HVAC Community Hub | Ryan | Activity

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 20:35:10 +1200

This is kind of where I’m coming from. I don’t want to burn people out.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:14:56 +1200

Will that cover what you want an hour for yourself, gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, taxes and so on.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:33:27 +1200

What are you offering. Pay, benefits, truck, gas card. The good ones have options and they know it.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:53:52 +1200

This is the hardest identity shift in the trade. You spent years becoming great at the technical work and then you have to walk away from doing it every day.

In reply to - Salvatore posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices I struggle with the field vs office balance a lot.When I’m in the field I’m making money but the business stuff piles up. When I’m in […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 31 May 2026 22:31:02 +1200

Your business will always grow when you work ON it, not just IN it. When your head is down working IN it none of the high priority things that need to get done get your attention. Putting the tools down is one of the hardest parts. Especially when you love your craft.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 16 May 2026 05:49:28 +1200

The internet made everybody dangerous enough to make the problem worse.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 15 May 2026 22:02:45 +1200

I know one company using it to analyze call patterns and recommend staffing changes during peak season.

In reply to - Francesco posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anybody here actually using AI heavily inside their HVAC business yet? Not talking about basic Facebook posts and emails more actual […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 14 May 2026 08:38:52 +1200

We started doing rough ranges online and it cut down a lot of wasted estimate appointments.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 12 May 2026 21:12:44 +1200

A good tech will leave over bad insurance quicker than people think.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 08 May 2026 08:00:06 +1200

I spent way too much money trying random marketing stuff early on.

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 04 May 2026 19:18:14 +1200

don’t go too big. you’ll just load it up and regret it

In reply to - Jacob 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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 02 May 2026 21:23:28 +1200

Install guys hate when they have to come back on service calls 😅

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs You guys enjoy installs or you’d rather be out doing service calls feels like two completely different jobs sometimes.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:25:15 +1200

System waited for you to show up before breaking more 😄

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 […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:34:14 +1200

You need to know your numbers first labor, material, overhead then work backwards.

In reply to - Hunter posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Trying to get in with a few builders right now and still figuring out my pricing. Feels like I’m coming in too high because I’m not getting […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:14:36 +1200

Cheap tools are fine until you’re on a tight job and something breaks.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Bought one of those cheaper tools thinking it would get me through a few jobs, and now I’m replacing it way sooner than expected. Starting to […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:49:12 +1300

Nine years on the manifold needle. You’re not alone. Half the guys in this trade are still doing it.

In reply to - Mason posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Finally picked up a micron gauge this week. Been in the trade 9 years and have been judging vacuum on the manifold needle the whole time […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:46:33 +1300

The sad part is the system probably limped through all of last summer already half blocked and nobody noticed till now.

In reply to - Grayson posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices March startups never disappoint. 🙃

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:45:38 +1300

I tried tracking everything for a while. Felt like more work for me than it was worth.

In reply to - Ethan posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices For the guys running crews out in the field, how do you handle downtime when the board gets slow? I’ve been wondering how others keep their […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 11:21:14 +1300

Trace 700 worked well for us on a 32-story project last year. Took some time to learn though.

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

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:01:18 +1300

We switched to a digital pricebook mainly so techs stop guessing numbers in the field.

In reply to - Mason posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Looking for recommendations on sales quoting software for unit replacements. Not trying to overcomplicate things just want something consistent, […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:14:41 +1300

Had one like that last week. Took longer to find than to fix

In reply to - Luke posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Tiny part. Big problem.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:40:13 +1300

That’s probably the most accurate way to put it.

In reply to - Ryan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Been trying to figure out where the best return actually comes from when it comes to getting work in the door. We’re steady, but not booked out the […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:05:44 +1300

That’s a good way to look at it. Use them as a tool, not a crutch.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:17:13 +1300

Same experience here. Hard to tell what’s actually working.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:05:14 +1300

We’ve had better luck with that than anything online so far.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:56:16 +1300

Yeah that’s part of the frustration. Market here is crowded.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:25:46 +1300

That makes sense. Feels like ads don’t fix fundamentals if they’re missing.

Ryan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Been trying to figure out where the best return […]

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:35:28 +1300

Been trying to figure out where the best return actually comes from when it comes to getting work in the door. We’re steady, but not booked out the way I want to be. Right now it’s a mix of Google, some social ads here and there, and a lot of legwork talking to property managers, business owners, referrals, all that.
Some things bring calls,… Read more

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 10:30:47 +1300

Condensate line problems don’t get enough respect. They cause more callbacks than people think.

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.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:46:09 +1300

Looks clean enough to give you confidence… which is dangerous.

In reply to - Michael posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Saw this setup today and honestly, this is where experience quietly matters. On the surface everything looks installed properly – piping […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 07:20:31 +1300

I post when I remember… which is never 😅
My marketing strategy is still hope someone’s AC breaks.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Curious how many guys in here are actually using Facebook, Instagram, or anything else to bring in work. Does it really help, or is it mostly […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 19:36:13 +1300

Feels that way more often than not.

In reply to - Ryan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Access looks fine in drawings. Up here, it’s a different job altogether.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 19:36:12 +1300

That’s the perfect way to put it.

In reply to - Ryan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Access looks fine in drawings. Up here, it’s a different job altogether.

Ryan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs: Access looks fine in drawings. Up here, it’s a different […]

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 19:36:11 +1300

Access looks fine in drawings.
Up here, it’s a different job altogether.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:27:32 +1300

Welcome to commercial HVAC.

In reply to - Mason posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Didn’t even touch the unit today. Spent 40 minutes just figuring out who actually controls it – tenant says one thing, building manager says […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:01:01 +1300

We’ve seen this improve once trends and notes are reviewed before dispatching the next tech.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group HVAC Contractors & Subcontractors Same system, same complain.. three different techs, three different diagnoses. Each one made sense on its own, but now nobody’s sure which […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:08:50 +1300

Had one where we couldn’t even open the panel fully.

In reply to - Alessandro posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Showed up to a site where the unit room was technically accessible, but stacked with boxes, ladders, and random storage. Spent more […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:38 +1300

Could be the expansion valve in that branch sticking open. Seen that a lot on older kits.

In reply to - Carlos posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Seeing a VRF branch controller send way too much refrigerant to one circuit while the next branch barely gets anything. Pressures look stable at […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:51:24 +1300

Check the linkage.

In reply to - Dylan posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Noticed the chilled water bypass valve drifting open even though there’s zero command from the BAS. Delta-T tanks the moment it moves, and then it […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:29:09 +1300

seen this when the oa damper leaks a bit. bas says 20% but it’s actually like 40.

In reply to - Robert posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices noticed the mix plenum temp jumping all over the place today… like 8-10° swings even though OA + RA temps aren’t moving. dampers […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:17:20 +1300

Check if your CRM is using a shared email server. Those usually get blocked more often.

In reply to - Juan posted an update in the group HVAC CRM Playbook: From Lead Capture To Customer Loyalty Anyone else sending estimates through the CRM that show “sent,” but customers keep saying they never received […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:36:48 +1300

AI is good, but too many companies rely on it without understanding the basics.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC SEO Accelerator: Rank Higher, Get More Calls I’ve been watching how fast AI tools are growing, and it’s crazy how much they’re starting to show up in the […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:36:34 +1300

AI is definitely going to make troubleshooting faster. I’m already using a couple tools and they save time.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:20:17 +1300

Check your BACnet MS/TP bus loading. If you’ve got too many devices daisy-chained, the VFD will be the first to blink.

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment The AHU’s fan VFD keeps dropping off the BAS network for a couple seconds at a time, then snaps back like nothing happened. Cabling and grounding look […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:58:42 +1300

Check for a weak secondary winding on the transformer. It can show 24V open circuit but collapse fast under load.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices Got a 24V control circuit that drops to around 18–19 volts as soon as multiple relays kick in. No direct shorts found, wiring looks clean, and […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:17:06 +1300

You’re incredible! Ever since you started helping with our SEO, the visibility on Google Maps has shot up. Getting calls from areas we never reached before.

In reply to - HVAC Community Hub posted an update in the group HVAC SEO Accelerator: Rank Higher, Get More Calls I’ve been reviewing a lot of SEO data from HVAC members lately, and it’s clear – ranking on Google doesn’t […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:16:42 +1300

Check if the static pressure setpoint is too high in the controller – it can make the fan overcompensate and spike.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment Newly commissioned duct system keeps tripping high static pressure alarms at full load – fans and dampers check out fine. Looks like a sizing or […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:06:58 +1300

Man, you’re not alone. I’ve been through three techs in six months. One left to start his own thing, and the other two just stopped showing up. 😩

In reply to - Andrea posted an update in the group Troubleshooting & Repairs Anyone else feeling the pinch when it comes to finding solid HVAC techs? Every time I think I’ve got a good one, they’re gone within months.

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:47:44 +1300

Sometimes it’s just a metering device mismatch. Make sure it’s sized correctly for the load.

In reply to - Benjamin posted an update in the group HVAC Installation Best Practices I ran into a weird situation on a commercial chiller – the suction pressure is unusually high, and the cooling performance has […]

Ryan posted a new activity comment

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:56:21 +1300

If it’s variable speed, maybe the control board isn’t sending the right signal at those RPMs.

In reply to - Eric posted an update in the group HVAC Tools & Equipment Variable speed blower on a commercial air handler is making a weird humming noise at certain speeds. Airflow seems normal, belts/pulleys look fine. […]