Mitsubishi Line Set Hook Up Quote

[tlfoster38]

Hi, Everyone,

I'm installing a Mitsubishi heat pump with two air handlers. One air handler is going in the garage, and the other one is going in the "man cave" above the garage. I will be installing everything, including running the line sets, but will get the line sets hooked up and tested by a professional. I've been given a quote of $350 and was wondering if this a reasonable quote for the hook up?

Your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jackfre]

Hi, Everyone,

I'm installing a Mitsubishi heat pump with two air handlers. One air handler is going in the garage, and the other one is going in the "man cave" above the garage. I will be installing everything, including running the line sets, but will get the line sets hooked up and tested by a professional. I've been given a quote of $350 and was wondering if this a reasonable quote for the hook up?

Your input will be greatly appreciated.

Make sure you tip him at least $150 so you aren't taking complete advantage of him!! I'm not joking here!

 

[whatuusay1]

Make sure you tip him at least $150 so you aren't taking complete advantage of him!! I'm not joking here!

Doesnt seem too bad - mine was $150 for a single unit (I ran all the electrical and the linesets myself as well).

 

[JimL]

Sounds reasonable. We would probably charge something like that to flare them, pull vac and check charge.

 

[alecmcmahon]

Personally, I think it's reasonable. You probably couldn't even buy all the tools required to do a proper fill and setup for that much.

 

[Steves32]

You are lucky to find a contractor willing to do the final on a DIY install. We wouldn't do it.

 

[JakeKohl]

Agree - that's reasonable. Entry level tools would cost roughly; (cheap, questionably adequate) vacuum pump $200, manifold set $100, 45 degree flaring tool kit $75 (typical flare tools are 60 degrees). Confidence it's done right = priceless.

 

[RKA]

That's a good price. I couldn't find anyone that would do it, and I spent a lot more than that on tools to DIY (went a little overboard, but peace of mind was worth it).

 

[mpire]

Thats highway robbery.

Granted I have my units regularly serviced, but I have only been charged a regular visit. One hour. $75 for each mini-split. Granted all he did was connect the lines and then do a nitrogen fill, test, purge, and then check the refrigerant levels once it was running.

I tipped him well of course, but $350 seems insane.

Granted he had nothing to lift, or any wiring to run, or any linesets to move. It was all prepared for him so he had very little to actually do that didn't involve his brain. I don't need to pay an assistant to do grunt work, I grunt as well as any minimum wage lackey.

 

[RKA]

Can you explain how he did a pressure test, vacuum, released the refrigerant and checked the pressures within one hour? To some extent the price depends on area as has been discussed ad nauseum. Beyond that it's time. If you're pressure testing and making sure it holds over TIME and/or pulling a deep vac and making sure that holds over a period of TIME, an hour and $75 doesn't quite seem like enough. Was some of that skipped or did you get the buddy rate?

 

[mpire]

Umm, he hooked up the lines using a couple wrenches. He also cut off the flares and re-flared them because he is particular with the flares. Then he hooked up the nitrogen tank and pressurized the lines. Then he put something on the connections to look for leaks. Then when he was satisfied, he purged the nitrogen, then set the vacuum and when it was fully vacuumed he waited to check the lines again. Then he opened up the valve on the compressor unit and ran the system a bit while watching his gauges. I trust him, and its been cooling like a champ.

To be honest, the second one didn't have any refrigerant in it, and it wasn't cooling for ****. So he came out and added 13 oz of refrigerant and its been good ever since. I really didn't use it until this summer, so I guess I didn't notice. He was happy to fix it right up though.

 

[RKA]

So at least one thing was missed. Here's the thing...spending the extra time at the initial start up can ensure you get 10-20 years of trouble free service. Taking shortcuts will shave some number of years off that service life or ensure you're having it serviced during that time. Maybe a tiny leak that only presents at >400 psi pressures, maybe a small amount of air left in the system. Anything grossly missed will result in a service call in the first year of service.

If anyone quoted me $75, I'd probably send them packing, knowing how long it should take to do a standing pressure test and pull a deep vacuum the way I would want it done. Just my $0.02.

 

[mpire]

Well, if something goes wrong, he will be out to fix it. And he hasn't charged me for some things.

I guess it pays to take care of good customers.

 

[Mike007]

If anyone quoted me $75, I'd probably send them packing, knowing how long it should take to do a standing pressure test and pull a deep vacuum the way I would want it done. Just my $0.02.

For $75 he lost money. And probably doesn't even know it.

 

[mpire]

Its called good service.

He makes it up elsewhere, I have the maintenance done 4 times a year.

 

[Mike007]

Its called good service.

He makes it up elsewhere, I have the maintenance done 4 times a year.

I wouldn't call losing money on any job good service. If he prices himself out of business he won't be doing your service 4 times a year. How is that good service?

 

[mpire]

I think I get excellent service.

He also services all my condo rental units.

 

[HVAC Phil]

Maybe he charges nothing, because he really doesn't have that much else to do. I charge $89 just to come to the door. For $75, he lost money if he is running a legit business. Hell, when i did side work before starting my business, i wouldn't have messed up my evening after a days work for $75.

 

[Mike007]

I think I get excellent service.

He also services all my condo rental units.

Thats good that it works for both of you. That said, that doesn't make the price the OP was quoted "Highway robbery" or "Insane".

 

[whatuusay1]

Thats good that it works for both of you. That said, that doesn't make the price the OP was quoted "Highway robbery" or "Insane".

Agreed - Legit businesses have to offset the cost of doing business - any most times if you do the math on 1 hour labor, plus fuel, plus any supplies and $100 to roll a tech and truck out to a location is pretty reasonable (which I why I wasn't upset to pay $135 for my minisplit lineset install). If I were in business doing the same work I'd be charging the same. Just because they also do your maintenance 4 times a year doesnt change the fact that it still probably costs about $100 to roll a truck out to your locations... charging $75 leave little if no profit once expenses are accounted for, certianly not enough to make it a worth while business venture (regardless the level of service they provide).

 

[tlfoster38]

Many thanks for the helpful replies. I decided to go with an HVAC friend in my church, who has his own company, and who had installed several mini-splits. I was a bit hesitant at first, because of his "newness" to the mini-splits. However, after quizzing him about the steps involved in getting the system running, I felt confident in his work. He charged me $150. However, I gave him $250 for a job well done. The system is working great. In fact, right now I have both thermostats set at 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and the garage and "man cave" above feel comfortable. I guess the dehumidification is playing a large part in making the area feel cool. I may drop the temp to 75 or 80 once I see how much my power bill has increased. Thanks again.

 

[ktmracer]

True story this week; here in central agricultural CA, a large HVAC company just gave me a quote to hook up an older used Mitsubishi 30,000 mini split ac The same company gave me this used unit a few months back. And they recently installed a new 24,000 unit in the upper garage, for $350. This time they quoted $2700 including the r22 and 50' lines in an unfinished garage. I can't believe an estimator was needed this time, or that I let the clown in my garage.

 

[Jackfre]

True story this week; here in central agricultural CA, a large HVAC company just gave me a quote to hook up an older used Mitsubishi 30,000 mini split ac The same company gave me this used unit a few months back. And they recently installed a new 24,000 unit in the upper garage, for $350. This time they quoted $2700 including the r22 and 50' lines in an unfinished garage. I can't believe an estimator was needed this time, or that I let the clown in my garage.

Don't quite figure that, but R22 is getting pricey. Something to think about though is the use of the older unit. The new 410A equipment is likely at least 50% more efficient than the old unit. Living up here in the relatively cooler foothills, I hear that it gets warm down your way. Go to mitsu's energy calculator and see what the operating cost comparison will be old to new. It is possible the old free unit may be very expensive. What size is it?

 

[ktmracer]

It is 30,000 btu. Agreed, I will change my mind and move towards a new unit and get the addition of heat pump. Thanks.

 

[Jackfre]

As you get into the bigger sizes ( 30,000) you will find that Mitsu gets progressively more expensive than the competition. The competition being Fujitsu. I repped Fujitsu for and just killed Mitsu in the larger sizes. Mitsu are competitive in the 9-12 kbtu range, but make up for it on the bigs. Fujitsu and Mitsu are 1-2 in the business. Good luck and keep us posted on your decision(s)

 

[tlfoster38]

Hello, Everyone.

Thought I would let you see the final installation of my Mitsubishi mini-split system with two air-handlers for the garage and the room over the garage.

 

[70R]

Very nice installation. I'm looking at doing the same type of setup. Can you post the details of the components? I'm going to run the line sets through the soffit too, so details on the cover and trim would help. Any recommendations for on-line vendors?

Joe

 

[RKA]

Nice clean install! I didn't think about a surge protector (don't have anything on my main panel)...now you got me thinking!

 

[tlfoster38]

Joe, I recorded everything, including links to the various vendors, in an Excel spreadsheet. I will be glad to e-mail you the spreadsheet if you wish.

 

[70R]

The spreadsheet would be very helpful! I send you my email in a pm.