Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN LAKE STATION
Lake Station Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓LAKE STATION AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Lake Station.
Lake Station doesn't post its water heater permit rules, so call the Building Department before you replace one. It's a small office that takes only cash or check and keeps a list of city-licensed contractors. Indiana American Water supplies water, and NIPSCO provides electricity and gas.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Lake Station Building Department
- Electric utility
- NIPSCO
- Gas utility
- NIPSCO
- Water
- Indiana American Water
- Rebate worth checking
- NIPSCO heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1965 (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 Lake Station averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Lake Station
- 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 Lake Station average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Lake Station?
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 →
Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling
Lists Lake Station 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 Lake Station 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 Lake Station 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 LAKE STATION
What Lake Station homes are like.
1965Median year built
68%Built before 1980
72%Owner-occupied
91%Heat with utility gas
83%Single-family homes
About 68% of homes were built before 1980. Older homes often have older venting, smaller closets and shutoff valves that should be checked before install day.
91% 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 Lake Station.
Bring cash or a check
The Building Department takes only cash, or checks made out to the City of Lake Station.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Lake Station 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 Lake Station homes.
For NIPSCO customers in Lake Station. 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 Lake Station.
Permits and who issues them
Lake Station's Building Department (1969 Central Avenue, 219-850-1331) enforces the building codes the city has adopted and takes only cash or check. The city website doesn't cover water heater permits, so call before a replacement.
The city posts a list of Lake Station licensed contractors, so contractors appear to be licensed by the city. The requirements aren't posted online.
City of Lake Station Building Department ↗ · City of Lake Station: Building Department ↗ · City of Lake Station: Licensed Contractors ↗
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 Lake Station.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | 4 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
| Hobart | 5 mi | Required | $50 | NIPSCO |
| Gary | 5 mi | Required | By job value (from $30) | NIPSCO |
| Merrillville | 8 mi | Required | — | NIPSCO |
| Griffith | 9 mi | Check with city | — | NIPSCO |
| Chesterton | 10 mi | Required | $50, | NIPSCO |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Lake Station water heater questions.
Who supplies water in Lake Station?
Indiana American Water (1-800-492-8373) provides the water and sends the bills.
How do I pay for a permit?
With cash, or a check made out to the City of Lake Station.
More guides: Indiana water heater replacement · All local guides