Are You a Gas Fireplace Repair Specialist?

[SeattlePioneer]

About 95% of my work these days is repairing gas fireplaces, and the remaining 5% gas furnaces.

I've found that while there are lots of people installing gas fireplaces, relatively few people are interested in repairing them. Often, the fireplace shops that offer service do so only on equipment they sell, leaving a lot of people out of luck.

So I've been working myself into specializing in gas fireplace repair over the past several years.

I used to work for a gas utility doing repairs on gas equipment, but I left them three years ago in favor of devoting my time to my own repair service. This has proven to be an excellent decision.


I'd be interested in whether other service techs are specializing in gas fireplace repairs, or doing such repairs occasionally among other work.

[Marc H]

We get atleast 2 to3 fireplace calls a day rough on the knees & back but its $

[hvacmd]

I have received certification from both Majestic and HeatnGlow.I agree the market is there for fireplace specialists.An unfortunate aspect of the Chicagoland market is that in general fireplace services do not command the same profitability per hour on average as hvac.

[Lorne]

I am just now starting to offer the service. I do need to find more info on the subject.

[Marc H]

We work em in when time allows and charge a ridiculous amount. But they are considered a luxury at least in my book course I ain't got no book.

[SeattlePioneer]

ONE of the reasons I think HVAC techs don't like working on fireplaces is that we often aren't comfortable doing what can be a dirty job on someone's living room carpet.


I've solved that problem by carrying polyester blankets purchased from thrift shops for use as a drop cloth. I generally wash these in a regular washing machine after each use.

When working on gas log sets or gas fireplaces that are sooty, I find the key is to use a shop vax to vacuum off the soot before removing the log from the fireplace. This pretty much eliminates any bits of soot blowing around or getting on carpets. The logs are then set on my dropcloth/blanket ---so 1) the logs are cleaned before being removed and 2) that aren't moved very far at all.

[SeattlePioneer]

<<We work em in when time allows and charge a ridiculous amount. >>


Well, Marc --- I don't generally consider large amounts of money to be ridiculous, so I figure you are charging $10/hour for doing repairs. Please correct me if I'm wrong.


My basic rate is $85 for an hour or less, and I prorate that to the nearest minute after the first hour.

Since my customer agree to that pretty eagerly, I'm probably not charging enough!

[Marc H]

ridiculous to me but I don't have gas logs. $10 an hr. Ha

[SeattlePioneer]

Anyone else willing to own up to being a fireplace tech?

[timmay]

No, but I'd consider it. Plans to move to colorado could be helped by some excellent fireplace knowledge.

[SeattlePioneer]

<<No, but I'd consider it. Plans to move to colorado could be helped by some excellent fireplace knowledge.
>>


Actually, I think that would be a good specialty for a young HVAC tech to cultivate. A lot of people find it difficult to find good repair service, and you can make good money at it.

It's also not all that complicated for the most part. You need to develope good skills at diagnosing milivolt control systems. Combustion problems can be tricky sometimes.

The biggest barrier for new tech is probably figuring out how to take the freaking things apart! The second biggest barrier is the threat of doing what can be a dirty job on people's expensive living room carpets. I use blankets for drop cloths these days, and find they work well.

I would suppose that most repair shops get a fair number of calls to repair fireplaces, which are usually refused because no one is prepared to do the work. The tech who can do that work is making his own job.



Seattle Pioneer

[bpez]

Seattle

How'd you get yourself "specialized"? Self-taught or did you hit the books? Did you pick up manuals from the various manufactures for reference? What would you recommend? I'm thinking that this could be a good addition to my brother's HVAC company.

Thanks for any info.

Bob

[DeltaT]

Seattle
Since we are in the same area, send my your contact number or address or something and, if you want more business I may be able to refer some to you.

[timmay]

Originally posted by SeattlePioneer


You need to develope good skills at diagnosing milivolt control systems. Combustion problems can be tricky sometimes.

The biggest barrier for new tech is probably figuring out how to take the freaking things apart! The second biggest barrier is the threat of doing what can be a dirty job on people's expensive living room carpets. I use blankets for drop cloths these days, and find they work well.

I would suppose that most repair shops get a fair number of calls to repair fireplaces, which are usually refused because no one is prepared to do the work. The tech who can do that work is making his own job.



Seattle Pioneer

\

Thats definitly something I'm going to look into. Someone already asked but what are some good resources.

I'm sure drop clothes would be in absolute order for this.

[tomjr]

We are primarily an HVAC company. Several years ago we began selling and installing gas logs, fireplaces, etc to supplement the slow winter work. We service what we sold and slowly began servicing others as well. The problem we run into is that there is a phenominal amount of cheap crap out there that is not worth repair or parts are no longer available because the company chooses not to carry parts for it anymore or they have gone out of business. 2 shining examples are Martin and DESA. The full effect of DESAs demise has not been felt yet. Blower motors for wood inserts are the absolute worst.

[helgy]

Well I have been in the HVAC service bussiness for aprox. 20yrs. The last 10 of which have be spent with a company that not only installs furnace and a/c's but, also geo systems and boilers. With our company being so devirce you wouldn't think we would have time for fireplaces. It actually make up more than 50% of our customer base. We are currently one of the top three companies in Minn. in the fireplace bussiness. I am the lead service tech for a seven tech. company. Every one of which gets on going training for firplace and hvac equipment. We pride ourselves in that there is hardly a fireplace that can't be fixed. We go to great lengths to get that hard to find part. To address some of the postings that I have read, we get pretty good return on our service rates. Any questions please feel free to email.

[SeattlePioneer]

<<Well I have been in the HVAC service bussiness for aprox. 20yrs. The last 10 of which have be spent with a company that not only installs furnace and a/c's but, also geo systems and boilers. With our company being so devirce you wouldn't think we would have time for fireplaces. It actually make up more than 50% of our customer base. We are currently one of the top three companies in Minn. in the fireplace bussiness. I am the lead service tech for a seven tech. company. Every one of which gets on going training for firplace and hvac equipment. We pride ourselves in that there is hardly a fireplace that can't be fixed. We go to great lengths to get that hard to find part. To address some of the postings that I have read, we get pretty good return on our service rates. Any questions please feel free to email.
>>


Excellent post. My experience is that relatively few HVAC services are much interested in doing repairs on gas fireplaces. Is that your experience, and if so do you have any explanation for it?

What methods do you use to prevent customer carpeting from being soiled and damaged on service calls? I use blankets that I then launder, myself, but I'd be glad to find better solutions.

It's a good thing limit switches are small, beacuse I wind up carrying LOTS of them in order to be prepared to change out sticking switches that have failed in people's fireplaces. How do you handle this problem in your outfit?

What are the biggest problems you face in doing good work in an efficient way in fireplace repairs?



Seattle Pioneer

[tomjr]

Most HVAC companies will not mess with it for the following reasons.
1. It can be a pain. They think that most people are not willing to spend money repairing a fireplace.
2. It's another world. Parts come from different suppliers than they are used to dealing with.
3. They don't have a retail space for displaying and selling new fireplaces and gas logs.
4. They don't think people will spend $1200 for a decent set of gas logs when you can go to Home Depot and get a set for $200.
5. They don't think people will spend $3000-4000 for a direct vent fireplace when they can get one from Home Depot for $600.

We use a drop cloth or plastic to protect carpet. It depends on what we are doing.

I agree with the fact that you can fix them all, but should you. Sometimes it is not good money sense to repair. A lot of times, we find that people will choose to get something new that looks better rather than repairing.

[helgy]

I tell you some of you guys would be surprised at this whole fireplace market. Maybe it is just different around here. Some of our installs can reach upwards $10,000. Average insert runs aprox $3000 to 4000. We are selling these everyday. At last check we're booked out past x-mas with 3 full time crews going out every day. So I guess what I'm saying is no one can tell me there is not enough money in gas fireplaces.

As far as what to use for a drop clothe. We use a heavy padded drop clothe that we order from a paint store. I always put a big " X " on one side. This is always side up.

As far as high limits go. H & Glow came out with a rewire kit some years back that included a new limit. Works well and eliminates quite a few wire in the milli. volt system. Most modern fireplaces do not come with any limit at all. Because of the fact that they are so restrictive. I could go on all day on this subject, but that will have to do for now. Thanks.

[tomjr]

I agree on the money. Our average set of gas logs is over $700 plus installation. We have 3 sets of vented gas logs that sell for well over $1000 in 30". The cheapest wood insert is $3500.