An electric water heater replacement is usually a two to three hour job: the old tank is drained and removed, the new one is set in place, piped, and wired to its 240-volt circuit, and the expansion tank and relief valve discharge are brought up to code. In most Delaware jurisdictions it is permitted work, so a licensed plumber should handle it.
Repair or Replace?
Not every cold electric tank needs replacing. Electric water heaters have two heating elements and two thermostats, and those parts fail and can be swapped. If the tank is not leaking and is not near the end of its life, a failed element is a repair. Our guide to an electric water heater not heating walks through the breaker, the reset button and the elements.
Replacement is the answer when:
- The tank itself is leaking. Water from the tank body, not from a fitting or valve, cannot be repaired.
- It is old and the repairs are stacking up. A second element in a year on an older tank is money spent on a unit that is near the end anyway.
- It no longer keeps up. A household that has grown since the tank went in may need more capacity.
Our post on the signs you need a water heater replacement covers the warning signs in more detail.
Like-for-Like, Bigger, or a Heat Pump
Most electric replacements are like-for-like: a 50-gallon tank out, a 50-gallon tank in, on the same circuit and in the same spot. That keeps the job simple and the price predictable.
If the family has grown, a larger tank may be worth it, as long as it fits the space and the circuit. The other option is a heat pump water heater, which moves heat from the surrounding air instead of making it with elements. It costs more up front and needs more room around it. Our post on heat pump water heaters in Delaware covers when that trade-off makes sense.
The Electrical Side
An electric tank does not plug into a wall outlet. A.O. Smith explains that "for traditional electric tank water heaters and most heat pump models, 240-volt circuits are required," and that most residential units need "proper wire gauge for the amperage—typically 10-gauge wire for a 30-amp circuit." Its guide also notes that during a replacement, "existing wiring gets inspected for adequate gauge and condition."
That inspection matters on older tanks. Heat and years of cycling can scorch the connections at the top of the unit, and a new heater on a damaged wire is a new problem waiting to happen. If the circuit is right, the new unit connects to it. If it is not, it is fixed before the heater goes in.
Expansion Tank, Relief Valve and Permits
Three code items come with every tank replacement:
- Expansion tank. A.O. Smith says that "most homes operate as closed plumbing systems, which means all tank-type water heaters require thermal expansion tanks to safely manage pressure changes as water heats and expands." Most Delaware homes on city water need one. See our guide to water heater expansion tanks.
- Relief valve discharge. The temperature and pressure relief valve needs a discharge pipe of the right size, ending where a release cannot scald anyone.
- Permit and inspection. A.O. Smith notes that "most areas require permits for water heater replacement because the work involves electrical and plumbing systems." Around here the rules differ inside Wilmington city limits and in the rest of New Castle County, and again across the line in Chester County, PA and Cecil County, MD.
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How Long It Takes
A standard electric tank swap takes about two to three hours from arrival to testing. The old tank is drained and hauled away, the new one is set, piped, wired, filled and only then powered. Turning the power on before the tank is full of water can burn out a new element almost immediately, which is one reason this is not a job to rush.
We stock common electric tank sizes, so most standard replacements are done the same day when you call early. In all-electric homes in rural Chester County and Cecil County, where there is no gas line to switch to, a same-day electric swap is usually the quickest way back to hot water.
What It Costs With Us
We publish our price rather than making you wait for a quote. A 50-gallon Bradford White electric water heater, installed, is $2,198, and that includes the expansion tank and haul-away of the old unit. Valves are extra and priced on site, and additional fees apply for after-hours and weekend service. You approve the price before any work starts.
If you want to understand why other quotes come in higher or lower, our water heater installation cost guide explains the main cost drivers.
Book Your Replacement
Water Heater Now handles water heater installation and replacement in Wilmington and across New Castle County, Chester County and Cecil County, under Delaware plumbing licence PL-0002475. Call (302) 240-2818. We answer 24 hours a day.
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Source, verified October 7, 2026: A.O. Smith, How to Install Electric Water Heater. Pricing is Water Heater Now's published flat rate as of October 2026.
