Thread: Water Heater Robbery

Wow!!!

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Geeze, I bet the owner didn't even get dinner and a movie for that bill either...!

around here, that would say 1200.

Par for the course around here is $400-$600 installed. You must be in the high rent district Wayne.

I think that price is pretty much the norm nowadays! I priced a new gas 50 gallon unit a few weeks back and it was $450 just for the WH (States brand) at the plumbing house.

Mine was a Rheem high recovery 50/50,000 and it was in the $550 or $600 range just for the unit. Depends on what they put into the house.

This was a straight up electric tank, 50 gallons. No frills.

Originally Posted by Nick Ostrowski

This was a straight up electric tank, 50 gallons. No frills.

Sounds about right for installation and the tank.

They may have had to install other items to bring it to code. But still that about normal....maybe even a little low. They average anywhere from 800 to 1200 around here.

That would be considered cheap in this area too.

rick

Price looks average non-emergency on R/R with size upgrade for a BW and hauling away the old one. Emergency call/replacement even better deal, if a legit licensed plumber, cheap.

Well, after a second look...
I found this on the net and when you factor installation... Well, not bad...

I'm a little confused by this thread. A plumber had to come by and give a FREE estimate knowing the customer was going to shop around. Once he gets the job, he has to schedule it in, go to the supply house, wait your turn, get the WH, misc. fittings, pan, etc. and load. Drive to job site. Shut off water at meter since few plumbers put a shutoff on the Hot and if they do they use other than a ball valve so they don't hold. Rig a 110volt sump pump with hose to the drain, open up and beging draining the old unit while you unload the new one and manhandle it into position. This can be a real PIA. Bring all your tools, torch, copper, etc. into the work area. Saw through the pipes---Whoa! Thar she blows! Run to the meter to try the upstream shutoff but it is seized up ready to break off in your hand. Run to the truck, get the T-wrench, hunt around at the curb, find the shutoff, dig around with the wrench and finally shut the house off at the curb. Run back in, finish pumpout. Roll old unit out of way. Set pan & drain, pick up new unit and set into pan, center and level. Install TPR valve w/ drain and dielectric nipples w/ copper adapters. Connect wiring. Line up pipes--it doesn't so you have to cut and sweat a few fittings. Of course, the when the air trapped in the pipe expands from the heat of the torch, it keeps blowing the sweated joint. You get a tee and sweat that into the pipes then either cap it or install an expansion tank with shutoff. Run out to street and open up water to house. Run inside and check for leaks. When air purged, run all over house closing spigots. Once water in tank up to TPR, turn it on. Add bonding wire across hot to cold since the last guy didn't.

Oops! Forgot mechanical permit---go back three spaces. Man handle old tank out of basement into truck ( you know, the one with a few gallons sloshing around inside that don't want to drain out until you're carrying it through the house). Pack up tools, test for warm water at sink and collect your whopping paycheck for the day. Oops!, almost forgot. Stop by salvage yard to drop off old tank.

If that's all he got done that day, he lost money. A typical Bradford White 50 gal electric lists for $506.37 + tax. Gas WHs cost more and have vent pipes to re-cut and connect not to mention inspecting the chimney for suitability and combustion analysis. Now, if he's on his game, he would sell potable water protection, which would require an expansion tank. If the boiler doesn't have one, that's another. Throw in two new ball valves on either side of the meter and now he just might make a profit for that day.

Bob

Sounds like ole Bob has replaced a few WH's in the past.

rick

NicK,

The guy should go into the post tension cable end sealing business. According the reciept the seller had for me, he paid a 150. bill for this so called repair. EASY MONEY!

Before and after.

Rick,

That seller would have had more value for that $150 if he had burned it.

At least he would have nothing to show for it.

Now he has less than nothing to show for it as it will cost money to get it back to where it was before it was screwed up, making the repair all that much more costly.