Reasonable cost of installing new water pressure bladder tank from well

**dmojr** · 08-09-2012, 03:26 PM

Recently had to replace bladder type water pressure tank from well.
Plumber ordered and installed 50 gallon Flex Lite tank (disposing of the old tank).
We were charged $1200. A friend questions this price as way too high.
We got plumber on recommendation of neighbor and our new to this.
Was this a reasonable price?

Thank you.

Dmojr

**Boston1** · 08-09-2012, 09:26 PM

And Who is this friend to say what's right ? Friend a plumber ,plumbing estimator ? How many crews He running these days ???

**Runs with bison** · 08-10-2012, 02:13 AM

It isn't hard to DIY. The proper question is how much does the tank cost? The rest is installation. It has been about 30 years since I had to do this when we were on a well, but the price sounds high to me. It ain't rocket science...

**LLigetfa** · 08-10-2012, 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by Runs with bison

The proper question is how much does the tank cost?

According to froogle, somewhere between $350 and $450.

As for the labour part, depends on the hole he had to work in and pull the old dead tank out of. A 50 gallon tank with a busted bladder can get pretty heavy and not easy to drain. Then there's the cost of the truck roll.

Oh! I forgot to factor shipping. It could add considerably to the price.

**mikeplummer** · 08-10-2012, 06:47 AM

i don't usually comment on prices as i'm in Canada and prices are different....but... this doesn't sound too crazy to me...if they did a good job, everything works properly, and you're happy with it, then it's fair...no? maybe your friend should try paying the operating costs for a plumbing business and for skilled workers and then comment on the price...

**dmojr** · 08-10-2012, 07:52 AM

Thanks for all your comments. It sounds like may have been a little on high side, but not unreasonable. The job was well done and in a timely fashion. Glad I joined the forum. Very helpful.

hj · 08-10-2012, 07:53 AM

I do NOT give prices before starting the job, UNLESS they are high enough to cover ANY eventuality that might occur, which means, by definition, that it should be higher than the time and material price given at the conclusion of the job. WE do NOT know what the tank cost him, what his profit markup is, how long it took to install it, OR what materials he used, (and the cost of that material), therefore we have absolutely NOTHING to compare his price to.

**ballvalve** · 08-10-2012, 11:38 AM

A good DIAPHRAGM USA tank from amazon delivered in that size is 449$ or so. Most anyone can change it in an hour or 2. assuming a "plumber" [Never call a plumber for well work - call the WELL man] and a kid, thats about $225$ an hour. Looks like you hired a lawyer.

I can get my car transmission rebuilt for about 1200$. THAT takes some skill.

**joe snell** · 05-04-2013, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by dmojr

Recently had to replace bladder type water pressure tank from well.
Plumber ordered and installed 50 gallon Flex Lite tank (disposing of the old tank).
We were charged $1200. A friend questions this price as way too high.
We got plumber on recommendation of neighbor and our new to this.
Was this a reasonable price?

Thank you.

Dmojr

you got ripped off big time, a bladder tank can be 2-4 hundred dollars. i installed my own is about 3 hours.