nat gas water heater prices?

[heehaw]

can anyone tell me why Natural gas water heater prices have gone up so much? if cars did the same thing a ford focus would be 30k.
heehaw

 

[Travelover]

Look on Craigslist. Still see nearly new ones for $100 around SE Michigan area.

 

[kenmac]

can anyone tell me why Natural gas water heater prices have gone up so much? if cars did the same thing a ford focus would be 30k.
heehaw

Because they now have to be constructed in a way that the average joe ( installers) are less likely to kill themselves due to improper installation.. Too many lawyers.. if ya know what I mean

No way would I ever buy a used major appliance or install 1 & I'm in the business

 

[ultrarunner]

In CA the price has gone up 4 fold since I started buying them...

The big jump was when sealed combustion and piezo ignition requirement started and then another jump with the low Nox pollution controls...

Had a lot of problems with the first batch... the pilot light was down to just a wisp and a fly buzzing by was enough to blow it out... well, I'm exaggerating... but not by much.

So the answer is mandated goverment regulations spear-headed the cost here...

 

[heehaw]

other than the piezo ignition, one that "looks" exactly what i paid $100 for 8 years ago is now $360: not sure i would install a used water heater either: unless i really knew who had it so i could believe how old it is: an it could not be on a well...i was watching one of the "home shows" a couple weeks ago, an the listed the price to replace a 40 gallon gas water heater: the "installation" was @ $500...had to be in D.C. or NY or someplace like that??
heehaw

 

[ToadHill]

I bought one a few years ago so I likely have 8 or 10 years left on mine but with the major increase inprices of tank heaters I'm sure I'll spend the extra $$'s next time and go with a tankless unit.

 

[jwstewar]

I bought one a few years ago so I likely have 8 or 10 years left on mine but with the major increase inprices of tank heaters I'm sure I'll spend the extra $$'s next time and go with a tankless unit.

We really like our tankless we had installed with the new house. I traded copper plumbing for Pex and tankless heater.

Used to be the propane company would top our propane tank off in late April and then comeback around late Sept/Early Oct. to fill again for winter. Only thing being used was water heater. We would go through 200 - 250 gallons of propane. Now that we are starting to get in a "cycle" with the new house, I can start comparing numbers. They did the typical 2 fills except now we have the tankless water heater and a gas cooktop. Roughly the same time period. We used 92 gallons of propane. BTW, in the time period, we also had a new baby so that combined with the fact the other 2 have gotten older (now 8 & 9), I have to assume we are using more water. To be fair we now also have a new front load washer, though Monica doesn't wash much with warm/hot water.

 

[charlz]

i was watching one of the "home shows" a couple weeks ago, an the listed the price to replace a 40 gallon gas water heater: the "installation" was @ $500...had to be in D.C. or NY or someplace like that??
heehaw

I dunno, my electric hot water heater went out last week and the wife wanted me to see how much Home Depot wanted to change it out.... $249 'base' fee, plus this, plus that, plus some more, plus something else and it was about $400-450.. so I did it myself

 

[ultrarunner]

other than the piezo ignition, one that "looks" exactly what i paid $100 for 8 years ago is now $360: not sure i would install a used water heater either: unless i really knew who had it so i could believe how old it is: an it could not be on a well...i was watching one of the "home shows" a couple weeks ago, an the listed the price to replace a 40 gallon gas water heater: the "installation" was @ $500...had to be in D.C. or NY or someplace like that??
heehaw

About what the labor charge is here and city requires a permit for every install... plumbing and maybe mechanical if any change is made to the flue vent...

They check for earthquake straps, TPR valve piped to daylight in metal pipe, flex gas line, vent secured by 3 screws at each joint and also for pipe wrap insulation on the cold and hot water lines... now they have started to require drain pans piped to daylight when installed in the home...

Used to pay $88 at Home Depot and now $400 plus... Had very good luck with Hoyt... no longer in business and now I only use Bradford White after too many troubles with the others...

 

[two_bit_score]

Just installed a replacment NG water heater yesterday and was shocked at the price. At Lowes they were over $400 and at McCoys I paid over $300 but gt a 6 year warranty vs the 9 year warranty at Lowes. But at McCoys I was in and out, loaded and leaving the parking lot in less time than it took me to walk into Lowes, find the WH's and look for 20 minutes for someone to get it from the top shelf.

Only thing I can see is they all now come with a piezio igniter so you CAN'T light it with a match. Just wonder how long that thing will last if the pilot light ever goes out.