Posted on 06/23/2018 11:27:20 AM PDT by Catmom
Apparently this is standard price for the install, sales taxes, labor, disposal fee, "code upgrades," etc. My next door neighbor paid the same amount last year.
Sucks to be a homeowner w/o construction skills in a blue state.
I half think people in the trades push for code upgrades to make everything cost more. And they seemed shocked that I would question their prices. Got a 10% discount FWIW.
Agreed. That’s why hubs went to electrical trade school and works with an experienced electrician.
We don’t have employees for the same reason stated. Can’t find good help that doesn’t want the world and isn’t sub par.
We tried with one guy in particular. He had the “hood” mentality so after 4 years of “trying” hubs finally gave up.
From the novel, Collateral Crimes:
The man walked over to the desk and turned everything over before rummaging through the drawers. He turned to Tyler and said, “This was a lot easier when people used a Rolodex.” He walked back to Tyler and popped open the cell phone holster on Tyler’s hip, pulling out the phone, trying to unlock the screen. “How do you do this?”
“You’ll have to figure that out by yourself.”
“Roberts will know.”
“Who’s Roberts?”
The man put the gun back up to Tyler’s head.
Insanity... Electric is usually cheaper than gas to buy it initially and I replaced my gas water heater for under $400 less than 2 years ago including new gas line, flex supply lines and a quarter turn valve to replace the one that would not shut off the flow.
Do you have to pull a permit to do it where you live? I was told after the fact I was supposed to here now because it was gas... Electric does not need to here yet.
does your homeowner insurance offer any reimbursement for code upgrades?
we tried to do it ourselves, to the latest codes, and went round and round with permit inspections. They wanted this, then they wanted that. The overflow/drain pipe goes thru the foundation (50’s tract homes) and they complained they couldn’t physically see where it drained. The concrete overflow pan had to have a metal insert. It felt like they were intentionally driving us to go pay a contractor or face repeated inspections. In hindsight, we probably would have been just as unhappy paying $2400, but it would have been a lot less stress!
“you can drill pilot holes and use screws.”
That is the idea, but those 60 year old studs around here can be quite hard and hard to drill in a cramped area.. That is why they let you use the smaller screws.
And. Icing on the cake, we just sold the second home out there and will be soooo done with the socialist republik of washington state.
Good luck.
>>We don’t have employees for the same reason stated. Can’t find good help that doesn’t want the world and isn’t sub par.
That’s a common theme these days. Very sad that you can’t get good, smart, honest people to work in a trade. They all fall for the “you gotta go to college or you’ll be poor” lie.
I tell young people to check it out and they see the hard work and run away. I explain that you have to do the work, learn the craft, and pay your dues when you are young and then you’ll become a master and be able to open your own business, but they want the immediate reward and the high school guidance counselor tells them that a degree with causes riches to be piled at their feet.
I get mine for free. Plumber may charge about 100$ install though. City provides free water heaters for folks who have gas instead of electric. Love gas....tornadoes take utilities out, I can still cook and take a hot shower.
It all depends on how many miles you get per gallon ...
Should called me.... I’d install and rewire if need be for cost plus food....
I have to believe you could find a fellow congregation member or fellow golfer /whatever who could use some private work that has the skills to replace a HW heater.
Self help on the internet can be of great value in saving $, if you have a modicum of talent and willing to follow instructions.
Or is there a law against self-improvement of real property?
Rust appeared in bath tub water. Wife found. Not happy. I flushed until clear. Hot water appears to wane far earlier than before when showering or drawing a bath. But here is my question/remark. So it seems that the sediment remaining in the tank is mitigating the heating of the water from the NG heater. I was thinking of getting a long handled pipe brush, running it down the anode hole, and scrubbing around until the sediment has been removed. Then replace the anode with a new one, fire it up, and see if that helps. Seems like it should work. Comments?
I’ll check into that.
The upgrades probably added a few hundred $ to the cost, I’m sure.
The rods have an outer material that corrodes away until there is just a center “wire” that remains so there is no real way to restore them. However, removing for inspection and reinstalling them (if they are still serviceable) is generally okay. The rods are fairly inexpensive if they are
not they type combined with hot water outlet.
Tankless HWH often require greater capacity circuitry than homes built earlier than a few years ago ( read “not for point of use HWHs); that is where the issue is unless you have the time, skill and resources to cut walls, drill floor and run heavier often 220/240 v wiring and upgrade your service panel.
Do NOT come crying to us if you decide to stay in your blue state.
I won’t.
But thanks to everybody for the nice big shoulders.
You guys are always there, even if it’s for a well deserved kick in the ass.
Being a woman doesn’t help much, either.
I’ve had to grow a pair in these situations and I’m not sure I like that.
BABY POWDER HELPS
I thought it was Micatin.
Watch out for a/c repairmen. They will turn off the Freon and claim you need a whole new unit. Learn the tricks, turn it back on yourself and send the cheater off your property.
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