The ultimate water heater pricing guide.

The ultimate water heater pricing guide.

Yesterday Waterheatinginfo.com scouts went to the three major department stores that sell and offer installation on new hot water heaters.

The three stores we visited were Lowes, Home Depot, and Sears.  There prices were similar for the most part but there’s more to think about, other than just the “price”.  (click on their links above to go straight that companies water heater pages)

All three stores offer many combination’s with different size tanks, length and of warranties you may want on it.  You can get a 30, 40,  or 50 gallon tanks, in either natural gas, electric, or propane, in tall or short models, then you have 3 warranty options, either 6 year, 9 year, or 12 year plans.   The combinations are nearly endless and confusing.  Purely for comparisons shake I will compare the most popular (almost the cheapest) water heater tanks they offer.

The two models we will compare are the:
40 gallon, natural gas, standard height (tall), 6 year warranted hot water heater and,

50 gallon, electric, standard height, (short), 6 year warranted hot water heater. (This info is up date as of today, 3/16/10 from Milford and Orange Connecticut, with 6% tax)
This price chart information is the cost of the tank, installation fee, and tax.

(Note: There are “other” possible charges which we will also talk about)
Measuring Charge-  (if you need someone to come out and tell you what kind of heater you need)
Stair Charge – (if you have more than one set of stairs to deal with)
Trip Charge – (if for any reason the installer needs to go back to the store)
New Water Shut Off Valve – (if you need one)  Priced at the installers digression
New Gas Shut Off Valve – (if you need one) Priced at the installers digression
Ventilation piping  –  (if you need new piping) Priced at the installers digression

Electrical services can also be necessary in case there are wiring problems. This can be a problem with some electric hot water heater installations, but not very often.

Lowes:   Whirlpool hot water heaters (IMO- whirlpool makes a decent dish washer, but not water heaters.)
Just look at their water heaters, they even look like they’re cheaply made.
40 gallon, natural gas, 6 year heater -  price $792.54
50 gallon, electric, 6 year heater   -       price $688.66
(Other possible charges you may encounter)
Measuring charge – $50
Stairs fee – $40
Trip charge – $50
New shut off valve  - $100
New gas valve – $65
Venting pipe -  $80 – $125

Home Depot:  GE hot water heaters (They are made in Mexico and travel thousands of miles, get handled by hundreds of people, get banged along with the shipments of grills, patio furniture, etc)  They are decent water heaters, but due to minimum wage  stock boys working the night shift, they are Not handled with care, and the result is about 90% of them will have dents and or dings in them.
40 gallon, natural gas, 6 year heater- price $689.68
50 gallon, electric, 6 year heater-        price $636.68
(Other possible charges you may encounter)
Measuring charge – $50
Stairs fee – $40
Trip charge – $50
New shut off valve  – $100
New gas valve – $65
venting pipe -  $80 – $125

Sears:  Kenmore hot water heaters (Decent water heater,  low instillation prices.)  I don’t have enough personal experience with Sears, or Kenmore water heaters to say anything negative about them.  In fact I will tell ya that I don’t get many repair or replacement calls about their water heaters being problematic, like I do about the other two companies mentioned above.  However I have heard quite a few negative stories about their customer service department, and warranties not being covered.
40 gallon, natural gas, 6 year heater -  price $641.13
50 gallon, electric, 6 year heater   -       price $619.93
(Other possible charges you may encounter)
measuring charge – $50
stairs fee – $40
trip charge – $50
New shut off valve  – $100
gas valve – $65
venting pipe -  $80 – $125

As you can see the department stores prices are quite low.   However you need to realize these are the 6 year models. (THE CHEAPEST) heaters they sell.   The “good” department stores heaters are called the 12 year warranted water heaters, and they cost  150 – 200 dollars more than the 6 years!!!  In most cases the extended warranties are no more than a fee for the warranty. Nothing is different in the water heater from the 6,9,or 12 warranted heater besides a slight thickness in the foam insulation. And don’t forget about the “other possible charge you may encounter” because you will almost certainly need one item off the list.   (I know what I’m talking about because I worked for a plumbing company that was the only subcontractor/ installer for 13 Home Depots, where I installed well over 2,000 water heaters during that time)  Which leads me to say this, More than majority of the water heaters sold at these places are damaged in some way.  I know that sounds crazy but trust me, I installed OVER 2,000 of them and I like I said maybe, MAYBE  25 – 50 per 100 (and that may be generous) of them were totally free of all dents and dings.  (dents lead to cracks) cracks lead to per-mature tank failure.

The Installation-    You get a “3 hour window” when the installer will get there.  Don’t forget to read page 8 of your home depot installation contract (not sure about which page for the other companies) where it states the laundry list of fees you could “possibly encounter”.  as mentioned above.
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*At Waterheatinginfo.com we use a water heater that is much better than “those guys”

Electricwh_dunion

We primarily use – Rheem Guardian Fury hot water heaters-
(about ten times better than the other guys)

Our Prices -  Our total price for the water heater, installations, tax, & other parts -if necessary-.  prices effective during April & May of 2010

40 gallon, natural gas, 6 year heater -  price $ 700
50 gallon, electric, 6 year heater   -       price $ 650

(Other possible charges you may encounter with us)
measuring charge – $0
stairs fee – $0
trip charge – $0
New shut off valve  - $0
gas valve – $0
venting pipe -  $0
removal fee- $0
disposal fee- $0
(During this promotion we are covering all parts and additional work that may be needed for a proper* installation of a new gas or electric hot water heater)   *in order to meet current local plumbing codes.

Other great features of letting us install your next water heater!

*They NEVER will have dents in them and if by chance we find install it. We will bring it back to the supply store, and bring another right back with no excuses.
*We make and Keep exact appointments.  Early, Evenings or weekends are not a problem, and won’t cost you more.
*Reliability, Honesty, Integrity, & professionalism = The values we base our company on.
*The waterheatinginfo.com water heater installers are owners/operators of the both the plumbing company, and this website.   (No outsourcing – No sub contractors)

Everyone knows the old saying, you get what you pay for.   So be careful, those clueless Wall Street funded companies can sell you a piece of junk for an unbelievable price, but you need to ask yourself, “is it to good to be true?”   Would spending another 50 bucks be worth going with a company that specializes in water heaters?  We hope so.

I did a few Google searches about the “big boys” in regards to water heaters.
Home Depot GE water heater complaints. (or) Lowes water heater complaints. etc.   You’ll find some sites like this if you do the same.

People that hate GE heaters:  http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/ge.htm\

More of those people. http://www.complaints.com/2007/november/18/GE_Smart_Water_Heaters_154805.htm

People that are having problems with their Lowes, whirl pool water heaters. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/05/whirlpool_water_heater.html

People that aren’t happy with their Sears water heaters. http://www.my3cents.com/productReview.cgi?compid=211&product=Water+Heater+Repair
I’m sure there are about 50 or more websites all about people complaining about these Wall Street bloated companies, because they are clueless about  how to handle, store, deliver, and install hot water heaters. They will replace them usually no questions asked, but in order to do that you must first drain the water heater cut it out and bring it into the store. Them they will determine if it is due a replacement after which time they will give you a new one. You bring it back home and now you must reinstall it yourself or find someone to do it for you.

With Waterheatinginfo.com we will handle all the bs for you. Measuring, sizing, picking up the heater, and removing the old one, with NO surprises. We stand behind our installations 100%. So why call the least when you can call the best.

Leave your next hot water installation to the best.  Waterheatinginfo.com and Bruce Somers Plumbing  P-1 0285038 is the only name you need to know.  Bruce Somers Plumbing is a fully licensed and insured Plumbing company in Connecticut ready to serve you and your needs. Please feel free to contact us at 800-524-4280 or 203-556-7167 We focus on Fairfield and New Haven Counties but if your need is urgent please contact us if we can’t do it we will help find someone in your area to do the work.

From left to right- Jarrell Sullivan - WaterHeatingInfo.com Founder/CEO David Bender - Bender Plumbing Owner/CEOMax Bender - Current Manager & Future CEO

***Special thanks to Bender Plumbing for developing a program that now allows us to compete with the “big boys”, and allowing us to offer probably the lowest prices on water heater installations in Connecticut. *(for any reputable, licensed, insured, privately owned plumbing companies that is!)

Pictured to the right. (from left to right) -Jarrell Sullivan – WaterHeatingInfo.com  Founder/CEO
-David Bender – Bender Plumbing  Owner/CEO
-Max Bender -  Current Manager & Future CEO
-Not pictured but very importantly (Holding the camera)
Bruce Somers – (licensed installer) owner/ operator  of Bruce Somers plumbing &  co-owner of www.waterheatinginfo.com
-Together we sell a million water heaters-

We provide top quality plumbing information about services, free estimates, installations and repairs on all Rheem, Ruud, Bradford white, State, and A.O. Smith electric, gas, propane, Bock, Thermaflow/Everhot oil fired hot water heaters, Navien, Rheem, Noritz, and Takagi tankless water heaters, Ruud, Bock, and lochinvar oil fired water heaters, SuperStor storage tanks, Peerless, Laars, and Crown tankless coils, and repairs on all hot water heater throughout the state of Connecticut including Bridgeport, CT- Bristol, CT- Cheshire, CT- Danbury,CT- Derby,CT- East Hartford,CT- East Haven,CT- Enfield,CT- Fairfield,CT- Hamden,CT- Hartford,CT- Meriden,CT- Orange,CT- Middletown,CT- Milford,CT- New Britain,CT- New Haven,CT- New London,CT- Norwalk,CT- East Norwalk,CT- Norwich,CT- Putnam,CT- Shelton,CT- Southington,CT- Stamford,CT- Stratford,CT- Southport,CT- Torrington,CT- Wallingford,CT- Watertown,CT- West Hartford,CT- West Haven,CT- Westport,CT- Wethersfield,CT- Willimantic,CT- all shore areas, and surrounding Connecticut areas. Contact us today for a professional plumbing experience.  Power vent water heaters aren’t cheep, but we are here to get your new power vent water heater installed as quickly, safely, and affordable as possible. Invite us over for a free estimate and we may leave you in shock from how good you were treated.  ; )    203-556-6449