Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN ELK RIVER
Elk River Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓ELK RIVER AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Elk River.
Yes, Elk River requires a plumbing permit to replace a water heater at home. On the 2026 Master Fee Schedule it's a flat $75 plus a $1 surcharge. Most homes get power and water from the city-owned Elk River Municipal Utilities, which gives $400-$450 rebates on heat pump water heaters. The water is 16 grains per gallon hard.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Elk River Building Safety Division
- Permit fee
- $75 plus a $1 state surcharge to replace a home plumbing appliance or fixture (2026 Master Fee Schedule, updated March 2, 2026).
- Electric utility
- Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) and Connexus Energy
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) · 16 grains per gallon (ERMU Water Hardness page); ERMU suggests setting softeners at or below 16 grains
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1997 (median) · 79% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 6 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 Elk River averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Elk River
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$75 plus a $1 state surcharge to replace a home plumbing appliance or fixture (2026 Master Fee Schedule, updated March 2, 2026).. City of Elk River Building Safety Division fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price3 of the companies listed for Elk River post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Dean's Home Services, McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.), Plumb Right. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Elk River average is shown.
What can change the price in Elk River?
Gas pipe and appliance changes need a mechanical permit; replacing a home appliance there is also $75 plus $1 surcharge. The city's permit page points you to Elk River Municipal Utilities rebates.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Elk River?
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 →
Air Mechanical
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in 16411 Aberdeen St NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised knowledgeable plumbers who explained water heater condition and options, and a repair that avoided a full replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one Yelp reviewer said technicians consistently try to upsell extras, though without pressure.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dean's Home Services
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in Maple Grove.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Specials (expire 09/30/26): 'Purchase a new water heater and we'll buy back your old one for up to $650'; '$30 Water Heater Flush' (with free water quality test); 'Up to $1,000 Off Water Softener & Water Heater'; '30% Off Water Softener with Water Heater Install'; '$100 OFF PLUMBING Repair or Install' —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised same-day water heater appointments and installations, clear explanations, help with financing and a strong warranty.
Worth knowing In BBB complaints, one landlord said Dean's replaced a 20-year-old water heater (about $1,800) when the real problem was a utility-locked gas meter, and another said a new water heater installed without a relay kept their boiler running; Dean's responded to both, citing the heater's age and saying it fixed the boiler controls and offered a hotel stay (both listed as Answered).
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.)
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in St. Paul, MN (street address not shown on pages checked).
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater repair diagnostic $99 (repair page); water heater pages show 'Financing as low as $138/mo' and a '$700 off' banner whose offer details were not shown in page text — ;
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback No water-heater-specific praise was found in the sources checked; one complainant said earlier experiences with McQuillan had been good.
Worth knowing BBB complainants and reviewers alleged unexplained membership and warranty charges, no choice of water heater model, very high quotes and slow warranty-part follow-up; McQuillan defended its pricing in one review response, and both complaints are listed as Resolved.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
TJK Plumbing Inc
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in Maple Grove.
- Tank
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised quick, often same-day water heater replacements, clean work, and technicians who laid out repair and replacement options without being pushy.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Modern Plumbing & Heating
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in Brooklyn Park.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Plumb Right
Lists Elk River among the areas it serves. Based in Brooklyn Park.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
Published price: Coupons page: $100 off water heater installation/replacement; $100 off tankless water heater installation/replacement; $50 off water heater repair; $50 off tankless repair (not valid for trip charge or diagnostic fee; page headed 2025, no expiration shown) —
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Elk River 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. Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗.
FROM COMPANIES SERVING ELK RIVER
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN ELK RIVER
What Elk River homes are like.
1997Median year built
26%Built before 1980
79%Owner-occupied
78%Heat with utility gas
80%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1997. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
78% 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 Elk River.
Hard water
ERMU says Elk River water is 16 grains per gallon. It warns that hard water leaves mineral buildup in pipes and equipment, and that over-softened water can eat away at pipes.
The 55330 ZIP code reaches past the city
The city warns that ZIP code 55330 goes beyond city limits. Before you apply for a permit, make sure the address is really in Elk River and not another town or township.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Elk River homes.
Energy
- Electric: Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) (owned by the city; a member of MMPA)
- Electric: Connexus Energy (serves parts of the city)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy
Water
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU): 16 grains per gallon (ERMU Water Hardness page); ERMU suggests setting softeners at or below 16 grains
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Elk River homes.
For Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU), Connexus Energy and CenterPoint Energy customers in Elk River. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Heat pump water heater rebate ↗ActiveFor ERMU electric customers: $400 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater of 50-79 gallons, or $450 for one over 80 gallons.
- Residential Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota) ↗ActiveReplacement rebates: $250 for a gas tank of 55 gallons or less (0.64 UEF medium draw or 0.68 UEF high draw), $500 for a gas tankless at 0.87 UEF or higher, $1,000 for a combination tankless plus air handler unit, and $200 for an indirect storage tank.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Minnesota rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Elk River.
Permits and who issues them
Elk River's permit rules list a home plumbing permit for replacements, and the 2026 Master Fee Schedule has a flat fee for replacing a home appliance or fixture. Apply in the city's online permit portal. The permit holder schedules inspections at 763-635-1060 at least 24 hours ahead; there are no same-day inspections.
City of Elk River Building Safety Division ↗ · Elk River: Permit Requirements Table ↗ · Elk River: Inspection Information ↗ · Elk River 2026 Master Fee Schedule (PDF) ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Minnesota plumbing license lookup (DLI iMS) ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Minnesota licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Elk River.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otsego | 5 mi | Required | $75 | Elk River Municipal Utilities, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| Ramsey | 7 mi | Check with city | $101 | Anoka Municipal Utility (AMU) |
| Big Lake | 9 mi | Required | $51 | Connexus Energy, Xcel Energy |
| Rogers | 10 mi | Required | $85 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| St. Michael | 11 mi | Required | $100 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
| Monticello | 11 mi | Check with city | $50 | Xcel Energy, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Elk River water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Elk River?
$75 plus a $1 state surcharge for a home plumbing permit to replace an appliance or fixture, on the 2026 Master Fee Schedule.
Does ERMU have a water heater rebate?
Yes, for heat pump water heaters rated UEF 2.0 or higher: $400 for 50-79 gallons or $450 for over 80 gallons.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides