heat loss calcs

jim_94

Thanks for the responses guys. It's good to know that other professional heating contractors feel the same way my brother and I do.

jim_94

heat loss calcs

I was wondering if other heating contractors give the size of the boiler when they quote the job? We do not, we state that the boiler is sized heat the premises. We measure the rooms, the windows, insulation, doors, direction of north, size the rads if steam, etc. and then do a heat loss/gain calc with a computer program or figure out the steam connected load. This takes time. We don't give the boiler size because then the customer can just take this and give it to another contractor who then doesn't have to do the work we did and can just say I can do it for $500 less. We've had that happen to us. We'll give the heat loss for a fee and then take it off the boiler price if we do the job, which I think is fair. I'm just curious because I know some guys in my area give out the size of the boiler, although I don't know if they're doing heat loss calcs or an anything, and I had a possible customer ask me for the size and then say everyone else gave me the size but they didn't do all the measuring you did. So I'm just curious to what other contractors do with their bids.

John Starcher_4

NO.

I do the same as you - specify in my quote the the boiler (furnace, a/c unit, etc) will be sized to handle the calculated load.

jim_94

Thanks for responding, we specify the boiler, burner, model just not the size.

Jim Doughty

Mitch_5

Same we do not give boiler size up front

we do provide make and model and usually a flyer or if done by E mail a link to the manufacturer spec's.

Unfortunately there have been several occasions were the H.O. picked at my brain long enough so I gave them the boiler size and that was the end of it.

Now alot of times to save time I compare attached radiation load to the size of the existing boiler that gets me close and I state a detailed heat loss would be more accurate but extra.

I just cannot go on taking over a day to put a full accurate package together just to a some low ball walk in and hand the H.O. a price for install after fifteen minuts on sight.

Mitch S.

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John Starcher_4

Lately I have.......

.....tried a different approach than what I normally have done in the past.

When I initially go to survey the potential job, I will get a "feel" for what size equipment that I THINK the home will need. I base my quote on this, and include the time to perform a heat loss calc in the job time. The size swag normally gets me close, at least so far, and I end up not wasting a bunch of time on a lost cause.

Unknown

I do the same as Mitch,

the time involved calculating to pinpoint accuracy, as you know is much! Only to have many HOs "peddle-it" to other contractors who don`t calc anything. I find a quick standing count weeds-out the tire kickers, then if they are ready to commit I do the full #s work.

Dave

Ted_9

Charging

I charge for estimates now. And I do not give them a credit when I do the job. I give the the engineering because they pay me to do it. I am working for them, not trying to get the job.

Mitch_5

Ted

Wish most of us could do what you do. On other than existing accounts if I said $1.00 do do a heat loss the reply would be. Everyone is doing it for free why should I pay you.

The best I have been able to do is get an independent engineer to do plans for bidding at least he gets paid for his work regardless of what happens.

Mitch S.

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Ted_9

Yes

It's very hard and I sell it as a service to the customer. But I don't get the chance to bid every job. Then again, I don't want every chance.