First Hot water storage tank install

[Plum Bob 66]

Dear All

Have just put a quote in for a customer for a like for like replacement indirect, vented hot water storage tank (450 by 900). My quote came in at £380. Does this sound realistic. The breakdown is as follows.

£200 for tank including fittings & vat
6 hours labour @ £25 per hour £150
Carriage & disposal (have waste carriers licence) £30

As this is my first one since training and going self employed woud any of you be kind enough to give me a few step by step pointers as this job is one big learning curve.

Many thanks in anticipation

Regards
Plum bob

 

[mrlennie]

Yes have you got all the tools you need? Have you got some money behind you in case something goes wrong? can they do without hot water for a while in case something goes wrong?

Since you have just come off your training a lot of preperation work is in case "something goes wrong" as it is more likely to on your first crack at it.

 

[kirkgas]

your price seems ok, 6 hrs labour is a bit much but as its your first then you are probably right to allow a bit more, one cylinder out and one in should only take about 1.5-2hrs, but when you will have to faff about clearing airlocks refilling heating, nice and steady for the first few, if you dont mind a bit of advice, try to be doing something all the time, ie while draining start to suss out your pipework alterations, after a couple of mins draining start disconnecting the top pipework saves a lot of time (used to do loads on bonus work!!), while it is refilling take some gear out to the van, anything so you dont have idle time, also sounds daft but make sure the cylinder is actually draining, have seen it once when a spark was changing an immersor, he turned drain valve, started on the wiring etc, after about 5-10 mins he went outside to see if water had stopped, as it was down to a tiny trickle he went back in and disconnected the immersor, absolutely flooded the place, we were called round and were absolutely wetting ourselves when we realised the sludge (drain off pipe) was blocked outside by kids jamming small twigs up the pipe, when he seen the trickle he thought it was empty but it was full but blocked, could have happened to anyone, but lesson learned after that, any time i drain something i check it is running full bore then when i look and see just a trickle i know it os empty. good luck, let us know how it goes

 

[newbie1]

carriage and disposal
more like 60.00 quid cash at tha scrappies you must be new

 

[Plum Bob 66]

Thanks,
This is great feedback and only a fool doesnt take advice. Will definately let you you know how i get on.

Bob

New I am

But there again Ive learn something else and to be honest wasnt aware a old tank could fetch £60

Bob

your price seems ok, 6 hrs labour is a bit much but as its your first then you are probably right to allow a bit more, one cylinder out and one in should only take about 1.5-2hrs, but when you will have to faff about clearing airlocks refilling heating, nice and steady for the first few, if you dont mind a bit of advice, try to be doing something all the time, ie while draining start to suss out your pipework alterations, after a couple of mins draining start disconnecting the top pipework saves a lot of time (used to do loads on bonus work!!), while it is refilling take some gear out to the van, anything so you dont have idle time, also sounds daft but make sure the cylinder is actually draining, have seen it once when a spark was changing an immersor, he turned drain valve, started on the wiring etc, after about 5-10 mins he went outside to see if water had stopped, as it was down to a tiny trickle he went back in and disconnected the immersor, absolutely flooded the place, we were called round and were absolutely wetting ourselves when we realised the sludge (drain off pipe) was blocked outside by kids jamming small twigs up the pipe, when he seen the trickle he thought it was empty but it was full but blocked, could have happened to anyone, but lesson learned after that, any time i drain something i check it is running full bore then when i look and see just a trickle i know it os empty. good luck, let us know how it goes

Being an indirect tank am I right in thinking I will have to drain down the heating system as well as the tank in order to empty the inner coil ?? Is there a way of avoiding this as this would seem to be quite time consuming. If I shut off the water supply to the tank and the boiler this should still allow the customer the use of cold water for toilets, drinks etc ?

Bob