HVAC Community Hub | Elijah | Activity

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:24:59 +1200

Higher resistance at the contacts increases heat at that point, but more importantly it reduces the voltage available to the motor. Lower voltage – higher current draw – overheating. It’s a chain reaction.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Swapped a contactor today that looked fine at a glance, but under load it was dropping voltage across the contacts. Getting about 240V in, […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:10:09 +1200

I used to rush more slowed down a bit and my callbacks dropped a lot.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Callbacks are killing time over small misses lately. Anyone else dealing with this?

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:51:23 +1300

Always purge. Not because of contamination risk on small repairs because it’s a habit. The day you start making exceptions is the day you forget on a job where it actually matters

In reply to - Lucas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 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 […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:45:32 +1300

Quoted a full TXV replacement on a system with high superheat. Customer approved it. Went back to do the job, popped the panel, found the sensing bulb had just fallen off the suction line. Strapped it back on. System ran perfect. Charged for the diagnostic only and wanted to retire on the spot.

In reply to - Owen posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Worst misdiagnosis you’ve made that turned out to be something embarrassingly simple. We’ve all been there. Spent an hour or two […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:36:27 +1300

The ones that only happen when you’re not watching are the worst kind.

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Three hours. Checked the board, checked the contactor, checked the capacitor, checked every connection in the system twice. Everything […]

Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Three hours. Checked the board, checked the […]

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:53:16 +1300

Three hours. Checked the board, checked the contactor, checked the capacitor, checked every connection in the system twice.
Everything tested fine. Every single time.
Turned out to be a nick in the thermostat wire inside the wall. Only shorts when the front door slams hard enough to flex the drywall.
I found it because the customer’s kid ran… Read more

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:01:42 +1300

Did they at least give you enough rod? Or you cutting and coupling all day?

In reply to - Juan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices 30’ ceilings + scissor lift all day. Trying to keep the trunk straight while dodging steel and sprinkler lines. Whoever drew this on paper […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:29:19 +1300

You sure it’s oil and not just dirty evap coils? Residential maintenance is rough these days.

In reply to - Henry posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Seeing more systems lately that just run longer and feel weaker. Makes me wonder how much oil fouling gets ignored in residential.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:45:19 +1300

True. Every tool has weak points. End of the day it’s not analog vs digital it’s whether the tech understands the numbers.

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices There’s a difference between it feels cold and actually checking what the system is doing. Pressures, temps, airflow that’s what tells the […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:17:18 +1300

Fieldpiece quietly stopped supporting the 3 series. Found that out the hard way last year.

In reply to - Daniel posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Has anyone successfully added R-454B or R-32 to the SMAN 360, or is that only supported on the SM380V? I’ve been digging through updates and […]

Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: There’s a difference between it feels cold and actually […]

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:23:10 +1300

There’s a difference between it feels cold and actually checking what the system is doing.
Pressures, temps, airflow that’s what tells the real story.
If you’re not measuring it, you’re just guessing.
Before summer hits hard, make sure your unit is actually performing the way it should.
If you want it even more trade-group style and less… Read more

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 18:33:52 +1300

Honestly the biggest jump for me was getting out of the truck part time. Even one less day in the field made a difference.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Mid-size market, roughly 900k population in our service area. Median household income around low 70s. We’re running 2 trucks plus me still in […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:45:42 +1300

If it’s minor, adjust. Once blades are distorted, replacement’s usually cleaner.

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Damper blades are bent and out of alignment. Even with the actuator calling, airflow isn’t modulating evenly, which explains the uneven […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:45:05 +1300

Yeah, definitely not their first problem.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:50:25 +1300

True.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:35:10 +1300

Looks like age and wear. No impact marks, just fatigue.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:02:04 +1300

Actuator’s doing its job, blades aren’t following.

Elijah posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Damper blades are bent and out of alignment. Even with […]

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:15:58 +1300

Damper blades are bent and out of alignment. Even with the actuator calling, airflow isn’t modulating evenly, which explains the uneven static and poor unit response.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 07:15:22 +1300

Wait… this is your first post?

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs First post here, so thought I should finally introduce myself 😄

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:40:27 +1300

Cleaning was enough. Once the flow was back to normal, the system started behaving properly again.

In reply to - Elijah posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Big problem on this heat exchanger almost blocked flow was very bad system not holding temp at all everything old space tight nothing wanted to […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:30:54 +1300

From a customer’s perspective, this is the kind of fix they never see but benefit from immediately. From a technician’s side, it’s where experience really shows.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Pressures were inconsistent during operation, which led to further inspection of the refrigerant line. A restriction was identified at […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:05:01 +1300

Yes, that’s exactly what it was. Flow through the heat exchanger was restricted, so the system kept running but never held temperature. Old valves and tight piping made isolating it take much longer than planned.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:10:20 +1300

Yes one valve not closing fully took long time.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:55:44 +1300

Yes lot of dirt inside once open it was clear.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:21:30 +1300

Main issue was flow heat exchanger almost blocked.

Elijah posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Big problem on this heat exchanger almost blocked flow […]

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 02:35:24 +1300

Big problem on this heat exchanger almost blocked flow was very bad system not holding temp at all everything old space tight nothing wanted to move took way more time than planned just one of those days where you keep thinking it should be simple but it’s not.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 10:30:46 +1300

For me it’s usually the thermocouple, especially on older units.

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices If a furnace pilot light keeps going out, what’s the first thing you usually check thermocouple, dirty pilot, or gas pressure?

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 07:31:12 +1300

I’ve had days where I know for a fact I restocked them, and then when I’m on site and under pressure… nothing. Makes you feel like you’re losing it

In reply to - Matthew posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Had plenty of Schrader valve cores last week. Needed one today gone.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:34:20 +1300

Clearly they’re watching a YouTube tutorial 😂

In reply to - Jacob posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Put the phones down, the unit’s watching 👀😂??

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:47:57 +1300

Customer probably watched you work for 3 hours thinking this is expensive and then saw it fixed in 5 minutes.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hey guys, something funny happened on site today. The customer called saying the unit keeps shutting off randomly and cooling drops for […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:43:20 +1300

I’ve had houses sit at 45–50% and still feel dry because of short cycling. Numbers look fine, but the run time tells the real story.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Was checking voltage at the condenser today and had that moment where everything looked fine… but my gut said otherwise. Didn’t chase it right […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:20:41 +1300

Any history on the unit? Storms or power issues in the area lately?

In reply to - Jack posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Check ground and incoming voltage before blaming the board. A lot of ‘bad boards’ aren’t bad at all.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 06:11:33 +1300

I’ve seen this a lot where the system technically meets spec but behaves inconsistently because of how things were tied together over time.

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Opened the unit and found no single failed part, just inconsistent behavior caused by messy wiring and multiple small issues stacked […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:46:53 +1300

Controller averaging or filtering too aggressive?

In reply to - Owen posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Mixed air temperature doesn’t match the math of OA and RA values. Sensors are steady, economizer is responding, but the mixed reading […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:58:45 +1300

Wouldn’t surprise me if this started after a drain issue or a bad reheat cycle.

In reply to - Liam posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Internal fiberglass insulation inside the unit has degraded and detached. The insulation has sagged into the airflow path, collecting dust and […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:01:15 +1300

Checked OK should be banned from service notes.

In reply to - Salvatore posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Walked into a job with a full service history attached… and still felt like I knew nothing. Notes said checked, adjusted, monitor, but none of it […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:38:10 +1300

Thanks for keeping this space active. Happy holidays.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors 🎄 Merry Christmas from HVAC Community Hub 🎄 Wishing everyone here a peaceful holiday season and a well-earned break. Thank […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:17:30 +1300

Seen this with dirty condenser coils that don’t look dirty at first glance.

In reply to - Lucas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Noticing condenser fan amps creeping up over a few weeks with no alarms and no visible mechanical issues. Fans still stage and respond correctly, […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:00:18 +1300

If the system runs fine and occupants don’t feel it, it might be a monitoring artifact more than a real problem.

In reply to - Grayson posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Been watching a drive that holds speed perfectly, airflow steady, no alarms – but torque keeps jumping around for no obvious […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:36 +1300

If the duct static is low with fan maxed, you’ve either got a leak, a blockage, or a bad sensor. Start with leakage.

In reply to - Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Showed up this morning and the supply fan is pegged at 100% again, and we’re STILL not hitting building static. Feels like half the damn […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:29:05 +1300

Happens a lot on oversized fans. Too much inertia.

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Got a drive that behaves fine at full speed but trips on overvoltage the moment it starts slowing down. No issues on ramp-up at […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:52:37 +1300

Man… that thing’s been running on pure courage for at least 10 years.

In reply to - Jacob posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Opened this VFD panel on a service call today – dust, loose wiring, and still running at 6000 like nothing’s wrong.

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:17:15 +1300

Sweet! Now I can share my project pics too.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors 📢 Hey everyone, good news! A lot of you have been asking for this for a long time… and yes, we were quietly working on it in […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:04:06 +1300

Don’t touch condenser temp until you check flow. Low flow will surge a machine even at perfect temperatures.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Got a centrifugal chiller that keeps surging whenever the load drops and the condenser water temp gets too low. IGVs and VFD look like they’re […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:59 +1300

Could be heat exchanger expanding and messing with the flame sensor ground. Happens on older units a lot.

In reply to - Mason posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs RTU heat stage acting up today. First cycle runs smooth, then after a short call, it locks out for no clear reason. Flame looks solid, pressure […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 17:03:24 +1300

You can also reach out to Nordyne or ICP support; sometimes they still have old stock sitting in warehouses.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Ran into a Tempstar furnace today with a fried motor control module – and of course, it’s one of those DC boards that no longer exist anywhere in […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:07:07 +1300

Please tell me when we can connect – I’ve been struggling with follow-ups.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group The HVAC Automation Blueprint Hey friends, Automated email follow-ups are a game-changer for HVAC businesses – they help build trust, convert unresponsive […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:57:39 +1300

I guess my emails were partying in the spam folder without me 😂

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group The HVAC Automation Blueprint Hey friends, Email marketing is powerful, but it only works if your messages actually reach your clients’ inboxes. Spam filters and […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:08:31 +1300

Could also be the blower itself -binding or dirty bearings can prevent proper ramping.

In reply to - Theo posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Been seeing some odd behavior with a variable speed drive on a rooftop unit. The motor won’t ramp properly, even though all the connections […]

Elijah posted a new activity comment

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 21:24:17 +1300

Check firmware updates too. Some older thermostats bug out after router updates.

In reply to - Noah posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment Ran into something weird today -a smart thermostat kept losing communication with the air handler, even though Wi-Fi and power were fine. Tried […]