Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WAUCONDA
Wauconda Water Heater
Replacement
Take a photo of your old water heater to start a replacement quote.
Get a water heater quotePhotos optional. No payment or booking.
See what replacement costs ↓WAUCONDA AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Wauconda.
In Wauconda, replacing a water heater takes a $136 Minor Permit (May 2026 fee schedule), and up to two inspections are included. Start without one and you'll pay at least $500 on top of the permit. Village water is Lake Michigan water from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Village of Wauconda Community Development Department
- Permit fee
- $136 Minor Permit for a home water heater replacement, with up to two inspections included (fee schedule in effect May 1, 2026)
- Who gets the permit
- Contractors need a current village registration, and plumbing contractors turn in a copy of their State of Illinois license. The village doesn't say what homeowners may do.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- Village of Wauconda (Lake Michigan water from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, CLCJAWA)
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1988 (median) · 76% 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 Wauconda averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Wauconda
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$136 Minor Permit for a home water heater replacement, with up to two inspections included (fee schedule in effect May 1, 2026). Village of Wauconda Community Development Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Wauconda 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 Wauconda average is shown.
What can change the price in Wauconda?
Starting work without a permit costs at least $500 plus the permit fee. If electrical or plumbing plan review is needed, it's billed at $82/hour or more.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Wauconda?
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 Wauconda 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 McHenry County
Lists Wauconda 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.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area)
Lists Wauconda 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 Wauconda 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 WAUCONDA
What Wauconda homes are like.
1988Median year built
42%Built before 1980
76%Owner-occupied
84%Heat with utility gas
77%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 Wauconda.
Big penalty for skipping the permit
The water heater permit itself is $136. Under the 2026 fee schedule, starting without it costs at least $500 plus that permit fee.
Village of Wauconda Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective May 1, 2026) ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Wauconda homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd
- Gas: Nicor Gas
Water
Village of Wauconda (Lake Michigan water from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency, CLCJAWA)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Wauconda homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in Wauconda. 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 Wauconda.
Permits and who issues them
Wauconda requires a building permit for replacements and plumbing changes. Its 2026 fee schedule lists a home Water Heater Replacement as a Minor Permit: up to two inspections are included and there's no application fee. Pay online (2.25% card fee) or by mail.
Yes. Registration costs $75 for one year ($125 for two, $150 for three). State-licensed roofing, plumbing and sprinkler contractors don't pay the fee but still must register and stay current.
Village of Wauconda Community Development Department ↗ · Village of Wauconda: Permit Requirements ↗ · Village of Wauconda Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective May 1, 2026) ↗ · Village of Wauconda Contractor Registration & Application (2022) ↗
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 Wauconda.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round Lake | 5 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Mundelein | 6 mi | Required | $75 | ComEd |
| Lake Zurich | 6 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Grayslake | 7 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Cary | 7 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Round Lake Beach | 8 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Wauconda water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Wauconda?
$136. It's a Minor Permit and includes up to two inspections (fee schedule in effect May 1, 2026).
Village of Wauconda Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective May 1, 2026) ↗
Does my plumber need to register?
Yes, and they send a copy of their State plumbing license. State-licensed plumbers don't pay the registration fee.
Village of Wauconda Contractor Registration & Application (2022) ↗
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides