Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN MCHENRY
McHenry Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓MCHENRY AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in McHenry.
McHenry requires a $35 water heater permit, issued at the counter or within 24 hours online. The fee schedule dates from 2014. ComEd and Nicor Gas supply energy, and the city supplies water. The city's August 2026 guide says every water heater must be sealed-combustion, and garage installs must be raised 18 inches.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of McHenry Community Development Department
- Permit fee
- $35 to replace a water heater (Residential Permit Fee Schedule, in effect since February 1, 2014, and still the posted schedule).
- Who gets the permit
- If you hire someone, it must be a licensed plumber. They turn in a sealed letter of intent and copies of their Illinois plumber license (058) and contractor registration (055). The guide suggests owners doing their own work can apply without a contractor, but it doesn't spell out the rules.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- City of McHenry water and sewer utility
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1988 (median) · 74% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 8 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 McHenry averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in McHenry
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$35 to replace a water heater (Residential Permit Fee Schedule, in effect since February 1, 2014, and still the posted schedule).. City of McHenry Community Development Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for McHenry 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 McHenry average is shown.
What can change the price in McHenry?
You need an expansion tank if the water line has a backflow device. Raised heaters and heaters fed from the bottom need an atmospheric vacuum breaker. The vent must be resized when an appliance is taken off or added to an existing chimney.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in McHenry?
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 McHenry 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 McHenry 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.
Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Sewer & Electric
Lists McHenry 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.
J. Blanton Plumbing
Lists McHenry among the areas it serves. Based in 1945 Techny Road, #11, Northbrook, IL 60062.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised competitive, honest quotes, clear explanations and prompt, efficient water heater work.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints could be verified in the sources that were accessible.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Lists McHenry 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of McHenry County
Lists McHenry 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.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Chicago)
Lists McHenry among the areas it serves. Based in 166 W Washington St Ste 375, Chicago, IL 60602.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised prompt, polite technicians who explained how their heater works, showed them how to light a pilot, and tried to fix a faulty heater without extra parts charges.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said a Sunday replacement totaled $2,700 after a $400 mid-job increase (2025), a 20-year-old 40-gallon replacement was quoted at $3,200 against other quotes of $1,000-$1,200 (2019), and a relight on a heater under warranty cost $259 (2020); the company replied asking for details, with no outcome shown.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
U.S. Water Heating Solutions
Lists McHenry among the areas it serves. Based in Arlington Heights, IL (street address not published).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised a quick flame-sensor fix billed as just the service call, clear explanation of error codes, and phone advice that avoided an upsell.
Worth knowing A Chicago Yelp reviewer (2022) said they were charged a $170 trip fee plus $70 per 30 minutes, with time counted from the technician's GPS arrival while they were not yet home; other reviewers on the listing, not all local, also described service charges they felt were high.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Order: companies based in McHenry 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 MCHENRY
What McHenry homes are like.
1988Median year built
39%Built before 1980
74%Owner-occupied
84%Heat with utility gas
80%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1988. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
84% 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 McHenry.
Sealed-combustion heaters only
McHenry's guide says every water heater must have a sealed combustion chamber. That means you can't swap in a standard gas tank that vents the usual way, even if that's what you had.
Garage and raised installs
A heater in a garage must sit 18 inches up. Raised heaters, or ones above living space, need a drain pan (safe pan) with its own drain pipe.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies McHenry homes.
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for McHenry homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in McHenry. 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 McHenry.
Permits and who issues them
In McHenry a water heater permit is handled at the counter. Once you hand in the application, the estimated cost and the heater's make and model, you get it on the spot in person, or within 24 hours online. A final inspection is required. Book it with 24 hours' notice for a morning or afternoon window.
City of McHenry Community Development Department ↗ · McHenry Water Heater guide (updated Aug 4, 2026) ↗ · McHenry Residential Permit Fee Schedule (eff. Feb 1, 2014) ↗ · McHenry Building Permits ↗
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 McHenry.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | 7 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Woodstock | 8 mi | Required | $55 | ComEd |
| Fox Lake | 8 mi | Required | $50 | ComEd |
| Cary | 9 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Wauconda | 9 mi | Required | $136 | ComEd |
| Round Lake | 10 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
McHenry water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in McHenry?
$35 for a replacement, from the home fee schedule in effect since February 1, 2014.
Can I put in a standard atmospheric gas water heater?
The city's guide says all water heaters must have a sealed combustion chamber.
How fast is the permit?
Water heater permits are handled at the counter. You get one on the spot, or within 24 hours online.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides