What's the reasonable cost for hiring a plumber to remove a 40-gallon gas water heater and install one that I will purchase from Lowes or Home depot? The contractor with Home Depot gave me an estimate between $1,200 to $1,500 (not including the water heater). I called a plumber and he said $950. TIA

Different world 2yrs ago but at the time our total cost for a 50 gallon gas Rheem on 1st floor in hallway was $1250 in DFW.

That's insane. It is like a 30 minute job, including draining the old one.

I can see that cost for an attic install, but a garage?

Watch some YouTube videos and do it yourself.

Agreed. Very easy to do if it is located in the garage.

I can't remember where I took my old water heater (I think Moore Supply), but you should be able to find a place that takes old water heaters. Hell, I think McCoy's even takes them.

People take the old ones somewhere? I've always put them out on the curb and they're gone within a few hours.

That's a pretty blanket statement like saying house inspectors charge this much to only be at my house 1 hour. It's going to take time for the plumber to drive to the site and evaluate what size tank and what all component will be needed for a change it out. Then it's going to take 30 minutes to an hour just to go purchase the heater, fittings, lines, flue pipe or adapter. Then if it's old and has 20 years of sediment at the bottom you will probably have issues opening a drain that more than likely hasn't been opened in it's lifetime. Once that's open if it's clogged with sediment the real fun begins on draining it. Other variables at play in this as well. Does the heater installation need to be brought up to code ? A licensed plumber will also pull a permit with the city which is once again more time and expense passed on to the customer. Is the roof a steep pitch that he has to climb to caulk the storm collar once the seal gets broken when the flue pipe gets moved ?


1250-1500 sounds crazy for labor only unless there is some major code upgrading going on and replacement of all flue pipe

How old is the existing heater and when was house built ?

Are the a lot of code upgrades being done on the installation ?

The water heater was last replaced in 2012 (label on the heater). It already has an expansion tank. House is 21 years old. I am guessing I need to make more calls and get some quotes.

Can you go tankless?

Fair enough, not suggesting that I should get to set the plumber's fees. They are certainly entitled to set them and include trip charges and such. If they are pulling permits, charge for it. Making code updates (actual REAL code updates, not the common I want to make more for nothing updates), charge for it. I have always heard that an ATTIC install is 1200 to 2000. That I get. The labor involved with getting the stuff out and into the attic is much more extreme. Multiple people. Higher risk of damages and injury. It becomes a several hour multiple person job. But in a garage?

I still say that 1200 to 1500 for a garage installation is insane and gouging. The labor for this job is minimal and the steps are simple. It does not really compare to your home inspection example as by definition the REPLACEMENT of the water heater is a set job with relatively finite variables.

To the OP:

You might also want to check with a handyman. Lots of them will do this job.

As to disposal of old unit. Everywhere I have lived in DFW, leave it on the curb an it is gone in a hour. Especially if you have a specific bulk trash day and wait for that day..

Two years ago.....installed 2 Bradford White gas hot water heaters, both in different attics, for $3,000 total (labor + unit)

My father and I replaced my gas hot water heater in the garage about 3 years ago. It took about 4 hours total including picking up a new Whirlpool unit at Lowe's and it's been working great ever sense. We didn't pull any permits.

I had one installed in College Station back in October. Gas water heater and standard install $975.00, attic access $150.00, new pan $50.00, and installation of a pressure expansion tank (new College Station code item since home was built) $175.00, for a grand total of $1,350.00 including the heater.

This was for a commercial grade gas heater.

Anyone in the Houston area willing to pay $1200 for just the labor of installing a tanked water heater please do not ever hesitate to reach out to me. I won't pull permits, I'll even take the water heater with me when I leave.

ForeverAg said:

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Anyone in the Houston area willing to pay $1200 for just the labor of installing a tanked water heater please do not ever hesitate to reach out to me. I won't pull permits, I'll even take the water heater with me when I leave.

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Hell I'd drive from Dallas and we could 10 in a weekend and clear $3-4 grand each.

Can you name the company? Thanks!

I needed a new electric water heater last summer. Lowes quoted me something like $1200 just for the install. I watched a couple of youtube videos and did it myself in about an hour. Took the old one to the city dump and dropped it off for free.

I'm not sure how much the gas connection adds to the difficulty. Watch some how-to videos and see if it's something you think you can handle.

Señor Chang said:

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I needed a new electric water heater last summer. Lowes quoted me something like $1200 just for the install. I watched a couple of youtube videos and did it myself in about an hour. Took the old one to the city dump and dropped it off for free.

I'm not sure how much the gas connection adds to the difficulty. Watch some how-to videos and see if it's something you think you can handle.

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It's actually easier