How much should a natural gas water heater replacement cost ("hydro-air")?

[mshan]

My State Select PR640NRRTL natural gas water heater will be 10 years next year and I am researching how much replacing it should cost.

It functions to both produce hot water and heat condo (I have First Company air handler that I believe has pipes that take hot water from water heater into coils, heats house, and returns colder water to hot water heater).

I called plumber who put it in for previous owner and he said something like $1800 because it is hydro-air. He said regular water heater replacement would be $875 complete.

This type of home heating system is called Apollo, Aqua-Therm, Hydro-Air, etc. I think.

How much should replacement water heater cost, and how much for labor?

My current one has 54,500 input, e .f. 5.4, 40 gallons, natural gas.

First plumber says they use Bradford White, though they can also get State Select at higher price.

 

[vi edit]

Hydro air is a boiler system and uses the heat generated to help warm other areas of the house. I assume you need to be roughed in to take advantage of that(which I can't really tell by your post if you are or not). If you aren't then you are pretty much wasting that extra $1000 over a conventional water heater.

 

[BurnItDwn]

When I replaced my hot water heater, I got a 40 gallon gas heater with a 12 year warranty for about $450, but, there was 25% off all energy efficient appliances at the time, so it costed about $340. Then I paid $25 to rent the pickup truck. I also paid like $30 for new fittings and some vent pieces since the new heater is taller than the old one (didn't want to pay $100 more for a short height one with same efficiency and capacity.)
http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=SG40T12AVG
Not "high end", but was a huge upgrade over the 20+ year old leaky water heater I had from before...

Plumbers usually quoted about $200-300 more that what I paid... which is why I went ahead and just installed on my own with the help of my uncle when he was in town visiting...

Your situation is certainly different than mine, since your water heater probably has a lot more things connected to it....

IMO, don't bother replacing it until you have to (either it starts to leak, or it seems like your hot water isn't very hot any more)

 

[mshan]

I already have a First Company air handler that has a dedicated Carrier ac connected and the natural gas water heater for space heating. I think it is 40 gallons and 40,000 btu output.

This is what First Company air handler web page says: http://www.firstco.com/products/aqua_therm.asp

I think actual model number of my air handler is First Company Aqua-Therm 24VA03.