Hot Water Heater

Our hot water heater went out last week. It flooded the laundry room, kitchen, and downstairs bathroom. Thank God for tile floors!  Then, a trip to Sears and a check for over 800.00. Finally a few days later, a guy comes to install it and charges an additional $575.00 above the Sears installation fee because it had to be brought up to code with double wall venting and an extension of two feet on the roof.  Whoever heard of awater heater costing so much?