee to come out, and some quote a flat price for common jobs. Ask which one applies before you agree. After-hours and weekend calls often cost more than a scheduled weekday visit, so ask for that fee up front too.
What pushes a price up or down
- Access. A water heater in an open garage is faster than one in a tight crawlspace or attic. A sewer line under a driveway or slab costs more than one under open lawn.
- Permits. Some work needs a permit, and the cost and time vary. Ask who pulls it.
- After-hours work. Nights, weekends and holidays often cost more.
- Materials. The pipe material, the heater model and the fittings all change the bill.
- Distance and depth. A long sewer line or a deep one takes more time and equipment.
- What's found when the work starts. A corroded valve, a rotted section of pipe or an old gas line can add work. A camera inspection before a big job reduces surprises.
- Code and venting changes. A new heater type may need a different vent, gas line or electrical circuit.
How to get a fair quote
- Describe the problem the same way to each plumber, and say what you have already checked.
- Ask for a written estimate that lists what is included and what isn't.
- Ask about the service fee, the hourly rate if the job is billed by time, and whether after-hours rates apply.
- Check the license. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors has a "Verify a License" lookup on its consumer resources page, and the public search is at verify.tn.gov. Ask the plumber for a license number and proof of insurance.
- Ask about permits and warranties, and get both in writing.
- Compare more than one quote for a big job such as a sewer line or a new heater, and ask each plumber to explain differences.
Questions to ask when you compare two quotes
If two quotes for the same job are far apart, the difference is usually in what each one covers. Ask each plumber:
- What exactly is included? Parts, labor, permit, disposal of the old equipment and cleanup.
- What could change the price once the work starts? A good plumber will name the likely surprises.
- Is the price a flat price or billed by time? If it is by time, ask for an estimate of the hours.
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long, on the parts and on the labor?
- When can the work start, and how long will it take?
- Is there a separate charge for after-hours work or a return visit?
Write the answers down next to each quote. A cheaper quote that leaves out the permit or the disposal may not be cheaper at all.
Where our line fits
We are a referral line, not a plumbing company. We don't set prices or do the work. Any price, fee or schedule is agreed directly between you and the plumber. Use the figures here to judge whether a quote is in a believable range, and ask the plumber to explain it if it isn't.
The short version
Water heaters, drains and sewer lines all have wide national ranges, and different sources give different numbers. Use these figures to get oriented, then get a written estimate for your own job. Your plumber sets the actual price.