Is $5000 Too Much for a Hot Water Tank Replacement?

TLTR; Is $4800 for a 50L hot water tank replacement in a unit during working hours too much.

UPDATE : Okay, she's definitely shafted. I found out that company has already had segments on A Current Affair.

Hey everyone, I believe my friend is getting shafted by an "emergency" hot water replacement company right now.

All I know is that she lives in a unit, and has called out a company to take a look at her leaking hot water tank (with rust water?).

They deemed it was unsafe? And got her to sign for a replacement.

The only thing is that it's billed for nearly $5000. Surely this is a current affair stuff right?

Is she being shafted?

Comments

  • +22

    Absolutely

    • +3

      Typically costs $1200 to supply and install a tank up to 80L

  • +10

    Yes

  • +7
    • +2

      Or if in brisbane, a company that starts with f ends with s lol

      (I also vote yes got ripped but sometimes emergency is emergency I guess)

    • +1

      Sounds too cheap for them.

    • These guys contracted out an electrician that quoted me 4k to install a small split system aircon in a bedroom. Absolute joke 😂😂 laughed him out of there

  • +5

    Was it on a Sunday?

    • I recognise that!

    • +4

      … [̲̅$̲̅(̲̅ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]

  • +1

    Way too much. While not an emergency, I had a 250L electric hot water system replaced for less than half that in April

  • +3

    I'd expect a heat pump unit for that price.

    • +2

      I'd expect a good heatpump for that. I'm thinking about ripping out the gas and putting one in for $3,400. I got a flyer in the mail for $1k to remove gas and install a heatpump (but a crap one and has a $1k rebate). Also far more than 50L.

  • Far out! That's ridiculous 😒

  • Hey OP, can you divulge the plumbing company name?

  • +1

    Bunning sell a DUX 50ltr hot water system for $525

  • +4

    Wow that does seem like its done at a high cost, not knowing much about specifics of install.

    Quick search online:

    Rinnai Hotflo 50 litre Electric Hot Water Heater
    Supply Only $475.00
    Supply & Install
    NSW $1,065.00
    VIC $1,115.00
    QLD $1,165.00
    WA $1,065.00

    Rheem 50 litre Electric Hot Water Heater
    Supply Only $540.00
    Supply & Install
    NSW $1,125.00
    VIC $1,175.00
    QLD $1,125.00
    WA $1,025.00

    Dux 50 litre with Plug electric hot water heater
    Supply Only $580.00
    Supply & Install
    NSW $1,105.00
    VIC $1,155.00
    QLD $1,205.00
    WA $1,105.00

    Rheem Stainless Steel 50 Litre Hot Water Heater
    Supply Only $730.00
    Supply & Install
    NSW $1,220.00
    VIC $1,270.00
    QLD $1,320.00

  • I had one installed 6 months ago and it’s not as simple as people getting supply and fit quotes there are some variables but 5 grand is obviously paying overs.

  • If all the plumbing is intact then it's not a big job if they were just swapping like for like.

  • +1

    Seems way too much, we had ours replaced about a year ago for $1500. $5k would buy you a nice Sanden heat pump unit.

    • Your friend has been shafted…………….sideways.

    • +1

      Jimothy is referring to a different SEQ company, that may have 'all' and 'on' in their name.

        • +2

          Your friend should contact the business and state that she believes she has been overcharged and would like a partial refund.
          Of course the company will refuse, but that then triggers the ability to raise a case with NSW Fair Trading, and they will get involved, especially with that company's history.

      • +1

        FWIW i was shafted big time by the one u and I were referring to (my misso organized as it was also an emergency)

  • +1

    I have had a same day emergency gas unit replacement done for like $1800 (Melb) about 2 years ago.

    • So that would be about $5k today then at the rate everything has gone up!😂

      • Hahaha almost…
        I did get a 320L heat pump hot water system installed last week for $1090, but that was subsidized big time..

        • I did get a 320L heat pump hot water system installed last week for $1090

          Let me guess, it was an Emerald Energy 320L system.

          • @DoctorCalculon: Went in confident there, but no haha

            Went with a semi decent installer and got the Eneft unit.

            • @rambutann: Not bad. The ENEFT HP HWS will be better than Emerald for sure.

              You must have maxed out on all three rebates + cheap installer - STCs + VEECs + VIC Solar to bring out of pocket cost down to $1K.

              I still don't like any of these all-in-one HP HWS units. Yes, they are cheap, but how long will they last? If one part fails, the entire system will need to be replaced.

  • Have they paid?

      • +1

        Ok, so go back to them and say you want the bill reviewed and itemised as it seems to be 'excessive' for the work completed to install a sub $600 HWS.

  • +2

    FYI we had a 50L dux HWS installed for $1,100 including taking the old one away recently.

    So yeah, shafted. You should report them to the appropriate governing body too, pretty sure that practice is illegal.

    Also there's no such thing as an emergency to get your HWS replaced because of rust. We had the top blow off so we just turned off the water inlet valve and they came out 2 days later and was done in 1 hour.

  • +2

    how kind to give a pensioner discount

    • +1

      This. Everyone's tearing into this poor hard working Aussie battler for being so generous in spite of The Rising Costs â„¢. Have some compassion folks, that top spec Ford Raptor won't pay for itself…

      (/s times 5000)

  • +2

    "They deemed it was unsafe?"

    So? they should have shut off the isolation valve and provide quote… No need to sign anything on the spot…

  • +5

    She got robbed. Government isn't doing enough to stop these thieves.

  • rubbish removal

    That’s usually a super premium reserved for VIP project add-on in Queensland at least.

  • +3

    Didn't even include lube on the invoice. Ouch.

    • +1

      lube

      HAWK TUAH - YOU GOTTA SPIT ON THAT THANG

      (Please tell me you set this joke up intentionally)

  • +2

    Sounds like there are some dodgy operators in this game. We had a $1100 gas unit installed ($1900 including installation) in 2018 with a 10 year warranty. In 2023 they tried to tell us we needed to pay $579 for a scheduled service. I can't see how a service can be worth 50% of a product's replacement cost.

  • Get a pot boil some water for a couple days?

    My 75 year old mother in law had no power, no water for 7 days because of storms a couple months ago blew trees down in Mirboo North, Victoria.

    She can barely walk yet wouldnt come and stay with us after a couple days ended up using a little camping burner to cook and boil water and sponge bathed it.

    Quite a few houses still have tarps on them from lost roofs.

  • Shafted with a capital "S"

  • +1

    I just paid $1750 for a 130L Vulcan supply and installed, was a weekend job too

  • Anyone in Vic able to recommend someone reliable who can install a heat pump and upgrade to 3 phase

  • +1

    called it dodgy, cocky, dishonesty, preyed on the vulnerable, whatever, shes been bent over and Shafted.
    theirs no more fairness, most are out to shaft you, with little to no service once paid
    very few want to do a job for a fair price, its shaft shaft and shafted all the way, at least once side is happy and content

  • SUPPLY & INSTALLATION OF 26L THERMANN INSTANT HOT WATER SYSTEM

    Isolate main water supply to property
    Isolate main gas supply to property
    Removal of existing plumbing
    Removal of existing isolation valves
    Supply and install new Thermann
    Supply and install new valve kit
    Reconfigure existing pipe work to suite new hot water unit
    Secure new hot water unit to wall
    Reinstate water supply
    Test and commission installation
    Rubbish removal

    $3000. Does this seem right?

    • Too much and they forgot a step:

      "Reinstate gas supply'…

      All that needs to be listed is "Supply and install new Thermann …".

      All the other stuff is filler used to justify their extortionate pricing.

  • +1

    My Rheem 160L HWS the I got less than a year ago new cost about $1700 installed.

    So yes your friend got ripped off

  • Yes, maybe another story for ACA. Hopefully she can get back her money. These crooks should not be allowed to be operate.

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