So, get this – my old water heater decided to kick the bucket, and I was left with no hot water all weekend. It was a nightmare, let me tell you. So, we had to get a new one, and since the old tank was a 75-gallon Rheem, we ended up getting the same size tank from Bradford White because the Rheem apparently didn’t fit. My husband, who handled the installation, decided on it, and hey, Bradford White is supposed to be top-notch, so no complaints there.
Now, here’s the kicker – the company quoted us $5300 for the whole shebang. I know, I know, it sounds like a lot, right? But wait, there’s more. I was considering going tankless, but when they hit me with a $9k quote, I quickly changed my mind. I mean, I love my hot showers, but not that much.
The company sent over three guys to do the job, and let me tell you, they did a fantastic job. I’ve used them before, and they’ve always been solid. Plus, with all the other projects we have going on in our fixer-upper, I just didn’t have the energy to shop around for other quotes. Sleep-deprived me just wanted hot water back ASAP, you know?
But here’s where it gets interesting – after the installation was done and dusted, I did a quick Google search on typical water heater prices, and boy, was I in for a shock. Turns out, $5300 might have been on the higher end of things. Cue my skin crawling moment.
I’m a bit bummed out now because I thought I was getting a good deal, especially considering the quality of work this company has done for us in the past. Dealing with contractors and workmen can be a hit or miss, and I was really hoping this was a hit. Now I can’t help but wonder if I got ripped off big time.
But hey, considering we live in a high-cost-of-living area in Westchester County, NY, and factoring in the size of the tank, the location of our utility room in the basement, and the peace of mind of using a reputable company with licensed plumbers, maybe $5300 isn’t all that bad. At least that’s what I’m trying to convince myself. So, there you have it – the saga of my water heater replacement and the roller