Anybody have experience with this contractor? I’m a service apprentice who just transferred into SMART Local 16 and I might start working with them.

Was unsweating a 1" cap off a pipe that's being extended down to an evaporator and I didn't realize someone had pressure tested it with 50psi of nitrogen. It flew past 5" from my face. I really need to pay attention and just cut the fucking pipe instead..

Replaced a 7.5 condenser today. Looked like it had been leaking but had a grounded 3ph compressor. It should have been 410 but smelled of egg farts. Owner said no one added gas but I found this box next to the unit. Also when flushing the line it was purple.. my guess is it started leaking, he bought some fake gas online, it had a $350 Price tag on it. And it killed the compressor. Does this sound right?

I will be starting as a Commercial HVAC Start Up & Test Apprentice and this is the tool list I was provided. What are the best options for these tools starting out? I already have a Milwaukee Fastback as a utility knife and a 35' Stanley Fatmax for my tape measure. I am looking at a Veto Tech-MCT as my tool bag but I am open to suggestions.

I’m not sure what it is, but my heart just isn’t in it anymore. And it’s not like I’m being ran ragged, I work on 90% centrifugal chillers and 10% of the other stuff but I’m just over the customers, the on call, and the emergencies/OT. When working on package units and performing project work, I find to enjoy my days much more. Debating on getting out of the chiller team and into the air side team or leave service altogether and go back to my roots of doing commercial HVAC construction and retrofits.

Anyone else get into these funks and do anything about it? Or do you just keep on keepin’ on?

I didn’t have wireless clamps so I improvised

4 year old system. Last guy wrote up compressor. We swapped it out. Still sounding like a gun shot when it shuts off.

In live of the south France, i thinked it was the Txv..

Job was relocating this gree condenser off the floor and onto the wall. Everything was done, vacuum, comm wires, king valves cracked, etc, i was just waiting for the electrician to extend their whip. Went yesterday to start it up and close out the call, and I was greeted with this immaculate job. Roofers cut the zip ties, ripped the v-bats off brick, and threw the Lineset over the condenser stand lmao

And by older I mean 10 years old. To give whoever is reading this who might be able to help me the long and short of it.

Outdoor Inverter model: RMXS48LVJU
Branch Provider Unit Model: BPMKS048A2U
Indoor FCU Model: FTXS24LVJU

Been chasing my tail on this for a week now.

I’m getting 220 through out. The only drop in anything I can actually find is from the branch provider F1 and F2 terminals that run over to the Inverter. And I’m not getting the inverter to do anything. Even though it does have power as well.

My real question is. At F1/F2. What should I be getting?

Also the indoor FCU (heads) are acting like they’re working but have zero cooling since the outdoors not doing anything.

I’m not familiar enough with all of the inverter mini split stuff yet but I’m trying. Thank you to anyone who’s got an idea.

How long should it take a resi / light commercial hvac tech to transition over to commercial refrigeration and be competent. As competent as they are in hvac? 4 months too hopeful ?

I’ve been a residential HVAC service tech for just over three years and I was an apprentice before that. I’ve been with the same company my entire career. We are based out of North Florida. I’m not really familiar with what techs are being paid or what a tech should make. based off talking to other guys in the parts houses with similar experience it just seems like everyone else is making more money than me. I do phenomenal on every performance report, kept recalls down etc. But still make between 20-25 an hour

I’m not saying I should be paid more than that it’s just I have no idea what the market looks like when it comes to pay for technicians with my experience. So I’m just curious to see what the vets think about it.

(EDIT) thank you all for the feedback! Very helpful and informative. Yall stay safe and get some.

Whats the thoughts a this layout for the ductwork? 1600sqft building. 4ton unit, 8inch duct.

Gotta love rentals. Yes, that’s all mold

I've inherited a new build after the last HVAC contractor couldn't start it in time. Job is a heat pump system, infloor heat, and full ductwork in a new build. I've finished the ductwork and heat pump install but I'm a little unsure on controls for the infloor and snow melt.

New build spec'd a generic heat pump ( I did Amana S-Series) and a Navien NCB combi which I changed to an NFC because the previous contractor didn't factor in a snow melt for a small walkway I sent the design off to an engineer and it needed a few more BTUs.

Anyway I need a controls solution for 2 infloor zones (toe warmer only) and a small section of snow melt. I do very little infloor heat and nothing with snow melt. My suppliers are giving me some radically different recommendations with a price spread of several thousand dollars so I'd like to not fuck it up if possible. Especially since the customer already thinks I'm a rockstar genius for doing such a good job on the heat pump an ductwork.

I'm looking into getting a set of probes upgrading from my s-man's and I'm wondering if you guys recommend spending the extra money on the psychrometers or just doing with the probes and clamps I'm just residential a little bit of light commercial I don't know if it's worth the extra money looking for some input thanks guys