Water Heater Prices Going Through the Roof

[asphaltgambler]

Recently the water heater in our 20+ year old home has started seeping from the tank. Call I guy I use / trust, he comes looks at it, verifies that tank is toast.

OK, I said give me an estimate out the door for a quality replacement. So he says " BTW, just so you know, prices have increased substantially...........18% since Jan 1, and that increase is over what they were in 2020"

I was surprised........to say the least. A 50 gallon heater w/a mixing valve, installed is $2200. Including a 10% discount. I seriously thought the whole thing wouldn't be any more than say $1500. Now I dont know who to blame the huge price increase on....China?

Oh, also forgot to add that good luck in actually getting a water heater, apparently there is a shortage as well. One I looked at from Rheem with a lifetime warranty fiberglass tank is on national backorder with no ETA.....

[GH85Carrera]

Likely lots of them damaged from the cold and power outage. Even a water heat will freeze when the temps at well below zero and no electricity for days.

Only if someone was proactive and shut off the water at the meter, and drained the water heater and lines in the house before it froze would be OK.

I bet plumbing supplies are hard to find in Texas right now.

[Jims5543]

I was shocked by this so I jumped on Home Depot. I can go into my store here in Florida and grab a 50 gallon Electric Hot water heater right now for $400-1350 depending on how fancy I want to go. The $1350 Rheem is a hybrid model.

The basic 50 gallon 4500 watt Rheem is $409.

Last winter my heater had failed, it was about 12 years old. I called a plumber to do an install and was quoted $1200 all in. I had to wait a week for an appointment.

I took 1 cold shower and said screw it, went to Home Depot, bought a HWH and some shark fitting valve/hose kits for the hot and cold water sides and had the new unit installed in 20 minutes for around $500 all in. I have a 40 gallon unit.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Water-Heaters/Pick-Up-Today/50/N-5yc1vZbqlyZ1z175a5Z1z18m9r?sortby=bestmatch&sortorder=none

edit #2

Shark Bite fittings / hoses, no need to sweat pipes. the next HWH, if I still own the house will take 10 minutes to change out.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-3-4-in-Push-to-Connect-x-3-4-in-FIP-Water-Heater-Connection-Kit-24680/300593719?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-300593719-_-N&

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I was shocked by this so I jumped on Home Depot. I can go into my store here in Florida and grab a 50 gallon Electric Hot water heater right now for $400-1350 depending on how fancy I want to go. The $1350 Rheem is a hybrid model.

The basic 50 gallon 4500 watt Rheem is $409.

Last winter my heater had failed, it was about 12 years old. I called a plumber to do an install and was quoted $1200 all in. I had to wait a week for an appointment.

I took 1 cold shower and said screw it, went to Home Depot, bought a HWH and some shark fitting valve/hose kits for the hot and cold water sides and had the new unit installed in 20 minutes for around $500 all in. I have a 40 gallon unit.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Water-Heaters/Pick-Up-Today/50/N-5yc1vZbqlyZ1z175a5Z1z18m9r?sortby=bestmatch&sortorder=none

edit #2

Shark Bite fittings / hoses, no need to sweat pipes. the next HWH, if I still own the house will take 10 minutes to change out.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-3-4-in-Push-to-Connect-x-3-4-in-FIP-Water-Heater-Connection-Kit-24680/300593719?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-300593719-_-N&

I replaced our water heater in the garage of our old house years ago. It was natural gas, but I assume electric isn't any/much more complicated. The install process wasn't difficult. I can't imagine paying, unless maybe it was in the attic. Then it might be worth it just to not have to deal with getting the thing up there.

[cabmandone]

Prices on about everything have gone through the roof. You name it, prices are probably considerably higher now than last year at this time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Prices on about everything have gone through the roof. You name it, prices are probably considerably higher now than last year at this time.

That does seem to be the case.

[biosurfer1]

$2200? That's crazy talk.

Unless you are changing technology (i.e going from natural gas to electric) or upsizing a large amount, you are talking about taking an empty tank with 3 connections and replacing it with a same sized tank with those same 3 connections.

I did a like for like replacement of my water heater a couple years ago and using sharkbite fittings, it took me maybe an hour, max.

[dad911]

Not as much as plywood has gone up.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by dad911

Not as much as plywood has gone up.

sheet of osb is 45dollars locally

[dad911]

Over $50 for 3/4" edge gold, and out of stock. We were paying $28 last month.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I was shocked by this so I jumped on Home Depot. I can go into my store here in Florida and grab a 50 gallon Electric Hot water heater right now for $400-1350 depending on how fancy I want to go. The $1350 Rheem is a hybrid model.

The basic 50 gallon 4500 watt Rheem is $409.

Last winter my heater had failed, it was about 12 years old. I called a plumber to do an install and was quoted $1200 all in. I had to wait a week for an appointment.

I took 1 cold shower and said screw it, went to Home Depot, bought a HWH and some shark fitting valve/hose kits for the hot and cold water sides and had the new unit installed in 20 minutes for around $500 all in. I have a 40 gallon unit.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Water-Heaters/Pick-Up-Today/50/N-5yc1vZbqlyZ1z175a5Z1z18m9r?sortby=bestmatch&sortorder=none

edit #2

Shark Bite fittings / hoses, no need to sweat pipes. the next HWH, if I still own the house will take 10 minutes to change out.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-3-4-in-Push-to-Connect-x-3-4-in-FIP-Water-Heater-Connection-Kit-24680/300593719?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-300593719-_-N&

Yup it’s not hard! Heck I just put on one of those $1300 Rheems and even with all the extra plumbing it requires I was still done in about 4 hours.

[asphaltgambler]

Yes - I know I could absolutely do it myself, but right now I do not have the time. Plus I dont have a running pickup, someone needs to help me unload it, carry it in, take the old one out to the dump. From start to finish there's more involved than a couple of fittings

[porsche930dude]

My friend is a hvac guy he says he wants to start a company that only does water heaters because its so easy and makes the most money lol I agree with him iv done plenty. The only part that sucks is when you have to haul it out of the basement full of water because the drain is clogged or its just easier not to.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

I was shocked by this so I jumped on Home Depot. I can go into my store here in Florida and grab a 50 gallon Electric Hot water heater right now for $400-1350 depending on how fancy I want to go. The $1350 Rheem is a hybrid model.

The basic 50 gallon 4500 watt Rheem is $409.
-snip-

That is the exact same model I was looking at last December when I posted my thread about going tankless.

Back then it was only $329, so it went up about $80 in just 4 months.

[Baz]

I wonder if we should start buying stuff and stowing it away for future use.

Buy before the prices go up more.

The only downside is if the model's technology is improved.

Too bad it's not like computers which keep getting better and the prices still stay about the same or go lower (don't they? I'm not in the business).

[pwd72s]

Anybody else here recall the Jimmy Carter years?

[Bugsinrugs]

Water heater in my townhouse was sounding weird. I opened the door to the furnace water heater room and saw flames pulsating from under the unit. Holy ****.... I quickly shut off the gas. Lucky me as I was only in the area for a visit. I got a quote for $2000. Thought that was too much so I ran to the plumbing supply and picked up a Rheem 50 gallon for $750. Called a plumber that works on my rentals and he charged me $300. I would have done it myself but my tools were at home 135 miles away. Supply house told me that it not so much the tanks that go bad it’s the electronics. Those parts are in short supply and most of the water heaters come from Mexico. The ones made in US are back ordered.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Anybody else here recall the Jimmy Carter years?

Vaguely. I was in college and working full time. I'm not sure where Ford/Carter/the other guy started and ended.

[908/930]

I think you are being bent over a little with that price. Ok a lot.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

My friend is a hvac guy he says he wants to start a company that only does water heaters because its so easy and makes the most money lol I agree with him iv done plenty. The only part that sucks is when you have to haul it out of the basement full of water because the drain is clogged or its just easier not to.

There’s an outfit in town called WH2O; water heaters only. I don’t think they install, but they show up at a scheduled time, you or your plumber has the old heater empty and disconnected, the haul the old one away and bring the new on to your install area. Awesome!