HVAC Community Hub | Benjamin | Activity https://hvachub.co/members/benking_business/activity/ Activity feed for Benjamin. Sat, 26 Sep 2026 01:23:03 +1200 https://buddypress.org/?v=3.5.0 en-US 30 hourly 2 76e2fb6b313c13739562c39591c29b54 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/9079/#acomment-9083 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 02:24:46 +1200 Flat rate saved my business, I went from barely surviving on T&M to actually making a profit within 6 months of switching, your pricing model isn’t a moral decision it’s a business decision and if you can’t make T&M work that’s on you but don’t call the rest of us thieves for running a sustainable company.

In reply to - Liam posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Flat rate is a scam and I’ll die on this hill. Charging a customer $450 to swap a capacitor that costs $12 and takes 8 minutes is not “selling […] ]]> 3421fa3d1a877154e021f6640b188c0d Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8981/#acomment-9021 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:14:29 +1200 😂

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Just got off the phone with a customer who wants me to come back and “fix” a system I installed 3 weeks ago. Her complaint? The vents make a […] ]]> 5e4be27ff118b185a366a13240bb5e41 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8968/#acomment-9013 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:42:08 +1200 Do you charge extra for the ceiling cut and repair or do you sub that out to a drywall guy?

In reply to - Leonard posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Tell me how I’m supposed to get a new air handler through this. That’s a 3 ton unit sitting up there and the access hatch is maybe 18×18. […] ]]> d00e42675c4cb595325e597d7706c42c Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8991/#acomment-9009 Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:04:03 +1200 Borrowed everything from my dad’s garage 😂 we’ve all been there man don’t be ashamed of that, I used a pair of channel locks from my grandfather’s toolbox for my first 2 years.

In reply to - Mathew posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Just passed my EPA 608 Universal yesterday. 3 months into the trade. What tools should I actually spend money on first vs what can wait? […] ]]> 7186ea529fc144bae01b073d2705d06e Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8821/#acomment-8847 Thu, 03 Sep 2026 02:43:41 +1200 That morning light casting shadows of both units on the driveway is a cool looking photo honestly, old one and new one side by side like a before and after standing next to each other.

In reply to - Charles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Old and new. 2004 vs 2026. Changeout day. ]]> 4f0f89e744ac085e5239f4d81428fa42 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8715/#acomment-8732 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 03:29:06 +1200 What was actually tripping the breaker?

In reply to - Jordan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Found a penny jammed behind a breaker today. Customer said the AC keeps tripping the breaker so the last guy “fixed it” so it wouldn’t […] ]]> 7bd8f7a99eba6b1d86c804b4b8045910 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8684/#acomment-8727 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 22:39:07 +1200 YouTube HVAC hacks should require a warning label.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Customer called and said the AC isn’t keeping up. Got to the house and the outdoor unit is actually running fine. Went to check airflow at the […] ]]> 112f79d8c397ed5fcd66d4632918c746 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8550/#acomment-8585 Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:07:07 +1200 So the customer paid for refrigerant they didn’t need AND it was making the system run worse. Great.

In reply to - Hunter posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Homeowner said the master bedroom hasn’t cooled right in over a year. Two other companies came out and both added refrigerant. Nobody checked […] ]]> eeb3877b4902ad4ad7a0daed3f0f14af Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8550/#acomment-8564 Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:53:29 +1200 How much refrigerant total did those two companies put in a system that didn’t need any?

In reply to - Hunter posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Homeowner said the master bedroom hasn’t cooled right in over a year. Two other companies came out and both added refrigerant. Nobody checked […] ]]> a8959782fbf9a120e03d46a2198f2ddf Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8362/#acomment-8366 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:55:14 +1200 Since that picture is not an evaporator coil I would put in a request so they send someone qualified.

In reply to - Oliver posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices You rent a house here in California where rent is around $2,500 a month. It’s been 90-100° outside and your AC is keeping the house […] ]]> 95eeaee229a58c874b1004ccb3adc912 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8240/#acomment-8260 Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:25:53 +1200 Me. I am dispatch, CSR, half owner, HR, accounting and in the field trying to learn half the time. Two install crews and 2-3 techs. Oh, we also homeschool.

In reply to - Michael posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices How many CSR/Dispatchers do you guys have for your business? Specifically businesses with around 3-4 service technicians and 5-6 installers […] ]]> 1c0daf2e320c803abd36bd7232a76d66 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8129/#acomment-8134 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:50:58 +1200 Had one standing at the end of her driveway when I turned onto the street. Just standing there in the heat waiting.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Lady met me at my truck before I even turned the engine off. Already knew it was the compressor. It was a capacitor. ]]> 2732d4ea0c5aa45b22537ec027ea8bec Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8068/#acomment-8071 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:02:25 +1200 what’s the pay range.

In reply to - Francesco posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area looking for work? I’m trying to find good help for HVAC repairs. Need someone with experience and knowledge […] ]]> 31356c89ebc29295ce1719f1063c5390 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/8006/#acomment-8043 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:10:39 +1200 The paper towel roll on the wall is the most relatable thing in this entire photo.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Finally started organizing the shop. One step at a time 🇺🇸 #hvac ]]> af77cf1fea7d3f18f005d56ec044d8be Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7991/#acomment-8000 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:28:07 +1200 There’s a difference between pushing harder and being a salesman,some guys can’t tell the difference and that’s the real problem.

In reply to - Owen posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs If your customer has been “repairing” a unit that looks like the one on the right for 6 years and you kept taking the repair calls without pushing […] ]]> 03d808438b115ae03680fb075a4b0d89 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7968/#acomment-7984 Sun, 05 Jul 2026 23:16:43 +1200 The pink insulation just sitting there in the background completely unbothered while this coil is suffering.

In reply to - Jules posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs No filter. Ever. Apparently. ]]> bd76d62d68484760b9e3ea4eba7c06f1 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7825/#acomment-7918 Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:53:00 +1200 Had a guy quote me HIS labor rate based on national average wages he found. told him those numbers don’t include licensing, insurance, trucks, tools, or 15 years of experience. he paid full price.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone else getting customers who pull up ChatGPT mid-call and start reading you the “correct” price for the repair? Happened twice this week. ]]> 1e324e629ec821abc059c3e2d2a5e883 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7815/#acomment-7908 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:02:24 +1200 Customer said it’s been doing this for a while so who knows how close it actually came.

In reply to - Tristan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Customer called because the system stopped blowing cold. Found this when I pulled the panel off. ]]> b5e78fdef474e93ff871ef17de636c2c Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7848/#acomment-7889 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:57:55 +1200 Ahead on revenue but I haven’t paid myself properly in three months to keep cash flow comfortable. So ahead on paper, not in reality.

In reply to - Liam posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Halfway through the year. Real talk time. Are you ahead of where you thought you’d be financially, behind, or honestly not sure because […] ]]> 5aca3c2a2877e57a6359b35cbfdd51fe Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7746/#acomment-7757 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:55:40 +1200 Be careful with the fee structure on financing companies. some take 6-12% off the top depending on the term length the customer picks. that eats your margin fast on smaller jobs.

In reply to - Alessandro posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Question on financing. We offer it through Wisetack and Synchrony both. Lately feels like every other call wants financing now, even on […] ]]> b075ba55fa29bc6bdab323a9e2512936 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7478/#acomment-7492 Thu, 28 May 2026 22:54:19 +1200 Whoever told you that’s too high, block their number 😂

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs What are yall charging for service calls? I have been told im way too high @ $125 and $60 per hour per man. ]]> 3307c12594294fccddc8ee329a783838 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7373/#acomment-7417 Tue, 26 May 2026 20:43:39 +1200 Same here, took me 4 years to figure out I needed to work on the business not just in it. Night and day difference after that.

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices I’ve been in this industry for 11 years and I want to ask something that nobody really talks about honestly. Is HVAC still actually worth it […] ]]> 7b15eaa3889f8af64550a3db8ac5d9e5 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7397/#acomment-7403 Tue, 26 May 2026 14:25:02 +1200 Bookmarking this. Needed it today after a customer told me I was too expensive. They have no idea what goes into the diagnosis alone.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 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 […] ]]> 0d8cf77f3dde3129992b90a2834b0153 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7312/#acomment-7352 Sat, 23 May 2026 20:44:06 +1200 That’s the part that bothers me. I’ve never had a claim in 7 years and I’m still paying more every year.

In reply to - Hugo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs I want to know who else is getting absolutely crushed by insurance this year. General liability went up 22% at renewal. Commercial auto up […] ]]> 4b585c1109714803c12d89805f8bdb85 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7163/#acomment-7214 Sun, 17 May 2026 19:21:21 +1200 A lot of customers don’t even care about total price anymore. They just wanna know monthly payment.

In reply to - Connor posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Been looking at changing financing companies after one of our dealer fees jumped from 1.9% to almost 4%. Not a huge deal on smaller tickets […] ]]> 2dbb6fd47a101509b976e1e8e5c10d69 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7052/#acomment-7169 Fri, 15 May 2026 19:00:01 +1200 Had a blower motor warranty job last week. Part covered. Still lost money on the call.

In reply to - Brandon posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Everybody talks about warranty like it’s free work for HVAC companies Meanwhile you’re driving back out, dealing with parts, labor, callbacks, […] ]]> 483cdefc4cc8906bcb78d172f03771af Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7052/#acomment-7166 Fri, 15 May 2026 02:31:58 +1200 Most customers don’t realize we’re fighting the manufacturer half the time too.

In reply to - Brandon posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Everybody talks about warranty like it’s free work for HVAC companies Meanwhile you’re driving back out, dealing with parts, labor, callbacks, […] ]]> ffb7885ff9240dfee664a05de83d5639 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/7112/#acomment-7118 Thu, 14 May 2026 00:25:25 +1200 Good yard signs are expensive but replacing junk signs constantly costs more.

In reply to - Emiliano posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Need to order new company shirts, hoodies, equipment stickers and yard signs before things get busy again. Last batch looked great for about a […] ]]> 87270e83ab8f3536db3b5562f5aea389 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6982/#acomment-7026 Sat, 09 May 2026 20:15:31 +1200 I know shops with years worth of old units sitting behind the building.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 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 […] ]]> dcf29a5e0dd7470a8d8fbccf5889d198 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6960/#acomment-6973 Mon, 04 May 2026 22:29:47 +1200 https://res.cloudinary.com/draeooi1q/image/upload/v1777649161/Bag_lpdfki.png

Milwaukee makes decent ones too.

In reply to - Jacob posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Just getting into HVAC and already realizing I’ll probably go through a few tool bags 😅 trying to figure out if it’s better to start cheap […] ]]> 2514b16ac993595b17af948e99cb7438 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6828/#acomment-6847 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:22:09 +1200 Tracking helped me raise prices on certain jobs because I knew where the good leads were coming from.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Started thinking about this recently… I don’t really track where most of my calls come from. You guys keeping track of that or just letting it run? ]]> d42dd8ec5ac0fb588341be01fe081bde Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6775/#acomment-6806 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:18:41 +1200 If you’re scared to raise prices you’re gonna stay stuck.

In reply to - Pietro posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hey, ]]> 04b394e261a672a1e1f47f50aba79257 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6617/#acomment-6699 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:19:27 +1200 Bad luck days.

In reply to - Cameron posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 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 […] ]]> 466deed944e2574070de8521927c1a89 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6568/#acomment-6577 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:37:51 +1200 I started checking static pressure more because gauges alone were sending me the wrong direction on a few jobs.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 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 […] ]]> 6aaf1948700dbfc69d3d7e43489e4285 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6538/#acomment-6544 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:17:31 +1200 Google ads + LSA.

In reply to - Fabio posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Thinking about outsourcing SEO/marketing but hard to tell who actually delivers vs who just sends reports every month. Anyone here had a […] ]]> 927316be23523e125910c361a324a2df Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6255/#acomment-6282 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:47:11 +1300 We use dispatch software so I can see when they start and finish jobs. That’s enough for me.

In reply to - Brodie posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices For the guys running crews out in the field, how do you handle downtime when the board gets slow? I’ve been wondering how others keep their […] ]]> 49db012a50f88c06406f4e7392eaefea Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6271/#acomment-6274 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:45:46 +1300 Use the green if it’s spare and call it a day.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs ]]> 4c318b780cf6bb0cee2acd361e049527 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6218/#acomment-6221 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 06:47:01 +1300 Older homes sometimes had remodels where walls were moved and vents just got forgotten.

In reply to - Viktor posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Just closed on a house built in the 1920s and the furnace looks pretty new installed around 2022 from what I can tell. While walking […] ]]> 6cf8a1dc3580a8f9ab407f8e82fa3667 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6155/#acomment-6186 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:26:37 +1300 Reputation is built on the jobs nobody sees the callbacks you handle quietly.

In reply to - Grayson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Most customers won’t remember the exact number on the invoice a year from now. But they’ll remember if you showed up when you said you would, […] ]]> f1e1dab156f828500655eccac7e57ac2 Benjamin posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Hi All, https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/6169/ Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:09:04 +1300 Hi All,

]]> 11 12c3f8d2cc395593fc17ddee7bad9535 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5847/#acomment-5861 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:29:46 +1300 Any chance it’s a cracked sensor lead that opens up when warm?

In reply to - James posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Flame rectification dropping below spec once cabinet temp rises past 120°F. Runs fine cold, problems show up after it’s been on a while. ]]> 165d878ff6f5a9051ebca89120ad3d6f Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5747/#acomment-5767 Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:28:37 +1300 That thing’s been choked for a long time. Amazing it ran at all with that coil.

In reply to - Jules posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices I’m sure this thing cooled great… before the coil turned into a dust blanket and airflow became optional. ]]> c03423cb431b30fb174544fe23284489 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5627/#acomment-5655 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:02:35 +1300 Yeah, that’s what it’s starting to look like now.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hello All, ]]> 12fdc81ae8f4b8328efb4bf4c4d2e160 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5627/#acomment-5651 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:07:21 +1300 Exactly.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hello All, ]]> 926081207eb5de42ab8b9de6415825a5 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5627/#acomment-5641 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:51:54 +1300 Hope so. Right now it just feels like starting over overnight.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hello All, ]]> 80e58991d700f5498a278f8dfa843178 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5627/#acomment-5633 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:17:05 +1300 Gonna slow it down before I break what’s left.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hello All, ]]> cc5fa11d81994a120eb3ffdd7d2edc3f Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Hello All, https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5627/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:32:14 +1300 Hello All,

]]> 12 8844a143d729823f8178dbce94c9eecc Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/5439/#acomment-5441 Sat, 31 Jan 2026 01:11:48 +1300 We looked into outsourcing takeoffs early on but honestly the back-and-forth killed it for us. By the time revisions were done, I could’ve finished it myself.

In reply to - Juan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hello ]]> 31695d6a2dacba6fbecf6bd36d5d3b41 Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/4739/#acomment-4763 Sat, 17 Jan 2026 07:05:13 +1300 We started tracking callbacks per unit age. Once a system crosses a certain line, we stop pretending it’s maintenance and start calling it risk management.

In reply to - Liam posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Opened this unit up today to see how far we can push it. It’s working, but if it drops mid-week the downtime will hurt more than the repair […] ]]> 64cd616c292bc128158f682a390b202c Benjamin posted a new activity comment https://hvachub.co/news-feed/p/4633/#acomment-4662 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 19:07:02 +1300 Oil doesn’t travel alone. If it’s outside the system, refrigerant made the trip with it.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Had this condenser open today while chasing a capacity issue. Pressures weren’t screaming low, superheat was borderline acceptable, but something […] ]]>