Reasonable plumber cost to install Whole House Filter archived
Oct 16, 2007 at 1:08pm
This is quoted from the website
"Comes complete with main filter unit, pre-filter, installation kit, shut-off valve and required hardware. Typical installation is 1.5 to 2.5 hours by a licensed plumber, $175.00 to $250.00, and is usually done in your basement, garage, or water closet."
"Comes complete with main filter unit, pre-filter, installation kit, shut-off valve and required hardware. Typical installation is 1.5 to 2.5 hours by a licensed plumber, $175.00 to $250.00, and is usually done in your basement, garage, or water closet."
So does this eliminate the need for a water softener? Or is it just another form of purification?
My neighbor just had a Jayson water softener installed and she is thrilled.
My neighbor just had a Jayson water softener installed and she is thrilled.
The picture in that web page is cute. If I buy one of those filters, will I get to sit on that woman's lap in the bathtub?
No, shhh - the filter is in addition to the Culligan water softener we've had for years. Sadly, I'm not thrilled with the results of a water softener in our home. I can definitely tell when the salt is gone b/c the water feels disgusting in the shower, but we have cloudy glasses anyway. (I've been out of Glass Magic for about 2 weeks and it already shows!)
My poor son's eczema has gotten so bad that I've become desperate, and my hope is that by eliminating the high levels of chlorine from our S.Orange water (and the crap that floats in our tap water), that his painful skin condition can heal. So, I look at this expensive water filter as an investment in my family's health and also in the hope that we will be able to drink the filtered water and enjoy it, cutting down on bottled water expense! (Although the plumbing cost is apparently going to add a huge chunk of change to the grand total!)
My poor son's eczema has gotten so bad that I've become desperate, and my hope is that by eliminating the high levels of chlorine from our S.Orange water (and the crap that floats in our tap water), that his painful skin condition can heal. So, I look at this expensive water filter as an investment in my family's health and also in the hope that we will be able to drink the filtered water and enjoy it, cutting down on bottled water expense! (Although the plumbing cost is apparently going to add a huge chunk of change to the grand total!)
PDG, I am surprised about the Culligan. Do most people who have the softeners feel that way? My friend said the difference in hers has been dramatic, glasses and stainless are coming out of the DW sparkling clean.
I am sorry your son's skin is so bad from the water, that's for sure.
I am sorry your son's skin is so bad from the water, that's for sure.
shh - I don't mean to slam Culligan. They have come out to test my water and it "tests soft". That said, there are still substances in the water, apparently, that are making my glasses cloudy.
I have a Bosch DW that uses a condensate drying system (very hot rinse water that then evaporates, with the help of Jet Dry which they require you use, and no heating element.) Possibly the water quality combined with the method of our DW drying dishes adds to my cloudiness.
I'm hoping the water filter will be my solution!
So, anyone out there care to comment on my plumbing costs? The filter is doing me zero good sitting in the basement; do I really have to pay $650 to get this sucker installed?
I have a Bosch DW that uses a condensate drying system (very hot rinse water that then evaporates, with the help of Jet Dry which they require you use, and no heating element.) Possibly the water quality combined with the method of our DW drying dishes adds to my cloudiness.
I'm hoping the water filter will be my solution!
So, anyone out there care to comment on my plumbing costs? The filter is doing me zero good sitting in the basement; do I really have to pay $650 to get this sucker installed?
For Company Information:
Contact Name: Sun Water Systems Inc.
Address: 6310 Midway Rd.
Haltom City TX 76117
So this company from Haltom City, Texas knows what the installation costs of it products will be...umm...all over the United States? For all job conditions?
And they're so sure that they put it in their literature?
What's that about?
Contact Name: Sun Water Systems Inc.
Address: 6310 Midway Rd.
Haltom City TX 76117
So this company from Haltom City, Texas knows what the installation costs of it products will be...umm...all over the United States? For all job conditions?
And they're so sure that they put it in their literature?
What's that about?
pdg I think that most of the plumbers in this area are breaking even at about 175.00 per hour per truck or even higher.
Also, sometimes you will get two plumbers if they are on thier way from a two man job or if one is in training. Doesn't always mean you are getting charged for two techs.
I would call the company and ask how they arrived at the number they did.
When we install whole house filters, we also install a bypass set up with every installation. This includes 3 expensive ball type shut off valves, several fittings, a few feet of pipe and lots more time.
A bypass is fairly crucial to one of these installations because it enables you to isolate the filter and still have water in case the filter malfunctions, it's seal starts to leak or you get caught short on replacement cartradges . The Texas company may not consider the by pass as part of what they consider necessary to the installation.
Sorry about your son's eczema, that is a lousy condition.
Maybe you can get your doctor to write a prescription for the filter. It's worth asking the question IMHO.
Also, sometimes you will get two plumbers if they are on thier way from a two man job or if one is in training. Doesn't always mean you are getting charged for two techs.
I would call the company and ask how they arrived at the number they did.
When we install whole house filters, we also install a bypass set up with every installation. This includes 3 expensive ball type shut off valves, several fittings, a few feet of pipe and lots more time.
A bypass is fairly crucial to one of these installations because it enables you to isolate the filter and still have water in case the filter malfunctions, it's seal starts to leak or you get caught short on replacement cartradges . The Texas company may not consider the by pass as part of what they consider necessary to the installation.
Sorry about your son's eczema, that is a lousy condition.
Maybe you can get your doctor to write a prescription for the filter. It's worth asking the question IMHO.
pdg - we recently got quotes to install a water softener from 2 different plumbers and an additional one from Culligan. Both plumbers came in around $650 (Culligan was significantly higher). I have no idea if the plumbing work for the Aquasana product is similar to installing a water softener, but if so, this would put your quote in line with ours. b/t/w - These plumbers were recommended on this board (Gateway and Right One) and both came to give estimates as scheduled.
We recently had some plumbing work done, including replacing the recirculator pump on on hot water boiler and replacing some leaky valves,bleading the system (surprisingly time consuming) plus a whole bunch of other rather minor stuff. Their was a plumber and an apprentice and the labor cost for six hours worked about to be around $200 per hour.
I would go with Plungy on this one. The picture shown on the web site is an overly simplistic install, and to me, a not a responsible way of putting in a device that all your household water runs through!
You definitely want to install this thing with a bypass. I can't quite recollect the system in my basement, but I think that requires at least 4 ball valves and various elbows, fittings, and lengths of pipe to make it work.
Can't comment on the cost you quoted, seems a bit high perhaps, but it will depend on the kind and size of piping you have now, where its located, what is the access, and so on. Keep in mind that this install will require a whole house water turn off, too -- and in my mind, in older houses like in our area, that's always a bit risky.
Good luck! /p
You definitely want to install this thing with a bypass. I can't quite recollect the system in my basement, but I think that requires at least 4 ball valves and various elbows, fittings, and lengths of pipe to make it work.
Can't comment on the cost you quoted, seems a bit high perhaps, but it will depend on the kind and size of piping you have now, where its located, what is the access, and so on. Keep in mind that this install will require a whole house water turn off, too -- and in my mind, in older houses like in our area, that's always a bit risky.
Good luck! /p
pdg.... if paying $x amount for a licensed professional to provide their service seems unappealing/extravagent/'too high', why not question the company as to the legitimacy of NOT warrantying an self-installation? If you're trying to assure the validity of the warranty..... why won't they accept a 'correct' or 'acceptable' installation by a non-licensed person?
(and though I did my own,,, personally, since your concern is the warranty..... I'd just have it done, btw.... for all the reasons cited above)
(and though I did my own,,, personally, since your concern is the warranty..... I'd just have it done, btw.... for all the reasons cited above)
We had a whole house filter installed a few years ago and the price you were quoted is about right. They did exactly as Plungy and PeteGlider said and created a bypass system. It took them a few hours and was much more than I thought they would do, but my trusty plumber said a bypass is necessary for the same reasons mentioned above.
I'm a little confused... is the whole house filter supposed to filter out even more than the water softener does? Remove more impurities/minerals or whatever in the water? We had the water softener in our old house in Monmouth County, and I did like the results, although it got tiresome to have to be cleaning the taps all the time because of all the accumulated deposits that the softer water was bringing with it out of the pipes! We were clearing crystals out of the kitchen tap about once a week because otherwise the tap would shut down from the accumulation of crystals behind the screen.
I'm thinking we might have to get a water softener in our house in W. Orange, because I'm developing the worst rash/itching on my upper body and around my face and scalp. I do have a history of eczema, and this is very discouraging.
I'm thinking we might have to get a water softener in our house in W. Orange, because I'm developing the worst rash/itching on my upper body and around my face and scalp. I do have a history of eczema, and this is very discouraging.
peggyc - A whole house filter does not address/solve hard water issues. It is simply a filter (like a Brita or a faucet filter....) put at the beginning of your incoming water supply (to 'clean' the water of chlorine, sediment, other particulants, etc. .....).
So both would really be essential to make the water something bare skin can tolerate? :sad:
I think we have a picture of a whole house filter installation with by-pass on the rightoneplumbing.com website if you are interested in seeing a completed installation.
Oct 18, 2007 at 8:28am Edited
Thanks, plungy. Maybe I'll take a look when our budget has recovered from putting in a new closet and new front door! :confused:
PeggyC, I recommend you give plungy a shout if/when you're ready to do the work. He's a straight shooter.
H'mmm. Might have to talk to Plungy offline about a little problem I've got with our tub spout, which is stuck in the "shower" position, so I can't run a bath any more. Been wanting to replace that for more than a year... then again, why would I want a bath in this hard, unfiltered water???
Sorry for the thread drift, but do plumbers do work on water softeners? I have a Culligan and it has crapped out repeatedly on me. I bought it (rather than leasing), so I pay each time they come out. The manual that came with the machine might as well have been written in Latin for all the sense it makes to me.
I would think so... they install them, so they must know a fair amount about how they work. What do the plumbers on this thread think?
Barrett_Hickory,
If you want to start plumber or any other trade bashing, why don't you start a thread in the Soapbox. Like people in any profession, there are good eggs and bad eggs. In my case, I found Gateway Plumbing, for one, to be totally reasonable when my hot water heater failed on Thursday morning as I was starting a four day weekend. I spoke to Dave at Gateway and when I came home Sunday, the heater had been replaced.
If you want to start plumber or any other trade bashing, why don't you start a thread in the Soapbox. Like people in any profession, there are good eggs and bad eggs. In my case, I found Gateway Plumbing, for one, to be totally reasonable when my hot water heater failed on Thursday morning as I was starting a four day weekend. I spoke to Dave at Gateway and when I came home Sunday, the heater had been replaced.
Tjohn - lighten up and try just a little bit to see dry humor that I saw in Barrett-H's post. It's too early to be jumping all over someone.
(And Barrett - the thread title was asking about reasonable plumber COST - just want to understand the reality of area licensed plumbers costs for this type of install.)
(And Barrett - the thread title was asking about reasonable plumber COST - just want to understand the reality of area licensed plumbers costs for this type of install.)
Licensed plumber I've never used before just arrived. (2 guys, actually.)
Quoted me $185/hr plus materials, max of 2 hours, including installing a by-pass.
I'll post the (hopefully) good results when they are finished, along with photos if I can find my stupid camera charger.
I also plan to share the expense for this area with the manufacturer so they can consider changing their website's plumbing estimate.
Quoted me $185/hr plus materials, max of 2 hours, including installing a by-pass.
I'll post the (hopefully) good results when they are finished, along with photos if I can find my stupid camera charger.
I also plan to share the expense for this area with the manufacturer so they can consider changing their website's plumbing estimate.
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which requires a licensed plumber to install it in order for the warranty to be
valid. The manufacturer says it should take about 1.5 hours to install.
So, I made an appt w/a well-liked on MOL plumber, and 2 guys came to the job, opened the box, called the office for a quote and told me $650! :shocked:
I say, thanks, but I have to check that price b/c it is much, much higher than I expected for 1.5 hours of work. (Frankly, I don't know why I need 2 plumbers here either, since I highly doubt that 2 can do it any faster than one.)
So, I call the manufacturer and asked them if this is a particularly difficult installation, and they said no, that it is simple for any experienced, licensed plumber to do, unless my main is hidden in walls, or some other difficulty. I said the only issue is that I wanted it installed before my water softener. He said that installation before the softener shouldn't make a bit of difference.
So, now, before I call another plumber, I thought I'd post online and see what the going rate has been for folks using a licensed plumber for 1.5 hours. It may just be that I need a reality check, but man, $650 seems high!