Charge to replace PVB

[stang2244]

I just got into winterizations over the past few seasons and tried to avoid getting into repairs because I don't really have the time. Well one of my customers had her PVB blow a hole in the side with the recent freeze we had and things are starting to wind down for me. It is just a 765 febco 3/4" but she asked what I would charge her to replace it. What would you guys charge for this or what should I quote her?

[DanaMac]

$175-$225. Should take 30 minutes to cut out and solder a new one in. PVB should cost less than $50. A few misc. parts, solder, mapp gas, ec.

[AI Inc]

heres mine

[Wet_Boots]

Gahhhh, I hate parts prices that aren't rounded up to the next dollar.

[AI Inc]

Why , you still doing your bills with pen , paper and adding it up in your head?

[Wet_Boots]

The head still works, more or less. Needs only coffee and doughnuts for power.

[AI Inc]

What are you a retired cop?

[Wet_Boots]

"Code Three"

[DanaMac]

All of ours end in a 0 I think. Since we hand write on site, it helps.

[ARGOS]

Ditto AI. We're 65 per hour labor.

[DanaMac]

Ditto AI. We're 65 per hour labor.

$65 for the first half hour, $65 per hour thereafter.

[ARGOS]

I've been wanting to bump up to $95 per first hour. Tried it two years ago with too much resistance.

[Kiril]

Why , you still doing your bills with pen , paper and adding it up in your head?

That is all he has. Remember he "lost" his magic calculator. :laugh:

[Wet_Boots]

Just you wait, you philistine.

[DanaMac]

I've been wanting to bump up to $95 per first hour. Tried it two years ago with too much resistance.

There are so many of our small tract home jobs that we can start up in half an hour. Or some basic repairs that allow us in and out in 30 minutes. So I took the advice from some others here, and did the first half hour thing. Yes there has been resistance, but tough for them. They can deal with it, or not.

[stang2244]

Thanks for the help guys. Sounds like somewhere in the $200 ballpark is what it should cost. Much appreciated!

[Wet_Boots]

Since the list price of a PVB is about $150, I tell folks it's a $250 job as a minimum.

[Kiril]

$1500 bucks or I won't even shut the truck off.

[stang2244]

$150 for a 3/4 Febco 765? Dang I'm glad they aren't that much here. I got one from my supplier for like $51.

[DanaMac]

$150 for a 3/4 Febco 765? Dang I'm glad they aren't that much here. I got one from my supplier for like $51.

$150 is about LIST/RETAIL price. Not what it costs us.

[stang2244]

Oh got ya. Ya I'm new to the whole repair thing.

[1idejim]

remember that you have got to stand behind all work you do.

$200 seems a little low to me. if you can r&r the pvb in 30 mins. what about picking the materials up and the travel time.

you might want include enough in your bid to cover the cost of a return visit to the site for for any number of reasons.

[Mike Leary]

remember that you have got to stand behind all work you do.

You're right; 200 bucks is chump change these days.

[Wet_Boots]

I used to consider a PVB as a $100 list-price item, but the jump in copper prices bumped everything up.

[AI Inc]

$65 for the first half hour, $65 per hour thereafter.

Im $65 for up to the first 1/2 hr , $70 an hr after that.

[1idejim]

Im $65 for up to the first 1/2 hr , $70 an hr after that.

how much would you charge for this repair then?

[AI Inc]

Just like the est I posted . Changing a pvb for me is a 15 min job. Pull the copper towards you , cut it just below the mx cop 90. unscrew discharge side ball valve, unscrew pvb, screw a new one on , screw new discharge BV on , screw a new m x cop 90 on , shove a shovel under the ell in the ground , keep pressure on it and solder the 1 joint.
I do about 25 to 30 every spring. If the customer is home I will change the interior shutoff then , if not , its winter work.

[1idejim]

you guys must not have to travel the distances we do out here.

i can drive easy 100-200 miles a day.

[DanaMac]

Just like the est I posted . Changing a pvb for me is a 15 min job. Pull the copper towards you , cut it just below the mx cop 90. unscrew discharge side ball valve, unscrew pvb, screw a new one on , screw new discharge BV on , screw a new m x cop 90 on , shove a shovel under the ell in the ground , keep pressure on it and solder the 1 joint.
I do about 25 to 30 every spring. If the customer is home I will change the interior shutoff then , if not , its winter work.

Change the interior shut off - why?

[AI Inc]

Change the interior shut off - why?

99% of the time , that is why the pvb failed.

[AI Inc]

you guys must not have to travel the distances we do out here.

i can drive easy 100-200 miles a day.

About 900 customers live within 15 min of my shop. Over 250 in same town.

[DanaMac]

99% of the time , that is why the pvb failed.

usually here it is operator/customer error. Just didn't shut it off.
We get the occasional gate valve that seeps and causes it, but not often.

[ARGOS]

you guys must not have to travel the distances we do out here.

i can drive easy 100-200 miles a day.

Where are you at in Northern CA?

I also put +/-100 miles a day. It is the sacrifice of living somewhere so nice.

[Mike Leary]

About 900 customers live within 15 min of my shop. Over 250 in same town.

Mine too. If there is any secret to sucess, it's answering the phone and saying,
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes". You may not be able to fix the problem, but the client will remember you showed up.

[1idejim]

Where are you at in Northern CA?

I also put +/-100 miles a day. It is the sacrifice of living somewhere so nice.

between redding and chico

[ARGOS]

between redding and chico

It's 3:30...shouldn't you be at work!

[ksJoe]

So you guys mark up a $50 part to $150? Wow! I can understand a 10 or 20% markup & handling handling fee, and a profitable charge for your time. But charging triple the cost for a standard $50 part seems excessive.

No wonder there are so many DIY'ers :)

[Lite Headed]

So you guys mark up a $50 part to $150? Wow! I can understand a 10 or 20% markup & handling handling fee, and a profitable charge for your time. But charging triple the cost for a standard $50 part seems excessive.

No wonder there are so many DIY'ers :)

People are accustomed to paying list price and that's what should be charged.

[AI Inc]

Average retail on anything bought in America is at least 100% , those who dont hold that # typicaly fail.
There are very few DIYers around here. These people are professional IT workers making$100k + , they dont cut their lawn , they dont clean their own homes and they certainly dont repair their systems.

[1idejim]

i kinda am,

were getting ready to ship cows out, i spent the morning hanging around to doctor calves that are sick and building fences.

it's been slow for everyone around here.

i'll be drilling holes with the excavator in cottonwood tomorrow and then 2 jobs in bella vista for next week.

they are multi-day jobs which are great, less driving( $5 diesel about killed me last year)

even though the locating and leak detection has been off this year i've been able to keep other things going without resorting to growing pot!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ARGOS]

I was approached by a "legal" pot farm for irrigation installation and assistance. I ran it by my attorney (who is my best friend) and he said that "legal" pot farms are still martyrs for the cause. If I wanted to make a position on the legality of pot I could join the cause and join the legal battle.

Though I wish them the best of luck I sat that job out. It was going to be a lot of work though.

[1idejim]

i received a text today (while i was talking to a client) from a friend saying a well known entrepenure in this area was served with multiple warrants this morning.

right, wrong or indifferent, i think a lot of hurt is going to come from this issue.........

[Wet_Boots]

Aren't there still some massive federal penalties for large-scale cultivation?

[AI Inc]

Waste of taxpayer dollars.