HVAC Community Hub | Ethan | Activity

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:28:39 +1200

Let it thaw, check the coil underneath for damage, check the charge after it defrosts. Don’t touch anything until the ice is completely gone.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Customer said it was blowing warm air so I went up to the attic and found this 🥴. Asked when they last changed the filter and they said […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:32:21 +1200

Ranger Design. Not cheap but it’s held up.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Been running out of this van for 3 years now. Finally got the shelving where I want it. Still looks like a disaster to everyone else but I […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 21:11:26 +1200

Clean unit, clean readings, in and out. That’s the dream call.

In reply to - Jack posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Maintenance contract call on a rooftop today. Carrier package unit installed last year, customer said it’s been running fine but wanted […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 19:49:05 +1200

Hang that in your shop.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Pulled these out of a 4 year old system today. Nobody ever changed the filter drier.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:43:43 +1200

Hire a helper.

In reply to - Harry posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Turning 44 next month. Knees are shot, right shoulder clicks every time I reach over my head. Been doing this since I was 19. What are you […]

Ethan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Lady met me at my truck before I even turned the engine […]

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:32:00 +1200

Lady met me at my truck before I even turned the engine off. Already knew it was the compressor. It was a capacitor.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:25:17 +1200

How long was the long version?

In reply to - Maxime posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs ok this is a vent more than a question. just got back from a call where the homeowner stood over my shoulder the entire time narrating what I […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:28:12 +1200

Mars

In reply to - Juan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Anybody else’s supplier just randomly stop carrying a part you’ve ordered for years with zero warning? Needed a specific contactor today, […]

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:08:57 +1200

Had this happen with a specific Honeywell board. Counter guy acted like I was asking for something exotic. It was a board I’d ordered six times that year.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:20:31 +1200

Had to submit it as an RFI with the labor savings spelled out. took two weeks of back and forth for something that should have been obvious.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Whoever specced rectangular duct on this job clearly never had to install it in an 11 foot ceiling with beams every 6 feet. Switched the […]

Ethan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Whoever specced rectangular duct on this job clearly […]

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:45:00 +1200

Whoever specced rectangular duct on this job clearly never had to install it in an 11 foot ceiling with beams every 6 feet. Switched the whole run to spiral and saved myself probably 3 days of labor. Engineers need to ride along on an install once before they draw another set of plans.

Ethan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 19:17:13 +1200

Think of it as insurance against lost calls not idle cash. one saved trip charge plus the repair often covers the part cost many times over.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Question for the group. How many of you actually carry spare parts on the truck versus ordering as needed. I’ve been stocking […]

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