Comparing Service rates, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC

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Mule said:
So, I'm curious as to why these trades are typically higher?
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as a general rule? they look at each other as fellow tradesmen, not competition...they talk to each other..and they don't pride themselves in winning work by cutting the other guys throat...
 
emahler said:
ah...mule learned something in this situation...but my guess is his username is what it is for a reason...:D
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You still have dirty laundry to wash, so go right ahead....you just have a way of getting under my skin quickly, so Im naming you "Chigger" ;)
 
emahler said:
as a general rule? they look at each other as fellow tradesmen, not competition...they talk to each other..and they don't pride themselves in winning work by cutting the other guys throat...
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Is that right? tell me more
 
Mule said:
You still have dirty laundry to wash, so go right ahead....you just have a way of getting under my skin quickly, so Im naming you "Chigger" ;)
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name me what you want...and actually that wasn't directed at you...electrical, as a whole, is the most technical of the trade...we attract guys who are attracted to gears and gadgets...they spend more time learning how things work, then learning how to charge to make things work...Plumbing and HVAC are not as technical, and most guys that I have met in those trades, spend more time learning how to price correctly...why? i don't know...just my experiences...
 
My guess is that the average HO doesnt like plumbing at all, they know nothing about HVAC, but they can plug and switch like a pro :smile: hence the lesser price
 
emahler said:
we do both...it isn't...they don't have a 700 page code book that updates itself every 3 years...
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So how big is the UPC, and how often is it updated?


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480sparky said:
So how big is the UPC, and how often is it updated?
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not that big, and most guys don't even know it:D...

make it perfectly clear, i'm not saying HVAC/R or Plumbing is not technical, i'm saying they are not as technical as us...

and from my experiences, the people I know in those trades, understand billing and business better than most of the electrical contractors I know.
 
480sparky said:
So how big is the UPC, and how often is it updated?

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Both of those codes are very very small in comparism to the NEC, and I dont believe that they derived from the NFPA

BUT their invoices however are bigger
 
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i tell you this much, go to a plumbing forum and make a statement like "plumbing is way more technical than electrical" and everyone else would say "yeah, you're right"....

but, here, with electricians? we'll fight each other over it...thank you for proving my point...
 
FWIW, if plumbers did the variety of work electricians did, they would be installing fire sprinklers, swimming pools, build ponds, decorative fountains, lawn irrigation systems....
 
480sparky said:
Well, it's updated at least every three years......

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The BOCA family of codes that are used in this region are small also. In fact the mechanical code (IMC) (HVAC) includes the same gas piping codes as the IPC They are also updated every three years.
 
Mule said:
Im still curious as to why these trades are higher? and how much higher are they?
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there are a million reasons...they both have a lot more 'emergency' calls...how many 1 man hvac contractors have you ever seen? almost requires a minimum of 2 just because of the scope of work...

i'll say this, from my personal experience....HVAC and Plumbing can get higher rates than electric easily on the residential side...on the commercial side, the electric is usually even or better than them...
 
480sparky said:
FWIW, if plumbers did the variety of work electricians did, they would be installing fire sprinklers, swimming pools, build ponds, decorative fountains, lawn irrigation systems....
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I agree very much, the diversity of the NEC is very intense, BUT for the resi, or more specifically, branch circuits it would some what comparable, would it not? I just think folks dont want to plumb DIY
 
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