HVAC Community Hub | Owen | Activity

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:21:33 +1200

I think it depends on the person honestly, some guys in their first year have better instincts and attention to detail than guys I’ve worked with for 10 years, putting a blanket timeline on everyone doesn’t account for the fact that people learn at different speeds.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:45:47 +1200

👀🍿

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:35:06 +1200

I always wonder what these closets look like behind the furnace after 20 years because you never see that wall until the unit comes out and it’s always horrifying.

In reply to - Logan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Furnace changeout in a house where the utility closet is at the end of a hallway barely wide enough for the unit to fit through. Had to bring the […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:44:56 +1200

Leak detector: $400. White roof membrane: free and works better.

In reply to - Miles posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs When the roof tells you the diagnosis before you even open the panel. Didn’t need a leak detector today just followed the oil like a treasure […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:47:22 +1200

Post the quote update when she decides, curious what running proper return duct to replace the cavity runs in your area.

In reply to - Aiden posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Customer has been complaining about dust in the house no matter how often she changes the filter and said it smells musty when the heat […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:13:11 +1200

How many guys on this today?

In reply to - Charles posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Old and new. 2004 vs 2026. Changeout day.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:18:35 +1200

💀

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

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:21:01 +1200

Seeing a full corridor of spiral going up really is one of the best feelings in this trade, residential guys don’t get to experience that, it’s just different when you step back and see 300 feet of clean ductwork that you and your crew put up.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:18:11 +1200

So the home inspector missed it too.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Showed up for an unrelated service call and noticed a high-efficiency furnace exhaust terminating directly below an open bedroom window. The […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:37:32 +1200

Who installed this?
How did this pass inspection?

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:05:02 +1200

The wrong size filter still in the wrapper just standing there watching the crime happen.

In reply to - Antonio posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Opened the filter slot and found this. Homeowner bought the wrong size filter, couldn’t return it, so she cut the old one in half with scissors […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:22:49 +1200

If you do decide to go in there at minimum kill the power at the breaker first and confirm it’s dead before you put a single body part in that water. But my actual advice is don’t go in there.

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, […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:47:23 +1200

4 CSRs
8 Techs
14 Retro Installers
6 New Con Installers
6 Plumbers
1 Drain Tech

In reply to - Michael posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices How many CSR/Dispatchers do you guys have for your business? Specifically businesses with around 3-4 service technicians and 5-6 installers […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:57:05 +1200

Freshbooks is good for invoicing and basic tracking, not as heavy as QB.

In reply to - Cameron posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Quickbooks is by far the best because it will scale with your business. It works well especially if you are not using any CRM right now. There […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:20:39 +1200

Nobody said it’s always the right answer, but at some point you’re doing them a disservice.

In reply to - Nathan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Alright fellas, genuine question. At what point do you stop repairing and just tell the customer it’s time to replace. I’ve got a 14 year old […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:55:56 +1200

This looks exactly like mine except mine has more empty coffee cups.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Finally started organizing the shop. One step at a time 🇺🇸 #hvac

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 23:40:01 +1200

People genuinely do not understand that filters exist for the system not just for the air quality.

In reply to - Jules posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs No filter. Ever. Apparently.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 19:14:53 +1200

I’ve seen bad but this one hurt to look at.

In reply to - Jules posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Customer says the unit just stopped working last week.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 01:42:34 +1200

Feels like the new version of “my cousin’s a contractor and he said”.

In reply to - Tyler posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone else getting customers who pull up ChatGPT mid-call and start reading you the “correct” price for the repair? Happened twice this week.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:56:19 +1200

Charge a “second opinion override fee” 😂

In reply to - Jordan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Got a customer today who watched a 4 minute YouTube video and informed me my diagnosis was wrong. Video guy has never seen this unit, this house, […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:51:20 +1200

Never thought of it that way but that reframes it.

In reply to - Felix 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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:30:58 +1200

We stock about $3,000 worth across the fleet. Pays for itself in saved trip charges within a couple months every year.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 02:02:25 +1200

Because they’re techs. You hired them to fix things not sell things. Those are different brains.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:01:41 +1200

I’d rather just flip a call to a comfort consultant and get a smaller cut. I hate sitting with a customer trying to convince them to buy. I’m a tech first sales second.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sun, 24 May 2026 04:35:49 +1200

The problem is you built a business where everything runs through you. Nothing gets better until you fix that structure.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Honest question for the business owners in here. Do you actually take days off or do you just call them days off and then work anyway? I […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 14 May 2026 22:01:30 +1200

My favorite is when they start naming parts they can’t pronounce.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:48:47 +1200

That part actually makes sense to me.

In reply to - Hunter posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Seeing more HVAC websites lately adding instant quote tools and online pricing. I get why companies are doing it because customers wanna […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:29:18 +1200

Customers don’t see permits, insurance, payroll, callbacks, warranty work just the final number.

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

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:47:25 +1200

The cheap guy usually disappears when warranty problems start.

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

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:56:52 +1200

I ran without one for a while but eventually had to get one.

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.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:56:43 +1200

Don’t even have one all word of mouth.

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.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:19:04 +1200

Low airflow will drop your suction because you’re not moving enough heat across the coil, so it looks like low charge even when it’s not.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Ran into a system today where suction pressure looked low so it seemed like a charge issue at first, but after checking a bit more it turned out to […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:35:45 +1200

We tried outsourcing takeoffs for a bit, wasn’t consistent enough so brought it back in-house.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:01:19 +1300

I love when they say it just quit… then you see three old service stickers on it for the same issue.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:32:00 +1300

I got a shop mainly for storage and sanity, not customers.

In reply to - Jack posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Been running things out of my garage for a few years now and it works fine. lately been thinking about getting a small shop but can’t shake the […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:21:52 +1300

How do you explain this to a homeowner without sounding nitpicky?

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:21:00 +1300

30° and damp air will do it.

In reply to - Michael posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Outdoor unit icing up fast in heat mode. Ambient around 30°F. Suction 90 psig (R410A), evap below freezing. Defrost is initiating but […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:53:41 +1300

Long days don’t always mean bad days.

In reply to - Noah posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Didn’t expect today to be this long, but here we are. Hoping tomorrow starts a little cleaner.

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:46:13 +1300

Seen this with worn valve seats. Looks fine until you isolate it.

In reply to - Adam posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs CHW control valve is fully closed, but the coil keeps picking up heat. Supply water temps stay steady, yet return temps say flow is still […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:00:10 +1300

Check your control loop tuning. Low load exposes bad PID settings fast.

In reply to - Alexander posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Spent half the day chasing a CHW valve that just won’t sit still at low load. Setpoint isn’t moving, but the valve keeps opening and closing […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:29:15 +1300

Seen this when the discharge sensor drifts. Unit thinks it’s cold and bumps the valve even though the command says 0%.

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 […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 22:19:52 +1300

Seen this. Dirty flow pickup tubes.

In reply to - Felix posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Hey guys, ran into something odd today – a few pressure-independent VAVs that look perfect in the BAS but fall way off when you take […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:16:45 +1300

Joining multiple groups has already helped me a lot. Everyone should check them out.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Just a quick reminder for everyone – we have multiple groups inside the community like CRM, automation, SEO, pricing & […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:03:46 +1300

I don’t even know where my pipeline is located inside the CRM… can you guide me?

In reply to - Noah posted an update in the group HVAC Email Pipeline Builder |Nurture Leads. Follow Up. Close More Deals I’ve been noticing that a lot of members are working hard on improving their follow-ups, but the email […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:20:57 +1300

Static spikes are always fun… until the customer asks why doors are slamming.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Was checking a VAV system today and the static pressure kept jumping all over the place- from 0.9” straight up to 1.6” the moment a few […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:16:30 +1300

If it’s a Honeywell actuator, the feedback pot sometimes drifts. Gives false position even though motor’s fine.

In reply to - Samuel posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Economizer’s been getting stuck midway between open and close. Actuator checks out fine during testing, but in normal operation, it just […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 13:55:12 +1300

Could be a TXV restriction or metering issue. We had high discharge temps from partial starving.

In reply to - Felix posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Anyone experienced sporadic compressor overheating on multi-circuit RTUs? 🤔 One circuit keeps running hotter even after checking charge […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:08:37 +1300

You could also push a trace dye through and look for pressure drop points, might help locate the blockage area.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Had something strange happen on a service call today. While pulling a core using a screw-style remover, the internal seal tore off and somehow […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:55:29 +1300

Even cleaning condenser coils regularly makes a huge difference in efficiency.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Hey friends, Even small tweaks in how we operate, maintain, or design HVAC systems can make a big difference for […]

Owen posted a new activity comment

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:08:25 +1300

Even a 10-minute call before sending the contract reduces back-and-forth emails significantly.

In reply to - Marco posted an update in the group HVAC Pricing & Contracts Masterplan Lately, I’ve been focusing more on pre-onboarding before contracts even get signed. Making sure the client knows what to expect, answering […]