Do electric water heaters waste electricity?

• <div><p>If you have a tank-type electric water heater, it runs regularly to keep the water at the desired temperature. If you live in a home where you don’t use much hot water, it could seem wasteful to run power to heat water that you’re using infrequently. You could save some power by using a smaller tank, insulating the tank, or <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-turn-up-water-heater-temperature.htm">lowering the temperature of the water heater</a>. </p></div>

Get matched with top water heater pros in Alpha, IL

Q: What happens if you install a water heater without a permit?

• <div><p>Installing a water heater without a permit can result in high fines&mdash;as much as hundreds of dollars per day, in some areas. It can also void your homeowners' insurance and cause problems when selling your home because it violates local building codes and safety regulations.</p></div>

Q: Do water heater installers need to be licensed?

• <div><p>In most municipalities, a license is not mandatory for water heater installation or replacement. However, we strongly recommend hiring a licensed plumber or water heater installer to handle the work. Licensed installers are far less likely to make a mistake during the installation, which means paying for the experience decreases your risk of a leak and other issues. You can use our <a href="https://www.angi.com/angi-license-check.htm">state licensing tool</a> to find out if a contractor you&rsquo;re considering in your area holds a plumber&rsquo;s license.</p></div>

Q: How big should a hot water heater expansion tank be?

• <div><p>The size needed for your expansion tank is determined by the size of your home's water heater. Expansion tanks are available in 2-gallon and 4.5-gallon sizes. A 2-gallon tank will be appropriate for water heaters up to 50 gallons. An adequately sized tank should have a volume that equals 2% to 5% of the water volume within the system. A plumber can evaluate your home's water pressure, water heater size, and other factors to provide suggestions for picking out the best expansion tank.</p></div>

Q: How do I know if my water heater needs replacement?

• <div><p>Unusual noises, lack of hot water supply, efficiency loss, and visible leaks are signs of necessary replacement beyond mere repair.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Water Heater Service pros in Alpha, IL

*The Angi rating for Water Heater Service companies in Alpha, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Water Heater Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Water Heater Service companies in Alpha, IL is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Water Heater Service needs.

Last update on June 19, 2025

Reviewed in June 2025
The prior owner of our home replaced all of the windows in our house except our main window. We used to get sheets of ice on it during the winter. This last winter we had no condensation and the living room was significantly warmer. It also keeps the sun from heating up the room in the summer....
Mad City Windows & Baths
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Reviewed in April 2025
These guys were great! We had snow breaks installed on our metal roof. These guys were fast and efficient, they were honest and fair. We waited a full year to give a review, to see how the snow breaks and the quality of their work held up. My entire family enjoyed watching the snow breaks work...
Quality Roofing Pro
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Reviewed in August 2022
They did an addition with this job also. We love it and we really enjoyed working with Cajun and Eric and their team. So much so, we had them come back and do a screened in porch the following year.
Emergent Builders
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Reviewed in September 2021
Highly recommend Muscatine plumbers.. Did a Great job at a very reasonable price! They replaced outside spigot, shut off valves, a faucet and a portion of the main water pipe. We will definitely call them again if we need a plumber for our home!!
Muscatine Plumbers
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Reviewed in May 2020
Had water leaking in a basement near an inactive fireplace in an old house. He took out the fireplace, found cracks in the brickwork of the foundation, fixed it and walled up the fireplace. No more leaks! He’s very easy to work with and finished the work under the estimated time and cost. Also...
RC Masonry - Home Facebook
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Reviewed in February 2018
I bought my house without knowing there was waterproofing done by MidAmerica Basements. Therefore thought nothing about transferring a warranty to my name (my fault). I had to tear apart my basement because of their poor quality of work. The concrete they used on the job eroded away and caused a...
MidAmerica Basement Systems
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Reviewed in September 2016
Installed water heater for Lowes. Arrived day of purchase, installed the water heater, and removed the old one. Installer accidentally walked down white-carpeted hallway with dirty shoes and reported it to the office that night. Within a couple of days they had a carpet cleaner here and took...
Watson Plumbing & Mechanical
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Reviewed in September 2014
The business knows how to address difficult water issues. After Neil Thomas installed the water on demand (a new electrical version) the pressure needed to be increased so they trouble shot adding the pressure tank first and added the extra booster later. <br /> The fan installation was done...
Neil Thomas Plumbing & Heating Inc.
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Reviewed in July 2014
Jason was the 1st contractor to call me after I hung up with HomeAdvisor. He gave me an estimate to replace my dead water heater that was slightly below the average. We set up a time for the service between 12pm - 2pm. Jason called me and let me know he was finishing another job early and...
Service King Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, Inc.
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Reviewed in October 2013
Miguel was very professional and showed up to my home about 10 min earlier. He explained his process and how long it should be. He cleaned the master bedroom, two other bedrooms and the stairs. It all looks great. I have had steam and water cleaning done before and it hides the dirt until the...
A 1 Dry Carpet Cleaning
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Find Water heater pros in Alpha

Solar Water Heater System - InstallTankless Water Heater - InstallTankless Water Heater - Install - For Business+6 more

Serving Alpha, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2008

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"He was able to quickly diagnose that the water leak from the water heater was a result of a ruptured tank, resulting in the need to replace the entire water heater."

Recommended by82%of homeowners

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American Home Shield – Home Warranty

3.5(

5,688

)

Solar Water Heater System - InstallTankless Water Heater - InstallTankless Water Heater - Install - For Business+6 more

Serving Alpha, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1971

Credit card accepted

"The yearly service works out to be $50 a month. We've had two water heaters replaced through them because of a fault in them. They're usually very responsive. I like that I can request the service online. The only thing is, I wish that there was a better avenue for emergency services. If something doesn't work right away usually it takes a couple of days to get someone out and sometimes you can't wait two days without water."

Recommended by65%of homeowners

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Carmar Remodeling & Handyman Services

2.9(

)

Solar Water Heater System - InstallTankless Water Heater - InstallTankless Water Heater - Install - For Business+6 more

Serving Alpha, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1975

Emergency services offered

Family owned and operated for over 40 years.

Recommended by50%of homeowners

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Water Heaters questions, answered by experts

If you have a tank-type electric water heater, it runs regularly to keep the water at the desired temperature. If you live in a home where you don’t use much hot water, it could seem wasteful to run power to heat water that you’re using infrequently. You could save some power by using a smaller tank, insulating the tank, or lowering the temperature of the water heater.

Installing a water heater without a permit can result in high fines—as much as hundreds of dollars per day, in some areas. It can also void your homeowners' insurance and cause problems when selling your home because it violates local building codes and safety regulations.

In most municipalities, a license is not mandatory for water heater installation or replacement. However, we strongly recommend hiring a licensed plumber or water heater installer to handle the work. Licensed installers are far less likely to make a mistake during the installation, which means paying for the experience decreases your risk of a leak and other issues. You can use our state licensing tool to find out if a contractor you’re considering in your area holds a plumber’s license.

The size needed for your expansion tank is determined by the size of your home's water heater. Expansion tanks are available in 2-gallon and 4.5-gallon sizes. A 2-gallon tank will be appropriate for water heaters up to 50 gallons. An adequately sized tank should have a volume that equals 2% to 5% of the water volume within the system. A plumber can evaluate your home's water pressure, water heater size, and other factors to provide suggestions for picking out the best expansion tank.

Unusual noises, lack of hot water supply, efficiency loss, and visible leaks are signs of necessary replacement beyond mere repair.

The Alpha, IL homeowners’ guide to water heater services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

See all articles

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