How we set our prices
Our goal is a price that’s fair to you and that a good licensed contractor is glad to accept. Here’s how we get there.
1. Define the job precisely
Each job has a written scope: the equipment class, what labor and materials are included, and what isn’t. You can see it in every price table under “What’s included.”
2. Price the common extras separately
Most price disagreements come from a short list of extras: expansion tanks, drain pans, venting, gas lines, permits and difficult access. We publish a fixed price for each, so the base price doesn’t have to pad for them.
3. Account for local costs
Our prices are national base prices. Local labor rates, permit fees and code requirements move the final number, so expect quotes in high-cost metros to run higher.
4. Check every price against the market
Every price is set within the typical range homeowners actually pay for the same scope of work. We check it against contractors’ published flat-rate prices and national cost guides, and we aim near the middle of that range. That’s fair to you, and fair to the licensed pro doing the work. Where a cost guide leaves out things we include, like permits or haul-away, we adjust for it.
| Job | Typical market range | Our price | Sources checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-gal gas tank Water heater | $1,200–$2,900 | $1,900 | Fixr, This Old House (Home Depot data), Contractor flat-rate price books |
| 50-gal gas tank Water heater | $1,400–$2,900 | $2,100 | Fixr, PermitDeck, Contractor published prices |
| 40-gal electric tank Water heater | $1,000–$2,400 | $1,600 | Fixr, Contractor published prices |
| 50-gal electric tank Water heater | $1,300–$2,800 | $1,800 | Contractor published prices, Cost guides |
| Tankless → new tankless (gas) Water heater | $3,000–$5,500 | $3,600 | This Old House, Contractor guides, Equipment pricing |
| Tank → tankless conversion (gas) Water heater | $4,200–$8,000 | $5,200 | This Old House, Contractor guides |
| 50-gal heat pump (hybrid) Water heater | $2,100–$5,500 | $3,700 | Fixr, This Old House, Utility program install records |
| Anode rod replacement Water heater | $125–$450 | $275 | Fixr, Contractor published prices |
| T&P relief valve replacement Water heater | $100–$450 | $225 | Fixr, HomeServe, Contractor published prices |
| Gas control valve replacement Water heater | $250–$750 | $450 | ConsumerAffairs, Contractor published prices |
| Thermocouple / thermopile replacement Water heater | $100–$325 | $215 | Fixr, HomeAdvisor, Contractor published prices |
| Drain valve replacement Water heater | $150–$350 | $225 | Fixr |
| Central AC, 2 ton Air conditioner | $5,000–$8,500 | $6,300 | HomeGuide, This Old House, Pearl |
| Central AC, 3 ton Air conditioner | $5,800–$9,500 | $7,200 | HomeGuide, This Old House, Contractor published prices |
| Central AC, 4 ton Air conditioner | $6,500–$11,000 | $8,200 | HomeGuide, This Old House |
| Central AC, 5 ton Air conditioner | $7,000–$12,000 | $9,200 | HomeGuide, This Old House, Online installer packages |
| Heat pump, 2 ton Heat pump | $5,000–$9,000 | $7,600 | HomeGuide, Angi, Online installer packages |
| Heat pump, 3 ton Heat pump | $5,700–$13,000 | $8,700 | HomeGuide, Modernize, Fixr, Consumer Reports |
| Heat pump, 4 ton Heat pump | $6,500–$14,000 | $9,900 | HomeGuide, Online installer packages |
| Heat pump, 5 ton Heat pump | $7,000–$15,000 | $11,200 | HomeGuide, Fixr |
| AC (3 ton) + gas furnace (80%) combo Air conditioner | $7,000–$14,000 | $10,500 | Angi, Online installer packages, Pearl |
| AC (3 ton) + gas furnace (96%) combo Air conditioner | $8,500–$16,000 | $12,300 | Derived from AC + 96% furnace sources |
| Gas furnace, 80% AFUE Furnace / heater | $3,800–$6,200 | $4,900 | HomeGuide, Carrier, Angi |
| Gas furnace, 96% AFUE Furnace / heater | $4,600–$12,000 | $6,600 | HomeGuide, HVAC cost guides |
| Electric furnace / air handler Furnace / heater | $1,500–$5,100 | $3,400 | Angi, HomeGuide |
| Pedestal sump pump Sump pump | $350–$1,260 | $700 | Thumbtack, This Old House, Fixr, Mr. Rooter |
| Submersible sump pump, 1/3 HP Sump pump | $410–$1,260 | $875 | Thumbtack, This Old House, Fixr, HomeAdvisor |
| Submersible sump pump, 1/2 HP Sump pump | $500–$1,300 | $1,000 | Fixr, Thumbtack |
Prices are national base prices before local adjustment. Labor costs vary by region: the Southeast and Midwest tend to run lowest, and the Northeast and West Coast can run 15–30% higher.
5. Review regularly
Equipment and labor costs change, so we review prices regularly. The current price sheet was last updated October 21, 2026.