Before the visit
A few checks help the installer bring the right parts. The directory lists firms that handle water heater installation and repair, with their published rates and sources.
Choose the type
A storage heater heats and holds a tank of water. An instant heater heats water as it flows through and has no tank. If you are weighing the two, read more about instant water heaters. Switching type can change the mounting, pipes and electrical supply, so mention it when you ask for a quote. To size a storage tank, try the water heater size calculator.
Check the space and supply
Note the following:
- The space around it, including room for servicing.
- Whether there is an existing heater point and isolator switch, and their condition.
- The wall or ceiling it will hang from. A storage heater is heavy once full.
- Your water pressure, if it is unusually weak or strong.
Photos of the old heater and isolator help the installer judge the job. On the day, clear the bathroom or ceiling access area.
What the installer does, step by step
Guides on how to install water heater units yourself are easy to find, but in Singapore this is a job for licensed workers. The steps below show what to expect, not what to do at home.
- Isolate water and power. The installer switches the heater off at the isolator and circuit breaker, then closes its water supply.
- Remove the old heater. The old unit is drained, disconnected and taken down. Ask beforehand whether disposal is included.
- Check pipes and fittings. Pipes, valves and fittings are inspected for corrosion, leaks or wear, and worn parts are replaced.
- Mount the brackets. Brackets are fixed to the wall or ceiling. In a storage water heater installation this step matters most, because a full tank is heavy.
- Connect water inlet and outlet. The cold water inlet and hot water outlet are connected with the right valves and fittings.
- Connect the power. The heater is wired through the isolator. Any new point, isolator or wiring change is work for a licensed electrician.
- Fill and test for leaks. The heater is filled before power goes on, and every joint is checked for drips.
- Check temperature and safety cut-out. The installer confirms the water heats up and that the thermostat and safety cut-out work.
- Explain use. You are shown how to switch the heater on and off and how to use any settings.
An instant water heater installation has no heavy tank to support but follows the same order.
Plumbing and electrical: who does what
According to PUB's guidance on plumbing works, regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber, apart from listed simple works that handymen may do. Replacing or removing the pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater is one of them. Other water service work needs a Licensed Plumber, and engaging an unlicensed plumber for regulated works has been an offence since 2018.
PUB charges no fee for the regulatory submissions a Licensed Plumber lodges, so any such fee is the plumber's own charge. It advises asking for itemised quotes and getting at least three. When you compare plumbers, ask what each price covers.
EMA's guidance on engaging licensed workers says electrical work at home should be carried out or supervised by an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW), including modifying wiring and adding, extending or replacing power points. A new heater point or isolator is LEW work. Every LEW carries a licence card with a photo, name and licence number. Check it before work starts, or look the licence up on EMA's ELISE portal.
HDB's guidelines on electrical works also require electrical work in flats to be done by a licensed electrical worker. The page on finding a licensed electrician covers what to check before you book.
Published water heater installation rates
These are rates companies in the directory publish themselves, quoted as printed and linked to each source. They are not quotes for your home.
Plumbing side
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published water heater installation rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published water heater installation rates from 3 companies run from S$120 to S$200 per job (middle rate S$160), to install or replace one heater; check whether the heater itself is included. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 3 published water heater installation rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHS Engineering Pte. Ltd. | Water Heater Installation | From S$120 per job | shshandymansg.com |
| NILE Plumbing | Install Instant Water Heater | From S$160 per job | nileplumbingsg.com |
| PW Plumbing Services | Water Heater Installation | S$200 to S$500 per job | pwplumbing.com.sg |
In this table, 3 companies publish a water heater installation rate. Their published rates run from S$120 to S$200 per job, and S$160 sits in the middle as one company's own rate. The scope as printed is to install or replace one heater, so check whether the heater itself is included. One company prints a range of S$200 to S$500 per job.
Electrical side
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published water heater point rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published water heater point rates from 6 companies run from S$60 to S$180 per job (middle rate S$120), for one water heater point or connection. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average.
See 7 published water heater point rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Electrician Pte Ltd | Connect Water Heater | S$50 | mrelectrician.sg |
| Repair.sg | Water heater installation | From S$60 per job | repair.sg |
| Skyteam Electrical Pte Ltd | Instant Water Heaters (storage-less) | S$60 per job | skyteamelectrical.sg |
| Sparkflow Pte Ltd | Water heater installation | From S$120 per job | sparkflow.com.sg |
| Yong Jin Solutions Engineering Pte Ltd | Water heater point (with isolator & MCB) | From S$120 to S$200 per job | yongjinelectrical.sg |
| 81 Electrical | Water heater isolator (20A) | From S$160 per job | 81electrical.com |
| Alpha & Omega Trinity Pte Ltd | Water Heater | From S$180 per job | aotrinitysg.com |
Here, 7 companies publish an electrical rate for a water heater point or connection. Of these, 6 price per job, with published rates from S$60 to S$180 and S$120 in the middle as one company's own rate. One line includes an isolator and MCB, printed at S$120 to S$200 per job.
For what else shapes the final bill, see the guide to water heater replacement cost.
NEXT STEP
See plumbing companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare plumbersAfter installation
- Check for drips. Look at every joint and under the heater after the first few uses, and again a day later.
- Test the isolator. Switch the heater off and on at the isolator so you know it works.
- Keep the paperwork. Store the manual, warranty card and invoice with the company's contact details.
- Watch for trouble. Call the installer about leaks, a burning smell, scorch marks near the point, a tripping breaker, or water that does not heat up.
If anything electrical looks wrong, switch off at the isolator until a licensed electrician has checked it.
Questions
Can I install a water heater myself?
You should not. The electrical connection should be carried out or supervised by an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker, and regulated water service work needs a PUB Licensed Plumber. A handyman may replace the pipe between a stop valve and an instant heater, but the rest of the job is for licensed workers.
How long does water heater installation take?
A straight swap of a similar heater on an existing point often takes a few hours. Pipe changes, new brackets, an added electrical point or a new position can make it longer. Ask for a time estimate with your quote.
Do I need a new electrical point for a water heater?
Not always. If the existing point and isolator are in good condition and suit the new heater, the installer can often reconnect to them. A change of heater type or position may need a new point or isolator, which is work for an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker.
Can a storage heater be mounted on any wall?
Not every wall is suitable. A storage heater is heavy once full of water, so the wall or ceiling and the brackets must carry its full weight safely. The installer checks the mounting surface first and may suggest a different position or type of heater.
What is the isolator switch for?
The isolator cuts power to the water heater on its own, without switching off the rest of your home. Installers use it to make the heater safe before working on it, and you can use it if something looks wrong. A new isolator needs a licensed electrician.
Who do I call if the new heater trips the power?
Switch the heater off at the isolator and do not keep resetting the circuit breaker. Call the installer first, especially if the job is recent or under warranty. A fault in the wiring, point or isolator needs an EMA Licensed Electrical Worker to check and fix it.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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