The most-asked questions about pricing and financing. If yours is not here, call (212) 810-0915. The dispatcher answers 24/7.
01Do you charge for new system estimates?
No. Estimates for new HVAC installations (heat pumps, rooftop units, VRF systems, boilers, central air) are always free with no obligation. The diagnostic and travel fees only apply to service calls for troubleshooting and repairs on existing equipment.
02What is the diagnostic fee?
The diagnostic fee is $199, charged at booking to reserve the appointment. It is the same flat rate for residential and commercial and covers up to one technician-hour on site, per system. Time beyond that hour bills at $165 per technician per hour. A $49 travel fee applies to every visit.
03Is the diagnostic fee refundable?
Not refunded. The $199 is credited toward the invoice if you proceed with a major repair or replacement. It is a credit on that invoice, not a refund. If only non-major work is done, or no work is done, the $199 is retained as the diagnostic fee.
04What counts as a major repair or replacement?
Major means work totaling over $2,000, or any equipment replacement (compressor, coil, motor, controls board, complete unit), refrigerant-system work beyond a top-off, or a multi-day install or scope that requires ordering equipment. Any one of those makes the job major. Major work always comes with a written estimate before it proceeds, and it is what turns your $199 diagnostic fee into a credit on the invoice.
05What if I only need a coil cleaning or refrigerant top-off?
Those are non-major. They are handled the same day under a signed Service Authorization at fixed or hourly rates, using consumables and on-hand parts. Because no major work is performed, the $199 diagnostic fee is retained, not credited.
06How much does HVAC maintenance cost?
Maintenance is billed per unit, per visit: $165 per indoor unit and $199 per condenser, residential and light commercial. It is not an annual contract price; you pay for each visit on the equipment we actually service. Residential systems typically need two visits a year, spring and fall. Commercial buildings need quarterly service at minimum. Larger commercial buildings and full service contracts are quoted per project.
07What is the Service Authorization?
A short written authorization you sign at dispatch, after you book and before the technician arrives. It covers qualifying minor repairs, under $2,000 and completed the same day on consumables and on-hand parts, so the technician can fix the problem on the spot without waiting on a written quote. It is not a blank check: work over $2,000 or any equipment replacement always requires a written estimate and your approval first, and you can stop work at any time in writing.
08Can I cancel the appointment?
Yes. Cancel more than 24 hours before the scheduled visit and the $199 fee is refundable or transferable to a rescheduled appointment. Cancel less than 24 hours before and the fee is forfeit.
09Do you send a written estimate?
Yes, for all major repair or replacement work, before any of it proceeds. Non-major same-day fixes proceed under the terms of the written Service Authorization signed at dispatch, without waiting on a written estimate.
10Can I stop work at any time?
Yes. Contact the office in writing at admin@vincomechanical.com. Any remaining non-major items get a written quotation before Vinco proceeds. We send that quote promptly and nothing else is done until you approve it.
11What are your business hours?
Standard business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm Eastern. The dispatcher answers 24/7 for emergencies and after-hours service calls. Anything outside standard hours bills at the overtime labor rate.
12What is the overtime rate for service outside business hours?
Overtime labor is $247.50 per technician per hour (1.5× the $165 per technician per hour standard rate). Overtime applies to any work performed outside 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday, all Saturdays, all Sundays, and federal holidays (New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve). Two techs on the job means two tech-hours per clock hour. The diagnostic and travel fees do not change.
13Why is there a separate travel fee?
NYC congestion pricing and fuel costs affect every contractor operating in the five boroughs. Rather than burying this cost in a higher diagnostic fee, we break it out at $49 so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Same flat rate for every visit, every borough. The travel fee is never credited.
14Can I get a fixed-price estimate instead of hourly billing?
Yes. Just request an estimate in advance and we provide a written fixed price that covers labor, parts, materials, and permits as one number, no surprises. This is recommended for larger repairs and all system replacements. For smaller service calls, hourly plus parts is typically more straightforward.
15What are the three ways Vinco prices work?
Time and materials: $165 per technician per hour plus parts at cost plus markup, for troubleshooting and repairs where the scope shows up on site. Published unit prices: the fixed rates on this page, like the $199 diagnostic, the $49 travel fee, and per-visit maintenance at $165 per indoor unit and $199 per condenser. Written proposals: a fixed price in writing for replacements, installations, and larger scopes, covering labor, equipment, materials, and permits, valid for 30 days.
16How long is a written estimate valid?
Written estimates are valid for 30 days from the date issued. After 30 days, pricing is subject to repricing based on equipment cost, material cost, and labor-market conditions at the time work is scheduled. We hold the quoted price for 30 days; beyond that we revalidate each line item before work starts and reissue an updated estimate for approval.
17How does the 0% financing work?
0% interest for up to 24 months on qualifying installations and replacements, offered by a third-party lender (not by Vinco Mechanical). No hidden fees, no balloon payments. We hand off the lender application when we provide your estimate; the lender makes the credit decision. Weekly payment plans starting at $69/week are also available through the same lender. All loan terms, approval criteria, and disclosures are set by the lender.
18What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards, checks, and bank transfers. For larger installations, ask about our 0% interest and low weekly payment financing options.
