Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN NORTH CHICAGO
North Chicago Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓NORTH CHICAGO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in North Chicago.
In North Chicago you apply for a plumbing permit by email or in person with the Department of Economic and Community Development. Simple plumbing permits take about 3 to 5 business days. Plumbers register with the city for free using their Illinois licenses. Homeowners doing their own work file a Self-Permit Statement. Power is from ComEd, and gas is from North Shore Gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development
- Who gets the permit
- Contractors must register with the city and send in a contract signed by the owner. Homeowners doing their own work add a Self-Permit Statement to the application. Plumbers register separately with their Illinois plumber and plumbing contractor licenses and insurance that names the city.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- North Shore Gas
- Water
- City of North Chicago Public Works (city water utility; annual water quality reports posted)
- Rebate worth checking
- Illinois IRA Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) (Not launched)
- Typical home
- Built 1973 (median) · 33% 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 North 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 North Chicago
- 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 North Chicago average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in North 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 →
Abt Electronics & Appliances – Plumbing Services
Lists North 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.
Order: companies based in North 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 ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN NORTH CHICAGO
What North Chicago homes are like.
1973Median year built
62%Built before 1980
33%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
51%Single-family homes
About 62% 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.
Only 33% 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 North Chicago.
Homeowners can pull their own permit
To get your own permit in North Chicago, add a Self-Permit Statement to the application. A contractor needs city registration and a signed contract or proposal.
City of North Chicago 2026 Contractor Registration Information Packet ↗
Don't use AI for permit papers
The Building Department asks people not to use AI to write permit documents. It warns that those applications are often denied.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies North Chicago homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd
- Gas: North Shore Gas (North Shore Gas lists North Chicago among the towns it serves)
North Shore Gas tariff: municipalities served (effective 9-30-2019) ↗
Water
City of North Chicago Public Works (city water utility; annual water quality reports posted)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for North Chicago homes.
For ComEd and North Shore Gas customers in North Chicago. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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 North Chicago.
Permits and who issues them
Pick Plumbing as the permit type on North Chicago's building permit application. Hand deliver it, mail it or email it to permits@northchicago.org. Simple plumbing permits take about 3 to 5 business days. The city doesn't book same-day inspections and charges $50 if an inspection fails or nobody shows up.
Yes. Contractors register with a $5,000 surety bond and insurance that names the city. Plumbers use a separate Plumber Registration Application with an IDPH or Chicago plumber license plus an Illinois plumbing contractor license. The city says electric and plumbing contractors pay no registration fee.
City of North Chicago Department of Economic and Community Development ↗ · City of North Chicago: Building/Permits ↗ · City of North Chicago 2026 Building Permit Application ↗ · City of North Chicago 2026 Contractor Registration Information Packet ↗ · City of North Chicago 2026 Plumber Registration Application ↗
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 North Chicago.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukegan | 4 mi | Required | By job value (from $125) | ComEd |
| Gurnee | 5 mi | Required | $40 | ComEd |
| Lake Forest | 6 mi | Check with city | $60 | ComEd |
| Libertyville | 6 mi | Check with city | $65 | ComEd |
| Gages Lake | 7 mi | Not required (conditions apply) (county) | $35 | ComEd |
| Vernon Hills | 8 mi | Required | $50 | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
North Chicago water heater questions.
Can a homeowner get a permit in North Chicago?
Yes. Send the permit application with a Self-Permit Statement. Contractors have to be registered with the city.
City of North Chicago 2026 Contractor Registration Information Packet ↗
Do plumbers pay to register?
No. The city's registration packet says electric and plumbing contractors have no registration fee. They still have to send licenses and proof of insurance.
City of North Chicago 2026 Contractor Registration Information Packet ↗ · City of North Chicago 2026 Plumber Registration Application ↗
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides