quote:

Originally posted by Green Highlander:
If you are doing it yourself, you won’t be able to purchase a propane water heater directly from a plumbing supply house unless you have a gas license. I know because I just replaced mine tonight.

[SNIP]

If you decide to do the install yourself make sure you take all the gas fittings of the old unit. You won’t be allowed to buy replacements. Also make sure you use the correct pipe dope on the gas fittings.

Wondering which Plumbing Supply House are you talking about? I know The Portland Group won't sell to the 'unlicensed' public but I've never had any issues purchasing as a cash customer from The Granite Group (multiple locations) and F.W. Webb in Concord, NH.

I went to both Webb and Granite State. Both required a license because it was propane. I have bought many thing from them over the years for regular plumbing and for working on my oil burner that were not restricted. The propane aspect was a no go even on certain fittings.

quote:

Originally posted by Green Highlander:
If you are doing it yourself, you won’t be able to purchase a propane water heater directly from a plumbing supply house unless you have a gas license. I know because I just replaced mine tonight.

I ended up having to buy a Rheem from Home Depot. They didn’t care that I don’t have a license. I spent a little extra to get the 9 year warranty unit rather than the one with 6 years. I wanted the 12 year unit but it would take 14+ days to arrive and that many cold showers was a non starter with Mrs Highlander.

If you decide to do the install yourself make sure you take all the gas fittings of the old unit. You won’t be allowed to buy replacements. Also make sure you use the correct pipe dope on the gas fittings.

thank you !!

Interesting, my experience has all been natural gas related, not propane. Honestly it shouldn't make a difference anyway.

Seriously though, the last two times a 'licensed' plumber/contractor did work for me, both were natural gas water heaters where I needed to fix their work because both were incompetent hacks! The first was an install of a replacement unit for a failed water heater in a townhouse I was renting at the time. In this case I wasn't paying so I had no choice, but I could tell he was a hack when he showed up at the front door! I needed to replace the black pipe feeding the gas valve after that install as he actually left the hard pipe drop to gas valve visibly bowed with stress on it because he was too lazy to cut it shorter and/or replace it due to a different inlet height.

The second was the replacement of the original water heater in my new construction home where the builder's plumber failed to install a thermal expansion tank, which ultimately caused the tank in the water heater to fail prematurely. This occurred just over 6 years after the install date, but it was in service for less that 6 years after we got the CO and moved in! I wasn't worth the hassle of trying to get it warrantied through that guy, as I didn't trust his work anyway, and figured it best to just do the job right myself. To add insult to injury, his natural gas piping also sucked, so I had to re-plumb both the natural gas lines AND the water piping when I installed the replacement, which has now been in service for 14+ years w/o issue.

Sounds about right on the ‘licensed plumber’ deal… half the time the pros cut more corners than a homeowner who actually gives a damn.

Well, I don't sell or repair water heaters. They are more of a plumbing?HVAC item. What I can tell you is there is one brand that stands out from all the rest. It's Lochinvar .

AFAIK, they still only sell through installing dealers. They ain't cheap. But from what I've seen over the years, you won't find a better water heater.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:

That doesn't answer my question...if I wasn't clear enough. Assuming you do buy at big box store...given quality and perhaps lack of parts...if the other post was correct, is it then worth the extended warranty?

I am aware that "generally" extended warranties aren't worth the cost.

If you buy from a big box-no the extra cost/warranty isn’t worth it. It’s a consumable item. The item you buy from a plumbing supply house is a better item and will last as long or longer than the big box item. And the supply house my dad uses (Ferguson) doesn’t offer an extended warranty to be passed on to the customer.

Sorry about the delayed answer