Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WATERLOO
Waterloo Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WATERLOO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Waterloo.
Waterloo's residential permit list doesn't mention water heaters, so call the Building Inspector before you replace one. The city runs its own gas, electric and water utilities, so a gas water heater here runs on city gas, not Ameren.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Waterloo Building Inspection / Zoning Office
- Who gets the permit
- Under Illinois' Plumbing License Law, if you own and live in a single-family home, you can do your own plumbing as long as it meets the Illinois State Plumbing Code. Otherwise, an Illinois-licensed plumber must do it.
- Electric utility
- City of Waterloo Electric Department
- Gas utility
- City of Waterloo natural gas system
- Water
- City of Waterloo (wells near Valmeyer, treated at the city’s new water treatment facility)
- Rebate worth checking
- Illinois IRA Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) (Not launched)
- Typical home
- Built 1991 (median) · 78% 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 Waterloo averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Waterloo
- 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 Waterloo average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Waterloo?
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 →
BELOMAN (Belo Heating & Cooling)
Lists Waterloo among the areas it serves. Based in 5909 Cool Sports Road, Belleville, IL 62223.
- Tank
- Tankless
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised tidy, problem-free water heater replacements, a fast no-charge warranty repair, and helpful office staff who gave upfront ballpark pricing.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Darwyn's Plumbing, Inc.
Lists Waterloo among the areas it serves. Based in 2702 Camp Jackson Rd, Cahokia, IL 62206.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (St. Louis)
Lists Waterloo 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 Waterloo 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 WATERLOO
What Waterloo homes are like.
1991Median year built
44%Built before 1980
78%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
82%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1991. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
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 Waterloo.
The city runs gas, power and water
Waterloo owns its gas system (about 88 miles of lines), its electric lines and its water system. Gas and power service, emergencies and meters go through the city, not Ameren. The city is responsible for the gas piping up to your meter.
Waterloo – Natural Gas ↗ · Waterloo – Electric Department ↗ · Waterloo – Water (treatment facility and CCR) ↗
Older building codes
The city's adopted codes are the 2006 International Residential Code, the 2012 International Mechanical Code, the National Fuel Gas Code and the Illinois State Plumbing Code.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Waterloo homes.
Energy
- Electric: City of Waterloo Electric Department (city-run utility; power is bought through the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA))
- Gas: City of Waterloo natural gas system (city-owned)
Waterloo – Electric Department ↗ · Waterloo – Natural Gas ↗ · Ameren Illinois electric tariff – Cities, Villages, Communities and Adjacent Areas served ↗
Water
City of Waterloo (wells near Valmeyer, treated at the city’s new water treatment facility)
Waterloo – Water (treatment facility and CCR) ↗ · Waterloo 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (IL1330300) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Waterloo homes.
For City of Waterloo Electric Department and City of Waterloo natural gas system customers in Waterloo. 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 Waterloo.
Permits and who issues them
Waterloo's residential permit list covers new main buildings, sheds of 50 square feet or more, pools, decks and retaining walls over 4 feet. Water heaters aren't on it. The Building Inspector enforces the plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes, so call 618-939-8600 ext. 208 before replacing one.
Waterloo says it doesn't require business licenses. Plumbers are licensed by the State of Illinois.
City of Waterloo Building Inspection / Zoning Office ↗ · Waterloo – Building Permits ↗ · Waterloo – Building Inspection ↗ · 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 Waterloo.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 9 mi | Check with city | $100 | Ameren Illinois |
| Belleville | 15 mi | Required | — | Ameren Illinois |
| Cahokia Heights | 16 mi | Check with city | — | Ameren Illinois |
| Swansea | 17 mi | Required | $0.09 | Ameren Illinois |
| East St. Louis | 19 mi | Required | — | Ameren Illinois |
| Fairview Heights | 19 mi | Check with city | — | Ameren Illinois |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Waterloo water heater questions.
Who supplies natural gas in Waterloo?
The City of Waterloo. It owns and runs about 88 miles of gas lines and is responsible for the piping up to your meter.
Does Waterloo list a water heater permit?
No. The list covers new buildings, sheds of 50 square feet or more, pools, decks and tall retaining walls. Ask the Building Inspector about water heaters.
Waterloo – Building Permits ↗ · Waterloo – Building Inspection ↗
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides