How much should air conditioning repair cost?

Question

I have 2 units for my home: One is 2.5 tons the other is 4 tons. The capacitor in my 2.5 ton unit went out. A friend of the family who works for an air conditioning company replaced the capacitor and recharged the unit. He charged me $200 and I gave him an extra 10 spot.

How much more would I have paid for a regular air conditioning company to service it? Did I get off cheap?

Answer 1

It wasn't a bad price. A regular company would have charged you at least double that.

Answer 2

You got off very cheap. As far as a 400% mark up on a capacitor, you didn't pay for the capacitor, you paid for the techs knowledge and the fact that he was able to diagnose the problem. You paid for the fuel and wear on his van, the workmans comp, his medical insurance, his tools, his on going education, his 401-K, liability insurance, his uniforms and about 22 other items I will not bore you with.

Think about it this way, if I am sick, you are the man. When your home comfort system fails, the HVAC tech is the man.

Like yourself, he deserves to make a solid living for the knowledge he has.

Answer 3

let me map this out for you

what my company would have charged

using our flat rate guide

service call / diagnostice charge = $119

replace capacitor on a/c unit       = $175

check and charge a/c unit   $ 95 minimum

additional time beyond 1 hour $55 per 1/4hr

for what your friend did, i am assuming on a saturday as the rates shown reflect after hours charges ( after 4pm and weekends)

you would have paid a total of $499.00 at the minimum keep in mind this is based off after hours service or a weekend service visit..... your paying for overtime!!!

hope this makes you feel better