Installing an A/C

[JunkBonds]

My son decided to install an A/C system in our latest rental property. Never done one before.

Cost? Almost 1/3 of the quote for a pro to do it.

Time to install? About 5 hours plus the time to research it. Next time it will be maybe 3 hours.

Result? It works and son is now YouTube certified!

 

[JunkBonds]

Holding 100 psi

 

[Chapter21]

But...but...but...he doesn't have a license!

There is something weird about A/C techs, they get really pissy when they see somebody doing their work. They rarely will share any tips online. I realize what trade secrets are, but it seems excessive in this industry.

 

[toyotadriver]

Nice job. I've done HVAC work on vehicles and have all the equipment to do so. I need to get some residential HVAC tools.

 

[JunkBonds]

But...but...but...he doesn't have a license!

There is something weird about A/C techs, they get really pissy when they see somebody doing their work. They rarely will share any tips online. I realize what trade secrets are, but it seems excessive in this industry.

This was really easy to do. Most won't be bothered but for the cost of about $800 in gauges and other tools it saved us about $1,500. The next installation won't have those costs so the savings will be substantially more.

The hardest part of the installation was the brazing of the lines. Now that we have learned all the tips and tricks I am afraid I can't divulge them here.

 

[davo727]

Buying the condensers and air handlers / furnaces locally seems to be the problem around here. The supply houses wont sell to a non hvac contractor. So getting these shipped to us is whats going to happen I guess. Probably miss out on warranty then but saving 2/3 of the cost makes up for that.

 

[JunkBonds]

Buying the condensers and air handlers / furnaces locally seems to be the problem around here. The supply houses wont sell to a non hvac contractor. So getting these shipped to us is whats going to happen I guess. Probably miss out on warranty then but saving 2/3 of the cost makes up for that.

That is true here too.....son found a way. It was purchased legitimately and all taxes were paid.

 

[Chapter21]

The hardest part of the installation was the brazing of the lines. Now that we have learned all the tips and tricks I am afraid I can't divulge them here.

Even then, much of it could be done with flare fittings and no brazing at all. More common with mini splits. It is amazing how much you can save if you do this.

 

[ROBZ71LM7]

But...but...but...he doesn't have a license!

There is something weird about A/C techs, they get really pissy when they see somebody doing their work. They rarely will share any tips online. I realize what trade secrets are, but it seems excessive in this industry.

Agreed! HVAC techs, in general, are the worst about sharing information and secrecy. Electricians/Plumbers/Carpenters/IE techs/others may be protective at times but are a lot less secretive and protective..

 

[acmikee]

looking at that pic of him brazing i hope he had a little more heat and on the opposite side of the fitting because he wont have enough penetration on the joint it will leak

 

[toyotadriver]

Don't take it personally OP. Lots of people on forums love to nitpick everything. Of course, they never post the pics of their projects....either because they are ashamed of them or because they don't have any projects. The first house I built, the AC was installed by a "professional". After he got done, I had to go in and fix all his screw ups. My second house build, the install was a lot better but I told the HVAC installer I wanted a 3 ton. He told me I needed a 3.5 ton. My house was extra insulated so I knew I would need a smaller unit. Unfortunately, I listened to the "professional" and went with his recommendation. Turns out, I was right. 3.5 tons is a little too large so the unit runs for shorter runs than ideal. Even a 2.5 ton would have handled my needs and a 3 ton would have been the largest size the house needs. I have seen a lot of hack installs done by "professionals". I'd trust a knowledgable amateur over a typical HVAC professional.

 

[Chapter21]

The first house I built, the AC was installed by a "professional". After he got done, I had to go in and fix all his screw ups.

I'm so tired of hearing the word "professional" as a qualification. Have you never met anybody that is bad at their job? I have! I'd say most people I come across are either bad at their job or simply do not give a ****...this goes all from the guy who mows the lawn all the way up to doctors and lawyers. Much more rare to say "wow, that guy actually did everything right and knows what he is doing!"

And those bitching about the quality - you need to learn the term "rental grade". When you own a rental house you don't really give a **** about the quality, you just want it to work as quickly and cheaply as possible. That is how the business works. I could go to my rental houses and point out all kinds of things I would not tolerate in my own home. I also OWN my own home, when I rented I did not give a **** about the air conditioner, unless it didn't work.

The house always rents for the same money whether the air conditioner cost $500 or $10,000.

 

[American Locomotive]

While some of the others may have been a bit abrasive, they are right to question it.

- Generally after brazing, you should be pressure testing at 200-350 PSI, since those are the pressures R410a runs at. A good installer will usually pressure test for at least an hour, ideally overnight.
- Proper vacuuming/evacuation of the system really requires a micron gauge - not a gauge set. You should achieve <500 microns of vacuum, and it should hold at that level when the vacuum pump is turned off.
- Proper vacuuming takes really about 45 minutes to an hour. It takes a long time to boil any moisture or other unknowns out of the compressor oil and other various components.

So it just seems a little unlikely that everything was done 100% correctly if this was a full install, including the air handler. Assuming the pressure test was at least an hour, and the vacuuming was at least an air - that leaves 3 hours to do a full install of the air handler, condensing unit, wiring, ducting, brazing and insulation. That all sounds a little unblievable - especially for a first timer. The picture of the 100 PSI pressure test, and no vacuum gauge in sight sort of adds to the idea that some shortcuts may have been taken.

I will add that I do agree a lot of HVAC "pros" are overly secretive of their craft.

 

[toyotadriver]

We see knowledgeable homeowners do HVAC installs successfully all the time here on this forum. I imagine the "professionals" around here are horrified at the gall of someone to take THEIR work from them. But the reality is, if you do some research and have mechanical ability, yes you too can install a system successfully and it will run and work for many years to come. By the way, being shirtless while working might be considered unprofessional by some but wearing clothes or not is not in any way a sign of ones' ability. As a matter of fact, I routinely see roofers installing roofs and they often are in shorts and no shirts. Guess someone needs to tell them that's unprofessional and there's no way they can install a roof correctly while not wearing a shirt.