Appliance Repair

[BIG MAC]

Not sure if we have any small appliance repair People on this forum but wondering what it should cost to


replace 2 Solenoid Valves on a Gas Dryer.

thanks.

[Jerryklimczuk]

Not sure if we have any small appliance repair People on this forum but wondering what it should cost to


replace 2 Solenoid Valves on a Gas Dryer.

thanks.

Hey Big Mac, I am a gas fitter, are you talking about the main fuel valve that allows gas through to the burner? What are the symptoms of your issue?

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[BIG MAC]

Oh it's fixed, just figure the guy ripped me off, they are solenoid valves and maybe the size of my thumb and just over 1" long.

[Jerryklimczuk]

Oh it's fixed, just figure the guy ripped me off, they are solenoid valves and maybe the size of my thumb and just over 1" long.

If he changed the whole valve, $2-300 range for the part is reasonable, if just the coils were changed, they are normally around $50 a piece.

What did he charge you anyway?

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[BIG MAC]

Orginially $240. dropped down to $200. After I called him a Thief and told him to get out of my house.

I got the B S story on how he had to drive an hour to get the parts blah blah blah. Have already written up a report on the company on homestars. it's the fact he said he was changing the whole Valve and not the 2 solenoids that pissed me off.

if you Google gas dryer with no heat the first thing that pops up is the Solenoids, guessing that is why he didn't mention them.

we are selling the house and dryer is staying so in long run cheaper than buying a new one.

[fishermccann]

So Jerry do you think the guy was a thief, or was the price about right?

[BIG MAC]

I also should have stated or maybe did, changing of parts 15 minutes, letting dryer cycle 15 minutes. 30 mins in total.

[Jerryklimczuk]

Orginially $240. dropped down to $200. After I called him a Thief and told him to get out of my house.

I got the B S story on how he had to drive an hour to get the parts blah blah blah. Have already written up a report on the company on homestars. it's the fact he said he was changing the whole Valve and not the 2 solenoids that pissed me off.

if you Google gas dryer with no heat the first thing that pops up is the Solenoids, guessing that is why he didn't mention them.

we are selling the house and dryer is staying so in long run cheaper than buying a new one.

Well to be honest $200 to have an appliance guy come out and change a valve is reasonable. I dont know what residential guys charge hourly as I only work commercial/industrial but a 2hr minimum is standard on any call. The issue is he changed the whole valve, as 99% of service techs would have because most parts suppliers wont stock just the solenoids (coils) but do stock the whole valve. This is common practice. Me personally, simple troubleshooting would have found defective coils, I would then give the customer the choice to order the coils from ebay or the manufacturer. If you are willing to live without the dryer for 2 weeks waiting for a coil then thats up to you, most people arent so we pick up what the supplier stocks and have you up and running same day. You did not get ripped off, you actually got a really decent price. I know its upsetting having to pay to have someone repair your appliances but look at it from our side. We went to trade school, apprenticed for years, buy tools, a service vehicle, gas/maintenance/insurance for said vehicle, liability insurance for being a tradesperson (not cheap), contractor registration paid annually, uniform costs......etc....etc. The cost of being a service tech, a proper professional one anyway, is significant, the payoff is not as high as a customer thinks. Markup on a part is between 10-20% plus your hourly rate. In your case, the part was probably $100-120, add the Markup $120-140, charged you $240, so his take home would have been $100-120. Dropped it down to $200 for you so his take home was $60-80 ($30-40hr). Out of that came his expenses to operate, so my guess he put $30-50 or $15-25/hr in his pocket (if you paid cash with no receipt) if not his take home would be $20-40 or $10-20/hr. Of course this is all relative, actual cost of the part, how long he was there plus time to travel to and from supplier, if the part was actually new or not (a lot of guys salvage old parts and sell them), and if said gentleman was licensed/insured.
Not trying to cause an issue just trying to shed light on actual cost associated with a professional coming to your house and helping you out. We as service techs deal with youtube/google experts all the time, and the odd time a customer is mechanically inclined enough to do their own repairs. Most of the time they call a trained professional after not being able to get it to operate. Again, not trying to cause an issue just trying to enlighten you on the business. I cant speak as to the guy you hired or his work ethic but from what you described you got a pretty good deal. Calling him a thief and poop talking him on a public review website for doing his job and giving you a deal at that isnt a very nice move in my opinion, but I wasnt there and cant speak for him, just for myself and other professional service techs that do an honest job everyday.

Sorry you felt "robbed" and "ripped off" I just hope you have a little more understanding as to how the service industry operates.

Good luck in the move brother!

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[fishermccann]

Thanks Jerry that is about what I thought, as I had washer repair work done just recently.

[BIG MAC]

Guys, I'm an Licensed Electrician by trade so know about the costs and time I spent to get that license. I just felt a bit steep for the time he was here, and probably the main fact that he said was changing the whole valve and not the 2 solenoids is what was more upsetting than anything,. To me as a tradesman I would have shown you the parts I was changing. eg. the 2 bad breakers you have.

done with and house will be sold next week.

I guess when I do work for people I work to cheap....