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Calling plumbing experts

BCClone said:
Buy one of those turkey fryer bases. Put it under your water heater and everytime you want to shower go down and fire it up 3-5 minutes before hand. Will save you money also.
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Coworker/Friend has his water heater go out ~3 months after buying his first house. He was heating water on the stove and using a camping shower for around a month until he finally replaced the heater.

Yes, he was cheap. Yes, he was in his mid 20s, and yes, he was single.
 
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on demand? When I had one installed they dumped the vent right out the wall. At least youd have more water than the tank.

Good luck, thats crazy pricey (my on demand was about 2700 but ten years ago)
 
JM4CY said:
I have a feeling I’ll be starting a similar thread next Fall but for a furnace
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Just installed a trane furnace for an 1800 sq foot house around Christmas. 96% cost me just over 3700 after a 180 dollar Alliant rebate. Maybe a 97%. Can’t remember
 
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Mechanical Engineer here who's been in the commercial HVAC / plumbing / fire protection for about 15 years. I've also replaced my own water heater multiple times in a number of houses.

1. Power vent isn't that complicated.
2. Don't know what all they intend to do but $5300 seems too expensive. Get as detailed a quote as you can so you can compare scopes better between estimates. Distinguish between "must" do and "nice to do".
3. You can do everything yourself, except maybe sweating the copper. But there's ways to do that, too, if you are so inclined.
4. As @clone4life82 said, post some pictures and we can provide better advice.
 
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ruxCYtable said:
First off, I live in Colorado and everything is more expensive here. I'm getting estimates to replace my water heater. I'm being told because the original install was power vent, I have no other option for my home, and it will just be $5300 for a 50-gallon. I think I last replaced a 50-gallon water heater in Iowa for about $750 installed. Are they being honest with me that I have no other options? Am I just screwed?
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Go tank less. I save about 100 gallons of propane a year and have endless hot water. Tank less can recirculate hot water.
 
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ruxCYtable said:
First off, I live in Colorado and everything is more expensive here. I'm getting estimates to replace my water heater. I'm being told because the original install was power vent, I have no other option for my home, and it will just be $5300 for a 50-gallon. I think I last replaced a 50-gallon water heater in Iowa for about $750 installed. Are they being honest with me that I have no other options? Am I just screwed?
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That is unbelievable. Home Depot has a 50 gallon Rheem listed for $1350. You are gonna have to move.
 
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JBone84 said:
Run the numbers for your natural gas cost and electric cost and see how quick you burn thru the $2k savings.
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The savings disappeared quickly. The plumber said he could do it for $3200. But the electrician wanted $2200 to run 220 to the basement.
NebrClone said:
Go tank less. I save about 100 gallons of propane a year and have endless hot water. Tank less can recirculate hot water.
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Quote for tankless was over $11,000.
 
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I would recommend for anyone replacing a water heater these days to check out if installing a tankless is worth your investment. They do cost more up front but they last way longer than a tank water heater does if you maintain it and also are much more energy efficient which will pay for itself over time too. You may be looking at around $2500 or more for a good unit + install but even a tank heater is going to run you around $1000 installed these days and depending on how hard the water is in your area plus how diligently you drain it to keep it from getting lime build up you could wind up replacing that in about 10 years again where a tankless should last you 20 or more if you do the yearly descaling maintenance on it.

Just a thought... I have replaced a tank water in 1 house and then moved into one that already had a tankless and I am planning to replace it with another tankless whenever that day comes as the cost saving benefits plus having an unlimited amount of near instant hot water has been great.
 
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ruxCYtable said:
The savings disappeared quickly. The plumber said he could do it for $3200. But the electrician wanted $2200 to run 220 to the basement.

Quote for tankless was over $11,000.
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4 years ago $2200 installed
 
Neptune78 said:
Just replaced my 40 gallon power vent last month for $1650 installed. Went with Bradford White as it is American made. Most of the big box heaters are crap.
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Thread made me look. My direct vent 50 gallon AO Smith is 20 years old.

Will probably blow up tonight on me now that I know it's that old. :rolleyes:
 
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ruxCYtable said:
The savings disappeared quickly. The plumber said he could do it for $3200. But the electrician wanted $2200 to run 220 to the basement.

Quote for tankless was over $11,000.
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Wait, is your basement full (full full) of razer blades and lemon juice? That might explain these numbers.
 
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OP, you are getting f'ed on these estimates. Find a few independent plumbers if you haven't already.
 
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