Is this how jobs are quoted?

[ezoffshore]

I have had a few contractors in giving me quotes for installing new HVAC system in my house. Although I have settled upon the Infinity System from Carrier, I have not recieved what I consider to be a complete quote. When I ask wether they will be doing a Manual J and Manual D I am told that they will be doing this "back at the office" and that those calculations are all good but you still need to use "old fashioned experience" to go along with that. Anyways when the bids come in the mail, there is no supporting documentation to show that any of these were completed. Also I am yet to recieve a bid that shows me how many supplies and returns will be used in the rooms.Only saying how many main trunks (1 supply 1st floor 1 supply basement and a shared return) whether the ducts will be sealed or insulated. Just papers with the specific model#'s that they will install and wording to vaguely describe main trunk ducting for supply and return. Is this normal or am I right to be concerned and keep looking? I have never purchased a system like this before so I really dont know what is normally spelled out in the quotes.

[beenthere]

Description of how many supplies varies with the contractor.
As does weather or not they are going to seal the ducts.
You can ask them to resumit the estimate with that info included.

As far as the calcs, I doubt they did them. Due to the "old fashioned experience" statement.( JMO )
If they did, there is no reason for them to send you the calcs, unless you payed them for them.
We don't give them with the estimate either. That way, no other company can use them to bid against us, and not have that overhead to include in their bid.


Some companies, don't run them untill they get the job, saves them from losing money on the jobs they didn't get..

[HeyBob]

A smart contractor never gives his load calcs, duct sizing and equipment sizing to a customer unless he has a deposit, and if the customer cancels and runs with said information he looses that deposit.


Waaaaaaaaay to many people out there that want to pick our brains and run.

[Twilly]

A smart contractor never gives his load calcs, duct sizing and equipment sizing to a customer unless he has a deposit, and if the customer cancels and runs with said information he looses that deposit.


Waaaaaaaaay to many people out there that want to pick our brains and run.


That HeyBob is smart. I agree.

[ezoffshore]

Ok that makes sense. I am in the electrical trade and I wouldn't want to give away all my sizing work either. I just didn't know how this stuff is bid normally. Thanks for the info guys. I think you are right though beenthere, maybe that comment is what has my guard up as high as it is.

[Twilly]

Ok that makes sense. I am in the electrical trade and I wouldn't want to give away all my sizing work either. I just didn't know how this stuff is bid normally. Thanks for the info guys. I think you are right though beenthere, maybe that comment is what has my guard up as high as it is.




If you gave your customers a wattage schedule would they care/know what they are looking at?

[ezoffshore]

If you gave your customers a wattage schedule would they care/know what they are looking at?
Understood Twilli, Like I stated I just didnt know if this was standard procedure. Beenthere stated that some companies dont do them until they get the job, so If they arent done, how can they even offer an accurate job quote? Once you accept a bid and give your deposit it's kind of too late to find out otherwise.

[beenthere]

Usually you can tell within a half ton what capacity a house will take when your familiar with the construction of the homes for an area.

There isn't a big jump in price from a 2 to to a 2 1/2 ton, or vice versa in the same line.


Sorry, not allowed to define big.

[dan sw fl]

There isn't a big jump in price from a 2 to to a 2 1/2 ton, or vice versa in the same line.

Sorry, not allowed to define big.

Big is easily defined as "larger than medium" ...

OR <.5k$

[ClassicDave]

First I would never mail a customer a bid. It's rude way to do business in my opinion.

If a customer wanted me to just mail a bid I would blow him off and use my time more wisely with real customer.
Mailing bids is what RNC A/C companies do with the General Contractor.
I don't do RNC work or install RNC systems but I will do custom design builds and that takes 1 on 1 with the customer.

So no you wouldn't get a free Load Calc from me either unless you paid me well for this service. ;)

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

We don't give away our load calcs for free either. However, I think he might be BSing you. He should've reassured you that a load calculation was done and that once the job is secured/performed he will go over it with you and even make you a copy/etc. It's hard to miss a load calc being performed. There will usually be a person walking around every room of your home measuring walls, doors, windows, and all sorts of stuff and either jotting them down or entering them directly into a computer...:cool:

[AtticAce]

Compare the bids, if they all chose the same size equipment, then they either all looked at what your neigbor has or, they all did the load calc.