Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN RIVERDALE
Riverdale Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓RIVERDALE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Riverdale.
Riverdale requires permits for almost all repairs and plumbing installs, and water heaters aren't on its no-permit list. Filing costs $35, and contractors register for $175 a year. ComEd and Nicor Gas serve the village, which buys Lake Michigan water from Chicago.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Village of Riverdale Inspectional Services Department
- Permit fee
- $35 filing fee when you apply. The rest of the fee is set during review (Inspectional Services page).
- Who gets the permit
- A contractor registered with the village. Plumbers must show proof of a state license. Rules for homeowners aren't stated.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- Village of Riverdale water system (purchased Lake Michigan surface water from the City of Chicago) · about 141–143 mg/L as CaCO3 (about 8.3 gpg), Chicago Lake Michigan water at the plant outlets, Q1 2025 comprehensive analysis; not listed in the village's 2025 report
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1957 (median) · 52% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 3 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 Riverdale averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Riverdale
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$35 filing fee when you apply. The rest of the fee is set during review (Inspectional Services page).. Village of Riverdale Inspectional Services 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 Riverdale average is shown.
What can change the price in Riverdale?
Electrical upgrades need a permit. Swapping up to two outlets or switches, or one light fixture, does not.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Riverdale?
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 Riverdale 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Will County
Lists Riverdale 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.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area)
Lists Riverdale 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.
Order: companies based in Riverdale 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 RIVERDALE
What Riverdale homes are like.
1957Median year built
85%Built before 1980
52%Owner-occupied
87%Heat with utility gas
60%Single-family homes
About 85% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
87% 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 Riverdale.
Very little work skips a permit
Riverdale only lets cosmetic work and small repairs go without a permit, such as one light fixture or two outlets. Plumbing installs are not on that list.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Riverdale homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd
- Gas: Nicor Gas
ComEd: Company Information (electric service across northern Illinois) ↗ · Nicor Gas tariff: municipalities to which the schedule applies ↗
Water
Village of Riverdale water system (purchased Lake Michigan surface water from the City of Chicago): about 141–143 mg/L as CaCO3 (about 8.3 gpg), Chicago Lake Michigan water at the plant outlets, Q1 2025 comprehensive analysis; not listed in the village's 2025 report
Village of Riverdale Annual Drinking Water Quality Report 2025 ↗ · City of Chicago Comprehensive Chemical Analysis, Q1 2025 (hardness 141–143 mg/L at Jardine and South plant outlets) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Riverdale homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in Riverdale. 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 Riverdale.
Permits and who issues them
Riverdale needs a building permit for every improvement or repair except yard work and painting. That includes plumbing installs. Water heaters are not on the list of work you can do without a permit. Apply at Inspectional Services, 725 W. 138th Street, 708-849-1798. You pay a $35 filing fee when you apply; the rest of the permit fee is set when the permit is approved.
Yes. Every contractor registers with the village for $175 and turns in a surety bond and proof of insurance. Plumbers, electricians and roofers also show their state license.
Village of Riverdale Inspectional Services Department ↗ · Village of Riverdale: Inspectional Services ↗ · Village of Riverdale: Work That Can Be Performed Without a Permit ↗
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 Riverdale.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolton | 2 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Blue Island | 3 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Harvey | 3 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| South Holland | 4 mi | Required | By job value (from $35) | ComEd |
| Markham | 4 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Midlothian | 5 mi | Required | $105 | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Riverdale water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Riverdale?
The village requires permits for all repairs and plumbing installs except a short list of exempt work. Water heaters aren't on that list, so plan on getting a permit.
Village of Riverdale: Inspectional Services ↗ · Riverdale no-permit list ↗
What does contractor registration cost?
It's $175, plus a surety bond and insurance. Plumbers also have to show a state license.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides