Replacing My Hot Water Heater

I woke up last Thursday to find that I had no hot water.

Little did I know what a hardship it would be to get it replaced.

First I called a local plumber called ‘Bob Hamilton’ plumbing. I took off work because they told me they would send someone after 4:00pm.

I received a call from them at 5:30 pm and they said they couldn’t send anyone today.

I then contacted Home Depot and ordered a hot water heater. The guy they sent out told me there would be an extra 99$ charge to carry the water heater up the steps.

I think he was trying to pocket some money for himself. Anyway, he said that he couldn’t install the hot water heater anyway, because it wouldn’t be up to code.

When I cancelled the order with HD, they charged me a 75$ restocking fee. They guy didn’t even bring the water heater with him, so I’m not sure what they needed to restock.

 

Next I called, Roger the Plumber. Roger sent two workers out. They looked at my water heater and said it would cost 1500$ to replace it.

I’m not completely dumb and I knew they were about 200% over what anyone else would charge.

Then I decided that I should get a tankless water heater. After talking to an electrician and a plumber, I realized that my dream of constant hot water could not be realized because it would cost a lot to upgrade my electricity and gas service to meet the requirements for a tankless water heater.

Then I went to Sears. Sears turned out to be the best choice. They sent a very knowledgeable plumber to install the hot water heater. It was a Kenmore. The Kenmore is a rebranded A.O. Smith heater and they are a respected hot water heater maker.

At this point it was Monday. So, I went without hot water from Thursday until Monday.

 

In the process of looking, I checked out the Whirlpool models at Lowe’s. I found a website that was full of complaints about the Whirlpool Flamelock model.

Another plumber told me to stay away from GE – sold at Home Depot and Whirlpool.

I’m happy to have hot water again! Thanks to Sears! Next time I need an appliance, I’m not going to mess around. I think I will go straight to Sears first, instead of last.

I could have had my hot water sooner.

The place that the hot water heater needed to be installed was very tight. The guy that Sears sent (from Evan’s plumbing in Independence) was a very good plumber.

 

Tags: hot water heater, hot water, water heater, plumbers, plumbing, installation, SEARS, Home Depot, Lowe’s, GE, Whirlpool, Flamelock