Water Heaters - Pilot light went out on a 10-yr old...

...40 gal (A. O. Smith) gas water heater. Local contractor says maybe time to replace with Bradford-White but it's $$$.

Researching on the net suggests I go to box store and pick their water heater since technology is old school and they're all pretty much the same with the exception of the newer ones with FVIR.

I'm in Tucson.

Qs: how much should I add to Home Depot price for installation? Are all brands really the same or are some better than others? Any other stuff I need to know? When I last replaced a heater in VA, we needed a local permit to do the work and it all added up.

Thanks!

Arounde here ( So. Calif.) HD gets around $300 to install, which is a little under what an average plumber will charge.

The GE brand is made by Rheem, and is a good brand. The Whirlpool brand sold by big blue is the subject of a class action suit. ( It is made by a subsidiary of A.O. Smith).

Most areas do require a permit for a water heater install. A homeowner is allowed to do it himself, but must still get the permit and an inspection. Permit runs about $80.

I didn't notice where you are located. I hope you are not Los Angeles County, because smog specs have raised the price of water heaters by more than 50% effective Jan 1, 2008.

I found out there is a removeable panel at the bottom of the water heater body and it allows access to the pilot light, which was off. Just for anyone else in tucson reading this, the servicemen told me new installations contain a dirt trap in the supply line. Hmmm, this suggests the city gas is dirty and that's is a possible cause for my light going out. Anyway, it's working now.

Thanks again!

You may want to be thinking about replacing the thermocouple in the near future. That's the most common cause of pilot light failure.

When the heater starts leaking, replace it. If you want more efficiency, replace it. I would scratch that local contractor off my call list.

I'm sure it'll leak in time. And that's when I'd go for the more efficient heater. Not sure why I would scratch the contractor, though. But thanks for the advice.