hot water heater replacement

[auralia]

so its been a bad couple of weeks. My grandmother passed away (while we were visiting the family on vacation... had to change the plane tickets to extend through the funeral), my daughter broke her arm, and now my hot water heater went out.

How much should i expect to pay to get it replaced?

I live in Georgia so low cost of living area. It is a 40 gallon gas water heater and the house is 24 years old. I have no idea what the current codes are but I do know that the water heater is about 12-13 years old and that the house has to be brought up to "code" what ever code is during the install.

Just looking for ball park so I know if the estimates I'm getting are way out in left field. Lowes is coming tomorrow to give me a quote and I left a message with a couple of plumbers I found on google, but I don't know any good ones that I can "trust" as this is my first plumbing problem in this state. Also, DH isn't handy and while I can do toilets and sinks I shrink away from gas lines!

 

[Bell30012]

Since you are in Georgia, as I am, I can pass along a great company. Coolray/Mr. Plumber did my changeout on my electric water heater. It was only about $700 maybe even less. They service 19 counties according to their website. I had my water heater done over two years ago but I was very happy with them.

Allgood is another local company who is also competitive price-wise.

I was going to change out my water heater myself but since all the lines were soldered and it had tons of sealant/insulation on it, I decided it was worth paying.

Coolray/Mr. Plumber
Allgood

*NOTE* I don't work for either company or have anything to do with them. I looked the links up on Google for you.

 

[powellrj]

We had Lowes do it last year and it was around $750 total. They had a special going 12 months no interest so we just paid it over the 12 months.

 

[antmaril]

I had mine replaced last year -- $750 .

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I would look and see if there are any rebate programs from your state. In Massachusetts we have something called MassSave. They came to my house and did a free energy audit, so I qualified for a $300 rebate on my new hot water heater and an interest free loan. We took the loan b/c our costs were higher since we converted from a tankless hot water heater to a 45 gallon SuperStore.

 

[auralia]

The local guy can have it in by this afternoon and is charging 685 assuming I'm up to code with lowes they said Friday at the earliest. As a bonus dd got a fever overnight so we really need the bath tub as she is a puker so I told him to come out. Lowes hasn't even called me yet!

 

[darrengs]

I agree with the pp's, replacement of a 40 gallon WH should be between $700-$800. Pretty much a 50/50 split between the WH and the plumber.

Good luck

 

[mikehn]

It really depends on the amount of work they have to do. They may have to reroute your water lines, your gas lines, your venting, so on and so forth. But getting multiple quotes will give you an idea of the going rate.