Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN HIGHLAND
Highland Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓HIGHLAND AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Highland.
Highland's plumbing permit covers alterations and repairs, but the city doesn't say if a same-type water heater swap needs one. Call Building and Zoning to check. Working without a required permit costs a $500 fine. The city runs its own power company, Highland Light & Power, and its own water from Silver Lake. Ameren Illinois supplies gas. Plumbing contractors must keep a license and insurance certificate on file.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Highland Building and Zoning (Public Safety Department)
- Who gets the permit
- The owner or a contractor can apply. Plumbing contractors need a current plumbing license and insurance certificate on file with Building and Zoning before a permit is issued. State law (the Illinois Plumbing License Law) lets you plumb your own single-family home if you live in it and the work meets the Illinois State Plumbing Code. If not, hire an Illinois-licensed plumber.
- Electric utility
- Highland Light & Power (city-owned)
- Gas utility
- Ameren Illinois
- Water
- City of Highland (Silver Lake reservoir)
- Rebate worth checking
- Ameren Illinois heat pump water heater incentives (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1979 (median) · 73% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 1 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 Highland averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Highland
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local company’s advertised priceNone of the local company websites we checked list a full installed price.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Highland average is shown.
What can change the price in Highland?
Highland has a separate application for electrical permits. Working without a required permit brings a $500 fine. Inspections after hours cost $126 on weekdays and Saturdays, and $160 on Sundays and holidays.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Highland?
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 →
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (St. Louis)
Lists Highland among the areas it serves. Based in 2671 Washington Ave, St Louis, MO 63103 (local branch of national company).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- 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 Highland 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 HIGHLAND
What Highland homes are like.
1979Median year built
52%Built before 1980
73%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
75%Single-family homes
About 52% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
71% 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 Highland.
The city owns the power company
Highland has owned its electric system since 1899 and serves about 5,257 homes. Inside its service area, power for an electric or heat pump water heater comes from the city, not Ameren.
Older 2012 codes
The city uses the 2012 International Residential, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, plus the latest Illinois State Plumbing Code.
$500 fine for skipping a permit
The plumbing application lists a $500 fine for working without a required permit. That includes covering work before it's inspected or skipping the final inspection.
Highland – Application for Plumbing Permit (12.17.24, PDF) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Highland homes.
Energy
- Electric: Highland Light & Power (city-owned) (inside the city's electric service area. Outside it, Southwest Electric Co-op, Clinton County Co-op and Ameren provide power)
- Gas: Ameren Illinois
Highland – Light & Power ↗ · Ameren Illinois gas tariff – Cities, Villages, Communities and Adjacent Areas served ↗ · Ameren Illinois electric tariff – Cities, Villages, Communities and Adjacent Areas served ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Highland homes.
For Highland Light & Power (city-owned) and Ameren Illinois customers in Highland. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Ameren Illinois heat pump water heater incentives ↗Active$1,150 instant discount when a contractor buys an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater from a participating distributor, or when you use a Program Ally contractor.
- 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 Highland.
Permits and who issues them
Highland gives plumbing permits for 'Plumbing Alteration, Repair and Remodel' work. The application asks for a drawing of the rooms and the work. Book inspections (underground, rough-in, final) 24 hours ahead at 618-654-9891. Whether a same-type water heater swap falls under this permit isn't stated.
Plumbing contractors keep a current plumbing license and insurance certificate on file with the city.
City of Highland Building and Zoning (Public Safety Department) ↗ · Highland – Building & Zoning ↗ · Highland – Application for Plumbing Permit (12.17.24, PDF) ↗ · Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320/3 (homeowner exemption) ↗
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 Highland.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 12 mi | Check with city | The building permit fee | Ameren Illinois |
| Glen Carbon | 16 mi | Check with city | $65 | Ameren Illinois |
| Edwardsville | 16 mi | Check with city | $20 | Ameren Illinois, Southwestern Electric Cooperative |
| O'Fallon | 17 mi | Check with city | By job value (from $45) | Ameren Illinois |
| Collinsville | 18 mi | Not required (conditions apply) | $25 | Ameren Illinois, Southwestern Electric Cooperative |
| Shiloh | 20 mi | Check with city | — | Ameren Illinois |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Highland water heater questions.
Who provides electricity in Highland?
Inside its service area, the city-owned Highland Light & Power. Nearby areas outside it get power from Southwest Electric Co-op, Clinton County Co-op or Ameren.
What does a plumbing contractor need before working in Highland?
A current plumbing license and insurance certificate on file with Building and Zoning before the permit is issued.
Highland – Application for Plumbing Permit (12.17.24, PDF) ↗
What's the source of Highland's water?
Silver Lake reservoir, according to the city's 2025 water quality report.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides