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

Bignudge on 28/06/2024 - 11:53
Last edited 28/06/2024 - 22:03

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?

Home & Garden Hot Water System

Comments

  • Dollar General on 28/06/2024 - 11:57
    +22

    Absolutely

    • HeWhoKnows on 29/06/2024 - 18:39
      +3

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

  • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 11:58
    +10

    Yes

  • Dumax on 28/06/2024 - 12:05
    +7

    Metropolitan Plumbing?

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2024 - 12:14
      +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)

    • JIMB0 on 28/06/2024 - 12:36
      +1

      Sounds too cheap for them.

    • kesslar on 29/06/2024 - 21:46

      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

  • MS Paint on 28/06/2024 - 12:18
    +5

    Was it on a Sunday?

    • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 12:36

      I recognise that!

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2024 - 12:56
      +4

      … [̲̅$̲̅(̲̅ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°̲̅)̲̅$̲̅]

  • Muffinman01 on 28/06/2024 - 12:18
    +1

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

  • JIMB0 on 28/06/2024 - 12:36
    +3

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

    • freefall101 on 28/06/2024 - 13:33
      +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.

  • Benoffie on 28/06/2024 - 12:59

    Far out! That's ridiculous 😒

  • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 13:05

    Hey OP, can you divulge the plumbing company name?

  • phbk on 28/06/2024 - 13:12
    +1

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

  • TALL1one on 28/06/2024 - 13:13
    +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

  • Downvoter on 28/06/2024 - 13:29

    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.

  • EightImmortals on 28/06/2024 - 13:30

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

  • DGrayson82 on 28/06/2024 - 14:44
    +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.

    • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 15:52

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

    • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 16:05
      +1

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

        • BOGOF on 28/06/2024 - 16:12
          +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.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2024 - 16:55
        +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)

  • rambutann on 28/06/2024 - 16:16
    +1

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

    • JimmyF on 28/06/2024 - 16:17

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

      • rambutann on 28/06/2024 - 16:19

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

        • DoctorCalculon on 28/06/2024 - 20:57

          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.

          • rambutann on 29/06/2024 - 07:52

            @DoctorCalculon: Went in confident there, but no haha

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

            • DoctorCalculon on 29/06/2024 - 10:04

              @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.

              • Brick50 on 27/09/2024 - 19:58

                @DoctorCalculon: Hey mate,

                Curious about this comment, I am going to pull the trigger on an emerald 270E very shortly. Are you suggesting the Eneft would be better because it has a higher compressor size or another reason?

                My existing HWS is in my back walkway, so I am quite limited in my depth to make sure I can still walk past it
                Current HWS is around 60cm depth from the wall, Emerald 270E depth is 600mm whereas istore, eneft etc is all I believe 640mm diameter

                In my mind the square shaper of the emerald will fit better
                Have you got any experience with Eneft or know of any other good budget heat pumps?

                • DoctorCalculon on 27/09/2024 - 21:56

                  @Brick50:

                  Curious about this comment, I am going to pull the trigger on an emerald 270E very shortly.

                  My advice: Don't do it. Applies to both Emerald and ENEFT.

                  These are the lower end HP HWS that may not even last their warranty period.
                  Yes, they are cheap. But you get what you pay for.

                  • Brick50 on 27/09/2024 - 22:00

                    @DoctorCalculon: Payback period on anything like Sanden and Reclaim is way too high for me to the point it doesn’t make sense. Also doesn’t make sense to pay $600 for gas when I can use my excess solar for nothing

                    Emerald/eneft/ecogenica will pay for itself in 2 years, twice in the 5 year warranty period easily.

                    I’m sure by then they will have come down a lot in price and atleast then I’ll have a dedicated circuit installed for the new one, as well as the cold mixing valve etc.

                    Just trying to work out what is the best low end unit, being in regional vic I don’t have much competition and can’t find anyone to install a Hydrotherm X8 for under 2k or else I would probably go with that

                    I like the emerald because it seems like it has a pretty intuitive app as well

                    • DoctorCalculon on 28/09/2024 - 00:52

                      @Brick50:

                      Payback period on anything like Sanden and Reclaim is way too high for me to the point it doesn’t make sense.

                      Hot water is an essential service.
                      Agreed. Payback period is way too long for these split systems, but I don't just look at it from this singular perspective.
                      I want reliability, and almost zero maintenance with a stainless steel tank.

                      I’ll have a dedicated circuit installed for the new one

                      A decent installer should setup a dedicated circuit for such an appliance.

                      as well as the cold mixing valve etc.

                      This is called a tempering valve, which is also mandated under regulations.

                      I like the emerald

                      Make sure you take into account the periodic cost of service for the sacrificial anode (inspection & replacement).

  • JimmyF on 28/06/2024 - 16:17

    Have they paid?

      • JimmyF on 28/06/2024 - 17:54
        +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.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 28/06/2024 - 16:29
    +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.

  • follow on 28/06/2024 - 16:32
    +2

    how kind to give a pensioner discount

    • schquid on 29/06/2024 - 15:35
      +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)

  • xuqi on 28/06/2024 - 16:43
    +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…

  • Aureus on 28/06/2024 - 16:45
    +5

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

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2024 - 19:18

    rubbish removal

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

  • MS Paint on 28/06/2024 - 19:31
    +3

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

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2024 - 20:14
      +1

      lube

      HAWK TUAH - YOU GOTTA SPIT ON THAT THANG

      (Please tell me you set this joke up intentionally)

  • SlickMick on 29/06/2024 - 11:34
    +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.

  • 2esc on 29/06/2024 - 11:40

    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.

  • TilacVIP on 29/06/2024 - 12:40

    Shafted with a capital "S"

  • MeesusEff on 29/06/2024 - 13:23
    +1

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

  • Windows98 on 29/06/2024 - 20:12

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

  • mickrb30 on 29/06/2024 - 21:50
    +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

  • beefmaster on 29/06/2024 - 22:37

    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?

    • xuqi on 04/07/2024 - 12:26

      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.

  • Weezle on 30/06/2024 - 07:57
    +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

  • clover on 11/07/2024 - 19:53

    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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