This report is filed to confirm report# 328940 filed by Toni in San Diego. My experience was almost a carbon copy with the exception that Home Depot contracted with Fast Water Heater Company here in the San Francisco Bay Area (note that the main office for Fast Water Heater Company is located in Kirkland Washington). The Tactic was much the same, where the technician inspects the home and generates a long list of items that he claims are mandatory upgrades to meet California Plumbing codes. The technician places fear in the consumer that the home owner will be fined for not meeting the codes.
The list was extensive and rediculous, the additional cost was $899.00. My wife and I could not believe this value was over and above the purchase price of the premium 12 yr water heater. We were under instense pressure to get the water heater installed because our heater was already "dead in the water". We believe Fast Water Heater was aware that they have the advantage in cases like this. Fortunately we did not sign the agreement to have all the work done.
Over the next 3 months I attempted to do the work myself and decided at one point to see if the city inspector would be satisfied with the items I thought were within reason, such as installing earthquake straps and a drain pipe from the drip pan. The inspector came out and told my wife that the work was satisfactory and that we had passed the inspection. She did not push the matter of the list, but we now had confirmation that Fast Water Heater had bolstered the list to their advantage. I sincerely hope that those who are in need of a water heater installation will Google for this report before signing up for the scam. Good luck.
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