What is the industry average?

[emery011]

So my AC has gone out. I am going to call a repairman to take a look at it. From all the ads it seems pricing is all over the board. Most say a diagnositic trip is anywhere from $ dollars. I called a couple who said that the hourly rate is double with some companies. He said he charges $ an hour but many charge $ an hour. I have found ads charging $ an hour. Who is telling the truth?
I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, any help or information you can give me would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[beenthere]

Service rates are completely up to the company
There is no true average.
Often. The rate you pay, is reflective of the quality service you receive.

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[docholiday]

paying a high price does not always mean the best install but as beenthere has so eloquently pointed out, generally you get what you pay for. In my experience, anyone who advertises on price is going to usually short you on something albeit quality workmanship, design, or post sale support.

[motoguy128]

Sorry, I thought he was talking about replacement.

For repairs, unless you have a good referral, and even that is suspect, it's a roll of a dice. Just like getting your car repaired, it's a matter of finding a shop you trust. Most shops should have similar rates. But a bad shop will charge you a LOT of hours to repairs things that don't need repairing.

I've been through 2 HVAC contractors so far. Not impressed with either one. The quotes I've seen from a 3rd, tell me they don't know what they are doing either. A 4th company, finally, I think knows what they are doing. They happen to the one of the larger, better advertised out there. I thought I was better off avoiding them and I wanted to stay more local and use a smaller private shop, and support the local community.

[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]

Just get a bunch of quotes.

If you want a baseline,
Are you confused enough yet???

Get a bunch of quotes for a service repair?

Look at online stores for pricing?

Obviously not a professional and you are going to confuse this homeowner beyond belief.

[emery011]

Im sorry, I wasn't trying to cause a pricing issue here. I still don't even now what the problem is. My point in asking was just that there doesn't seem to be a clear average. So far, if comparing by quotes over the phone, I could be paying 4 times more going with one company versus another.
It just seems to me there is a game going on with the price of the diagnostic and the cost of the repair. Take a little off of one and add to the other. Thanks for your responses as its actually helped me quite a bit.

[motoguy128]

I'm not sure how a repair can be quoted over the phone...as they don't know whats wrong with it. I suppose the only difference could be theri minimum fee just for dagnosing the system.

Some might carge 1 hour, some 30 minutes, some might "include" the cost to diagnose the system into the repair. Either way, someone has to pay for their time.

[emery011]

I'm not sure how a repair can be quoted over the phone...as they don't know whats wrong with it. I suppose the only difference could be theri minimum fee just for dagnosing the system.

Some might carge 1 hour, some 30 minutes, some might "include" the cost to diagnose the system into the repair. Either way, someone has to pay for their time.

actually, thats what concerns me. There are a few big boys in town stating they will diagnose for free. It makes me think they're going to make it up on the repair. Thats a logical way of getting new customers. I just don't want to get taken on a free diagnostic. I also called others and asked if I had it diagnosed from one company if they would quote me a price to fix the problem. Their answer was that they would have to diagnose it anyway. So really its about finding a company I can trust.

[gary_g]

So really its about finding a company I can trust.

Amen.

[beenthere]

You won't really know if its a company you can trust.
until you use them. And they repair the system.

[motoguy128]

Yup, no way to know. I would tend ot trust a company that simply charges for their time and materials, rather than doing a free diagnosis, then try and sell me equipment. It becomes a conflict of interest, as they don't get paid unless they make a repair.


If I had a check engine light on my cr come on, took it into a local shop and they hooked it up to the computer and told me it ended up being a loose gas cap... I would expect to pay the minimum 1/2 hour shop rate or standard rate for using the scan tool. The newer scan tools aren't cheap. same if I had the alignment checked and they didn't need to change anything.

Specialized equipment and tools along with a service techs time shouldn't be free, unless perhaps you're a loyal customer, that has his annual services done and it's a very simple repair and dagnosis.

[francosair]

Ask your friends for any company they used, and referrals

[Airmechanical]

Yup, no way to know. I would tend ot trust a company that simply charges for their time and materials, rather than doing a free diagnosis, then try and sell me equipment. It becomes a conflict of interest, as they don't get paid unless they make a repair.

some companies do that because that is what was recommended to them from there advertizing guru's

does not mean they are not honest, but i see your point, and it's a good one



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