Comments for ProTech HVAC http://www.thehvacguru.com Innovative Solutions For Building Owners and Tradesmen Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:36:24 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 Comment on “Dumming Down” HVAC Tradesmen & Consumers by Michaelhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/dumming-down-hvac-tradesmen-consumers-hvac-system-fail/#comment-191 Michael Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:36:24 +0000 http://www.thehvacguru.com/?p=1529#comment-191 I agree with what you say about the quality of the stock that is out there. (although I just got done praising the pro press tool.) Like you said it is up to us as contractors to hold the line on quality. The problem is the internet, type in a part number and get a price. I have had good luck educating my customers about the quality difference between products but it is still a problem. Some contracts require the use of US products we need more of that. I agree with what you say about the quality of the stock that is out there. (although I just got done praising the pro press tool.) Like you said it is up to us as contractors to hold the line on quality. The problem is the internet, type in a part number and get a price. I have had good luck educating my customers about the quality difference between products but it is still a problem. Some contracts require the use of US products we need more of that.

]]> Comment on The Price of Oil/Energy – 3 Things You’ll Want to Know As A Building Owner by Sacramento Heating and Airhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/price-of-oil-and-how-this-impacts-heating-cooling-costs-%e2%80%93-3-things-you%e2%80%99ll-want-to-know/#comment-131 Sacramento Heating and Air Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:40:51 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=1132#comment-131 I agree that solar power isn't going to become a huge choice for people just yet. In my opinion, this is largely because of the cost; not very many people can afford to put an entire new system in their home, especially now when the economy is in rather bad shape. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to be more energy efficient, and you outline a few great ones in this entry. I agree that solar power isn’t going to become a huge choice for people just yet. In my opinion, this is largely because of the cost; not very many people can afford to put an entire new system in their home, especially now when the economy is in rather bad shape. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to be more energy efficient, and you outline a few great ones in this entry.

]]> Comment on Cast Iron Vs. Cast Aluminum Boilers – The Better Value? by Mark Elmerhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/cast-iron-vs-cast-aluminum-boilers-the-better-value/#comment-69 Mark Elmer Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:13:07 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=100#comment-69 While I agree with many of your concerns about the aluminum boiler I believe that there are high efficiency alternatives. Have you looked into the Prestige stainless steel boiler by triangle tube. We have more than 50 in the field with very few problems. Secondly while I am a Buderus fan there are several US made three pass oil boilers. Burnham MPO, Utica Tri-Fire, Crown Freeport (castings from Denmark) and the Steel Thermodynamics H series true three pass steel horizontal tube. Love to talk boilers with you any time. Mark While I agree with many of your concerns about the aluminum boiler I believe that there are high efficiency alternatives. Have you looked into the Prestige stainless steel boiler by triangle tube. We have more than 50 in the field with very few problems. Secondly while I am a Buderus fan there are several US made three pass oil boilers. Burnham MPO, Utica Tri-Fire, Crown Freeport (castings from Denmark) and the Steel Thermodynamics H series true three pass steel horizontal tube. Love to talk boilers with you any time.

Mark

]]> Comment on 1890 Sunbeam Coal Furnace Meets its Untimely End by Mikehttp://www.thehvacguru.com/1890-sunbeam-coal-furnace-meets-its-untimely-end/#comment-90 Mike Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:22:26 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=798#comment-90 I don't know why it makes me so sad to see these old girls taken out of service. I'm crazy, I would keep it running forever. I literally would. I still drive a 472 Cadillac because I can. It hurts to fill it up, but I don't watch TV or go on vacations, burning fuel of all types is my hobby I guess. My house was built in '41 and has I believe the original furnace. If it's not original, it was put in very early, maybe if natural gas wasn't available in the area right away. When I bought the house, the company that installed my parents' high-efficiency unit came out to inspect mine. The conversation started with the tech saying something like "holy cow, that thing is ANCIENT" and ended with him admitting that, when my parents' unit was being scrapped, mine would undoubtedly still be running. Not to mention, Chicago, old house, old furnace, ~$50/month furnace gas in January. Long live the old furnace! I don’t know why it makes me so sad to see these old girls taken out of service. I’m crazy, I would keep it running forever. I literally would. I still drive a 472 Cadillac because I can. It hurts to fill it up, but I don’t watch TV or go on vacations, burning fuel of all types is my hobby I guess. My house was built in ’41 and has I believe the original furnace. If it’s not original, it was put in very early, maybe if natural gas wasn’t available in the area right away. When I bought the house, the company that installed my parents’ high-efficiency unit came out to inspect mine. The conversation started with the tech saying something like “holy cow, that thing is ANCIENT” and ended with him admitting that, when my parents’ unit was being scrapped, mine would undoubtedly still be running. Not to mention, Chicago, old house, old furnace, ~$50/month furnace gas in January. Long live the old furnace!

]]> Comment on HVAC and Global Warming by Dennis Sturmshttp://www.thehvacguru.com/on-the-atmosphere/#comment-111 Dennis Sturms Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:42:54 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=880#comment-111 Your a thorough, awesome technician- we need more people like you n the world! Dennis Sturms Your a thorough, awesome technician- we need more people like you n the world!

Dennis Sturms

]]> Comment on 1890 Sunbeam Coal Furnace Meets its Untimely End by Charredhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/1890-sunbeam-coal-furnace-meets-its-untimely-end/#comment-89 Charred Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:40:01 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=798#comment-89 Let's see..980 lbs. of scrap!! Just glad I didn't get in the way!!! Let’s see..980 lbs. of scrap!! Just glad I didn’t get in the way!!!

]]> Comment on 1890 Sunbeam Coal Furnace Meets its Untimely End by justinhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/1890-sunbeam-coal-furnace-meets-its-untimely-end/#comment-88 justin Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:17:34 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=798#comment-88 I have an old sunbeam in the basement of one of my appartments. I havnt ripped the gal. Metal off it yet to get a good look but the inside looks fine. I'm actually looking for an Axeman-Anderson boiler to use in my own place. If this Sunbeam is effecient with coal I might try something with it. More research is needed. I have an old sunbeam in the basement of one of my appartments. I havnt ripped the gal. Metal off it yet to get a good look but the inside looks fine. I’m actually looking for an Axeman-Anderson boiler to use in my own place. If this Sunbeam is effecient with coal I might try something with it. More research is needed.

]]> Comment on Hart & Cooley President Bernard Roy on “Made in America” by heatingrepaircontractorhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/hart-cooley-president-bernard-roy-on-made-in-america/#comment-109 heatingrepaircontractor Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:44:04 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=859#comment-109 One of the best things we can all do to stimulate the ecconomy is to emphasizze buying American-made goods and services. It won't do us any good to send money to Asia. Buy American! One of the best things we can all do to stimulate the ecconomy is to emphasizze buying American-made goods and services.

It won’t do us any good to send money to Asia.

Buy American!

]]> Comment on “Flat Rate” vs. Time and Materials HVACR & Plumbing Pricing by Scotthttp://www.thehvacguru.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-68 Scott Thu, 16 Dec 2010 01:43:36 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/flat-rate-hvac-plumbing-companies/#comment-68 I am third generation in this business and I have to say that not all flat rate companies are dishonest. The trick is to be fair to all involved. I know there are many contractors out there who become greedy and charge way to much, but that also happens with nuerologists (nod to Boyd, you must live in south Florida). As a business owner who is laying out capital I am allowed to expect some return on my investment but I am not greedy. I have learned that most service techs average between 4-6 billable hours a day, the rest is spent travleing to and from jobs. The way we have set up our flat rate is to calculate hourly costs based on 40 hours and divide by the average billable hours. So If I know the technician costs me $25.00 and hour and the then I calcluate all the overhead (taxes, liability insurance, Workers compensation insurance, fuel, truck insurance, phone bills, advertising, electric, dispatcher, average truck repairs and maintenance, rent or mortage, benefits, owners compensation, and vehicle replacements) I could come up with between a cost or $75.00 an hour to $125.00 an hour. I keep my overhead low and average about $87.00 an hour based on 5 hours of billable time and from that I formulate my mark-up of 20% which gives me an hourly rate of $110.00. All "Tasks" are figured at a minimum of 15 minutes and all al figured based on National Labor Standards and adjusted fairly. The first task basically contains the diagnostic fee of $70. and all additional work is secondary. I feel this fair and allows me to provide fair wages for my employees while still being fair to I serve but allow me to eran a decent wage for me and my family. I will concede that there are many greedy contractors out there and disagree with those who base there pay on commission. But I also disagree with Lawyers who charge $500.00 an hour and have minimum 1/2 billings. I wi I am third generation in this business and I have to say that not all flat rate companies are dishonest. The trick is to be fair to all involved. I know there are many contractors out there who become greedy and charge way to much, but that also happens with nuerologists (nod to Boyd, you must live in south Florida). As a business owner who is laying out capital I am allowed to expect some return on my investment but I am not greedy. I have learned that most service techs average between 4-6 billable hours a day, the rest is spent travleing to and from jobs. The way we have set up our flat rate is to calculate hourly costs based on 40 hours and divide by the average billable hours. So If I know the technician costs me $25.00 and hour and the then I calcluate all the overhead (taxes, liability insurance, Workers compensation insurance, fuel, truck insurance, phone bills, advertising, electric, dispatcher, average truck repairs and maintenance, rent or mortage, benefits, owners compensation, and vehicle replacements) I could come up with between a cost or $75.00 an hour to $125.00 an hour. I keep my overhead low and average about $87.00 an hour based on 5 hours of billable time and from that I formulate my mark-up of 20% which gives me an hourly rate of $110.00. All “Tasks” are figured at a minimum of 15 minutes and all al figured based on National Labor Standards and adjusted fairly. The first task basically contains the diagnostic fee of $70. and all additional work is secondary. I feel this fair and allows me to provide fair wages for my employees while still being fair to I serve but allow me to eran a decent wage for me and my family.

I will concede that there are many greedy contractors out there and disagree with those who base there pay on commission. But I also disagree with Lawyers who charge $500.00 an hour and have minimum 1/2 billings.

I wi

]]> Comment on 1890 Sunbeam Coal Furnace Meets its Untimely End by Scotty Bhttp://www.thehvacguru.com/1890-sunbeam-coal-furnace-meets-its-untimely-end/#comment-87 Scotty B Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:49:30 +0000 http://www.protechhvac.com/?p=798#comment-87 Thanks for the pics. My grandparents burned wood in a sunbeam that looked a lot like the one you pulled out. I also burn wood but in a more modern unit. I am on my 2nd stove. Talked with my dad and he thinks the new owners of my grandparents home are still using the sunbeam. Thanks again for the posting. Scotty Thanks for the pics. My grandparents burned wood in a sunbeam that looked a lot like the one you pulled out. I also burn wood but in a more modern unit. I am on my 2nd stove. Talked with my dad and he thinks the new owners of my grandparents home are still using the sunbeam. Thanks again for the posting.

Scotty

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