Heat Exchanger, Coil & Radiator Manufacturing calculator

Cleaning Labor Calculator

Use this calculator to put a cost on cleaning work that often gets hidden inside assembly or rework. It helps estimators and supervisors include cleaning labor in quotes, rework reviews, and process improvement decisions.

What this calculator does

  • Estimate cleaning labor cost for coils, radiators, heat exchangers, headers, manifolds, and brazed assemblies from labor hours, labor rate, capture factor, and fixed cleaning cost.
  • Use it when degreasing, flux residue removal, ultrasonic cleaning, tube flushing, header cleaning, or post-braze cleanup needs to be included in cost or capacity reviews.
  • Converts cleaning labor hours, loaded rate, capture factor, and fixed supplies into a cleaning labor cost.

Formula used

  • Captured cleaning labor cost = cleaning labor hours × loaded labor rate × labor capture factor + fixed cleaning supply cost
  • Cleaning cost per labor hour = captured cleaning labor cost ÷ cleaning labor hours

Inputs explained

  • Cleaning labor hours: undefined
  • Loaded cleaning labor rate: undefined
  • Labor capture factor: undefined
  • Fixed cleaning supply cost: undefined

How to use the result

  • Use it for quote build-up, rework analysis, post-braze cleaning reviews, and process improvement projects targeting residue or contamination.
  • It does not model bath life, chemical concentration, wastewater treatment, drying time, or cleanliness test failures unless those costs are added separately.

Common questions

  • What cleaning work should be included? Include labor for washing, flushing, drying, residue removal, tube cleaning, header cleaning, and handling if those steps are required for the product to pass inspection.
  • Why use a labor capture factor? It lets you include only the portion of labor cost that belongs to this product, rework issue, or quote scenario.
  • How can the result support improvement work? Use the cost to compare cleaning burden before and after changes to flux application, oil control, washer settings, handling, or supplier cleanliness.
  • When should chemical cost be added separately? Add chemical, filter, wastewater, or energy cost separately when those costs vary strongly with the cleaning load or contamination level.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.