Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CICERO
Cicero Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CICERO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Cicero.
Cicero is one of the few Chicago-area towns that says installing a water heater usually doesn't need a building permit. It still asks you to check with the Building Department first. Homes use ComEd for power and Nicor Gas for gas. Water is Lake Michigan water bought from Chicago, at about 8 gpg hardness.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- No, for a qualifying same-type replacement
- Permit fee
- No permit is listed for a water heater. If one is needed, residential permits cost 2% of construction cost, with a $55 minimum for plumbing work
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- Town of Cicero Water Department (Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago) · about 141-143 mg/L as CaCO3 (roughly 8 gpg), per the City of Chicago's Q1 2025 plant-outlet analysis for the Lake Michigan water it supplies
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1938 (median) · 55% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 5 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 Cicero averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Cicero
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeNo permit is listed for a water heater. If one is needed, residential permits cost 2% of construction cost, with a $55 minimum for plumbing work. Town of Cicero Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised priceNone of the local company websites we checked list a full installed price.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Cicero average is shown.
What can change the price in Cicero?
New electrical lines or circuits need a permit and a licensed contractor. Hooking gas appliances to an existing gas line is listed as exempt, but generators with natural gas lines need a permit.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Cicero?
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 Cicero 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.
Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Sewer & Electric
Lists Cicero 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.
Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists Cicero among the areas it serves. Based in 296 Williams Pl, East Dundee, IL 60118.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A customer praised friendly technicians who explained a water heater replacement in plain terms, finished quickly and charged a reasonable price.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area)
Lists Cicero 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Cook County
Lists Cicero among the areas it serves.
- 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 Cicero 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 CICERO
What Cicero homes are like.
1938Median year built
92%Built before 1980
55%Owner-occupied
92%Heat with utility gas
45%Single-family homes
About 92% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
92% 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 Cicero.
Confirm before skipping the permit
Water heater installation is on Cicero's exempt list, but the town says to check with permit staff anyway. Work that seems minor can still need a permit.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Cicero homes.
Water
Town of Cicero Water Department (Lake Michigan water purchased from the City of Chicago): about 141-143 mg/L as CaCO3 (roughly 8 gpg), per the City of Chicago's Q1 2025 plant-outlet analysis for the Lake Michigan water it supplies
Town of Cicero 2025 Consumer Confidence Report ↗ · Chicago DWM Comprehensive Chemical Analysis 2025 (Q1) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Cicero homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in Cicero. 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 Cicero.
Permits and who issues them
Cicero's permit-requirements page lists "Hot Water Heater Installation" as work that usually doesn't need a building permit, whether a homeowner or a licensed and bonded contractor does it. The town still says to check with the Building Department first. When a permit is needed, you get it in person at 4949 W. Cermak Road.
Town of Cicero Building Department ↗ · Town of Cicero: Building Permit Requirements ↗ · Town of Cicero: Building Department Permit Fees ↗
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 Cicero.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berwyn | 2 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Forest Park | 3 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Oak Park | 3 mi | Required | $175 | ComEd |
| Lyons | 4 mi | Required | $50 | ComEd |
| Chicago | 4 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| River Forest | 5 mi | Not required (conditions apply) | — | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Cicero water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Cicero?
Usually not. The town's permit-requirements page lists hot water heater installation as typically exempt, but suggests confirming with the Building Department.
What do Cicero permits cost when one is needed?
Residential permits cost 2% of construction cost, with minimum fees. Plumbing work has a $55 minimum.
Where does Cicero's water come from?
The town buys Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides