On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 6:19:41 PM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at 2:50:07 PM UTC-4, Ralph Mowery wrote:
I called a company about replacing an electric water heater. The one
already in the house (about 15 or more years old) does not have an
electrical disconnect near it. They said they would have to send out a
licened electrician to install one as that is the code now.

Is it true they have to install the disconnect near the heater on a
replacement ? Could be a local code, but I doubt it.

I knew I was being ripped off when they wanted $ 1700 to replace the
water heater. They cut it to $ 1300 when I balked at the price. Said
instead of a 6 year warrenty it would be cut to 2 years at the lower
price.

A heater should be around $ 500 or less at the local Lowes store. I
would think that even at $ 100 an hour they should be able to put it in
for $ 1000 allowing for all kinds of markups.

I did get a local plummer and he told me the labor he charged was $ 100
an hour which seems reasonable to me. Just talking to him on the phone
he said probably around $ 800 to $ 900. Which seem sfair to me.

I could put it in , but where it is at is a pain to deal with and I hate
plumming.

I believe the answer is that if it's within sight of the breaker panel,
then that can serve as the disconnect. Otherwise you need either a
disconnect that's visible from the heater or a lockable disconnect
or panel. It's all
BS of course, because even if there is provision for a lock, almost
no one is ever going to use it on a home water heater when working
on it.

When my water heater went, I bought one for ~$400 at HD and rented their
truck to bring it home. I was surprised how light they are, I got it
home and down to the basement myself. That was gas and I think they
may cost a bit more now because of new safety features to prevent them
from blowing up your house if you pour gasoline all over the basement.

We did similar when our water heater went. It was a bitch getting the
old one up the stairs, because we have no floor drain and couldn't
get the last of the water out. IIRC the effort involved making a
go-devil and the use of a block and tackle and come-along.

Cindy Hamilton