a rant for the HVAC guys

[Tislane]

Because someone at some point will wire/hook up/install something wrong/backwards/upside-down/to the wrong gas source, and burn their house down or get someone killed.

While you aren't that someone, the next guy might be.

Condensing furnace installed upside down. Gas valve installed backwards. Mini split outdoor unit installed below snow line. Condensing furnace drain not ran, dripping on the floor..., Condenser / evaporator fan running backwards, fan blade upside down. Compressor and fan motor wires reversed on the dual run capacitor. Drain line on horizontal unit in attic not ran properly, Motor / compressor / contactor / capacitor / thermostat / control board wired up wrong and the part is burnt up. Vent pipe not installed...

Being a contractor I refuse to sell parts to anyone because of liability, I refer them to the supply house that may or may not sell them the part.

 

[Mike007]

I believe this thread I started a while back clearly demonstrates the problem.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237933

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I get the same problem when I try and order parts for my pacemaker through medtronics!
I showed them my electrical contractors license,master plumbers license and my osha 10hr card.
They say its a liability issue since I don't have md after my name,I tell them Ive prevented more diseases with my plumbing license than they've ever cured!

 

[danski0224]

Just purchased a Chinese made capacitor for my home AC at a local wholesale only supply house, installed it myself with my USA made tools, and am now enjoying a Union made beer in air conditioned comfort.

The supply house (not naming names) did not stock the USA version of the part (they could order it for two day delivery). It would have been $30 instead of $15. How come you HVAC guys that are so uptight about protecting your work that you don't want DIYers fixing their own equipment, don't support USA manufacturing? Clearly you don't. If you did, the supply house would have had the USA cap in stock.

I'm glad that you can save yourself money & fix that stuff yourself. I'm all for it, but you have no understanding of the fact the we "uptight, protective, non-USA supporting HVAC guys" don't have a problem with DIYer's. The supply house would stock the USA made capacitor IF the cheapskate customers didn't whine about the cost difference. No business owner wants to pay taxes on shelf stock that doesn't sell. It's also not just the wholesale HVAC suppliers that won't sell to DIYer's. Try going to a commercial plumbing or electrical supplier. You'll get the same treatment...

Tommy

Pretty much the same sentiment.

What a store (supply house) stocks has a lot to do with margin. I'd be willing to wager that the Chinese part has a whole lot more profit than the USA part.

The added pressure from the supplier customers seeking cheaper parts so they (the HVAC companies in this case) can keep their margins without raising prices. This problem is driving what is on retail store shelves.

 

[danski0224]

Because someone at some point will wire/hook up/install something wrong/backwards/upside-down/to the wrong gas source, and burn their house down or get someone killed.

While you aren't that someone, the next guy might be.

Condensing furnace installed upside down. Gas valve installed backwards. Mini split outdoor unit installed below snow line. Condensing furnace drain not ran, dripping on the floor..., Condenser / evaporator fan running backwards, fan blade upside down. Compressor and fan motor wires reversed on the dual run capacitor. Drain line on horizontal unit in attic not ran properly, Motor / compressor / contactor / capacitor / thermostat / control board wired up wrong and the part is burnt up. Vent pipe not installed...

Being a contractor I refuse to sell parts to anyone because of liability, I refer them to the supply house that may or may not sell them the part.

Here are some examples of shoddy and unsafe work, installed by a union sheet metal contractor (better training, better work, right?).

Shoddy: AC evaporator coil is not blocked off properly and allows lots of bypass air.

Unsafe: water heater flue tied to clay tile chimney with aluminum pie tins. Previous furnace was a standard vent, not PVC vented, so the jacklegs that installed the PVC vent furnace did the pie tin trick.

I would expect to see this level of craftsmanship from a DIY.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Here are some examples of shoddy and unsafe work, installed by a union sheet metal contractor (better training, better work, right?).

Shoddy: AC evaporator coil is not blocked off properly and allows lots of bypass air.

Unsafe: water heater flue tied to clay tile chimney with aluminum pie tins. Previous furnace was a standard vent, not PVC vented, so the jacklegs that installed the PVC vent furnace did the pie tin trick.

I would expect to see this level of craftsmanship from a DIY.

That's pretty horrible. That isn't even the type of thing that I could say was because it was done by a Tin Knocker & not a service tech. That work is dead center in a Tin Knocker's envelope. Union shops have hacks, too. Not everyone in every trade is truly an Expert....


Tommy

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

 

[santagary]

hahahah!!

KO

X 2...our government has the same policy for nuclear warheads...they'll sell to anyone except we citizens!

 

[mygarageone]

Ok. , here's one for you.
Recently got a call from joe home owner , brand new a/c system won't work. I find out he got the system over the net ? How the hell can he buy a fully changed condenser with out the crert 's required ? I can't !
He goes on to say he had a leak in the piping and lost all of the STUFF in the lines !
Asks me if I will come fix , yes tell him the price and he goes ballistic . I'll get some one else he says. He finally calls back and tells me no one will even work on it and wants me now to come fix , I tell him no to busy you'll have to wait until heating season .
I am called names I can't use here , it's not my responsibility to fix his problems , maybe he should call the internet seller , they can sell him another fully charge system ?

 

[mygarageone]

That's pretty horrible. That isn't even the type of thing that I could say was because it was done by a Tin Knocker & not a service tech. That work is dead center in a Tin Knocker's envelope. Union shops have hacks, too. Not everyone in every trade is truly an Expert....


Tommy

We have a so called hvac guy in my area who is a hack. Been behind him several times because home owners couldn't get him to come back and fix his screw ups.
Well after one home pd us several hundred dollars to fix his screw up , they called the State of Mich and this guy got called before the regulatory agency and was heavily fined and lost his lic , because he pulled no permits and wouldn't fix his problems . But he is stil out there doing work , if they catch him he could end up going to jail . Because he was told no lic , means no installs . Installs = jail time.

 

[KingCobra98]

Ok. , here's one for you.
Recently got a call from joe home owner , brand new a/c system won't work. I find out he got the system over the net ? How the hell can he buy a fully changed condenser with out the crert 's required ? I can't !
He goes on to say he had a leak in the piping and lost all of the STUFF in the lines !
Asks me if I will come fix , yes tell him the price and he goes ballistic . I'll get some one else he says. He finally calls back and tells me no one will even work on it and wants me now to come fix , I tell him no to busy you'll have to wait until heating season .
I am called names I can't use here , it's not my responsibility to fix his problems , maybe he should call the internet seller , they can sell him another fully charge system ?

No different than backyard joe mechanic who buys his ac parts from rock auto and can't figure out how to change everything but try's anyways. So he then fails and tows the car or truck to the shop with all the parts laying in a box. Seen that almost weekly

 

[mygarageone]

No different than backyard joe mechanic who buys his ac parts from rock auto and can't figure out how to change everything but try's anyways. So he then fails and tows the car or truck to the shop with all the parts laying in a box. Seen that almost weekly

Yea isn't is something , we have to be certified to buy and install this stuff , if we screw up possible $ 10,000 fine for every infraction . But joe home can spew this stuff all day long and gets nothing , typical of the way regulators design our laws.

 

[mygarageone]

Ya , if professionals would refuse to fix some joe idiots mess , maybe they will get the pic and call us to start with .
I have come to the point that I won't work on there mess any more or they end up paying enough to have learned a lesson , maybe ?