Payless Water Heaters and Tankless Water Heaters
Plumber · Newark, CA · Open 24 hours per Google listing
Our verdict
4.8 stars / 366 reviews — water heater specialist with 35 service mentions, 95.3% positive sentiment, and same-day installs confirmed; one 1-star review cites $750 labor for a 15-20 minute warranty part swap.
Scores are our editorial reading of published customer reviews — not a verification, license check, or guarantee.
Our opinion, based on the 85 reviews we analyzed from Google, Yelp and BBB · Analysis updated Jun 2026 · How we decide ↗
Lists 24-hour service on its Google profile — and reviewers describe after-hours calls.
What reviewers praise
Same-day water heater installation is the core offering — confirmed in at least 6 reviews (same-day-plumber count=6); Tristan, Joel, and Donovan each named across multiple 5-star accounts
2 cited reviews
“Discovered heating control unit on my water heater malfunctioning at midnight, and Joel at Payless Water Heaters was able to come out and replace it the very next day at 9:30 AM! Repair took <30 minutes, and everything is going well once again - thanks Joel + Payless!”
“Overall fantastic experience. Scheduling was fast and easy. They let me know exactly when Tristan would arrive and he arrived right on time. He discovered serious issues with my existing water heater and walked me through my options. The options were good and flexible to my needs. Tristan had everything he needed and installed everything same day within about 4-5 hours, which was awesome. I wasn't bothered at all during the installation, no hiccups or flagging cumbersome issues. They cleaned everything up like they were never there. The water heaters they sell are incredibly quiet. My Navien s”
Cited in 4 of the 85 reviews we analyzed — 2 cited reviews not excerpted here.
Thorough explanation of options without pressure — multiple reviewers note technicians walked them through choices rather than pushing the most expensive path
1 cited review
“Great service. Water heater went out thanksgiving day, Tristan came out first thing Friday morning. I was provided with a thorough and clear explanation of the status of my 20+year old water heater and my options on how to proceed. Tristan took extra time to answer all my questions thoroughly and did not push me on which path to go with. The work itself is immaculate and very well done. I feel good having a reliable, higher end, and properly installed water heater.”
Cited in 2 of the 85 reviews we analyzed — 1 cited review not excerpted here.
Proactive same-day repair scheduling: water heater malfunction detected at midnight → tech on-site at 9:30am next morning, repair done in under 30 minutes
1 cited review
“Discovered heating control unit on my water heater malfunctioning at midnight, and Joel at Payless Water Heaters was able to come out and replace it the very next day at 9:30 AM! Repair took <30 minutes, and everything is going well once again - thanks Joel + Payless!”
What reviewers report — the concerns
Other directories bury these. We think you should read them before you call. Every concern below comes from the reviews it cites.
Red flag
$750 labor charge for a 15-20 min warranty part install — reviewer calculated $2,250/hr effective rate; 1 of 85 reviews but specific enough to warrant disclosure
“Service call was fair ($59) and the technician was very nice and professional. No complaints at all-Prompt and on time. The 3 yrs old hot water heater needed parts (gas control valve and an attached sensor), which were under warranty but Payless wanted to charge $750 to install the replacement, which I have been told by 4 different local companies that it takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Now I get there is a cost for knowledge but $2,250/hr ($750 /20 minutes x 3 = $2,250/hr).? Seriously????”
Premium labor pricing flagged: $750 quoted to install warranty replacement parts estimated at 15-20 min by 4 competing companies — explicit complaint in 1-star review
“Service call was fair ($59) and the technician was very nice and professional. No complaints at all-Prompt and on time. The 3 yrs old hot water heater needed parts (gas control valve and an attached sensor), which were under warranty but Payless wanted to charge $750 to install the replacement, which I have been told by 4 different local companies that it takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Now I get there is a cost for knowledge but $2,250/hr ($750 /20 minutes x 3 = $2,250/hr).? Seriously????”
Incomplete follow-through on city permit inspection — one reviewer received no inspection update 3 days post-install
Cited in 1 of the 85 reviews we analyzed.
Keep it in proportion: these concerns are cited in 2 of the 85 reviews we analyzed. Most reviewers report positive experiences — see the full rating picture below.
The evidence — in reviewers' own words
Critical
“I was in desperate need to repair Bradford White hydraulic water heater because tenant has been without hot water and heat for several days. My plumber needs several days to get the parts. So I called Payless with the model and serial number asking if they have the parts. They replied later saying yes. However, the technician called me from the house next day saying that they don't repair hydraulic heater when I …”
Positive
“I had called Payless as there was some noise coming from our hot water system. They came on the same day after giving us lots of information about whom to expect and around what time. We were sent a photo id of the person coming. Donovan G arrived on time , had a thorough look and gave us advice on what our options were and based on that, we decided best option was to get the system changed. He very quickly gave us …”
“Luis Barrera from the NorCal office was fantastic! He clearly explained every step of the repair process and took the time to educate me on how my water heater works, including how to relight the pilot if needed. Also explain the process of flushing the system and how it's it's good to do that to your water heater for maintenance. He was very friendly, courteous, and arrived right on time. I really appreciated his …”
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The rating picture
Newest review in our sample: Feb 2026.
Across platforms
Should you hire Payless Water Heaters and Tankless Water Heaters?
Best for
- Emergency and same-day calls
- Complex installs and remodels
- Water heater install/repair
Hire if
- You need high-quality work that holds up over time
- You need a plumber who actually shows up when scheduled
Think twice if
- You need rock-bottom prices with zero flexibility on the quote
- You need airtight scheduling and guaranteed arrival times
Advice derived from the review analysis above — how we decide.
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