Water Heaters
Wadsworth Homeowner Rejects $4,000 Water Heater Scare Tactic
By Mike Mackin, Owner ·
When Cathy called, there was a bit of panic in her voice. Another company had just told her that her 5-year-old water heater couldn’t be fixed, wasn’t safe, and needed to be replaced. Then they shut off the power to her heater and left. Just a $3,800+ quote and no hot water.
How water heater scare tactics work
In Cathy’s case, the company was out to do an equipment check as part of her maintenance plan. The plumber drained her water heater to flush it, as recommended by the manufacturer. While it was empty, he removed the upper and lower elements and the temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P), presumably to inspect them.
This is where things got shady. Solely based on a visual inspection (which showed some limescale buildup), he told her the parts were not working and that the T&P prevents the water heater from exploding, so it was not safe to use the water heater as is. We’re not clear on what happened next, but when our service tech Brandon showed up, the power to the heater was off, the two elements had been reinstalled but were leaking, and the T&P valve was only hand-tightened.
Were the elements made to leak on purpose? Was the T&P valve meant to leak once the heater kicked on? We don’t know, but what we do know is that there was no reason to replace the water heater.
How much should electric water heater repairs cost?
We walked into an exasperated homeowner with an electric water heater that had been shut down for safety reasons, with two leaking elements. They left her with no hot water and a $2,500 repair or $3,800+ replacement quote. We fixed her heater and got her hot water back on for $491, which included reflushing the tank, two new elements, a new T&P valve, and a new anode rod. Her actual tank may have 10+ years left on it, the parts are new, and she has hot water.
How much do electric water heater replacements cost?
Sure, there are times when repair costs start to approach the cost of replacement, but not on a 5-year-old electric water heater. Even if the tank was bad, the standard warranty on a tank is 6 years. When it does come time to replace the water heater, electric replacements with installation are some of the least expensive, currently hovering around $2,200 for a Bradford White 50-gallon electric water heater. We install all major brands, including Rheem and A.O. Smith models.
A few things to keep in mind when trying to keep the costs down, and avoid high-pressure sales tactics:
- Installing a 50-gallon electric tank is actually less expensive than a 40-gallon, as 40-gallon sizes are less common, which apparently increases the manufacturing costs.
- While you may need a new incoming water shut-off valve (it’s smart to have one in good working order), if someone is pressuring you with “must do” or “code required” scare tactics at a cost of $300 to $400, we’d recommend getting a second opinion. A new valve is nice, but we can always just shut the main house water valve off while we do our work.
- An emergency drain pan is only required by code when the heater is in a finished space (think carpet or a living area that would be ruined if it leaked). Once again, it’s a nice option but not always necessary.
- The plumber should always check to see if the heater may be under warranty. That alone could save you $1,000 or more.
Private equity backed
Here’s the real story. Cathy thought she was calling an Akron company. And while they are physically in Akron, they are owned by or partnered with private equity money from California. A company named Alpine Investors in San Francisco owns a roll-up company called Apex Service Partners out of Tampa, Florida. The investors in California and Florida… do they really care about Cathy? Will they perhaps see her at the Blue Tip Parade in Wadsworth, maybe at the library in Fairlawn, or at Doylestown Coffee in Doylestown? Probably not.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the heater that couldn’t be easily fixed. Tank-style water heaters in Wadsworth, Norton, Copley, or anywhere in the greater Akron area last 8 to 12 years on average. An unscrupulous company from across the country is pushing profits over doing what’s right. We figure we need to stand up against things like this, or else someday there will be no local companies left.
If another company has handed you a big water heater quote, call 330-825-3686 or book online, and we’ll give you a second opinion before you sign anything.