Quote for 2 New Sewer Pumps

[Waxman]

My sewer pumps are 12 years old and are starting to fail.

I was referred to a company who specializes in replacing them.

They came out and gave me a price quote. The quote was very vague; no parts list, no model numbers or product names. No labor figure; no hours estimate or cost per hour. No breakout for materials; piping, clamps, etc.

Price: $6800-7200.

I began pricing pumps on my own and found some Liberty 2hp 3 phase grinder pumps on ebay for $600-1000 new.

I have asked the company who gave the quote to provide more specifics so I can be sure of what exactly I would get for the $7000.

I was shocked at the quote. What do you guys think?

 

[Jim L.]

Last grinder pump I had to replace was $2,200 installed. It was a local and definitely not union labor.

 

[mac]

The cost you found are right in the ball park. Does seem like the plumber is hosing you on the labor. Why not do it yourself, save 5 grand, and take the wife on a nice trip?

 

[Greg Pack]

Locally, a lot of plumbing and HVAC companies are just quoting "one price" jobs. Most don't even look at it, they just quote such a high price they're almost guaranteed to make a nice profit. The days of actually being charged parts plus labor are going away with the bigger businesses.

You may know this but I would specify a system with a rail mount setup. The pump is mounted on a rail with a chain attached. The flange is just held in place by the weight of the pump. If my pump goes out I can pull it out by the chain and replace with a new pump myself in thirty minutes without getting in the hole.

 

[Randy]

The cost you found are right in the ball park. Does seem like the plumber is hosing you on the labor. Why not do it yourself, save 5 grand, and take the wife on a nice trip?

That's kind of what I was thinking Mac. Have the tank pumped out and change out the pumps yourself.

 

[Waxman]

Yes thank you! The quote is very high, I agree.

I'm looking at these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Grinder-Pu...022972&hash=item468230442f:g:5jQAAOSwIDZbLjFV

 

[MEP001]

Locally, a lot of plumbing and HVAC companies are just quoting "one price" jobs. Most don't even look at it, they just quote such a high price they're almost guaranteed to make a nice profit. The days of actually being charged parts plus labor are going away with the bigger businesses.

Yup, a guy here got a quote of $1300 labor to replace an on-demand heater. It was plumbed with flex gas line and water heater hoses. It took us about an hour together to replace.