Update on water heater issues - P cars are getting me screwed

[cantdrv55]

The moment the thieving plumbers see the cars in the garage, I swear they jack up the estimates 150%. Over the phone estimate for complete installs: 50 gal tank - $1550, tankless - $4000 +/-. On site "estimate adjustment: 50 gal tank - $2594, tankless hybrid - $5100!!! Fuch, I can buy a 914 or two with that kind of money! Waiting for a visit from a third plumbing company now. This one wants $50 just to come out for an estimate! I am living in the wrong part of the country.

[dhoward]

Install it yourself. It's just plumbing.

[Heel n Toe]

Pull those cars outta there and park 'em down the street somewhere.

Do you have any neighbors you can borrow an "everyman" car from?

[RANDY P]

it's even funnier yet that they think Porsche owners are stupid enough to pay like that.

Mentality of the lower-middle class and below- if you own a Porsche you just like to pay lots of money for no reason.

Like dealing with millionaires- they didn't get that way being stupid with money....

rjp

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Install it yourself. It's just plumbing.

No kidding. An afternoon and 700 bucks at Home Depot. Done deal.

If you can't do basic work like installing an HW heater you have no business owning a house.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Install it yourself. It's just plumbing.

Old house, atypical location, building inspector in this town is a nazi.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

If you can't do basic work like installing an HW heater you have no business owning a house.

fu pop

[Evans, Marv]

Wow, $4K seems like an awful lot to install a tankless water heater. You already have the plumbing, gas, & the vent right there. It's not like they have to install everything from 100 ft away. Seems to me it shouldn't be more than around $2,400 to $2,800. If you're replacing the water with a water heater, is it really necessary to have the inspector come out?

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Old house, atypical location, building inspector in this town is a nazi.

You need a building inspector to replace a water heater?
Really?
Installation for a 50 gal around here is $200.

[Heel n Toe]

Are the plumbers you're getting estimates from just outta the phone book, or were they recommended by family, friends, and/or coworkers?

Always look to see if the local BBB has any unresolved beefs listed, no matter who recommended them.

We're lucky... our plumber is a great guy I shared an apartment with years ago.

Hope this gets better... but I really would get those P-cars outta there.

[kaisen]

I think I could fly there, first class, stay in a five star hotel, pay a limo to drive me to Home Depot, buy the necessary tools, replace your hot water heater, get a massage, and still be in for less than $2600.

When do you want me to come out??

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I think I could fly there, first class, stay in a five star hotel, pay a limo to drive me to Home Depot, buy the necessary tools, replace your hot water heater, get a massage, and still be in for less than $2600.

When do you want me to come out??

Can I carry your tools?

[cantdrv55]

Building inspector came out to check the new furnace/AC install. All that checked OK but dinged me on the water heater because exhaust violates code. Nazi inspector won't sign off until I get that fixed. Where the WH needs to sit, I would need a short model, no more than 50" tall but it has to be 50 gal because of the 3 baths. Cannot find a residential model that fits those specs (I only went to Home Depot and Lowes) so have to go commercial. So many problems owning an older home. If it weren't for the view, I'd have moved.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Are the plumbers you're getting estimates from just outta the phone book, or were they recommended by family, friends, and/or coworkers?

Always look to see if the local BBB has any unresolved beefs listed, no matter who recommended them.

We're lucky... our plumber is a great guy I shared an apartment with years ago.

Hope this gets better... but I really would get those P-cars outta there.

I found the plumbers from Yelp. I do have a family member who owns a large plumbing/heating/AC company in the area. Even amongst the family, he is known to be very expensive. If I'm gonna get screwed, I might as well get screwed by family. His "estimator" is coming on Monday.

[Heel n Toe]

Is it code that it "has to be 50 gal because of the 3 baths?"

Or is it your preference because you think it is needed?

If it's not code, you could rethink this; how many times a week are all 3 showers going at the same time?

With a little bit of "common sense shower scheduling," you could be "back in bidness" and only having to put a 30 or a 40 gal in there.

[vash]

you try pipe arts?

[vash]

show them your SC is no-op at the moment..swing the sympathy the other way..ahhah

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Is it code that it "has to be 50 gal because of the 3 baths?"

Or is it your preference because you think it is needed?

If it's not code, you could rethink this; how many times a week are all 3 showers going at the same time?

With a little bit of "common sense shower scheduling," you could be "back in bidness" and only having to put a 30 or a 40 gal in there.

Even 40 gal tanks are taller than 50". The only short ones I could find were either propane, electric or direct vent. None of those will work in my application.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by vash

you try pipe arts?

The Pipe Arts guy is out of the country on vacation and won't be back until January. My wife is freaked out about the building inspector's findings of carbon monoxide danger and wants the WH replaced yesterday.

[imcarthur]

Just for a data point - different country though - my quotes were: $2700 for Rinnai & $2900 & $3200 for Navien. Mine was an easy install. <12' water line. <6' for gas - straight through exterior wall to meter. 2 x 90 + 2' pipe in the exhaust. The Rinnai double walled exhaust pipe is expensive so that might jump your quote.

fwiw

Ian