I thought the same thing... even if it is nat gas, dial both in, test fire, check pressures everywhere and room temps. i got so annoyed at a previous employers! that being said, we always test fired and gave it a good burn in
Ted, people can say what they like. I like the fact that you show it all good or bad their fault or yours, we all have the same issues unless your a “Super Tech” I haven’t seen one yet. Thanks for the candid video’s
I usually disable the fan and burn in the heat exchanger until the limit trips. Also should document inlet gas pressure and manifold pressure. Up here in the Northeast there’s a minimum clearance of 10’ for condenser near the gas meter. Start up sheets are a requirement at my company. Everything gets documented and put in customer file. Gas pressures, voltages (primary AND secondary), what metering device, subcool, superheat, delta t, model, serial, filter sizes. Also a combustion analysis with 2 copies printed out, one for on site and one for the file. Good install and service techs don’t often come naturally, they have to be created. I wish I had a Chevy van like yours instead of a Ford Transit. I’ve had both and prefer the GM. The side access is awesome too. Love your vids 👍
Ted, make a commissioning sheet for your installers. We use them and it keeps people from making goofy mistakes at the end of a long ass day in the freezing cold or baking heat. Prevents a lot of call backs for dumb stuff and proves they system works correctly and within manufacturers spec.
My son manages a large HVAC company (around 150 employees) in eastern North Carolina. They have installation crews and also startup techs who do all startups and tests. Installers are not expected to do startups. The tech does an inspection before startup and notes problems. If they are minor, the tech will fix them. Major problems go back to the installation crew who make the repairs on their own time.
Good luck bringing people back on their own time for any mistakes. Also that is illegal to have a guy work for free. Let him get hurt on that job off the clock and your brother will be working at Walmart as a door greeter.
Back in my installer days, we had a startup sheet checklist we had to fill out and sign, before turning in to the office. Avoided lots of stupid callbacks. My current company doesn't, and as the service tech that has to go back and tighten wires and connect drain hoses, drives me nuts, especially on super busy days. During last service meeting, service manager said he is going to start implementing them as the callbacks have gotten out of hand lately. Bout time.
After every installation we always ran the units through a test on all safety features. Out of season we returned to check A/C or Heating whatever the case maybe! Great job!
I’ll move to S. C. To work for you! Been installing for 16 years and love it. Was slow at first because I was too particular about how good my work looked but never sacrificed that for speed just got faster. Work smarter not harder. Love the channel!
Fernando Garnica When I used to do install, we would always run the unit through a few start ups to make sure it worked before just leaving. Even when we did furnace changes in the summer, fire it up and see if it works! AC we had to wait until it was warm enough to get good pressure tests.
@@seroxide In 33 years I have yet to see a checklist stop callbacks. Ive seen a lot of those signed off on, yet still had a callback that was on the installation crew. But as a manager what I have found to reduce them to near none, is good training, and competition. No callbacks on installer error equals a bonus, since they all vie to be number one they pay far more attention than a check sheet to sign provides.
Fernando Garnica a checklist is a great idea. However they’re only as effective as the installers who fill them out. Can’t tell you how many times I went on callbacks, coming behind the install crew who checked all the boxes, to find the things they said they did were not done.
Hey ted big fan of your videos man you do great work. My only thing is if that gas valve was still shut off from the factory then nobody set gas pressures on that furnace.
I agree, that's a deluxe crawl space, I also love when attics have a large cat-walk and full head height, but a few obstructions for you to duck under. you normally wont get either unless it's McMansion lol
I always check gas pressure on a fire up. I learned that lesson the hard way! The installers took out a regulator and tied the new furnace into a 2lb line! When I turned on the gas I ruptured the diaphragm and the house filled up gas...... like to have sh*# my pants when I come from the odu! lol I'll never forget that lesson.
I had one the other day, new unit installed in the summer and first cold snap heat didn't work. I was training a new guy and I said "bet you lunch its the gas valve" long story short he owes me lunch
Why is it that these high efficiency furnaces do not need an air filter for the combustion intake? I am curious. Also have you ever heard an inducer motor that occasionally has a bit of a noise to it, like there's something very small bouncing around inside? We had our new furnace and A/C installed in late June. Been using heat now for a few weeks, works great! But if I put my ear up really close to the furnace I can sometimes hear something in there. Hard to tell what exactly since it is so quiet, but I can hear something.
I started in residential and now I'm in industrial. Residential is full of green guys. You may need to look in commercial or industrial hvac techs for s good installers
Question... How can you possibly leave an installation without checking combustion, pressures, o2 levels etc. I am not a gas ticketed guy, but I have seen some crazy tagged installs. The last one I just looked at the installer allowed glue to run over two of the three burners, leaving furnace to run on a single flame. Wrote his tag and left. Where is the over site in this industry?
Sir, I could be wrong but I believe you were looking for me. Im as close to a Perfect installer as it comes. Lol. Never been to S. Carolina but I've been looking for a new town to move to for a couple years. Until my daughter turns 5. Once shes 5 I gotta go where ever her moms living. But until she starts kinder I can pretty much go where ever. "@Anti DIY HVAC"
I’m an excellent installer and sheet metal guy with 20 yrs experience and have really been thinking of relocating. I have plenty of pictures of my installs and references. I own a small company but I’m getting tired of the northeast
I would ask you don’t your guys do a start up at the end of a install? How do you know gas pressure in and out ? Temp rise? How come you didn’t do that since you know it has never been started?
I wish I was able to go to a new install and find the gas valve off and just turn it on and walk away. Be in and out in 10 mins but if they left that gas valve off then that means they didn’t test run the system. Now it’s my responsibility to make sure the system it set up properly. Meaning you should check and set up the gas valve to proper pressure with the doors on. All gas appliances should be running at the same time. Also have to take temp rise across the heat exchanger to properly set up the fan speed in heating. Then with the fan speed set properly you can now check static pressure of the system and verify it’s within range pre manufacturers spec. Also drill hole in venting to preform a combustion test to verify the system is burning properly. Make sure the crawl space door is closed and the furnace door is on to get actual readings. After completing the combustion test use fire Rated silicon to seal up the hole. Also fill the condensation collection trap so exhaust fumes are leaking into the crawl space/home from the condensate. But that’s just me. I would feel right just walking away cause I’ll be responsible if some was to happen.
That may be the case but I’m particular so I would end up having to go through it all over I didn’t see a hole for combustion and or holes for statics I could of very much missed them in the video but I would go about it like a system start up. How come you don’t run fresh air in to the furnace.
Really dig the videos man question why don't you guys snorkel the flu pipes we here in va We cut them about a inch away from the wall and 90 up and 90 out just wondering
Your not the only one going through this lately. Our company has had lots of call backs lately for closed gas valves, and off switches(mostly PM's). Just leave the damn thing running when you leave!!!
I had a no heat call yesterday where one of our installers didn't connect the drain on a 90 percent and flooded the whole basement till it finally kicked off. 👨🎓👨🎓
Good stuff. S. Carolina must have an amazingly low cost of operating a business. Cost of living must be amazing as well. Texas will average $1200-$2500 daily depending on the city your installing in. For someone with 10+yrs of installing.
I would make sure the installers or Tech in charge test the A/C, Heat, check/set gas pressure, verify/adjust refrigerant charge, record values, and otherwise commission the unit and explain to the homeowner how the new thermostat operates and what to expect with the new system?
Reason why it was off because they shut it off to take the manometer fitting out, ran across this a few times on new installs. I still take the pressures to make sure they actually fired it.
At 1:19, it looks like there is a screw missing where the large circular piece (fan shroud?) is mounted. Right around the 12 o'clock position on the shroud, just below and left of the rightmost yellow nub.
Hi! I love to watch your videos and love learning all about the trade! I have a question for you! I have photos to show it, but my brand new single stage 5-Ton American Standard/ 85% Furnace A-Coil cabinets sweats tremendously! House is 2455 Sq Ft, built in 2003 and the old Lennox system sweat, but not as bad. The furnace sits in a cabinet inside, but has attic ducts to allow air to pass in for the furnace. On top of all that, the unit has a bit of a vibration to it. Random things rattle like the garage door and some picture frames. Very subtle, but it is audible. Thoughts? Lol
The problem is its 5 ton. the designer should have put 2 separate 2.5 ton systems in to zone the house this always is a better option. 5 ton is basically commercial and it needs huge huge ductwork to prevent equipment air starvation that leads to vibrating and over cooling and sweating which I'd garuntee in a 2500sqft home they definitely didn't design the ductwork correctly for 5 ton. A remedy for sweating would be to wrap the duct that's sweating tightly and thoroughly in R8 duct insulation wrap and ul rated silver insultape to seal it off from the ambient air around it. But I'd get a professional to consultate with you in person about whether or not the ductwork can properly support that 5ton
I see on the second call the drain on the coil gor the a/c is hooked up on the secondary and the primary is plugged. You'll be back to service that install again in the spring. That's a weak installer and may be still green. You'll need to get rid of him or have someone watch his install
Every install should get a full combustion analysis , set gas pressure , temp rise test and check / set blower speed. That ends issue with new installs. You print and staple copy of combustion analysis to customer invoice so its a legal document showing how you left furnace after install. Plus if you dont fire that thing first time customer does smokes out house and smell customer freaks out thinking something is seriously wrong with a brand new furnace..
Do you get back charged for your mistakes at work??? I bet you have cost a company money in wasted time or mistakes, payroll deduction time for all of us.
Maybe it is time for some paperwork for your installs. Thinking of a check list they fill out per job. they might hate it for a couple of weeks but it might slow your call backs for these simple mistakes.
You can give them all the checklists and paperwork you want, but that wont make a careless installer who doesn't take pride in his work, suddenly start caring.
I am in auto repair had a guy forget to put the castle nuts on the ball joints because he was always on his phone lucky for me I had to raise it up to put a wheel liner in and heard the clunk every week it was something lost or broke or he didn’t show up when I was the busiest I was jeopardizing my business and house with this guy & had to let him go I went back to a one man operation now if something is wrong it is on me also I don’t have all the paperwork that is involved with employees.
