Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN WACONIA
Waconia Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓WACONIA AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Waconia.
A plumbing permit to change out a water heater in Waconia is just $20 plus a $1 surcharge, under the city's Section 1101 fee schedule. A gas unit may also be charged a $38 mechanical fee. The city's hard water handout says city water is very hard, at 26-27 grains per gallon.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Waconia Building Inspections (plumbing permits routed to Metro West Inspection Services)
- Permit fee
- $20 per water heater or water softener change-out, plus a $1 surcharge (Waconia City Code Section 1101 Building Code Fee Schedule; the posted copy has no date). A gas water heater may also be charged as a $38 + $1 mechanical unit under the same schedule.
- Who gets the permit
- The legal property owner must sign the plumbing form, or a licensed contractor signing on the owner's behalf.
- Electric utility
- Xcel Energy and Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative
- Gas utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Water
- City of Waconia (municipal wells) · 26-27 grains per gallon (city Hard Water handout, undated)
- Rebate worth checking
- Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate (Minnesota electric) (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 2001 (median) · 80% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 4 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 Waconia averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Waconia
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit fee$20 per water heater or water softener change-out, plus a $1 surcharge (Waconia City Code Section 1101 Building Code Fee Schedule; the posted copy has no date). A gas water heater may also be charged as a $38 + $1 mechanical unit under the same schedule.. City of Waconia Building Inspections (plumbing permits routed to Metro West Inspection Services) fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Waconia post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Aquarius Home Services, Dean's Home Services. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Waconia average is shown.
What can change the price in Waconia?
The heating and gas section lists gas water heaters at $38 per unit plus $1, and gas fittings at $10 each ($20 minimum; $38 minimum for a permit that is only gas piping). Other plumbing is $4 per fixture with a $45 minimum.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Waconia?
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 Waconia 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 Waconia 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.
NRG Plumbing
Lists Waconia among the areas it serves. Based in Cologne, MN 55322.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised the owner's workmanship and his quick, lower-priced water heater replacement.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Twin Cities North
Lists Waconia 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 Waconia 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 WACONIA
Photos of water heater jobs from these companies.
HOMES IN WACONIA
What Waconia homes are like.
2001Median year built
21%Built before 1980
80%Owner-occupied
80%Heat with utility gas
84%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 2001. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
80% 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 Waconia.
Very hard water
The city's hard water handout puts Waconia's water at 26-27 grains per gallon. That is far above the 10.5 gpg 'very hard' level it cites, and the city recommends a softener. Scale buildup is a real risk for both tank and tankless water heaters here.
New fees on gas and electric bills
Waconia approved gas and electric franchise fees in early 2026. Utilities started adding them to bills in June 2026. The money pays for street upkeep and new playgrounds.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Waconia homes.
Energy
- Electric: Xcel Energy (Covers most of the city, about 80% of its land on the PUC service-area map.)
- Electric: Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (Covers parts of the city, about 20% of its land on the PUC map. We estimated these shares from that map, so confirm for your address.)
- Gas: CenterPoint Energy (CenterPoint lists Waconia among the Minnesota communities it serves. Xcel Energy does not list it as a gas service area.)
Waconia: Franchise Fees (gas and electric franchise fees adopted 2026) ↗ · Minnesota PUC Electric Utility Service Area Viewer (EUSA map layers, queried 2026-09-30) ↗ · CenterPoint Energy Minnesota Rates, Rights & Tariff Book, Section III: Minnesota Communities We Serve (Wayback copy, Jan 2026) ↗ · Xcel Energy Minnesota Gas Rate Book, Section 3: Index of Company's Service Area ↗
Water
City of Waconia (municipal wells): 26-27 grains per gallon (city Hard Water handout, undated)
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Waconia homes.
For Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative and CenterPoint Energy customers in Waconia. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- 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 Waconia.
Permits and who issues them
Waconia requires permits for plumbing, heating and electrical work, and has its own 'plumbing change out' fee for water heaters. Some permits can be applied for and paid online (ePermits). The plumbing permit form lists 'Water Heater', and Metro West does the inspection. You pay a penalty if you start work before the permit is issued.
City of Waconia Building Inspections (plumbing permits routed to Metro West Inspection Services) ↗ · Waconia: Permits / Construction ↗ · Waconia: Building Permits ↗ · Waconia: Building Code Fee Schedule 1101 (PDF) ↗ · Waconia: Plumbing Permit Application (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 Waconia.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 7 mi | Required | $100 | Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) |
| Chaska | 9 mi | Required | By job value (from $71) | Chaska Electric (City of Chaska Electric Department), Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative, Xcel Energy |
| Chanhassen | 11 mi | Required | $80 | Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) |
| Shakopee | 16 mi | Required | $75 | Shakopee Public Utilities (SPU), Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) |
| Eden Prairie | 16 mi | Required | By job value (from $600) | Xcel Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) |
| Minnetonka | 17 mi | Required | By job value (from $77) | Xcel Energy |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Waconia water heater questions.
How much is a water heater permit in Waconia?
$20 per water heater change-out plus a $1 surcharge. The schedule also lists gas water heaters at $38 plus $1 under heating and gas permits.
How hard is Waconia's water?
26-27 grains per gallon, according to the city's hard water handout.
Who signs the permit application?
The legal property owner, or a licensed contractor signing on the owner's behalf.
More guides: Minnesota water heater replacement · All local guides