§ 01 Quote Check

Check a quote before you sign

Put a quote next to what homeowners actually paid, then check its terms against the law that applies. We never call a quote fair or a scam: we show where it sits, what to ask, and why.

Sample AWater heater $2,450 · ZIP 77002 Sample BWindows $75,000 · ZIP 90012

Your quote

No upload. Nothing is stored unless you save it to your home.

Job

ZIPQuoted price

Deposit asked before work starts

How was it sold?

What does the written quote say?

Is a license or registration number on the quote?

Are start and finish dates written down?

Are materials itemized (brand, model, quantity)?

Is the permit included, pulled by the contractor?

Is there a payment schedule tied to finished work?

Will they give lien releases as you pay?

Did you get a written cancellation notice?

Is the warranty in writing?

Deterministic rules, no AI guess: the same inputs always give the same answer. How it works

Result · Water heater, replace

Price: Enter the quoted price.
Terms: Nothing flagged by the rules on file.

AHS 2023 · hired · United States · n=1,786CPI-U ×1.10 to Aug 2026Rules checked 2026-10-05

Share card Save to my homeNot a verdict on your contractor.

1 · Price

What hired owners reported paying

middle half of what owners paid

$99025th

$1,540median

$2,20075th

Middle half: $990 to $2,200; median $1,540. Survey dollars $900 / $1,400 / $2,000, adjusted by CPI-U (334.980 ÷ 304.702).

American Housing Survey 2023 PUFSelf-reported, nominal dollars, scope varies. A reported cost is never a quote.All geographies for this job

2 · Terms

What the rules on file say

Enter a ZIP and how the quote was sold to see the federal and state rules that apply.

What the law says, quoted with its source. Not legal advice: for your situation ask your state's contractor board or attorney general.

3 · Ask before you sign

Questions for the contractor

Is this the same capacity and fuel as my current tank?For water heater, replace jobs
Does the price include the permit, haul-away and any expansion tank?For water heater, replace jobs
What is the tank warranty and the labor warranty, in writing?For water heater, replace jobs
If you are recommending tankless or a heat pump, what changes to venting or wiring are included?For water heater, replace jobs

Answer the questions on the left to tailor this list. Red flags for this job

4 · Local trade wage

Plumbers, United States

Wage, not price

25th pct$24.13per hour

Median$30.67per hour

75th pct$40.92per hour

This ZIP is not in a metro area BLS reports on, so this is the national figure.

Your multiplier: ×2.0Median wage × multiplier: $61/hr

You set this; casaq publishes no “typical markup” because we have no citable source for one. OEWS reports what employers pay these workers per hour. A contractor’s bill also covers the business: insurance, licensing, vehicles, tools, office staff, warranty callbacks, unbilled travel time and profit. The wage is a floor for understanding a quote, never a price.

BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2152 · 465,840 workers Plumbers wages by metro

5 · What the job involves

Water heater, replace

Swapping a tank water heater is one of the most uniform jobs in the survey: a like-for-like replacement is a few hours of work for a plumber. Prices climb when the fuel, location or venting changes, or when code updates are needed.

How it usually goes

Shut off water and gas or power, drain and disconnect the old tank
Set the new tank, connect water lines, gas or electric, and venting
Add any code-required parts (expansion tank, drain pan, seismic straps where required)
Fill, purge air, light or power up, test the relief valve and check for leaks
Haul away the old tank; file the permit and inspection where required

What moves the price

Tank size and fuel (gas, electric, heat pump)
Switching from tank to tankless, or gas to electric (new venting, gas line or circuit)
Location: attic, closet or tight basement access
Code updates the old install never had
After-hours or emergency service

Original casaq explainer. General description, not an estimate for your house.Full guide to water heater, replace quotes

Guides by job

What each job involves, what moves its price, its red flags and the questions to ask.