$1,490 for Water Heater Thermocouple Replacement

jabanco on 09/02/2023 - 08:08
Last edited 09/02/2023 - 08:09

Engaged with a plumbing service provider, Metropolitan, to fix a gas heater lighting issue. We contacted them via Jim's.

We were invoiced $1,490. We went ahead, not knowing any better. :(

Invoice Line: "Unitrol and thermocouple replacement"

Description: "Supply and installation of new Unitrol and thermocouple.
Cleaning of the pilot tube, injector, and burner assembly.
Conduct leak detection spray over visible joints and commission hot water service to manufacturer's specifications.
Testing water pressure to ensure it does not exceed 500kPa as per Australian standards, but if it does, we will provide a quote to install a
boundary pressure limiting valve to meet compliance and also includes disposing of existing parts and rubbish from the site."

We should have gone with someone else. This could have been a below $500 job.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/02/2023 - 08:10
    +7

    Jim’s

    Oooof

    Metropolitan

    Double ooof

    Just fyi it coulda been a lot worse, seen some of the other cowboy quotes from big M for electrical work and it is legitimately disgusting what they charge.

    I take it it was an emergency job? If not really should get at least two quotes In general.

    • lgacb08 on 09/02/2023 - 14:54

      For that price he could have a brand new unit installed. Its just lazy tax. Last time it happened to me it was $350 for the same fix in the middle of the winter. Currently it's summer and you can still get Luke warm water enough for shower for a day or two easy on a non working tank.

  • Master Bates on 09/02/2023 - 08:15
    +1

    Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Just be happy you have hot water and move on. You know for next time not to use Jim’s!

    Stick to the 3 quote rule and opt for the middle quote, everything else being equal (which it probably isn’t).

  • jabanco on 09/02/2023 - 08:18
    +2

    Not an emergency. We could have lived with using a kettle for a few days.
    Will keep the 2 or 3 quote rule in mind next time, and be prepared to spend for the call-out fees.

    • foxmulder on 09/02/2023 - 09:58

      The adult one could be ok with cold shower as it's summer but toddler/young kid is definitely need hot water.

      • trapper on 09/02/2023 - 11:54
        +2

        Fill sink with warm water using kettle, wash kid with face cloth.

        You will survive a couple days.

  • Muzeeb on 09/02/2023 - 08:25

    Could you have got a whole new unit for close to that price?

    What is the capacity?
    How old is the repaired unit?

  • holdenmg on 09/02/2023 - 08:31

    I presume this is SA?

    I wouldn't inflict the Metrpolitan Plumbing ad on my worst enemy.

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=metropolitan+pl…

    • jabanco on 09/02/2023 - 08:33

      Victoria

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/02/2023 - 08:33

      Big M was an aus wide thing I thought? They are definitely in QLD at least

      • altomic on 09/02/2023 - 09:24

        I thought Big M was only Vic. Love the strawberry flavour. chocberry from the 80s FTW

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/02/2023 - 09:45

          Haven’t had big m choccy milk in YEARS surprised it’s still around

    • iDroid on 09/02/2023 - 09:00

      What a weird ad..

      Hi we're a plumbing company - watch as we have a few BBQ's and show our tradies what they're meant to do on the job (what? they aren't already qualified?)

      I'm sold!

    • Muzeeb on 09/02/2023 - 08:47
      +1

      "However, if I wanted a hot water service system repaired, I would not call them because they're expensive."

      Said Jim himself. Ouch.

  • brendanm on 09/02/2023 - 09:32
    -1

    Jim's is the biggest scam of a franchise thing. Absolute rip offs.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/02/2023 - 09:47

      I will usually agree but the Jim’s guy who services my pool was actually cheaper than three quotes I got from the local surrounding pool shops for equivalent service , I was quite surprised.

      • freefall101 on 09/02/2023 - 10:02
        +1

        They're still independent contractors, just they have to pay a load of licensing fees.

        Most will ramp up their prices. The occasional good one will wear the cost and enjoy that they get all that extra work.

  • payless69 on 09/02/2023 - 09:37

    Start an affiliate program for francize recommendations:
    Collect from overpriced HN items, neg anybody that attacks your business collect 100 times the rate from bigger rip-offs
    Facebook is full of such SH's…

    and BTW: all it was needed is a clean of pilot tube so the sensor can see it, 2 mins of work, 1 tissue used….

  • trapper on 09/02/2023 - 11:55

    Even $500 feels kinda pricy…

  • JIMB0 on 09/02/2023 - 13:07

    High prices and poor service/workmanship are common in the industry. As are misleading reviews.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 09/02/2023 - 15:03

      The article above suggests negative reviews are incentivised to be removed. Hard to find out who to trust these days.

      • JIMB0 on 09/02/2023 - 17:45
        +1

        I wouldn't trust any company that has mostly 5 star reviews with no negative reviews at all. Even the best business will at some point get an irate customer who leaves a bad review that is unwarranted.

  • Darron65 on 09/02/2023 - 13:59

    Too late now, but if the pilot won't stay lit, it likely only needs a new thermocouple and that should be DIY for less than $50.

  • Sinnerator on 10/02/2023 - 08:30

    This post needs a lot more oofs.
    Oof
    Ooof
    Oooof
    Ooooof
    Oooooof
    etc

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