Wholly ****!

[waltmcq]

I bought a 45000 btu Dornback heater for my little shop and thought since I've never installed a propane heat before I'd get it installed. The guy came over and to a look, very easy run the vent straight out the back 3 1/2 feet then through the wall. Do the same with the gas line then around the corner so the tank is 10 feet away from the vent. No problem, he's writing on his sheet then turns to me and says $850 or he could do it for $700 cash!
I have the heater mounted and just bought the vent, doesn't seem that hard, not 700 bucks hard.

 

[larry4406]

There you go, either pay the man or do it yourself. I would do the later.

 

[rickairmedic]

My minimum charge to install or move a piece of equipment is $500.00 and I am quite fair in my estimates . I am going to be there a minimum of half a day even doing what you have described . I coud in this same amount of time run 2-4 service calls which should equate to the same amount of income . I woud get another estimate as $850.00 seems a little high to me but I also do know a guy who's minimum is $1000.00 so its not that far off.
My service call is $59.50 which includes 1/4 hour and from there its $78.00 an hour till I am done I also figure in tool time in an install which includes getting them out of the truck and putting them back in the truck .

Rick

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I bought a 45000 btu Dornback heater for my little shop and thought since I've never installed a propane heat before I'd get it installed. The guy came over and to a look, very easy run the vent straight out the back 3 1/2 feet then through the wall. Do the same with the gas line then around the corner so the tank is 10 feet away from the vent. No problem, he's writing on his sheet then turns to me and says $850 or he could do it for $700 cash!
I have the heater mounted and just bought the vent, doesn't seem that hard, not 700 bucks hard.

Doityerself - why pay the other sob's mortgage

 

[ironroad 9c1]

yup. my company told me 800 to run 6 feet of soft copper and move the tank 40 feet. told em to go pound sand.

 

[waltmcq]

I can understand making a living but it's not rocket science.

 

[rickairmedic]

I can understand making a living but it's not rocket science.

Your right its not Rocket science BUUUUUUUUUUT if done wrong your house can emulate the Space shuttle Challenger .



Rick

 

[Chetter]

I did my propane heater myself as well, but as said in an earlier post, make sure you do it right and save some money. I don't know about you, but I don't make anywhere near that kind of money in an 8 hr work day, in fact at 850.00, that's more than I earn in over a week. Do your homework, follow the codes to a safe working heater. I don't have quite 800.00 for everything including filling my propane bottles, to get heat.

 

[Vicegrip]

Your right its not Rocket science BUUUUUUUUUUT if done wrong your house can emulate the Space shuttle Challenger .



Rick

Ha! Thought the same thing sort of. Do it right or prepare for launch!

 

[usa#1]

Seems like you just called the wrong guy. Try another one. Keep checking till you find one that will do it for what you are willing to pay. Some of these guy's like to think they are the only game in town. Once you start looking around you will be surprised how many qualified installers are out there.

 

[rickairmedic]

I did my propane heater myself as well, but as said in an earlier post, make sure you do it right and save some money. I don't know about you, but I don't make anywhere near that kind of money in an 8 hr work day, in fact at 850.00, that's more than I earn in over a week. Do your homework, follow the codes to a safe working heater. I don't have quite 800.00 for everything including filling my propane bottles, to get heat.

I turned $2100.00 in profit over the last 3 days doing an install and I wasnt the only biddrr on the job granted they were long rough days and that profit doesnt account for my overhead .

Rick

 

[Uncle Buck]

I bought a 45000 btu Dornback heater for my little shop and thought since I've never installed a propane heat before I'd get it installed. The guy came over and to a look, very easy run the vent straight out the back 3 1/2 feet then through the wall. Do the same with the gas line then around the corner so the tank is 10 feet away from the vent. No problem, he's writing on his sheet then turns to me and says $850 or he could do it for $700 cash!
I have the heater mounted and just bought the vent, doesn't seem that hard, not 700 bucks hard.

Seems to me if you were bright enough to figure that much of the job out you ought to just go ahead and finish it up!

 

[autoace]

I can't see your building, but a few basic tools, and you will be all set. Propane lines are easy single flares in most cases, when you buy the line, and some jam nuts, adaptors etc............most propane set ups require a simple shut off valve, and a drop pipe on the inlet ( a "T" with a 6 inch capped pipe coming down, to catch sediment/moisture)...then straight off the T to the heater.

Those things usually come with a diagram etc..pretty easy, check for leaks, but most propane suppliers will double check your work anyhow, when they hook up the outside tank...........dish soap and water works. Good luck.

 

[Steve in Mi]

I turned $2100.00 in profit over the last 3 days doing an install and I wasnt the only biddrr on the job granted they were long rough days and that profit doesnt account for my overhead .

Rick

Rick, it's not really profit until you deduct all your costs which includes your overhead, right?

 

[LoneGunman]

"I don't know about you, but I don't make anywhere near that kind of money in an 8 hr work day"

You think he's actually making $850? Posts like these crack me up, have you ever owned a business? I'm not defending his price as I have no idea what the going rate is in your area. People freak when the company I work for charges $85 an hour for an electrician. Right off the bat subtract my hourly wage of $25 an hour, plus my benefits, unemployment insurance, SS, ETC. Next we have the brand new vans stocked with material and equipment, insurance, advertising, taxes, two buildings, auger truck, bobcats, 60' boom lift, the 6 or 7 office support personnel, ETC ETC ETC. Obviously it all adds up. I'd be surprised if they profit $30 an hour.

I'm all for doing whatever you can safely do yourself but you cannot compare the price a professional is going to charge to what you can do it for.

 

[autoace]

"I don't know about you, but I don't make anywhere near that kind of money in an 8 hr work day"

You think he's actually making $850? Posts like these crack me up, have you ever owned a business? I'm not defending his price as I have no idea what the going rate is in your area. People freak when the company I work for charges $85 an hour for an electrician. Right off the bat subtract my hourly wage of $25 an hour, plus my benefits, unemployment insurance, SS, ETC. Next we have the brand new vans stocked with material and equipment, insurance, advertising, taxes, two buildings, auger truck, bobcats, 60' boom lift, the 6 or 7 office support personnel, ETC ETC ETC. Obviously it all adds up. I'd be surprised if they profit $30 an hour.

I'm all for doing whatever you can safely do yourself but you cannot compare the price a professional is going to charge to what you can do it for.

I'm with you 100%, but I was under the impression he needed a lousy vent and propane manifold and line...........if it's an unfinished garage it will only take 4 hours or so.

I would get a couple of bids if I were him, since we cannot see the building, I can see how much is actually involved.

 

[rickairmedic]

Rick, it's not really profit until you deduct all your costs which includes your overhead, right?

Steve you are right I didnt deduct from that profit my advertising $1200.00 a month in one book alone then theres my service van payments then theres stock on the truck then theres gas to make the van run plus maintenance on the van alternators starters and fuel pumps aint cheap even if youput them on yourself then theres the actual phone lines running into my office then the office ect.ect.ect. I will say it aint cheap running a company and for the moment I am a one man show other than my better half SWMBO who runs the office. I would say if I am lucky maybe 1/3 of the profit from that job will actually go into the house and then theres bills to pay there as well . Bigger companies have even more overhead so its even worse for them they have to turn alot more profit just to pay the bills.

Rick

 

[waltmcq]

Yeah I realize that if done wrong it could get very exciting, that's why I was thinking "have it done" but at the price I'm doing it my self. I did get a few other quotes and all were similar. It's in a new finished garage but I was originally planning on a free pellet stove but sometime deals aren't always deals Oh well. I'm working on getting it put in and I have a line on a kid that work for one of the companies in town that is gonna come over and check to make sure it doesn't leak and is done wright in trade for some fish I get for free from work (I fish in Alaska). Here a some pic of the shop, it's a lot more full than in these photos but the heater is in the back to the left of the little storage room. I don't really care if the gas line is hiding inside the wall, I wish I was that neat but I'm just not so down the inside the wall it goes then out.
I'm glad someone is getting a decent wage for work that's why I bought the dornback it was made in the USA.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

My brother was quoted $14,000 to replace the boiler in his home.

We started on a Saturday at noon and finished it up about 3:00 am Sunday working straight through with one meal break and one break to go to Home Depot. Total Cost? $2400 for the boiler, piping, and vent. I had a plumber friend get the boiler for us at his cost.

Which is the other part of this thing...What's the markup on furnaces by HVAC installers? 100%???? And that's before you even start talking about installation hours. But...I'm assuming all an HVAC guy is able to do is make a decent living. I don't see any Doctors or Lawyers giving up their practices and rushing to get into the HVAC trade. I'm sure there are a lot of expenses to running that type of business, not the least of which would be bad debt from customers who can't/won't pay.

Phil

 

[rickairmedic]

My brother was quoted $14,000 to replace the boiler in his home.

We started on a Saturday at noon and finished it up about 3:00 am Sunday working straight through with one meal break and one break to go to Home Depot. Total Cost? $2400 for the boiler, piping, and vent. I had a plumber friend get the boiler for us at his cost.

Which is the other part of this thing...What's the markup on furnaces by HVAC installers? 100%???? And that's before you even start talking about installation hours. But...I'm assuming all an HVAC guy is able to do is make a decent living. I don't see any Doctors or Lawyers giving up their practices and rushing to get into the HVAC trade. I'm sure there are a lot of expenses to running that type of business, not the least of which would be bad debt from customers who can't/won't pay.

Phil

Phill I know guys who mark stuff up 100-200% . I figure out my cost and figure out what I need to pay the bills . I very seldom get underbid and as you can see above I make money on my installs .When I do get underbid I ask the customer to ask for proof of license and insurance and tell them I woud be happy to show them mine. I am not by any stretch getting rich but I make a living mind you I am a one man shop for now although I have been bringing in a helper for the spring and summer . I also plan to semi retie in the next 4 years and have 3 trucks on the road paying my bills for me .

Rick

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Yeah I realize that if done wrong it could get very exciting, that's why I was thinking "have it done" but at the price I'm doing it my self. I did get a few other quotes and all were similar. It's in a new finished garage but I was originally planning on a free pellet stove but sometime deals aren't always deals Oh well. I'm working on getting it put in and I have a line on a kid that work for one of the companies in town that is gonna come over and check to make sure it doesn't leak and is done wright in trade for some fish I get for free from work (I fish in Alaska). Here a some pic of the shop, it's a lot more full than in these photos but the heater is in the back to the left of the little storage room. I don't really care if the gas line is hiding inside the wall, I wish I was that neat but I'm just not so down the inside the wall it goes then out.
I'm glad someone is getting a decent wage for work that's why I bought the dornback it was made in the USA.

Can you tell us a bit about that bike in the foreground?

 

[waltmcq]

1948 Whizzer. I got it after a guy bought it and rode around for a few months then crashed and, well you know the story....

 

[rickairmedic]

I thought that was a Whizzer . Walt I would say if you have the ability to rebuild a Whizzer and build a Duece putting in your heater shouldnt be a problem if you get stuck on something just pop in and ask questions one of us should be able to answer them.

Rick