HVAC Community Hub | Logan | Activity

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:21:01 +1200

A state I don’t operate in is the part that should automatically disqualify the review but Google has no mechanism for geographic verification which is beyond stupid for a company that literally tracks everyone’s location 24/7.

In reply to - Charles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Got a 1-star Google review overnight from a customer I’ve never heard of and have zero record of in my system. Different city. […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:12:14 +1200

The cardboard frame warping from moisture tells me the coil behind that filter has probably been sweating and dripping onto the filter edge for a while too, that filter has been wet and clogged which is even worse than dry and clogged.

In reply to - Jordan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Customer asked me why her electric bill doubled this summer.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 11:18:04 +1200

My price to fix whatever they did wrong is more than the $2800 she saved, yeah that’s usually how the math works out on these and nobody believes you until they live through it.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Got a call from a customer I quoted last week for a condenser replacement. She said another company came in at $2800 less than me. Asked if […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 03:21:09 +1200

Unpopular opinion but skip the manifold gauges for now and get a good digital gauge setup like a Testo 550 or Fieldpiece probes if you can stretch the budget, you’re going to end up switching to digital eventually anyway and the analog manifolds will just sit in your bag collecting dust once you do.

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? […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:05:07 +1200

There’s a difference between exposure and responsibility, I’m not saying hide it from them I’m saying don’t hand them a tank and a scale and say figure it out on a customer’s system.

In reply to - Logan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Alright I’ll say it. I don’t think new techs should be touching refrigerant in their first year. Not diagnostics, not charging, not […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:19:44 +1200

That’s not an attic access that’s a suggestion.

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. […]

Logan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Alright I'll say it. I don't think new techs should […]

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:11:00 +1200

Alright I’ll say it. I don’t think new techs should be touching refrigerant in their first year. Not diagnostics, not charging, not recovery, none of it. I know that’s controversial but I’ve cleaned up too many messes from guys who were handed gauges before they understood airflow, electrical, or how to actually read what a system is telling… Read more

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:10:26 +1200

Fix it, remove the tape, put the panel on, throw the note in the trash, and document everything on the invoice so when the landlord gets a copy he can’t pretend he didn’t know.

In reply to - Connor posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs LEAVE OPEN

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:08:16 +1200

Every time we get a section dialed in somebody bumps the tripod, this is so real it hurts, I’ve started putting cones around my laser level on commercial sites because people just walk right into it like it doesn’t exist.

In reply to - Alejandro posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Week 3 on this commercial buildout and we’re finally getting the main trunk runs hung in the east corridor. Would have been week 2 but […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 18:27:39 +1200

Yep. Garage air, car exhaust, lawn mower fumes, whatever is in there goes straight into the ductwork.

In reply to - Clifford 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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:00:16 +1200

They reached out to me, we’ve known each other a few years.

In reply to - Fabio posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Thinking about taking on a business partner to help with the office side while I stay in the field. Someone reached out wanting to handle […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:53:13 +1200

That’s a big assumption about guys you don’t know.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:15:41 +1200

Did you show the customer or just fix it quietly? Curious how that conversation usually goes.

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.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 23:26:30 +1200

At least he was talking and not silently judging from the doorway, that’s worse.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:20:26 +1200

It is, but I’m paying for the time I’m not wasting standing at a counter.

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, […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:20:42 +1200

This is the direction I’ve been thinking about honestly.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Currently giving techs 10% commission on changeouts they sell. Gave them all the tools to quote jobs on the spot and they still aren’t […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 01:36:14 +1200

He’s asking for perspective from people who’ve been through it. that’s literally what this group is for.

In reply to - Francesco posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs I have a chance to get into some decent work. Constant-ish. To get into it I have to lower my prices a good amount. Beat out two companies […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:11:04 +1200

Trade schools stopped teaching it years ago. Field fab is basically a dying skill.

In reply to - Jordan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Looking to hire an installer, an advanced apprentice or mechanic who could install a basic 54k upflow with 2 ton coil and condenser by […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:17:36 +1200

I stopped chasing people who need to think about it. The customers who want you don’t need to think about it.

In reply to - Malcolm 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.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 22 May 2026 20:09:45 +1200

I’ve been with the same broker for 5 years. Maybe that’s the problem.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 17 May 2026 19:59:02 +1200

We keep multiple financing companies because approvals are too inconsistent otherwise.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 15 May 2026 22:58:00 +1200

I don’t mind customers learning. I mind customers thinking every issue has the same fix.

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 […]

Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: A lot of guys in this trade are great technicians […]

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.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 03 May 2026 23:47:58 +1200

Start cheap,you’ll figure out what you actually carry.

In reply to - Gordon 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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 02 May 2026 23:46:23 +1200

Sometimes it’s not your work it’s just old equipment acting up.

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

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 02 May 2026 20:53:13 +1200

Business is business though.

In reply to - Clifford posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Do you still charge a service fee if it turns out to be something simple like a tripped breaker or switch off?

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:31:35 +1200

I was actually looking into Claude for this.

In reply to - Juan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Anyone here using AI for day to day office work?

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:58:27 +1200

If you’re losing 30+ volts across the contactor, that’s a huge issue. At that point your compressor is basically being starved of voltage, which explains the higher amp draw and heat.

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, […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:19:52 +1200

If your return is blocked, your mass airflow rate drops which reduces heat transfer across the evaporator coil. That drives your suction pressure down and pushes superheat up because refrigerant isn’t picking up enough load. It’s not a refrigerant issue it’s a load issue.

In reply to - Edward posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Suction 60 psi, superheat 20+, looked like low charge turned out to be airflow. Static was through the roof. Fixed that and everything lined up.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:38:10 +1200

There are a few companies that specialize in contractor coverage worth checking those instead of general ones.

In reply to - Travis posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Been reviewing our business insurance lately and realizing I probably don’t understand half of what we’re actually covered for. Feels like […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:12:53 +1200

You don’t need it… until you really need it.

In reply to - William posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Every time I try to lighten my tool bag, the very next job needs the one thing I took out… so now I’m basically just carrying everything […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:45:41 +1300

Chased an intermittent no-cool for two visits. Second visit brought my senior tech. He walked in, looked at the filter, pulled it out. Completely blocked solid. I had checked airflow with an anemometer and everything. Never pulled the filter

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:45:56 +1300

Chased a fault for two visits that turned out to be a staple through a low voltage wire behind the drywall from when the house was built. Previous owner had no idea. Tech before me had no idea. Pure luck I found it.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:48:42 +1300

With refrigerant prices where they are, topping off and hoping isn’t a real option anymore.

In reply to - Luke posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices How are you guys handling leaking evaporator coils these days? Are you still repairing them when it makes sense, or just going straight […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 13:23:14 +1300

I see it more on heat pumps that short cycle a lot. Oil never really stays where it should.

In reply to - Cody 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.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:12:58 +1300

Honestly at this point just run a PT chart for 32 and move on.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:58:04 +1300

That’s how I see it. The work starts when the wheels turn, not when tools come out.

In reply to - Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Rolled a truck in a snowstorm for an emergency call. Fee paid upfront. Homeowner fixed it themselves by the time we got there and wanted a […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:27:52 +1300

Yeah… and we’ll be the first call when it fails again.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:27:49 +1300

Same reason we changed policy in the first place.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:29:43 +1300

Hard to argue with that math.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:23:29 +1300

That’s how we explain it when the call comes in.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:16:25 +1300

Already thinking that way. Not worth the repeat drama.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:45:20 +1300

Man, if that existed, some addresses would never get another truck.

Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Rolled a truck in a snowstorm for an emergency call. […]

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:58:31 +1300

Rolled a truck in a snowstorm for an emergency call. Fee paid upfront. Homeowner fixed it themselves by the time we got there and wanted a refund. Didn’t want us to touch anything.
What’s your move?

Logan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:45:35 +1300

I’d wait it out before calling someone. Service calls add up quick if it’s just weather-related.

In reply to - Wyatt posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Noticed my outdoor unit basically turned into an ice block after the last stretch of brutal cold and snow. I know some frost is normal, but […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:21:13 +1300

Is there at least a vent or cleanout upstream or is it sealed all the way back

In reply to - Liam posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices This drain setup is a future service call waiting to happen. Condensate issues shut more systems down than bad boards lately.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:34:33 +1300

Multiple systems interacting usually means the issue isn’t a single failure but timing. One component lags, another overcorrects, and it never stabilizes. Controls + flow issues together can do this.

In reply to - Fabio posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices System starts and runs, but once everything is online the behavior isn’t consistent. Supply temp swings after runtime, heat transfer isn’t […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:31:27 +1300

This kind of issue also explains why quick checks don’t always tell the full story. You can look at a system for 10 minutes and think it’s fine, then an hour later realize something isn’t adding up.

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 […]

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:30:21 +1300

I started flushing drain lines on every maintenance because of stuff like this.

In reply to - Luca posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Got called out for a small leak and yeah… it wasn’t small. Unit’s running fine, but the condensate line is backing up and dripping right at the fittings.

Logan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 01:32:43 +1300

To be fair, sometimes you stop and think before touching anything.

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