Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN FOREST LAKE
Forest Lake Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓FOREST LAKE AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Forest Lake.
Yes, Forest Lake requires a plumbing permit. Home plumbing is $55 plus $9 a fixture and the $1 state surcharge, so replacing a water heater costs $65 in 2026. Both Xcel Energy and Connexus Energy serve the area. The city softens its water at the plant to about 5.5–6.5 grains per gallon.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Forest Lake Building Inspection Department
- Permit fee
- Home plumbing: $55 base plus $9 a fixture plus the $1 state surcharge, with a $65 minimum. So one water heater is $65 (2026 Fee Schedule, Ord. 764, updated December 2025).
- Who gets the permit
- A licensed contractor or a homeowner can apply. Homeowners must sign a Homeowner Statement.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy and Connexus Energy
- Water
- City of Forest Lake (5 wells, four treatment plants with softening) · Softened at the plants to an average 5.5–6.5 grains per gallon (about 94–111 mg/L) in the distribution system, per the city Water Department page.
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat pump water heater rebate (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1988 (median) · 73% 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 Forest Lake averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Forest Lake
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeHome plumbing: $55 base plus $9 a fixture plus the $1 state surcharge, with a $65 minimum. So one water heater is $65 (2026 Fee Schedule, Ord. 764, updated December 2025).. City of Forest Lake Building Inspection Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price4 of the companies listed for Forest Lake post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Aquarius Home Services, Dean's Home Services, McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.), MSP Plumbing Heating Air. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Forest Lake average is shown.
What can change the price in Forest Lake?
Home mechanical permits (gas appliances and pipe) are $25 for each piece of equipment, at least $55, plus surcharge.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Forest Lake?
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 Forest Lake 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.
Aquarius Home Services
Lists Forest Lake among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Current offers (expire September 30, 2026): $400 off tank model water heaters (includes basic installation); $1000 off tankless water heaters (includes basic installation); $149 water heater flush & inspection (excludes tankless); $59 water heater & sump pump safety check —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast replacements (including same-day installs), technicians who offered repair-or-replace options without pressure, and clear explanations.
Worth knowing One BBB reviewer said a plumber found water-pressure problems that should have been caught when their water heater was replaced, which led to an unexpected higher expense; no BBB complaints about water heater work were visible.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Dean's Home Services
Lists Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake 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.
MSP Plumbing Heating Air
Lists Forest Lake among the areas it serves. Based in 2415 Ventura Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
Published price: Tank water heater installation: $2,000 starting price; $3,000 average/most common; $4,000+ higher end. Tankless installation: $6,000 starting; $8,000 average; $10,000+ higher end. Trip fee $88. Coupons: $125 off tank install, $300 off tankless install, $49 water heater drain & flush — ; ;
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Customers praised fast same-day and weekend replacements, online booking, and technicians who explained options and checked gas supply for a larger heater.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; one reviewer described the company as a little spendy.
4 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Twin Cities North
Lists Forest Lake among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- 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 Forest Lake 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 FOREST LAKE
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN FOREST LAKE
What Forest Lake homes are like.
1988Median year built
41%Built before 1980
73%Owner-occupied
71%Heat with utility gas
73%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1988. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
71% 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 Forest Lake.
The city softens your water
Most north-metro suburbs don't soften their water, but Forest Lake does it at its treatment plants, to about 5.5–6.5 grains per gallon. Water Plant #4 also removes manganese from wells 6 and 7.
Homeowners sign a Homeowner Statement
If you get your own plumbing permit, send a Homeowner Statement with the application.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Forest Lake homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (named by the city EDA; service boundary not published)
- Electric: Connexus Energy (also named by the city EDA; no published boundary)
Water
City of Forest Lake (5 wells, four treatment plants with softening): Softened at the plants to an average 5.5–6.5 grains per gallon (about 94–111 mg/L) in the distribution system, per the city Water Department page.
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Forest Lake homes.
For Xcel Energy and Connexus Energy customers in Forest Lake. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Heat pump water heater rebate ↗ActiveFor Connexus members: $100 for each ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater rated EF 2.0 or higher, one per account.
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) ↗Active$400 for an eligible electric heat pump water heater, or $500 for a smart heat pump water heater.
- Natural Gas Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota gas) ↗Active$75 for a standard gas tank water heater at 0.64 UEF (medium draw) or 0.68 UEF (high draw); $250 for a gas tankless water heater at 0.87 UEF or higher.
- 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 Forest Lake.
Permits and who issues them
Forest Lake's plumbing permit application lists gas and electric water heaters as fixtures, and home plumbing is charged by the fixture. Find the application on the city's Permits and Applications page (Building Inspection 651-464-4349).
City of Forest Lake Building Inspection Department ↗ · Forest Lake Permits and Applications ↗ · Forest Lake Plumbing Permit Application ↗ · Forest Lake 2026 Fee Schedule ↗
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 Forest Lake.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugo | 6 mi | Required | $71 | Xcel Energy, Connexus Energy |
| Lino Lakes | 9 mi | Required | $11 | Xcel Energy, Connexus Energy |
| Ham Lake | 11 mi | Required | $10 | Connexus Energy, Xcel Energy |
| Blaine | 13 mi | Required | $75 | Connexus Energy, Xcel Energy |
| White Bear Lake | 13 mi | Required | $75 | Xcel Energy |
| East Bethel | 14 mi | Required | $100 | Connexus Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Forest Lake water heater questions.
What does a water heater permit cost in Forest Lake?
$65 for one water heater: $55 base, $9 for the fixture and a $1 state surcharge.
Do I need a water softener in Forest Lake?
City water is already softened at the plants to about 5.5–6.5 grains per gallon. On the city's own scale, that's moderately hard.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides