Storage tank
$1,600–$2,400Typical cost, including installation
WATER HEATER REPLACEMENT IN CORNELIUS
Cornelius Water Heater
Replacement
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See what replacement costs ↓CORNELIUS AT A GLANCE
Replacing a water heater in Cornelius.
You need a plumbing permit to replace a water heater in Cornelius. Forest Grove's building division processes it on Cornelius forms; the minimum fee is $27.30 plus Oregon's 12% surcharge. Cornelius buys soft Tualatin River water from Hillsboro. PGE and NW Natural serve the city.
- Permit to replace with the same type
- Yes · City of Forest Grove Building Division, on behalf of the City of Cornelius
- Permit fee
- The Cornelius plumbing application lists a water heater at $13.90 with a $27.30 minimum permit fee, plus Oregon's 12% state surcharge (about $30.58). The form has no date.
- Who gets the permit
- Oregon's Building Codes Division says whoever does the work, homeowner or contractor, must get the permit. A company you hire needs a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license plus the right state plumbing contractor license. Licensed contractors can use state plumbing minor labels ($140 for 10) for water heater replacements.
- Electric utility
- Portland General Electric
- Gas utility
- NW Natural
- Water
- City of Cornelius (water bought from the City of Hillsboro: upper Tualatin River, Barney Reservoir and Hagg Lake, treated by the Joint Water Commission; 462 million gallons bought in 2025) · Soft: the Joint Water Commission, which treats the water Cornelius buys from Hillsboro, showed 30 mg/L on Sept. 28, 2026. The Cornelius 2025 report doesn't list hardness.
- Rebate worth checking
- Energy Trust heat pump water heater incentive (Active)
- Typical home
- Built 1992 (median) · 74% owner-occupied
- Companies found
- 5 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 Cornelius averages or guaranteed quotes.
Compare what each quote includes.Equipment · Labor · Permits · Old heater removalHow to compare quotes →
What we know about prices in Cornelius
- National installer’s published rangeThe ranges above. Home Depot ↗
- Local permit feeThe Cornelius plumbing application lists a water heater at $13.90 with a $27.30 minimum permit fee, plus Oregon's 12% state surcharge (about $30.58). The form has no date.. City of Forest Grove Building Division, on behalf of the City of Cornelius fee source ↗
- Local company’s advertised price2 of the companies listed for Cornelius post water heater prices or specials on their websites: Cornel's Plumbing, Heating & Air, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of West Portland. Each offer has its own conditions.
- Measured local dataNot collected yet, so no Cornelius average is shown.
02 / COMPANIES WE FOUND
Who replaces water heaters in Cornelius?
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 →
Cornel's Plumbing, Heating & Air
Lists Cornelius among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupons: 'Water Heater Installation – $250 Off' and 'Full Water Heater Inspection' $89 (reg. $149); both expire September 30, 2026; cannot be combined. No base installed prices published.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Testimonials praised a fast, polite replacement crew and a tankless service technician who explained the work and documented it with photos and video.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
2 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
M T Dunn Plumbing
Lists Cornelius among the areas it serves. Based in Hillsboro.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback A reviewer praised a water heater installation done quickly, professionally and cleanly.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked.
1 water heater review read, checked September 30, 2026.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup (Portland)
Lists Cornelius among the areas it serves. Based in Portland.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Reviewers praised quick, friendly water heater replacement and troubleshooting, including a small extra fix done free.
Worth knowing No Portland-specific water heater complaints were found in the sources checked; national BBB complaints about Roto-Rooter water heater work could not be tied to this location.
3 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
What the reviews say
Water heater feedback Republished reviews praised quick scheduling, clear explanations of options, clean installs and competitive prices.
Worth knowing No water heater complaints found in the sources checked; the accounts come from a company-curated reviews page.
5 water heater reviews read, checked September 30, 2026.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of West Portland
Lists Cornelius among the areas it serves.
- Tank
- Tankless
- Heat pump
- Repair
- Emergency service
Published price: Coupon: '$200 Off Water Heater Installation' (valid toward qualifying water heater installation; expires 01/31/2027). No base installed prices published.
What the reviews say
We haven’t found reviews that mention this company’s water heater work yet.
Order: companies based in Cornelius 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. Oregon CCB license search ↗.
See before-and-after replacement examples from independent companies →
HOMES IN CORNELIUS
What Cornelius homes are like.
1992Median year built
32%Built before 1980
74%Owner-occupied
48%Heat with utility gas
75%Single-family homes
The median home was built in 1992. A first or second replacement is common in homes this age.
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 Cornelius.
Code items a replacement must meet
Under a statewide code interpretation, even a replacement heater in an older home must meet current rules for earthquake strapping, garage elevation, the relief valve's discharge line, thermal expansion and combustion air. It doesn't have to fix pipe sizing, add a drip pan, or deal with existing water pressure over 80 psi.
Permits run through Forest Grove
Forest Grove's building division handles Cornelius building, mechanical and plumbing applications on Cornelius forms, so expect Forest Grove's process and inspectors.
ENERGY & WATER
Who supplies Cornelius homes.
Energy
- Electric: Portland General Electric (PGE runs a substation in Cornelius)
- Gas: NW Natural (Gas utility serving Washington County)
KPTV – Lightning causes fire at Cornelius substation (July 2026) ↗ · Oregon Dept. of Energy – Washington County energy profile (2018) ↗
Water
City of Cornelius (water bought from the City of Hillsboro: upper Tualatin River, Barney Reservoir and Hagg Lake, treated by the Joint Water Commission; 462 million gallons bought in 2025): Soft: the Joint Water Commission, which treats the water Cornelius buys from Hillsboro, showed 30 mg/L on Sept. 28, 2026. The Cornelius 2025 report doesn't list hardness.
City of Cornelius – Annual Water Quality Report (2025 data) ↗ · Joint Water Commission – Testing results ↗
REBATES & CREDITS
Rebates for Cornelius homes.
For Portland General Electric and NW Natural customers in Cornelius. Ask installers for the price before rebates, then check with the program that you qualify.
- Energy Trust heat pump water heater incentive ↗Active$1,200 for a Tier 3 or higher heat pump water heater installed by a licensed contractor in an existing home, applied as an instant discount through the distributor.
- Energy Trust gas tankless water heater incentive ↗Active$400 for an ENERGY STAR gas tankless water heater that replaces an existing gas storage tank water heater.
- Oregon Home Energy Rebates (IRA HEAR and HOMES) ↗Not launchedOregon received over $113 million for the two federal rebate programs, but ODOE says no rebates are currently available and there is no application opening date.
- Federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) ↗EndedCovered improvements made through December 31, 2025.
Checked September 30, 2026. Who qualifies and the conditions: Oregon rebates · How to check an incentive.
PERMITS & LICENSING
Permits and licenses in Cornelius.
Permits and who issues them
Forest Grove's building division handles permits for Cornelius properties on separate Cornelius forms, and asks Cornelius applicants to call 503-357-9112 before applying. The Cornelius plumbing application lists a water heater as a fee item, and Oregon's Building Codes Division says replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit.
The Cornelius plumbing application asks contractors for a CCB license number and a City/Metro business license number.
City of Forest Grove Building Division, on behalf of the City of Cornelius ↗ · City of Forest Grove – Permitting process (Cornelius section) ↗ · City of Cornelius Plumbing Permit Application (hosted by Forest Grove) ↗ · Oregon BCD – About Oregon residential building permits ↗ · Oregon BCD – Plumbing minor labels ↗
Check the installer’s license
Ask for the license number and search it yourself on the Oregon CCB license search ↗. A listing on Ember & Tank is not a license check. Oregon licensing explained →
NEARBY CITIES
Compare places near Cornelius.
| City | Distance | Permit to replace | Fee | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Grove | 3 mi | Required | $13.90 | Forest Grove Light & Power |
| Hillsboro | 6 mi | Required | $35.40 | Portland General Electric |
| Aloha | 9 mi | Required (county) | $37 | Portland General Electric |
| Oak Hills | 10 mi | Required (county) | $37 | Portland General Electric |
| Bethany | 11 mi | Required (county) | $37, | Portland General Electric |
| Beaverton | 12 mi | Required | $27.83 | Portland General Electric |
COMMON QUESTIONS
Cornelius water heater questions.
Who issues water heater permits in Cornelius?
The City of Forest Grove Building Division, using Cornelius forms. Call 503-357-9112 before you apply.
How much is the permit?
The Cornelius plumbing application lists $13.90 for a water heater with a $27.30 minimum, plus the 12% state surcharge. The form has no date.
Where does Cornelius water come from?
Cornelius buys treated upper Tualatin River water from Hillsboro. It's soft (about 30 mg/L at the Joint Water Commission).
More guides: Oregon water heater replacement · All local guides