DIY AC installation - how hard can it be?

[Dragfluid]

A lot of "interesting" posts here. Z brings up many good points, that I agree with.
Being a professional auto mechanic for 40+ years, I've had my share of people that wanted to play mechanic instead of paying the "evil, overpriced pro".

The end results are usually comical.

Like the old saying goes: Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[oilslick]

HVAC work is as hard as rebuilding an engine. If it's your first time you are going to **** something up and you better know somebody that knows what they are doing and willing to bail you out.

Brian

You gotta be shittin me!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

EPA section 608 does NOT required that you're certified to work on HVAC system as an apprentice.

That was never even brought up...

Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You're not going to get into any sort of legal trouble working on your own's home's AC unit. I see people peddle this all the time.

I'd love to see one documented prosecution of a homeowner adding refrigerant into their own AC unit and getting any sort of legal punishment.

Now if you start charging to work on OTHER people's HVAC equipment as a technician for pay without the proper licenses, that's when you can get into legal trouble.

An uncertified refrigerant handler may only service/purchase R410a and 134a systems. no one is allowed to intentionally release ANY refrigerant into the atmosphere.

Now, from the realistic point of view, you're correct, no homeowner has ever been criminally charged for working on their own equipment. There has been one individual who was convicted of a refrigerant related violation. He was blatantly selling R22 on Craigslist.

"Unlicensed" individuals are prohibited from working on HVAC equipment (with the exceptions I listed) but it's not an enforceable law. That's because there are no penalties listed for doing so and in order to be prosecuted for violating a law penalties must exist.

Tommy

 

[AR15Texan]

You can get a Fieldpiece Digital Micron gauge for $143.

 

[AR15Texan]

An uncertified refrigerant handler may only service/purchase R410a and 134a systems. no one is allowed to intentionally release ANY refrigerant into the atmosphere.

Now, from the realistic point of view, you're correct, no homeowner has ever been criminally charged for working on their own equipment. There has been one individual who was convicted of a refrigerant related violation. He was blatantly selling R22 on Craigslist.

"Unlicensed" individuals are prohibited from working on HVAC equipment (with the exceptions I listed) but it's not an enforceable law. That's because there are no penalties listed for doing so and in order to be prosecuted for violating a law penalties must exist.

Tommy

"ANY" refrigerant, CO2 is a registered refrigerant R744 and I'm releasing some into the atmosphere right now.

 

[Davefr]

HVAC work is as hard as rebuilding an engine. If it's your first time you are going to **** something up and you better know somebody that knows what they are doing and willing to bail you out.

Brian

^^Pure B.S. IMHO.

If you can read and have the ability to pay attention to details, you can do HVAC work and can usually do it better then 90% of the "pros" out there.

The reason is it's your own home and you can take your time to do it the right way vs. the fast way.

It's hard for a homeowner to be an expert in overall HVAC but they can definitely be an expert on their own home's HVAC system.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

"ANY" refrigerant, CO2 is a registered refrigerant R744 and I'm releasing some into the atmosphere right now.

Your soda or beer doesn't count for the EPA, but it does for the Global Warming advocates.

Seriously, you're right. I should clarify the regulations prohibit the release of ozone depleting refrigerants or their substitutes.



Tommy

 

[Dragfluid]

Your soda or beer doesn't count for the EPA, but it does for the Global Warming advocates.

Seriously, you're right. I should clarify the regulations prohibit the release of ozone depleting refrigerants or their substitutes.



Tommy

Some people's "methane" that they release should be punishable by law.

 

[justinjoyal]

It's hard for a homeowner to be an expert in overall HVAC but they can definitely be an expert on their own home's HVAC system.

Right... because you become an expert the first time you're installing hvac, 'cause it's your home..

 

[bazar01]

HVAC work is as hard as rebuilding an engine. If it's your first time you are going to **** something up and you better know somebody that knows what they are doing and willing to bail you out.

Brian

Not really.

HVAC is more complicated. It involves mechanical, electrical and thermodynamics knowledge and lots of common sense.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Not really.

HVAC is more complicated. It involves mechanical, electrical and thermodynamics knowledge and lots of common sense.

and a car that starts

 

[nsula_country]

Not really.

HVAC is more complicated. It involves mechanical, electrical and thermodynamics knowledge and lots of common sense.

Technically... An engine involves mechanical, electrical, and thermodynamics... This is fact.

Not saying that someone that can rebuild an engine should work on HVAC or vice versa.

CT

 

[Brian_WK]

You gotta be shittin me!

Nope

^^Pure B.S. IMHO.

If you can read and have the ability to pay attention to details, you can do HVAC work and can usually do it better then 90% of the "pros" out there.

The reason is it's your own home and you can take your time to do it the right way vs. the fast way.

It's hard for a homeowner to be an expert in overall HVAC but they can definitely be an expert on their own home's HVAC system.

Same could be said about engines. Factory service manuals anyone? But no for the first time nothing is easy the more complicated it gets the easier it is to screw something up no matter how much you read/google or think you know. There are many different little pieces that have to work perfectly together otherwise the whole thing explodes (literally and figuratively)

Right... because you become an expert the first time you're installing hvac, 'cause it's your home..

I agree.

Not really.

HVAC is more complicated. It involves mechanical, electrical and thermodynamics knowledge and lots of common sense.

They are both complicated neither is easy on the first try. And the more bells and whistles the more complicated it becomes for both.

Technically... An engine involves mechanical, electrical, and thermodynamics... This is fact.

Not saying that someone that can rebuild an engine should work on HVAC or vice versa.

CT

This guy gets it. I'm not saying that they are the same thing, just as difficult and not something you want to be going alone your first time if you have no idea what you are doing or it will take 10X longer, you will be repeating steps, and you will probably make a mistake that could lead to failure big or small.

This is all in just to reference to install/rebuild. Service is a whole new ball game but still comparable.

Brian

 

[Davefr]

But no for the first time nothing is easy the more complicated it gets the easier it is to screw something up no matter how much you read/google or think you know. There are many different little pieces that have to work perfectly together otherwise the whole thing explodes (literally and figuratively)

Brian

We agree.

That's why I said it takes study and attention to detail. There's a world of difference between installing one specific HVAC system into one's home vs. having the knowledge to diagnose and repair the whole gamut of HVAC systems out there.

 

[AR15Texan]

So what did you end up doing OP?

 

[firworks]

So what did you end up doing OP?

He decided to go to law school and become an HVAC lawyer since there's clearly a great need for them.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I have a pump - I'll do auto AC, but call somebody for the house. Too many things to go wrong. If these are rentals, remember you are an "active participant" and every nickle is deductible. Helps reduce your rental income to the IRS and if done properly it's one less likely call from a tenant.

I'll take stationary equipment over auto ac work any time.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

The original question thread was never "Am I legally allowed to work on my own AC equipment" it was "how hard can it be?"

For whatever strange reason, you seem to be the one obsessed with this question of whether its "legal" and how the guy should ask the city first. The guy is not a technician working on other people's equipment.

Do you really think even if there is a building code code on the books about repairing your own AC that its going to be enforced on a homeowner?


I was just responding to all the EPA silliness about the certifications and how they are going to go after some homeowner for DIY AC repair on his own AC.


What is so hard to understand about that?

No it wasnr,but theres,been enough arm chair lawyers,on this,post saying what can and can't be done.
So why not just go straight to the local source instead of getting your **** in a sling over it?

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

HVAC work is as hard as rebuilding an engine. If it's your first time you are going to **** something up and you better know somebody that knows what they are doing and willing to bail you out.

Brian

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Not really.

HVAC is more complicated. It involves mechanical, electrical and thermodynamics knowledge and lots of common sense.

Get a cam degreed in the wrong position and tell me how,simple it is to build a motor after you bump it over and bend a bunch of valves.
Although most home owners have a tough enough time sweating a copper water line that holds in the neighborhood of 65psi,let alone an ac lineset that as the potential of holding 300 plus psi.
Oh hell,who am I kidding?
The typical homeowner who calls me can't grasp the concept of tightening the jamb nut on a plastic p trap under their own sink.

 

[Milton Shaw]

What gets me is that nobody went after the copper scrappers that were venting R22 every time they stole a coil and ruined someones a/c to the tune of $5000 or so. If a tech gets fined $10,000 why didn't the scrapper get fined every time he took a coil to the scrap yard. They knew he took it out of service so he could pay for his drug habit.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

What gets me is that nobody went after the copper scrappers that were venting R22 every time they stole a coil and ruined someones a/c to the tune of $5000 or so. If a tech gets fined $10,000 why didn't the scrapper get fined every time he took a coil to the scrap yard. They knew he took it out of service so he could pay for his drug habit.

The "Techs" that get fined are ones that have been observed venting, were reported, investigated and found guilty.

What proof does the scrapper have to give to the EPA that the copper being turned in was from a system that was vented and who's watching a meth head at 2:00 in the dark back yard of someone's property to see him do it?

Tommy

 

[nsula_country]

HVAC work is as hard as rebuilding an engine. If it's your first time you are going to **** something up and you better know somebody that knows what they are doing and willing to bail you out.

Brian

This is so true!

Not just for HVAC and engine rebuilding! DYI deck building and electrical comes to mind!

CT

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

The "Techs" that get fined are ones that have been observed venting, were reported, investigated and found guilty.

What proof does the scrapper have to give to the EPA that the copper being turned in was from a system that was vented and who's watching a meth head at 2:00 in the dark back yard of someone's property to see him do it?

Tommy