I can't believe the mark up!

[Colleen A.]

We woke up this morning to the sound of hissing....here, our hot water tank sprung a leak! You can imagine what my laundry room looked like!! Anyway, a plumber wanted to charge between $600 - $700 to replace the tank! No thank you. DH works for a company that supplies places like Home Depot with merchandise. Called him at work....The unit cost $160.54!! DH know plumbing so you can imagine what he'll be doing for the remainder of the day! How can people charge so much more for parts than they actually pay for them?!! You'd expect it to be a bit higher, but get real!

 

[Liz]

WOW!!! Thank goodness your DH can do it himself!

 

[ratsrule]

That was the installed price.

That cover the mechanic putting it in, the cost of insurance, truck, tools, etc.

It is no different than going to a doctor and they charge you $100 to tell you its a head cold.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I hope the plumber did not randomly give you a price estimate over the phone without fully evaluating the system in your house. While your husband is well versed in plumbing and replacing hot water heaters, most people aren't. While the cost the plumber quoted you may seem high, I would hope it would include: the cost of the water heater, an warranty of 10 or 15 years, the cost of any permits necessary for the installation (yes, permits are necessary in some towns/states), cost of taking the old system away. I would also hope that the plumber fully evaluated your system and your needs (you might need a larger or even smaller water heater). I would also hope the plumber checked your water pressure to make sure it was in compliance (high water pressure can void warranties on any and all plumbing fixtures). If all of that was included in what the plumber quoted you, including a full inspection of all your exposed plumbing, then I would say the price quoted was not bad. However, if it was just a random quote over the phone...well that's a whole other story.

 

[jfulcer]

Hey, you may want to consider a tankless system. Since DH knows how to do the work for the current one, it should be a no brainer for the tankless system. Instant hotwater and 40% cost savings.

I wish I knew how to do it, otherwise I'd put one in for us.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Tankless can be great, IF you are only using one hot water appliance at a time. You can't have two people taking hot showers in two separate bathrooms with a tankless. (Unless you get a super large one in which case 2 appliances can have hot water at the same time, but no more than that).

 

[Pin Wizard]

I could have used your DH here on Sunday. When we got home from church there was water under the refrigerator. I pulled it out to find the water line leaking! A plumber came, shut off the water under the sink leading to the line since I don't have an ice maker in this fridge...(gee...why didn't the guy from Lowe's do that when he installed the refrigerator!? ), taped that part, and then charged me $150. Auuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggghhhhh!

 

[mhopset]

That company was trying to take you for a ride girlfriend!!!!

I had a hot water tank put in last October and it was $335.00. I do admit I got everything at cost, but I still had to pay the labor bill. $600-$700 is rediculous!

 

[nativetxn]

That sure seems like a lot of money. Good thing your husband can do the job instead.

 

[Tiggeroo]

and depending on the part of the country you are in, this is the average price. Tankless systems are great, by the way.

 

[mickeyfan1]

is because people will pay it! If you are in an emergency situation, you usually won't wait for 3 estimates and all the other little things that could be done, (pressure testing, sizing, etc). Our water heater went out, I got a new one from sears for about 300, installed. It only lasted a few years (AZ water, worst stuff known to man), when it died, DH called a plumber right away to come out, it cost him almost 1000 to get a new one installed. Next time, he saysa I get to call. Fortunately, our WH is in the garage, so even if it leaks, no damage.