Pete C. wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:

Wow, you guys can't help it if I don't charge enough. 300 for a leak
check, and 500 to fix one braze joint, and refil the system? Eight
c'notes sounds like a lot of money, to me.

Considering that they legally have to drag a refrigerant recovery
machine out to recover the refrigerant from the system before they can
braze it, and the recovery process takes some time, then they have to
evacuate the system and recharge it, it's probably not a lot of money.

But there's bargains to be had.

My ten-year-old Trane bellied up and washed ashore during hurricane Yikes.
My son has a neighbor (Guatemalan if that makes any difference) who
moonlights off the books. Being in the business, he found a two-year old
condensing unit, brought it over at 8:00 p.m., installed the unit (including
brazing a couple of joints), evacuated (I guess sort of) the system, and
recharged it. He was done by 10:00 p.m. and I was out $700.

Been working swell these two years.

It might pay to, um, "inquire" around. (I'm in Houston if you want my tech's
name...)