Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CHICAGO
Chicago Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CHICAGO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Chicago.
Yes, Chicago requires a permit to replace a water heater. It falls under the Department of Buildings' Express Permit Program. A Chicago-licensed plumbing contractor or the homeowner named on the permit must do the work. ComEd supplies power and Peoples Gas supplies gas. City Lake Michigan water tested at about 142 mg/L (about 8 gpg) hardness in early 2025.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Chicago Department of Buildings
- Who gets the permit
- The plumbing work must be done by the Chicago-licensed plumbing contractor or the homeowner named on the permit application.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Peoples Gas
- Water
- City of Chicago Department of Water Management (Lake Michigan) · about 141-143 mg/L as CaCO3 (roughly 8 gpg) at the Jardine and South plant outlets, Q1 2025 comprehensive chemical analysis
- Rebate worth checking
- Peoples Gas (Chicago) water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1953 (median) · 46% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 13 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 Chicago averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Chicago
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Chicago post water heater prices or specials on their websites: A W Adams Installs LLC, Paragon Heating, Cooling & Tankless (Paragon Mechanical, Inc.), Perfect Home Services. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Chicago average is shown.
What can change the price in Chicago?
The express plumbing permit doesn't cover new or changed electrical wiring, or any work on or connected directly to the water meter. The heater must go on a circuit with the breaker size shown on its label.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Chicago?
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 →
A W Adams Installs LLC
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in Steger, IL (no street address published).
- Tank
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon image on replacement page: '$60 OFF 40-Gallon Tank Water Heater Install'; also a labor-discount coupon for customer-supplied units (amount not captured)
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Thumbtack reviewers praised quick scheduling, clear explanations and honest, non-salesy assessments on water heater installs and repairs.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Abt Electronics & Appliances – Plumbing Services
Lists Chicago 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.
DRF Trusted Property Solutions (DRF Water Heating Solutions)
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 10242 Bode Street, Plainfield, IL 60585.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised skilled, knowledgeable installers, quick replacements and good cleanup, and one noted help getting inspection paperwork.
Worth knowing ComplaintsBoard posters alleged a $1,089 quote that became about $1,800, a post-install leak that damaged a neighbor's unit, and valves left closed that left a customer without water for two days.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Sewer & Electric
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 5701 W. 73 St., Chicago, IL 60638.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast, same-day water heater replacements and friendly, knowledgeable installers.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Hot Water 911 Corporation
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 5723 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60646.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast repairs with parts in stock, clear explanations of options and coordination of manufacturer warranty replacements.
Worth knowing A Google reviewer, in a review republished by Birdeye, alleged the company charged hundreds of dollars to look at a tankless water heater, fixed nothing, and that they had to hire another plumber.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
M/R Plumbing Air Heating Electrical
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 14024 S. Cicero Ave, Crestwood, IL 60418.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast response when a water heater failed, same-day replacement and professional installation work.
Worth knowing A Customer Lobby reviewer (Ken J., 12/15/2024) said the work was good but the cost too high, alleging a $180 charge for a 30-minute pilot relight and $300 added to the estimate for connecting a new water heater.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Will County
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 126 S Des Plaines St, Joliet IL, 60436.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer said a technician explained the hot water heater problem plainly and fixed it right away at a reasonable price.
Worth knowing On Yelp, one reviewer (2024) said they were quoted $2,850.99 for a standard 40-gallon heater with a 6-month tank-only warranty and had it done elsewhere for $950; another (2018) said a technician broke their gas control valve and left; no company responses were captured.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Paragon Heating, Cooling & Tankless (Paragon Mechanical, Inc.)
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 729 N Yale Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181.
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Tankless page: 'typical budgetary range for a standard residential tankless water heater replacement is $4,800 to $5,800' (assumes existing tankless or close-to-compatible setup; includes removal, install, reconnection, startup, testing). Home page coupon: '$500 OFF Tankless Water Heater/HVAC Installation'.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day replacement, tidy tankless installs, quick tankless repairs and technicians who explained maintenance clearly.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Perfect Home Services
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 78 Eisenhower Lane N, Lombard, IL 60148.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: $49 Water Heater Flush and Safety Inspection coupon (listed as expiring Oct 31, 2026); no installed water heater prices published
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick same-day response, clear options and clean installs, including a replacement finished within five hours of the call.
Worth knowing On Yelp, one reviewer (2025) called a $4,000 bill for a standard tank replacement for their elderly mother predatory pricing, and another (2025) said a $60 diagnosis became $629 for a tankless unit and a $3,000 repair quote came with a week's wait; a 2018 reviewer said the installer left old vent work for them until the company returned, and the company apologized.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
VanDerBosch Plumbing Inc.
Lists Chicago among the areas it serves. Based in 6928 N Greenview, Chicago, IL 60626 (second location in Roselle).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised tidy tankless installs, phone troubleshooting that fixed a tankless unit, an 80-gallon upsize planned and installed at a fair price, and a fair price on replacing a 1991 heater.
Worth knowing One Yelp reviewer (2012) said other plumbers later found the gas line and a mixed-metal water connection on their tankless install were done incorrectly, that the unit did not qualify for a federal credit they were told it would, and that calls went unanswered; no company response was captured.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Also listing Chicago: ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area), Lifetime Plumbing, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Cook County.
Order: companies based in Chicago 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 ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING CHICAGO
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN CHICAGO
What Chicago homes are like.
1953Median year built
75%Built before 1980
46%Owner-occupied
78%Heat with utility gas
29%Single-family homes
About 75% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
78% of homes heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters with existing venting are common here.
Only 46% of homes are owner-occupied. Renters should ask the landlord or property manager; replacing the heater is usually the owner’s decision.
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 Chicago.
Chicago's own code and efficiency rules
Chicago has its own Chicago Plumbing Code and Chicago Energy Transformation Code. In residential buildings up to 4 stories, new water heating equipment must meet the efficiency rules in Section R403.5, and new hot water pipes must be insulated.
What the express permit requires
The heater must be listed by an independent testing agency. The install needs unions (dielectric where the metals differ), a gas shutoff valve ahead of the connector on fuel-burning units, and the required clearances and combustion air. The installer must also check that the home has a working CO detector.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Chicago homes.
Water
City of Chicago Department of Water Management (Lake Michigan): about 141-143 mg/L as CaCO3 (roughly 8 gpg) at the Jardine and South plant outlets, Q1 2025 comprehensive chemical analysis
Chicago DWM Comprehensive Chemical Analysis 2025 ↗ · Chicago 2025 Water Quality Report (CCR) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Chicago homes.
For ComEd and Peoples Gas customers in Chicago. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Peoples Gas (Chicago) water heater rebates ↗ActiveUp to $150 for a tankless water heater with UEF 0.95 or higher, or up to $150 for an indirect water heater rated 88% AFUE 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 Chicago.
Permits and who issues them
"Repair or replace a water heater" is a listed job type in the Department of Buildings' Express Permit Program, which replaced the Easy Permit Program in November 2023. The work must follow the Chicago Plumbing Code and the manufacturer's instructions. Keep the instructions on site for the inspection.
A Chicago-licensed plumbing contractor must be listed on the permit, unless the homeowner is listed instead.
City of Chicago Department of Buildings ↗ · Chicago Express Permit Program: Plumbing Work terms ↗ · Chicago DOB Express Permit Program form 408EX (Nov 2023) ↗
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 Chicago.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Chicago water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Chicago?
Yes. Repairing or replacing a water heater is a listed plumbing job under the city's Express Permit Program.
Can a homeowner do the work?
Yes, if you're the homeowner named on the application. The permit terms say the plumbing work must be done by the Chicago-licensed plumbing contractor or homeowner listed there.
How hard is Chicago tap water?
Chicago's Q1 2025 lab tests found about 141-143 mg/L hardness as CaCO3 at the plant outlets. That's roughly 8 grains per gallon.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides