Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN HOBART
Hobart Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓HOBART AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Hobart.
A residential plumbing permit in Hobart costs 1.25% of the plumbing cost, with a $50 minimum (Ordinance 2025-45). You apply, pay and schedule inspections on the city's OpenGov portal. Contractors get licensed through the city's Contractor's Board. NIPSCO supplies gas and electricity.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Hobart Building Department
- Permit fee
- Residential plumbing: 1.25% of the total plumbing cost, $50 minimum. A residential re-inspection is $50 (Ord. 2025-45, on the city's general fee schedule).
- Who gets the permit
- A contractor licensed and registered through the City of Hobart Contractor's Board (Municipal Code Chapter 115). We didn't find rules for homeowners.
- Electric utility
- NIPSCO
- Gas utility
- NIPSCO
- Rebate worth checking
- NIPSCO heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1971 (median) · 70% 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 Hobart averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Hobart
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeResidential plumbing: 1.25% of the total plumbing cost, $50 minimum. A residential re-inspection is $50 (Ord. 2025-45, on the city's general fee schedule).. City of Hobart Building 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 Hobart average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Hobart?
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 →
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Northwest Indiana
Lists Hobart among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day service, a repair on a heater over ten years old that other companies would not look at, pricing they called fair, and a clean tankless installation.
Worth knowing On Yelp, one reviewer (2021) said a heater installed through Home Depot stopped working 12 hours later and the company would not return for four days, and another (2017) said a technician on a Whirlpool warranty job ordered the wrong part, then told them to find someone else; no company response was captured.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling
Lists Hobart among the areas it serves. Based in Multi-state company (no HQ stated); Chicago-area offices at 506 E Summit St, Crown Point, IN 46307; 1260 Transport Dr, Valparaiso, IN 46383; 1935 Brandon Ct., Suite A-1, Glendale Heights, IL 60139; 724 E Veterans Pkwy Suite A, Yorkville, IL 60560.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer praised a tankless water heater installed with new HVAC and dehumidification equipment and said the company stands behind what it sells.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said a son's heater was replaced with a 50-gallon power-vent tank for $4,200 without the cost being discussed (2026), a technician recommended replacement without inspecting a tank that later worked after a flush (2026), and a heater Summers installed was called for replacement just out of warranty and a $59 fee was charged despite a service plan (2025); no company responses were captured.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Young Plumbing
Lists Hobart among the areas it serves. Based in Valparaiso, IN (street address not shown on site pages checked).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised same-day and Sunday or holiday response, a clean swap of a leaking tank (with an upsize to 50 gallons), and fair prices for repeat customers.
Worth knowing Yelp reviewers said a technician recommended a replacement costing over $1,000 where another company later fixed a wire and cleaned the unit (2019), and that an $85 diagnosis quote became $285 an hour on arrival (2023); the owner replied to the latter that the company would take the concerns into consideration.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Order: companies based in Hobart 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. Indiana PLA license verification ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN HOBART
What Hobart homes are like.
1971Median year built
65%Built before 1980
70%Owner-occupied
83%Heat with utility gas
78%Single-family homes
About 65% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
83% 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 Hobart.
The fee is a percentage of the job
Hobart charges 1.25% of the plumbing cost for a residential permit, with a $50 minimum. For a typical water heater swap, that likely means paying about the minimum.
City of Hobart General Fee Schedule (Jan 2024 file, updated with Ord. 2025-45) ↗
Contractors take a city exam
Contractors register with Hobart's Contractor's Board after passing an exam, and renew each year for $75.
City of Hobart General Fee Schedule (Jan 2024 file, updated with Ord. 2025-45) ↗ · City of Hobart: Contractor's Board - Licensing & Registration ↗
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Hobart homes.
Energy
- Electric: NIPSCO
- Gas: NIPSCO
NIPSCO electric tariff: index of cities served ↗ · NIPSCO gas tariff: index of communities furnished gas service ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Hobart homes.
For NIPSCO customers in Hobart. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- NIPSCO heat pump water heater rebate ↗Active$750 off an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater with a UEF of at least 2.0.
- Indiana Energy Saver Program: Home Appliance Rebate (IRA HEAR) ↗ActiveUp to $1,750 off an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater, applied as a discount on the product and qualified-contractor installation.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Indiana rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Hobart.
Permits and who issues them
Hobart's Building Department issues building permits that cover mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. You apply, pay and get inspections through the city's OpenGov portal.
Yes. Hobart's Contractor's Board licenses contractors under Municipal Code Chapter 115. After passing an exam, the license costs $250, then $75 a year to renew. Licenses expire December 31.
City of Hobart Building Department ↗ · City of Hobart Permit Department Guide ↗ · City of Hobart: Permit Applications (OpenGov) ↗ · City of Hobart General Fee Schedule (Jan 2024 file, updated with Ord. 2025-45) ↗ · City of Hobart: Contractor's Board - Licensing & Registration ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Indiana PLA license verification ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Indiana licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Hobart.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrillville | 4 mi | Required | — | NIPSCO |
| Lake Station | 5 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
| Gary | 6 mi | Required | By job value (from $30) | NIPSCO |
| Portage | 7 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
| Griffith | 8 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
| Crown Point | 8 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Hobart water heater questions.
How much is a plumbing permit in Hobart?
For residential work, 1.25% of the total plumbing cost, and at least $50 (Ord. 2025-45).
City of Hobart General Fee Schedule (Jan 2024 file, updated with Ord. 2025-45) ↗
How do I apply?
Use the city's OpenGov portal. You also pay and schedule inspections there.
More guides: Indiana water heater replacement · All local guides