A day in the life of an HVAC technician

[dezertrider]

There is always this

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0jISldCulEk

 

[Riverbound]

My office sux sometimes.

View attachment 408326

 

[Riverbound]

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25 seer. Customer keeps his house at 68 degrees year round.

 

[Riverbound]

Had to move to a different office.
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Trainee was nice enough to set up a chair so I can watch him work. Lol

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[westair]

There is always this
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0jISldCulEk

That thing's pretty amazing if it works as well as it does in the video! ..... a little pricey but probably worth every cent!

 

[530RL]

I've got to replace 25 ac units in these domes but the Carlsbad airport and FAA has not given me approval
for a crane, the new ac units have just been sitting now for a month ...the latest from them is I have to do
a survey of land elevations by a civil engineer .......complete BS
View attachment 407301 View attachment 407302

It's a pain. Federal Regs require a NOTAM in the ATIS for a crane around any airport.

You don't need FAA approval to use one of these. How much does each unit weigh?

[video=youtube;4AZiSYBVrrU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AZiSYBVrrU[/video]

 

[CampbellCarl]

View attachment 408327

25 seer. Customer keeps his house at 68 degrees year round.

Why you gotta set your tools on top of the new unit when the ground is only 3 feet away?

I wouldn't risk putting a scratch on a new unit like that...

 

[Riverbound]

Why you gotta set your tools on top of the new unit when the ground is only 3 feet away?

I wouldn't risk putting a scratch on a new unit like that...

Come on Karl.... What do you think we are rookies? The customers equipment was never in danger of being damaged. I will take it as a compliment that an install we did 2 years ago still looks new we were there doing their spring maintenance.

 

[Boschma]

What's a 25 seer unit cost? We just upgraded a farm hour to 16 and it was a big jump in cost

 

[CampbellCarl]

Come on Karl.... What do you think we are rookies? The customers equipment was never in danger of being damaged. I will take it as a compliment that an install we did 2 years ago still looks new we were there doing their spring maintenance.

Rookies...yeah, rookies put their tools on the fender, gunnel and any handy surface (like the top of that unit).

Please blame the rookie and threaten to kick ass if he does it again...

Luv 'ya

KK

 

[Riverbound]

What's a 25 seer unit cost? We just upgraded a farm hour to 16 and it was a big jump in cost

This job was right at $45k with two units and a complete reduct. 97% modulating furnaces. It's was a project for sure. The whole ocean facing side of the house is glass so you can imagine the heat load late in the day.

 

[Boschma]

Ok....I'm bitching about $1500 haha

 

[Riverbound]

Rookies...yeah, rookies put their tools on the fender, gunnel and any handy surface (like the top of that unit).

Please blame the rookie and threaten to kick ass if he does it again...

Luv 'ya

KK

If you hvac equipment can be scratched that easily. Your contractor is selling you cheap stuff. But for your sake I will talk to rookie.

 

[Riverbound]

Ok....I'm bitching about $1500 haha

Roughly (and I mean a rough generalization) a 14-16 seer jump is 200-2500

16-20 seer is 2500-3500.

There are quite a few mfrs that will claim their 14 seer. As a 16 with a special combo of furnace and coil. We don't really sell those brands. So there are some exceptions.

 

[Boschma]

Good to know thanks [emoji106]

 

[530RL]

I went through this, so I did the math. I hate sales pitches, but like math.

Here is the simple math. For a three ton unit, assuming 2500 hours per year of operation (typical manufacturers assumption) and 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour, here is the cost per year.

13 SEER = $805.00

14 SEER $747.50

16 SEER = $632.50

23 SEER = $448.50

So from there it is easy to calculate the payback depending upon the cost of the unit, how long you will own the unit, on peak versus off peak energy cost, cost of additional capital, if you use the unit more, blah, blah, blah.

I can give the long math relating to BTU, hours of use, and KWH if anyone wants it.

 

[westair]

It's a pain. Federal Regs require a NOTAM in the ATIS for a crane around any airport.

You don't need FAA approval to use one of these. How much does each unit weigh?

[video=youtube;4AZiSYBVrrU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AZiSYBVrrU[/video]

The units range from 500 to 1000lbs but this building is in the direct flight path, a little less than a mile away from landing so they do come by there low.
I think I have a couple pics I'll post up/

 

[westair]

About 50/50 small plans and corporate jets.

 

[530RL]

About 50/50 small plans and corporate jets.
View attachment 408473

Ugh, that looks like a tough one being lined up on the approach path.

 

[Riverbound]

20 seer with 5 stages of cooling pretty trick piece. Your average guy can't just work on it though.
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[Andy01]

What is "5 Stages" of cooling?

 

[Taboma]

That 20 Seer is one sweet unit, does it derive most of that rating due to having 5 stages versus 1 or 2 ?

Are you NATE certified ?

 

[Riverbound]

That 20 Seer is one sweet unit, does it derive most of that rating due to having 5 stages versus 1 or 2 ?

Are you NATE certified ?

The 20 seer rating is at full capacity.

 

[Riverbound]

What is "5 Stages" of cooling?

Basically the unit has 5 levels of outputs and the demand is what determines which "stage" is used.

Easiest way to explain is think of each stage as a percentage of the unit.
5=100% capacity
4=80
3=60
Etc.

Based on thermostat setting for cooling and time ran the unit determines what the need is and will use the appropriate amount of cooling. To cool and maintain the temperature in the home. At different times of the day there are different demands and load on the house so you don't always need 100% of your system capacity to cool the house.

 

[Riverbound]

That 20 Seer is one sweet unit, does it derive most of that rating due to having 5 stages versus 1 or 2 ?

Are you NATE certified ?

Yes. You can't get the high seer equipment without Nate cert.

We are also
Sdge qm and qi
Sce qm and qi
Hero
AC Quality care
Energy upgrade California
WRightsoft certified ( manual J,D,S)
And many more. But these are the hardest to get.

Working on BPI but with busy season coming up that will take a back seat. Till the winter.

 

[ka0tyk]

reminds me of my days working at Air Mechanical, Cal-Air, and Johnson Controls. Of course I was in IT working in a cool datacenter not sweating my butt off on top of a roof.

 

[Riverbound]

reminds me of my days working at Air Mechanical, Cal-Air, and Johnson Controls. Of course I was in IT working in a cool datacenter not sweating my butt off on top of a roof.

I haven't been in the field as much lately due to being focused on operational items within the company, So have definitely enjoyed being in cool office buildings. now getting back to the field work with our busy season coming up. Good thing I have guys to do the real shitty jobs for me. Most of my stuff is sales and service so I spend a lot of my day in an air conditioned truck. [emoji106]

 

[dezertrider]

I went through this, so I did the math. I hate sales pitches, but like math.

Here is the simple math. For a three ton unit, assuming 2500 hours per year of operation (typical manufacturers assumption) and 11.5 cents per kilowatt hour, here is the cost per year.

13 SEER = $805.00

14 SEER $747.50

16 SEER = $632.50

23 SEER = $448.50

So from there it is easy to calculate the payback depending upon the cost of the unit, how long you will own the unit, on peak versus off peak energy cost, cost of additional capital, if you use the unit more, blah, blah, blah.

I can give the long math relating to BTU, hours of use, and KWH if anyone wants it.

Savings are greater when you get into the 16-25 SEER Multi stage units. All of them calculate the energy costs running at full throttle at 100% capacity. When you run a 16 SEER on first stage it consumes about 60% of the full load capacity so the savings are much greater. In south OC the only time it will run at 100% is generally a 95 degree day around 3-4pm. The rest of the time it will consume 60% of its SEER rating on first stage.

Multi Stage units are bad ass!

 

[JBS]

20 seer with 5 stages of cooling pretty trick piece. Your average guy can't just work on it though.

Lucky you got employees

 

[dezertrider]

Found a snake for you Bill, I'm sure it will be waiting for you on the next PM

 

[Riverbound]

Found a snake for you Bill, I'm sure it will be waiting for you on the next PM
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I'm having john put a note in the account for me to never go there again.

 

[Ziggy]

Found a snake for you Bill, I'm sure it will be waiting for you on the next PM
View attachment 410004

I'm having john put a note in the account for me to never go there again.

I'm home now, whenever you get here should be good.:cool

 

[Riverbound]

And this is what happens when you do work for board members.lol

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[River Lynchmob]

And this is what happens when you do work for board members.lol

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At least it wasn't an alien!

 

[Ziggy]

And this is what happens when you do work for board members.lol

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I was hoping for more hysteria when you opened it

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Why you gotta set your tools on top of the new unit when the ground is only 3 feet away?

I wouldn't risk putting a scratch on a new unit like that...

I agree Carl. Never put tools on customers stuff.

 

[Riverbound]

I was hoping for more hysteria when you opened it

I was trying to figure out why you were so interested in what I was doing.

 

[wishiknew]

Found a snake for you Bill, I'm sure it will be waiting for you on the next PM
View attachment 410004

All I see is a number to your competition on the side of that unit !

 

[rlamoreaux]

I live in Lost Wages and I have 2 - 3 ton 10 SEER gas/electric package units on my roof that are almost 17 years old. I'm researching replacement units before mine fail. I'm currently looking a Goodman 3 ton 16 SEER (GPG1636080m41) on the web for $2689, no sales tax and no shipping charges. Is this a good unit or would you recommend a different unit?
PS I'm not an HVAC tech. So I will be buying these units before mine fail and when that day comes, I'll have an HVAC tech. install them.
Thanks for any help

 

[Riverbound]

I'm not a fan of goodman.

 

[Riverbound]

We were in this customers house in November and change the filter. Nothing has change from previous visits other than they're doing major construction on the freeway close to their house.

View attachment 411708

 

[Dalton]

I'm not a fan of goodman.

I have heard goodman is the cheapest

 

[Riverbound]

I have heard goodman is the cheapest

They are definitely at the bottom in regards to pricing and quality.

 

[Riverbound]

The workhorse was looking a little rough. So figured I would pamper her a bit.
View attachment 411777

 

[Riverbound]

Picking up our new van. H2oskis2drunk did a killer job on the wrap.

View attachment 411807

 

[River Lynchmob]

Looks good...no one will have a doubt where you're ftom

 

[Joe mama]

Is that a ford van? Always wondered how they were to work out of.

 

[YoPengo]

Saw the van the other day in RSM (unless you have two.) Looks good. [emoji106]

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

The workhorse was looking a little rough. So figured I would pamper her a bit.
View attachment 411777

Nice to have a car wash next to the office!! I used to go to that one all the time, now we have a guy that comes every Thursday and does them in the parking lot.

That van looks bitchin BTW.

 

[Riverbound]

Picking up our new van. H2oskis2drunk did a killer job on the wrap.

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