Do it yourself Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

[Loadstar]

My cost to buy the compressor with me going to the supply house is $422.

No one is paying me $130 an hour to order it or pick it up, unpack and stage it on the roof.

I already have gauges, vacuum pump, Fluke meters, brazing equipment, tubing cutters, flare wrenches... etc... I don't have a scale.

So you do all that for free? Who needs a scale just beer can cold it.

 

[murphy1244]

You need a evacuation pump and tanks for Freon. Buy Robin Air brand stuff.

 

[ultrarunner]

So you do all that for free? Who needs a scale just beer can cold it.

Sometimes it feels like it...

I'm on salary so it is often whatever it takes to get the job done.

The way it works now is I will troubleshoot... in other words I just don't call and say the room is too warm or the A/C is out...

I verify the system is calling for heat or cooling and what is being produced... if only one stage is on when two are called for...

Sometimes it can be as simple as a pneumatic actuator not working or a problem with a circuit board...

Adding refrigerant just doesn't happen unless the compressor or coils are being replaced...

 

[kenmac]

So you do all that for free? Who needs a scale just beer can cold it.

He would only need a scale if he replaced a coil, compressor , all the refrigerant got out for some reason, etc, If he's maintaining his own equipment or his apartments he's probably ok. If he screws up then, he can learn to repair it. If he has to call in for some help, that's ok. I've had to call in a factory rep. & that factory rep had to call another factory rep that, ended up calling in a factory engineer.. There's no one person that has all the answers to all the problems that 1 can encounter .Different states have different rules. Here, you aren't allowed to repair HVACR equipment (other than your own) unless you're Certified by the State in HVACR ( State Exam.). Most supply houses (here) won't sell to you unless you can provide a State Certification card

 

[Sigarms]

Yep, Must understand Super Heat.

Ironcially enough, air flow is just as important. Love it when you ask a guy how his airflow is and he tells you "good", then ask him what his CFM's and his static pressure is, and there is silence:laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

I have magnehelic guages at critical areas in the built up system and annually I need to verify air exchanges using a hood.

So far just having a epa 608 cert will get you into the supply houses or let you buy online...

No intention of becoming an HVAC contractor or doing work for hire.

Between my job and the real estate there will be plenty to keep me busy... even if I have to call in help once in awhile.

Our Johnson Controls metysis Window 2000 energy management system is already so old that I know more about it than all but one of the service techs...

I find that not to be all that unusaul... often the site engineer or facility guy that has been at one location for years really knows the quirks and requirements specific to that equipment because of experience.

Seems these days the more certifications and experience one has goes along way regarding job security.

Having a mill and lathe at home plus a welder has really helped out on the job... the boss loves it anytime something can be handled in house...

 

[Loadstar]

"He would only need a scale if he replaced a coil, compressor , all the refrigerant got out for some reason, etc, If he's maintaining his own equipment or his apartments he's probably ok. "

-I know but were talking compressor change. And at $400 some odd dollars I don't think it's an 06E he's valving out. So he is moving refrigerant

[/QUOTE]
If he screws up then, he can learn to repair it. If he has to call in for some help, that's ok. I've had to call in a factory rep. & that factory rep had to call another factory rep that, ended up calling in a factory engineer.. There's no one person that has all the answers to all the problems that 1 can encounter.
[/QUOTE]

of course no 1 person knows it all. Factory help is hit and miss all the way from reps to engineers. It's amazing when you run across 10 similar new models having the same failure and you get the classic "that's the first time we heard of that" (if you can't tell I'm getting burned out on the sh** that leaves factories lol) you are right he will learn from mistakes just as I did. I had people by my side that say don't do that... Here is why, I also have manufacturers that say don't do this here is why.

[/QUOTE]
Different states have different rules. Here, you aren't allowed to repair HVACR equipment (other than your own) unless you're Certified by the State in HVACR ( State Exam.). Most supply houses (here) won't sell to you unless you can provide a State Certification card[/QUOTE]

Your right I wish it was more strict here, but following "in house know how" is big money. I have seen tens of thousands of dollars let out in smoke from in house know how jumper wires. Unfortunately you also see things like heat unknowingly operating dangerously with safeties jumped out to get ER by to save a dime.

 

[ultrarunner]

Actually... I have jumped out relays or manually held them down to keep the air on in the Operating rooms...

I've always done it with the contractor on the phone and after checking for problems first... like low oil.

We had a real bad run with the low oil sensors on the built-up units at one time... about six months of replace and fail and then there was a redesign and no more problems...

When the choice is losing HVAC to 6 operating rooms or jumping a relay... it is the Hospital CEO that makes the call.

It's the same when the reheat boiler is offline in the dead of winter... I can wait or take care of the problem knowing help is on the way.

One thing contractors hate is having customers cry wolf... it gets old real fast. The guys actually hate it when I'm away because I'm the last one left that knows the facility... I was here during the build and know why things were done the way they were...

In a nutshell... I've been told to cut costs and HVAC is one of the wild cards when it comes to unexpected expenses under the new system.

Thankfully, only had to replace one large compressor at 17k and two package unit ones under 4 k since 1995...

A lot of the problems have to do with controls and features like economizers...

I really appreciate the advice... honest.

 

[kenmac]

Well, from Reading some of the things you talk about. I don't believe your blind to the industry . How much you know, I have no idea. I also know (by reading your post) you aren't a dummy about this stuff either. You say you take care of some buildings then you say you jump out a contactor to get A/C to an operating room. I have no idea what you actually do (for a living), but I think you'll be able to do the things (repairs ,etc,) that your knowledge/ability will allow you to do. You'll know when you're in over your head & to call for re-enforcements. I found out early on that electronics work better when you leave the smoke in. Once you let the smoke out, They don't seem to work as well if at all... I have let plenty of smoke out of electrical equipment many times in my career.
I wish you the best

 

[milkman636]

There is more to it than the mechanics of assembling parts and making good braze joints. You will need to understand airflows, pressure drops, superheat and sub-cooling, psychometrics, electric motors and controls......etc. just for the air-cooled equipment you mentioned. Than there are also oil return considerations, moisture and contaminant control, refrigerant migration issues, etc....

It's not rocket science, but it is a science. Take time to get some classes and learn the mechanics of the systems if you want to expand your skill set. Don't just get a 608 cert and call yourself a reefer. To be the indispensable guy you'll have to be the one that fixes it right the first time, not the guy that keeps fighting the same reoccurring problems or turns minor repairs a major failures. Talk to your employer and they may even reward your initiative by helping you pay for some classes.