Yeah, funny how it works. Of course of you know that’s like a fifteen dollar part from the hardware store.
Another cheap but expensive one when a capacitor goes in an HVAC. Super cheap quick and easy but an HVAC company will probably charge $500 if you called them.
Can save a ton of money just knowing a few basics on your plumbing, HVAC, and cars.
Crt monitors are the stereotypical "surprise, you just pushed the dead button!” device, but microwaves too.
Their transformers are the bit that kills the most hobbiests though. Crazy high frequency high voltage transformer that chooses not to fuck around when you plop it in your project.
Same except different. A microwave cap stores more current than most HVAC systems do. That doesn’t mean you should play with those caps either if you don’t understand what you are looking at.
Its not that the job is worth 450 dollars, its that his time is. If he’s at your place fixing something easy, he’s not somewhere else making that money he could make. The whole process of getting there and fixing it could take a couple hours.
It’s one of those things where it would be great if you could make an informed choice on whether you needed to hire a Master Plumber or save a bunch of money with Dave who has a pipe wrench and a youtube premium subscription. One of those things where if you knew enough to know whether you could get by with Dave, you’re probably pretty close to doing it yourself.
A float valve replacement? “Dave” is more likely to charge 450 than a “master plumber” because 450 is a rip off and an established plumber will have a reputation they want to maintain.
If the plumber is your mom’s neighbor and has the float already, then yeah it’s pricey but if they had to drive 30 minutes to get there and go to the store for the part, it really isn’t that crazy. Also is it a legitimate business or just an under the table side job? Location in the country matters too.
Have you ever installed a float . … because $400 for at most an hour of work is crazy. If it’s more than an hour then you’re doing something wrong or something else.
But I literally just redid mine and it’s stupid easy.
Yeah absolutely, I’m not disagreeing with you. But if you had to drive across town to perform the work, and say you didn’t know beforehand that it was a float or you didn’t have the right type with you and had to go to the store, then your total amount of time spent port to port would likely be more than an hour. How much is your time worth? I am a technician , my work charges over $200/hr labor rate. About half that goes to me. There is overhead with coordination, vehicle costs, tools, etc… Basically what I’m saying is that yeah, the physical work only takes 10 minutes, but much more goes into the cost than just that.
I agree with this guy but to the plumber trying to charge my mother 450 to re install the float valve assembly…fuck you man.
Yeah, funny how it works. Of course of you know that’s like a fifteen dollar part from the hardware store.
Another cheap but expensive one when a capacitor goes in an HVAC. Super cheap quick and easy but an HVAC company will probably charge $500 if you called them.
Can save a ton of money just knowing a few basics on your plumbing, HVAC, and cars.
Don’t they say not to take apart microwaves because the capacitor could shock and kill you? Is it the same with HVAC capacitors?
Yup.
Crt monitors are the stereotypical "surprise, you just pushed the dead button!” device, but microwaves too.
Their transformers are the bit that kills the most hobbiests though. Crazy high frequency high voltage transformer that chooses not to fuck around when you plop it in your project.
Same except different. A microwave cap stores more current than most HVAC systems do. That doesn’t mean you should play with those caps either if you don’t understand what you are looking at.
You should be careful, but it’s not hard to drain them real quick before working on them.
Well that’s the point
But the thing is that it shouldn’t be considered so scary that you pay someone 500 to replace an easy to replace 15 dollar part.
Its not that the job is worth 450 dollars, its that his time is. If he’s at your place fixing something easy, he’s not somewhere else making that money he could make. The whole process of getting there and fixing it could take a couple hours.
Man I wish I could do that for computers
I wish you could too 😔
It’s one of those things where it would be great if you could make an informed choice on whether you needed to hire a Master Plumber or save a bunch of money with Dave who has a pipe wrench and a youtube premium subscription. One of those things where if you knew enough to know whether you could get by with Dave, you’re probably pretty close to doing it yourself.
If Dave were worth his salt - he would be capable of telling you this job is over his head, or if you legally need a professional.
That’s part of being a handyman. If he can’t do that then he’s dangerous, and not worth any amount of money.
And you’d best pay him for coming to this conclusion…
What you are paying for with that master plumber is the knowledge of the codes and the experience that they have. Plus all the tools to do the job.
A float valve replacement? “Dave” is more likely to charge 450 than a “master plumber” because 450 is a rip off and an established plumber will have a reputation they want to maintain.
If the plumber is your mom’s neighbor and has the float already, then yeah it’s pricey but if they had to drive 30 minutes to get there and go to the store for the part, it really isn’t that crazy. Also is it a legitimate business or just an under the table side job? Location in the country matters too.
Have you ever installed a float . … because $400 for at most an hour of work is crazy. If it’s more than an hour then you’re doing something wrong or something else.
But I literally just redid mine and it’s stupid easy.
Yeah absolutely, I’m not disagreeing with you. But if you had to drive across town to perform the work, and say you didn’t know beforehand that it was a float or you didn’t have the right type with you and had to go to the store, then your total amount of time spent port to port would likely be more than an hour. How much is your time worth? I am a technician , my work charges over $200/hr labor rate. About half that goes to me. There is overhead with coordination, vehicle costs, tools, etc… Basically what I’m saying is that yeah, the physical work only takes 10 minutes, but much more goes into the cost than just that.