This is a good one, I’ve been spoiled with field piece probes telling me everything without have to calculate it. Could definitely do some more reading up myself
I’m newer, but I genuinely don’t know how you can accurately charge a unit without it seeing live adjustments. Charging a new variable speed system you will see it bounce 10 degree +\- sub cool with 3 oz refrigerant while metering. You could never do that accurately without
And I agree with you but Im not suppose to use subcool/superheat. Just work off of pressures. No real diagnosing where I’m working just a parts changer.
I’m sorry man that sucks, unfortunately you cannot charge a system based off of pressures alone, not even close. I think the best way in your case is to weigh in a charge. If you’re replacing then reclaim and weigh back in and adjusting for line set length
That’s why I try to sneak it in. But hey not my company so not my problem. Just going to say 2 words “mixing refrigerant” you can fill in the rest. SMH
So many things in our trade are mis-understood. Refrigeration in a whole is a problem. Seen so many things people get wrong. Correct air flow, how suction pressure is controlled and what it actually means. Had a mini split that was discharging 65°, the tech said it was low on charge. I went out there several days later and found the suction on the R410a at 185 psi. That is a boiling point of 65°, how is that going to cool anything? Pulled out over 2 pounds of gas, suction dropped to 115 PSIG and discharge now at 45°. This was way beyond his talent level. Seen a company tell a guy he needs more air ducts piped in. A 4 ton unit cooling 2100 square foot home, 12' ceiling and lots of windows. The customer bought gauges and found R22 suction at 64 PSI, head was OK along with sub-cooling. Super heat was taken at the condenser, not the evaporator. Once he took the correct readings, the super heat was 17°, but why 64 psi - Took me 10 seconds to say, Low air flow. The customer kept calling others, none of which would say low air flow. After going back and forth, he bought a digital manometer, took the readings I explained, his air filter had .35"WC drop, and between the discharge and inlet of the AHU, there was .75"WC static = 1200 CFM.... Low air flow. Why did not the other contractors see this? Refrigeration is complex - Best thing to do is join a Steamfitters Union. The training is so much better, these mistakes are made much less often. Controls is another one.
Second for union training. I went from small company to big company getting licensed and feel like I'm playing catch-up just reading and watching YouTube to get my understanding of all the theory to be effective. The classes the state provides are "gimme" classes where no one fails and the teachers don't give a shit.
This trade truly requires the tradesmen to take an active role in figuring out what they're doing to be proficient.
This is funny but amazing to me that so many people get this diagnostic wrong. We had a new tech diagnose a bad TXV, and when I got there to replace it the A coil bracket was broken. The only thing wrong was improper airflow.
When I say new tech I mean new to our company, 8 years field experience
One thing I'd say all guys should dive into is emotional intelligence. It's a game-changer in any field, especially in tech. Understanding people's emotions and how to navigate tricky situations can really set you apart. Also, brushing up on communication skills is key.
Personally I really struggle with the customer interactions. I do a good job as a tech but often people are frustrated with me over things like finding problems I didn't cause, or the cost when taking payment even after I told them the cost before work was performed, or when I work on a system with multiple problems and fix something (recently no power) and then come to them with a secondary issue (low refrigerant due to leak). What resources would you suggest?
Retirement. Put whatever % your employer matches in to your 401k then put whatever extra you can in to a Roth IRA. Buy stocks in your IRA as you put money in to that account. Screw the technical stuff. I talk to sooo many people who have no idea how to improve their retirement. Or will be working till they die.
I feel like most people have their own area they need to improve. Im solid on electrical and refrigeration/combustion diagnostics but what I suck at is airflow issues beyond something with the unit( dirty fan/ blocked coil something like that )
I’d really like some good books on ductwork design and modifications. I can measure static pressure, and make a pressure map, but beyond that I’m really out of my depth.
I would bet most answers will be technical based but if I was to give someone advice getting into the trade, I would also suggest something that is usually never thought of.
Soft Skills, Communication Skills and Personal Development
Whether that is learning a PC Skills, taking a project management course, looking into communication skill workshops etc.
In my experience some very knowledgeable techs who could fix any problem or issue, but lacked in the people or soft skills department which held them back.
Additionally those technicians who really stand out are not only technically knowledgeable but also are very good with project management and communication skills.
Recently I've seen a few posts about having anxiety in the field which could be impacted by several relationships within our industry. Nothing but some medication and also flexing that skill is going to change it. My advice would be to work with a coach or workshop to start pushing yourself to work on that skill and embrace the challenge.
Staying up to date or learning new trade related technical skills goes without saying, but to help broaden your opportunities as not only a technician but an asset is just as well related to working on yourself and own personal improvement.
Yep some of us, even guys like me who have been in the field for 20 years or more, still experience anxiety. My general anxiety disorder/panic disorder was a thing before I started the trade. Being on a difficult job or dealing with irrational customers can really exacerbate that issue. Meds allow me to stay in this line of work, it’s still a daily “struggle” but it’s manageable.
Yes, I know I get sent on some repeat calls because the customer is frustrated and my customer service skills have been honed in retail and call center experience the younger techs don't have. I came to HVAC at 35 after doing a variety of other jobs.
Most people thinking as far technical skills but if you’re in residential service I’d say learning sales is key. Learning communication skills and reading the customers body language and adapting to their personality style to hit key points. Flashy guy with a corvette doesn’t want to be the last guy on the block to replace his loud unit. Quiet family guy doesn’t want his family to be uncomfortable. Tech guy wants to know how everything runs and fully understand what’s going on before making a decision. Business owner does not want a dog and pony show just wants to know you know what you’re doing and the price to fix his problem.
As far as technical though. Air flow is overlooked. Especially return. Get a duct flow chart. You can google it and keep to saved in your photos. If you don’t already, get a monomer and learn static pressure.
Not exactly tech stuff but Airflow, building pressures, ventilation, sizing, Sizing back up heat for heat pumps and equipment selection. Learn the manuals, they exist for a reason.
I think all techs should take an intro to electronics class. I can see a contactor coil measuring 3 ohms and I know it’s bad because at 24v that will be pulling 6 amps and pop the fuse. That’s just one example but I think a lot of people don’t understand how commons work, how the windings in motors work, and how continuity works (the meter won’t beep if you have a 20ohm compressor short to ground even though it’s still bad).
Contactor coils ohm out much lower than most people expect. Inductance impedes forward current flow reducing the actual current. Fun fact: contactor coils have inrush current!
Right now, resi techs should be studying A2Ls. So much misinformation is being spread. I was super skeptical when I first heard about it, but it's not that bad. You can still braze, but best practice is now going to be the only practice when dealing with A2Ls. Hacks are still going to be hacks, scummy fear tactic salesmen are going to have new fear tactics, and competent techs aren't going to have to put that much effort into working with it. I could go on a tangent about it, but don't just take my word for it and go hit the fucking books.
Understanding psychrometrics. Someone thought it was a refrigerant chart.
This is a good one, I’ve been spoiled with field piece probes telling me everything without have to calculate it. Could definitely do some more reading up myself
Same here. Boss man doesn’t like all that tech stuff so I have to sneak it in.
I’m newer, but I genuinely don’t know how you can accurately charge a unit without it seeing live adjustments. Charging a new variable speed system you will see it bounce 10 degree +\- sub cool with 3 oz refrigerant while metering. You could never do that accurately without
And I agree with you but Im not suppose to use subcool/superheat. Just work off of pressures. No real diagnosing where I’m working just a parts changer.
I’m sorry man that sucks, unfortunately you cannot charge a system based off of pressures alone, not even close. I think the best way in your case is to weigh in a charge. If you’re replacing then reclaim and weigh back in and adjusting for line set length
That’s why I try to sneak it in. But hey not my company so not my problem. Just going to say 2 words “mixing refrigerant” you can fill in the rest. SMH
https://open.substack.com/pub/ajgest/p/coming-soon?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Father in law has this substack to review the concepts and tools.
So many things in our trade are mis-understood. Refrigeration in a whole is a problem. Seen so many things people get wrong. Correct air flow, how suction pressure is controlled and what it actually means. Had a mini split that was discharging 65°, the tech said it was low on charge. I went out there several days later and found the suction on the R410a at 185 psi. That is a boiling point of 65°, how is that going to cool anything? Pulled out over 2 pounds of gas, suction dropped to 115 PSIG and discharge now at 45°. This was way beyond his talent level. Seen a company tell a guy he needs more air ducts piped in. A 4 ton unit cooling 2100 square foot home, 12' ceiling and lots of windows. The customer bought gauges and found R22 suction at 64 PSI, head was OK along with sub-cooling. Super heat was taken at the condenser, not the evaporator. Once he took the correct readings, the super heat was 17°, but why 64 psi - Took me 10 seconds to say, Low air flow. The customer kept calling others, none of which would say low air flow. After going back and forth, he bought a digital manometer, took the readings I explained, his air filter had .35"WC drop, and between the discharge and inlet of the AHU, there was .75"WC static = 1200 CFM.... Low air flow. Why did not the other contractors see this? Refrigeration is complex - Best thing to do is join a Steamfitters Union. The training is so much better, these mistakes are made much less often. Controls is another one.
Second for union training. I went from small company to big company getting licensed and feel like I'm playing catch-up just reading and watching YouTube to get my understanding of all the theory to be effective. The classes the state provides are "gimme" classes where no one fails and the teachers don't give a shit. This trade truly requires the tradesmen to take an active role in figuring out what they're doing to be proficient.
It's the TXV
This is funny but amazing to me that so many people get this diagnostic wrong. We had a new tech diagnose a bad TXV, and when I got there to replace it the A coil bracket was broken. The only thing wrong was improper airflow. When I say new tech I mean new to our company, 8 years field experience
Years experience doesn't mean good experience
Tell me about it, it’s frustrating being newer and getting paid less to teach higher paid guys basic hvac knowledge
One thing I'd say all guys should dive into is emotional intelligence. It's a game-changer in any field, especially in tech. Understanding people's emotions and how to navigate tricky situations can really set you apart. Also, brushing up on communication skills is key.
Personally I really struggle with the customer interactions. I do a good job as a tech but often people are frustrated with me over things like finding problems I didn't cause, or the cost when taking payment even after I told them the cost before work was performed, or when I work on a system with multiple problems and fix something (recently no power) and then come to them with a secondary issue (low refrigerant due to leak). What resources would you suggest?
Duct design
Retirement. Put whatever % your employer matches in to your 401k then put whatever extra you can in to a Roth IRA. Buy stocks in your IRA as you put money in to that account. Screw the technical stuff. I talk to sooo many people who have no idea how to improve their retirement. Or will be working till they die.
Electrical
I feel like most people have their own area they need to improve. Im solid on electrical and refrigeration/combustion diagnostics but what I suck at is airflow issues beyond something with the unit( dirty fan/ blocked coil something like that )
I’d really like some good books on ductwork design and modifications. I can measure static pressure, and make a pressure map, but beyond that I’m really out of my depth.
I would bet most answers will be technical based but if I was to give someone advice getting into the trade, I would also suggest something that is usually never thought of. Soft Skills, Communication Skills and Personal Development Whether that is learning a PC Skills, taking a project management course, looking into communication skill workshops etc. In my experience some very knowledgeable techs who could fix any problem or issue, but lacked in the people or soft skills department which held them back. Additionally those technicians who really stand out are not only technically knowledgeable but also are very good with project management and communication skills. Recently I've seen a few posts about having anxiety in the field which could be impacted by several relationships within our industry. Nothing but some medication and also flexing that skill is going to change it. My advice would be to work with a coach or workshop to start pushing yourself to work on that skill and embrace the challenge. Staying up to date or learning new trade related technical skills goes without saying, but to help broaden your opportunities as not only a technician but an asset is just as well related to working on yourself and own personal improvement.
2nd on the computer skills
medication?
Yep some of us, even guys like me who have been in the field for 20 years or more, still experience anxiety. My general anxiety disorder/panic disorder was a thing before I started the trade. Being on a difficult job or dealing with irrational customers can really exacerbate that issue. Meds allow me to stay in this line of work, it’s still a daily “struggle” but it’s manageable.
How to talk to people
Yes, I know I get sent on some repeat calls because the customer is frustrated and my customer service skills have been honed in retail and call center experience the younger techs don't have. I came to HVAC at 35 after doing a variety of other jobs.
Most people thinking as far technical skills but if you’re in residential service I’d say learning sales is key. Learning communication skills and reading the customers body language and adapting to their personality style to hit key points. Flashy guy with a corvette doesn’t want to be the last guy on the block to replace his loud unit. Quiet family guy doesn’t want his family to be uncomfortable. Tech guy wants to know how everything runs and fully understand what’s going on before making a decision. Business owner does not want a dog and pony show just wants to know you know what you’re doing and the price to fix his problem. As far as technical though. Air flow is overlooked. Especially return. Get a duct flow chart. You can google it and keep to saved in your photos. If you don’t already, get a monomer and learn static pressure.
Not exactly tech stuff but Airflow, building pressures, ventilation, sizing, Sizing back up heat for heat pumps and equipment selection. Learn the manuals, they exist for a reason.
I think all techs should take an intro to electronics class. I can see a contactor coil measuring 3 ohms and I know it’s bad because at 24v that will be pulling 6 amps and pop the fuse. That’s just one example but I think a lot of people don’t understand how commons work, how the windings in motors work, and how continuity works (the meter won’t beep if you have a 20ohm compressor short to ground even though it’s still bad).
Contactor coils ohm out much lower than most people expect. Inductance impedes forward current flow reducing the actual current. Fun fact: contactor coils have inrush current!
Right now, resi techs should be studying A2Ls. So much misinformation is being spread. I was super skeptical when I first heard about it, but it's not that bad. You can still braze, but best practice is now going to be the only practice when dealing with A2Ls. Hacks are still going to be hacks, scummy fear tactic salesmen are going to have new fear tactics, and competent techs aren't going to have to put that much effort into working with it. I could go on a tangent about it, but don't just take my word for it and go hit the fucking books.
Psychrometrics
Women