My Mother in Law called my wife on Sunday night and said she wasn't getting any hot water. She is pretty well off and told my wife she was going to call a plumber to see what was up. I have zero idea what happened but he charged her $1400 for a new electric hot water heater. I am the ONLY handyman in the family and would have gladly done the job, since I just replaced our electric water heater last year and it was pretty darn easy.
The only things I heard about he job were that some of the pipes needed to be replaced (doubt it, but I am not a plumber!) and he told her that the unit was undersized for her house. Here is where he loses ALL credibility. It is a 2900 sq foot home that has 1 Person living in it. And I know that it was a 50 gallon tank that he replaced! My home with 2 adults and 2 kids is fine with a 50 gallon water heater. I have no idea if he put in a bigger heater or what.....
I honestly don't care that much because she has plenty of money, but is it common practice to rip off people like this? I know from buying a heater last year that a 40 gallon which would have been more than enough for her costs about $300 and it takes WAY under 2 hours. I really doubt the pipes were of any concern. So does under 2 hours of labor cost $1100? What am I missing?
The only things I heard about he job were that some of the pipes needed to be replaced (doubt it, but I am not a plumber!) and he told her that the unit was undersized for her house. Here is where he loses ALL credibility. It is a 2900 sq foot home that has 1 Person living in it. And I know that it was a 50 gallon tank that he replaced! My home with 2 adults and 2 kids is fine with a 50 gallon water heater. I have no idea if he put in a bigger heater or what.....
I honestly don't care that much because she has plenty of money, but is it common practice to rip off people like this? I know from buying a heater last year that a 40 gallon which would have been more than enough for her costs about $300 and it takes WAY under 2 hours. I really doubt the pipes were of any concern. So does under 2 hours of labor cost $1100? What am I missing?
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