The 3 year old electric Water Heater bit the dust this Morning. SCALDING HOT WATER, so I turned the water heater off. Did a load of laundry and the dishes. About three hours later, I turned the timer back on to restart the water heater. 2 Hours later, still cold. Changed the battery in the timer and checked the circuit breaker to make sure the breaker did not trip. Everything was running, except the water heater. Now, it's just barely lukewarm Thinking it's one of the heater elements burned out. Got a price to replace the electric water heater with a Natural Gas Power Vent. Bradford White , 40 gallon Natural Gas model. $1,300.00 . This price is complete install of new water heater, and haul away of the old water heater.

Is that the average price now ????

Put in a new one in my house a couple months ago. 40 gallon natural gas power vent Rheem. It was $850 and I installed it myself.

Yes. Especially if the plumber has to run a gas line and also vent the water heater as the old electric did not require those two items.

Chris

If you are handy check the elements on the electric, get rid of the computer and instal thermostat continue on as normal.

I would suggest looking at tankless on-demand water heater. Best move we ever made. Based on the price you just gave, they are in the same ballpark. Dont waste gas keeping water warm in the tank like a conventional and you cannot run out of hot water when you need it....and trust me, the wife and kids have tried. It this one ever croaks, it'll get replaced quickly. Ours is a Rheam brand, but I know there are several other makers out there also. Just an option to think about....

Take note of what Midlander wrote. I've installed a dz or so in the last couple years. In some situations they are great.

Why do you need a whole new unit for a bad element? It is a 20 dollar and 20 minute job.

how many feet of gas line, how many feet of vent

go shop for the unit it's self they are 800-900

I put in a 50gallon power vent myself a few years ago , you will like how fast it recovers in the summer I just can't seem to run it out of hotwater run laundry , dishes and back to back showers

in the winter we can do back to back showers x3 if we are not running laundry and dishes at the same time. the difference is 33 degree water coming in in the winter vs 50 something degree water in the summer.

3-400 for what is probably 4 hours work and materials seems fair

my electric bill fell by almost 2X what my gas bill went up figure about a 15 dollar a month savings in 6 years it pays for it's self in electric savings.
not to mention you can take a Hollywood shower without it getting cold.

That's I was figuring,. Better savings. After I had this electric water heater installed, the electric bill went up $40.00 each Month. That Yellow tag on the Water heater , AFTER I noticed it said that the yearly electric cost to run that electric water heater is $556.00 a year ! The Gas power vented one, is less than $300.00 a year.

So I am in the process of converting two electric water heaters and two electric boilers for infloor heat to natural gas. Ready to bite the bullet on significant investment for a 650 foot service line to get natural gas, then significant investment in the conversion. On paper the costs will be recouped in the long term, However............................
I sit here and watch the democrat convention and realize if they win the whole energy situation changes. The new green deal will tax the crap out of fuels like natural gas to make "renewables" competative. Does a guy do what makes sense today, or plan for what makes no sense tomorrow?