Water Heater Installation Cost 101: What You Should Understand

If your home's hot water heater is struggling to keep up or has failed altogether, that often means that it's time to have a new unit installed. Before you start calling local plumbers for installation quotes, you may find that these price quotes are easier to understand when you know the factors that directly contribute to the cost. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know about what contributes to the cost of your water heater installation.

The Unit Cost Itself

While it may not be the greatest percentage of your water heater installation cost, the price of the hot water heater itself is one of the more significant factors. One of the easiest ways for you to control the cost of your hot water heater installation is to be selective about the hot water heater that you choose to install.

You can explore different hot water heater options to find the unit that best fits your budget. If you're hoping to stay within a certain price range, your plumber can help you evaluate each model and its price point to find the solution that fits your needs.

The Labor Costs For Installation

Labor rates are typically the single largest component of your water heater installation quote. Because of this significance, you should understand what affects that labor rate. For example, if you're replacing your existing water heater with the same model, your labor rates will be lower than if you're replacing a traditional water heater with a tankless model.

That difference is because same-model replacement is an easier task. The new hot water heater will connect directly to the lines that connected to the old hot water tank. When you're installing a different model, there's often some retrofitting or new plumbing line placement that will need to happen. This results in a longer installation and more labor costs.

The Need For Additional Fixtures

With some hot water heaters, you may find that you need an expansion tank, a filtration system, or a pressure control valve integrated into your plumbing. If this is the case, you'll see an increase in your installation estimate, not only for the cost of the additional fixtures but also for the additional labor to install them.

If you've never had your water tested for mineral content, you should also consider having this done as part of your water heater installation. After all, hard water can cause mineral deposits that can prematurely damage your new hot water tank. You'll pay an additional fee for this testing and for the addition of a water softener if one is needed.

Any Unique Or Additional Considerations

One of the things that many homeowners don't think about when it comes to the cost of installing a new hot water heater is any special considerations that may apply in your situation. For example, if the area where your hot water tank is located is particularly difficult to access, or if it's challenging to get the old hot water tank out and the new one in, you may find that there's an additional fee for this effort.

During the estimate process, the plumber will also inspect all of the plumbing lines in the area of your hot water heater. Any damaged or deteriorating lines will need to be replaced as part of your new hot water heater installation. This will be an additional expense as well.

Consider these points as you evaluate the total of your water heater installation estimates. If you are unsure of any of the costs, talk with your plumber and ask the questions that you need to in order to feel comfortable with your water heater installation choice.

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