Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN LAKE ELMO
Lake Elmo Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓LAKE ELMO AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Lake Elmo.
Lake Elmo's Building Department charges a $60 flat fee for a home remodel plumbing permit in 2026. Xcel Energy supplies electricity, and gas to most of the city; CenterPoint Energy supplies gas to a small part. PFAS monitoring is a big part of local talk about water.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Check with the city · City of Lake Elmo Building Department
- Permit fee
- Home remodel plumbing: $60.00 flat fee (2026 Fee Schedule). Plumbing started without a permit adds an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.
- Who gets the permit
- The application lets either the owner or a contractor apply and asks for a license number. Minnesota requires a licensed plumber unless a homeowner is working on their own homestead.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy
- Gas utility
- Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of Lake Elmo municipal water (some properties use private wells)
- Rebate worth checking
- Water Rebate Program (water-efficient products) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2004 (median) · 94% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 7 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 Elmo 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 Elmo
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeHome remodel plumbing: $60.00 flat fee (2026 Fee Schedule). Plumbing started without a permit adds an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.. City of Lake Elmo Building Department fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price5 of the companies listed for Lake Elmo post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Aquarius Home Services, Bonfe Plumbing, Heating & Air, McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.), MSP Plumbing Heating Air, Plumb Right. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Lake Elmo average is shown.
What can change the price in Lake Elmo?
Gas work goes on the separate mechanical permit application.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Lake Elmo?
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 →
Aquarius Home Services
Lists Lake Elmo 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.
Bonfe Plumbing, Heating & Air
Lists Lake Elmo among the areas it serves. Based in Saint Paul.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Water heater repair: '$99 diagnostic fee (waived if repair is completed)' — offers page also lists '$100 OFF Plumbing Services' —
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback One reviewer praised a quick replacement after their water heater failed, knowledgeable staff and 0% financing.
Worth knowing BBB reviewers alleged high water heater replacement prices (one said $4,391 for a 50-gallon unit after discounts), pressure to add a paid membership to get a discount, a delayed invoice, and one said a technician did not address gas leaks found near a water heater; no company responses were shown on these reviews.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
McQuillan Home Services (McQuillan Bros.)
Lists Lake Elmo 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 Lake Elmo 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.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Twin Cities North
Lists Lake Elmo 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.
Plumb Right
Lists Lake Elmo 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 Lake Elmo 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 LAKE ELMO
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN LAKE ELMO
What Lake Elmo homes are like.
2004Median year built
25%Built before 1980
94%Owner-occupied
76%Heat with utility gas
84%Single-family homes
About 42% of homes were built since 2010, so many original water heaters are reaching the age when replacement planning makes sense.
76% 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 Elmo.
PFAS in the area
Lake Elmo's water report describes the city's work with MPCA and MDH to monitor and deal with PFAS. The city also has separate City Water & PFAS and Private Wells pages.
Two gas companies
Xcel Energy supplies gas to most of Lake Elmo and CenterPoint Energy to a small part, so which gas water heater rebates you get depends on your address.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Lake Elmo homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (collects the city's electric franchise fee)
- Gas: Xcel Energy (most of the city)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy (a small part of the city)
Water
City of Lake Elmo municipal water (some properties use private wells)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Lake Elmo homes.
For Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy customers in Lake Elmo. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Water Rebate Program (water-efficient products) ↗ActiveBill credits for current city water customers who replace old fixtures or appliances with listed water-saving products.
- 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.
- 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 Lake Elmo.
Permits and who issues them
Lake Elmo's Building Department issues plumbing permits (3880 Laverne Ave N, 651-747-3918, building@lakeelmo.gov). It uses a plumbing permit application revised 5-21-2025. The city pages we checked don't say whether swapping in a same-type water heater needs a permit. The fee schedule charges a flat fee for home remodel plumbing.
The 2026 fee schedule lists city license fees for some contractors (driveway contractors, for example). We found no city license for plumbers.
City of Lake Elmo Building Department ↗ · Lake Elmo Building Permits & Applications ↗ · Lake Elmo Plumbing Permit Application 5-21-2025 ↗ · Lake Elmo 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 Lake Elmo.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale | 3 mi | Required | $89 | Xcel Energy, City of North St. Paul electric utility |
| North St. Paul | 5 mi | Required | — | North St. Paul Electric Utility (city-owned) |
| Woodbury | 6 mi | Required | $75 | Xcel Energy |
| Stillwater | 6 mi | Required | — | Xcel Energy |
| Maplewood | 6 mi | Required | $45 | Xcel Energy, North St. Paul Electric Utility |
| White Bear Lake | 7 mi | Required | $75 | Xcel Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Lake Elmo water heater questions.
What does a residential plumbing permit cost in Lake Elmo?
$60 flat for home remodel plumbing under the 2026 fee schedule.
Who is my gas company in Lake Elmo?
Xcel Energy for most of the city and CenterPoint Energy for a small part.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides