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NFT: Question on water heaters

Phil S : 1/14/2018 11:29 pm
I need to replace mine ASAP. I am not doing my own install. It is a 40 gallon gas fired. Of course I want a good price. Where should I look, Home Depot? Lowes? Sears?
Electric? I  
Run with 81 : 1/14/2018 11:42 pm : link
Where do you live?
With my glasses on  
Run with 81 : 1/14/2018 11:44 pm : link
I see gas fired. Blind idiot I am...
Water Heater?  
BigBlue2007 : 1/14/2018 11:47 pm : link
Gas will require a little more plumbing than an electric water heater. I would check Home Depot, Lowes, or Sears. Since you're getting a professional install consider the cost of installation, delivery, permit fees (if applicable) and the actual cost of the unit combined.

Sears has Kenmore Miser Water Heaters. I think Home Depot has Rheem. I heard most are made by the same company. Lowes has AO Smith.

Home Depot and Lowes have a lot more on hand if you need it ASAP. Sears may have some on hand, but they're in rough shape now.

My condo has a Kenmore water heater and it has gone 6 years no issues so far. My house Bradford White.

Good luck!
RE: Electric? I  
Phil S : 1/14/2018 11:50 pm : link
In comment 13789268 Run with 81 said:
Quote:
Where do you live?


Northern California
Does 40 gallons fit your needs?  
Giant John : 1/14/2018 11:50 pm : link
I went from 40 to 70 gallons. With two teenagers it was a wise move...
RE: Water Heater?  
Phil S : 1/14/2018 11:52 pm : link
In comment 13789272 BigBlue2007 said:
Quote:
Gas will require a little more plumbing than an electric water heater. I would check Home Depot, Lowes, or Sears. Since you're getting a professional install consider the cost of installation, delivery, permit fees (if applicable) and the actual cost of the unit combined.

Sears has Kenmore Miser Water Heaters. I think Home Depot has Rheem. I heard most are made by the same company. Lowes has AO Smith.

Home Depot and Lowes have a lot more on hand if you need it ASAP. Sears may have some on hand, but they're in rough shape now.

My condo has a Kenmore water heater and it has gone 6 years no issues so far. My house Bradford White.

Good luck!


It's a replacement, wouldn't they use the existing plumbing largely?
RE: Does 40 gallons fit your needs?  
Phil S : 1/14/2018 11:52 pm : link
In comment 13789275 Giant John said:
Quote:
I went from 40 to 70 gallons. With two teenagers it was a wise move...


49 is fine, just me and my wife
RE: RE: Water Heater?  
BigBlue2007 : 1/14/2018 11:56 pm : link
In comment 13789276 Phil S said:
Quote:



It's a replacement, wouldn't they use the existing plumbing largely?


Yes but sometimes the new tank is a different size and some pipe cutting is needed.
Local plumber?  
oghwga : 1/15/2018 7:23 am : link
Codes have changed. You may need to increase your flue size. If you know you want a standard 40 gallon you should be able to get a price over the phone.
If you want to establish a relationship with a local plumber, so you have someone you can call in an emergency, spend the extra $$ it may cost you.
I just replaced mine ....  
Beer Man : 1/15/2018 7:50 am : link
Shop around otherwise you can get screwed on the price (I used Angie's list and Home Advisor). The first guy that I brought in to give an estimate quoted me $2400 (I think he could see the sense of urgency we had and tried to take advantage of it). The other estimates I received afterwards were $1150 to $1600. In the end, my step father (who is a license contractor) offered to help, and I did it myself. Bought the 50 gal AO Smith from Lowes. It actually wasn't a difficult job, however I would not have known what to do without my step-dad's help.
I've had good luck with using Home Depot for a replacement. Used  
Giants61 : 1/15/2018 8:25 am : link
their contractor who picked up the unit and delivered and installed it and secured the permit. It was gas fired and I did upgrade to an 80-gal unit at the time. I will advise you to get a CO meter if you don't have one in the immediate vicinity of the heater. I recall the contractor adjusting the exhaust flu several times with his hand held CO meter to insure the flu was operating without any leaks.
"The other estimates I received afterwards were $1150 to $1600"  
Mark from Jersey : 1/15/2018 8:56 am : link
That is about right depending on the quality of the tank.

DO NOT call your gas provider to do the repair/replacement. The cost will be at least double what any local guy will quote.
If you are gas, get a  
section125 : 1/15/2018 9:01 am : link
tankless heater. Only heats water on demand. Save major $$$ not keep the tea kettle heating 24 hrs per day. A friend has one in So Carolina in a big house. Plenty of hot water even with guests. Probably last a lot longer than the old tanks.
RE: If you are gas, get a  
Beer Man : 1/15/2018 9:40 am : link
In comment 13789512 section125 said:
Quote:
tankless heater. Only heats water on demand. Save major $$$ not keep the tea kettle heating 24 hrs per day. A friend has one in So Carolina in a big house. Plenty of hot water even with guests. Probably last a lot longer than the old tanks.
Did my research, Tankless heaters should last at least twice as long as a tank, but they are also considerably more cost wise to have installed. I debated and choose the tank, to save the install cost, and because I don't plan to be in my current home long enough to see the benefits.
tankless have a ten to fifteen  
oghwga : 1/15/2018 10:11 am : link
year ROI. Good if you're short on space and you want to spend money to save energy-very admirable- but can be triple the price of a standard hot water heater. Most require AC power to operate so no hot water if the power is out which is not a huge deal but something to think about.
RE: tankless have a ten to fifteen  
section125 : 1/15/2018 10:21 am : link
In comment 13789702 oghwga said:
Quote:
year ROI. Good if you're short on space and you want to spend money to save energy-very admirable- but can be triple the price of a standard hot water heater. Most require AC power to operate so no hot water if the power is out which is not a huge deal but something to think about.


found this on tank vs tankless
Tank vs Tankless - ( New Window )
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