HVAC Community Hub | Troubleshooting & Repairs | Activity https://hvachub.co/groups/troubleshooting-repairs/ Activity feed for the group, Troubleshooting & Repairs. Wed, 27 May 2026 21:23:34 +1200 https://buddypress.org/?v=3.0.2 en-US 30 hourly 2 35607a77d01833aac799648447bdbccb Fabio posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: How are you actually surviving the slow months […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7421/ Tue, 26 May 2026 23:40:00 +1200 How are you actually surviving the slow months financially as a small business owner.
Not the textbook answer. The real one.
January through March nearly killed me this year. I had two techs to pay, two truck payments, insurance, and the phone was basically silent for 6 weeks straight. I burned through almost everything I had saved from… Read more

]]> 12 6124ac3c10040e749e9c5dee13d74659 Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Something my mentor told me when I was coming up that […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7397/ Tue, 26 May 2026 11:26:00 +1200 Something my mentor told me when I was coming up that I think about a lot.
He said the customer isn’t paying for the part. They’re paying for you knowing which part it is. I was making 14/hr at the time and it changed how I thought about what I was learning. Now I own my own shop and I tell my techs the same thing.
Don’t undersell your… Read more

]]> 6 fe38d6de1135fabd8f9ad998dc76d58c Aiden posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: so my google business profile got suspended this […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7370/ Mon, 25 May 2026 23:30:00 +1200 so my google business profile got suspended this morning with zero warning
no email. no explanation. just suspended when I went to check my reviews.
been building that profile for 3 years. 94 reviews. 4.8 stars. it’s basically how I get 60% of my calls.
called google support and sat on hold for 47 minutes and the person I got clearly had no… Read more

]]> 30 a14179ce56445992de5f829ad1a3843a Mike joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7368/ Mon, 25 May 2026 19:07:11 +1200 0 aa22b64a4e1e439552365955129dd4db Chi joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7327/ Fri, 22 May 2026 17:36:17 +1200 0 54da926cde08779a1c1f0f856445f31c Hugo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: I want to know who else is getting absolutely crushed […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7312/ Thu, 21 May 2026 22:44:00 +1200 I want to know who else is getting absolutely crushed by insurance this year.
General liability went up 22% at renewal. Commercial auto up 18%. Workers’ comp holding steady, which is the only good news.
I’ve been in business 7 years, and this is the first time I seriously looked at my insurance bill and had to just sit with it for a… Read more

]]> 6 96e2dd0f42a83df47028e87cbce70058 Jack posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Ordered a specific fan motor Monday was told it would be […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7311/ Thu, 21 May 2026 22:35:00 +1200 Ordered a specific fan motor Monday was told it would be in Wednesday. Called Wednesday. They said Thursday. Called Thursday. Now it’s Friday and they’re telling me Tuesday. Customer has been without AC for 5 days. it’s hot. They are not happy and I’m the one getting the calls. How are you guys handling parts delays without losing customers and your mind?

]]> 7 784ffaa33651f7fe412e06fd660f1512 Eric posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Just got my EPA 608 cert last month. Working under […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7297/ Thu, 21 May 2026 01:24:00 +1200 Just got my EPA 608 cert last month. Working under a licensed guy right now learning the trade. Couple questions for anyone willing to help. What do you wish someone told you in year 1 that would have saved you the most time or money?
Residential or commercial to start?
What tools should I actually invest in first vs what can wait? Not looking… Read more

]]> 8 bc584f964cc5ede7a5f32f6221948941 Theo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: People want quality HVAC work until they see what […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7293/ Wed, 20 May 2026 21:21:00 +1200 People want quality HVAC work until they see what quality HVAC work actually costs.
Then the cheapest quote in town suddenly starts looking really good.
Then they call you back 6 months later wondering why the cheap guy’s work is falling apart.
Every. Single. Time.

]]> 6 66aad62ef1b1798cbbde2650830e2959 AlexJ3 joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7270/ Wed, 20 May 2026 04:41:21 +1200 0 c413152c4374af0268152c263800bafc Jacob posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Honest post here because I see a lot of highlight reel […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7257/ Tue, 19 May 2026 21:54:00 +1200 Honest post here because I see a lot of highlight reel stuff and I want to share something real.Year 2 of being on my own. started with my truck, my tools, and $800 in savings. first year was survival mode. lost money some months. ate through savings. almost quit in October.
Year 2 has been different. not rich but I’m actually paying myself… Read more

]]> 7 1d5d64ebed733858ddbbd3d8481a0f30 Adam posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Customer called at 4:55pm. system not cooling. told them […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7237/ Tue, 19 May 2026 08:54:00 +1200 Customer called at 4:55pm. system not cooling. told them I could be there in the morning. they said never mind they’ll call someone else.
called back at 7:30pm to tell me the other company quoted them $1,200 to replace a capacitor and asked if I could beat it.
I said $180 parts and labor.
they said wow why is there such a big difference?
I said… Read more

]]> 7 ebb2db6a5cbf514588394d0b2a28e6be Elijah posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Ran into something today that honestly just frustrated […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7228/ Tue, 19 May 2026 03:30:00 +1200 Ran into something today that honestly just frustrated me. Did a full changeout for a property management company back in March. Two units. Big job. Invoice was sent same day we finished.
It’s May. Still nothing.
Every time I call I get oh yes we have it, it’s in the queue for processing. What queue? It’s been 8 weeks.
At what point do you… Read more

]]> 8 abb59dce882f5fa32122d223f40d9e70 Francesco posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Anybody here actually using AI heavily inside their […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7122/ Thu, 14 May 2026 02:45:00 +1200 Anybody here actually using AI heavily inside their HVAC business yet?
Not talking about basic Facebook posts and emails more actual operations stuff. Dispatching, price books, customer history, call notes, scheduling, internal systems, things like that.
Feels like some companies are starting to build crazy systems with it while most of us… Read more

]]> 17 4c3be70360daf0a633b3706076ec948a Emiliano posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Need to order new company shirts, hoodies, […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7112/ Wed, 13 May 2026 22:32:00 +1200 Need to order new company shirts, hoodies, equipment stickers and yard signs before things get busy again.
Last batch looked great for about a month then the shirts started shrinking, decals faded, and half the stickers started peeling off the condensers.
Who are you guys using that actually holds up in this trade?

]]> 15 e9de364fe4785dc4520ee20e7643cda9 Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: A lot of guys in this trade are great technicians […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7070/ Tue, 12 May 2026 21:43:00 +1200 A lot of guys in this trade are great technicians but terrible at pricing jobs.
Then they wonder why they stay busy all year and still don’t make money.

]]> 8 dcc0459bb8c36710bff18f176a82de40 Brandon posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Everybody talks about warranty like it’s free work for […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7052/ Tue, 12 May 2026 07:22:00 +1200 Everybody talks about warranty like it’s free work for HVAC companies
Meanwhile you’re driving back out, dealing with parts, labor, callbacks, phone calls, paperwork, waiting on suppliers and somehow still supposed to make money on it.

]]> 23 0533f6e1586729acaf4739c1c1d186dd Miles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Anybody else feel like customers think HVAC companies […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7037/ Mon, 11 May 2026 21:48:00 +1200 Anybody else feel like customers think HVAC companies just randomly started charging more overnight 😅
Meanwhile equipment prices, parts, materials, refrigerant, trucks, insurance… everything keeps going up every year.
Feels like a lot of people see the final invoice but never see how much the actual cost of doing business has changed the last… Read more

]]> 23 28919de37ad4b07c834b62342cb2e13f Elsa joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7006/ Fri, 08 May 2026 18:55:07 +1200 0 6c28b0b96b9b727b5f762f11ea14601d Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Random question for the guys doing a lot […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6982/ Thu, 07 May 2026 06:30:00 +1200 Random question for the guys doing a lot of changeouts…
what are you usually doing with all the old equipment after jobs? scrap yard recycling places, holding onto it, something else?
Been talking with a few local companies around the Dallas area and surprised how much old equipment just sits behind shops for months.

]]> 6 5d7f13fd50f83e46c18e24612c5d416b Nicolas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Had a weird situation recently with a customer after a […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6976/ Wed, 06 May 2026 21:25:00 +1200 Had a weird situation recently with a customer after a job was already wrapped up.
During the work everything was normal. Walked through everything with them, system running, no complaints while we were there.
Then once the invoice gets sent over it suddenly turns into well what about this and I noticed that.
Stuff that was never brought up… Read more

]]> 18 6801e1c1531acfeed6f9f193bc9ce2f1 Andrea posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: You guys enjoy installs or you’d rather be out doing […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6903/ Sat, 02 May 2026 06:36:00 +1200 You guys enjoy installs or you’d rather be out doing service calls
feels like two completely different jobs sometimes.

]]> 14 59d4fe1407f7db2affefd1450e34550a Owen posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: how many callbacks do you guys actually consider […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6886/ Fri, 01 May 2026 20:37:00 +1200 how many callbacks do you guys actually consider normal before you start second guessing the original job?
i’m not talking about random stuff breaking later that happens. i mean when you get called back and it’s the same system, same complaint, or at least feels related.
one callback here and there, whatever. but when it turns into 2 or 3 on… Read more

]]> 21 33ba043d1c9a1bdd3b19afc7cd74df30 James posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Been around HVAC for a while now, started back in the […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6816/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:30:00 +1200 Been around HVAC for a while now, started back in the early 2000s. Most of my time’s been in service and chasing weird issues on both residential and commercial.
These days I’m doing more on my own, trying to build something out of it instead of just running calls all day.
Figured I’d hop in here, see what everyone’s dealing with, and maybe… Read more

]]> 7 f30e0cc24bdf34f50fb67306547c88b5 Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: staying with family out here and ran into a small […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6800/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:01:00 +1200 staying with family out here and ran into a small ac issue… looks like a pinhole somewhere. i’ve got some tools on me but not enough to fix it properly.

before i go buy stuff for a one-time job, figured i’d ask anyone nearby that could help me out? just trying to get it sorted before i head out.

]]> 18 850da137d7ae1a2f4879e2a2e380d867 Miles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Curious what you guys are spending on your websites […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6795/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:23:00 +1200 Curious what you guys are spending on your websites these days.
Feels like it can go from cheap to expensive real fast.

]]> 12 f4125f7da9ae6f3f717c5eec39bead3b aathivithyah joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6771/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:43:17 +1200 0 6d698231652fcc8d4832a7fc4a5dc4b3 Harry posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Got a couple small commercial accounts that are good for […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6753/ Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:09:00 +1200 Got a couple small commercial accounts that are good for the money, but every invoice turns into a wait.
Not chasing bad debt, they eventually pay… just always late.
Do you guys just deal with it or put something in place?

]]> 15 74b38c9511d8f0449461d23e74a9e28c Samuel posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Ever had a customer try to fix it themselves before […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6733/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:19:00 +1200 Ever had a customer try to fix it themselves before calling you… and make it worse?

]]> 10 6c2b82048bef102bb06079d1540a5686 Maxime posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: So yesterday around 11pm I get a call, customer says the […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6727/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:19:00 +1200 So yesterday around 11pm I get a call, customer says the AC isn’t cooling at all, so I send my team out. They find the issue, fix it, run the system for a bit and everything looks fine, so we close it for the night. Today I get a call again from the same customer, already knew what it was gonna be…it’s doing the same thing again.Send the… Read more

]]> 11 90e0e99f5f64f086da985e751bf9c5be ATHENA AI joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6711/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:08:29 +1200 0 f547123b78a8af027e685342ac1fa49d Grayson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Quoted a job customer said they’ll think about it… then […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6677/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:54:00 +1200 Quoted a job customer said they’ll think about it… then you see the same job done a week later by someone else. No feedback, no call back, nothing. Happens more than I’d like. Makes you wonder if it’s pricing, timing or just part of the game.

]]> 12 cb643e08ea159b2a0657b258be37e9ee Wyatt posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Got a call thinking it’d be a quick fix, customer said the […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6637/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:15:00 +1200 Got a call thinking it’d be a quick fix, customer said the system just stopped. Opened it up and it’s like nothing’s been touched in years coil completely packed, filter gone, everything working overtime. Fixed the main issue but you already know something else is right behind it.

]]> 11 c479a8bdea3a2180a51923f73798f14e Cameron posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Fix one thing and something else shows up right after… […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6617/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:47:00 +1200 Fix one thing and something else shows up right after… feels like some calls just don’t want to end. You walk in thinking it’s a quick job and next thing you know you’re chasing a second issue. Happens more than I’d like to admit. You guys run into this a lot or just bad luck days?

]]> 15 6bf2e20e5e86e921c0123f206c62604f nick joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6613/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:24:16 +1200 0 20d949d5f0ed00c15a01c98be0791cbf Surya Hvac joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6574/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:51:42 +1200 0 8d1991f6f7ecb32a35b88f9e5a4561c7 Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Ran into a system today where suction pressure looked low […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6568/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:06:00 +1200 Ran into a system today where suction pressure looked low so it seemed like a charge issue at first, but after checking a bit more it turned out to be airflow again. Starting to feel like airflow gets overlooked way too often because gauges are just easier to rely on. Curious if anyone else finds themselves double-checking airflow more than they used to.

]]> 8 f85c7ced2bd7e426c8741497a2c6dace mareks joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6551/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:23:58 +1200 0 cae3d8b56a3676d33ebb6584a2e44c2a Fabio posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Thinking about outsourcing SEO/marketing but hard to […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6538/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:06:00 +1200 Thinking about outsourcing SEO/marketing but hard to tell who actually delivers vs who just sends reports every month. Anyone here had a good experience with a company?

]]> 12 7cf7f9659230ea68cf9ebd5ac641ae3e Tristan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Bought a new vacuum pump thinking it would speed things […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6511/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:41:00 +1200 Bought a new vacuum pump thinking it would speed things up, but honestly not seeing much difference compared to my old one yet. Maybe I’m missing something, but as long as I’m pulling down properly and holding, it all feels the same on most jobs. Curious if anyone actually noticed a real upgrade going from a basic pump to a higher-end one.

]]> 10 da5bf6b0c2bb636cc7ef131a30e63380 Stacey joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6497/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:39:12 +1200 0 4bbbfa3d2f9bf6bca16466ba70f87c02 Zachary posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Hey everyone, just heard the news about Mingledorff’s […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6460/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:02:00 +1300 Hey everyone, just heard the news about Mingledorff’s merging with The Home Depot. I’m curious what we think this means for us in the repair community. Has anyone noticed a shift in prices or quality after mergers like this in the past? Let’s reflect on whether industry consolidation genuinely affects us or if it’s just business as usual.… Read more

]]> 15 900453bd4eeb4182c5a37ffc67bee1ab Alessandro posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Hey folks, ever hit up a service call with a complaint of […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6458/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:05:00 +1300 Hey folks, ever hit up a service call with a complaint of no cooling, only to find the system running fine? It’s one of those perplexing challenges we all encounter. Let’s share our strategies on how we approach these baffling situations your insights could really help someone out! Anyone got a favorite trick up their sleeve?

]]> 10 860dc370df0aa72ef3dcafb3ecbed31a Ethelyn joined the group Troubleshooting & Repairs https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6456/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:01:27 +1300 0 2c33898c5418ff20bf0ebb28ec17a7ed Mason posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Finally picked up a micron gauge this week. Been in […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6442/ Sat, 21 Mar 2026 08:50:30 +1300 Finally picked up a micron gauge this week. Been in the trade 9 years and have been judging vacuum on the manifold needle the whole time like everybody else I learned from.
First job I used it on — thought I had a good vacuum. Manifold needle looked right. Micron gauge said 1,840. Nowhere near where it needed to be.
Should have got one of these years ago.

]]> 7 91c9a15f1e7ee36b584851a6030e5c4b Carlos posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Genuinely curious from people who made the switch […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6424/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 23:50:46 +1300 Genuinely curious from people who made the switch from residential split installs to commercial RTU work.
Not looking for the “commercial is way better” highlight reel. The real version.
What actually changed about the physical install the tools, the process, the rooftop conditions, the weight of everything you’re moving?
Did the… Read more

]]> 7 0d02de43e27081ef47dc05eae5f9ccd2 Lucas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Nitrogen purge when brazing. Every time. […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6405/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:51:17 +1300 Nitrogen purge when brazing. Every time. No exceptions.
That’s what we’re taught and honestly that’s what I believe. But I’ve had this argument with enough experienced techs to know it’s not as black and white as the textbook makes it sound.
On a brand new install no question. Purge the whole time. Copper oxidation in a new system is a… Read more

]]> 8 fb74663b2c46dc86e78b8261f79b50a3 Hugo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Went out on a spring service call this week. […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6388/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 20:54:28 +1300 Went out on a spring service call this week. Homeowner mentioned their heating bills were a lot higher than usual this winter but figured it was just the cold.
Hooked up the gauges. System was running in cooling mode. Full cooling mode. In the middle of winter.
Reversing valve stuck in the cooling position. Has probably been like that since… Read more

]]> 10 04ea2a360cdca262a5449df86a49c6fe Lucas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Carrier 24ACC636, R410A, 3-ton. First startup of […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6353/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:52:37 +1300 Carrier 24ACC636, R410A, 3-ton. First startup of the season.
Suction 115 PSI Discharge 445 PSI. Superheat 8°F. Subcooling 18°F. Ambient 74°F.
Charge is correct weighed it in last October, nothing has changed. Coils are clean, condenser fan is spinning, TXV was replaced last fall and ran perfectly the rest of the season.
High pressure switch is… Read more

]]> 15 83a6b3655b4cd1d7abe79ed3142860a7 Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: When you guys bring in a sub on a job, do you usually […] https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6306/ Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:54:25 +1300 When you guys bring in a sub on a job, do you usually mark up their labor or just pass their rate through to the client?

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