HVAC Screwing

[469 runner]

My furnace has been making some unusual noises. Upon investigation I realize the blower motor has some bad bearings and will require a replacement motor. I am a smart guy, try to save some money when I can, so I remove the defective motor for replacement. After 1 hr of disassembly I visit several local HVAC suppliers to find none will sell me a replacement motor without me being a licensed contractor and showing an account. This effectively forces homeowners to call a local repairman and get the good screwing that it seems homeowners have to constantly endure. My **** hurts a lot lately. Is this common everywhere?

 

[Bronson]

You should be able to go to a Industrial Supply house and get a matching motor without any problems.
I have done it dozens of times.
Grainger?

 

[Brandon314159]

Can you beat the bearings out and install some new ones?

HVAC stuff is a nightmare trying to get parts locally. I try to do all my shopping online but when you NEED it the most, hard to wait for the delivery person.

 

[469 runner]

Yes, I would wait and order something online. It is my wife that can't stand if the temp in the house dips below 60 degrees. LOL. The days are still warm here in Virginia, the nights are starting to dip into the 30's. I like it; love this time of year here.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Man - you support local, good on you . You tried - Now go to Amazon or somewhere. Quick search may get you something by the weekend

 

[donpauli2]

In my area this is common also from HVAC suppliers. The supply houses and the contractors around here very strongly attempt to block any individual trying to do their own work on their own property. Yet those same people are the same ones that will go to an auto supply store for parts on their own vehicles will head to the big box stores and buy electrical supplies to use for themselves. It a shame really


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It depends on the supplier. Many are wholesale or "to the trade only". It's the same for thr plumbing, electrical, roofing, paving, restaurant, bar and host of other trades... Graingers doesn't sell to the public either, so are they trying to force DIY guys and homeowners to get screwed by a "Pro" for every item in their catalog?

Keep looking. Those motors are relatively similar brand to brand. GE makes a load of "universal" fractional horsepower blower motors. You should be able to match it up fairly easily.

Tommy

 

[Casey69]

My furnace has been making some unusual noises. Upon investigation I realize the blower motor has some bad bearings and will require a replacement motor. I am a smart guy, try to save some money when I can, so I remove the defective motor for replacement. After 1 hr of disassembly I visit several local HVAC suppliers to find none will sell me a replacement motor without me being a licensed contractor and showing an account. This effectively forces homeowners to call a local repairman and get the good screwing that it seems homeowners have to constantly endure. My **** hurts a lot lately. Is this common everywhere?

i did the same. i removed the draft motor (involved removing 3 nuts & a disconnecting a wire harness). not one local place would sell to me w/out a HVAC license. had to call a HVAC guy, who charged me $125 for the part & $125 for the labor - he was in my house for 15 minutes. took him almost as long to write up the bill as it did to install the part.

next time, i'm shopping amazon.

 

[brownbagg]

grainger.com

 

[rburke65]

I'm thinking liability has a lot to do with it in today's litigious society.

 

[nehog]

In some states there is a reason for 'trade only'. The supplier is not setup to handle sales tax. Sales to trade are not taxed (as they are for resale...)

OP: Grainger may be a good source.

 

[Firebrick43]

HVAC trade only is common around the country. This is the only trade that is that way universally. Many strong union communities have other trade protection but here its only HVAC. I ran into this same issue recently with an outside ac unit fan.

The manufacture will not even talk to you about part numbers. I used a universal replacement and had to cut the shaft and make standoffs to locate everything correctly.


I would take said motor to an electrical motor rebuild shop. The local guy here, even if he cant fix it, can get a replacement cheaper and easier that the HVAC place and you don't have to go through a repairman.

The liability issue is pure bunk. Auto HVAC is a non issue to work on yourself. Although maybe in many ways it is as I don't think any other trade has the ability to level a city block and kill so many as does a gas explosion, or a boiler explosion.

But ironically both the gas supply can be done diy and its amazing how many idiots convert their hot water heaters into boilers and blow them up buy capping off the pressure relief valve.

Luckily for me I befriended a HVAC supply guy through church and no longer have issues getting parts or information.

 

[Muzzy]

Grainger, McMaster-Carr, or Amazon for the parts.
If you can find an equivalent through one of them, Target will have an electric blanket that will help keep you and your wife warm at night until the parts are delivered.

 

[Git]

There are a number of online websites that cater to the DIY crowd and won't gouge you on the price

RepairClinic.com comes to mind
https://www.repairclinic.com/Shop-For-Parts/a36/Furnace-Parts

If you can find the make and model of your furnace I am pretty sure you can find the part you need and then check prices from there

Or just get some identifying info off your blower motor (model number) and google it

 

[klassenl]

Luckily for me I befriended a HVAC supply guy through church and no longer have issues getting parts or information.

Yes knowing the right people is very handy. My dad is a plumber and taught me a bunch. I am also in good with a bunch of the local trades.

 

[Marctrees]

Just remember, even though Grainger is great in many respects, except for price.

They seem to be geared to the industrial/ government Buyer, that is looking to get the job done quickly, IRRELEVANT 0f price.

Which may make sense for those customers overall.

But NOT for the little guy, if he does not mind Sourcing time.

Can save $$, and I don't mean one or five.

Look at the nameplate of the motor, it is RARELY specific model application specific.

Use you fingers and brain on the "Interweb"

If you are busy making $ otherwise, call a Contractor and getirdone. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Did you try oiling your bearings?

Not as a permanent fix, but a stopgap.

Probably days, but maybie weeks gained.

Never know.

If you have oil cups (rare nowadays, but not in past) oil there.

Otherwise, on shafts, Both ends, as close to bearings as possible. Marc

 

[ard]

Sore point with me as well.

Liability is hogwash...an argument that is crafted to tie into many peoples' preconcived "its all the lawyers fault" bias. (some things may be their fault, but not this!)

I was doing some work on swimming pools stuff.... these 'professionals' are utter hacks, yet if you buy parts retail and dont have a licensed installer do the work, their warranty is basically gone. Trade gets a 2 year warranty, you get nothing. Their argument is 'to ensure it is done right and safely, to protect the brand and customer safety'...yet you read the trade rags and it is utterly transparent that they are going after internet sales.

Argggghh.

[rant off]

 

[Norcal]

Sore point with me as well.

Liability is hogwash...an argument that is crafted to tie into many peoples' preconcived "its all the lawyers fault" bias. (some things may be their fault, but not this!)

I was doing some work on swimming pools stuff.... these 'professionals' are utter hacks, yet if you buy parts retail and dont have a licensed installer do the work, their warranty is basically gone. Trade gets a 2 year warranty, you get nothing. Their argument is 'to ensure it is done right and safely, to protect the brand and customer safety'...yet you read the trade rags and it is utterly transparent that they are going after internet sales.

Argggghh.




[rant off]

Buy air conditioning equipment, ice machines, from a internet supplier & you lose the warranty.

To the OP, HD Supply, Grainger, or try entering the catalog number of the motor into a search engine, it may get some results.

 

[wasfuzz]

Find your local motor repair shop, they also sell new motors and can get most anything you need. I have never had a problem going that route
.

 

[RWorth]

Grainger has EVERYTHING, but they are overly steep on their prices. If you do a google search of the part #, you should get plenty of choices on where to buy at a better price.

 

[58Yeoman]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/dead-10-injured-explosion-central-illinois-city/story?id=43595616

Just sayin'...even the contractors make mistakes.

 

[CKS1955]

eBay is also a good source. Within the last week I purchased a new inducer exhaust fan. Brand new $98, locally for the same part $199.

Jay

 

[MagKarl]

I've never understood the business model that turns away customers eager to purchase a product. I've had the same experience with multiple supply house type establishments. I wonder if it's a union backed policy.

 

[469 runner]

So, the HVAC repairman was here just now at my wife insistence. He wanted $650.00 to replace the motor. He said the part was $525.00 I called the manager. I told him I knew what the part cost and it was highway robbery. While I understand they have to make a living how can they justify a 400% markup on parts? I am retired military and on a very fixed income. So I told him to go. I ordered the part from Grainger for $115.00 delivered tomorrow. Consumers really need to arm themselves against this kind of thing.

 

[CKS1955]

Consumers really need to arm themselves against this kind of thing.

Against theft, there is no other word for it my vocabulary.

Jay

 

[Hop2it]

My furnace has been making some unusual noises. Upon investigation I realize the blower motor has some bad bearings and will require a replacement motor. I am a smart guy, try to save some money when I can, so I remove the defective motor for replacement. After 1 hr of disassembly I visit several local HVAC suppliers to find none will sell me a replacement motor without me being a licensed contractor and showing an account. This effectively forces homeowners to call a local repairman and get the good screwing that it seems homeowners have to constantly endure. My **** hurts a lot lately. Is this common everywhere?

i used to do heating service and when someone came into the supply store the counter people would sugggest they check with any of the service people at the counter and buy it from them.I sold many a part to people fixing their own furnace the most frequent item was a thermostat.
Doug

 

[larry4406]

Post a Yelp review of your negative experience with the highway robbery firm and the amounts of the rip off. I'm ok with paying a fair and reasonable wage for service but don't try to retire off me. Good for you.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I went through the same shpiel with our old HVAC unit.

I did the blower motor, the condenser fan, and caps between 07 and 13.

Let's say I am good at parts interchange, and persevering until I find a vendor. And it is still a pain in the ****.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Against theft, there is no other word for it my vocabulary.

Jay

Try substituting the words "Capitalism", " Free Market" or "Supply and Demand" for "theft"... When someone calls for a service, generally it's because they CAN'T perform the work themselves, so the individual with the skillset, expertise, tools, parts etc. are in control of what they charge. That's just how it works. Just because you are in the minority that can perform the work on your own for less doesn't mean the ones doing it for a living are crooks.

I wouldn't ask you or anyone else as a contractor I called cold out of the phone book to come my house and do whatever you do for a living and ***** about parts markup because I understand the true cost of what is paid for the purchase, storage and tax of parts and other inventory, forget about insurance, business property costs, vehicle and equipment maintenance/repair/replacement, insurance, employee costs and then expect almost free labor. I'm sure I left a lot of costs out, too...

Now, if we were friends and you asked me to look at something, I would most likely give you the parts for my cost and give you a break on the labor.

Tommy

 

[TractorJeff]

35 years ago I needed an Igniter Transformer for an oil furnace at my Aunts house.
The Furnace Supply house wouldn't sell it over the counter until I coughed up "any" Tax Number proving I was a business. Went back out to the Truck and got our Farm Tax number and went back in!

 

[finn]

Try substituting the words "Capitalism", " Free Market" or "Supply and Demand" for "theft"...

I don't expect you or anyone else to come my house and do whatever you do for a living for what you pay for the purchase, storage and tax costs of parts/inventory, insurance, business property costs, vehicle and equipment maintenance, Insurance, employee costs and then expect no parts markup and almost free labor. I'm sure I left a lot of costs out, too...

Tommy

Try "Restraint of Trade ".
It fits better.

 

[Falcon67]

This has been hashed quite a bit before - try taking a box of car parts to a service shop and asking them to install them. You'll likely be sent down the street. Or, you'll get to pay a premium rate and the "warranty" will expire as soon as you clear the driveway. I think most of the threads start from people that haven't had to live as a tradesman, and have no clear view of the issues involved. Just my opinion.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Try "Restraint of Trade ".
It fits better.

No, it doesn't. Restraint of Trade doesn't apply to someone outside of a certain trade trying to do DIY work. It's about violating a Contract of non-competition between an employer and it's employee or a seller and a buyer of a business, or any illegal Contract designed to damage someone's business opportunity or ability to carry out a business.

Tommy

 

[469 runner]

I agree all these guys deserve a living wage. How much that should be is debatable. The guy that was here to look at the furnace still received his service call of $95.00 For a drive over and being here 15 minutes. Really, I have never made that kind of money. It is a free market society. I am a professional musician. I get $20.00 for a 1/2 hour lesson. I do gigs that might pay $150.00 that would include a couple rehearsals. I have years of education, thousands of dollars in instruments, I suppose I should raise my rates, but then I would get no work. If consumers would realize how they are being raped then things would change. The problem is, people want and need heat, and are willing to pay whatever. Music is not a necessity, so little monetary value is placed on it.

 

[steveo1o9]

This has been hashed quite a bit before - try taking a box of car parts to a service shop and asking them to install them. You'll likely be sent down the street. Or, you'll get to pay a premium rate and the "warranty" will expire as soon as you clear the driveway. I think most of the threads start from people that haven't had to live as a tradesman, and have no clear view of the issues involved. Just my opinion.

This does not apply to the OP's situation at all. He was not trying to buy the parts cheaper and then have a tech do the install. He was doing the work himself and simply needed a basic part. His situation is the equivalent of needing to change the brakes on your car and when you go into NAPA for the parts they tell you that you need to take it to the dealer....

Just because you are skilled in a trade does not mean you can charge as you please as punishment that the client doesn't know your craft... The free market typically weeds those businesses out pretty quick.

 

[Casey69]

This does not apply to the OP's situation at all. He was not trying to buy the parts cheaper and then have a tech do the install. He was doing the work himself and simply needed a basic part. His situation is the equivalent of needing to change the brakes on your car and when you go into NAPA for the parts they tell you that you need to take it to the dealer....

Just because you are skilled in a trade does not mean you can charge as you please as punishment that the client doesn't know your craft... The free market typically weeds those businesses out pretty quick.

pretty much this.

this is the opposite of capitalism. OP wants to buy a part, but can't due to some kind of government/trade-oriented restriction. he's forced to use someone with a license to buy & install it.

 

[My Old Tools]

Virtually anything can be found on-line. And for those that think your trade should be protected, this is no different than NAPA, Rock Auto, etc. Sounds like a business model waiting to be filled. Most appliance parts depots will sell to me with no questions.

http://www.hvacpartsoutlet.com/
http://www.americanhvacparts.com/
http://www.hvacpartsshop.com/
https://www.hvacpw.com/
And don't forget
https://www.mcmaster.com
https://www.grainger.com/

 

[Stuart in MN]

I agree all these guys deserve a living wage. How much that should be is debatable. The guy that was here to look at the furnace still received his service call of $95.00 For a drive over and being here 15 minutes. Really, I have never made that kind of money.

The company may have had a $95 service call fee, but the man who came out certainly didn't pocket all that $95.

 

[buddyboy]

you can have the dealership replace your brakes for $300 or you can do it yourself for $100

not many dealers are gonna want to work on your car if you show up with a box full of replacement parts for them to use.

most places give you a price up front for you to decide and compare. no need to get mad at someone for a high quote, it's not like there is only one hvac guy in your county.

if you've called all the supply houses in your area then all the repair guys are probably talking about you already.

the supply houses help the manufactures control their territory agreements and warranties, if bob the furnace guy has an exclusive deal with BigHeat Furnace Co. and paid money to have that agreement , then how pissed will Bob be if he finds out that guys off the street can by-pass him by buying direct from the supply house.

i don't think the supply house is gonna piss off a 100k a customer just so some guy off the street that they will never see again can save $200