Water Heaters

[DUNBAR]

I'm turning away all my replacements since this cold snap came into play.

We have basements in my community and the majority are no walk-outs. This means steps, taking the old and the new through the house and sometimes that is extremely difficult for a one-man band.

Slab on grade homes aren't bad but usually either the condensate drain off the furnace buries the heater, along with the dryer that has to be removed completely and out of the entire laundry room because you have no working space, along with the ****ing ventilated shelving somebody put up. I'm getting pissed just typing this out! :mad: And if the gas line is burying the heater in and you've already priced it for straight in-out install? Good luck getting an upcharge. Even though you "asked" if the heater was in a clean and clear area, the majority don't understand what can make the install more involved.

The majority are price shoppers that call me when this happens along with some repeat customers. This is where I can give hourly rates, tell them the involvement of the install mentioning all points considered.

I'm getting really jaded in my attitude in my profession, that is clear. I've been doing this for quite some time and dealing with John Q. Public is a consideration to all of you who think being self-employed is glitz and glamour.

It's going to be a big surprise to my repeat customers when they find out the hard way that I'm not wasting my time on these.

Anyone else feel this way about heaters in general? Don't get me wrong, I've made $700 in one night doing emergency replacements of these but the customer never gets a good deal from me on a replacement. I charge for my time and I don't throw out those sale prices to get the phone to ring.

Every heater I encounter either never lines up to the old one, the size changes for insulation reasons and kicks that heater off the wall or changes the flue dimensions, whether it's a PowerVent or standard flue.


On a electric heaters......this is what I hear, "Well, it's only two water pipes and a electrical cord, how hard can that be?"


This is just venting on my part. I'm just tired of being asked to do plumbing work, work involving dangerous work moving those heaters around and being hustled down to handyman wages to do it.

[gear junkie]

I feel the exact same way. I prefer drain cleaning to anything else.

[PLUMBER RICK]

don't know why you don't like doing heaters? i have one to do tomorrow and it's all in a days work. the harder it is the bigger the challenge:D

how about a 100 gallon commercial up stairs by yourself:eek: a boiler on a roof by yourself:eek: a 100 gallon down a basement that has stairs like a ladder:eek:

i like the challenge and the fact that i can do it by myself with a little ingenuity and a strong back:D

rick.

[Herk]

Water heaters are one thing that I thought I made money on. ::sigh:: I've had about two replacements this year. As long as I don't have to pull a 70-year-old National up a set of stairs with a landing at the top, I'm usually OK.

I've been wondering how hard it would be to cut one in half with a grinder? I've had to chisel through the side to get sediment out and cutting one in half to carry 1/2 out at a time sounds easier.

I use a dolly that is similar to U-haul's and strap the thing on for the ride.

But of course since I went FR, I'd never pull one without looking at it first. No prices over the phone, ever. I learned that one a long time ago. And I never depend on the customer to tell me any details about the job. They will lie. (Or at least stretch the truth a little.)

1. Nothing's as easy as it looks.
2. Everything takes longer than you think.
3. Someone will always call at 4:00 on Friday afternoon.

[gear junkie]

i like the challenge and the fact that i can do it by myself with a little ingenuity and a strong back:D

rick.And a motorized handtruck.;)

[apf]

I had a repeat cust. call recently,he said I have more work for you,a leak near the water meter,he said "I started to dig but hit a few small roots and my back is not that good"so I"ll pay you to dig it up.And pay he did as the dig area was at the base of a rather large tree.:eek: Small roots,almost weed like he says......................yea,forearm size!

[toolaholic]

Here what fixes all that. Around here a 40 gal Ist floor goes $900 to $1100

"KISAES Keep it simple and expensive stupid" I tell Myself.Estimate a lot do a little ,for good Money. Your only suppose to get 1 out of 5 jobs You estimate'

[DUNBAR]

A remodeler I spoke to tonight said that the average this year for him is 1 out of every 10 he bids he gets.

Everyone from the new construction market has flooded his trade and has utterly hammered his repeat business as some of his long standing customers have went by the way of cheaper to get their work done.

I got a bunch of calls today but there wasn't any I wanted to do.

One crawl space job......no

A rework behind a lowe's plumbing contractor........no

Work to be done and paid through homeowner's insurance......no

Estimate for a job 15 miles away....................NO

I did however get a couple jobs for tomorrow lined up, easy ones.

2129 ....................................2129 ...................................... 2129

By the time I'm 50 I'm going to advertise that I only replace seat cups on Delta faucets and flush valve seals on mansfield toilets.......that's it!

[toolaholic]

Hey Kid I'm 64 and still Crawling through " THE MUD, THE BLOOD AND THE BEER ,Quit Yer sniveling. I ache all over , before I get outa the rack at 5:30.
Remember " You can Marry more Money in 5 minutes ,than a lifetime of DRAIN CLEANING !

[PLUMBER RICK]

Hey Kid I'm 64 and still Crawling through " THE MUD, THE BLOOD AND THE BEER ,Quit Yer sniveling. I ache all over , before I get outa the rack at 5:30.
Remember " You can Marry more Money in 5 minutes ,than a lifetime of DRAIN CLEANING !

sounds like you quoted joey:D


rick.

[gear junkie]

Tool, give these guys a break, you're a Marine, your pain threshold is a little higher than most. You do realize since you've left the Corp, you can sleep in? Do I need to get Gunney to give you an order to act like a civilian.:D

[toolaholic]

Hi gear , I'm afraid I'm programed to work ,Probably die on the job!

[DuckButter]

In these politically correct times it's inappropriate to steriotype, instead we call it a demograph.
I have repeatedly encountered one "demograph" over and over, that always wants work done cheap, expects the most and complains the most about the price when the work is done.
Last week I got a call from a member of that "demograph", the accent was almost indistinguishable, requesting I drive out and give him an estimate.
I explained that I charge a "trip fee" for in person estimates, he then explained he had tons of work he needed done on his plumbing and would be happy to have me do the work if I gave him a free estimate, I wouldn't budge...after five minutes I gave in and set a time for the next day, all the while telling myself this would be the last straw if I was right.
I drove into the driveway a minimum $3/4 mil home...stood in the guys basement and at the point that he stated "I am on a tight budget and hope you can do this affordably" I walked out.
My back hurts, my kinee's are going, my shoulders ache.
When customers accidently forget certain details, like a water heater is buried behind their boiler, I tell them it's more or I pack and expect a trip fee.
I'm all done with bargain hunters shopping for price only.
A few years ago it was just my back, now it's my families survival.

[DUNBAR]

Good for you DuckButter.


I carry/follow that exact same sentiment on all levels and I just simply weasel out of every call that involves an estimate.


Remember that when you give an estimate and the customer feels you're too high, you can damage your reputation quickly by a formulated opinion from that customer.

How?

Wife always talks to the husband, wife might be close knit with numerous neighbors in the vicinity and at the tea or tupperware party someone asks if they are going with XXXXX plumbing.

She says no because hubby thought they was too high.


Now, not just one person thinks your high but now the whole freaking clan thinks so and they'll remember that next time they need a plumber.

I weasel out of every estimate that comes my way, always stepping out of that boundary to get burned nearly 95% of the time.

Get enough years in this business and you'll have a considerable list of those you've never worked for, but they will never call you.....and you did something for them (free estimate) without pay. :confused::confused::confused:

[toolaholic]

Duckbutter, that was beautiful,straight from the heart. You said it all, for all of us !

Thank's Tool

[plumbdog10]

In these politically correct times it's inappropriate to steriotype, instead we call it a demograph.
I have repeatedly encountered one "demograph" over and over, that always wants work done cheap, expects the most and complains the most about the price when the work is done.
Last week I got a call from a member of that "demograph", the accent was almost indistinguishable, requesting I drive out and give him an estimate.
I explained that I charge a "trip fee" for in person estimates, he then explained he had tons of work he needed done on his plumbing and would be happy to have me do the work if I gave him a free estimate, I wouldn't budge...after five minutes I gave in and set a time for the next day, all the while telling myself this would be the last straw if I was right.
I drove into the driveway a minimum $3/4 mil home...stood in the guys basement and at the point that he stated "I am on a tight budget and hope you can do this affordably" I walked out.
My back hurts, my kinee's are going, my shoulders ache.
When customers accidently forget certain details, like a water heater is buried behind their boiler, I tell them it's more or I pack and expect a trip fee.
I'm all done with bargain hunters shopping for price only.
A few years ago it was just my back, now it's my families survival.

I don't work in that end of the business, but you wrote a great post. It was well written, honest, and the "real deal" on your situation. This should have been a "hall of fame" post,if we had one.

[Tyman]

I actually enjoy water heaters. If I need help lifting, the guys are a phone call away. Tell your customers I will do the water heater install but it's a heck of a trip charge.:D

[CPlumb]

DB , That was SO true . I have sadly gotten to that point too . If the "accents" are such that I know I am going to be " backing in to a screwing " NO THANK YOU !

This is NOT a negotiation . I will do the work very well and you will pay me xx amount . Then they say , " No , how about this MUCH LESS amount " I then say goodbye.

[Masterplumb]

Ever hear of a helper?

[DuckButter]

Ever hear of a helper?

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I agree, its hard to find good help. Maybe you are not paying enough? Or maybe you do not offer these helpers benefits? In order to get good labor you have to pay well.

[DUNBAR]

As I go against my own word :speechless:Shame on me


Sometimes you just can't say no to good referrals.

[westcoastplumber]

I can life up to 75 by myself, now, if it's a 100 gallon, the ferguson guy delivering will help me out.

Ferguson has a new program here, the driver will help you out, get it up stairs, whatever you need, and they wil haul the old one away. One condition, the old water heater has to be ready to go, drained and unhooked etc.

Guys, remember, the harder it is, the more it cost. Also, a water heater is a big ticket item, the customer will enjoy 10-15 years of hot water, so they shouldn't mind paying what it cost to replace it, it is called the cost of comfort.