Any Plumbers Here? - UPDATED! IT'S DONE!

[codeyf]

Currently, the WH is in our utility room. We want it in the garage. Move is basically to the other side of the wall. From what I understand, somewhat basic plumbing/sautering skills are needed for this job. Of which I have neither.

So my question is, how long should this take (assuming best case scenario) for an experienced/skilled plumber to do?

LINK TO PICTURES

The empty corner is the other side of the wall, where we want it to be.


UPDATED - 10/14 9:13pm

$250 in labor (3hrs @ $85/hr) and ~$75 in parts later, it's done.

I didn't go with the stand, but it is on the foam block.

I missed a lot of the replies yesterday/last night. It is electric/hardwired. The wiring didn't need to be modified in any way.

The pressure release does just go to the washer drain to the right of the old location. It still goes there now.

He replaced that valve with a ball valve, so it's only a 1/4 turn to shut off the water.

All in all, he did a good job. More than I hoped, but less than I was afraid of.

And yes, the earthquake straps are back on it.

 

[Rastus]

One hour.

edit: Three to four hours, I didn't account for moving the plumbing.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

OK unhook and drain the water heater before the plumber arrives and have an appliance dolly ready. So we are looking at drilling three holes straight through to the garage. Get a dense foam block for the water heater to set on otherwise you will loose a lot of heat to the concrete floor in the garage. A water heater blanket is recommended too. Got mine free from Pacific Power. Where did the pressure relief valve pipe to? You can have to go straight down in once in the garage.

OK so we are looking at drilling three holes, a few feet of copper pipe and elbows soldered and rewiring the electric. Parts under $20, labour two hours tops. So depending on the local hourly rate you?re looking at $100 to $200 total.

 

[NoShangriLa]

The going rate is about 4h for hot water heater install & removal. My guess is 2-3h for what you need to do. It will save you a bit of time if you drain the water yourself (garden hose connect to the hose bib at the bottom of the tank), however a plumber can drain a hwt in less than 10 minutes using a pony pump or a drill pump (6-12 gallons/min).

The best thing that you can do is to clear the path way from the present hwt location to the new location, and you might want to request ¾? or ½? PEX tubing connection if there are more than a couple of bends or long run from the present location to the new location.

PEX is quicker to install, but the first 18? connection from/to hwt have to be copper, and PEX tubing is cheaper than copper.

Personally I would look up the local building code for residential htw, because it seems as if you don?t have a vacuum relief valve on the cold water line. Also, check to make sure if your local code allows the use of flexible copper tubing.


[edit]
I reread your post, therefore ignore the PEX comments because the run is short and isn?t worth the time to solder the PEX by copper sweat couplings.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Where did the pressure relief valve pipe to? You can have to go straight down in once in the garage.

It could be that the blow off pipe is rooted to the auto washer drain that is to the right of the hwt.

 

[So]

What is this sautering you speak of and how is it related to soldering?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: So
What is this sautering you speak of and how is it related to soldering?

I really enjoy people who know what the OP is talking about but need to increase there post count...lolol

 

[So]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: So
What is this sautering you speak of and how is it related to soldering?

I really enjoy people who know what the OP is talking about but need to increase there post count...lolol

so do I. lololol

Hah! Trumped ya!

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

what ever you estimate, multiply by 2.

 

[Supertastic Fool]

1. Smash hole in wall
2. Scoot water heater through
3. profit?

 

[Supertastic Fool]

really and truly, drain it yourself, disconnect everything you see attatched. yes you can cut copper with a hack saw. Move it yourself. set it where you want it and then call your plumber. He will be there for maybe an hour.

 

[drnickriviera]

Looks like it's hard wired. I'd spend some extra $$ and add a box and pig tail

 

[Chaotic42]

If you have any doubts, please call a plumber. You're dealing with water. gas (So my very unexperienced eyes tell me), and piping... I get a bad feeling that we'll see a thread in a day or so about your house being flooded or something.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
If you have any doubts, please call a plumber. You're dealing with water. gas (So my very unexperienced eyes tell me), and piping... I get a bad feeling that we'll see a thread in a day or so about your house being flooded or something.

no gas...thats an electric water heater.

 

[BoomerD]

Locally, it costs about $300 just to have a hot water tank changed out. You're talking about re-routing the plumbing and electrical, (not far, but will take some extra work by a plumber), so I'd guess you can just about double that. Not sure what the local plumber rate is in Bothell, but it's not gonna be cheap. You MIGHT get a decent home handyman service to do it cheaper than a regular plumber however.
I'd also recommend getting that tank off the floor, and onto a properly built stand. Anchor it to the wall with earthquake straps for safety as well.

Edit: Here's the Washington laws on water heater installations:

Read Me

And:

Secure your water heater

 

[codeyf]

$250 in labor (3hrs @ $85/hr) and ~$75 in parts later, it's done.

I didn't go with the stand, but it is on the foam block.

I missed a lot of the replies yesterday/last night. It is electric/hardwired. The wiring didn't need to be modified in any way.

The pressure release does just go to the washer drain to the right of the old location. It still goes there now.

He replaced that valve with a ball valve, so it's only a 1/4 turn to shut off the water.

All in all, he did a good job. More than I hoped, but less than I was afraid of.