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Water heater died on a Sunday in Albuquerque, plumber wanted $1,400
Woke up Sunday to cold water and a puddle in the garage on Menaul. Plumber said the tank was shot and quoted $1,400 to swap it same day, so I drained it myself and grabbed a $650 unit from a big box store. Did I mess up by not just paying the guy, or is $750 worth of savings the right call?
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the_hugo20d ago
That $650 unit from the big box store is probably a 6 year tank, and the one the plumber had on his truck was likely a 10 or 12 year. You didn't just save $750 on labor, you may have bought yourself a shorter clock. Also, same day Sunday work in Albuquerque means the guy is probably paying a helper double, pulling a permit you don't know about, and hauling your old tank to the dump, which costs money too. Check your city code before you call it done, because a lot of places want a permit and inspection on a water heater swap, and if you ever sell the house that can bite you. The part nobody brings up is the warranty, since a self install usually kills the labor coverage and sometimes the tank coverage too if they ask for a receipt from a licensed plumber. I'd have done the same thing you did, but I'd have priced a 10 year tank at the store first to see if the gap was really $750.
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