Bird
Rest in Peace
Only if you have some idea of what you're doing.:laughing: You wouldn't say that if you'd seen the electrical system that existed when we bought the 10 acres we used to have in Navarro County.
$250 to install a water heater...........??????????
- Thread starter DennisArrow
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Only if you have some idea of what you're doing.:laughing: You wouldn't say that if you'd seen the electrical system that existed when we bought the 10 acres we used to have in Navarro County.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I'm a Handyman, Home Remodeler and General Contractor. Most of the water heaters that I replace for clients are hourly, but if somebody was to insist on an upfront price for labor, $250 sounds pretty fair. I have to go into it thinking about what will go wrong and guessing how long it will take me from the time I get there to the time I leave. Hourly is more fair, but some people don't like the idea of know knowing what they will have to spend before it happens. I have to take into consideration a lot of variables before I start in order to make sure I'm not losing money by taking on the job. Will I have to get more parts? Will there be a code violation that I have to correct? Will I have to remove, rebuild or replace anything in addition to the water heater itself? Will it drain all the way and what will it weigh once drained?
For me, I give the price and it's a take it or leave it situation. If you don't want to pay me what I feel my time is worth, then I'll just go on to the next job where that person will. There is too much work out there to work for less and too many people waiting for me to get to their job to do one for somebody wanting me to do it for less.
Finally I wonder what you would charge to go to somebodies house and replace their water heater? Not a neighbor that you know, but a total stranger that lives half an hour or more away from you in a house you don't know anything about for a person you have never met? At $50 an hour, would you commit to one hour pay before you got there? What would you bring with you in your vehicle and what would you do if you came across something that you saw was wrong with the way it was installed before?
I've seen gas water heaters vented into the attic and black charred wood on the roof decking. I've seen pressure release lines that where clear quarter inch tubing, thin wall pvc and garden hose. I've seen nothing on them and I've seen them going straight down into the pan. Rarely do I see them going outside to a safe place to discharge with a 3/4 inch copper of PEX line. Some don't have shut off valves on the water lines, some are sweated directly to the water mains and some have valves that leak as soon as you turn the water off.
Eddie
For me, I give the price and it's a take it or leave it situation. If you don't want to pay me what I feel my time is worth, then I'll just go on to the next job where that person will. There is too much work out there to work for less and too many people waiting for me to get to their job to do one for somebody wanting me to do it for less.
Finally I wonder what you would charge to go to somebodies house and replace their water heater? Not a neighbor that you know, but a total stranger that lives half an hour or more away from you in a house you don't know anything about for a person you have never met? At $50 an hour, would you commit to one hour pay before you got there? What would you bring with you in your vehicle and what would you do if you came across something that you saw was wrong with the way it was installed before?
I've seen gas water heaters vented into the attic and black charred wood on the roof decking. I've seen pressure release lines that where clear quarter inch tubing, thin wall pvc and garden hose. I've seen nothing on them and I've seen them going straight down into the pan. Rarely do I see them going outside to a safe place to discharge with a 3/4 inch copper of PEX line. Some don't have shut off valves on the water lines, some are sweated directly to the water mains and some have valves that leak as soon as you turn the water off.
Eddie
/pine
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:greedy:A friend who is a doctor had a plumber do some work and was shocked at the hourly rate the plumber charged...
...When he confronted the plumber about the bill he said he was a doctor and even he did not get paid that much an hour...the plumber replied that when he was a doctor he didn't make that much money either...that's why he decided to change professions and become a plumber...!
...When he confronted the plumber about the bill he said he was a doctor and even he did not get paid that much an hour...the plumber replied that when he was a doctor he didn't make that much money either...that's why he decided to change professions and become a plumber...!
kenmac
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We have HVAC companies here that advertise no service call fee. Guess what ? their hourly rate is higher than my hourly rate with a service charge. I can give both, an hourly rate for a job or a flat rate for a job. If your HVAC guy doesn't charge you a service call and , charges you a small hourly rate, I hope he can stay in business for you. It's not cheap to run a business, or stay in business. Some customers are impossible to please
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
haha good one.
I had one customer...a doctor mind you.. ask me to fix another problem while i was there. i told him how much. He asked me why there would be an additional charge as im already there.
I asked him if i went into a hospital for strep throat and asked for a hernia operation if they would charge me more. I mean hes already there. that shut him up
like2wheel
Gold Member
I'd be interested to know how long the total job took.
2manyrocks
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It would be interesting to learn more about what went into this $1750 water heater job.
JDgreen227
Super Member
BINGO....me too....which is why I have made so many posts here.
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She called the plumber just before 2 pm on a Friday and he was gone by the time she got home at 5:20 pm
I'm guessing not more than 2 hours...
The job was actually $1700 for cash... and 3% additional for credit/debit... so $1751.00
He also told her anything after 12 noon Friday is charged at the weekend rate
I'm guessing not more than 2 hours...
The job was actually $1700 for cash... and 3% additional for credit/debit... so $1751.00
He also told her anything after 12 noon Friday is charged at the weekend rate
kenmac
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I don't blame this on the plumber no more than I would blame a car salesman that sold a car for MSRP + an up charge because it's a popular model....Sorry but, It's the customer's fault for not shopping elsewhere. I have priced/gotten jobs (plumbing & HVAC) where people have received an unreasonable estimate.
