Replacing A Water Heater?

Question

Our water heater is no longer usable. We need to get it replaced. This is a gas water heater so we will replace it with another gas water heater. Unfortunately, it is located in a very inconvenient spot in our kitchen. Hard to access and well none of us know anything about water heaters. My question is, where should I go and who should I hire to replace my water heater? How much should I be looking at to spend on this? We live in the Houston area but we welcome suggestions from any parts of the country. Thank You.

Answer 1

From the context of the question, I'll guess that you are not going to replace the water heater yourselves.

That being the case, call several local plumbing companies (at least three), describe the situation, and, if they all want to come out and estimate the job, invite them to do so.

Listen to the advice form each. Don't necessarily accept the lowest bid - it may not be the best offer in the long run. Try to do some "homework" up front on gas fired water heaters. Energy efficient models often qualify you for rebates from you local utility.

Once you have all the info you can glean, make your decision. My ballpark guess would be around $700 for the deal.

Answer 2

Gas water heaters have sky rocketed the last few years due to federal regulations pertaining to flammable vapors. Used to be, they were significantly cheaper than electric, but that has reversed.

If you are reasonably handy with tools, you can do it. When you purchase the heater, also purchase a new flexible gas line and hot/cold feeder lines. Also purchase pipe dope for gas lines, and Teflon tape for the water lines.

If there isn't a specific turnoff for the heater, purchase that as well, and any pipe nipples. Use black pipe and not galvanized or copper.

Turn the gas off. Turn the cold water to the heater off. Open a couple of faucets to relieve the pressure on the hot water line.

Use a bucket and/or a hose to drain the tank. Either open the blow off valve or remove one of the lines to release the vacuum that develops when the water drains. It will take a while to drain.

Replace the flexible water lines and the flexible gas line while it is draining. Use teflon tape to wrap the male thread ends in a clockwise rotation.

Replace the flexible gas line, use pipe dope on the male threads and tighten securely. Mix up a mixture of soapy water that sudses some. Turn on the gas to the heater, grab a handfull of the sudsy water, and apply it to the connections. If it bubbles you either don't have the connection tight enough, or you don't have enough pipe dope.

If you choose to have someone else do it, usually code requires a plumber. The cost of labor usually runs as high as the cost of the heater.

Good Luck

Answer 3

A licensed plumber can do this for you. Depending on his paperwork, he may or may not have to have the gas company inspect before firing it up.

I can't make an estimate as you described physical issues with access. A typical accessable basement install would be $150 to $250 on top of the price of the water heater. (You can price those at Lowes, Home Depot, etc..)

Answer 4

If you arent going to do it yourself.. Hire a licenged plumber to avoid any problems...

Water heaters are pretty easy actually.. only 3 connections water in and out and 1 gas line.. pretty standardised too for the most part.. under most circumstances its a bolt in operation so to speak... But with the licensed plumber you'll be up to code and all that jazz (replacement typically requires a code inspection by your county believe it or not)

Answer 5

A plumber or handyman both can tackle this job. Someone I know here in the midwest was quoted $650 including the waterheater. The heater by itself is around $300 for a base model.

Answer 6

If you have a local hardware store in your neighborhood I would recommend this. they can usually have it installed for you by an dependable person at a reasonable price and they and they are more accommodating than a big box store and the price is usually less or at least the same. The big box store subcontracts the installation makes money on it . The local hardware store usually knows people who do the installation and recommends them.

Answer 7

With your admitted lack of knowledge go to somewhere like Lowe's, Home Depot or other DIY type hardware store. Take along a modle number of the old and maybe a picture of it and get cost to have them replace it and remove the old. Their work is guaranteed, your's is not.

Answer 8

I would go to Home Depot or Lowes, they not only service what they sell, they install at a reasonable price.

Answer 9

we just got a handy man. i forget the price since it was a couple years ago. but just about every handy man can do it. just requires a little bit of welding and tying down. not too hard.