Is California Banning Gas Water Heaters?

Yes and no. In the Bay Area, the sale and installation of new gas water heaters will be banned starting January 1, 2027. Other parts of California have voted to extend the implementation of the ban until 2030.

This change is part of California’s push toward cleaner energy and zero-emission appliances. If your current gas water heater fails after that date, you’ll have to replace it with an electric model, most likely a heat pump unit (often called "hybrid-electric"), or tankless gas (still allowed after 2026 due to high efficiency).

What Does This Mean for Homeowners?

• You can still use your current gas water heater.

• You can still replace it with another gas unit until the end of 2026.

• After 2026, gas replacements will no longer be allowed.

This affects most Bay Area counties, including Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara.

Should You Upgrade Now?

If your unit is more than 10 years old or showing signs of failure, now is the time to plan.

Upgrading early gives you:

• More control over what system you install

• Time to evaluate if your electrical panel needs an upgrade

• Until Dec 31, 2025 you can receive a large Federal Tax rebate up to $2000 towards the installation cost for a Hybrid Electric Water Heater.

  
  

How We Help

At Water Heater Boys, we install both gas and electric water heaters across the Bay Area. We can:

• Inspect your current system

• Help you decide whether to replace now or wait

• Handle all plumbing, electrical, and permitting

  
  

We never charge a service call fee, and we offer same-day or next-day service in most cases. Contact us today to schedule a free home plumbing inspection.