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The HVAC trade at least in the US is interesting. I have dealt with quite a few companies, and collected a range of quotes with wild variations in pricing for

The HVAC trade at least in the US is interesting. I have dealt with quite a few companies, and collected a range of quotes with wild variations in pricing for essentially what is the same exact system. In my anecdotal experience the residential HVAC industry is full of scams. Maybe it's just poorly run companies that need to break even is the reason for such gouging. A quote of 12,000 USD for a 2 head minisplit system installed from one company, was 5,800 USD from another. And a Mr. Cool DIY kit could be shipped to my house for 3,000. I know there is some skill in braising the lines and evacuating the system, weighing the charge, etc... and the industry is gatekept with certifications, permitting and environmental compliance, but I image most any handyperson can handle an install. Especially with the pre-charged lines that are available in many kits. I've had about a dozen residential HVAC technicians do some kind of work over the past year, due to a warranty claim and they had to visit 6 times, never could troubleshoot the problem, and in the end just installed an entirely new outdoor unit. The first technician claimed the problem was a 'dirty blower' and quoted $1,200 for them to come clean the blower fins on my condensers. The second one said it was definitely a board. Then it was the board on the other end. Then it was the same board they already replaced once. They were all wrong. But their troubleshooting was done over the phone with the manufacturer. I was civil and patient with them, but it was hard to watch. I think the residential HVAC industry is the biggest problem with US adoption... The rest of the world seems to be handling it fine.

moribvndvs 2y ago
Competency indeed seems like one of the larger challenges for them in the US, especially during the sizing phase. When I had some mini-splits installed, the amount of bad information and outright lying even from established, top rated contractors was staggering. When we finally found someone that wasn’t completely stupid and quoting “fuck you” prices, they completely oversized the units. In the winter, they are reliably toasty warm even below zero, and in the summer they cool the rooms quickly… too quickly. Like, almost instantly. The result is a terrible increase in humidity, because they don’t run long enough to pull water out of the air. If I run them in dehumidification mode, it turns the room into a meat locker. So, I have to run a regular floor dehumidifier in the summer, much to my chagrin. When I look at the other quotes I got, they were all similarly over provisioned. Very frustrating.

moribvndvs 2y ago

Competency indeed seems like one of the larger challenges for them in the US, especially during the sizing phase. When I had some mini-splits installed, the amount of bad information and outright lying even from established, top rated contractors was staggering. When we finally found someone that wasn’t completely stupid and quoting “fuck you” prices, they completely oversized the units. In the winter, they are reliably toasty warm even below zero, and in the summer they cool the rooms quickly… too quickly. Like, almost instantly. The result is a terrible increase in humidity, because they don’t run long enough to pull water out of the air. If I run them in dehumidification mode, it turns the room into a meat locker. So, I have to run a regular floor dehumidifier in the summer, much to my chagrin. When I look at the other quotes I got, they were all similarly over provisioned. Very frustrating.