Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WHEELING
Wheeling Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WHEELING AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Wheeling.
Yes, Wheeling requires a permit for any new or replacement water heater. In 2026 it costs $61 for a tank and $114.25 for tankless. Plumbers keep their state licenses on file and send a letter of intent for each job. ComEd supplies power, and gas comes from Nicor Gas or North Shore Gas. Water is Lake Michigan water treated by Evanston and delivered by the Northwest Water Commission.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · Village of Wheeling Community Development Department
- Permit fee
- $61.00 to replace or install a home water heater or softener; $114.25 for a tankless water heater (2026 Schedule of Village Fees, adjusted for inflation every January 1)
- Who gets the permit
- A plumber with an Illinois 058 license (or a Chicago 'J' license) and Illinois 055 plumbing contractor registration, plus a letter of intent for each job. The village also has an 'Affidavit for Homeowner acting as contractor' form.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas and North Shore Gas
- Water
- Village of Wheeling (Lake Michigan water treated by Evanston, delivered through the Northwest Water Commission) · about 134 mg/L (7.8 gpg) average, range 128–143 mg/L, in Evanston's 2025 report on the Lake Michigan water it treats; Wheeling's own 2025 report lists no hardness figure
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1980 (median) · 63% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 5 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 Wheeling averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Wheeling
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$61.00 to replace or install a home water heater or softener; $114.25 for a tankless water heater (2026 Schedule of Village Fees, adjusted for inflation every January 1). Village of Wheeling Community Development 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 Wheeling average is shown.
What can change the price in Wheeling?
Tankless installs cost more, at $114.25. Replacing a boiler is also $114.25. Other plumbing is charged by fixture ($98 for up to 6 fixtures in a single-family home).
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Wheeling?
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 Wheeling 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.
Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Sewer & Electric
Lists Wheeling 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.
IBBOTSON Heating & Air Conditioning
Lists Wheeling among the areas it serves. Based in 514 S Arthur Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
- Tank
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised knowledgeable, professional technicians and transparent, competitive quotes, including for a water heater installation.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
ARS / Rescue Rooter (Illinois – Chicago area)
Lists Wheeling 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.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Cook County
Lists Wheeling among the areas it serves.
- 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 Wheeling 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 WHEELING
What Wheeling homes are like.
1980Median year built
51%Built before 1980
63%Owner-occupied
73%Heat with utility gas
44%Single-family homes
About 51% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
73% 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 Wheeling.
Tankless permits cost more
In 2026 a tankless water heater permit in Wheeling is $114.25, nearly twice the $61 fee for a tank. Fees go up each January with inflation (CPI).
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Wheeling homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd
- Gas: Nicor Gas (Wheeling is on Nicor's list of towns it serves)
- Gas: North Shore Gas (Wheeling is also on North Shore Gas's list; check your bill to see which one you have)
ComEd: Company Information (electric service across northern Illinois) ↗ · Nicor Gas tariff: municipalities to which the schedule applies ↗ · North Shore Gas tariff: municipalities served (effective 2019-09-30) ↗
Water
Village of Wheeling (Lake Michigan water treated by Evanston, delivered through the Northwest Water Commission): about 134 mg/L (7.8 gpg) average, range 128–143 mg/L, in Evanston's 2025 report on the Lake Michigan water it treats; Wheeling's own 2025 report lists no hardness figure
Village of Wheeling 2025 Annual Water Quality Report ↗ · City of Evanston 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (hardness 134 mg/L avg, 128–143) ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Wheeling homes.
For ComEd, Nicor Gas and North Shore Gas customers in Wheeling. 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 Wheeling.
Permits and who issues them
Wheeling's list of common permits includes 'Water Heater Installation (new or replacement unit)'. The 2026 fee schedule has its own line for a home water heater plumbing permit. Apply through Community Development, where contractors can register at the same time.
All contractors register with Community Development. Plumbers register with their state 058/055 licenses and a letter of intent for each job. Most other trades pay $25 and show insurance.
Village of Wheeling Community Development Department ↗ · Village of Wheeling: Common Permits ↗ · Village of Wheeling: Contractor Requirements ↗ · Village of Wheeling 2026 Schedule of Fees and Charges ↗
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 Wheeling.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect Heights | 2 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Buffalo Grove | 3 mi | Required | $65 | ComEd |
| Arlington Heights | 4 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Deerfield | 4 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| Northbrook | 4 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Mount Prospect | 5 mi | Required | $75 | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Wheeling water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Wheeling?
In 2026: $61.00 for a home tank water heater (or softener), and $114.25 for tankless.
Can a homeowner act as their own contractor?
The village's contractor rules include an 'Affidavit for Homeowner acting as contractor' form.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides