HVAC Community Hub | Ethan | Activity

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:48:56 +1200

The psychology of it is interesting. same total cost but breaking it into monthly numbers makes people say yes who would have said no to the lump sum.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:06:58 +1200

120k. 20 employees 15 trucks. GL and auto only.

In reply to - Charles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs What’s everyone paying for insurance these days. Workers comp, general liability, commercial auto. Small company, 3 techs, 4 trucks, […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 30 May 2026 19:19:10 +1200

He booked on the spot and apologized for wasting my time. Good customer ever since.

In reply to - Michael posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone else feel like equipment prices are just never going back down. Quoted a 3 ton Carrier install today. My cost on the equipment alone […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:58:36 +1200

I sat down with a customer last month who swore he could get the same unit cheaper online and install it himself. I handed him my phone and told him to find it. Spent 10 minutes on his phone and couldn’t find it anywhere near what he thought. That silence when he handed the phone back was worth everything.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:38:00 +1200

100%. The look on someone’s face when they realize you actually know what you’re talking about never gets old.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 08:06:58 +1200

The “need to think about it” always means they’re getting another quote.

In reply to - Caleb posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Quoted a job on Monday. Customer said they needed to think about it. Just drove past their house and saw another company’s truck in the driveway.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 01:28:35 +1200

I see posts like this every summer from guys who had a rough spring. Not even criticizing, just saying wait until July when the phone won’t stop ringing and see how you feel then.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 26 May 2026 18:09:20 +1200

Every industry has hard seasons honestly. HVAC has always been competitive in hot markets, most guys asking if it’s worth it are probably just going through a rough patch.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 16 May 2026 09:34:36 +1200

I had one bypass a safety switch because somebody online said to test it that way.

In reply to - Matthew posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Homeowners are way more educated now but also way more confident in completely wrong information 😅 Feels like every other call lately […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:31:31 +1200

Warranty doesn’t cover fuel, dispatchers, insurance, payroll, all the other crap tied to 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, […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:47:58 +1200

You’re gonna get 20 different quotes and somehow all of them will be expensive 😅

In reply to - Alessandro posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Started looking into health insurance options for employees this week and honestly didn’t realize how all over the place pricing […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:11:31 +1200

Same. Some of these numbers still feel crazy to me too.

In reply to - Miles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anybody else feel like customers think HVAC companies just randomly started charging more overnight 😅 Meanwhile equipment prices, parts, […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:09:32 +1200

Everything tied to this business costs more now.

In reply to - Cameron posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Hey,

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:47:57 +1200

We tried offering a really solid plan at first and it almost turned into another truck payment every month.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 08 May 2026 20:25:00 +1200

A lot of growth honestly just came from surviving long enough 😂

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Realizing lately being good at HVAC and actually growing a company are two completely different things 😅 Feels like everybody online’s selling […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:43:38 +1200

“Depends what you expect from it. Basic site vs lead gen is two different things.

In reply to - Miles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Curious what you guys are spending on your websites these days. Feels like it can go from cheap to expensive real fast.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:12:34 +1200

Sometimes the first fix changes how the system runs, then another issue becomes noticeable.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 02:48:54 +1300

Commissioning expectations were the biggest adjustment for me. Residential you charge it up, check delta T, done. Commercial they want TAB reports, written documentation, controls verified, sequence of operations confirmed. First time a GC handed me a commissioning checklist I had no idea what half of it meant.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Genuinely curious from people who made the switch from residential split installs to commercial RTU work. Not looking for the “commercial is […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:29:21 +1300

Those things have saved me a few times.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:56:09 +1300

Depends on the job site. Downtown projects sometimes helicopter is actually cheaper than shutting streets down.

In reply to - Luca posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs New RTUs just landed for a warehouse changeout. Three units going up on the roof later today. Always a bit of coordination getting the crane […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:36:05 +1300

Right. What they mean is I hoped it would make it one more season.

In reply to - James posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Had a customer today tell me, It was working fine yesterday.” Funny how that sentence usually means I’m about to find something that’s […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:12:59 +1300

So we’re measuring now? What happened to beer can cold?😅

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:25:36 +1300

I’m tired of being called out for equipment that’s already been abused to death.

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs This motor’s been making noise for a while. Guess today was the day it finally quit.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:00:22 +1300

That’s the lane we’re trying to stay in. Fewer calls, better clients.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Trying to push more commercial work and still figuring out where the real leads come from. We do HVAC, refrigeration, kitchen equipment service […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:01:23 +1300

That’s a good point.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:08:40 +1300

That’s my hesitation. Steady work sounds great, margins getting crushed doesn’t.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:01:23 +1300

I’ve avoided that so far, but sounds like it’s part of the grind early on.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:52:02 +1300

Yeah, we’ve noticed that already. One place turns into three if it goes right.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:18:49 +1300

That’s what I’m starting to see. One solid contact beats ten random calls.

Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Trying to push more commercial work and still figuring […]

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 02:34:24 +1300

Trying to push more commercial work and still figuring out where the real leads come from. We do HVAC, refrigeration, kitchen equipment service and installs. Supply houses help a bit, but what actually keeps commercial busy long term?

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:25:10 +1300

That’s the frustrating part. A lot of work for a price that never had a chance.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Trying to tighten up how I’m pricing new residential builds. I’ll go deep into plans, take my time, and still end up missing jobs or finding out […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:36:13 +1300

Yeah, there’s a floor where it just stops making sense.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:00:45 +1300

That’s a good way to look at it. Makes the misses easier to accept.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:06:17 +1300

That’s the part I’m struggling with. We’re not built for volume installs.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:01:01 +1300

Fair point. Different regions and specs change everything.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:51:34 +1300

I’m starting to get comfortable with that idea. Chasing every job just burns time.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 23:17:09 +1300

That’s what I’m realizing. Winning a job that eats time doesn’t really count as winning.

Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Trying to tighten up how I’m pricing new residential […]

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:33:17 +1300

Trying to tighten up how I’m pricing new residential builds. I’ll go deep into plans, take my time, and still end up missing jobs or finding out later I was light. On the last house I quoted, my numbers felt right until I stepped back and realized margin wasn’t where it needed to be. Curious how you guys are breaking down new construction… Read more

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:15:23 +1300

Is this something that should’ve been caught on earlier maintenance?

In reply to - Salvatore posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Chasing airflow issues and it turned out the return liner was pulled in and packed solid. Unit kept taking the blame, but air was […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:30:21 +1300

Direct insurance is simple, but a good broker caught gaps we didn’t even know we had.

In reply to - Adam posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Hey everyone 👋

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 08:32:16 +1300

Hate when homeowners keep relighting it and make things worse.

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?

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:50:04 +1300

This is why panels should be cleaned up every time someone touches them. One loose wire buried like this wastes hours of everyone’s life.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:55:21 +1300

If amps are wandering without a load change, I’d be looking at voltage stability first. Seen weak disconnects and backstabbed breakers cause that.

In reply to - Wyatt posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Had one of the guys out on this unit today. System was running, but amps weren’t steady and pressures didn’t really match what the load […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:40:02 +1300

I’d look into a lien ASAP. Time limits matter more than people realize.

In reply to - Alessandro posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone here dealt with a homeowner dragging payments out after the work is done? We wrapped up a replacement on a rental property a while back […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 09:42:20 +1300

That’s a patience tester.

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 […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:51:37 +1300

Usually ends up being airflow nobody wants to touch.

In reply to - Jameson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs The toughest troubleshooting isn’t when something fails loudly – it’s when everything almost works. Readings look acceptable. Controls respond. […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:58:31 +1300

Nothing urgent today… but this is how next month’s emergency usually starts.

In reply to - Emiliano posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors This unit’s been running longer than it should without anyone actually checking it. Numbers were fine. But the panel told a different […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:17:50 +1300

We saw better results by splitting inbound leads by intent instead of channel.

In reply to - Agustin posted an update in the group HVAC Lead Generation Mastery One thing I keep noticing across high-performing HVAC businesses: lead volume isn’t the bottleneck anymore -lead timing is. The same campaign […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:29:17 +1300

If one box is doing it, it’s a valve. If ten boxes are doing it, it’s the hot water loop temps.

In reply to - Jameson posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment Seeing multiple reheat boxes sending warm air even with zero heating command. BAS reports valves closed, but discharge temps are definitely higher […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:37:02 +1300

Leads in HVAC are either a flood or a drought. No in-between 😂

In reply to - Agustin posted an update in the group HVAC Lead Generation Mastery Lead generation has been up and down for me, so I’ve been paying more attention to how leads actually come in. What’s helping the most right […]