HVAC Guys, a question
I was just told by our AC guy that the igniters in both our units need to be replaced soon and they want to charge $200 to replace each one. I looked this up on utube and seems like it's a 5 minute job for each replacement and I can get the OEM parts for about $60 each on Amazon. Are these guys asking too much or is there more to it than on utube?
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$100 SERVICE CALL AND $40 mark-up....they do have to pay for the truck you know. ignitors are very 'breakable', drop 1 and you are out the $60. 0 -
It's not that the guys are asking too much. It's just the cost of doing business. Yes, it's a 5 minute job with a $50 part. 0 -
if you can buy the exact same part at $60. each , I figure the repair company is paying less, to be nice lets say $50. each.
$100 for parts with add a 100 percent markup for the parts.
miscellaneous items needed , none that I can determine, install time 20 minutes max.
for a professional.
So $200 for parts and $200 for service call/time , no matter what the reason that is theft without a mask.
Don't drop the parts , do it yourself and save almost $300.
Or call around, I would think there is more then one repair company in your area , unless of course you're out in the boonies, and that's why the charges are so high.0 -
Here are a few reasons they must charge more than what the parts cost.
1. Shop rent
2. Shop insurance
3. Shop heat and cooling
4. Service truck payment
5. Service truck fuel
6. Service truck insurance
7. Workers comp insurance
8. General liability insurance
9. State income tax
10. Federal income tax
11. Employment insurance
12. Social Security payments
13. Business license fees
14. Continuing education fees
Now some shops will have more expenses, others may have less but that's a fairly basic list of what has to be paid in order to remain in business.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Knifecollector
It's not that the guys are asking too much. It's just the cost of doing business. Yes, it's a 5 minute job with a $50 part.
which if you do it yourself you will save, unless you do it wrong then they come out to fix the original problem, plus whatever else may have gone wrong/shorted out, from doing it the wrong way. your money weigh your options on how good you are0 -
Thanks for all the replies. So basically, it's not a very complicated task, as in, there are no tricks to it that are not shown on utube. I'll just get the part from Amazon and do it myself. I'm pretty decent with mechanical/electrical stuff and enjoy learning new things. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by AzAfshin
I was just told by our AC guy that the igniters in both our units need to be replaced soon and they want to charge $200 to replace each one. I looked this up on utube and seems like it's a 5 minute job for each replacement and I can get the OEM parts for about $60 each on Amazon. Are these guys asking too much or is there more to it than on utube?
Did you ask why? Just buy a couple and leave em on the shelf. If and when you need them you'll have em.0 -
You may even get by with just hitting them with 0000 steel wool.
Easy job.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sam06
You may even get by with just hitting them with 0000 steel wool.
Easy job.
Did something similar with the igniter I had on one motor home.0 -
i have a stock of all things for my oil furnace incase of a midnite sunday break down[^] 0 -
Yup, you can do it yourself. Wear some surgical gloves though. You don't want to touch the ignitor with your hands. The reason being, you have oil on your skin and it could cause the ignitor to collect dirt and dust more easily. Sam also gave you some good advice.You can, in a pinch. hit the ignitor with very fine sandpaper. Not hard. Just barely touching it. This will clean the surface and allow the ignitor to lite the gas. If you need help, just call me at 856 725 0690. Oakie 0 -
You can do it yourself. 0 -
I assume you are talking about the "thermo couples"? Just remove one (very easy job) and take it to wherever and buy 2 for replacements. Maybe $20 apiece at most! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Knifecollector
Here are a few reasons they must charge more than what the parts cost.
1. Shop rent
2. Shop insurance
3. Shop heat and cooling
4. Service truck payment
5. Service truck fuel
6. Service truck insurance
7. Workers comp insurance
8. General liability insurance
9. State income tax
10. Federal income tax
11. Employment insurance
12. Social Security payments
13. Business license fees
14. Continuing education fees
Now some shops will have more expenses, others may have less but that's a fairly basic list of what has to be paid in order to remain in business.
There you go ^^, I always say everyone needs to be in business at least once in their lives. I'd bet the owner can't crank his truck up for less than $100 and stay in business [;)]. If one can do the repair I don't blame them for doing it......but his price sounds very reasonable to me.....any less and he won't be around very long [:(].0 -
But, if you replace them, avoid Amazon. Some parts they sell are Chicom knock-offs; they may say that they are OEM, but they know that isn't true.
I've used applianceparts.com , but there are others out there that are good.
Neal0 -
Here ya go:
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Hot-Surface-Ignitors-1615000
I get good service from these folks. Fast shipping and fair prices.0 -
do a search for the glowfly brand ignitor.
25 bucks everywhere. They will fit in almost any furnace.
Asop, thermocouples? It's not 1989.[:)]0 -
About 20 years ago LB White changed some of their ag heaters. used in poultry and hog houses from pilot light ignition to the hot surface igniters . Total screwup as the dust and moisture etc in the houses screwed things up big time Most i of them, think several thousands in our service area have been retrofitted back to pilot lights over the years works fine in clean environments 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Junkballer
There you go ^^, I always say everyone needs to be in business at least once in their lives. I'd bet the owner can't crank his truck up for less than $100 and stay in business [;)]. If one can do the repair I don't blame them for doing it......but his price sounds very reasonable to me.....any less and he won't be around very long [:(].
Yep, spot on IMO.0 -
Its something that you could probably do but I let my HAVC guy do it. If $120 worth of parts fix it you are ok. If somethine else pops up you still need a service guy. On my rentals I have the expert do it for liability reasons. On my home I just don't want to mess with it. Your call. 0 -
You guys rock. Thanks for all the great feedback. I totally agree that every business is entitled to make profits. I just wanted to see if this is something I can do myself easily or not and sounds like it is.
Thanks for the advice, and Oakie appreciate your offer of phone call should I need it. I actually like doing this kind of stuff (heck, I do 90% of my own gunsmithing and only had a mild oops once [:D]). The two igniters plus a rusted pan would have cost me about $750 to have those guys do it. Doing it myself will cost less than $200. My wife will be so pleased she won't complain when I spend a $1000 on a new toy [:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Knifecollector
Here are a few reasons they must charge more than what the parts cost.
1. Shop rent
2. Shop insurance
3. Shop heat and cooling
4. Service truck payment
5. Service truck fuel
6. Service truck insurance
7. Workers comp insurance
8. General liability insurance
9. State income tax
10. Federal income tax
11. Employment insurance
12. Social Security payments
13. Business license fees
14. Continuing education fees
Now some shops will have more expenses, others may have less but that's a fairly basic list of what has to be paid in order to remain in business.
You also forgot to list travel time to and from the the parts store to get the parts, and to and from the job. That 5 minute job will take them a half a day Gathering everything up they need and driving to his house and back to the shop...0
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