How Does an Honest HVAC Service Tech Make Money? 

I repaired a leak in a 10 year old Carrier unit this morning. 2 other companies told him it couldn't be repaired and he needed a new system. It took me 2 hours and 5.5 lbs of R22 refrigerant and a LL filter drier. I charged him $1,200.00 and he was as happy as a clam. I'm still using R22 that I bought for $400.00 a drum years ago. It's incredibly easy to make good money and be honest at the same time in this industry.

No less than $450. New cap + service call in NY and still in business companies in the area.

If you are not being completely honest with the customer, then you are what gives our industry a bad name.

I provide my customers the level of service they ask for, the options available, the pro's and con's and you can go wrong. It comes with dealing with people. There is a lot of room across this spectrum of service. Leave the decision up to them and collect what you think is a fair price. If the customer just needs it to work and you don't agree or you feel like its not worth your time or will be a headache, then just walk. You're not obligated to do anything you're not being paid for. Someone will be by to give them what they ask for.

A friend of mine - an elderly lady - had her 10 year old 4t package unit repaired. She was told that it had a leak and should be replaced. She opted to have it topped off with refrigerant. They quoted her $20K for a new unit. This is not a high cost of living area. I don't know how these guys live with themselves.

I am always honest sometimes to a fault. More time then not that honesty pays me back ten fold in a good way. Good video grizzly Adam’s aka Zach.

We have a local company that always offers a free furnace with purchase of an ac. They just charge twice as much for the ac.

I can relate to the pressures of no ac calls. Not enough time to do an appropriate job. However, I remember customers being mad about the final bill. Tough balance between being a technician and customer relations.

Commission work can take a honest and make them into a dishonest person very fast. I've never worked for a company who pays by commission. Some technicians like the commission work, I like going home and get a good night sleep.

Very well said Zack. It is important the customer pay for a full service. I always check operation after a repair and quickly check some other basic components, but if they want a coil cleaning, a drain line flush, and a thorough inspection, they need to pay for it.

I couldn't agree more with repairing units when customers need a repair and do not have funds for replacement. I offer both and explain why replacing should be done, but never last choice. I've always said 97% of units are repairable. I've worked on units that are older than I've been in the trade. Some people just need repairs now, no time to wait. Being honest with customer buys more business, one lie and they'll be done with you. Repairs mean more business down the road, replacing means no good business for a while unless you offer PM.

Keep on keepin on brother 🤘🏼

I will look for that "Sales Tech" video

I believe even salemen can be ethical if they choose to be. I recently got into sales and have already talked people out of some rip off calls. Im more concern with being able to sleep at night and create a good customer base that can trust me to give a honest opinion than I am getting rich off people. I make enough to aupport my family without having to rip people off.

I have a sad story that sounds almost identical to the first scenario. It happened to my neighbor and I was unable to reach them in time. There's a new condenser outside 🥴

That is what i would describe as a sales tech. the first tech is a dishonest tech. Ive sold systems on blown capacitors because i inspected the indoor unit and found the blower motors leaking grease. I once sold a full system on a call where the home didnt have any power, and I checked the heat exchanger anyway and found a crack in every cell. We sold the AC bc I told the customer life span is 12-15. A service tech is someone who thinks every system can go 20-25 years with repairs and only fixes the immediate problem. Because if you dont believe that systems can generally last to 20 years and that to get the system back up to par by fixing all the installation mistakes would be too costly, then of course Im pushing a replacement. I suppose if every call I went to had proper air filtration, no air leaks, properly sized systems and ducts, things done to manufacturer specs, etc than i would say 20 years a system. But I almost never see this.

More reasons to have service tech separately from accounting and sales, but that goes other way as well.. where quality suffers.

Crooked techs might make more money at first but they will always lose in the long run.

Well said!

No, unless they have just the right calls everyday

Truth. 👍👍

He becomes a plumber, unfortunately 😅.