Trane xl80 blower replacement

I had the fan motor replaced for nearly $500 by a hvac service and had no choice since it was the weekend and the blower was dead. They used a Emerson rescue motor (universal type?) with the same 4 speeds and 3/4 hp as the 20 yr old original ge 5kcp39p. The old 10 uf cap measured 8.6. , the old motor smelled burnt but was not seized.

This was a flat rate job, but if I cost out the parts and emergency labor its about 1-200 less. Are flat rate becoming become the standard in some areas? Overall what do think about this job? Maybe I should keep a spare motor or space heater on hand and diy.

 

Always a good idea to have an alternate heating source around IMO. As far as cost, rates around the country vary along with night/weekend rates for companies can go up. Emerson is a fair brand and if you got 20 yrs out of the last one, I wouldn't buy one for a spare. Many larger companies have the flat rate, in a way it's good so the customer knows the price going into it. A smaller established company is sometimes better to call for obvious problems. Not someone off Craigs List.