Planning
Start with how your household uses hot water
The right heater starts with your habits, not a catalogue. How many people shower in the morning, whether a tub fills at the same time as a dishwasher, and whether you have a soaking tub all change the demand. Energy.gov advises choosing a first hour rating, shown on the EnergyGuide label, that at least matches your peak-hour use.
The same guidance says bigger is not always better. An oversized tank takes more floor space and holds more water to keep hot, and an undersized one runs out. A plumber who asks about your routine before quoting a size is doing the job properly.
From the first call to a working heater
Here is the usual path of a planned installation.
Talk it through
Tell dispatch the fuel you have now, where the heater sits and what you want changed.
Site check
The plumber looks at the space, the gas or electric supply, the vent path and the water pressure.
Choose and price
You agree on the unit and a clear price before any work begins.
Permit
The permit for the new heater is arranged before or at the start of the job.
Install and test
The plumber sets and connects the heater, checks the venting and shutoffs and tests it.
Inspection
The village inspects the finished work, and your plumber explains the timing.
Which type of water heater suits which setup
| Type | Often suits | Things to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Gas storage tank | Homes with gas service and a proper flue | Venting path, gas line size, combustion air |
| Electric storage tank | Homes without gas or with an electrical-only layout | Breaker size, wiring, circuit capacity |
| Tankless | Small households, planned upgrades | Gas supply, venting, flow rate, hard water care |
| Heat pump hybrid | Homes with space and airflow around the unit | Clearance, condensate drain, electrical supply |
Energy.gov says tankless might be right for small households and that bigger is not always better. Your plumber confirms what fits your home.
If tankless interests you, the tankless water heater page covers installation and flushing in detail.
Permits, inspections and what the village expects
The Village of Buffalo Grove Community Development department requires a permit for plumbing work other than maintenance, servicing or repairs, and a water heater replacement needs one. The finished work is inspected, with the final inspection within 30 days of the permit and 48 hours' notice, and the heater's manual has to be on site.
The installation needs a full-port cold-side shutoff and a fuel gas shutoff. A heater in a garage must sit at least 18 inches above the floor. The village also asks for a letter of intent from the licensed plumber, and contractors must be registered with the village.
For a planned job, ask the plumber to walk you through who files the permit and when the inspection is expected. Do not accept a quote that says nothing about either one.
Planning a new heater?
Call to talk through sizing and a clear price before work starts.
What to have ready when you call
- The label.Read the brand, model, tank size and fuel type off the rating label, and note the date code.
- The location.Say whether the heater sits in a basement, garage, closet or attic.
- Your goal.Replace like for like, switch fuel, go tankless or add capacity for a larger household.
- Any problems.Mention leaks, noises, low pressure or a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Photos.A picture of the heater, the flue and the shutoffs helps the plumber bring the right parts.
Venting, gas and carbon monoxide are part of the install
A gas or oil heater has to exhaust safely, so the flue, its slope and its connections matter as much as the tank. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises installing fuel-burning appliances to the manufacturer's directions and local code, keeping vents and flues unblocked, and having an annual professional inspection of heating systems, including flues.
Illinois requires carbon monoxide alarms within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping (430 ILCS 135/10). The CPSC also says not to put an alarm above a fuel-burning appliance. If you smell gas at any point, leave the building and call Nicor Gas at 800-942-9727 or 911 from outside.
Related work that is often done at the same visit
A heater installation is a good moment to look at the plumbing around it.
Shutoffs and supply lines
Worn valves and connectors are replaced rather than reused, since they are the likeliest parts to leak later.
Water pressure
EPA WaterSense targets 45 to 60 psi, and a regulator is expected above 80 psi. High pressure can damage fixtures and appliances.
Hard water
The village's 2022 water quality report lists hardness between 120 and 130 mg/L. On the USGS scale that sits at the edge of moderately hard and hard, and heated hard water forms deposits. A water softener is a separate decision worth discussing.
Other fixtures
If you are also adding a sink, a laundry hookup or a new line, see plumbing installation.
What affects the price of a new water heater installation
A price on this page would only mislead, because tank size, fuel and the existing setup change the job. You get a clear price before work starts, after a plumber has seen the space.
Where this guidance comes from
Sizing and type advice follows U.S. Department of Energy water heater guidance. Safety points on carbon monoxide and flues come from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the alarm rule comes from Illinois statute 430 ILCS 135/10.
Permit and inspection details come from the Village of Buffalo Grove Community Development department. Water hardness comes from the village's 2022 water quality report and the USGS hardness scale, and the pressure targets come from EPA WaterSense.
Plumbers in Illinois are licensed through the Illinois Department of Public Health under the Illinois Plumbing License Law.
The Illinois Plumbing Code is 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890. IDPH offers an online license lookup so you can verify your plumber.
Installation follows the Illinois Plumbing Code and the village's list of required shutoffs, which are standards an inspector actually checks.
Questions we hear from homeowners
Yes. The Village of Buffalo Grove requires a permit for plumbing work other than maintenance, servicing or repairs, and a water heater replacement needs one.
Your plumber should arrange the permit and the inspection, so ask who is handling it before you agree to a price.
Use the first hour rating on the EnergyGuide label and pick one that at least matches your peak-hour hot water use. Energy.gov also notes that bigger is not always better.
Tell the plumber how many people live in the home and when most hot water is used.
Yes, but it changes the work. Gas needs a supply line, a flue and a gas shutoff, and electric needs a suitable circuit.
The plumber checks both before giving a price.
It depends on your household, gas supply and venting. Energy.gov says tankless might be right for small households.
Tankless units also need flushing in hard water areas, which is covered on our tankless page.
It depends on fuel and venting. In a garage, Buffalo Grove expects the unit to sit at least 18 inches above the floor.
A closet or utility room needs air supply, and a gas heater needs a clear flue.
Close the cold supply valve above the tank and switch off power or fuel if it is safe to do so. Then call the 24/7 line at (847) 281-8626.
A leaking heater is treated as an urgent call, not a scheduled one.
The cost depends on the type and size, venting, gas or electrical changes, access and the permit steps. We do not name a number without seeing the setup.
You get a clear price before work starts.