I'm 16 and am not doing anything to do with refrigeration yet I still watch every one of your videos. Your big picture diagnosis thing genuinely applies to everything in life too
If it doesn't, Job Corps has a HVAC program, should you be willing to deal with them and their stuff. They also have an advanced HVAC program they are starting up
Nothing more frustrating than a strip mall with 100 2 or 3 ton units on the roof and no numbers on them in August at 3 PM by yourself.....I dont do strip malls anymore...lol
You described NTE perfectly. I hear people complain about them all of the time. NTEs mean nothing because an initial diagnosis should really never eat that up. Larger issues after the diag is a new work order.
I get it more like "NTE is a permission, not a limit. If it's below NTE, you can just go ahead without talking to them. And if it's above NTE, you'll have to talk to them about it as if there's no NTE anyway".
I did not realise that there are people who think NTE means "fix it for this much". No guys, its the opposite, the customer preemptively gives you permission to spend up to that amount to fix the problem. The NTE is the customer's way of saying: "If you can fix it for less than X, just do it immediately please. If it costs more, we want to know before you continue." They don't want to you to waste time checking with them over an amount that they are going to agree to anyway.
@@vinny142 A lot of my jobs the customer asks me for an NTE before they send me. Which is my rough estimate based on experience. Then of course, if I need more time or materials than that, I call them up. I have never had a decline for an NTE increase.
26:59 To prevent cross threading, I always push a nut or bolt up to where it's supposed to go and turn it backwards a few turns while putting light pressure on it (as if taking it out) until I feel it drop in then I screw it in and since I started doing that, I've never cross threaded anything...
If it's been cross threaded before or the threads are just really low quality to begin with, it can still be bad with that method. But it's definitely a great habit to be in.
My belief is that all engineers should have to work in the field in their industry as a technician for at least 2 years. This would help bridge the gap of understanding the real world consequences of engineering decisions on equipment performance.
They say the hardest part in Ac work is assessing the equipment. You assess the Machine, make a quote and your not given work. I have faced that like 10 times. I see you made it. Good work Chris. Am still waiting for my merch though.
As a customer, NTE just means 'if it's going to be more than $x, there's some additional thought that needs to go into it' For example, we had our hot water heater at the shop stop working. NTE we gave the plumber on initial diagnosis was $300. Essentially, 'emergency callout and swap any sensors or filters or whatever'. Two hours later, we get the prognosis: Everything about it is dead. Technically fixable, but it'll cost ya. We were already planning an expansion that would require more hot water, which is why we set the NTE so low. So we worked with the plumber on estimating the upgrade for that expansion, worked out that shutting down for the week, comping our customers with prebooked appointments and doing that work would be cheaper in the long run than throwing parts and labor at the old system we were going to replace anyway, and shutting down for a week in an orderly fashion. If our HVAC were to stop working, we'd have a very low NTE because we'd be waving the estimate for repair at the landlord about it to see if we can get them to pitch in to replace the paleolithic garbage with modern units that don't cost a thousand bucks a month to run 6 tons. Like, any action beyond 'replaced bubblegum part and hosed the wildfire ash off' is farther than we really want to go.
Also, as far as an NTE goes, I treat it as an NTE on this diagnostic visit, not even close to the actual final repair/replacement cost. And the NTE is definitely negotiable in a situation that this video shows lol
Gonna comment before I even watch; My college is getting renovated, and during this, the AC for our server room bricked itself, servers went into meltdown>.< So today we had an electrician in running a new circuit for the building, for a brand new split AC system. Hopefully in the mean time our little portable AC holds up, because it's Finals week and we need the school network. Wish you could be out here doing the install, or even just a review of the air system. It's ancient>.
Sounds like the place is one of those holes in the wall community colleges I've gone to, had a couple of semesters where they didn't give a rats ass about network performance enough to where some classes had to leave early on some days.
@@MrKillswitch88 It's actually awesome to be there, just having some financial trouble. We had two buildings, one owned and one rented. The rental agency was price gouging the college, so we moved entirely to the other building. The issue was that, with all the construction work and with covid, building maintenance lacked a bit, and the AC failed before it could be repaired. The network performance is usually great, they just need to keep the room cool, and that's hard to do while there's an AC down.
I can appreciate the sarcastic comment you're making in the title about clients avoiding any sort of regular maintenance, as well as always opting for the cheapest option when making the recommendation of replacing a part preemptively so it is not breaking by surprise when the weather gets hotter and the ACs have to work extra-hard. But the thing is, we have a maintenance contract with a guy coming over every now and then, cleaning everything, checking temperatures and if there are any problems in the making, and also following the recommendations of replacing stuff, and the damn ACs still break by surprise, especially when they are needed. Maybe ACs are just shit by default.
Labeling those things correctly is such a big deal! I'm telling contractors installing them at my work usually that if they don't do it so that even my trainees would be able to make sense of what is where, then I will make sure to give them a call as soon as something is wrong in 5 years and if they cannot identify what is where within 5 minutes of them being there, I will get 25% of my money back from everything they have just done. I put this into our contracts to make it legally binding and usually they are doing a good job of labeling them anyways, but damn it is frustrating when they haven't done that correctly when installing it!
I know the feeling of chasing ghosts where the numbers don't match when trying to figure out which wire goes where. That cluster of thermostats was absurd.
Beautiful intro clip. Can't watch the whole vid right now so I'm saving it to watch later, but 15 seconds in and I legitimately bust out laughing. The times when you walk onto an unfamiliar site and just scratch your head wondering "How!?"
That Core-max tool Is a lot more than a tool that pays for itself on what you make by selling the Core-max fittings. Normally you would have to evacuate the system and install the valve then recharge the system. I watched that and thought , Wow! What a time saver. Not that you probably need it that often, but when you do, what a time saver.
Get yourself some “C&D Braze-On Self-Piercing Copper Saddle Valves” for the LL. You can actually pressurize & leak check them while under pressure and before tapping the line.
At 10:45...you can buy those CoreMax valves from Carrier. It is a lot cheaper than buying the tool and replacing the cores. Two wrenches and done. This is without pressure in the system. You do need the tool being shown later if you want to do a hot swap.
But the tool allows you to change them with gas still in the system.... also jb distributes the coremax valves themselves and I am willing to bet you can find the jb branded ones much cheaper than carriers price??
@@HVACRVIDEOS We get really good pricing from our Carrier rep, and I have not seen a JB version. That said, if I have a leaking CoreMax, I am going to pull the charge anyway because most of them leak on 410a systems, and I am not just going to add to a fractionated charge. Our Co is not buying the tool. We had that discussion.
Youd make a lot of people happy if you made a series of videos about very basic ac concepts. I know this is a comercial hvac channel, but its all about ppl draw ;)
What would your recommendation be for a business to be looking out for, for a good HVAC maintenance/repair/install company? Obviously your company if you're in the area, but how about elsewhere? I can't imagine everyone being as thorough and respectful about the whole thing. Are there any obvious / tell-tale signs? Or certain like, accreditations they should have, etc?
The Veto beach bag as you called it is awesome, you'll buy more than one. You start loading one for bulky stuff then parts then cords then..... just keeps going. l usually them for wire and sealtite then cordless bandsaw and other tools parts in another. each has its own rope making dragging them up easier on me.
I think it's great that guys who make parole can find a job changing filters. However, these clients don't realize what they lose by not paying an HVAC contractor to do that work. A filter changer will hear the sounds of bad bearings of a condenser fan motor, and not know what that sound means, and it will go unreported. Recently, at one site, the filter rack rods and media did not reach all the way across the evap. About 10 inches of evap was left exposed. I called them and talked to their service manager. A month later, I came back to do some quoted work, and no one had come by to correct their mistake. That is what you get for a lower price: a lack of professional knowledge and expertise.
As an hvac guy ill tell you this, if youre looking into getting into hvac stick with electricity training for a good while to nail down low end currents. Then hvac will come with a LOT less headaches.
yes sir working with an helper on multi roof tops come in handy to man each Tstat hit one @ a time to help relabel all equipment as needed instead of up & down on & off roof ..Great Work Thanks
18:37 - Heh heh heh... I think you had the right idea - kick everything on max cool and triage everything on the roof. When you have a NTE of $500 on a service call, the best plan is to fix as much as possible within that limit. As much as I hate the "Band Aid" approach to repairing anything, you can at least coax a few units back into service - and, as you said, some units were slated for replacement in the near future, you got them going in the meantime.
I have been a press operator the past 13yrs...before that I did residential HVAC. 3yrs in the field. I really enjoy your videos and professionalism! I still like the field...wish I could learn from someone like you but I don't want to be back in that field lol it's more of a hobby now lol
On the customer side, I treat NTE's the same way. If I call in a professional with a $500 NTE that means "If you can handle it under $500? Just fix it and hand me the bill. Otherwise we'll have to talk first."
I have NEVER seen a damper on a RETURN, unless it was a BALANCING DAMPER for Zone Systems. Or Motorized Damper on a Zone System. Those Damper are moving the excess air from Return to Supply. Never have I seen a damper on just return. Weird.
🤔Seems to me you exceeded the NTE with the valve core (max) change out and the R22 top off 😅😃😂😅🤣😅😅 (Commercial) 🍺🍺🍺🥃🥃🍇🏌 Stay safe. Retired(werk'n) keyboard super tech. Wear your safety glasses.
im at electrical engineering end of things at least thats my schooling but darn it sometimes i wish i went ac sometimes. debugging was always one of my favourite parts
"Yes it is expensive looks like just a couple of fitting you could just make at home but not necessarily ok" you legit said it as I was thinking how would i make one at home lmao
I'm a qualified small size A/C installer and watching your videos as I'm planning on some times soon take some courses and get a license for all A/C systems. In Finland there is below 3kg and above 3kg license, typically meant split type A/C installer for less than 3kg and then the "real" A/C installers that does everything. And I like your videos. I've had the below 3kg license for maybe 12 years and installed maybe 300 split type A/C systems, mostly in the last three years. In Finland you can't do any work on devices with refrigerant unless you ar licensed
I know for some carriers the economizer can be installed for down flow or side discharge. It’s the same economizer, but you have to install it the right way. Don’t know if Tempstar is the same.
@@wonderhomie2011, gotcha. I know some of the newer carriers the economizer is the same for both, but you obviously have to install it for the correct application.
Chris could you use a ladder crane or something like that to hoist everything to the roof? Or is that too much hassle? Only to be used when you're doing major work on the roof.
17:35 I totally agree with you mate. Funny thing is I do this every day then come home and watch someone else do it. Hmm I need a life or a bigger job with more challenges, I’m still young but I have worked on three hospitals, two universities, shopping Centre with a cinema , performing arts Centre , 4 age care homes and aquarium, but I never got into maintenance I only have done new works, day 1 to hand over as well commissioning. I enjoy watching your videos mate thank you from Australia 🇦🇺
glad to have time to start watching again, I am behind on yours & other you-tube videos, I took another job, 65 miles away 2 days a week, for last 4 months, 130 mile round trip, I quit 2 days ago, 6/18/21, I will not be cussed & told off because I took too long & didnt get finished when working on a 1952 car, so it has to sit until I come back, & I wasnt quitting my primary job. his other techs didnt want to go behind me, so car sits until my next day off, & 1 week I only had 1 day off, plus on my normal work days I been helping my wife 3 hours or so a day. I really want to get into this field, but I know cars, & took an auto-body job, supposedly doing metal fabrication & welding, but next thing I know I was trouble shooting wiring on a 1952 Packard without diagrams, & partially rewiring, yeah thats what took too long, it is his new play-toy & he wants to drive it, today I was supposed to rebuild steering on a 1959 Cadillac, but heavy mechanic work hurts my back, thats why I took job for metal fab, but his 1957 Chevy Bel-Air sitting in shop needing full floor, trunk, rockers, roof patch, & I did cut out all old metal, & test fitted, new floor & trunk pan, & welded in toe-board, then he side tracked me, then cussed me out. and demanding I quit my primary job, which provides insurance, or go part time at primary job, Grrrrr. he talked good game, but I refused to be belittled or cussed. I am a top notch body man, & welder, & a decent mechanic, but burned out, & wanting a career change
Hello from Texas Chris ! Wonkie is that a west coast technical term ? On the condenser with a discharge only port. I will try to find the actual condensing temperature from the coil. Temp change stops and holds for several rows. Then take the temptation of the liquid line, and you will get an idea of the actual subcooling. I have done this for years. 100% accurate, not quite, but at least gives you an educated guess. Keep up the great vids
Always the same 😂 "you have to get here and fix it tomorrow (Sunday)" okay, just to give you a heads-up, it will cost at least this amount before I arrive. "Well, it can wait until Monday or Tuesday...".
You are absolutely correct, there is no reason to add a RA balancing damper. On a VAV system, the OA damper should be at 100% open and the RA damper modulates since they are a pressure dependent system.
Sure you can, you can install a whole bldg EMS with a central controller. With EMS you can look at supply temp,humidity,return air and the like! Typical cost 10k per unit!
Of course the technology is there if you have the dough for it. Sometimes keeping it simple is easier to manage for both parties the tech and the customer.
@@hvacslayer2929 What I'm trying to figure out was how those stats work for different units ,when they are all mounted next to each other! At :50 of the video,
Hey hope alls well. Thanks for the awesome videos man. Ill bet this world record heat wave is keeping your business afloat so much you can put it on a yatch by now.
Chris, does your father still work on ACR equipment? I think it is awesome it is a family business. My kids said NO to my work, they are both working with computers and making as much as I do, or as the oldest makes WAY MORE. He got lucky with the way his jobs went. I would love to make $175K in Alabama. Here an HVACR tech make anywhere from $800-$1500 a week. In Alabama we are not selling techs. No real commission. Which I like. Take care my West Coast Brother. I believe in your work from the South East US.
@@HVACRVIDEOS I love your videos. Your father raised a great person. He believed in passing on the trade. I hate my kids did not, but they are making more than me. We need more of you, more down south, because all our kids are moving to computers. We need trades people here in the south. We are not union. an that scares people. but we make money. and are paid well for our region.
This is an example of the government getting into a business that they know nothing about and where they want guidelines for the technician to follow without asking qualified technicians what proper guidelines should be. I'll bet you money that not one government agency employee ever asked you one question about how something should be done. All the best on trying to keep a level head and do the job right.
Our weather is finally getting warm. The piece of equipment that I am working on is brand new and first summer of operation. The medical room that I’m working on is 71% humidity 70 degrees. The unit is way oversized so it’s short cycling and not dehumidifying. 🙄 This isn’t the first time I’ve run into stuff like this.
A not to exceed for me typically means i can do work up to that number without getting signature approval. Anything over that i gotta get signature approval from someone.
It depends on the space below if there are separate rooms or sections of the restaurant. It can be used for capacity control also. Sometimes equipment is no longer in use and left up there from a previous tenant. I preferred to work on smaller tonnage equipment what gets overwhelming to me is when I’m working on a chiller the size of a tractor trailer and everybody’s looking at you to get it up and running ASAP!
@@jeesmith99: thank you. I’m currently 38 years old I’ve been with the same company for 17 years and residential work for two years before that so basically half my life I’ve been doing heating and air conditioning. It’s crazy how much stuff we run into seeing some good installs and seeing some real hack shotty work. The field is definitely interesting and could be a lot better if there was a standard.
Question about the cfm airflow calculations on measurequick, are they estimated by measure quick or are you using specific probes for those reading? Thanks for taking time out of you day to make these awesome and thorough videos. Helps me out immensely!
Man that area looks like Arizona. I forgot what state you said you were in. Oh, after seeing those pressures, that's certainly isn't the Phoenix area. No way R22 is down near 200 PSI even at 8AM in this time of the year. HA HA! A rooftop like that be near 300 PSI in the afternoon.
maybe way too much negative building pressure and it's pulling outside air in around the probes. especially the supply side probe, which you think would have more positive static. I'm judging and thinking about the other A/C that wasn't blowing off the loose supply cover, until you removed return side cover.
