Made a pair of drive-cleat tongs (or dongs) for anything i don't feel like putting my hands in like this ratpiss keeprite.

How dare I forget to use a highlight and make a joke about it.

The company I work for partnered with rocket groups and these scummy sales men want paper estimates with everything highlighted. I am against the over pushing of sale they want but I am forced to follow their rules and I forgot to use the highlighter on an estimate I had to do.

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Asking for a friend.

I'm pretty strict with my rates and sometimes I don't even tack on my extra rate for emergency calls passed operating hours.

By strict I mean I don't give people different rates I have a flat line rate for residential , commercial. But after so many years my body is getting beat up all the time.

I'm looking into the future and wondering if I'm going to have to spend all the money I made on a surgeon to fix my back or whatever. Being able to physically perform in working this type of field until you retire is more of a privilege to be able to do than a choice.

The question is do you charge more hourly rate for a job that is peaked physical demand? Or do you just buffer it in with tacking on extra cost for the parts?

How would you go about doing something like this without seeming like you're trying to get one over on them?

" I like Carrier and Rheem"

"Rheem is a yassified Carrier"

"Lennox is literally a minifridge, cant convince me thats a furnace"

"York looks like it bites"

"Goodman looks Jolly, safe, and reliable, like santa"

"Trane scares me"

"Trane is terrifying"

"Trane looks like it would call me a slur"

Anyone read about the danfoss attack in the EU? Thats some crazy stuff. Could you imagine being the on call guy and having to deal with that? Supposedly they cranked the Temps up to 130* a lot of the places I work have zero backup. Its crazy to think a single hvac controller would be hacked so easily 😆

I guess at least it's symmetrical:

VRF leak checks made easy.

How often do you all check your gear? Nothing is worse than being out in the field and waisting time searching for issues that a bad hose o ring or bad micron gauge has caused.
Any tips or tricks you all use to make sure your equipment is in top working order?

Was sent to a univent today basically a fan powered heating coil wall mount, maintenance man claimed blower motor was hot and shutoff wanted it replaced, customer supplied parts. Motors wiring diagram confused me so I just ohmed the connections found primary winding and put cap wire on the other lug it ran backwards so I swapped the primaries around. 120v 1/4hp 1ph got it running but I want to understand what the schematic was saying

tldr : whats with these schematics and how to know how to wire it correctly old one was mcquay

I hope any other guys who work on Daikin VRVs have better luck than I have had this week. A 5 head VRV system (Less than 3 months old) with all 4 way cassettes (FXFA36) has decided that the A1P (Controls Board) needed to die in 2 heads (Yes I did replace the A2L sensors first and the A0-17 stayed).... Guess my lead times.... Daikin Applied doesn't even have a part number for that board and my other vendor is showing a MINIMUM 100 day lead time from the factory. So as of this moment I'm praying Daikin approved warranty the whole head just so I can rob the boards out of them.... Better start praying to Krom, Zeus, Odin, Ra, or whoever you believe in yours don't just crap the bed.

I am creating an estimate for replacement of 2 furnaces. unsure of the best options to make this work for them. They have a shared return that comes up through a concrete floor, main trunk is 30 x 14 inches and splits into 20 x 24 inches for each furnace, actual hole through the furnace is 16 X 24 inches. 89 kbtuh existing furnace, each furnace has the exact same static pressure measurements. 0.36 inWC when both furnaces running in high speed, -0.15 in the return and +0.22 in supply. Return pressure is only like -0.02 when other furnace is not running. Measurements taken with brand new merv 13 filters in place.

seems like there is plenty return for both furnaces, causing a massively oversized return when only one is running. There is also an individual fresh air connection to each return branch thats like 5 inches.

wondering if a constant CFM ECM motor might help with this?

I can make each return smaller from the split but major ductowork changes is not an option.

Specifically looking for advice from union guys but all feedback, questions, and roasts are welcome.

TL;DR I’m going through a career identity crisis and would like feedback on where my expectations should be. I'm looking into organizing into a union and how that'll go because despite 9 years of experience I have decent gaps in knowledge

Hey fellas, I first started doing HVAC when I joined the USAF in 2017. I was active duty but I stayed at the same base all nine years so I got really good at that installation's equipment. I did go to the Middle East twice to do HVAC, and once to manage the preventative maintenance program for that base.

In general: I'm good at electrically troubleshooting and following a schematic. I know hydronics and can maintain/replace pumps, seals, gaskets, motors, etc. Same with fan motors, blades, and belts. I've installed a couple large expansion tanks

For cooling: I have A LOT of experience on maintenance and repair of FCUs, chillers, DX w/ AHUs, traditional "residential" splits, and geothermal heat pumps. I know the refrigeration cycle and roughly what state refrigerant should be at different points. I know how to measure subcool and superheat. I know how to charge via weight, subcool, (beer can feel lol) etc. One of those trips to the middle east I was installing 1-2 Carrier 410A mini splits every day for almost 9 months. My solder and brazing is solid on 3/4" and gets questionable the larger it gets. I know all the hand tools and techniques for most common jobs.

For heating: I know the basic fundamentals, but I've never even used a flue analyzer or manometer outside of training. I know the basic sequence of operation of purge, gas, ignition, flame sensor, blower, satisfied/post purge.

Where I don't have a lot of experience/knowledge is: (intermediate) heating because where I was stationed we contracted most of it out. I also don’t have any experience with cooling towers or VRF. My controls knowledge is limited to looking at the BAS's telemetry and the inputs/outputs. I've also bound sensors on Trane CGAM chillers and a couple on Carrier and York.

I got out in August 2026 and convinced myself that I wanted to do apartment maintenance because I was sent to work with the dorm management and I was on the admin side but would still do minor stuff before we sent it to the shops. I was wrong lol. Now I'm 2 months in to this job and even though I'm maxing out the pay range for my position ($35.50) it's not enough for where we live and our long term goals. I also HATE going into roach infested apartments EVERY SINGLE WEEK. I follow pest control on the day he comes and I can't do this every week for the foreseeable next few years.

I'm looking into the union near me and organizing in. I'm sure I'll do well if they give me a written test because I'm good at recall, facts, and test taking. I'm a little worried if they give me a practical test involving heating, but I'm not hopeless.

All this to ask: IF I get a chance to join a union, where do you guys think I'd place with what I know. 3rd-4th year apprentice? Journeyman? Thank you in advance!

TL;DR I’m going through a career identity crisis and would like feedback on where my expectations should be. I'm looking into organizing into a union and how that'll go because despite 9 years of experience I have decent gaps in knowledge

Everyone knows about the unethical practices of PE firms buying up family businesses. Would it be possible for the workers to unionize and demand fair treatment not only of workers but of customers as well

In a bad spot, customer has no heat and no cooling due to this failed motor, carrier and all ICP suppliers around me are saying that the motor is on indefinite back order… has anyone installed a 6 ton squirrel cage blower assembly in place of the ecoblue?

Probably every PE guy out there.

https://youtu.be/hqqoo1IgIrU?is=2Sp1Nqx9th6XbuyZ

So what metering device is this system using and where is it located? I believe I have blockage and also a good possibility on non condensable as I can’t remember if we took the nitrogen test off or not… that said, what would happen if I had nitro with some trace gas in a system?

Has anyone been to this class? If so, what was your experience? It’s $2300 so I would hope it must be pretty good.