Also, should I try and buy the heater myself or would it actually be more cost efficient to go through the plumber/contractor?
Best if you let the plumber take care of the job in full, water heater not small to fit ina car or handle up or down stairs, he will provide the warantee. It will cost about the same or 10% more. Water heaters differ in price from gas to electric, with years of warantee on them any where from 3 years to 10 to life time.
Water heaters are pretty straight forward. always easier to let the pros do it, of course. If you do it yourself, run you $400 plus time and sweat. In the Houston area, typical water heater swap out is $400 plus $400 for 50 gallon water heater, so $800 total. tankless heaters are easily double that.
The plumber should get a discout at his/her supply store so if you do get it through them the price should be about the same. Your plumber will be more likely to get to the project faster if they are installing the heater that they bought over installing one the homeowner bought, and may not even work for your situation(ie gas vs. electric)
Changing a water heater is not a small task. Some of the main concerns is related to it being gas or electric. Both can be a hazardous if you dont know what you are doing. Beyond that it is not too bad. but getting electrocuted or having a gas leak is not good. Shutting the water off and draining the heater is not bad but if the valve leaks you have another problem. We support people doing their own plumbing repairs when it is a small task. In this case it is better to use a licensed contractor.
Total price varies depending on where you live. It ranges generally 700-1000 for an electric and 800-1300 for a gas tank type heater. For tankless heaters they run around 1000-1200 just for the heater in a gas model.
So it would be better to get a few quotes and go with the contractor you feel comfortable with, sometimes the lowest price does not get a quality job.
50 gal gas you will pay 875.00 plus another 100. to bring it up to code if its not allready Few different kinds of water heaters as for specific kinds of venting so let the plumber come out to see what kind you need to save you some trouble.
We will remove your old water heater and install a new one for you - but only if you purchase the water heater from us. The main reason: that’s the only way we can provide a warranty. We are certified distributors and installers of water heaters from the major manufacturers including Bradford White and Rheem. Right now we are offering a new 40-gallon Bradford White residential water for $799 - including installation. In addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, we also provide our own exclusive warranty on our labor. A tankless water heater will cost you more, but will probably save you a lot of money on reduced water and heating costs.
First question regarding gas or electric. In my area, I get 500 for an electric and 650 for a gas this encludes the removal of the old water heater and the new ones come with a 6 year warranty. To answer the second if you know exactly what you are looking for have a truck to move it and the man power to get it where it needs to go then by all means buy it…
I always say let the Pros do the Hard work, just in case something goes wrong then you will know its not on you. Straight swap out of the unit including hot and cold flex supply lines and disposal of old unit will run you up to $380 Labor + unit price.
You are looking at about $800 to remove and install a water heater
There are too many variables for this to be a straight forward answer. Your location, the size, the location of the heater, the source of heat (gas, electric), tank or tank-less, the condition of the parts around the heater (such as supply lines, isolation valves, gas valves, etc.) Now due to the fact that the government has updated the energy efficiency ratings of tank type heaters the cost of the units are expected to rise 40%. Your best bet is to expect to pay in the area of $1,000.00 give or take the variables listed above. But keep in mind that you or a unqualified handyman and/or plumber can do more damage than help. Check references and reviews. If the plumber is trying to sell you a pan or a supply line or wants to strap the heater properly, don’t assume he is up selling you and trying to gouge you. Most of the time the additional items that your QUALIFIED plumber suggests to you are for your own good. To save you time and money, before you call a plumber locate your water heaters manufactures label. Write down the size, whether it is gas, LP, or electric and in some cases write down the model number. This is great information to have when you call your local plumbing contractor. It may also save time and money to take a quick picture of the water heater and send it via text or email to your plumber. That way he can come prepared with the correct heater and any additional parts that he may need to complete the installation. This will save you money on paying for addition trips to the supply house.
Depends on a number of things, type of heater, size, requirements with the state and local codes. call your local plumbing company for a exact price. If you need a water heater replacement in Massachusetts call us @ James N. Zaharias Mechanical Services - 339-293-2451.