When I started out in Residential/light-commercial, we tried to do what we could to get the customer up and running temporarily during after-hours, and come back on straight time to do a more comprehensive check-up and repair. A lot of residential companies in my area have even priced themselves out of having to run on-call altogether, and there’s a greater emphasis on work-life balance. Since switching to Commercial Refrigeration, none of that has applied. Companies in that sector, in my area, don’t like to say “No” or even attempt to price themselves out of overtime rates. It’s gotta be fixed. It’s gotta be fixed TODAY. Whatever it takes, whatever it is. Even if it’s something as menial as an REAC with a leaking coil on a Sunday.
"Someone must have hit it" - Yeah, that happens all the time. When the evap unit gets bumped, the sheet metals screws unwind, fall out, and the cover comes off. You would think they could design better units.... "Someone got in here and cranked on the low pressure control" - What would this manager say about that?" Ahhh the joy of dealing with liars in the world. Just another reminder that one must CYA, watch your back, and charge full price, don't pay attention to the 'poor mouth' stories.
GREAT JOB CHRIS! I hate it when customers try to fix it before they call you. Had a customer today who is 100 miles from supply house self-diagnosed a Manitowoc ice machine as a bad control board. He said it was doing a lot of weird stuff. I asked him if it was going into safe mode (safe mode means bad ITP or water level probe) and he said no. I picked up a board AND a water level probe AND Ice Thickness Probe JUST in case he MAY be wrong, wink wink. Got there and started machine and guess what? Yup runs one batch then after harvest goes straight to safe mode. Changed both probes as unit is 6 years old and no more safe mode. He also was playing with gauges that had 4 foot hoses on it. Wasn't sure if he purged hoses before so I removed charged and weighed in new. He is too far out to guess and make return call.
For after hours calls unless it's a major issue that I can fix while I'm there, it'll be triage until I can get back to it during the week. Great video as always!
I love your show man. You have so much knowledge about what you're doing and when you're doing it it's teaching us so much bro you have no idea I've been in the field 10 years not on refrigeration but as an HVAC technician I love your channel man I wish I could make one just like you brother.
Money maker for sure. I charge $60.00 just to turn it on. I did have to replace the sensor a couple days ago which was $130.00. But that's why I charge just to use it. Two leak checks and it's paid for.
I work in the medical industry fixing medical imaging equipment, so I try to minimize down time as much as possible. Usually I try to get stuff done in a single visit. Typically for weekend work, I try to get all the major stuff fixed, and push smaller stuff to the next PM visit
In my field service days in the oil/gas/power generation equipment, we mostly did 'Get it up & running' during after hours trouble calls if it was at all possible. Your Sunday visit certainly represents the type of approach I'd take with troublecalls. Good work as always, Chris!
The company that I had worked for before working at a school district wanted you to repair the unit no matter the issue so they would not have to go back at the site anymore, but there’s several problems with that. They were accepting companies that never used us before on the weekends for emergencies, they had leaks, dead compressors, and shorts! And you had to have them all running before the weekend was over, with you and maybe one other tech! Did it for 12 freaking years before I got smart and left that company! This was all in the DFW area! Learned a lot , learned not to do that again ever!
Have you ever tried front seating the king valve of the receiver and charging through the liquid line. That is what I do. It pumps down and the vacuum from the compressor sucks it in the liquid line and through the evap. Always felt it was safest for the compressor . Just a thought.
24*7 equipment should always have all included service/maintenance contracts on it, for a fixed monthly/yearly fee that increases with the age of the equipment. The tech maintaining it will be motivated to do an excellent maintenance job, which will minimize the chance they'll need to come out at night or in weekends. Owner will be encouraged to replace it before it gets too expensive to keep it running. ...But unfortunately, a lot of equipment comes with "users"...
I wanted to say thank you! I just replaced the capacitor on my dishwasher motor that wouldn't start and was hot. Thanks to seeing it during one of you're debugging video's. A 2 euro fix instead of a new dishwasher.
As a new tech man this is really great information I’ve started in hvac/r since school and that was in may and your vids I’ve been watching for about 3 years and just wanna salute you for the many tips you have given .
Make notes on service sheet. "Arrived on site found side cover off. LP set below zero" take pictures on arrival and leaving.Tell your guys the same because if/when something happens he will dump on you to cover his arse as sure as eggs is eggs.
The company I work for is more or less trying to prevent weekend service calls. I remember when a customer called and wanted us to come out on overtime and my boss was like „Are absolutely, 100% certain, that you want us to come out on a sunday evening/night for a non critical system, that has been down for at least 48h?“. Yes the customer wanted… I keep enjoying your videos even though I fell like skipping steps more and more often because time constraints. Keep going and thanks for your work.
If I have to go out on an OT service call, I typically will get them going if I'm able to. I will send the customer a quote to do any other repairs, cleanings, etc.
I'm retraining currently and definitely feel my age, considering all the industries where I could be a field technician. A little late to start some of them. Think it'll be electrical/automation or try to pursue engineering. Thanks for showing us how it is in HVACR!
@@EarlHayward Thanks for the suggestion! The industrial estate that used to be repair shops and small factories in my old neighbourhood has been turning into office buildings and data centres, so I guess that's where we're headed.
11:00 most people would say that is a wrench, but i know better. that is a pressure control percussive maintenance tool. it just happens to double as a wrench to.
For locations like this you might want to consider marking screws and adjustment points with tamper evident paint. Something that tells the manager “I will know if you’ve messed with this”
He probably saved enough money changing his first capacitor that he’s forever conditioned to try to solve the problem himself. The bids I typically get from HVAC companies are often lower than buying a completely new AC, which I can install myself.
I just bought all my guys the new flir edge pro thermal cameras that are Bluetooth, the pics I get back from them on diagnostic calls are awesome, I like how you can display 4 temps at certain spots on an image, I also like how you can set it inside the blower compartment and monitor with the panel closed from your phone. Great video!
Sporlan has two bulletins 90-30 which covers the application and operation of head pressure control valves. And 90-30-1 which covers the proper charging. There are 3 states the valve may be in, no bypass, partial bypass, or total bypass depending on system load and ambient temperature. 90-30-1 explains how to determine condenser volume and a chart indicating how much refrigerant to add to ensure proper low temperature operation.
On the weekend its mostly get it up and running...a lot of what breaks on what i work on isn't at the supply house anyway and has to be ordered. Some smaller type repairs yes, open a supply house for a simple repair, yes.....you got a leaking flash tank on a York YCIV.....can't help you much on a Saturday or Sunday....or Monday for that matter. Quote it and let the customer decide what we do until it comes in.
We typically just get the system operating. We try not to open the supply houses because most of our contracts are full coverage contract, meaning we pay for the materials. Also, most of the parts we would need aren’t typically on hand. Great instructional video, Chris! Love what you do for the industry
After hours service call priority is to get them up and running - repairing the issue is left to the discretion of the tech - which can be many factors including what the service call interfered with at home, motivation, attitude, how much time repair will take, etc. Thanks for another great vid!
I usually leave the option to the customer usually they say come back when it's not so expensive haha.....I love your videos man you've been an inspiration to me on how to conduct myself out in the field. Big Picture for the win!!
when i am out on a servicecall on weekends, i fix everything. Unless i have to order parts. In my country it is eligal to fill a system with a leak. We have to empthy the charge and fix the leak, even if the customer will replace the equiptment. Maybe i should come to U.S and work for you :)
i usually get them up and going unless its a issue that wont hold out till the regular hours or the customer asks to stay and complete it i give that option great video Chris as always.
In most cases we got them operational and went back later. I would say 90-95% of the time it was a dirty condenser on the freezer. White fuzzies from Poplar trees.
As a journeyman hvacr tech, when I find the customer has played with the unit, I charge extra if I need to correct what some one did, as a lesson that they will pay big costs if damage occurs, so education is expensive, even if they never learn, they will still pay...I enjoy your videos and have learnt lots of tips..thanks and be safe brother..
Depends, if i know i have to go back then one and done, if i only see the equipment once then ill just get it going, most customers want the equipment running and dont want to pay after hours rate to fix the whole thing, so ill fix the leak or replace the belt and tell them about the other stuff.
Lol. Love it when customers f with things. Had one that did things like you had here, they wouldnt stop messing with things, and of course it was always my fault. Finally had to go to corp and complain, it stopped immediatly.
When I went out on a er call the only goal was to get it running 'til next day or whole weekend. Then come back on normal hours to troubleshoot and fix the problems once for all
I usually just get them going, fix as much as needed to get them running. Our on call is insane at times, so I usually don’t have time to get everything done that needs to be done.
Like you said depends how busy I am. But I am not spending a lot of time on a Saturday and Sunday I do have a question what do you use to heat up your receiver.
It's kind of like trying to drink from a firehose. But man, that's a lot of information! It's easy to tell you understand exactly what you're talking about!! Normally what I do is if it's on fire. I put the fire out, then I get him through until I can get back there and work on it just like you normally do. If it's a triped g f c I then I'll see you when I have time! L o l
That Alco solenoid valve has an O-ring gasket that you will find no longer has a round cross section it has become square, hot gas passing thru the valve from the head pressure control valve and operating with low charge caused this.
Hi there I'm so interested in this career path love this trade so much. I've been reading books watching videos on this trade any advice on how to get certified as an HVAC technician. Love your show and keep sharing your knowledge it so helpful to people like me 😂keep in cooled
So, if the store manager is the "touchy feely" kind of person, I'd do 2 things: 1. Tamper-evident tags/labels, with "Licensed service technicians only" printed on them or something scary and official sounding like that on it. Hopefully, they see that, think "maybe if I touch this and it breaks I pay for the fix out of pocket". Maybe that keeps them away. 2. Somehow rig up one of those permanently skin-staining "indelible dye marking" tags that they use to ruin the value of stolen clothing to the access panels, with a way for you to (with a key, probably) render the "don't touch that" device inert. Those tags are highly effective at preventing tampering, theft, and/or vandalism, and they're why it's very rare that you hear of some grown adult pulling a fire alarm without an actual fire and getting away for it. All you have to do to catch the perpetrator is look for someone with the dyed hands. As for what to tell the manger who's tinkering with things they have no idea how to fix, just tell them "I've put measures in place to alert me if you mess with this again, so just don't do it". And if they ask you if you booby trapped it, tell them "Only someone intending to mess with the very thing I literally just said to not mess with would ask that question, so now I'm putting a padlock on it". And in this case, that manager will have NOBODY else to pin the blame on, because you need only look at someone's hands to determine blame. Getting caught like that (repeatedly) is how you "correct" a habitual liar. They might have reasons, but if you just keep not letting them have any wiggle room between their story and the truth, they'll eventually get it banged into their head that maybe lying doesn't get you anywhere. Maybe they have to lose their manager job before they learn, IDK, that's not my problem nor is it my place to try to let them slip thru the cracks. In any case, if you were to show a picture of the dyed hands and the dye-releasing tamper seal to that "tinkering" manager's boss, they'd have a lot of explaining to do about why they were touching things that are covered by service contracts with ACTUAL technicians who actually know what they're doing because they know how the things work instead of just randomly making adjustments until it either totally stops working or is (extremely rarely) fixed by "just" an adjustment (even then it's probably not fixed "properly"). It's not entrapment if you can avoid the punishment by just following the rules, after all. It's just making the rule violation readily apparent and impossible to hide.
Whole point of this is to say, "Act like a child, and you'll be treated as one." These words have served me well over my adult life. Never had a "karen" get me in trouble with my manager, never had a habitual liar make me a fool, never owed money to someone I don't trust, all of that because I can read when someone's acting like a child, and start treating them like a child. If an adult is acting like a child, that's still not "open season" for me to just be bad mannered. All I need to do is prove to them that what they're doing isn't angering me, that's enough to get half of them to stop trying to bother me. If they do something that would get them thrown out of the store, I'll kindly but firmly ask them to leave. If they don't leave, I'll call the police. However, usually if the police get involved, it's because THEY called them, in some hare-brained attempt to try to get me arrested (that's been threatened a few times, usually I'm able to explain to them that they're the one going home in cuffs if they dare try that, because I'm the one that stayed calm and their the one screaming at an employee just trying to do their job). Now, you might have gathered that I don't like being around kids, and I don't. That doesn't give me any kind of excuse to treat treat children with anything less than basic kindness and courtesy, because being bad mannered towards a child is just always the wrong decision (a lesson at least a few parents need to learn or re-learn, which saddens me). I will also do my best to answer their questions honestly (with the usual exceptions about certain topics). I will never lie to a child, and if they ask me a question that I can't answer because of their age, I'll simply tell them "I can't answer that until you're old enough. (however many years old that is) is old enough, and not a second sooner."
I think that you should also consider the Global Warming Potential of those refrigerants more when not fixing leaks.. For example just 1 kg (ca. 2.2 pounds) of R404A has a GWP equivalent to 3920 kg of CO2. That's almost a third of the CO2 that a person in the USA emits in a whole year.
It protects the compressor and the oil return port at the bottom of the accumulator. They really dont restrict refrigerant flow. Ialways add a HH suction drier on comp replacements that had electrical failure to catch any organics then change it later.
IMHO the Stratus' ace in the hole is its Cloud Hunt mode. Can help you in various situations, particularly at either extreme - tiny trace leaks that leave only a little amount floating in the box, so you know to reach for Big Blue, or large blow-outs that overwhelm normal modes.
This channel is about replacing motors, compressors and entire units. Guess this makes them more money so why not. I have watched a lot of this guy's videos and haven't seen him fix a thing.
@@dd19892 He has many videos, where he fixes the things. These small leak repairs have been covered multiple times. But I understand that changing a component may be often better, in case the thing is either consumable or wear item.
Its also looking ahead, assuming the evaporator is of equal age to the compressor they might be thinking that the evaporator is getting to the point of starting to get leaks everywhere. So new evaporator, looks like the pressure control may need to be replaced as well(likely to of been damaged when the low pressure cutoff was set to beyond normal range). When the cost of expected near term replacement parts starts to exceed a certain percentage of total replacement cost its best to replace. Also downtime on resturants freezers/refrigeration/exhausts can lead to a lot of cost in destroyed product/having to close down.
@@dd19892 LOL, we actually make more $$$$ servicing old units like this over time. Once they start to age and like that, they become your best friend as you spend so much time together. The failures are not just expensive in labor and parts, but product loss can be in the tens of thousands if you lose a large restaurant freezer or cooler. If the restaurant is bizzy then you also have the loss of revenue if the food is bad u can't serve customers. Replacing the equipment is often the cheapest and longest lasting fix you can do and there is a good chance the new equipment will be more energy efficient also. GREAT JOB CHRIS!
Actually a decent looking system relative to what I see. 19 months is a pretty slow leak. I would have at least thrown some leak seal at it and go from there. Hate to condemn equipment that may have another 5 years on it.
I would make a point to tell your customer all the things that cost their company extra money and how that may affect his or her future raises because they're spending so much on HVAC repairs. Like just for an FYI if you did happen to adjust that pressure control you could've cost your company an unnecessary $3000 extra for an overtime compressor change out.
Sa-Bu-Son.... I had a leak at work on a chiller unit that cools hydrolic fluid. Now their is oil all over the place, so saying look that fitting it has oil on it, their is the leak will never ever ever happen. So this supervisor walks up, and calls the unit a pos, grabs my big blue and starts shooting at the unit wildly. He hit the sight glass on a fluke and it started to bubble around it. I was like holy shit! I pump the unit down cut it out, and just put in a copper until I get another sight glass. I took it back to my office, and the top ring was loose. I have never seen that, however it makes sense, it has to be put together right?
usually they have permanent thread locker applied and won't come apart without torch heating to death to release it. maybe last installer absolutely nuked it on install?
Weekend is "get er running" and go home or even another call. You should work where its cold in the winter where winter charge is critical. It gets down to -20f here and working with metal and tools at those temps isn't fun.
Saw that you were running the JB temp probes. Eh. The price point is way too high. For that money you can get 6 pieces from Fieldpiece. Air, pressure, temperature.
I have always been perplexed over the years of watching you, that you fully charge a leaking system before actually looking for the leak! Can you explain that? I understand Sunday call and overtime charge…. That said, a quickie wand with an electronic may reveal a loose stem at a Shreader, loose flare nut fitting, etc. A quickie check could eliminate a return trip.
It can take a long time to find the leak, for one. For another, if the system is very low on refrigerant, the leak may not be producing enough to show definitively. Lastly, the customer wants everything cooled back down ASAP, and then you can find the leak while it's cold, and plan the shut off and fix.
Also a leak is easier to find with a full charge. If the leak is slightly hidden by components or insulation it may bleed out and be detected with a leak detector inches and inches away from the physical leak.
@@HardKnocks101 my idea is if refrogera t is 50 percent full and it follows 1 psi for each degree of f temperature, then the system pressure when not running is half. On a 60 degree day, system off the system is 30psi. You can easily add refrigerant, leak check, mark leaks, recover refrigerant.
That can be difficult though. Especially if the equipment is brought and owned by the customer. As it appears in this case it is. It is afterall their equipment, they want to fiddle nothing really you can do to stop them doing so. All you can do is point out that their "fiddling" could cost someone their life and certainly make any repairs / adjustments cost a whole lot more than would have needed to be otherwise. In a lot of cases you are contracted to repair equipment which is broken and is owned / brought by the customer. Not equipment which you own... If it is your equipment which is being leased by the customer totally different kettle of fish and you can fully control it however much you want. But, otherwise........
If I was a Tech, whether or not I just do the minimum to get then running for a day or 2 or go to town and fix absolutely everything while on time-and-a-half (or double-time) would depend of a few factors... - How busy my Schedule is for the next week or so. - What I had planned for that day off. - Does the Customer do Preventative Maintenance or just wait for everything to crap out and then call me in a panic because the equipment is down. and the most important factor... - What kind of Attitude does the Customer give me on any given visit - i.e. are they respectful of me and my time and otherwise nice polite people or are they rude, arrogant Pains-In-My-Ass and regularly Piss me Off? if it's the former, then I will do the minimum and save them some money...if they're a Royal PITA, then I go to town on Labour and Parts (without deliberately going slow just to maximize my time on site) and burn as much of their money as I can without Breaking the Law by excessively dragging my heels and committing Time Theft... Basically, treat me like a Human Being just trying to earn a Living and I'll be as gentle to your Budget as I can...treat me like something below the dog shit you scrape off your shoes and your budget is going to scream for mercy while I cackle like a Demented Madman... 😄😁😆😅😂🤣
Oh, I bet $100 he called his boss and his boss said have you looked at it first, might be able to fix it and the guy said maybe, boss said try to fix it before we call someone
The store manager is watching your videos and now thinks he's a refrigeration tech 😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂
Hilarious 😂
That's my favorite! There's a youtube video out about it and I can do it myself! That's when I get the phone call , my husband did this!
Busted🫠
XD dude
When I started out in Residential/light-commercial, we tried to do what we could to get the customer up and running temporarily during after-hours, and come back on straight time to do a more comprehensive check-up and repair.
A lot of residential companies in my area have even priced themselves out of having to run on-call altogether, and there’s a greater emphasis on work-life balance.
Since switching to Commercial Refrigeration, none of that has applied.
Companies in that sector, in my area, don’t like to say “No”
or even attempt to price themselves out of overtime rates.
It’s gotta be fixed. It’s gotta be fixed TODAY. Whatever it takes, whatever it is. Even if it’s something as menial as an REAC with a leaking coil on a Sunday.
"Someone must have hit it" - Yeah, that happens all the time. When the evap unit gets bumped, the sheet metals screws unwind, fall out, and the cover comes off. You would think they could design better units....
"Someone got in here and cranked on the low pressure control" - What would this manager say about that?"
Ahhh the joy of dealing with liars in the world. Just another reminder that one must CYA, watch your back, and charge full price, don't pay attention to the 'poor mouth' stories.
GREAT JOB CHRIS!
I hate it when customers try to fix it before they call you. Had a customer today who is 100 miles from supply house self-diagnosed a Manitowoc ice machine as a bad control board. He said it was doing a lot of weird stuff. I asked him if it was going into safe mode (safe mode means bad ITP or water level probe) and he said no. I picked up a board AND a water level probe AND Ice Thickness Probe JUST in case he MAY be wrong, wink wink.
Got there and started machine and guess what? Yup runs one batch then after harvest goes straight to safe mode. Changed both probes as unit is 6 years old and no more safe mode. He also was playing with gauges that had 4 foot hoses on it. Wasn't sure if he purged hoses before so I removed charged and weighed in new. He is too far out to guess and make return call.
That's good follow through. I can't count how many techs I see that never follow through and make sure the repair was done with confidence.
For after hours calls unless it's a major issue that I can fix while I'm there, it'll be triage until I can get back to it during the week. Great video as always!
I love your show man. You have so much knowledge about what you're doing and when you're doing it it's teaching us so much bro you have no idea I've been in the field 10 years not on refrigeration but as an HVAC technician I love your channel man I wish I could make one just like you brother.
That Stratus is a leak-searching super power. Worth every penny.
Love mine
Money maker for sure. I charge $60.00 just to turn it on. I did have to replace the sensor a couple days ago which was $130.00. But that's why I charge just to use it. Two leak checks and it's paid for.
i am 3 rd generation and have been working over 50 years....and i like watching your vids. great work ethics. we need more young people like you.
I work in the medical industry fixing medical imaging equipment, so I try to minimize down time as much as possible. Usually I try to get stuff done in a single visit. Typically for weekend work, I try to get all the major stuff fixed, and push smaller stuff to the next PM visit
In my field service days in the oil/gas/power generation equipment, we mostly did 'Get it up & running' during after hours trouble calls if it was at all possible. Your Sunday visit certainly represents the type of approach I'd take with troublecalls. Good work as always, Chris!
The company that I had worked for before working at a school district wanted you to repair the unit no matter the issue so they would not have to go back at the site anymore, but there’s several problems with that. They were accepting companies that never used us before on the weekends for emergencies, they had leaks, dead compressors, and shorts! And you had to have them all running before the weekend was over, with you and maybe one other tech! Did it for 12 freaking years before I got smart and left that company! This was all in the DFW area! Learned a lot , learned not to do that again ever!
Have you ever tried front seating the king valve of the receiver and charging through the liquid line. That is what I do. It pumps down and the vacuum from the compressor sucks it in the liquid line and through the evap. Always felt it was safest for the compressor . Just a thought.
24*7 equipment should always have all included service/maintenance contracts on it, for a fixed monthly/yearly fee that increases with the age of the equipment. The tech maintaining it will be motivated to do an excellent maintenance job, which will minimize the chance they'll need to come out at night or in weekends. Owner will be encouraged to replace it before it gets too expensive to keep it running.
...But unfortunately, a lot of equipment comes with "users"...
😂 unfortunately a lot of tech comes with users! Best line ive heard in a long time
I wanted to say thank you! I just replaced the capacitor on my dishwasher motor that wouldn't start and was hot. Thanks to seeing it during one of you're debugging video's. A 2 euro fix instead of a new dishwasher.
As a new tech man this is really great information I’ve started in hvac/r since school and that was in may and your vids I’ve been watching for about 3 years and just wanna salute you for the many tips you have given .
Make notes on service sheet. "Arrived on site found side cover off. LP set below zero" take pictures on arrival and leaving.Tell your guys the same
because if/when something happens he will dump on you to cover his arse as sure as eggs is eggs.
The company I work for is more or less trying to prevent weekend service calls. I remember when a customer called and wanted us to come out on overtime and my boss was like „Are absolutely, 100% certain, that you want us to come out on a sunday evening/night for a non critical system, that has been down for at least 48h?“. Yes the customer wanted…
I keep enjoying your videos even though I fell like skipping steps more and more often because time constraints. Keep going and thanks for your work.
If I have to go out on an OT service call, I typically will get them going if I'm able to. I will send the customer a quote to do any other repairs, cleanings, etc.
I'm retraining currently and definitely feel my age, considering all the industries where I could be a field technician. A little late to start some of them. Think it'll be electrical/automation or try to pursue engineering.
Thanks for showing us how it is in HVACR!
Look at Schneider Electric as they need techs for their cooling equipment in data centers…
@@EarlHayward Thanks for the suggestion! The industrial estate that used to be repair shops and small factories in my old neighbourhood has been turning into office buildings and data centres, so I guess that's where we're headed.
11:00 most people would say that is a wrench, but i know better. that is a pressure control percussive maintenance tool. it just happens to double as a wrench to.
Glasgow screwdriver.
But, I am still curious what his heat generating device was as it was so sophisticated he decided to hide it from us…
"Get the pressure control to kick on. Once it kicks on." *clank* "...try to get it to kick on."
lol
For locations like this you might want to consider marking screws and adjustment points with tamper evident paint. Something that tells the manager “I will know if you’ve messed with this”
I have never been told the difference between the valves. I probably will never forget now.
If telling him that trying to fix it himself could kill somebody, maybe instead you have to explain to him that his attempts are costing him money.
If he's only the manager, he probably doesn't care. Because it's not his money.
@@Mr424242424242424242 If thats true why would he try fixing it in the first place? It almost always comes down to people being cheap lol
He probably saved enough money changing his first capacitor that he’s forever conditioned to try to solve the problem himself. The bids I typically get from HVAC companies are often lower than buying a completely new AC, which I can install myself.
GOOD MAN MAKING TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY. ⚘⚘⚘
I have watched loads of your stuff you are an amazing and clever guy and such a great teacher.... great stuff keep it up
Kevin from UK England !
Thanks so much
I just bought all my guys the new flir edge pro thermal cameras that are Bluetooth, the pics I get back from them on diagnostic calls are awesome, I like how you can display 4 temps at certain spots on an image, I also like how you can set it inside the blower compartment and monitor with the panel closed from your phone. Great video!
Sporlan has two bulletins 90-30 which covers the application and operation of head pressure control valves. And 90-30-1 which covers the proper charging. There are 3 states the valve may be in, no bypass, partial bypass, or total bypass depending on system load and ambient temperature. 90-30-1 explains how to determine condenser volume and a chart indicating how much refrigerant to add to ensure proper low temperature operation.
On the weekend its mostly get it up and running...a lot of what breaks on what i work on isn't at the supply house anyway and has to be ordered. Some smaller type repairs yes, open a supply house for a simple repair, yes.....you got a leaking flash tank on a York YCIV.....can't help you much on a Saturday or Sunday....or Monday for that matter. Quote it and let the customer decide what we do until it comes in.
We typically just get the system operating. We try not to open the supply houses because most of our contracts are full coverage contract, meaning we pay for the materials. Also, most of the parts we would need aren’t typically on hand.
Great instructional video, Chris! Love what you do for the industry
I love your videos. I think I am going to be a tec when I get a job and this will help me learn thank you.
Goes to show you Bro a little knowledge is a VERY dangerous thing! They watch you once and now they are refrigeration tech not a Manager! 😂
I work in Controls. So watching what you do is cool as I used to do that work
Here in the UK we are not allowed to put refrigerant in if the system is leaking, you have to find the leak first.
Some states in the US are like this. In Washington you can't gas up a system without fixing the leak.
Great video. I really like how you systematically share with us the process and break down of these service calls.
After hours service call priority is to get them up and running - repairing the issue is left to the discretion of the tech - which can be many factors including what the service call interfered with at home, motivation, attitude, how much time repair will take, etc.
Thanks for another great vid!
like ya train of thought all good chris we work hard enough hope to catch up 1 day in your part of the planet.Cheers for your great work.
I’m an electrician I find these videos entertaining
Great Video. Thank you for sharing
I usually leave the option to the customer usually they say come back when it's not so expensive haha.....I love your videos man you've been an inspiration to me on how to conduct myself out in the field. Big Picture for the win!!
Good work 👍
Another really great video!! Keep up the great work fella!!!
I usually just get operational and come back. Thank you!
when i am out on a servicecall on weekends, i fix everything. Unless i have to order parts. In my country it is eligal to fill a system with a leak. We have to empthy the charge and fix the leak, even if the customer will replace the equiptment. Maybe i should come to U.S and work for you :)
i usually get them up and going unless its a issue that wont hold out till the regular hours or the customer asks to stay and complete it i give that option great video Chris as always.
Had filter dryer fail on a multiplex not allowing flow back to the compressor that was a fun one. Thanks for sharing per usual.
#respect Chris always enjoy checking in here....Bill Havasu az.
In most cases we got them operational and went back later. I would say 90-95% of the time it was a dirty condenser on the freezer. White fuzzies from Poplar trees.
Your an amazing teacher! I pray i find a mentor like you 🙏
Hi. Chris
Has. Always. Good stuff.
And. Enjoying. This. Videos
Keep caming
Over the pond we’d be shot for topping the charge off. Most of the time it’s a long evening if it’s leaking regardless of the day of the week.
Awesome video
As a journeyman hvacr tech, when I find the customer has played with the unit, I charge extra if I need to correct what some one did, as a lesson that they will pay big costs if damage occurs, so education is expensive, even if they never learn, they will still pay...I enjoy your videos and have learnt lots of tips..thanks and be safe brother..
Depends, if i know i have to go back then one and done, if i only see the equipment once then ill just get it going, most customers want the equipment running and dont want to pay after hours rate to fix the whole thing, so ill fix the leak or replace the belt and tell them about the other stuff.
Why do most refrigeration condensing unit not come with accumulators? This one has one but most do not, that I’ve come across.
I’m so envious of your tools, but so happy to see the new stuff like the jb hygrometer
Lol. Love it when customers f with things.
Had one that did things like you had here, they wouldnt stop messing with things, and of course it was always my fault.
Finally had to go to corp and complain, it stopped immediatly.
When I went out on a er call the only goal was to get it running 'til next day or whole weekend. Then come back on normal hours to troubleshoot and fix the problems once for all
Same with you, unless my wife is working or busy with something else, I just get them up and running. I'd much rather be at home.
Makin it to the end of the video gang!
👇
Since I work as a biomedical engineer at a hospital I unfortunately always have to go all out, even on weekend calls.
I usually just get them going, fix as much as needed to get them running. Our on call is insane at times, so I usually don’t have time to get everything done that needs to be done.
Yes, weekends are “ gas and go” where I am, if that doesn’t work, stuff gets put on ice.
I follow your standard operating procedure....
Like you said depends how busy I am. But I am not spending a lot of time on a Saturday and Sunday I do have a question what do you use to heat up your receiver.
It's kind of like trying to drink from a firehose. But man, that's a lot of information! It's easy to tell you understand exactly what you're talking about!! Normally what I do is if it's on fire. I put the fire out, then I get him through until I can get back there and work on it just like you normally do. If it's a triped g f c I then I'll see you when I have time! L o l
That Alco solenoid valve has an O-ring gasket that you will find no longer has a round cross section it has become square, hot gas passing thru the valve from the head pressure control valve and operating with low charge caused this.
or an o-ring where there shouldn't be one to start with, because it will fail for sure. they always do with age, used or not.
I saw you using that Glasgow screwdriver as a hammer on the pressure control.
If we go out after hours we get stuff working and schedule to come back next week.
Where my service calls are I fix the problems due to the distance if I have the parts
Hi there I'm so interested in this career path love this trade so much. I've been reading books watching videos on this trade any advice on how to get certified as an HVAC technician. Love your show and keep sharing your knowledge it so helpful to people like me 😂keep in cooled
Awesome 🙌👌👍😊🍀
So, if the store manager is the "touchy feely" kind of person, I'd do 2 things:
1. Tamper-evident tags/labels, with "Licensed service technicians only" printed on them or something scary and official sounding like that on it.
Hopefully, they see that, think "maybe if I touch this and it breaks I pay for the fix out of pocket". Maybe that keeps them away.
2. Somehow rig up one of those permanently skin-staining "indelible dye marking" tags that they use to ruin the value of stolen clothing to the access panels, with a way for you to (with a key, probably) render the "don't touch that" device inert.
Those tags are highly effective at preventing tampering, theft, and/or vandalism, and they're why it's very rare that you hear of some grown adult pulling a fire alarm without an actual fire and getting away for it. All you have to do to catch the perpetrator is look for someone with the dyed hands.
As for what to tell the manger who's tinkering with things they have no idea how to fix, just tell them "I've put measures in place to alert me if you mess with this again, so just don't do it". And if they ask you if you booby trapped it, tell them "Only someone intending to mess with the very thing I literally just said to not mess with would ask that question, so now I'm putting a padlock on it".
And in this case, that manager will have NOBODY else to pin the blame on, because you need only look at someone's hands to determine blame.
Getting caught like that (repeatedly) is how you "correct" a habitual liar. They might have reasons, but if you just keep not letting them have any wiggle room between their story and the truth, they'll eventually get it banged into their head that maybe lying doesn't get you anywhere.
Maybe they have to lose their manager job before they learn, IDK, that's not my problem nor is it my place to try to let them slip thru the cracks.
In any case, if you were to show a picture of the dyed hands and the dye-releasing tamper seal to that "tinkering" manager's boss, they'd have a lot of explaining to do about why they were touching things that are covered by service contracts with ACTUAL technicians who actually know what they're doing because they know how the things work instead of just randomly making adjustments until it either totally stops working or is (extremely rarely) fixed by "just" an adjustment (even then it's probably not fixed "properly").
It's not entrapment if you can avoid the punishment by just following the rules, after all. It's just making the rule violation readily apparent and impossible to hide.
Whole point of this is to say, "Act like a child, and you'll be treated as one."
These words have served me well over my adult life.
Never had a "karen" get me in trouble with my manager, never had a habitual liar make me a fool, never owed money to someone I don't trust, all of that because I can read when someone's acting like a child, and start treating them like a child.
If an adult is acting like a child, that's still not "open season" for me to just be bad mannered.
All I need to do is prove to them that what they're doing isn't angering me, that's enough to get half of them to stop trying to bother me. If they do something that would get them thrown out of the store, I'll kindly but firmly ask them to leave.
If they don't leave, I'll call the police. However, usually if the police get involved, it's because THEY called them, in some hare-brained attempt to try to get me arrested (that's been threatened a few times, usually I'm able to explain to them that they're the one going home in cuffs if they dare try that, because I'm the one that stayed calm and their the one screaming at an employee just trying to do their job).
Now, you might have gathered that I don't like being around kids, and I don't.
That doesn't give me any kind of excuse to treat treat children with anything less than basic kindness and courtesy, because being bad mannered towards a child is just always the wrong decision (a lesson at least a few parents need to learn or re-learn, which saddens me).
I will also do my best to answer their questions honestly (with the usual exceptions about certain topics).
I will never lie to a child, and if they ask me a question that I can't answer because of their age, I'll simply tell them "I can't answer that until you're old enough. (however many years old that is) is old enough, and not a second sooner."
I think that you should also consider the Global Warming Potential of those refrigerants more when not fixing leaks.. For example just 1 kg (ca. 2.2 pounds) of R404A has a GWP equivalent to 3920 kg of CO2. That's almost a third of the CO2 that a person in the USA emits in a whole year.
Love these videos!
Hey hvacr videos! I remember this system from your new years 2023 special.
I remember that because of the hum noise which is coming from something
0:07 that evaporator is also familiar
Never seen a suction filter on a tiny condensing unit like that, must hurt the efficiency quite a bit and accumulator? Why on the suction side
It protects the compressor and the oil return port at the bottom of the accumulator. They really dont restrict refrigerant flow. Ialways add a HH suction drier on comp replacements that had electrical failure to catch any organics then change it later.
I have the Dtek-3, seems to work well. It looks like yours but doesn’t have the fancy display. For finding leaks is it as good as the stratus?
IMHO the Stratus' ace in the hole is its Cloud Hunt mode. Can help you in various situations, particularly at either extreme - tiny trace leaks that leave only a little amount floating in the box, so you know to reach for Big Blue, or large blow-outs that overwhelm normal modes.
What do you call the service valves on an old semi hermetic compressor?
suction and discharge service valves
Does it make any sense to replace this unit, if it's working just fine and the tiny leak can be easily fixed?
This channel is about replacing motors, compressors and entire units. Guess this makes them more money so why not. I have watched a lot of this guy's videos and haven't seen him fix a thing.
@@dd19892then you havent been watching his channel.
@@dd19892 He has many videos, where he fixes the things. These small leak repairs have been covered multiple times. But I understand that changing a component may be often better, in case the thing is either consumable or wear item.
Its also looking ahead, assuming the evaporator is of equal age to the compressor they might be thinking that the evaporator is getting to the point of starting to get leaks everywhere. So new evaporator, looks like the pressure control may need to be replaced as well(likely to of been damaged when the low pressure cutoff was set to beyond normal range). When the cost of expected near term replacement parts starts to exceed a certain percentage of total replacement cost its best to replace. Also downtime on resturants freezers/refrigeration/exhausts can lead to a lot of cost in destroyed product/having to close down.
@@dd19892 LOL, we actually make more $$$$ servicing old units like this over time. Once they start to age and like that, they become your best friend as you spend so much time together. The failures are not just expensive in labor and parts, but product loss can be in the tens of thousands if you lose a large restaurant freezer or cooler. If the restaurant is bizzy then you also have the loss of revenue if the food is bad u can't serve customers.
Replacing the equipment is often the cheapest and longest lasting fix you can do and there is a good chance the new equipment will be more energy efficient also.
GREAT JOB CHRIS!
Actually a decent looking system relative to what I see. 19 months is a pretty slow leak. I would have at least thrown some leak seal at it and go from there. Hate to condemn equipment that may have another 5 years on it.
I would make a point to tell your customer all the things that cost their company extra money and how that may affect his or her future raises because they're spending so much on HVAC repairs. Like just for an FYI if you did happen to adjust that pressure control you could've cost your company an unnecessary $3000 extra for an overtime compressor change out.
Time to get some tamper seals on the equipment to see if they're messing with it.
Do you ever use dye in systems?
I triage and get operational on weekends.
Install tamper resistant fasteners at this store equipment
just like an auto tech bring a paint pen and mark bolts nuts and knobs were you set it and tell them if the stuff is moved its on them if it breaks
Sa-Bu-Son.... I had a leak at work on a chiller unit that cools hydrolic fluid. Now their is oil all over the place, so saying look that fitting it has oil on it, their is the leak will never ever ever happen. So this supervisor walks up, and calls the unit a pos, grabs my big blue and starts shooting at the unit wildly. He hit the sight glass on a fluke and it started to bubble around it. I was like holy shit! I pump the unit down cut it out, and just put in a copper until I get another sight glass. I took it back to my office, and the top ring was loose. I have never seen that, however it makes sense, it has to be put together right?
usually they have permanent thread locker applied and won't come apart without torch heating to death to release it. maybe last installer absolutely nuked it on install?
Weekend is "get er running" and go home or even another call.
You should work where its cold in the winter where winter charge is critical. It gets down to -20f here and working with metal and tools at those temps isn't fun.
The company I work for pretty much mandates a “get them up and running until Monday”, so what’s we do.
How long until we cant say king or queen valve?
Saw that you were running the JB temp probes. Eh. The price point is way too high. For that money you can get 6 pieces from Fieldpiece. Air, pressure, temperature.
I have always been perplexed over the years of watching you, that you fully charge a leaking system before actually looking for the leak! Can you explain that? I understand Sunday call and overtime charge…. That said, a quickie wand with an electronic may reveal a loose stem at a Shreader, loose flare nut fitting, etc. A quickie check could eliminate a return trip.
It can take a long time to find the leak, for one. For another, if the system is very low on refrigerant, the leak may not be producing enough to show definitively. Lastly, the customer wants everything cooled back down ASAP, and then you can find the leak while it's cold, and plan the shut off and fix.
Also a leak is easier to find with a full charge. If the leak is slightly hidden by components or insulation it may bleed out and be detected with a leak detector inches and inches away from the physical leak.
@@miken6imy thx rook
@@miken6imy that’s like smashing your toe to confirm it hurts, not very smart but certainly effective!
@@HardKnocks101 my idea is if refrogera t is 50 percent full and it follows 1 psi for each degree of f temperature, then the system pressure when not running is half. On a 60 degree day, system off the system is 30psi. You can easily add refrigerant, leak check, mark leaks, recover refrigerant.
It looks like you are going to find a way to put a lock on some things.
That can be difficult though. Especially if the equipment is brought and owned by the customer. As it appears in this case it is. It is afterall their equipment, they want to fiddle nothing really you can do to stop them doing so. All you can do is point out that their "fiddling" could cost someone their life and certainly make any repairs / adjustments cost a whole lot more than would have needed to be otherwise. In a lot of cases you are contracted to repair equipment which is broken and is owned / brought by the customer. Not equipment which you own... If it is your equipment which is being leased by the customer totally different kettle of fish and you can fully control it however much you want. But, otherwise........
Man I'd go to work for you and be a door heater tech ........
that "tiny leak" on the solenoid valve could be under higher pressure when pumped down and may be leaking worse. 🤔
If I was a Tech, whether or not I just do the minimum to get then running for a day or 2 or go to town and fix absolutely everything while on time-and-a-half (or double-time) would depend of a few factors...
- How busy my Schedule is for the next week or so.
- What I had planned for that day off.
- Does the Customer do Preventative Maintenance or just wait for everything to crap out and then call me in a panic because the equipment is down.
and the most important factor...
- What kind of Attitude does the Customer give me on any given visit - i.e. are they respectful of me and my time and otherwise nice polite people or are they rude, arrogant Pains-In-My-Ass and regularly Piss me Off? if it's the former, then I will do the minimum and save them some money...if they're a Royal PITA, then I go to town on Labour and Parts (without deliberately going slow just to maximize my time on site) and burn as much of their money as I can without Breaking the Law by excessively dragging my heels and committing Time Theft...
Basically, treat me like a Human Being just trying to earn a Living and I'll be as gentle to your Budget as I can...treat me like something below the dog shit you scrape off your shoes and your budget is going to scream for mercy while I cackle like a Demented Madman...
😄😁😆😅😂🤣
At what point will you stop servicing their equipment if they are playing with it?
💪👍🇺🇸❄️ great vid n information thanks for sharing
Oh, I bet $100 he called his boss and his boss said have you looked at it first, might be able to fix it and the guy said maybe, boss said try to fix it before we call someone