Gas water heaters are expensive

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

After covid it was a name your own price game..

You know every single time I check out and pay at ANY type of store these days , it feels like the "name your own price" game is very much still alive and well. Shoppers can not seem to catch much of a break since covid if you ask me.
Now, in the auto market ..... it appears they will have no choice but to start back to "dealing/negotiating" prices as well as making more special sales events , including interest rate cuts for borrowers etc.... as opposed to smugly asking customers to pay prices well above MSRP. It appears the auto sales "take it for this price today or someone else will" days may have run the course for the present time.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Looks super fun to replace. THAT'S where the $2700 is coming from.

Ya. The door pops off. I was thinking ~$2,200. Another quote is in the works so we'll see

 

[Leo99]

There is a definite market for a water heater only plumbing company. Keep a bunch in stock and wait for the calls to come in. Do a good job, give senior and veteran discounts, be personable and you'll make a nice living. One water heater a day could net you $1000 and you're not dealing with backed up drain lines or other nastiness.

 

[Hall]

Gotta get a permit from the county to replace one here

How would they know you're replacing one ? Does the store tattle on people that buy them ? Around here, generally speaking, if you're replacing like-for-like, no permits are needed and that's the official answer.

 

[Hall]

One water heater a day could net you $1000 and you're not dealing with backed up drain lines or other nastiness.

With experience, then factoring in drive time between jobs, I'd expect them to do 2-3 water heaters a day. Sure, some jobs will have hiccups, but hopefully those are offset by the "plug and play" replacements.

 

[kschachn]

Gotta get a permit from the county to replace one here

Does your municipality allow a homeowner to get a plumbing permit for their own residence? Mine does, but many do not.

 

[Snagglefoot]

It’s good to have a plumber you know on a first name basis and the smaller the town the better. My plumber charges $70 ($50 USD) per hour.

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[SeaJay]

As always if you suspect the quoted price is excessive, get another quote of two and you will find out if it is in fact excessive, or that it is the going market price.

 

[Nessism1]

Plumbers make good MONEY. I just learned this after having new drain lines put in. The water heater itself shouldn't cost more than a $1000, so that means $1700 for install, and haul away of the old one. Maybe a couple hours of work.

And speaking of permits, none were drawn when the plumbers replace my drains. I've heard, though, that many cities want you to pull a permit for most all work. It's a confusing subject in California.

BTW, I did my first water heater install a few years ago. Mine died, but scored a free used unit, just a couple years old, because my buddy was renovating and going tankless. I was warned to not go used, but it's been working great, and the price was right!

 

[Hall]

As always if you suspect the quoted price is excessive, get another quote of two and you will find out if it is in fact excessive, or that it is the going market price.

What's happening around many places is all the 1-2 man plumbing shops (and HVAC) are getting bought out by bigger companies and then start dictating and controlling rates. I've told this story before about calling a 'local' plumber to replace a small water heater at our office. They answer the phone with the local company's name, the (old) website still works, etc, etc but a different company's van showed up. Quoted us $3500 to replace this (paper towel roll for scale):

 

[Lubener]

The hardest part is getting the old one out and to the curb. A new gas water heater can be had at a home center for $650. DIY the remainder. It's not difficult.

 

[CarLuver]

i will help freinds do water heaters in garages and unfinished basements , but never inside a house. too much liabilty .$2700 sound about right for a licensed shop . if that thing springs a leak after install they may be liable

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Ya. Ours has been making some noise lately and when I opened the cabinet I noticed that the tubing to the expansion tank is leaking. It's in a hallway cabinet.
View attachment 300984View attachment 300985

How did we survive before expansion tanks were a thing? They seem like a scam pushed by big plumbing. They almost always fail before the waterheater.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

There is a definite market for a water heater only plumbing company. Keep a bunch in stock and wait for the calls to come in. Do a good job, give senior and veteran discounts, be personable and you'll make a nice living. One water heater a day could net you $1000 and you're not dealing with backed up drain lines or other nastiness.

I worked for a Contractor in college that had the Home Depot WH install contract. 1 guy could knock out at least 3 a day sometimes. Big $$

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

i will help freinds do water heaters in garages and unfinished basements , but never inside a house. too much liabilty .$2700 sound about right for a licensed shop . if that thing springs a leak after install they may be liable

Just received another quote. $3200.

 

[tbm5690]

Ya. The door pops off. I was thinking ~$2,200. Another quote is in the works so we'll see

The door isn't the issue, it's getting the old, likely heavy (due to deposits) tank up and over that sill, and then down the stairs and out the door all hopefully without causing any nicks, scrapes, etc. on walls or floors. I'm curious why that copper pipe runs right in front, blocking access to the heater?

 

[JTK]

Modern gas water heaters use an electronic ignitor that doesn't use household current or a battery to power it. They save you money by not having a pilot light burning 24/7/365.

The new units I've seen still have a standing pilot. The heat from the pilot against a thermocouple is what generates the current to power the electronic gas valve/controls.

 

[rijndael]

I paid $3800, post covid, for an 74 gallon (installed). It's a gas unit. I got a 10 year warranty with it. They also replaced my pressure regulator. They pulled permits and it was inspected.

I had multiple quotes, but I ended up going through Lowes. They farmed it out to one of the companies I got a quote from initially, and it was cheaper than their direct quote, plus they threw in an extended warranty.

 

[Hall]

Just received another quote. $3200.

Are you dealing with 'bigger' plumbing shops ? If so, can you try the truly 1-2 man shops (if you can find 'em) ? Granted, it will probably take longer before they can do the job, but at least yours isn't an emergency.

 

[skyactiv]

The new units I've seen still have a standing pilot. The heat from the pilot against a thermocouple is what generates the current to power the electronic gas valve/controls.

I thought the pilot is only on temporarily before lighting the burner on units using the electronic lighter once you initiate it from a new install.