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SRO1911 wrote:Before going to welding full time, I did property maintenance for both single family rentals and apartments. I am HVAC licensed and still keep a few customers on the side. I have one apartment complex that still uses units from 78/79/80. A quality unit will have no set life span provided it is properly maintained. HVAC is one of the biggest rips I know of - even worse than plumbing.
Most 'service calls" could be completed in under 15 minutes. Those 200-400 fan motors cost me 45 dollars each and take an average of 10 minutes to change when I am on my own, capacitors that most techs throw a 50+ dollar price tag on run 1-5 dollars each, less of you buy in bulk.

Biggest rip of all - - - thinking you need to call a tech for everything. The only time you need a license is when there is a service that will possibly release Freon. Anyone can change a fan motor, capacitor, contactor, etc. it is not hard and with a few very simple precautions it is perfectly safe. Typically the only tools you may need would be a couple nut drivers, wire plier, screwdriver, maybe a crescent if you are removing an outside fan.

All of the parts are available to the homeowner - prices range from insane at the big box stores to same as we pay a the supply house.

aaangel wrote:

SRO1911 wrote:Before going to welding full time, I did property maintenance for both single family rentals and apartments. I am HVAC licensed and still keep a few customers on the side. I have one apartment complex that still uses units from 78/79/80. A quality unit will have no set life span provided it is properly maintained. HVAC is one of the biggest rips I know of - even worse than plumbing.
Most 'service calls" could be completed in under 15 minutes. Those 200-400 fan motors cost me 45 dollars each and take an average of 10 minutes to change when I am on my own, capacitors that most techs throw a 50+ dollar price tag on run 1-5 dollars each, less of you buy in bulk.

Biggest rip of all - - - thinking you need to call a tech for everything. The only time you need a license is when there is a service that will possibly release Freon. Anyone can change a fan motor, capacitor, contactor, etc. it is not hard and with a few very simple precautions it is perfectly safe. Typically the only tools you may need would be a couple nut drivers, wire plier, screwdriver, maybe a crescent if you are removing an outside fan.

All of the parts are available to the homeowner - prices range from insane at the big box stores to same as we pay a the supply house.

can you recommend the top 4 brands in the 4-8 thousand range.
again thanks for the knowledge!

The Annoyed Man wrote:

SRO1911 wrote:Before going to welding full time, I did property maintenance for both single family rentals and apartments. I am HVAC licensed and still keep a few customers on the side. I have one apartment complex that still uses units from 78/79/80. A quality unit will have no set life span provided it is properly maintained. HVAC is one of the biggest rips I know of - even worse than plumbing.
Most 'service calls" could be completed in under 15 minutes. Those 200-400 fan motors cost me 45 dollars each and take an average of 10 minutes to change when I am on my own, capacitors that most techs throw a 50+ dollar price tag on run 1-5 dollars each, less of you buy in bulk.

Biggest rip of all - - - thinking you need to call a tech for everything. The only time you need a license is when there is a service that will possibly release Freon. Anyone can change a fan motor, capacitor, contactor, etc. it is not hard and with a few very simple precautions it is perfectly safe. Typically the only tools you may need would be a couple nut drivers, wire plier, screwdriver, maybe a crescent if you are removing an outside fan.

All of the parts are available to the homeowner - prices range from insane at the big box stores to same as we pay a the supply house.

The problem for our system is that the mother board and a few other critical components are no longer manufactured. The last time the board when out, the guy we hired (very reputable in Grapevine) found a replacement for it, but was surprised that he found it and told us that as more time goes by, parts availability is going to be harder and harder to find. The unit is nearly 30 years old, so even if parts availability was not a problem, there is no doubt that a modern unit would be more efficient and environmentally friendly. I see changing it as an investment in the value of my home, and the opportunity for paying lower utility bills.