What do it cost to replace a 40 gallon hot water tank?

[Fish along]

Im asking just to see what every one else is paying to have an ordinary 40 gallon hot water tank replaced,i just had rheem put in my basement,boiler cost $1100,and the install cost $1100 so just a bit over $2200..Is this normal? This a a gas fired heater.Thanks for any input..

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Fish along

Im asking just to see what every one else is paying to have an ordinary 40 gallon hot water tank replaced,i just had rheem put in my basement,boiler cost $1100,and the install cost $1100 so just a bit over $2200..Is this normal? This a a gas fired heater.Thanks for any input..

Should have shopped around before hand, kinda too late now.

Smart alack replies aside; hot water tanks range greatly in price. Seen 40 gallon tanks from $600 to $5000, plus installation. The high priced ones are rapid recovery models, external power vented and designed to heat your house water as well as the in-floor heating. So tank price wise, it really depends on exactly what tank you got.

Your install sounds high, but hauling an old, heavily calcified tank means they weigh a lot and it is not easy work so that is a factor. That said, they are called Rheem for a reason.

[W921]

$1100 to install is crazy high if he was just hooking up a heater like the old one.
Some of these guys like to make a simple installation as complicated as building a piano.
Oh what if your oven was turned on and all your stove top burners as well as your furnace and gas dryer at the same time? Not up to code better replace everything for more gas volume. Or your existing gas lines are not up to new code because they changed the code 4 years ago so you might as well replace a bunch of pipe. Even the pressure test only needs to be soapy water. I think your installer is in business to make as much money as they can. How long did it take him? Or does he just charge what he thinks the job is worth? I would learn to do stuff myself before I would mess with these guys

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by W921

$1100 to install is crazy high if he was just hooking up a heater like the old one.
Some of these guys like to make a simple installation as complicated as building a piano.
Oh what if your oven was turned on and all your stove top burners as well as your furnace and gas dryer at the same time? Not up to code better replace everything for more gas volume. Or your existing gas lines are not up to new code because they changed the code 4 years ago so you might as well replace a bunch of pipe. Even the pressure test only needs to be soapy water. I think your installer is in business to make as much money as they can. How long did it take him? Or does he just charge what he thinks the job is worth? I would learn to do stuff myself before I would mess with these guys

People work hard to get a ticket. Companies are responsible to comply to code.

If you don't have enough volume to run every gas appliance in your house than you are contrary to code. The gas fitter and his company can not legally install your water tank.

Do you think people should break the law and risk their business because your home is not up to code?

[W921]

Originally Posted by MK2750

People work hard to get a ticket. Companies are responsible to comply to code.

If you don't have enough volume to run every gas appliance in your house than you are contrary to code. The gas fitter and his company can not legally install your water tank.

Do you think people should break the law and risk their business because your home is not up to code?

My understanding is Rachael Notley government in that one term changed all the cvodes and had plans for even more sillyness if she had a second term. Example rural water.
The new codes are out of this world and go way to far. This is one of the reasons building costs are so high. Plus the biggest problem is the skill level or desire of the builder to do quality work and an inspector normally can't see a lot if he is just looking at and passing a finished project.
Code also changes depending on where you are in Alberta. What is code in Lethbridge is different in MD. What is safe for a mobile is unsafe for a house. Example flex house from house to meter.
If something was safe before Rachael Notley its just as safe as now.
Another thing is a pro gas fitter has all the tools to cut and thread pipe with him in his truck. He isn't buying pre threaded lengths of pipe and making it fit or running to town for fittings. His cost and time should be way faster than a farmer.

[MK2750]

Originally Posted by W921

My understanding is Rachael Notley government in that one term changed all the cvodes and had plans for even more sillyness if she had a second term. Example rural water.
The new codes are out of this world and go way to far. This is one of the reasons building costs are so high. Plus the biggest problem is the skill level or desire of the builder to do quality work and an inspector normally can't see a lot if he is just looking at and passing a finished project.
Code also changes depending on where you are in Alberta. What is code in Lethbridge is different in MD. What is safe for a mobile is unsafe for a house. Example flex house from house to meter.
If something was safe before Rachael Notley its just as safe as now.
Another thing is a pro gas fitter has all the tools to cut and thread pipe with him in his truck. He isn't buying pre threaded lengths of pipe and making it fit or running to town for fittings. His cost and time should be way faster than a farmer.

Let me clear a couple of things up for you. I am not trying to be argumentative but some code violations, including the ones you mentioned earlier are a matter of safety.

No one dislikes the NDP more than I. They did make some changes to employment standards and some other stuff that irked people, especially family farms.

Anyway, codes are Provincial not municipal. Municipalities are responsible for enforcing code. Some do an excellent job and have qualified inspectors for each of the trades. Smaller and rural municipalities may not be able to afford a qualified inspector for each trade. Some employ a "jack of all trades" for lack of a better term often via an outside permit provider.

Unfortunately, an inspector that also held a ticket in every building trade would be very expensive but in reality is nonexistent. Generally they know a lot but not everything. Most come from home building.

So yes it can be very easy to get a permit in some municipalities and even short cut codes. This can be especially true in MDs and counties. The code hasn't changed, the inspector is generally under qualified or even indifferent to the code requirements.

What is also common is trades people not getting permits. Their work is generally fine and often to code but sometimes not so much.

The reason for my post is not to belittle your understanding. Your mention of the overloaded gas line has absolutely nothing to do with Rachelle Notley and everything to do with public safety.

When you overload an electrical line you are hopefully protected by a breaker. The line gets hot and the breaker trips before any damage is done. If you overload water lines you get poor water pressure, etc.

The gas in your home has no such protection outside of a regulator to protect against too much pressure.

When you overload a gas line you run the risk of not enough gas or pressure reaching the appliance. This changes the air fuel mix and can damage appliances and create a dangerous situation. Incomplete combustion can cause dangerous build up of carbon and even exhaust back drafting in some instances.

This is most common not due to over zealous code but the opposite. Builders use the minimum size gas line required by code to keep costs down. Homeowners install new gas ranges, BBQs, on demand water etc. some requiring massive BTUs. The gas line is too small and needs to be upsized to avoid the dangerous situation mentioned above.

We have a fleet of professional gas fitters and plumbers. They do not carry around a bunch of pipe and a threader. Some do of course when working new construction or going to a job requiring gas work but most do not. The plumber showing up to install your water heater will not have a bunch of pipe and a threader in his mini van. 90% of their work is leaky taps, new fixtures, water tanks, toilets etc. etc.

Gastight is expensive and inefficient at moving gas. Most professionals avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

When a gas fitter does work to your home he is responsible for all the gas in your home. Soapy water may be fine at the one joint you are working on but a proper pressure test will detect leaks anywhere much more quickly and effectively. The inspector can simply check the gauge rather than take the word of the worker or soap up all the work himself.

I understand that it can be frustrating and expensive to have gas appliances and gas lines professionally installed in your home. It is minor in comparison to losing your home to fire or even worse endangering your family to gas, fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.

[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by W921

I think your installer is in business to make as much money as they can.

Great deduction, Sherlock Holmes.

[W921]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Great deduction, Sherlock Holmes.

I was trying to be nice. What do you think a reasonable hourly rate is for as gas fitter with a mini van or truck with tools is?
Its not not like millions invested in equipment.

[Au revoir, Gopher]

You mean like this one? $840 at HomeDepot.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/rhe...ter/1000792348

As for that install cost... not sure what to say... was it a complicated job? Hard to get at? They had to drive 4 hours each way?

ARG

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by Au revoir, Gopher

You mean like this one? $840 at HomeDepot.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/rhe...ter/1000792348

As for that install cost... not sure what to say... was it a complicated job? Hard to get at? They had to drive 4 hours each way?

ARG

Same tank,they charged 95$ for travel.the intstall was standard,except the old boiler had soldered piping the new one was all crimped.

[traderal]

I've always changed out my own (don't live in a city or town). The basic ones used to cost just over 400, now more like 8 to 900. Takes time to purchase one and bring it into the house, install it, haul the old one away, find the tools, put them away, pet the house dogs, etc., so I can see the 1100 labour cost for a "professional". Also for everyone else better get a gas water heater while you still can as they will be phased out soon along with gas cars, lol.

[tbiddy]

We just got a new one replaced about a month ago in Lloydminster on the SK side. It was 20yrs old so they had to do some retrofitting to get up to code. The first quote was almost $4k. We needed up finding a smaller plumber in town and it was $2150 installed and that was after calling 4-5 guys. They were around $3k

[stubby99ca]

I paid $1350+gst. To have a 40 gallon gas hot water tank installed in Feb 2024. That included tank, install and disposal of old tank. Location was Wetaskiwin.

[fishnguy]

From Apr 4 of this year:



Edit: the tank itself is about $1K.

[artie]

just wondering i had a furnace replaced and had to have a city inspector come and inspect it and put a tag on it
Do you have to have a hot water tank inspected if gas pipes were undone?

[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by Fish along

Im asking just to see what every one else is paying to have an ordinary 40 gallon hot water tank replaced,i just had rheem put in my basement,boiler cost $1100,and the install cost $1100 so just a bit over $2200..Is this normal? This a a gas fired heater.Thanks for any input..

Your description is very vague, can't give you a price from that.
If you already agreed to the work, what's the problem?
If you find out you under paid, are you going to give your plumber some extra?

[elkhunter11]

I paid just over $2200 last fall, for a tank and blower unit, replacement, and they installed an aluminum catch tray and drain line.

[Trochu]

Big thing for us isn't our rate, it's the same as everybody else, it's how far we had to travel to site and if we had to wait once we go there.

[graybeard]

Originally Posted by Fish along

I'm asking just to see what every one else is paying to have an ordinary 40 gallon hot water tank replaced,i just had put in my basement,boiler cost $1100,and the install cost $1100 so just a bit over $2200..Is this normal? This a a gas fired heater.Thanks for any input..

I had a 40 gallon hot water tank replaced this past winter. Pete the Plumber (PTP) did the work and a single guy did the whole job right around $1,000.

Of note: PTP undercut every place I called including Home Depot.....

Very courteous, took care to protect the walls and flooring, cleaned up his work area and answered all my questions regarding the warranty etc.

I am very happy with everything... A+ rating for me.