Just want some sanity checks here:
My MIL has a HE direct exhaust furnace, but an old gas WH that uses the chimney. Chimney is starting to deteriorate. The options she was given by a local company are:
— Chimney liner $560
— Direct vent gas WH $1010
— Electric WH $850
(Don’t have any specific brands/specs from her)
This is in Fargo, ND (not high labor market), unfinished basement, WH is about 20 feet from relatively new breaker panel with plenty of extra room/juice. Slightly low ceiling, but no real problems to work around.
The electric WH price, at least, sounds a bit high to me.
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Whats that an 80 gal tank. You should be able to get a 40gal for around 4-500. That sounds way too expensive.
Don't forget to see how much more an electric will cost to run than a gas unit.
Headstong, I'll take on anyone!
It was a 50Gal tank. Apparently a 40 was more expensive.In terms of operating cost, she lives alone, so very little HW use. Electric units are pretty good re standby losses, so shouldn't be too bad to operate.
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A 3" or 4" - 35' chimney liner kit, material only costs about $110, retail. Double that for an estimated "fair" installed cost. $300 wouldn't be unreasonable, $560 is.
A Bradford White 50 gal elect WH (M-2-50T6DS) has a list price of $548. Wholesale cost is about $100 less, so $850 installed is not unreasonable.
A Bradford White 50 gal direct vent WH (DS-1-50S6BN) has a list price of $1026, so IMHO, the price quoted on that is also reasonable.
An odd thing is, the quoted only $500 for a new standard gas WH.--------------
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When you say "Direct vent" gas, do you mean the power vent ones?
That would be my suggestion. Get rid of the chimney, and use one of those.
It was not specified, but I assume power vent, since the current WH location is maybe 10 feet from the nearest outside wall.
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