We had the gas control valve replaced on one of our water heaters yesterday. Fifth one since 2012, almost every two years like clockwork. Have had one replacement in 2nd heater in garage. Should there have been a KY charge on this bill?

Do Gas Control Valves normally cost as much as the unit? I think not.

A service charge that doesn't go toward the cost of repair?

Aren't you in TX?


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States that prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees

Ten states prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. It is illegal for merchants to add any surcharges to credit card transactions or charge convenience fees to nontraditional payment methods in these states.

Are plumbing hourly rates really 165? The dude soent 20 minutes replacing the valve abd about the same taliking with receptionist about the billing. I will be calling about the cc fee. Hell, I could have written a damn check.

No estimate before you told them to fix it? I would have told em to piss off at that price and called a competitor.

You can always play the collection game with them. Tell them to fix their billing or send it to collections and then you can pay it off immediately for pennies on the dollar.

Potcake said:

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Are plumbing hourly rates really 165? The dude soent 20 minutes replacing the valve abd about the same taliking with receptionist about the billing. I will be calling about the cc fee. Hell, I could have written a damn check.

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I used to work for a plumbing supply. Plumber rates are typically $120/hour and up. That's not the issue. The issue I see is that most control valves are $80-$150….and he charged you $499!? You can buy a brand new heater for $499…

Rexter said:

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Ten states prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. It is illegal for merchants to add any surcharges to credit card transactions or charge convenience fees to nontraditional payment methods in these states.

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I think this has changed in Texas. I see it on restaurant bills all the time now.

Yes, I looked it up too. The prohibition of cc fees was overturned. Anyway, I will never use these guys again.

What brand is the heater ?

Whirlpool ?

That is not way out of line from what I was told recently. The quote didn't go to me, so I am getting second hand info, but they said it was in the $500 neighborhood for the control valve. Longer story behind mine, but that is a derail for another day.

This is tangential, but similar...

My parents bought a Sear's water heater and it had a honeywell thermostat. Thermopile to generate electricity to run the thermostat and minimize gas usage or something.

Anyways, after about 12 months, the controller won't work anymore (this is in 2011 or 2012; I replace the unit before getting married, that's all I remember). So they call Sears and they can get a new part, but not labor. Part is not hard, don't have to drain water heater, so no issue. But when they go to pick it up from Sears, 'oh, we don't have one. Sorry!" Dad got pissed, and told them to take the working thermostat off the model on the floor (as they had a functional model display).

Install and it works. For another 12 months. So my dad BUYS one. Gets it a few days later (no hot water during that time, but I didn't live at home anymore....) and installs, no issue. Since he's a EE, he pops open the controller and realizes there are 2 capacitors and some other stuff there. The wires on the circuit board between one of the capacitors is literally burned off. Like black spot on the board. So my dad, being a pretty good solder, fixes it. Tests it out, works like a champ. So he keeps it aside.

Fast forward 12-15 months, what happens? You guess it. Controller dies. So he puts the 'fixed' one back in, opens up the bad one and.... exact same issue. His theory is that when they sized the wiring on the boards, they did not take into consideration the atmospheric heat; i.e., the attic is hot. Hot environment means wires have higher resistance. More resistance means more current, which heats up the wire more. More heat and...now you have a dead board. The funny thing is that the board literally has like 15 things on it with super small wires. Could easily increase the size of the wires and the cost wouldn't change for honeywell.


Long story to say it is probably a simple failure from a common supplier (almost all water heaters bought at box stores have honeywell) that is highly annoying and doesn't seem like they really want to fix it.

And the labor rates aren't for the time they spend there. It is their time that they learned what to do. And charge for it. Plus the labor charge is usually all encompassing (permit fees, business fees, licensee fees, time to get the parts, insurance, etc.)


~egon

I would argue more than the CC fee (3%....making money on that?) as others have said....

1) service fee when they did the work...that is usually only if they come out and dont actually end up doing anything.

2) $499 valve....i am no expert but I just googled and see nothing even close to that....maybe $125 - $300???


smells slimy....

$500 for a control valve? You got taken. That's how much a whole water heater costs.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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$500 for a control valve? You got taken. That's how much a whole water heater costs.

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Agreed. But if this were Nextdoor, there would be a parade of people posting and high-fiving for getting a great deal because they also recently got a great deal on a new heater installed for "only" $2500.

State Select

Rexter said:

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Aren't you in TX?


Snip:


States that prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees

Ten states prohibit credit card surcharges and convenience fees: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. It is illegal for merchants to add any surcharges to credit card transactions or charge convenience fees to nontraditional payment methods in these states.

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Is this true? I pay a service fee at the DPS to renew my registration? Also if I wanted to pay property tax by CC there's a few?

Someone said the TX law was overturned. Regardless, the state gov't was always exempted from the law.

Appreciate the recc. Mine have already been done.

You got taken on this one. I am in the plumbing industry and can assure you that this is a gouge job. Couple of things to consider:
1. If you are having to replace a control valve every couple of years, something is wrong. Control valves typically last 6+ years on the low side. There could be some other variables causing this.
2. A State Select heater has a 6 year parts warranty so hopefully you did not pay for the first two replacement valves.
3. For what you are spending in repairs, you could purchase a new heater. Do note that the heater manufacturers have taken roughly 45% worth of price increases in 2021. With that said, your last bill was still as much as a new heater.

Just my $.02

Thought I'd throw this out there for anyone looking to replace their water heater in the Houston area..I used Pro Plumber yesterday to replace (2) 40 gal Bradford White. Would highly recommend.

https://proplumbertx.com/price-list/

Second ProPlumber. Amazing at their craft.