First and foremost - DUMP AHS. You can Google AHS and see the host of complaints - don't be another victim. Get yourself a REPUTABLE plumber and see what he / she says.

Good luck!

Interesting how $300 worth of xtra work (originally) + $400 from AHS just happens to equal your final price, isn't it ???

Obviously your local jurisdiction requires pulling a permit to change the water heater, (That requirement is rapidly becoming the norm everywhere).

All the additional items noted by the plumber are basic code requirements and your installation must meet the code that is in force at the time of the installation so I see nothing unusual about the bid.

actually, it is not obvious to me that a permit is required to replace the heater. But the guy quoting the price is certainly threatening that it is needed.

In my community if you get caught changing a water heater without a permit you get a $1000 fine and you still have to pull a permit and get the installation inspected.

If you set the old water heater at the curb for trash pickup you have to write the permit number on the tank with a magic marker or the city trash collectors will turn the address in to code enforcement and they will come check to see if you installed a new tank...

Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

Where I am this is not true. A homeowner may replace an electric unit in the same fashion (and size) as it was originally installed with out a permit. Gas, I believe, is different.

Whether or not you require a permit is stictly up to the AHJ and under the national model codes the drip pan drain line is required to be a minimum of 3/4", however all the other upgrades that the plumber specified have been code since the early 80's.

Then we should be up to code. The other plumbers I had do an estimate just kinda chuckled when I told them what the AHS plumber said we needed. But to replace that heater with anew 40 gallon is about the price quoted. But do I trust him now-NO!!!