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Cost to Install Big Maxx Heater

Maudedog

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Mar 21, 2014
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Any idea what it should cost to have someone install a 45k Big Maxx heater? One story garage, vent will go through attic and roof and the gas connection is already there (should have added the heater when I built the house). Anyway, only estimate I got was $1900.00 including unit...seemed high to me.
 
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dave67fd

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Apr 25, 2011
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872
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Southern NH
Sounds about right. Heater around $500 leaves $1500 for mounting, running elec, and thermostat, vertical vent run and gas hook-up. Running a fairly long Vent pipe isin't cheap.

Cost me about $1400 with me mounting and running elec and thermostat and licensed contractor running short horiz. vent and gas line. Price was with 100 gal tank filled.

The region your in as well as when you have it done can be factors as well.
 

trvshonda

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Oct 19, 2012
Messages
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wow 1900! Not real sure what contractors charge on that stuff but i did my 85K in my shop and bought the unit for 450 new and maybe had 100 dollars in 20 foot of 4" "B" Vent and i went up through my roof as well. Took about 4hrs to hang the unit put all the vent pipe in and wire it up and run the thermostat and gas line. If you think you can handle cutting the hole in the roof to run your vent pipe then you can for sure install the heater yourself and save you 1000 dollars or more if they are charging 1900 to install a heater. If i could line up a couple of those jobs a week i would be set. 1000 + dollars in labor for 4 hrs of work sounds great to me.
 

dave67fd

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Apr 25, 2011
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Southern NH
wow 1900! Not real sure what contractors charge on that stuff but i did my 85K in my shop and bought the unit for 450 new and maybe had 100 dollars in 20 foot of 4" "B" Vent and i went up through my roof as well. Took about 4hrs to hang the unit put all the vent pipe in and wire it up and run the thermostat and gas line. If you think you can handle cutting the hole in the roof to run your vent pipe then you can for sure install the heater yourself and save you 1000 dollars or more if they are charging 1900 to install a heater. If i could line up a couple of those jobs a week i would be set. 1000 + dollars in labor for 4 hrs of work sounds great to me.

The price was listed for a licensed contractor to install which is in the ballpark. Of course if you are well versed on installing said systems you can save a bundle BUT if the DIY'ers (like yourself as I am to assume) are not licensed and your place burns to the ground, god forbid kill anyone, good luck getting your insurance company to cover you losses. Codes are written to save lives.

My town won't issue permits to homeowners for gas installs..period! Licensed contractor has to pull the permit.
Firechief needs to inspect when done. I personally could have done as good a job or better but that doesn't matter.
 
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trvshonda

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Oct 19, 2012
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The price was listed for a licensed contractor to install which is in the ballpark. Of course if you are well versed on installing said systems you can save a bundle BUT if the DIY'ers (like yourself as I am to assume) are not licensed and your place burns to the ground, god forbid kill anyone, good luck getting your insurance company to cover you losses. Codes are written to save lives.

My town won't issue permits to homeowners for gas installs..period! Licensed contractor has to pull the permit.
Firechief needs to inspect when done. I personally could have done as good a job or better but that doesn't matter.

I understand all the code stuff, but if you do most of the work yourself like hang the unit, wire it, and do your vent, then all thats left is your gas line and my gas company ran 150' 1/2" copper line to the shop and brought out the 250 gal tank for the shop and it cost around 400 bucks and that was with the propane fill. All my stuff was done by myself but had to be inspected before everything was said to be good to go. Electrician stopped by looked how it was done and signed off, gas company checked for leaks and signed off, and paid a HVAC repair 25 dollars to come out and inspect the install and sign off saying it was done correctly. With the unit, thermostat, copper line, and the 50 foot of 1/2" steel line gas line i ran inside the shop i probably have 700 dollars in my whole install and it has all been inspected. So i would see just how much you can do your self and see what you could save. If thats the best price you can get it done for then it is what it is but to me 1000 dollars in labor for 4 hrs of labor is a touch high to me.
 
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Maudedog

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Mar 21, 2014
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Some additional info - unit would be Natural Gas, the gas supply is installed already. Bid did not include electrical (power available at install location in garage), vent would be less that 10-feet (probably closer to 6-feet) and we are in southeastern Minnesota. I prefer to work through a contractor because of safety and insurance concerns....

Thanks!
 

wdrumheller

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Nov 15, 2012
Messages
198
Location
Virginia
I had three 85k units installed in my barn, Big Maxx heaters.

I hung the heaters, ran the electric, and installed the thermostats, and just the PROPANE installation cost me in the neighborhood of $3,000.

So, I'd say your quote is not out of line.

You can do it for cheap, or you can have the professionals do it. I opted for the professionals, because I don't like propane lines.
 

James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
I had the natural gas company run a separate gas line to the garage and install a meter. Around where I live they will run up to 100 feet of gas line for free and anything farther than 100 feet you have to pay $6.50 per foot. But they will do the job according to whatever the local codes are.

I had the same heating company that put in our new furnace and central air come out and install a “Hot Dawg” heater in the garage. They sold me the heater, installed it, ran the gas pipe from the meter to the heater, ran the vent out the back of the garage, and ran the wires for the thermostat. I had run a separate circuit for the heater when I built the garage, so everything was there and waiting for them to hook power up to the heater.

The cost for everything, including the heater, was a little over $1,900 which I thought was reasonable since they got the permit, did the work VERY professionally, and took care of everything. All I had to do was write out the check.
 
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