Raising rates on mini-split installs - how social media helped me pull it off

Been in the HVAC game for 12 years now, and last summer I decided to bump my rates on mini-split jobs from $4k to $5.5k for a standard 12k BTU Senville unit install. Out here in Arizona the heat never quits, so folks are desperate for ductless systems, but I was nervous about pushback. Started posting before-and-after pics on Instagram, short reels showing superheat checks and why PEX lines beat copper for the price. Tagged local hashtags and even did a collab with a guy from HVAC Techs Network who shouted me out. Landed three jobs in a week without haggling, and now my feed's pulling in leads like crazy. Saw a similar thread on r/HVAC about using TikTok for this, so I tried it too. If you're sitting on your rates, get on social - it's worth the time.

Social media? More like social medi-ocrity until you nail that first viral reel, then boom, jobs pour in lol.

Don't sleep on the algorithm, it buries you if you don't post consistently.

Same here man, been quoting Carrier systems at the old rate and customers are nickel-and-diming me to death.

Insurance premiums up 20% this year alone, can't keep rates flat or we'll go under.

Those big roll-ups are killing small guys like us with their undercut bids.

Felt that, my back's killing me from overtime just to break even on Goodman units.

We all in this crap together, rates gotta go up or we're toast.

Yeah, the material hikes from R-410A shortages are BS, no way to absorb that.

Private equity is the real villain here, swallowing independents whole.

Out with the old rates, in with the reality check.

Don't get me started on supply chain delays screwing our timelines.

Same boat, just ate a $2k loss on a delayed Mitsubishi job.

Sketchy suppliers ghosting orders, makes you wanna quit.

I've been at this 15 years, and this year's the worst for cash flow.

Proud to say I finally raised mine 15% on heat pump swaps and business boomed.

Never undersell a ductless job, you'll regret the lowball later.

Helpful tip: bundle social posts with referral discounts to soften the rate hike.

We're all grinding through these hikes together.

Hit $300k this year after posting daily about superheat tweaks, feels good.

SharkBite for HVAC? Nah, stick to brazing for reliability, social hype be damned.

I get the frustration, but social's a game-changer if you play it right.

Lol, my last post was me wrestling a seized compressor at midnight.

Echo that, customers love the real jobsite chaos vids.

Been slamming 18-hour days on emergency calls, body's breaking down.

Totally feel you, knees are shot from crawling attics.

Try ServiceTitan for tracking leads from social, cut my admin time in half.

PSA: vet your social comments, one troll can tank a lead.

Yeah, had a fake review scare last month, nightmare.

PE firms are ruining the game, forcing us to compete on price alone.

Absolutely, they're the cancer of this industry right now.