3 ms·
Of the $20k, let's assume $5k is the hardware. Now $15k is the work. Let's consider the installation a highly skilled job, commanding $100/hour. This is 150 hou
by nine_k 1y ago
Of the $20k, let's assume $5k is the hardware. Now $15k is the work. Let's consider the installation a highly skilled job, commanding $100/hour. This is 150 hours, or a tad more than 6 business days for a team of 3, working with full load 8 hours a day.
Does a split system indeed take so much work? What is so effort-intensive?
- Nition 1y agoAbsolutely not. A basic ductless heat pump takes three or four hours to install by a couple of workers.
- brianwawok 1y agoThat’s just how US HVaC places price. It’s a racket. I got 45k quotes for 5k of hardware for an 8 hour max job. Good reason to learn DIY
- JeremyPOsborne 1y ago2-3 hours planning, parts list, client management, 4-6 hrs to run electrical, 2-4 hrs to mount condenser, 4-8 hrs for medium line set, 4-8 hrs air handler, duct, platform integration, 1-2 hrs with thermostat and condensate protection, 1-2 hours nitrogen testing and pull vacuum, 1 hr documenting photos for incentive programs, 1 hr spending time educating customer about the system. Messing up a parts order and figuring out a solution 4 hrs too often. Total: 28 hrs, or 2-3 days of 2 people depending on the travel from their shop to customers home. I agree. Let's get that down to 12-16 hrs or single day and the best shops and installers can do that. CA Labor law allow about 6-7 hrs of work on site as installers often have to start at their shop. $3-4k of labor cost for small-mid size. Best might be be 2-3K labor cost. Minor equipment 1-2K, permit and testing required $1K. Then 50% gross margin is the target, net costs $2.5K indirect labor, $2K sales cost, project management, trucks, insurance, software, 10-20% net margin. Just added the details in a comment above. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45705876 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45705876