Replaced tankless water heater - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 03:22:21 pm
content: Last week tankless water heater broke.So I ordered a brand new unit, same exact model from Home Depot. $245 plus tax. There is this other shop, if I did my due diligence I could have gotten this same exact unit for $205 and it was in stock, so could just drive there instead of waiting for it to arrive. But anyway. Price to install it from an unlicensed plumber?$200. Licensed plumbers would take $500 or more.But even $200 seems excessive to me. I could see it costing $200 if you have to do brand new plumbing, but if you just replace the unit that seems excessive. So I DIY it myself.Disconnected power, it's 205 volts. Removed wire lume. Cut the water. Drained hot water pipes. Disconnected the plumbing.Good job would be to replace the crush washer, but there is simple no space to come and take it out with pliers, one would have to cut the pipe past the elbow and solder in a brand new elbow. That's too much work. I highly doubt that unlicensed plumber would mess with it. So I reused the crush washer that was there. Now I'm doing leak down test, just waiting for an hour or so, then I'll check for wet around the connection. Any sign of moisture would indicate a bad connection.Once that is done, I'll connect power and if the unit isn't DOA it will be ready to go.Oh, the problem on the old unit was corroded and separated wire from one of the heating elements. So it was fixable. I noticed it when I removed the old unit. However, old unit was installed back in 1998, it was time for it to go.I'm so taking a shower after I'm done with this one. Then I gonna go to windixie and get me a 12 pack.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:19:13 pm
content: Success!Leak down test was good, there was some wet at the far fitting, gave it 1/4 turn more, it's okey now. I'll be performing leak tests 1 week, 1 month down the road. It don't appear to be a problem right now.Unit fired up right away, I got hot water!

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:21:33 pm
content: Still don't see this job costing $200.$150 and that is only if you replace crash washer and nuts, which are provided with new unit, perhaps you can do it with a crash washer puller or you might have to redo both elbows. Then yes, this job would cost $150. Otherwise, the way I did it, $80 at most.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:33:50 pm
content: so how long did it take you? include the travel time from your last job,dont forget to add in the vehicle running costs to get from your last job to site.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 04:35:26 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on October 05, 2025, 04:21:33 pmCustomer calls you and confusingly and slowly explains the job needed - 15 minutesCustomer calls again the next day and tries to negotiate the price - 15 minutesYou drive to the customer - 30 minutes (assuming close)Do the job - 30 minutesCustomer wants to chat with you - 15 minutesDrive back - 30 minutesCustomer calls you back that the heater does not work. Explain to the customer not to turn off the heater but keep it on - 30 minutesCustomer calls again that the heater really does not work - 15 minutesDrive back to the customer - 30 minutesTurn the heater back on and put a large sticker next to it "don't turn this off" - 5 minutesDrive back home - 30 minutesBlock the customer's phone number and wonder why you do this job for just $200.Really, jobs of similar complexity are commonly billed at $5000 for very good reasons.You found the correct solution: DIY.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 06:41:07 pm
content: Quote from: Siwastaja on October 05, 2025, 04:35:26 pmNah. We send him a picture. He took sometime to reply with the price quote.I have done plenty of other things to realize the guy never done a job like this before.If he'd tell me that he had to solder those elbows and cut pipe in order to replace the crash washer, I'd give him the job. Because I don't know how to do it myself. I neither have tools nor expertise. But instead, his sales pitch was about 20 minutes thinking how much he's going to charge.I spend that 20 minutes thinking I'm going to do it myself. My only issue was weather the new unit has same fittings, which from homedepot picture looked like it didn't. When the unit come in, I knew I'm going to do it myself and save those $200.The other guy who recommended the plumber, friend of a family, wasn't touching this job, because he's afraid of 220 volts. It kind of looks intimidating in United States, but in rest of the world, it's a common outlet voltage. Plus it wasn't even 220, it was 205 volts. Kill the switches, remove the plug, unscrew type of deal.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 06:50:24 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on October 05, 2025, 06:41:07 pmWhatyoudid is irrelevant. Pricing for services is based on the average case (those other customers!), with some buffer for risks and of course, profit. $200 is very little for someone to come to your house and actually do something. Only in very optimized cases, like energy meter swaps where everything is standardized and known beforehand, meter is not owned by the customer and as such customer has nothing to say about it, and routes and schedules can be pre-planned, it is possible to push the price significantly below that.Besides, your job needed a sparky. It's not a question of how easy it is or if there is anything to fear, it is about doing itlegally and safely. There are of course some who both have electrician's and plumber's qualifications, but the combination is more rare than just electrician or just plumber alone. Therefore also more pricey and harder to find. Or, two people need to come.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 06:53:34 pm
content: When did this become a DIY plumbing forum anyway?Yes, it's a very simple job to do - including changing the olives (ferrules, 'crush washers'). It still takes time and tools.As for cutting the pipes lower to change the elbows because you don't know how to remove a ferrule.. that's also simple, and you don't have to cut anything. If you can solder a fitting on, you can solder it off.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 06:57:50 pm
content: You see, to change front rotors and pads on a toyota SUV later model year it costs $150 labor. That's a 1 hour job give or take. Same thing here, 1 hour, and it's even less technical. Why $200 in labor costs?Mind you, $200 is from unlicensed no name, friend of a neighbor plumber. Licensed plumber charges around $500 for this same job.Pull the price out of hat, lul.

author: Seekonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 09:58:25 pm
content: I'm a total DIY guy and working on old plumbing is almost always a disaster. A friend has a commercial plumbing and HVAC company, typical job is 500K or more. He won't work on home stuff even for valuable commercial customers. For $200 all you will git is a fly by night clown. Fix it yourself or shut up about what you have to pay.

author: kite31
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 11:07:36 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on October 05, 2025, 06:57:50 pmNo, it is not less technical. The brakes job is a wholly standardised task on the mechanic's premises where you bring in and remove the vehicle. It does not involve travel and an unknown working site for a far less common job which may not have been described accurately.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 11:20:26 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on October 05, 2025, 06:57:50 pmYou don't ask car mechanic to do it at your home.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2025, 11:51:12 pm
content: QuoteNot heard of a mobile mechanic? Mate of mine has been doing it for years.