I live near Boston and I just had my tenant's 20 year old gas water heater develop a leak at the bottom. Luckily I drained most of the water into a bucket.
Still I had to get a new one asap and got an estimate from my regular plumber of $1000 to install a 40 Gallon AO Smith ProMax the following day, I was expecting $500 to $700 assuming a cost of $400 for a good water heater.
After picking myself off the floor I called two other plumbers and received quotes of $900 to $1100.
What gives? Even with an "emergency call out" it looks like extorsion. As gas was involved I couldn't tackle the thing myself, I think you need to be lisenced in MA anyway, and so I simply wrote the cheque. Anyone else with similar horror stories, I need to share this pain!
Still I had to get a new one asap and got an estimate from my regular plumber of $1000 to install a 40 Gallon AO Smith ProMax the following day, I was expecting $500 to $700 assuming a cost of $400 for a good water heater.
After picking myself off the floor I called two other plumbers and received quotes of $900 to $1100.
What gives? Even with an "emergency call out" it looks like extorsion. As gas was involved I couldn't tackle the thing myself, I think you need to be lisenced in MA anyway, and so I simply wrote the cheque. Anyone else with similar horror stories, I need to share this pain!