Any info will help me out because I want to talk to the company about a specific price breakdown. Before I do, is it possible they made some kind of billing mistake?
I work in the trades, and I don’t want to be one of those PITA customers. Please give me some guidance on what to ask. Thanks in advance. This could save me money I really don’t have right now.
Go back 25 years. A tech from 2000 could walk onto today’s job and figure it out in an afternoon. Same compressor, same metering device, same coil, same superheat and subcool. We got ECMs, inverters, mini-splits went mainstream, and the refrigerant changed twice. That’s it. Nobody reinvented vapor compression because there’s nothing left to reinvent. Carnot capped it and we’ve been chasing the last few points ever since.
So when people tell you 2050 HVAC is going to look like science fiction, I don’t buy it. The box is basically done.
Here’s what I think actually changes.
Refrigerant charge limits force factory-sealed systems. If we end up on propane and CO2 at scale, you cannot have 40 feet of field-brazed lineset holding a flammable charge. Europe already went monobloc, sealed at the factory, water loop to the house, zero field refrigerant work. That’s the real shift. Less brazing, less charging, more hydronics and more electrical. Different skill set entirely.
Who’s allowed to touch it changes too. Sealed systems and tighter charge rules mean the licensing conversation gets rewritten.
Where the good techs go changes. Data centers are already paying double for chiller guys and that’s only going one direction.
And who owns the equipment changes. Homeowners stop buying boxes and start buying comfort. Whoever holds the asset holds the customer for 15 years.
The trade transforms. The thermodynamics don’t.
Am I wrong? Anybody see a real technology jump coming that isn’t just a refrigerant swap?
Main AC unit in my house is not running consistently and leaking water. It will sporadically turn on and the outdoor unit fan will run and the unit will run but we will get no air circulation throughout the house. It’s leaking water through a blue plug which is the picture that I attached. Actuslly I can’t add pictures so I’ll added it through a Imgur link in the comments.
So my ac started acting up and now I’m trying to search for top rated heating and cooling repair near me.
Got like a million results.
Just a quick question if you also go off reviews. Or is there something else i should be looking at?
Feel like reviews can be faked so easily these days. Thanks!
Conducting some research on quotes I received.
The invoice says and I quote:
"Dynamic Polarized Media Air Cleaner - 1" Filter Cabinet"
They came over to clean my coils for the HVAC unit and left to grab something. When they came back a sales rep was with them and the guy went up with the service reps to clean ? But he came back down and told me I needed a special filter and it was $2,200.
That seems like a lot for a filter? It does say "Included: Filters & Air Quality Bulbs" .. Is that like replacements and thats why its so much?
Also if they can just clean the coils why would I need some heavy duty filter rather than the paper ones I currently have?
If anyone could provide insight please I'd really appreciate it!
I'll became a hvac technician soon and planing to come to canada after a while so I got a coupel of questions to ask like how much the salary ?and how it takes to finish the training ?
Seeing reports that ServiceTitan is shutting down the Podium integration with less than 30 days notice. Pretty brutal timing if you’re relying on it for customer texts, follow-ups and reviews during peak season.
Anyone here affected by this? Are you replacing Podium, moving more of the workflow into ServiceTitan, or looking at other field service platforms altogether?
So my HVAC is in an old sandstone cellar with a rough concrete floor. We get heavy rain and the water seeps into the cellar walls. I've replaced the sump pump but want to see if this can be raised. It's a gas furnace. Wondering if this center part can be taken out and it raised at least 8 inches. Thanks for your advice.
The AC was replaced 2yrs ago and the furnace last year. Im wondering if the piece I have circled can be removed to raise it to about 8 inches. Cellar walls have been painted but still seep. I think some is coming up through the floor and edges. I think I will build a damn around the furnace to divert the water.
Curious how everyone handles truck inventory.
What parts/supplies do you constantly find yourself running out of?
What usually causes you to make an extra supply-house trip?
How do you keep track of what needs restocking?
And what’s the biggest pain in the ass about keeping your truck stocked?
Interested to hear how different companies/techs handle it.
[Founder here]
Hey everyone,
I’ve been working as a commercial facility HVAC technician for years, and one recurring nightmare drove me to learn software development: tracking heavy mechanical hardware inside concrete vaults, hospital basements, and deep sub-levels.
Every enterprise CMMS or inventory tool on the market completely drops dead the moment you lose cellular service. On top of that, manual data entry while hanging off a ladder trying to read a corroded, sun-bleached nameplate is completely impractical.
I built Equipment Tracker Pro to solve the exact headaches we face in the dirt.
The core architecture runs on a localized SQLite engine that caches everything locally on-device. It updates and logs completely offline, then executes a smart-sync state change with a Firebase backend only when you walk back out to the truck and hit signal.
To kill the keyboard friction, I integrated a multimodal Gemini AI scanning layer. You snap a photo of a weathered data plate, and it extracts over 40 structured database fields (Compressor RLA/LRA, MCA, MOP, factory chemical charge weights, belt codes, and filter sizes). It also automates EPA Section 608 leak-rate math configurations for heavy commercial industrial charges and handles native thermal printing layouts for on-site QR asset tagging.
The core logging frameworks are completely free because bottom-up technician adoption matters more than corporate walls.
The web platform documentation and details are fully accessible directly via our main domain portal at: https://equipment-tracker.com
I am also launching a Product Hunt community queue this Tuesday to gather raw UX feedback from other developers and field engineers.
Would love to know your thoughts on the offline-first sync architecture or the edge OCR accuracy limits if you've built similar tools!
We’ve gone from simple systems with basic controls and older refrigerants to communicating equipment, inverter-driven compressors, smart thermostats, zoning, heat pumps, and a new generation of lower-GWP refrigerants.
The biggest change right now is the move away from R-410A equipment toward systems using refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. A lot of homeowners hear “phaseout” and assume their existing system is illegal or has to be replaced immediately. That’s not true. A working R-410A system can still be maintained and repaired; the transition is primarily about newly manufactured equipment and where the industry is now he headed…
What’s interesting is that HVAC is becoming less about simply swapping a condenser and more about understanding the entire house: duct design, airflow, humidity, electrical capacity, controls, refrigerant safety, and homeowner expectations.
The good contractors will not just know how to install the box. They’ll know how to diagnose the system, explain the options honestly, and make the house more comfortable—not just colder.
Question for the group: Do you think today’s HVAC techs need to be more like system specialists than traditional mechanics? And what change has had the biggest impact on your work: refrigerants, inverter equipment, smart controls, or labor shortages?
We rent a home and have been here for 5 years. A few years back, we started finding small pieces of felt-like material on the floor in the same general area. Fast forward a few days ago and we have found a few more pieces. Thought it was coming out of the vents but now wondering if it is coming out of the gaps between the hardwood floor and baseboards because I don't think we've ever found it on surfaces, only the floor. The color is orange/yellow and the pieces are generally flat. I have attached some photos, hopefully they are clear enough. We had our rental company come out years ago and they had no idea what it was or where it was coming from. My first thought is fiberglass insulation being chewed up by rodents or insects and it's getting pushed under the wall. We have cellulose insulation and fibergass insulation in the attic/walls. However, the fiberglass is pink. Any thoughts? House was built in 1957.
Hi everyone,
My contractor recently relocated my Lifebreath RNC5-HEX-TPD HRV to another spot in the basement. Before it was moved, everything was working normally, including the original wall controller.
After the relocation, I noticed the wall controller is completely dead/no lights.
I later discovered that when the contractor reconnected the wiring, the wires on the HRV terminal block had been connected incorrectly/reversed. Luckily, I had pictures of the wiring from before the move, so I corrected everything back to exactly how it was originally wired.
The HRV itself still powers up and runs. When powered on, it goes through its startup/fan-speed sequence and eventually returns to its previous setting. However, the wall controller remains completely dead, and I don’t see the green status LED on the HRV board blinking either.
I’m trying to figure out what may have been damaged when it was wired incorrectly and what I should check before replacing parts.
Has anyone worked on one of these Lifebreath units or experienced something similar? Any advice on where to start troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated.
I noticed the vent was leaking in our living room, so I removed it and noticed that the leak had a pretty extensive build up of moisture in the lip of the vent cover and soaking the sheetrock.
I’ve kept the vent cover off for a week to monitor and dried out the sheetrock with a heat gun but it continues to have a small drip. The duct is on the first floor between the first and second floor so not an issue of attic heat or second floor bathroom drainage. We live in Houston and have thought this might be a humidity issue caused with cold air and metal ducts but we don’t have this issue on any other vents through the house. The only thing I haven’t tried is a dehumidifier in the room. Any other thoughts on the cause?and solution?
Looking for some recommendations for good local HVAC companies around Rochester and the surrounding suburbs.
Who have you personally used, and would you hire them again?
I’m especially interested in hearing about:
Also interested in the other side of it — any companies you wouldn’t use again and why?
I’d prefer locally owned companies if possible, but open to anyone who does good work.
Thanks!
My current unit needs to be replaced, as it's betwen 15-20 years old, rusted and corroded and leaking. Here's the situation: Previously this unit, a 3.5 ton, was used for the entire house. Then, several years back through some renos, we installed split units downstairs. Now this unit in the attic has only been used for the upstairs bedrooms.
Here lies the confusion....I received 3 different estimates. First company is quoting me on a 2 ton basic and deluxe......second company is quoting me on a variable 2-ton capacity + a variable speed air handler....Now third company comes in and quotes a much higher number but is stating that my current duct work which is made for the 3.5 ton, is not comparable with the new 2-ton units (something about refrigerant) and also how the air will not feel like it's flowing out of the vents properly. He's saying- unless you re-do all duct work (which I am NOT), then the only option is to stick with a new 3.5 ton unit.
The reason I am trying to figure this out is because I feel more comfortable with the third company. Great reputation, excellent warranties, etc....
But I'm trying to figure out if what he's saying is true.
If I went with the other cheaper estimates, might I run into this problem?
The manual J is stating my upstairs needs 24,400 btu
Which would be consistent with a 2 ton. So I'm confused.
Hi folks- I need to install a new HVAC system.😔Does anyone have any advice as to Snell vs Furr—- or any other recommendations of installers and servicers with whom you have had great experiences?
Do you use a CRM, spreadsheet, or another system to manage leads from calls, websites, ads, and referrals?
I’m curious what you’re currently using and what you like or dislike about it.
In 2022 I bought a new system and replaced my home system. Next year I bought a mini split with 2 evaporators. All from HVAC direct. We were pleased. June 24 this year we were ordering another system for the friend that bought the mini split system. We chose a system, were looking at accessories and discussing the purchase when poof. What we selected disappeared. We looked for it again. It had a higher price. There was the same system with a lower price. We carefully went back and forth comparing the pages to see they were exactly the same. They were. We decided not to look at accessories at that time in case it glitched on us again. We clicked on purchase. I printed the receipt and gave it to Karla since it would go in her home. We trusted and didn't see that it wasn't the same order. We didn't notice until it came time to connect the control system. Then when nothing worked I examined the guts of the furnace. It was a basic single stage furnace, not the multi-stage heat and cooling that could work with the Heat Pump and controls they provided. That is when the battles began and I discovered who I was working with. They accept responsibility for nothing and (gaslight) blame the buyer guilting, shaming, and saying since we bought it that way we had to purchase another furnace over $2,000. I had pictures proving that their system glitched on another day even capturing my computer. My computer was locked up with the HVACDirect page. The keyboard and mouse would do nothing. Even the red dot for closing out of a page was not red, the center dot not yellow, the green dot was still green but wouldn't do anything. My computer was captured. During that night the computer updated and that freed the computer, but next morning the HVACDirect page was still there as before but we could use the computer. We took photos with 3 cameras. Screen capture wouldn't work. So we had more proof right before us that clicking on something went to something else. Still HVAC Direct personnel (who were very hostile) wouldn't budge. The only thing they would work with was us buying another furnace. But who would trust them now. Had I not trusted them and read the terms and conditions I would have left their site to never return. Think about it, if their site can capture your computer do you want to go there?
Needless to say there is no satisfactory resolution with HVACDirect and with their lies all covered as my responsibility in their Terms and Conditions when they have no responsibility for anything at all. I have junk that they say can work together but I asked them with every contact to just walk me through making that package work together. They just said I bought it that way, that it can work. But they wouldn't help. Their manuals didn't cover mixing technology with incompatible units. The only thing they would do is insist the remedy was to buy another furnace they offered at a discount. Who knew if it would work either? Trust them??? Never again.
I have never been treated so badly by a customer support. They're bold. They know they have a complete pass and cannot be held responsible for anything unless you take them to court to test their terms and conditions for legality. I did a legal analysis on the Terms and Conditions. Generally it will hold up but it is in violation of consumer laws too.
I didn't buy a nice system... or try to... to have to go to court to try to save the thousands of dollars already tied up in a package we didn't order (bait and switch) that won't work as it is. We hate that we have to sue them to see if a judge or jury buys their story of no responsibility or my story. It could cost us a fortune more and they know that is what customers they screw need to do to get relief. The law requires they give a good working unit or give a refund. They flatly refuse both. They insist we purchased that package. It was supported by statements that checked out to be untrue. I didn't see on their site that I would be utterly at the mercy of anything they would do including sending something else. Read their Terms and Conditions.
We know we did not purchase that package. They could easily have done what we witnessed and took pictures of that their site, when you click on something will go to something you didn't expect. The added gift was a captured computer. If when they had my computer captured they harvested my information I may find my accounts being drained or just about anything including my information being sold worldwide.
Of course they're not responsible.
I won't tell you to do anything but read their Terms and Conditions, the error that has cost us thousands (7) so far. It is all my fault, my problem, and they accuse me of buying it as it is and I know what we clicked on to make the purchase. They don't care. They have no responsibility per the Terms and agreements which by the way is less than 2 full pages and isn't the usual small print. It may have holes in the legality but it will cost you hiring a law firm and fighting in court to find out how it would be judged against consumer laws.
Do you also think they used their website to bait and switch then insist I bought it that way further insisting that I made a mistake and must buy another and much more expensive furnace to be compatible with the other items in the package. Not their responsibility. Even if they did that it is still the responsibility of the consumer.
This is positively the worst experience I have ever had with a company online or otherwise in my rather long lifetime.