DE Filter Cleaning (Repair) Cost

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JPMorgan said:
Final cost for this service was $750. $420 in labor (3 hours) and 4 new grids at $75 each plus $30 sales tax. Are we getting ripped off? Time for a new pool company?
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The 3 hours is about right for time to completely disassemble, clean and reassemble a DE filter. if the HOA is trying to reduce costs, maybe you and other volunteers can consider doing it yourself to save the labor and just purchase the grids if needed.
 
Well.... that's the $64,000 question! Very difficult to find.... especially when you are under pressure to get things fixed so the pool is back up and running.

However, we now need a new heater for our indoor pool. Was quoted on a Raypak Heater 266k BTU by this company at $6,500 installed. Fair price? The old one is still working, but is deteriorating, so now may be the time to shop around for a company that can offer a better price. Anyone know what type heater the RP2100 B-206-EN-X is? I know it's a Raypak, but I can't find one with these exact numbers online. What options would be best to look for in a new Raypak heater? Low NOx??? Copper heat exchanger??? Cupro-Nickel??? Cast iron??? Not sure what all these terms mean in a pool heater. Thanks for any help on what to look for in a new pool heater.
 
A Raypak pool heater will have a model number in the following format:

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raypak.com - This website is for sale! - raypak Resources and Information.

This website is for sale! raypak.com is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, raypak.com has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!
www.raypak.com www.raypak.com

Raypak RP2100 Digital Heater - R206A - Cupro-Nickel - Natural Gas - P-R206A-EN-X #51 - INYOPools.com

Raypack Digital Electronic Ignition Gas Heater
www.inyopools.com
 
Very helpful. Thank you! So the RP2100 is a cupro-nickel, natural gas, electronic ignition, 199,000 BTU heater. Have I got that right?

Excellent suggestion to have them send a link to the proposed heater. If it's the one you linked above for $2,493.62, then they have over $4,000 in their proposal for labor. That seems high!

Thanks again.
 
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JPMorgan said:
If it's the one you linked above for $2,493.62, then they have over $4,000 in their proposal for labor. That seems high
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Not entirely. You can often find equipment cheaper (and faster) than a licensed dealer can buy it from their supplier. They are usually locked into exclusive contracts and can't shop around like you can.

So their cost is higher, they mark it up for a reasonable profit, and then charge you labor to install it. This also activates the longest warranty for most brands. It may seem like highway robbery with a few clicks of searching, but it doesnt tell the whole story. You get all excited that you can buy your own and only pay them a little to install it but most companies will refuse to install equipment that they didn't sell. So you get a deal on a unit that nobody will touch. 🤷‍♂️
 
*also, FWIW, I think the repair costs were entirely reasonable. Genuine OEM parts from a licensed supplier will always be spendy. Then they charged you the going rate for labor. Any trade is well over $100 an hour these days. A master carpenter / electrician / plumber can push $250 an hour. Be happy pool techs are entry level. :)
 

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""You should have a extra set of grids on hand as well as a manifold, standpipe O-ring, filter O-ring and any other part that might need to be replaced.""
This^^^^^^^^^
In DFW $450 to 600 on heater installs. Raypack 268 I think is $2800ish. Remember they have to haul that old heater away another fee (me $150), and dump it somewhere, another fee ($100.

Your an HOA so I'm guessing you have to have Low NOx (emissions) that's why you have a Raypack, just go back with what you have. ( note Leslies Jacuzzi brand heaters are Raypacks). They may not have Low NOx (emissions).. If your heater is out doors you do not need low NOx. If its In doors then Yes you need low NOx gas.

Copper heat exchanger??? Cupro-Nickel??? For you copper is fine, nickel is just the latest and greatest.




Cast iron is the headers, they come in plastic now too. Thats the metal part sticking out where the pvc pipes go in and on the other side. Means nothing to you other than price. Plastic heads are sometimes easier to change pressure sensors and stuff like that on because they don't rust.
 
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ferretbone said:
In DFW $450 to 600 on heater installs. Raypack 268 I think is $2800ish. Remember they have to haul that old heater away another fee (me $150), and dump it somewhere, another fee ($100.
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Newdude said:
So their cost is higher, they mark it up for a reasonable profit, and then charge you labor to install it.
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So let's say they mark up the heater to $3,500. Let's say $1,000 for the install and $400 to haul and dump. That gets me to $4,900. I'm being generous based on the costs noted above. At $6,500 they are still 33% above (standard/typical?) costs. I think the best way to proceed is to get another quote or two and see if how they compare. Thanks for all the input. very helpful.
 
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JPMorgan said:
So let's say they mark up the heater to $3,500. Let's say $1,000 for the install and $400 to haul and dump. That gets me to $4,900. I'm being generous based on the costs noted above. At $6,500 they are still 33% above (standard/typical?) costs. I think the best way to proceed is to get another quote or two and see if how they compare. Thanks for all the input. very helpful.
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No their mark up is their way of telling you they do not want to do the job. You do not mark up high ticket items that much. In any city, state etc. I do not know WHY they do not want the job. Yes you are getting ripped off. Or they see something I cant see. Each way I know you are getting ripped off. I just don't know why.

But yes call four or five other pool companies. Look for members of Independent Pool & Spa Service Association | P.O. Box 3367 | Rocklin, CA 95677
 
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Okay.... so in the course of getting another quote I discovered why the installation costs might be high. The space where the indoor pool heater is installed is quite small. The new heater will not fit through the doorway. There is a cut out at the rear of the HOAs outdoor pool heater. The outdoor pool heater needs to be pulled and set aside, then the indoor pool heater needs to be removed and the new one installed. Then re-install the outdoor pool heater. I'll have another quote in a day or two, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's in the same ball park due to the additional work involved. It would be nice if the pool company we have worked with for 3-4 years explained this rather then just giving us a quote that seems way too high. Poor communication!
 
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JPMorgan said:
Okay.... so in the course of getting another quote I discovered why the installation costs might be high. The space where the indoor pool heater is installed is quite small. The new heater will not fit through the doorway. There is a cut out at the rear of the HOAs outdoor pool heater. The outdoor pool heater needs to be pulled and set aside, then the indoor pool heater needs to be removed and the new one installed. Then re-install the outdoor pool heater. I'll have another quote in a day or two, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's in the same ball park due to the additional work involved. It would be nice if the pool company we have worked with for 3-4 years explained this rather then just giving us a quote that seems way too high. Poor communication!
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Yeah I knew there was a reason they didn't want that job. If you want to save a buck.

Look for a Pentair Master temp heater..........Low NOx, 250K BTU, Natural Gas, And AMSE...... From a pool company or online. Get your tool bag out and disassemble the old heater one piece at a time until it fits through the door. (2hrs). Buy a master temp heater like above and have a pool company install it. One person can carry a master temp right through the door on their own. Keep in mind the venting in a closed indoor room is a must. Any heater is like a running car in a closed garage. It puts off deadly gas.

Or pay a pool company to do this job and make sure its vented correctly.
 
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ferretbone said:
Or pay a pool company to do this job and make sure its vented correctly.
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Yep. That's what I plan to recommend now that I understand the complications. I like helping the HOA with the pool, but I mainly deal with testing and balancing the water, vacuuming, etc. I'm not up for disassembling heaters (above my pay grade :)). This might be routine work for some, but I'd be afraid that I would screw something up. Just waiting for another quote to see if another company has any better price for the work. Thanks.
 
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After our DE filter cleaning and replacement of 4 grids, I see some DE in the filter of our automatic cleaner after running it through a cycle (see lower right corner of cleaner filter). Is this anything to be concerned about? We have one regular swimmer in our pool who is a little hyper-vigilant. Should we be getting any DE in the pool after an annual cleaning and 4 grids replaced.... or is this somewhat normal? Thanks for any thoughts.


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