Waterheater Problem

[Guest db99wj]

Waterheater started making an electrical shorting sound just a few minutes ago. Went and looked, a little wet on outside of it, rust mark down side coming from the front top panel where the thermostat adjustment is, opened it, water sitting at the bottom of the panel. This clear plastic wrap stuff was holding water, rusty water. :poop::poop::poop::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Guess it's time for a new one. Any thoughts?

[Guest db99wj]

Double tap, please delete the other one, titled just Waterheater please.

[Guest db99wj]

I really don't f'n need this right now.

[Guest db99wj]

I don't have time to do this myself or have my father in law come over to help, unless price is crazy, what do places like Homedopot and lowes charge to install one. I'm leaving Friday for a scout camp out all weekend, work is crazy.

Currently I have an electric 50 gallon 4500 watt Rheem, looking at the same gallon and watt in a GE model at Homedepot for $283 and a Whirlpool at Lowes, same stats and price.

[TripleDigitRide]

I had a 50 gallon tank replaced a few years ago, and the labor was about $300.

Edit: My girlfriend swears it was closer to $200 for the labor.

Edited September 23, 2009 by TripleDigitRide

[Guest db99wj]

Well ****, that is more than the water heater...

[TripleDigitRide]

Notice my Edit. Still not exactly cheap.

[Guest db99wj]

Just googled it, costhelper.com says $200-$400, depends on what has to be done. This is in a closet, off our den, easy to get too, it's a walk in closet. The pan is in place, it will require pipe cutting, and refitting, that's about it, hopefully will be closer to $200.

[Guest tnmale46]

probably closer to 100 here but not sure about that end of the state

[Guest db99wj]

I plugged it back in, i siphoned the water out, to see what happens, I like fireworks....anyway, the circuit breaker was spark'n like crazy..hoooray.

$100 that I could handle. I'm going to call lowes, Homedepot, and my boss knows some guys, see what I can get done. I'm going to be an ass. I will get the heater, they just need to show up....tomorrow.

[enfield]

Call Lowes and get a quote on installation. I believe it's around $200 including delivery and haulaway as long as you're replacing electric with electric (or gas with gas). I've done the job and it's not too difficult. If you stay with the same size heater, the electrical and water connections are not difficult. You can get flexible water connections if you don't already have them. Make sure you transport the new heater standing upright - they don't like to be transported lying down - tends to break the water fill tube inside the tank. Don't be concerned about brand differences between water heaters - they're all made by the same company.

[Mike.357]

Regulation electric 40 gallon water heater - 485 bucks installed. Well as of June 08 that was the price. Used the yellow pages to find a local plumber who did water heaters.

(its a Whirlpool)

I refuse to use Lowes or Home Depot if at all possible.

Edited September 23, 2009 by Mike.357
added make of heater

[Guest db99wj]

Homedepot is quoting 656 delivery, install, removal, testing, all parts and labor, permit (shelby county requires it), clean up. Sounds high.

Got some more calls to make.

Edited September 23, 2009 by db99wj

[saintsfanbrian]

That sounds high. Call General Plumbing.

The time you have spent worrying about it you could have replaced it yourself.

[Guest db99wj]

Father in law coming over this afternoon, we are going to do it.

Homedeopt are pushy folks in their quote department. She was determined for me to set everything up, right then, she even called the plumber to make sure he was available. They sound like they read off a script and are prompted multiple times to give disclaimers about parts and unknown factors could cause price to go up.

Lowes, still hasn't called me back. That in my book is bringing the suck.

Edited September 23, 2009 by db99wj

[Guest db99wj]

That sounds high. Call General Plumbing.

The time you have spent worrying about it you could have replaced it yourself.

No kidding. I will keep them in mind if we have "issues" Thankfully Allrite Plumbing is right around the corner from me if we need parts, they are a plumbing supply company.

[Guest logicprevails]

Edit: My girlfriend swears it was closer to $200 for the labor.

Gals are always saying things are smaller than they really are!

[Guest 1817ak47]

what kind of pipe do you have runing into and out of it??? pvc, galvanized steel, copper or that new flexible tubing, not really that difficult to replace, the type of plumbuing makes the biggest difference

[Guest db99wj]

Gals are always saying things are smaller than they really are!

Dude.....Seriously...........you owe me a keyboard.

[DWARREN123]

Very easy to install with a retro fit kit and wiring is almost a no brainer if the circuit is off.

I did it last year and prices really hit me for the water heater and then around $130 to install. I had them (Lowe's) deliver and I installed it.

Make sure the replacement is big enough and you have a good pan for the bottom and the drain is placed for easy draining.

Flushing/draining once a year helps in the life of the equipment plus the buildup if allowed to stay cuts down on the amount of heated water.

[Guest db99wj]

Very easy to install with a retro fit kit and wiring is almost a no brainer if the circuit is off.

I did it last year and prices really hit me for the water heater and then around $130 to install. I had them (Lowe's) deliver and I installed it.

Make sure the replacement is big enough and you have a good pan for the bottom and the drain is placed for easy draining.

Flushing/draining once a year helps in the life of the equipment plus the buildup if allowed to stay cuts down on the amount of heated water.

Not hard, I just don't have the right tools, my FIL does. I've cut pipe before, not very good, I've soldered before, not very good, but he has. We have a deep galvanized pan, with external exit, so we are good there. I've got a newer relef valve on top along with pipe, so we should be able to use the same one. Might have to pick up a few fittings. for the top of the heater, will know more when I get it and see what it comes with.

[Guest 1817ak47]

ok if you are considering doing it yourself to save money which I do almost everything myself.

1pvc pipe is the easiest. kid could do it.

2 copper pipe is trickier require more skill and more cost and a few more fancier tools

3 worst, if you have the iron w/galavanized outside, that is a pita cause everything has to be cut to very proper lengh and then threaded.

just my $.02 I am a cheap tightwad and can do almost anything myself, always do the research yourself first

[gregintenn]

I bought a plastic Marathon water heater from our local electric coop. I've had it for seven years, and have replaced one heating element and a leaky pop off valve. They were both still under warranty. All in all I really like it. It is 92 gallons, and you can't run it out of hot water! It looks like a port-o-let. I'm certain it won't rust. They make smaller sizes if you don't have room for one this large.

[Guest db99wj]

Ok. Went to HomeDepot, bought water heater, bought the flexible line prepackaged install kit, 2 bottles of Cutter Mosquito yard spray, opened a homedepot credit card and walked out the door spending $268 for heater, $18.88 for the 2 bottles of cutter, 19.47 for the install kit, which totals 306.35 with tax MINUS $50 bucks for the card I will cancel. So a grand total of $280.06!!!!!

So, $656 for them to do it, $280 for me to do it, so a savings of $376 to do it myself!!!!

Oh, it took an two and a half hours, from getting to HomeDepot, buying stuff, going home, uninstalling/draining old water heater, installing new one, filling it up, adjusting the thermostat, cutting my finger, making sure no leaks to finish clean up! Could have been done faster, but they take time to drain. The install kit makes everything so easy with the bendable piping and compression nuts. We did use copper on the overflow emergency pipe, but that is because it was already there, you can actually buy a pvc one that you don't have to put together and sweat it. This was way easier than I thought. You could very easily do this yourself.

[DWARREN123]

Good job and good experience. Saved some bucks in the bargain.