Tried the cheap route on a new water heater install, cost me double in the end

I figured I'd save a few hundred bucks by buying a water heater from a big box store and having a handyman buddy install it in my place near Tacoma. The unit failed after 8 months, and the warranty was a nightmare because I wasn't a licensed plumber. Ended up paying $2,200 total for a proper Rheem unit with install from a bonded company. Has anyone else had bad luck skimping on HVAC or plumbing work?

3 comments

3 Comments

abbyhall7d ago

That 8 month failure is brutal. I had a similar thing happen with a furnace capacitor I tried to swap myself. It cost me $45 for the part but I messed up the wiring and fried the control board, which was a $380 fix from an actual HVAC guy. The cheap route always seems to backfire on anything with gas or water lines.

dianawilson7d ago

Depends on what you're fixing. I've swapped plenty of capacitors and thermocouples myself without issues. You just need to know your limits - some things are worth paying for, but basic appliance repairs are totally doable if you do your homework.

zarag177d ago

Ugh, that sucks. @dianawilson is right though, you gotta know what you're messing with before you start yanking wires. Live and learn, I guess, but at least now you know for next time.