quote:

Originally posted by MelissaDallas:
If it is 20 years old it would may require that the plumbing, overfow, venting be brought up to code, or that is what happened to me. Not just a quick swap-out.

THIS^^^^^^^^

Was $1200 for the heater plus:
- expansion tank to bring up to code
- regulator on house supply to bring pressure <70psi to meet manuf warranty.

If you can do it yourself, about $700 for a Rheem gas water heater, expansion tank $80, pex tubing-fittings-tool rental, $70. Overflow was easy peasy (just a bit of PEX hooked to the new tanks valve), venting was no sweat. I just used pex for water lines (crimped for the inlet, outlet, and shutoff valve). Our best quote, and we had at least 4, was $1950. The city inspector was free and friendly as hell. Took about 8 hours, including picking up the water heater. Waiting for the inspector was 3 days. If you can get a pro for $1900 (including expansion tank, water line hookup, wiring, etc) that's not a bad price but more than I would be willing to pay. In 5 years, I won't be able to do it myself and would gladly pay the price.

ORC if you are near me, I’ll do it for ya. You buy the parts. It’s not that hard of a thing to do unless you’re physically unable.

Hi MikeinNC, I appreciate that more than you know.

Not looking for doing on the cheap necessarily. But not wanting to needlessly spend $5-$800 more than it should cost.

You guys got me headed in the right direction, like always.

Thanks to all of you.

quote:

Originally posted by MelissaDallas:
If it is 20 years old it would may require that the plumbing, overfow, venting be brought up to code, or that is what happened to me. Not just a quick swap-out.

Don't forget the expansion tank.

$1480 for me on Oct 15 this year for a 40 gal water heater. I'm just thankful I have the money.

My limited understanding of expansion tanks is you need one if you have a backflow preventer on the water main coming into the house. With our house in Florida, we have city water and do have a backflow preventer. The water heater was/is required to have an expansion tank. Our house in Michigan has a well. I believe there’s a backflow preventer there as well, but no expansion tank at the water heater because there is a pressurized water tank for the well.

Way to much money to install a new water heater, its not a complicated job so if you have minimal skills you can probably swap water heaters yourself.

Sharkbite push to connect SS water heater connection kit is your friend, and a good copper pipe cutter.

Unless you need to drag it up stairs or out of an attic, putting in a new tank isn't difficult.

Tons of utoob videos on the subject and with the sharkbite connection hoses zero soldering needed.

Generally not a difficult install but that depends on where it is located and time is money.
I've done mine twice in the last 40 years.
Mine is located upstairs in a closet.
Drained, uninstalled, hauled down the stairs, haul the new one up, connect and done.
All with the help of a 100lb wife.
Cost in 95+/- was $375 and cost of second (last year) was $900 (decent 50 gal electric with some so-called smart features).

I could imagine a plumber would charge $6~800 (not including the unit) to make it worth their while.

I did entertain going to a tankless but we have no gas and to retrofit the electrical upgrade was too much and the use cost savings over the 50gal wasn't worth it.