HVAC Community Hub | Nathan | Activity

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:38:27 +1200

Exactly. They install it themselves and then call me when it doesn’t work right and expect me to troubleshoot someone else’s DIY nightmare for a service call rate.

In reply to - Antonio posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices What do yall think about MrCool equipment and homeowners installing their own stuff? Sounds like good job security but I do find it […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 20:01:37 +1200

Insulting is the right word. Took me years to learn this trade properly and now a YouTube video is apparently equivalent.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:55:38 +1200

Just crossed $400k this year. Solo with one part time helper.

In reply to - Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Looking for guidance and possibly a mentor.4 years ago I walked out of my job and started my own thing on a hope, a prayer, and betting […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:00:33 +1200

This is the part I don’t talk about much. It’s genuinely isolating sometimes.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:23:09 +1200

Year 4 for me right now and I feel like I’m finally out of survival mode. Reading this helped.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:33:14 +1200

Never thought about it that way. I’ve just been trying to hire my way out of it.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 31 May 2026 21:26:06 +1200

Honestly all of it. But if I had to pick one right now it’s scaling without losing quality. Every time I take on more work something slips.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 31 May 2026 08:44:04 +1200

Business owner. I don’t want to just buy myself a job.

Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Looking for guidance and possibly a mentor.4 years ago […]

Sun, 31 May 2026 05:04:00 +1200

Looking for guidance and possibly a mentor.4 years ago I walked out of my job and started my own thing on a hope, a prayer, and betting on myself. It has worked, with lots of battles. I’m at the point where I want more but to achieve that I need guidance and help from someone who has done it.I started this with $200 and my pickup truck. Please… Read more

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:20:04 +1200

For me it was around 80 contracts, that’s when I stopped panicking every slow week because I knew inspections were coming regardless of the phone ringing.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 26 May 2026 23:33:53 +1200

Worked for me shrug.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 26 May 2026 19:00:26 +1200

I know it sounds insane but yes. Google apparently monitors BBB complaints. I was reinstated 2 days later. Can’t say for sure that’s what did it but the timing was suspicious.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 26 May 2026 09:57:29 +1200

I submitted a BBB complaint against google when this happened to me. Sounds stupid but they responded within 48 hours after that.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 16 May 2026 04:53:26 +1200

Everybody loves selling equipment. Nobody loves warranty work after the install 😂

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, […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 13 May 2026 22:56:34 +1200

New refrigerant changes aren’t helping pricing either.

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, […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:32:25 +1200

The trade side is easy compared to learning the business side.

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

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:14:42 +1200

I’ll usually explain it and maybe discount it once, but not twice.

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?

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 01 May 2026 01:09:14 +1200

Never travel without the torch 😂.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs staying with family out here and ran into a small ac issue… looks like a pinhole somewhere. i’ve got some tools on me but not enough to fix it […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:27:29 +1200

DM me.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:28:48 +1200

If you’re not raising prices you’re falling behind.

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

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 02:46:17 +1300

Welded contactor is almost always from too many starts on an undersized contactor. What amp rating was on it.

In reply to - Miles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Spring startup call this week. Customer mentioned the system had been running a lot lately but didn’t think much of it. Opened the panel […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:32:59 +1300

Then you document it and tell the customer. You dont just silently fill it up and pretend the problem is solved.

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices System is low on charge. No obvious leak. No oil staining anywhere on the lineset, no traces at the fittings, coil looks clean. Customer […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:45:13 +1300

Retention clause in every sub contract. hold 10% until final inspection passes. they dont like it they can walk.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:03:08 +1300

That’s a longer-term issue for sure. Demand side is something no one talks about.

In reply to - Matteo posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Anyone else noticing customers coming in way more “prepared” than before? Not just YouTube stuff I mean price ranges, part numbers, even […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:51:05 +1300

They hear covered and assume everything is handled. Fine print hits different when it’s time to claim.

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

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:28:37 +1300

Big metal, big ceilings, and still no room to do anything right.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:21:58 +1300

Customer probably said it’s been working like this for years.

In reply to - Marco posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Low-voltage conductors pulled out of the control compartment with exposed copper and improper terminations. No strain relief, insulation nicked […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:31:25 +1300

Ah, condenser coil makes sense. Seen that cause the same issue before.

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.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:31:00 +1300

what exactly problem here blockage or flow issue?

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:32:17 +1300

Fixed tube sheet units don’t forgive temp swings. If they’re seeing wide seasonal changes, expansion stress alone will start showing up at the flanges long before anyone sees leaks.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices One of my guys was on this shell & tube heat exchanger today and it turned into one of those jobs where nothing is failed, but nothing […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:16:48 +1300

A lot of these issues come down to assumptions made during installation. Everything might technically be correct, but once usage changes or load changes, the weak points show up. As service techs we end up chasing symptoms instead of causes until we step back and look at the whole picture.

In reply to - James posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs At first I thought it was just a normal airflow issue and fixing that would be enough, but once I started working on it I realized that was only […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:15:15 +1300

People think older tech was inefficient, but it sure wasn’t fragile.

In reply to - Lucas posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs A system barely a couple of years in, and the compressor is already done. Customer chose to move forward with a new R-454B system instead of chasing […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:47:03 +1300

You’re not selling a repair -you’re selling regained comfort and trust.

In reply to - Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment Spent time in a commercial space today where nothing showed up as an obvious fault, but the comfort just wasn’t right. Areas close to the unit felt […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:47:02 +1300

Commissioning captures a moment in time. Buildings don’t stay still.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:47:00 +1300

Because it’s out of sight. And once it’s wrong, everything downstream struggles.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:46:58 +1300

Those descriptions are usually more accurate than the trend logs.

Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment: Spent time in a commercial space today where nothing […]

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:46:57 +1300

Spent time in a commercial space today where nothing showed up as an obvious fault, but the comfort just wasn’t right.
Areas close to the unit felt loud and drafty, while spaces further down felt weak and stagnant.
Boxes were responding, setpoints were being hit, schedules were unchanged. On paper, everything looked acceptable. In the space, it… Read more

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:44:53 +1300

How long into the run before it starts feeling off?

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Mixed air temperature keeps drifting even though outside air and return air readings stay steady. Economizer isn’t stuck, but indoor humidity […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:17:26 +1300

Something’s wearing out.

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, […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:44:48 +1300

Will this push people to actually reply instead of just reading?

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Hey everyone – we’re starting gamification in the community. As you engage more (posting, commenting, helping others), you’ll […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:37 +1300

yup, gonna start walking the duct and see what’s screaming.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:35 +1300

😂 dead accurate… fan sounds like it’s ready to quit its job.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:34 +1300

good shout. haven’t checked the section joints in a while.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:33 +1300

yeah the trend graph is already looking messy… nothing steady about it.

Nathan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices: Showed up this morning and the supply fan is pegged at […]

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:32 +1300

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 ductwork is missing or a VAV somewhere is sitting wide open.
Whatever’s going on, the whole place is starving for air and the VFD is basically screaming for help.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:03:57 +1300

Check your condenser water temp reset. If it’s dropping too low in the morning, the chiller will surge even if IGVs look normal.

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 […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:41 +1300

Yeah, it was topped off last month – might’ve changed circuit balance a bit.

In reply to - Nathan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Got one circuit frosting up while the others stay completely normal. Charge checks out fine, airflow’s solid, and filters are clean. Feels like […]

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:39 +1300

That’s a good one – haven’t checked the distributor yet. Could easily explain the uneven frost.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:37 +1300

Yep, I’ll compare readings before and after the evaporator to narrow it down.

Nathan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:36 +1300

That’s exactly what I was thinking. Gonna check temp drop across the drier tomorrow.