So, let me tell you about this crazy rollercoaster ride I’ve been on recently. Last year, I got rear-ended, which was just the beginning of a string of bad luck. I’ve been dealing with mobility and cognitive issues, facing a major medical procedure that will take months to recover from, and to top it all off, I lost my job out of the blue after 18 years of dedication. And just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, my water heater decides to kick the bucket. Classic, right?
Now, my partner is out of town, and I’m left to deal with this mess on my own. I called up a big heating and plumbing company in Aurora, CO, and they hit me with a quote of $6000 to replace the water heater, including pulling a permit, retrofitting my basement for a new low Nox heater, and installing it with a 10-year warranty. Yikes. That’s a hefty price tag, and I’m not sure if we can swing it right now.
A friend suggested going for an on-demand heat coil unit, but apparently, that would require a dedicated electrical panel. Do I take a trip to Home Depot, grab a high Nox unit, and have a handyman install it? According to the heating and cooling company dude, only unlicensed handymen would touch these units because licensed professionals aren’t allowed to install them. Sounds like a load of baloney, right?
So, here’s the plan I’m tossing around: I could hire an electrician to install a new panel, pick up the on-demand unit at Home Depot myself, and then find someone to install it. Or maybe there’s a third option out there that I haven’t considered yet. I’m open to suggestions at this point because I’m in over my head.
Oh, and let me throw in a key detail here: our current water heater is an old tanked gas model from 2017, and our house is on the older side, so we know we’ll need to replace some pipes along with the heater. It’s a real headache, let me tell you.
If you’ve got any advice or words of wisdom to share, please, hit me up. I’m all ears and could really use a helping hand right about now. Thanks a bunch in advance!