Cost of water heater replacement

[rrrr]

Jesus. We pick from the same litter? View attachment 1306401

Judging from that existing line connection, I'd say your house has had all the licensed plumbers it can stand.

 

[FreeBird236]

My only experience is with B/W electric 40 gallon. About 10 years ago Carry's did one for $800, 18 months ago Van Rooy did one for $ 1,000.

 

[Andy B.]

That's retarded I bought mine put it in had a plumber hook up the gas lines, because I wanted it done right. I didn't have the necessary equipment plus I don't mess with gas fittings didn't want house to blow up lol ! $100.00 bucks this is in Vegas.....itwas a 50gallon tank.

 

[SJP]

I replaced mine in 2019 LHC. From my memory it was a weekend and I needed the hot water for guests. Hardest part was physically removing old one due to mineral deposit weight of the unit had built over time. Electrical, hot and ccld water hookups and done. I think the unit cost then was 300/400 dollars at HD.

 

[Gramps]

Thanks everyone for the input. If it was my heater it would have been over and done with (at a hopefully cheaper price). This is in California at my son's place and he doesn't have the time not the knowhow on doing it himself.

 

[pixrthis]

I'm all to familiar with this..... Just did this about the same time last year...

$8,700 to replace a tankless.

I ordered the exact same model I had from Amazon for $3,500 and replaced it myself a couple years ago. How much is the unit with inflation?

 

[Sportin' Wood]

This thread is a reminder of why I am no longer a C-36 Plumbing contractor.

I am in the DIY camp; I hate paying for services I can do myself. However, you are not considering the additional overhead costs that a licensed, insured, and bonded plumbing contractor maintains to be able to provide you with a service. Heaven forbid his/her investment in tools and knowledge to perform the task.

No doubt, after showing up quickly to reinstate luxurious piping hot water flowing from your fixtures, a certain percentage will see fit to make a homeowners insurance claim for a flooded kitchen caused by increased pressure that somehow magically made the angle stop break on the opposite side of the house and necessitate the complete renovation of the kitchen. Dragging your previously low-bid plumbing contractor into court on their own dime, all at the cost of doing business.

The worst part of bidding on a plumbing repair job is that water destroys everything, you never know what you are getting into, and the customers won't accept extra costs. A water heater rarely does not include many additional items. Sometimes, the heater is so full of debris that you can't get them to drain; good luck with those if you don't know the tricks.

I will have to be really FN-hungry ever to open a plumbing business again. If I ever did, I would be the guy with that $10K bid. You can be assured it would be the best service you have ever had.

 

[Boat 405]

Just got 2 quotes to replace a water heater in Eastvale. 75 gallon Bradford White (gas) with VERY easy access. First quote $4900+ Second quote.........almost $10,000 WTF!!!!!!!!!!

Gas or electric?

 

[Boat 405]

For a goof I was reading California requirements. Am I reading correctly you also have to have an expansion tank? Even if the tank comes with a pressure valve which they all do to my knowledge?

Yes an expansion is necessary on all water heaters

 

[4Waters]

Yes an expansion is necessary on all water heaters

I call it the water hammer tank. My dad, in-laws, cousin, and 2 friends had their water heaters replaced and the expansion tank added and all of them ended up with water hammer issues after installation, no issues before.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I'm in the wrong business. I could easily do 4 of these a day with driving time and dropping the old ones off at the dump. HVAC is a pretty good business too! The trades are surpassing the white collared stuff by leaps and bounds right now!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I call it the water hammer tank. My dad, in-laws, cousin, and 2 friends had their water heaters replaced and the expansion tank added and all of them ended up with water hammer issues after installation, no issues before.

I had water hammer issues in my
old house after a tankless install with no expansion tank.

That was a few thousand bucks, and would have been the same price if they had to run a new gas through the house or not. I got taken on that one, as the guy was there just a couple hours doing the swap.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

75 Gallon is friggin HUGE!!! That's as big as commercial building/school use. Most residential housing in the US are 40-50 gallon.

I get preferred contractor pricing from Ferguson. We buy a lot of stuff from them. They are selling replacement gas WH kits for $$750. It is a 50G , Bradford White.

I actually bought 2 of them. Replaced the existing WH that was shot and the other one went in the basement for the future so when they ban gas appliances, I have a spare. Wish I had the room to hook them up in series.

If you really need 75 gallon, that's closer to $1000+.

If it was me, I would look into 2 (two) 40 gallon. Place them side by side. If you have the space & venting. Set the first water heater to 80 degrees. Feed it to the second water heater set to 120.

You will have an unlimited supply of hot water and waaaaaaay more efficient. Its cheaper and more efficient to heat water only a few degrees (50-80 and then 80-120) rather than heating 50 degree water to 120

Mathematically that makes no sense. The water takes the same amount of BTU's to heat up to 120 from the same temperature weather it be from 1 source or 2. You can actually increase the cost of heating that water (although very marginally and likely un-noticeable) with 2 heaters due to the extra surface area of the heater that allows heat loss as well as the lines between the 2 tanks that allows heat loss.

 

[dribble]

What did she do with the old water heater. ?

I took it to the landfill. They take them for free in Sacramento County.

 

[Boat 405]

I call it the water hammer tank. My dad, in-laws, cousin, and 2 friends had their water heaters replaced and the expansion tank added and all of them ended up with water hammer issues after installation, no issues before.

They do not stop or create water hammer.

They are intended to absorb the thermal expansion of the hot water in you water heater when it expands as it heats up. Without one you could easily see 150 psi plus in your water piping in your house which in turn can cause leaks and blow off angle stops.

 

[4Waters]

They do not stop or create water hammer.

They are intended to absorb the thermal expansion of the hot water in you water heater when it expands as it heats up. Without one you could easily see 150 psi plus in your water piping in your house which in turn can cause leaks and blow off angle stops.

I understand that but the only difference is the expansion tank before and after and according to the plumber that installed my dad's (a long time friend) he said it's fairly common and drives him crazy but doesn't understand why it's causing it.

 

[dribble]

Im with you. Screw permits. I dropped a gigantic Tuff Shed in my backyard. Let them remove it

I built a 900 sq ft breezeway 4 stall barn without a permit. Brought in 50 yds of dirt for the pad, then wired and plumbed it.

 

[Hydroman55]

Legrand Plumbing in Havasu….Called showed up 3 hours later drained old one and installed new 50 gallon with new connection lines. Work performed perfectly…clean, organized and hauled off the old one.
1,000 bucks.. highly recommend Legrand if in Havasu.

 

[Done-it-again]

I ordered the exact same model I had from Amazon for $3,500 and replaced it myself a couple years ago. How much is the unit with inflation?

Maybe another another $1,000.

I don’t 100% blame the busines for the prices, they are all about the same cost . My quotes wasn’t that far apart as the OP’s.

It’s the cost of business in CA and if the company wants to be profitable ( how profitable is up to the owner) then prices is X above the Y.

This is why prices in CA are super high. I’m sure it’s 20-30% less in most states.

 

[Boat 405]

I understand that but the only difference is the expansion tank before and after and according to the plumber that installed my dad's (a long time friend) he said it's fairly common and drives him crazy but doesn't understand why it's causing it.

In recent years the water company has installed back flow devices in all the residential water meters, not saying this will have any effect on water hammer.

 

[Boat 405]

I understand that but the only difference is the expansion tank before and after and according to the plumber that installed my dad's (a long time friend) he said it's fairly common and drives him crazy but doesn't understand why it's causing it.I

Have you checked the pressure in the expansion tank bladder? Typically they should be about 5 psi above you water pressure in your home. You have to take pressure off the water side to check the pressure on the air bladder in the tank.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Replaced the WH myself at our home in Camarillo CA, with a little help from a SIL. Required an ‘earthquake strap’. Don’t know if that was a city or county requirement. Still working fine when we sold the home.

I’ve a small pet peeve that deals with this topic. When people refer to a Hot Water Heater. WTF?! If the water was hot . . . you wouldn’t have to heat it.

 

[spectra3279]

I did mine including the floor for under 1k.

 

[4Waters]

In recent years the water company has installed back flow devices in all the residential water meters, not saying this will have any effect on water hammer.

Haven't that around here yet

Have you checked the pressure in the expansion tank bladder? Typically they should be about 5 psi above you water pressure in your home. You have to take pressure off the water side to check the pressure on the air bladder in the tank.

I don't know if there is any pressure in there

 

[hallett21]

75 gallon tank looks like it costs $1500 before tax. $4500 seems fair without seeing anything. 10k seems a little high lol.

Mr. Ten Thousand only has to sell half the jobs

 

[Tremor Therapy]

Similiar story here in Murrieta. If you try and sell your house without the permitted sign-off sticker on the water heater....bad ju-ju. Fortunately for us Home Depot was having a special sale, so we got a new 50 gallon AO gas water heater with all the latest code updates for $2500. Ass is still raw!!!

 

[Kachina26]

If the water was hot . . . you wouldn’t have to heat it.

They do in Havasu.

 

[rightytighty]

I live in the central valley of Ca. Not LA and not Bay Area. My plumbing subs are $175- $225/ hour and seem to have to run to Fergusons or Depot on every single job.

Electricians have become a relative bargain…

No clue why?

 

[Wheeler]

Steve Traded a Water Heater for Banzai. ... true story.

If you don't believe it ask him when you see him.

 

[NicPaus]

I have been to a few 80-100K water heater jobs. Houlihan don't post here anymore. Not here now at Echo either. 100 unit buildings. They use boilers and holding tanks now. But on a few they had huge water heaters that needed to be removed before the new went in. In the basement and cut them into pieces to remove.

 

[Bajastu]

I just replaced my electric 55 gallon at my house in Canyon Lake. $680 out the door from Lowe’s, it took 45 minutes from start to finish. I even replaced the drain pan and hoses.

Plumbers are one of the most predatory contractors out there.

In fact this weekend I just fixed my Parker house water heater for less that $30 for the thermostat and heater element. 15 mins of labor.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Haven't that around here yet


I don't know if there is any pressure in there

If there is no pressure in there, it’s doing nothing, and that’s why you have the water hammer. When it is pre charged there is a bladder in it that absorbs the water hammer.

 

[Wheeler]

I have been to a few 80-100K water heater jobs. Houlihan don't post here anymore. Not here now at Echo either. 100 unit buildings. They use boilers and holding tanks now. But on a few they had huge water heaters that needed to be removed before the new went in. In the basement and cut them into pieces to remove.

This was not some commercial job just your run of the mill water heater is what it sounded like. Had I seen this thread earlier I would have paid more attention to the story.

 

[LHC Kirby]

In Mission Viejo, CA to buy a water heater from Home Depot. You need to show proof of a permit to do it. I just went to a city next door and bought it. Easy..... and done.

 

[Taboma]

They do not stop or create water hammer.

They are intended to absorb the thermal expansion of the hot water in you water heater when it expands as it heats up. Without one you could easily see 150 psi plus in your water piping in your house which in turn can cause leaks and blow off angle stops.

I thought this was only a requirement on closed plumbing systems ?

"The California Plumbing Code (Section 608.3) and the California Mechanical Code (Section 1005.0) require a thermal expansion tank to be installed on all closed plumbing water heating systems. Plumbing systems having backflow preventers, check valves, or any devices blocking the dissipation of plumbing pressure back into the water main."

Has this now been expanded to include open systems ?

 

[petie6464]

Hard to fathom how many grown men can't replace a water heater... wow!

 

[4Waters]

I thought this was only a requirement on closed plumbing systems ?

"The California Plumbing Code (Section 608.3) and the California Mechanical Code (Section 1005.0) require a thermal expansion tank to be installed on all closed plumbing water heating systems. Plumbing systems having backflow preventers, check valves, or any devices blocking the dissipation of plumbing pressure back into the water main."

Has this now been expanded to include open systems ?

This here is why I didn't understand the need for an expansion tank, we don't have backflow valves

 

[havasujeeper]

In Mission Viejo, CA to buy a water heater from Home Depot. You need to show proof of a permit to do it. I just went to a city next door and bought it. Easy..... and done.

God damn! Talk about government overreach!

What next, a permit for a box of nails?

 

[Taboma]

This here is why I didn't understand the need for an expansion tank, we don't have backflow valves

I'm certainly no plumber beyond a few basic skills to keep my own shit alive and well.
Living at elevation, high water pressure is certainly not our local problem, but the post-fire rebuilds required interior fire sprinklers.
State codes and water districts require annually re-tested backflow preventors on systems with fire sprinklers, to prevent the stagnant sprinkler water from getting sucked back into the domestic supply and contaminating it.
Two negatives with that over above the annual re-testing costs, are that the pressure drops a few (Precious) pounds, and your water system becomes a closed system requiring the thermal expansion tank.
I don't know why the code would require one on an open system where no such restriction exists ?

 

[4Waters]

I'm certainly no plumber beyond a few basic skills to keep my own shit alive and well.
Living at elevation, high water pressure is certainly not our local problem, but the post-fire rebuilds required interior fire sprinklers.
State codes and water districts require annually re-tested backflow preventors on systems with fire sprinklers, to prevent the stagnant sprinkler water from getting sucked back into the domestic supply and contaminating it.
Two negatives with that over above the annual re-testing costs, are that the pressure drops a few (Precious) pounds, and your water system becomes a closed system requiring the thermal expansion tank.
I don't know why the code would require one on an open system where no such restriction exists ?

We are unregulated between 70-75psi. The only reason I can see them requiring the tank is at some point in the near future they are going to put backflow valves in. I wonder if the lack of a backflow valve and the expansion tank combined is why so many end up with a water hammer.

 

[Not So Fast]

Had ours replaced about a year ago or so in Havasu, plumbers says your lucky its under warranty by 1 month, still cost me about $400 for what ever but then he says to replace it now it would be around $1400, original cost was right at $700. Does that sound right ??? Its a 50 gal electric

 

[Taboma]

We are unregulated between 70-75psi. The only reason I can see them requiring the tank is at some point in the near future they are going to put backflow valves in. I wonder if the lack of a backflow valve and the expansion tank combined is why so many end up with a water hammer.

Are the backflow devices being installed on the line to your house ? If that's the case, then hopefully it's not your responsibility for testing.
Damn, around my hood we'd kill for that high of water pressure, sure make landscape watering easier. If they install individual backflow preventors, you're going to lose a couple of PSI, but you probably won't notice a difference. But when you've only got 35-40 like some of my neighbors, dropping another 4-5 psi sucks.
I've read that folks install expansion tanks to mitigate water hammer, especially on a closed system. I'd always assumed they'd both be tapped from the cold water side prior to any check valves or other restriction devices and would serve dual purpose.

 

[4Waters]

Are the backflow devices being installed on the line to your house ? If that's the case, then hopefully it's not your responsibility for testing.
Damn, around my hood we'd kill for that high of water pressure, sure make landscape watering easier. If they install individual backflow preventors, you're going to lose a couple of PSI, but you probably won't notice a difference. But when you've only got 35-40 like some of my neighbors, dropping another 4-5 psi sucks.
I've read that folks install expansion tanks to mitigate water hammer, especially on a closed system. I'd always assumed they'd both be tapped from the cold water side prior to any check valves or other restriction devices and would serve dual purpose.

No they are not

 

[77charger]

Glad I can do my own. Replaced my last one at old house about 15 years ago or so.

Being a bargain type I found a slightly dented one at lowes saved 50 bucks on a 50 gallon gas unit. Few bucks in fitting and an hour job.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

No they are not

Dan, I'd probably suspect it has more to do with the mass of the tank with water in it and it not being properly supported. Before there likely was not enough mass in the piping to make much if any noise when a faucet turned off. Now there is that extra few pounds on the piping that moves around each time.

Or if the pressure wasn't ever set, or wasn't correctly for our supply pressure, that would do it also. None come pre-charged for water pressure like we have here in the valley.

This video who's how it should be checked. This is a bit easier and more straightforward with a closed system, but the process is pretty much the same for an open/un-regulated system also.

 

[McKay]

Did 3 this year for myself and family/friends. $700-$900 for the water heater from Home Depot. Worst one took me close to 3 hours as I re-worked all the copper piping. Other two were less than an hour. And I’m an electrician not a plumber. Your quotes are a joke.

 

[Kachina26]

Did 3 this year for myself and family/friends. $700-$900 for the water heater from Home Depot. Worst one took me close to 3 hours as I re-worked all the copper piping. Other two were less than an hour. And I’m an electrician not a plumber. Your quotes are a joke.

Have you seen the price of soldering flux these days?

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Did 3 this year for myself and family/friends. $700-$900 for the water heater from Home Depot. Worst one took me close to 3 hours as I re-worked all the copper piping. Other two were less than an hour. And I’m an electrician not a plumber. Your quotes are a joke.

So did you properly ground it Sparky?

 

[NicPaus]

So did you properly ground it Sparky?

Need a water bond , some cities gas line bonded also.

Also your specialty gas line needs a dirty leg - sediment trap.

 

[Roosky01]

I'm all to familiar with this..... Just did this about the same time last year...

$8,700 to replace a tankless.

You actually paid that?