Should You Buy a Water Heater From a Big-Box Store or From Your Plumber?
We get this question fairly often:
“Wouldn’t it be cheaper if I buy the water heater myself from Home Depot or Lowe’s and just pay you to install it?”
Sometimes it can save money upfront.
But there are two things homeowners should understand before doing it: the equipment may not be built to the same specification as the models plumbers normally buy through professional supply houses, and if something goes wrong with the heater itself, you become responsible for dealing with the retailer or manufacturer.
That can make a seemingly simple way to save money much more complicated.
Big-box and professional-distribution heaters are not always the same
Water heaters can look very similar from the outside while using different components.
One easy example is the drain valve.
A number of A. O. Smith Signature heaters sold through Lowe’s use nylon drain valves. Some Rheem models sold through Home Depot have also used plastic drain valves.
By comparison, the Bradford White heaters we normally install use a brass drain valve.
That may sound like a small detail, but it is a good example of how manufacturers can build products to different specifications and price points.
We prefer equipment purchased through professional plumbing suppliers because we know the product line, the parts, and the supply chain behind it.
The bigger issue is what happens if something fails
We recently installed an A. O. Smith water heater that a customer had purchased from Lowe’s.
About three months later, something in the gas-control system failed.
The problem was not with our installation. It was an equipment issue.
Because the homeowner had purchased the heater herself, she had to work through Lowe’s warranty process to resolve it.
That became especially problematic because this was a rental property with a tenant living in the home. A warranty process that stretches over several days can mean several days without hot water while the owner coordinates between the retailer, manufacturer, installer, and tenant.
That is exactly the situation we try to avoid.
If Water Heater Boys supplies the heater and there is a legitimate equipment failure, we can work directly through our supplier and warranty channels and generally move much faster toward getting the hot water restored.
Customer-supplied equipment changes who is responsible
When we install a water heater that we supply, we are standing behind both the equipment we selected and the installation we performed.
With a customer-supplied heater, our responsibility is the installation.
If there is a water leak or gas leak caused by our work, that is obviously our responsibility.
But if the heater later develops an internal problem, such as an ignition issue, gas-control failure, pilot problem, or another equipment defect, additional Water Heater Boys visits to diagnose or address that problem are billable.
The homeowner is also responsible for handling the equipment warranty with the retailer or manufacturer.
That distinction is important when deciding whether the upfront savings are worth it.
Buying your own heater also means choosing the right model
Water heaters that look almost identical online can have important differences in height, diameter, BTU input, recovery rate, venting, and installation requirements.
When we supply the heater, we select the model based on the home and the existing installation.
If a homeowner purchases the wrong unit, there may be a return, exchange, delay, or additional work required to make it fit.
What does Water Heater Boys include?
For a standard tank replacement, our pricing includes the water heater, new water supply lines, a new gas line and shutoff valve, a new drain pan, a sediment trap, removal of the old heater, and tax.
Permit costs or additional work such as vent repairs, expansion tanks, recirculation work, or difficult access may be separate depending on the job.
So when comparing prices, don’t compare only the retail price of the tank.
Compare the complete installed price, the equipment being installed, and what happens if that equipment develops a problem afterward.
Can we install a water heater you already purchased?
Yes, in some situations.
But if you have not bought the heater yet, we generally recommend letting us supply it.
You may spend a little more than buying a promotional unit from a big-box store yourself, but you are also getting equipment we are familiar with, professional supplier support, and a much cleaner warranty process if something goes wrong.
For most homeowners, especially landlords or anyone who cannot afford to have a house without hot water for several days, that has real value.
If you are comparing a store-bought water heater with a Water Heater Boys quote, send us the model number. We can tell you whether it is appropriate for your home and explain exactly what is included in our price.
Request an estimate or call Water Heater Boys at (650) 844-2305.