Reasonable labor to replace heat pump that's under warranty?

[LeeH]

My heat pump started short cycling as soon as we had to turn on the heat.

Called someone local from a local business connection. Guy came out and put his gauges on it. Definitely very low on freon. His leak detector went nuts as he moved it around the tubes. After a while he finally figured out that the freon was coming out of the plug for the electrical connection to the compressor/pump. OK... internal failure of the pump.

He pulls out his calculator and says $800 in labor/freon to replace my unit that's under warranty. Does this seem reasonable? Seems high to me but I have nothing to compare. I'm thinking once paid $800 to have the compressor replaced and that included the compressor. But that was 10 or so years ago.

[cashflyer]

Depending on the unit, the compressor would run anywhere from $300 on up to $700.
That's just ballpark. I'm sure somebody can come up with higher and lower examples.

Labor.... Remove (reclaim the freon, unsolder two lines, unwire) Replace (re-solder the lines, re-wire, recharge the freon)

Think about it this way. Let's say he took the whole 8 hour day.
At $800 for the service call, you're paying him $100 per hour.

[mfiazzo]

He also has to go get the compressor from the local supply house and pay for it up front. Then bring the old compressor back to the supply house, they will then in turn send it back to mfg. If mfg agrees it is a faulty compressor, they will give the guy his money back. So he has $700 in a compressor hanging out there for 6 weeks

He also has to vacuum the system, and pay to get rid of the freon he reclaimed.

So I think anywhere from 600-800 is reasonable.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by mfiazzo

He also has to go get the compressor from the local supply house and pay for it up front. Then bring the old compressor back to the supply house, they will then in turn send it back to mfg. If mfg agrees it is a faulty compressor, they will give the guy his money back. So he has $700 in a compressor hanging out there for 6 weeks

He also has to vacuum the system, and pay to get rid of the freon he reclaimed.

So I think anywhere from 600-800 is reasonable.

Also should mention that includes his 1.75 hours here this morning standing on his head trying to find the leak.

[calimedeiros]

I'm in the business and that sounds fair he's got travel time parts brazing re leak che k everything then put vaccum on then recharge

[osidak]

I just paid $200 in labor to have a coil replaced in the air handler of mine. Parts got covered under warranty... Think the guy was at the house about 3 hours total (initial visit and time to replace)

[rwest]

Depending how much freon that thing has and what type, can cost a lot of money by itself.

I hire a lot of contractors at work and our HVAC company gives us an $89 an hour rate, which is fairly low as far as service companies go. Some charge around $150.