Hvac pricing question

[stryker93]

Have been having heat pump issues and had home warranty send a guy out. He's been out 3 times and couldn't fix it. I mentioned a high or low pressure switch as the issue and he thought thermostat. He replaced it and it did not fix it. He will not return calls now. he also said he would crimp freon line to install a new switch. Sounded shady to me.

I called another company out and paid for a diagnostic. They bypassed the low pressure switch and now everything works fine. I was quoted $450 in labor to replace low pressure switch and the part is under warranty. Unit is a 4 ton carrier.

Questions: Is $450 a fair price for 3 hours labor
Should I call warranty and request a different tech

[topshot]

I don't know if these guys service your area, but you might give them a call to get a second opinion. usually second opinion quotes are free and often come in under the original.

http://www.anumber1air.com/

i paid nearly 1k to have a thermal expansion valve replaced, and that was at 50% discount - took the guy most of the day though.

[thegrouse]

I don't think 450$ is too much if they have to evacuate the system solder in a new switch, change or add a filter drier and recharge. If it was my system I would leave the low pressure switch jumped out. Many units don't have one.

[Richard]

I would install a low pressure switch that you can screw onto the suction line. No need to recover refrigerant unless there is other issues.

[Richard]

I don't think 450$ is too much if they have to evacuate the system solder in a new switch, change or add a filter drier and recharge. If it was my system I would leave the low pressure switch jumped out. Many units don't have one.

This also.

[elliscountyhog]

I don't know if these guys service your area, but you might give them a call to get a second opinion. usually second opinion quotes are free and often come in under the original.

http://www.anumber1air.com/

i paid nearly 1k to have a thermal expansion valve replaced, and that was at 50% discount - took the guy most of the day though.

$1k txv and that was half price??? Dang we change the whole Evap coil for $1800-2200. So regular price of a txv that goes on the Evap coil.... $5-600 for a txv is our normal rate. There would be circumstances where it's higher.

$450 for low pressure switch is flat rate book price but we give tbhers a 15% discount on all parts.

[stryker93]

Thanks for the info. Thinking I may let it ride like it is.

[topshot]

$1k txv and that was half price??? Dang we change the whole Evap coil for $1800-2200. So regular price of a txv that goes on the Evap coil.... $5-600 for a txv is our normal rate. There would be circumstances where it's higher.

$450 for low pressure switch is flat rate book price but we give tbhers a 15% discount on all parts.

yep, I had to assist him in partially removing the coil so he could get at the TXV (he would have had to come back with a 2nd technician the next day and cost would have gone even higher) it was in a very awkward/tight place and definitely not a job I envied him doing. (it may have been closer to $850)

[double bogey]

If it is a heat pump, and you add a low pressure switch to the suction line, remember that this line becomes the discharge line when you run heat. This is not all bad, in some units the low pressure switch is in the liquid line, and functions as a loss of charge switch. The downsides to bypassing or moving the switch are, possible warranty issues, and possible voiding of UL certification, as the equipment has been modified. In other words, whoever bypasses or relocates, could be held responsible for any malfunctions your equipment may have in the future. That being said, both options happen every day.