HVAC Community Hub | Jackson | Activity

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:16:14 +1200

Are you actually going to go look at it or are you passing on it at this point?

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 […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:53:18 +1200

The fact that you’re asking this question at 3 months tells me you’re going to do fine in this trade, most new guys either show up with nothing and don’t care or they spend $2000 on tools they don’t know how to use yet, you’re in the sweet spot.

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? […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 17:40:27 +1200

Did you end up reusing the lineset like you mentioned earlier?

In reply to - Charles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Sorry for the late update, promised I’d post this after the job was done and completely forgot until now. Took a little longer than […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:02:34 +1200

That shop light clamped to the joist pointing at the furnace makes me think someone was working on this thing frequently enough to set up permanent lighting down there, which makes the whole situation even worse because it means multiple people saw this and just kept going.

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

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:03:16 +1200

Clean work 👍

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 […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 20:53:31 +1200

Losing a guy mid project is the worst timing, especially on something this size where you’ve already got the schedule mapped out around a 5 man crew.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:21:36 +1200

How many guys you running on this?

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 02:39:37 +1200

I do a tool count before I close any panel. Every single time. Lost a pair of dykes inside a furnace early in my career and swore never again.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Opened up an air handler for a routine maintenance and found a nut driver, a soda can, a shop rag, and about 15 loose screws sitting on top of […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:26:13 +1200

Just want to say I appreciate the flashlight in there for the photo.

In reply to - Grayson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Customer said the system just stopped keeping up last summer and has been getting worse. Asked where the outdoor unit was. She pointed at the […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 03:24:38 +1200

Not my circus. Perfect.

In reply to - Alexander posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs I need somebody to explain to me why I’m the fourth company this customer has called about this. Three other companies came out, looked at it, […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:30:27 +1200

What filter is going to live in my head rent free for the rest of the day?

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 […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 03:15:53 +1200

I’m dizzy. The evap coil has a leak. It’s low on charge. Shoot some easy seal with UV in it gas and go. Go back when business slows down and locate the leak.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs 2019 Bryant 2-ton R410A heat pump. Customer said the compressor made a terrible noise and then quit going. Outdoor fan runs fine, compressor […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:56:52 +1200

Clean work 👍

In reply to - Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Walk in cooler build done. Restaurant opens next week.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 23:21:08 +1200

Get your imaging done NOW while you still have insurance through the business. Waited too long myself and it cost me..

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 […]

Jackson posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: If you polled 1000 people in your town and asked them […]

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:25:00 +1200

If you polled 1000 people in your town and asked them to name three air conditioning companies how many do you think would mention yours?

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:25:06 +1200

😬

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.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:58:27 +1200

Six weeks ago for a tune up and nobody went under there. says everything.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Customer called saying one room won’t cool no matter what. Found this under the house. Conditioned air has been dumping straight into […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:55:45 +1200

The real flex here is saving 3 days of labor and still having photos clean enough to post.

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 […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:03:03 +1200

This is exactly why I keep a small stock of the contactors and capacitors I use most. Suppliers are getting less reliable every year, not more.

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, […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 23:04:59 +1200

How do companies afford overtime. Our labor percentage goes from 23 percent at normal to 40 percent when guys get into OT. Zero profit at that point.

In reply to - Hugo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs During peak summer months is a service tech averaging 40-46 hrs per week considered overworked. I have techs saying we need another hire because […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:35:09 +1200

90 hours is not a flex it’s a warning sign.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 19:43:08 +1200

Different priorities. Some guys want the check some guys want the weekend. Both are valid.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:02:27 +1200

40-60 during peak is normal. Grow a set.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 23:28:56 +1200

Ads account and business profile are separate systems. Running ads won’t help the profile reinstatement but it can keep you visible while you wait.

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs so my google business profile got suspended this morning with zero warning no email. no explanation. just suspended when I went to check […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Mon, 25 May 2026 07:43:10 +1200

The problem is customers see the unit as one thing. They don’t understand that a capacitor and a compressor are completely separate components. You almost have to explain it like a car.

In reply to - James posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Replaced a capacitor for a customer in February .Today they called because the system isn’t cooling. Different problem completely. […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:47:55 +1200

Health insurance was one of the biggest reality checks once we started growing.

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 […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sat, 02 May 2026 20:15:12 +1200

Best repair of the day 😅

In reply to - Samuel 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?

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 01 May 2026 20:10:22 +1200

Since 2003 you’ve seen some things for sure.

In reply to - James posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Been around HVAC for a while now, started back in the early 2000s. Most of my time’s been in service and chasing weird issues on both residential and […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:07:27 +1200

There’s a lot of tools out there but half of them feel overcomplicated for no reason.

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Been looking into software for material takeoffs on commercial jobs and honestly getting overwhelmed with options. Trying to find […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:39:30 +1300

Now someone’s opening a wall. That conversation with the customer is never fun.

In reply to - Henry posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Callback for low cooling. Pressures look like a restriction. Traced it back to the lineset inside the wall kinked at the corner where it […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:23:50 +1300

Two minutes that most guys skip on a routine maintenance visit.

In reply to - Hugo posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Went out on a spring service call this week. Homeowner mentioned their heating bills were a lot higher than usual this winter but figured it was […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:53:32 +1300

This.

In reply to - Caleb posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Sub passed inspection on paper, got paid, and disappeared. Now the GC is calling me every morning and the rework is coming out of […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:42:29 +1300

Everyone says check everything until they’re the one eating the callback or unpaid time.

In reply to - Jacob posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Hello All,

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:27:13 +1300

As long as airflow checks out and it passes inspection, you did your job. Serviceability is always an afterthought on commercial.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Finished a job like this today and I honestly don’t know if we installed an HVAC system or designed a maze for the next tech. On the plans it […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 18:03:25 +1300

Long enough to cook the motor ,air was moving, just not where it was supposed to.

In reply to - Jackson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Airflow was basically choked off high static, blower working way harder than it should, and this is how motors cook themselves.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 16:03:03 +1300

Not yet.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:04:59 +1300

High. Way higher than it should be.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:01:25 +1300

Just slid in.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:20:31 +1300

Hard to say. Judging by the dirt, probably a while.

Jackson posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Airflow was basically choked off high static, […]

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:33:40 +1300

Airflow was basically choked off high static, blower working way harder than it should, and this is how motors cook themselves.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:05:37 +1300

I’d rather my tech ask me 10 questions than make one costly mistake.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Everyone’s busy, but don’t hesitate to ask questions here. No such thing as a dumb one in this trade.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:19:10 +1300

QuickBooks payroll works if you’re already using QB, but Gusto is easier.

In reply to - Nicolas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Thinking about switching payroll providers. What are you using and would you stick with it?

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:40:38 +1300

Exactly 😅 looks simple on paper, but the site always decides how long it takes.

In reply to - Jackson posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices First job of the day looked clean, pressures were fine, and we thought it was going to be easy. Turned out to be a control issue mixed with […]

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:05:53 +1300

Fair take. Easy to say in hindsight, but this one only showed up under full load. Everything checked out until then.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:08:22 +1300

The ones that look simple always steal the whole day.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:07:42 +1300

That was the mistake 😅 first job optimism.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:55:33 +1300

100%. Nothing obvious, just enough restriction to make you chase it.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 01:22:03 +1300

Controller wasn’t reacting properly under load. Looked fine at idle, acted weird once it had to work.

Jackson posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: First job of the day looked clean, pressures were fine, […]

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:35:23 +1300

First job of the day looked clean, pressures were fine, and we thought it was going to be easy. Turned out to be a control issue mixed with a partial blockage that only showed up once the unit was under full load. You’d never guess it just by looking at the equipment, but it ended up eating way more time than we planned.

Jackson posted a new activity comment

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:31:32 +1300

Checked condenser airflow already?

In reply to - Miles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Pressures aren’t stabilizing. Head keeps climbing even though airflow looks fine.