Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CARY
Cary Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CARY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Cary.
You need a permit to replace a water heater in Cary. It's issued over the counter once the application, contract, spec sheet and plumber's letter of intent are in. The Village handout says the final inspection checks the expansion tank, bonding, heat traps, gas connector and combustion air. ComEd and Nicor Gas serve Cary; water comes from nine Village wells.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Village of Cary Community Development Department
- Who gets the permit
- The Village handout expects a plumber to do the job. The plumber submits a copy of their Illinois 058 license and 055 registration, plus a notarized or sealed letter of intent for each project. Homeowners can apply through the BS&A portal without an account, but the handout doesn't say whether owners can do the work themselves.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- Village of Cary (nine community wells)
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1985 (median) · 85% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 4 that advertise water heater work
01 / TYPICAL PRICES
What a new water heater costs.
Know before you call.
Heat-pump tank
$2,500–$5,000Typical cost, including installation
Tankless
$2,400–$5,400Typical cost, including installation
AI equipment illustrations; models vary and images are not to scale. Typical national prices from Home Depot ↗, checked September 28, 2026. The source doesn’t say how many jobs the ranges are based on. These are not Cary averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Cary
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Cary post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Mr. Rooter Plumbing of McHenry County. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Cary average is shown.
What can change the price in Cary?
The Village checklist requires a thermal expansion tank where the water supply has a backflow device, bonding between the hot and cold pipes, heat traps, and pipe insulation. If you take a heater off a shared chimney, the inspector checks that the chimney is still sized right for the other appliances.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Cary?
Companies that advertise water heater replacement here, with what their water heater customers say.
Companies we found in our research. They are not Ember & Tank providers or partners. We show selected reviews, not a rating or every review. How we choose reviews →
Abt Electronics & Appliances – Plumbing Services
Lists Cary among the areas it serves. Based in 1200 N. Milwaukee, Glenview, IL 60025.
- Tank
- Tankless
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised Abt staff for following up until a multi-system project that included a tankless water heater was finished, and for handling an emergency water heater replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Althoff Home Services
Lists Cary among the areas it serves. Based in 8001 S Illinois Rte 31, Crystal Lake, IL 60014.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised a technician's professionalism and explanations during a tankless water heater installation, and a thorough water heater flush during a maintenance visit.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of McHenry County
Lists Cary among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: "$200 Off Water Heater Installation" coupon (listed as expiring 01/31/2027)
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick installs (including a Friday-night job), a leak repair that saved the unit, clear quotes, and explanations of warranty and maintenance.
Worth knowing Two positive reviewers said follow-up work was needed (one said the new heater was a lemon and was swapped the same evening; another said a water temperature problem needed a second visit); no water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area)
Lists Cary among the areas it serves. Based in 731 District Drive, Itasca, IL 60143 (local branch of national ARS network).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Cary first, then companies whose water heater reviews we’ve read. Each group is alphabetical. These businesses are not our employees or vetted partners and do not receive requests from Ember & Tank. We haven’t checked their license, insurance or quality of work. IDPH plumber license verification ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN CARY
What Cary homes are like.
1985Median year built
39%Built before 1980
85%Owner-occupied
91%Heat with utility gas
93%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1985. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
91% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2024 5-year ↗ (2020-2024). Heating fuel is what homes use to heat the house. It often, but not always, matches the water heater’s fuel.
LOCAL CONDITIONS
What’s different in Cary.
Cash or check only
Cary's water heater handout says the Village takes only cash or check for this permit. Its BS&A portal does take online payment for some permits.
Cary – Water Heater Replacement handout (PDF) ↗ · Cary – Permits General Information ↗
Detailed gas and venting checklist
Gas lines must use rigid pipe or a listed stainless flexible connector no longer than 6 feet. Install a union, a sediment trap and a shutoff you can reach within 6 feet, in that order. Combustion air needs 1 square inch of vent for every 1,000 Btu/h, unless the unit is a sealed 90%+ appliance.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Cary homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd
- Gas: Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas tariff: municipalities to which the schedule applies ↗ · ComEd: Company Information (electric service across northern Illinois) ↗
Water
Village of Cary (nine community wells)
Cary – Current Water Quality CCR ↗ · Cary 2025 CCR Printable ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Cary homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in Cary. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates ↗Active$150 for an ENERGY STAR gas tankless water heater (UEF 0.95 or higher, 75 MBTUH or less), or $150 for an ENERGY STAR power-vented or condensing storage water heater (UEF 0.86 or higher).
- Illinois IRA Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) ↗Not launchedIllinois EPA says its HEAR application has not yet been processed by U.S.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Illinois rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Cary.
Permits and who issues them
Water heater replacement is one of Cary's standard home permits that can be issued over the counter when the paperwork is complete. Submit the application with the cost of work, the plumber's name and contact details, a copy of the contract between you and the contractor, and the maker's spec sheet. A final inspection is required; give two business days' notice.
General contractors and subcontractors register every year ($75, or $38 after July 1) and post a $10,000 surety bond. State-licensed plumbing contractors skip both but must file their state license and registration.
Village of Cary Community Development Department ↗ · Cary – Residential Permits ↗ · Cary – Water Heater Replacement handout (PDF) ↗ · Cary – Contractors & Bonds ↗ · Cary – Permits General Information ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the IDPH plumber license verification ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Illinois licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Cary.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake in the Hills | 4 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Crystal Lake | 5 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Algonquin | 5 mi | Required | $10 | ComEd |
| Carpentersville | 7 mi | Required | $50, | ComEd |
| Wauconda | 7 mi | Required | $136 | ComEd |
| Barrington | 7 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Cary water heater questions.
Can I get a water heater permit the same day in Cary?
Yes. Cary can issue a water heater replacement permit over the counter if you submit everything required.
Does Cary require an expansion tank?
Yes, if the water supply has a backflow device. The tank goes on the cold supply near the heater, with no shutoff valve between them.
Does my plumber need to register with Cary?
State-licensed plumbers skip the Village registration fee and bond. They still file copies of their 058 license and 055 registration, plus a notarized or sealed letter of intent for every job.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides