This is why I DO NOT BUY from major HVAC companies (Houston: house, buying)

[behtypa]

When it comes to buying your new A/C units, stay away from major HVAC companies.

They charge you up to 2 times the actual price tag for materials and labor.

Here is an example:
4 ton evaporator coil, assy:
$2.350 @ All Out A/C - All Style (cheap) brand offered, 5 year warranty
$1700 @ Do all A/C & Heat - ABP (better) quality brand offered, 10 year warranty
$1500 @ Missile Mechanical - ABP/Ruud (better/best) quality brand, 5/10 year warranty on parts
$500-$800 evaporator (parts) only @ dealer

What does this mean? This means that All Out A/C and similar major companies are selling us the cheapest A/C parts they can get and still charge us the highest bill they can charge.

The labor warranty on all is the same, which is 1 year.
The parts warranty vary from 5 to 10 years.

So, beware. Don't let them fool you.

P.S. Bear in mind, that the price for a service call may be the same though. They charge around $50-80.

[jtothemak]

Wow, AC companies charge different rates and the bigger ones with more overhead charge more?

[carryyourbooks]

frugal.

[HoustonRonnie]

Then whom DO you call? You complain here, but offer no solution. I'd be curious.

Ronnie

[trbstang]

And beware of the Freon fixed rate charges. We had about 2 lbs of R-22 added to my grandfather's house and the AC company charged a flat rate of $379 for 1-4 lbs of R-22, plus $75 for each pound over 4. Insane if you ask me, for something they buy in 30 lb cannisters for about $400-500 or so.

[mtgmike]

Originally Posted by jtothemak

Wow, AC companies charge different rates and the bigger ones with more overhead charge more?

Somebody failed ECON 101.

[piyf]

Originally Posted by trbstang

And beware of the Freon fixed rate charges. We had about 2 lbs of R-22 added to my grandfather's house and the AC company charged a flat rate of $379 for 1-4 lbs of R-22, plus $75 for each pound over 4. Insane if you ask me, for something they buy in 30 lb cannisters for about $400-500 or so.

Don't like it, get a license and help everyone out with low priced freon and ac work.

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by danieloneil01

Don't like it, get a license and help everyone out with low priced freon and ac work.

IMO, knowledge is power. I don't like it, so I look for a better service with lower prices. Wishing you the same.

[behtypa]

Originally Posted by HoustonRonnie

Then whom DO you call? You complain here, but offer no solution. I'd be curious.

Ronnie

Ronnie, I don't complain. I share my info. One who knows how to save money will look somewhere else and not at larger HVAC services with unreasonable prices and cheaper components. This message is for them.

My solution is to:
- make up the list of what exactly you need (tech specs, brand, model)
- shop around, ask questions, educate yourself
- whoever offers better deal wins. I doubt this would be larger HVACs.

[trbstang]

Originally Posted by danieloneil01

Don't like it, get a license and help everyone out with low priced freon and ac work.

I did look into the tests before, so I might think about taking them after this. I already work on auto AC and help out friends with it. I've just never gotten into the home part beyond repairing a few circuit boards and capacitors and replacement fan motors and duct work.

A $75 per lb charge is within reason, especially since he was already there performing the AC checkup. But hitting you with a $450 bill when the unit was working OK is a bit much to someone on a fixed income. I know it is a way to recover their costs on other aspects, but they just lost a good customer that used them for many different home services for years.