they were able to do 2 toilet and 2 faucets in an hour? plumbling is a numbers game to me . you bid high for 10 jobs. 6 of them will bite and the other 4 find other options.
Plumbing rates ?
- Thread starter Hall
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I don't think they were too busy. His big selling point was he'd get it done today (at that price). I pointed out to him that we're standing in our main unit/space that has a working water heater so we're in no hurry at all. He's the one that went out to his truck and "called the office" and then came back with a $200 discount.
This is at work and to be frank, "not my problem".
I'm just the one getting quotes....None of the three made up stories that it will be a difficult job....
I've replaced a water heater at home but I won't do it at someone else's place (other than my kids). I'd help a friend if they asked though.The add'l piping in the background is the incoming water lines for the 8-10 units in the building we're in. We just happen to be in the middle where they all come in via this closet.
Yes they did 2 toilets and 2 faucets in an hour. 2 of them working. They charge $180 for a service call, whether it takes 5 minutes or an hour.
They throw out a number like that to see if you will bite. Many people do. If you don't, they can "call the office".
Years ago I met a retired plumber, Mr. Nicholas Lopez, who helps me. A really nice man. I always give him more than he asks.
Years ago I met a retired plumber, Mr. Nicholas Lopez, who helps me. A really nice man. I always give him more than he asks.
I think all service providers like this keep tabs on their competition to know what others are charging so they're all at least in the same ballpark. They were DOUBLE the rate of two others. When he told me $3100, I told him "I've got quotes for HALF that amount" and that's when he called the office and dropped it .... $200. Still 2x the quote of one of the other companies.
20 gal tank water heater $350,We've had (3) estimates done for replacing a 19-gallon unit (it can be smaller but I doubt the cost changes much) and for the heater and labor the amounts have been: $1450, $1750, and $3100.
Ariston 20 gal. 1500 Watt Point of Use Electric Water Heater ARI POU-20 120V 1500W - The Home Depot
The Ariston 20 Gallon point of use electric water heater is ideal for providing stored hot water right at the point of use. These models can be installed in locations where it is not practical to run long hot water pipes, such as under counters, in cabinets, or in other confined areas. It can be...
www.homedepot.com
or a tankless for $250,
Rheem 3.5 kW, 120-Volt Non-Thermostatic Tankless Electric Water Heater, Commercial RTEH3512 - The Home Depot
Rheem's commercial handwashing portfolio consists of Thermostatic Tankless Electric Water Heater and Non-Thermostatic Tankless Electric Water Heaters. Each of these tankless electric water heaters can
www.homedepot.com
2 hours max labor to install. Anything over $600 is a ripoff. They see you're a business and not paying for it yourself so they figure you don't care about the price.
A friend of mine and I replaced my old hot water heater in an afternoon without any major tools. He did use shark bites and they're still holding 6 years later.
They must have people who will for over whatever price. It's a bummer when a local areas have people who apparently are ok with parting with their money.
I'd go with the 1450$ A plus is that you know their work is good 
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- Nov 24, 2023
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I'm lucky . My son is a builder and when I need plumbing work done , he sends one of his subs over . They went to school together and we've known him for years . He fixed a broken water line in my yard after hours for $150.
An office, I’d do point of use water heaters if there’s electricity nearby.
Yeah.
I got a quote for $4000 to replace my 75 gal HWH. I can get the HWH delivered to my house for $1500. $2500 for installation is outrageous. It does include $350 for the permit, but still....
Having anyone come out is very expensive.
~5 years ago we had our rental propane tank that was in a bad location taken away and bought our own. Long story short, we needed a new gas line ran from the furnace to the west side of the house. Maybe 20’ of pipe. I was quoted $1600 by a place we had used for an emergency call in the past. I couldn’t believe it and told the lady it seemed high after she bluntly asked when we’d like to be put on the books. I didn’t shop around, but she said that was the going rate. I said okay and that was it. Ran the line myself in yellow coated stainless flex for $100. Not pretty, but done right and bonded to the house’s ground, which it wasn’t before.
$1600 was high in 2019. I hate to guess what it is now.
~5 years ago we had our rental propane tank that was in a bad location taken away and bought our own. Long story short, we needed a new gas line ran from the furnace to the west side of the house. Maybe 20’ of pipe. I was quoted $1600 by a place we had used for an emergency call in the past. I couldn’t believe it and told the lady it seemed high after she bluntly asked when we’d like to be put on the books. I didn’t shop around, but she said that was the going rate. I said okay and that was it. Ran the line myself in yellow coated stainless flex for $100. Not pretty, but done right and bonded to the house’s ground, which it wasn’t before.
$1600 was high in 2019. I hate to guess what it is now.
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In 2016, embarrassingly we paid $1100 for a 12 year 40 gal. This included like $80 for a ball valve shut off to be added. The lesser options ranged down to $800. Also they took care of a permit and a town inspector showed up months later.
My relatives and old friend have DIY this job. I will say the soldering is much much neater done by the plumber than friends/relatives. This stuff is no win….our hvac job July 2020, online the condenser alone is like 35% more on the mfg website (I have to say wth it shows up to $16,800??? Looks like they finally changed the pic, when we got ours the web showed the old gen making me think I was taken {Trane})
Many trades people who work for companies are labeled 1099 independent contractors for that company.
They can work off a base compiled price which is a min the company will accept and for them to get paid for the job.
They then can build whatever they want into the price and either keep the difference or share the “enhanced markup” with the company depending on the arrangement.
They have the freedom to extract as much money as they can from the job
They can work off a base compiled price which is a min the company will accept and for them to get paid for the job.
They then can build whatever they want into the price and either keep the difference or share the “enhanced markup” with the company depending on the arrangement.
They have the freedom to extract as much money as they can from the job
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I replaced the old one myself and wasn't really that hard. The worst was that it had hard lines running to the top of the heater and the new one was a different height so I cut the pipes shorter and got adapters that converted it to a hose which screwed into the water heater. I didn't do so well on the first one but the other one looks a lot better. I also added a junction box for the wiring since it was wired directly from the breaker box to the water heater and wasn't long enough for the replacement.
