An Illinois homeowner facing a $2,500 water heater replacement quote turned to neighbors for advice — and learned that others had paid about $1,800 for similar work.

Here's what to know

In a post on Reddit's r/PeoriaIL community, the homeowner described a recurring problem with a gas water heater. "The pilot keeps going out every few days, and we recently noticed water pooling around the bottom," they wrote.

Both Roto-Rooter and Tiger included equipment, labor, and removal in their estimates. Roto-Rooter priced the heater replacement at roughly $2,500 and a water softener at another $3,500; Tiger's estimates were similar.

One commenter said Ogborn Plumbing included removal of the old heater, while another said the company supplied and installed the replacement. Both put their water heater installation bills at roughly $1,800.

For homeowners considering an alternative to the poster's 50-gallon gas model, a heat pump water heater could help lower energy bills. The discussion, though, did not include an estimate of those savings or a comparable installation quote for a heat pump model.

More background

One older comparison used a mid-tier, 50-gallon gas heater, not a current quote for the homeowner's replacement. Paluska handled that installation through Home Depot's service in 2023, and the commenter's bill was $1,610.

The home already had a water softener; the homeowner clarified that the quoted work would replace it.

Tom Smith Plumbing handled only the water heater for another commenter, whose full project cost about $6,000.

That job involved copper-line replacements and other work, plus a pressure-reducing valve, a drip pan, and an expansion tank. It also covered a water softener and a high-recovery 50-gallon water heater.

What can be done?

The homeowner had already gathered two quotes, but continuing the conversation appeared to help bring the price down. "Roto got down to $2,350 for me now for everything," the original poster wrote in a reply.

That represents a $150 reduction from the initial water heater estimate, though it does not establish whether the revised quote was the best available offer.

Many commenters warned against going with Roto-Rooter or Tiger, saying they overcharge for everything and don't do good work. 

The discussion also gave the homeowner more contractors to contact, including Ogborn Plumbing, Paluska, and Tom Smith Plumbing. Asking each company to specify equipment, installation, removal, and any plumbing changes would make those bids easier to compare with the homeowner's all-inclusive quotes.

For homeowners also comparing water-heating technologies, Cala offers smart heat pump water heaters. Its customizable systems can help homeowners lower their energy bills by heating water exactly when needed. Installation quotes and potential operating savings are separate considerations when evaluating a system from Cala.

The commenter who hired Tom Smith Plumbing described a positive experience. "They did great work and were easy to work with while we discussed options," they wrote.

Where can I learn more?

Other homeowners have also had to sort through widely differing water heater replacement quotes. These stories cover competing bids, lower-cost replacements, and questions about tank sizes and upgrades.

• A cheaper AO Smith replacement offer prompted professionals to recommend checking the specific model.

• In England, a homeowner weighed multiple quotes while facing questions about tank capacity.

• A homeowner found a 12-year replacement tank for under $1,000 after dealing with lukewarm water.

• A North Carolina homeowner received a $3,900 utility quote after a $6,000 water heater estimate.

• A homeowner facing a $4,200 replacement quote for a 75-gallon heater questioned whether tankless justified more.

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