[BowlTurner]

Originally Posted by Velvet

What do you think? Village Plumber wants my feedback. $250 to flush 40 gallon tank. Took about an hour with a hose. No parts, no installation.

Sounds like a hose job.

[Rodneysblue]

Originally Posted by Velvet

What do you think? Village Plumber wants my feedback. $250 to flush 40 gallon tank. Took about an hour with a hose. No parts, no installation.

My daughter does her for free. Once every two years.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Well, retiredguy and my friends here at TOTV, we learn from each other.

Yep, that's right. We do learn from each other. It's the main reason I come to this site. I just moved here from Minnesota and to get any kind of contractor on site up there is going to run you a minimum of $200, and that's just for them to walk in your front door. So is $240 expensive? Not for Minnesota but I am learning labor down here is a lot cheaper.

I flushed my tank myself up in Minnesota but that was in preparation of installing a sand filter and an anode rod in my water heater due to iron in my water.

Also, flushing a water tank may seem like a simple task but if you have a gas water heater you're supposed to shut off the gas. That means you need to know how to turn it off, turn it on, and light your pilot. If you don't know what you're doing this could be potentially very dangerous. When I was a septic contractor I went out to a house where there had been a propane gas leak that had been running all night while the homeowner slept. He woke up in the morning and flicked on his light switch and it blew up the house. It ripped 2/3 of the roof off the house, blew out half of the main floor and cracked the concrete floor in the basement. They found the guy laying out in his yard with third-degree burns. I don't think he made it. I'm not saying that this would happen with a hot water heater but messing with gas is no joke.

[Wondering]

Why would anyone hire a plumber to drain a hotter tank? Anyone can do it. Try You Tube video to see how it's done.

[bsloan1960]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The price is way too high. This is an easy DIY or handyman project. No need for a plumber. Also, the Rheem manual does not recommend flushing out a hot water tank. If it is a Rheem, read your manual.

Note that I recently had Mike Scott Plumbing provide and install a new garbage disposal for $240, total price for materials and labor. The Home Depot price for the disposal alone was $117.

Don't have my Rheem manual- are you saying we don't have to flush every year with vinegar? I've been hearing since moving here that was standard practice.

[MrFlorida]

Never in my life have I flushed out a hot water heater, and never had one fail...replace it every 10 years and forget about it.

[Regorp]

Originally Posted by Velvet

What do you think? Village Plumber wants my feedback. $250 to flush 40 gallon tank. Took about an hour with a hose. No parts, no installation.

A handy neighbor could help you and give them a gift certificate or treat to a nice dinner out. Less than an hour

[mrf0151]

Call Frank Gay, he'll hook you up.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

call frank gay, he'll hook you up.

lol!

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by ron32162

Sounds like you thought it was No problem to do, just a hose no parts no install and a hour of someone else's time yet you did not want to do it then complain about a 250 charge? I dont get it??

They specifically asked for feedback. I’m surprised they didn’t ask for a tip too …so I thought I’d ask my forum what they thought of it.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by bsloan1960

Don't have my Rheem manual- are you saying we don't have to flush every year with vinegar? I've been hearing since moving here that was standard practice.

I'm confused. How would you flush a tank type water heater with vinegar? Are you referring to a tankless water heater? If so, I understand that they need to be descaled regularly. The Rheem manuals are available on the internet. I have a tank type Rheem water heater, and the manual does not recommend flushing out the entire tank. It does "suggest" that you drain a small amount of water from the tank every month or so, but I don't do that. My water heater is 8 years old, and I have never done any maintenance on it. When it fails, I will buy a new one.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by ron32162

Sounds like you thought it was No problem to do, just a hose no parts no install and a hour of someone else's time yet you did not want to do it then complain about a 250 charge? I dont get it??

I don't get the sense at all the OP was complaining, just asking for opinions. That's perfectly legit.

[Kluthy]

Originally Posted by Velvet

What do you think? Village Plumber wants my feedback. $250 to flush 40 gallon tank. Took about an hour with a hose. No parts, no installation.

You have to remember a contractor needs to earn a minimum amount to do a job. He has to answer calls to diagnose a problem, travel time to/from the job, truck/office expenses, etc etc etc
The days of the $100 service calls are over

[Tokyogirl]

I would give The Village Plumbers a very good review. Recently, sewage backed up in my whole house. Called 5 other plumbing companies and no one could help (they all wanted to book an apt a day or two out). Anyway, called the Village Plumbers and they sent someone out immediately. He fixed my issue and even cleaned some of the mess. They charged $285. The sense of urgency and helpfulness was priceless. I will call them first next time.

[JWGifford]

Originally Posted by Velvet

What do you think? Village Plumber wants my feedback. $250 to flush 40 gallon tank. Took about an hour with a hose. No parts, no installation.

Water under the bridge at this point. ;-) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just chalk it up as a life lesson. Honestly, I’ve never once flushed my hot water heater in any house I’ve ever owned and don't recall ever having any problems. I‘ve replaced one or two, but they were at the end of their life span.