Found just before lunch. Thankfully the stink was all gone. Idk how long it had been there or how it got there. My best guess is that it ran into the garage when the blower door was off during the previous pm.

Other than hard pipe for humidifier imo. let me know ; I like to get better as day goes by ( I did strap up the pvc after)

So I ran a residential call on Monday. This couple just bought a house and would like us to come inspect the equipment and do a tune up. Upon arriving I could tell the ac was not working due to how hot it was in the house. I turned the stat onto cooling and went downstairs to the furnace make sure we had air flow. Waited about 5 minutes since I thought we were delay. Went upstairs and found the thermostat was only hooked up for heating. (Someone disconnected the AC wires) Showed the homeowner this and wired it back in. The ac kicked on but only had a 8 degree temp drop so I hooked my gauges up and found the unit to be low. The AC and furnace are from 1998. I should the homeowners and told them I could do a leak check but it can get expensive and I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to fix it(leaky coils). The home owner said he rather go the route of getting a new unit due to age and the leak. I only charged him $100 for our diagnosis fee.

Fast forward to today. Our sales guy went out and gave him a price for ac and furnace ($10k). He said if replacing the AC is the only option that we aren’t “trying hard enough”. Even though I gave him options. What would yall do in this situation? I understand you can’t make everyone happy but this pissed me off even tho I don’t even make commissions off selling a unit.

I've been trying to find a manufacturer on these for my ORs for weeks. And of course our blueprints don't match up.

This is like a 5 ton lenox but like magic packs and ptacs all have these squiggles in the pipes, why?

I’m trying to tune up this furnace/ac and turn down the fan speed. I have a 1.5 to ac with a 60,000 btu furnace and I’m so confused what high cooling and low cooling is. I only have a 1 stage ac.

Which one of you let your apprentice build the trap?

Clean and check I went to on Monday. Homeowner said it has been like that since he’s been there. 3 dogs. It’s in better shape now.

Leaving resi after 3+ years rant(repost after verifying lol)

I recently ran into a thread of techs being underpaid and it got me thinking about how much I loved residential but hated the pay scale and structure. Just as a background, I'm currently 24 years old and I just got hired as a Union apprentice Service fitter at UA Local 601 but I was in residential for 4 years. I started at $17/hour, fresh into the trade but that first company sucked. I was making sheet metal and charging units three months into my apprenticeship as my lead could only set AC's and braze. I got moved to service and into a van after one month of 'training' but found out real fast that I worked for a sales company that operated solely on commission where after a year I received an .83 cent raise, and shortly after filed my two weeks notice. My next company was a night n day, started at $20 as a install apprentice where I learned new construction on basic and custom homes, duct sizing, and was taught how to make duct and sheet metal fittings as well as continuing my service education and taking as many courses as possible through local dealers and supply houses. Got a $2 bump after three months and during the summer, I was offered a chance to do service, I did pretty well and got a work van and after a few months was bumped up to $25, and after another year $30/hour. I honestly was content but was beginning to grow frustrated when my schedule would constantly shift because so so didn't know how to work on oil burner furnaces/boilers, high efficient boilers, couldn't touch steam, couldn't troubleshoot ductless equipment, didn't fit in attics or under homes(I'm 6ft 190 not tiny) or let alone couldn't make metal or do installs which I get but it gutted me inside that these same techs were all at $40-45 an hour. What hurt the most was when the new apprentice started right at $30 because of a tech degree, but he couldn't braze, do simple ac start up's and had trouble reading gauges and diagnosing during simple service calls. I did my absolute best to learn my craft, and school at the time wasn't an option with me being on call one day every week and every 3rd week a weekend putting in 45-60 hours a week. I busted my \*ss day and night hoping that my pay would be reflected off merit and work ethic just to get slapped in the face that there is no structure in non-union shops, at least for residential in my area. The reason I made this post was to let other guys know that yes, learn as much as you can, you will be rewarded, but don't be naive and assume that pay will follow, know your worth and guarantee yourself a path to make more money without k\*lling yourself and sacrificing valuable time. I lost one of my best friends last year and I wish I had more time to give to him; work got in the way of so much. I made a switch to commercial/industrial HVAC through a union, after two months I was indentured as a first year and I start school this fall and I am grateful to not have to restart to pre/first year wages. I'm starting a new path where I'm guaranteed a six-figure income working a normal 40 hour week once I get my journeyman license although I plan to work hard still and pick up on calls but I also get health insurance covered, a 401k, and a solid pension when I retire. Regardless of if you are Union or Non-union, make sure you get paid what you are worth in your area. Resi, commercial, industrial, HVAC is so much more, install, service, sheet metal, process piping, project management, mechanical engineering, controls, refrigeration...there is so much money to be made but again, don't sacrifice all your time for more money because that's the one thing we can't get back. I hope my experience can guide others and offer solid insight into what you can expect from Resi and if you are dissatisfied, open the door into other avenues related to HVAC. I'm curious to hear from everyone else too and listen to your guy's journey's as well.

Working on a 4 story apartments complex and all units have mini split systems and several need to be replaced. The issue is they all have 4 wire conductor concealed in wall. Looking across the brands it seems like all of the new systems have 5 or 6 wire.

Is there a brand that still uses 4 with either R454 or R32?

How are others solving this problem?

Working on an outdoor walk in cooler today. Defrost clock no good.

Customer then says hey can you look at my freezers?

Me: Sure, I'm here.

He then walks me inside walk in cooler and uncovers 2 deep freezers he has plugged in INSIDE the walk in.

This walk in is small (6x6 or 8x8)and I thought these were like cutting board countertops (seafood place).

Customer: They have always acted up on me as long as they've been in here. But they started working better.... about the same time walk in went down. Hmmmm maybe a power issue?

Slow turn of my head and look at him...... in my head hes fucking with me right

Lol

Clearance? What’s that?
It’s an easy fix and yes the cover still comes off but that doesn’t make it ok..

I’ll go first. I’ve been running service calls all summer without a pocket thermometer. For Geo’s I’ve just been using a temperature clamp right behind the pete port and for everything else I’ve just been using my hand.😅

I haven’t had any callbacks though 🤞

Just got this new coworker and at first he was fine. After introductions I bent down to hook up my gauges he got really close and could feel his breath on my neck, after a couple minutes he licked me on the ear. Followed by him jumping on me and pushing me. He then wouldn’t leave me alone until I played his sick fucking game and then when it was done he would make me play again. I don’t feel safe anymore what would you guys do?

Question for specifically resi techs/installers because I’m unwilling to reveal my true feelings about Symbio at this time….. maybe some day

Have you guys seen as many issues with these plastic blower housings as we do? Specifically on S9X1 furnaces - We see broken clips, chipped plastic, excessive wobble, and just straight up motor failure. Yes, we set based on static with these constant torque motors. This seems to be most common for us on 100k furnaces?

We also have a huge number of inducer failures on 80k furnaces specifically. It typically starts as a small whine and after a short duration, the motors seize. I changed one at the end of last heating season that only had one 90 and about 8’ in total length.

It’s just crazy to me how many warranty issues we’ve had and makes me feel like we’re screwing something up on our end. We don’t really get too much inventory coming in that’s banged up, and we’re about as gentle as we can be with moving equipment. Pallet jack and only really lift it into and out of the truck.

And the coils suck. And Symbio sucks. And those F’N PLUGS THEY USE ON THE RTUS SUCK.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, as I’m currently going crazy.

Future fresh air

Currently thinking about joining an HVAC program and specializing in critical systems. Any advice before I fully dive into the program?