Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WOODSTOCK
Woodstock Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WOODSTOCK AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Woodstock.
Yes, Woodstock requires a building permit for a new or replacement water heater. A home plumbing permit is $55. The city doesn't register contractors, but plumbers turn in their license and a letter of intent. Homes get electric from ComEd and gas from Nicor Gas. Water comes from city wells and is softened at the treatment plants.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Woodstock Development Services – Building & Planning
- Permit fee
- Home plumbing service upgrade, alteration or remodel: $55 per home (city fee sheet, no date shown)
- Who gets the permit
- Plumbers attach a copy of their license and a letter of intent to the application. The city doesn't say what homeowners may do.
- Electric utility
- ComEd
- Gas utility
- Nicor Gas
- Water
- City of Woodstock (six shallow wells, two treatment plants with softening)
- Rebate worth checking
- Nicor Gas water heater rebates (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1989 (median) · 72% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 2 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 Woodstock averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Woodstock
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeHome plumbing service upgrade, alteration or remodel: $55 per home (city fee sheet, no date shown). City of Woodstock Development Services – Building & Planning fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price1 of the companies listed for Woodstock 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 Woodstock average is shown.
What can change the price in Woodstock?
Home heating and cooling upgrades or changes take a separate $55 permit. Home electrical changes are also $55.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Woodstock?
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 Woodstock 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 Woodstock 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.
Order: companies based in Woodstock 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 WOODSTOCK
What Woodstock homes are like.
1989Median year built
39%Built before 1980
72%Owner-occupied
75%Heat with utility gas
73%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1989. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
75% 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 Woodstock.
The city softens its well water
Woodstock's report says its well water has too much iron, manganese and dissolved gas. The city airs it out and filters it, then softens it before adding chlorine.
Double fee if you start early
Start work before the permit is issued and the fee doubles, with a $55 minimum.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Woodstock homes.
Energy
- Electric: ComEd (no city source confirms this)
- Gas: Nicor Gas
Water
City of Woodstock (six shallow wells, two treatment plants with softening)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Woodstock homes.
For ComEd and Nicor Gas customers in Woodstock. 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 Woodstock.
Permits and who issues them
Woodstock's list of work that needs a building permit includes "Water heater, new or replacement." Contact Building & Planning at City Hall (121 W. Calhoun St., 815-338-4305) before you start.
The city says contractors don't need a Woodstock license or registration. Electricians, plumbers and roofers just include their license and a letter of intent with the application.
City of Woodstock Development Services – Building & Planning ↗ · Woodstock – Building Permit Information ↗ · Woodstock – Building Permits and Inspections ↗ · Woodstock – Building Permit and Impact Fees (PDF) ↗
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 Woodstock.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | 7 mi | Check with city | — | ComEd |
| McHenry | 8 mi | Required | $35 | ComEd |
| Huntley | 10 mi | Required | $57 | ComEd |
| Lake in the Hills | 11 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Cary | 12 mi | Required | — | ComEd |
| Algonquin | 12 mi | Required | $10 | ComEd |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Woodstock water heater questions.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Woodstock?
Yes. "Water heater, new or replacement" is on the city's list of projects that need a building permit.
Does Woodstock soften its water?
Yes. After taking out iron and manganese, the treatment plants soften the water.
More guides: Illinois water heater replacement · All local guides