Water heater · Linda Hartley
Home warranty will not cover code items
Recently retired and very organized. Has her paperwork ready and expects things done exactly as promised.
What you know walking in
Home warranty dispatch. The warranty company has authorized replacement of a leaking 40-gallon gas water heater in the garage. The authorization lists code upgrades, the permit, and haul-away as not covered. The customer has paid the warranty service fee. Not a member.
- 40-gallon atmospheric gas water heater, 12 yrs
- Pressure regulator on the main line
What you found
- The tank is leaking from the bottom. Once a tank leaks, it cannot be repaired.
- There is no expansion tank, and the house has a pressure regulator. Code requires one on the new install.
- There is only one seismic strap. California requires two, one in the upper third and one in the lower third.
- The old vent connector will not line up with the new tank's draft hood. It needs new pipe with a proper upward slope.
- There is no sediment trap on the gas line at the water heater. Code requires one.
- The pressure regulator holds a steady 60 psi. It is working and stays.
Your price book for this job
Required code items not covered by the warranty Fits this home
Thermal expansion tank · Two seismic straps · New vent connector · Gas sediment trap · Permit and haul-away · Warranty pays for the water heater and standard labor
$795
Code items plus upgrade to a 10-year tank
Everything in the required option · 10-year warranty tank in place of the warranty's standard tank · Customer pays the price difference for the tank
$1,395
or $36/mo
The honest fit is marked. Recommend what the home needs, and only that.
Your goal
Explain why each code item is required and why the warranty does not pay for it, and itemize what the customer pays and what the warranty pays. Ask for a decision without making the customer feel charged twice.
Difficulty: Real world
Plan you can offer
- Summit Care Club$19.95 a month
Speak naturally. Linda hears you, reacts to how you say things, and remembers. Headphones make it feel real.