How come so many HVAC professionals are watching “DIY HVAC” videos? It seems like every post there is some warning from a tech saying it’s illegal or dangerous to do this on your own. I guess they are learning from you just like the rest of us. Thanks for the helpful videos! I know I personally saved thousands doing this myself after buying all the tools from Amazon and everything else I needed online.
Illegal no, so long as you're EPA certified to handle and purchase the refrigerant. If you're EPA certified then you'll know that you may need a recovery machine depending on what you're doing. You'll need a deep vacuum pump and a manifold set with low loss fittings, etc. These are some of things you'll need to meet EPA requirements and be legal. As for dangerous, of course it is. Everything is dangerous. HVAC DIY is probably the ultimate and most demanding residential thing that is capable of being DIYd so it's not for the person who just finished up tiling their bathroom and thinking they can do anything. It's only for those that are extremely comfortable with their abilities and have the aptitude to understand how everything works.
@@kdk2286 Well said! If you study up and do it one step at a time, it’s not too bad for someone used to working with tools. I read Craig Migliaccio’s A/C book 3 times before attempting and install and at that point, it was fairly…I’m not going to say easy, but straight forward. I imaging that diagnosing issues is much more challenging, but installing isn’t terrible if you get an understanding of everything prior to attempting it and have all the tools on hand.
The videos are good! That's why so many people watch them; there's no doubt about that! However, he should have disclaimers on all of his videos. It is crazy to think that this job can be done by DIY'r! Especially if they are not mechanically inclined! Yes, some folks would have no problems doing the things in the video with some mechanical knowledge. However, there is no mention of safety! Doesn't matter what torch you use, you have to have something to put out a fire in the case of an accident. All torches take practice to get proficient on them. A novice may burn a hole in the copper tubing. YES a map torch can burn a hole in copper tubing! He makes it look easy because it is easy ONLY after having been trained and acquired the experience on how to use a torch. If I were the DIY HVAC Guy, I would change my name to something else other than THE DIY HVAC Guy, put disclaimers on all videos before I get sued! I would change it to: "THE FORMER DIY HVAC Guy" and put disclaimers on all the videos! And yes, this job is dangerous! It takes several years to be as proficient as the tech in the video! So if you're reading this and are thinking about DIY'ing replacing your system and are not mechanically inclined or have no AC training, STOP!!!!!!!! Don't do it!
@@lucho106 I’m not an HVAC tech and did it myself and thought the job was pretty straightforward. The hardest part for me was getting the proper charge, which wasn’t necessarily hard, but just a little challenging for me to understand the concept. Compared to other mechanical jobs like automotive electrical diagnosing, an air conditioning replacement was easier than people make it out to be. Just study up and understand each part of the process (and understand how the system works) and just do it one step at a time.
I am a DIYer Vehicle Mechanic and enjoy watching DIY mechanic how-to's. Watching your videos feels like watching a mechanic work on a car and it's like therapy for me. You have a new subscriber, Thanks!
I sure hope none of these HVAC contractors that charge obscene rates work on their own vehicles. According to them only a professional auto mechanic should even change their oil otherwise the vehicle might catch fire.
@@sharedknowledge6640😂😂😂and those hvac peeps that dont work on their own cars, still wanna charge you and arm and a kidney for work. I was a certified mechanic in a shop for 15 years and been working on my own cars over 35 years now. Its not that hard. Just people are lazy these days. Noone wants to do stuff for themselves.
@@d1specdrifter Guys, listen to this guy. Do it yourself or even Buy the Unit and then call someone to install it for you. You will even save thousand do it yourself. A company in this desert heat charge me $ 11,800 in heating and cooling Unit: Amana 4-ton 15 seers. This Unit could cost to them less than 5 or 4 K dollars, but they kill me with $ 11800 and the company is a shit. --- If you buy the Unit for $ 3 or 4 K, you can call even a company and how much they will charge you? No one will charge you more than 3K, will be an abuse. $4K+3K= 7k dollars, it will be a save of $ 4,800 in total. My unit was installed last year 2023. I learned with pain, next time I will laugh for sure of those company. LEARN, LEARN, AND LEARN.
i got out of wrenching in the early 90s and i.t. in the mid 200x. i'd rather dig a ditch or ride a garbage truck for a living, if it came down to it. so i guess i'd say u have my respect - doing that kind of job nowadays. lol my job for the last 15yrs was 20/80 mental/physical. but jobs are so technical today, i'm not sure hvac is any more cutting edge than a 100 other bluecollar jobs. they just have to realize it. engineers are flooding the world campuses, imho. well ok, i guess i'd say - many dam bluecollar jobs require constant education of tech upgrades and digital/logic seminars. that's all i meant. for this channel, its kinda sad to see someone bristle over the idea that it takes a lot of mental goals to accomplish this task. as if they don't realize how many trades have been very technical for a long time now.
This video brings back memories of one summer between college semesters I got a job at my wife’s uncles plumbing heating and cooling company being a helper installing HVAC systems. This was when everyone had to get “EPA certified “, so I read a book that they gave us and took the test and aced it. I got the highest score and didn’t know a thing about how to recover refrigerant. One of the things that really sticks out to me is I didn’t know that an attic could be hotter than hades in summer and that there was something called a crawl space underneath houses where all the spiders are.
@@diyhvacguy How do you buy a Ruud without being a licensed dealer/distributor? I'm universal certified, but not working with a dealer. I can buy the off brands, but how do you get the Ruud without being a dealer?
Yep. I went to community college HVAC certificate program after which I got IMACA 609 for working on RVs and buses and RSES 608 for HVAC in 1980's when most companies had a single recovery machine in entire company if at all. The testing services gave you a book to study with all the answers, you then took a closed book test and BINGO "You is a tech now" lol.
Just had a tech out today.. He recommended I replace my house. It was built in 2017 so I might as well go ahead before it cost me more money in the future.
Going through this at the moment. I’m a mechanic and I understand sometimes it’s cheaper to replace more parts that might need to be replaced sooner than later but these hvac techs see your units and want to just replace everything.
@@makojuicedaniel930790d homes are built fairly well, but sometimes you can get a solid turn of the century home for almost nothing if you pay to move it. Some people prefer newer, so maybe you can get a nearby neighbor with an old Craftsman, Victorian, etc home and trade for a smaller house moving fee.
I was immediately going to flag the non-flush but I see others have beat me to it! Going from R22 to 410a there's no need to replace the line set. I have 60 feet of line set under my slab and there is no way I'm doing that. I did completely flush my system though. First with Toluene as it does not evap so easily and then with Acetone for the final flush. If doing it yourself, remember to disconnect from the evaporator and condenser first so it's a straight shot into and out of the 3/8 and 7/8 or whatever your low side tubing is. Going on 5 years with my Goodman and running fine.
Read your warranty! I installed my own system but without a licensed installer I would have voided a ten year warranty. I did have a licensed guy come in to flush and evacuate the line set side and then open the service valves. I have installed a couple of Mr Cool mini splits that are designed for do it your self installation, those have no warranty issues.
A lot of companies try to pull that for self install or repair across many industries. It's illegal. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act strictly forbids it and the FTC has fined companies over the years for trying to do this.
I really appreciate the videos. One thing that would be really helpful is to have more content about troubleshooting. The hardest thing with diy is when things go wrong and I need to know what to do next. Example - what if the tightness test fails (your tests always pass lol), how do I find a leak (what tools are needed). What if the pressures don't drop when pumping the refrigerant into the old unit? If my lines are too long for the precharge how will that be evident on the guages. Etc. When things work like in the video, it's easy, but things seldom go to plan. You have some amazing videos on the procedures on how things are supposed to work which is very helpful. Would love to see more details about what you do when things don't go according to plan. Thanks for the great work!
There are some profit mongers for sure, but running your own business costs a lot of money these days. No one can keep their business going charging a few hundred bucks to do this hard work
Man, I love your channel. I have learned so much. You have rid me of the big, scary monster with doing some of my own a/c work. Thank you for demystifying this stuff. I think you're doing a lot of good for the world.
@@mookfaru835 Hello, I am not trying to make fun or mess with you. If you could let me Know what I need to do/study to pass the test ,it would be greatly appreciated I am un employed looking for work .Respectfully -Peter
@@Peter-Du It's like 35 bucks. But they require in field experience first. Which is the rub. There are online courses to get around this, but they are like $300. Still worth it. You have to check with the state government website to find the basic test.
Brother I think you’re awesome for doing this. I’m a plumber. Some people can’t afford to hire a professional. I watch your video from time to time. Just want to say thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
I really wish there were HVAC professionals like this in South Jersey! He was incredibly precise and detail-oriented, making sure every step was covered. You can tell this AC unit is built to last. Unfortunately, my experience with HVAC folks in New Jersey hasn't been great. When I had my AC replaced, the technician didn’t even brace the high-pressure line properly, and it ended up leaking. I mentioned the leak, but I’m not even sure if he ran nitrogen through the system.
Do the work yourself and then just call the HVAC person in the end to test and fill. Just like you would if a line broke and it all the refrigerant leaked out. It will still save you thousands. Saved me about 50%.
Again as always, I love it DIYers. I have worked more than one of their calls to make their stuff wor and I’m sure plenty of folks can figure it out well enough to this, But who that isn’t in HVAAC owns refrigerant gauges? Vacuum pump? Reclaim machine? Reclaim tank? EPA card to work with refrigerant? Also, you do do a micron test, but there are two ways to fail it. One way indicates a leak. One way just indicates you still have moisture in the lines.
I'm on both sides here. I love the pros who don't reconnect the thermostat wires from the condenser to the furnace when it was replaced. Looking for an easy callback perhaps? Pros aren't the gods they think they are nowadays. I'm a licensed plumber and am seeing the quality and thoroughness being thrown out the window the past few years. Not many have pride in their work. Just there for the check.
Way back in 2004 I installed a 6K BTU mini split 100% DIY. It was for a 350 SF detached office building and we only had 110V. The pros that gave me estimates (some said I needed a “real” system and 240 VAC) quoted ridiculous (at the time) prices of $2K-3K. The unit (pre-charged, flare fittings) went in easily with a day of work, and when we sold the place 12 years later it was still working like a champ. Total cost was under $500.
Great video and I can confirm the title, "-SAVE THOUSANDS-" is 100% accurate. We are getting a new slab poured in our backyard. Our contractor let us know that they'd need the condenser moved/disconnected to raise the current slab it sits on. Called up our HVAC company. They quoted us just under $3000. Called an HVAC friend of a friend and was quoted $1600. #TIL. We decided to live with our condenser being an inch or two lower than our patio.
Years ago when I installed my AC, I was told by a number of "experts" that you cannot solder an R-410a system - it wouldn't hold up to the pressures. So I invested in the equipment to braze. Fast forward 10 years later, and many of those same experts are saying they have been soft sodlering with 95/5 tin/antimony, and zero field failures of the joint. So, there you are. Apparently the advice about soft soldering was based on experience with plumbers solder, which is 50/50 tin and lead. Make sure you get the correct solder!
@@gallardo360 he's not using it as a vacuum pump. He uses his vacuum pump later to apply a vacuum to the system before opening the Freon lines on the new unit. He uses the compressor on the old unit to pump back the Freon into the old unit.
@@Eman-vp5wk I know that,,,,, typically the compressor is bad and the reason for replacement, but you should never back the refrigerant back into the compressor to change out a part like the txv valve. good day
I'm retired now but in my 40 years in the industry I've seen many techs that don't know what they are doing. So some could learn. Since I'm old I'm a bit more old school. He seems to be a good tech and not doing anything wrong, except with the change from R-22 to R-410A, I always preferred flushing the lines with solvent. Gets them super clean. I've actually gotten a lot of mineral oil out and it is recommended. I've been told most guys don't flush (added time and expense) and I suppose the jury is still out whether or not mixing the oils shortens the life of the unit. You can buy anything online nowadays so the EPA and licensing are fairly irrelevant. I was licensed and universal certified. I watch videos like this out of curiosity rather than looking for info. I see this video as an explanation of all the work necessary to properly replace a system more so than encouraging homeowners to do it themselves. After all, we saw all of the equipment he used to get it done. He has top of the line equipment. You can get by on less than the thousands of dollars worth he has shown but you do still need relatively expensive equipment (which he will gladly sell you via his Amazon page) to do the job. For one job? HVAC work is a bit more technical than other DIY projects. If it doesn't go right you could pay a lot for someone to come fix it, if you could get anyone at all. Honest contractors give a fair price. Shop around because there are plenty who gouge. Honest ones get what they need to run their business and put food on their table. I don't think "The DIY HVAC Guy" works for free.
A lot of manufacturers these days don't recommend using R11 to flush the line set. Sweeping with a nitrogen a few times is good enough, unless it's a burnout.
A lot of the work is just moving things and setting them up. For the final step, you get in the HVAC person to fill it and test it. It would still have you THOUSANDS!!!
@@rcisneros8567 Guys, listen to this guy. Do it yourself or even Buy the Unit and then call someone to install it for you. You will even save thousand do it yourself. A company in this desert heat charge me $ 11,800 in heating and cooling Unit: Amana 4-ton 15 seers. This Unit could cost to them less than 5 or 4 K dollars, but they kill me with $ 11800 and the company is a shit. --- If you buy the Unit for $ 3 or 4 K, you can call even a company and how much they will charge you? No one will charge you more than 3K, will be an abuse. $4K+3K= 7k dollars, it will be a save of $ 4,800 in total. My unit was installed last year 2023. I learned with pain, next time I will laugh for sure of those company. LEARN, LEARN, AND LEARN.
Quoted 9k-14k here in SC on 3 ton Goodman split. I spent $1500 on tools , $3200 on equipment and did it myself . Could have done it cheaper but I purchased decent equipment which included testo 550 digital manifold set , r410 25lbs, victor acetlyn torch set , Eli tech scales , nitrogen 40lbs tank with gauges , yellow jacket manifold set , charging hose set with ball valve , 2 schrader valve removal tools , and a few other various items . The only thing I borrowed was a cps vacuum pump . It was really enjoyable doing it myself
Unfortunately most HVAC issues are install related which is why new construction and DYI guys are such a pain to deal with. Every day we have to clean up the mess they made 5 years ago lol
I'm an HVAC Professional with 20+ years of industry experience and after watching HVAC DYI videos all I'm going to say is this. Beware of DIY HVAC repairs/change outs especially when you open up the system. HVAC is a very meticulous process and if you don't know what you are doing you can seriously hurt or you will be replacing compressor every 2-3 years. FYI. When doing R22 equipment change out but using the existing copper lineset, you MUST flush the lines using a solution like RX11 to rid of all R22 oils and contaminants. If you fail to do this task you will be replacing your compressor very very soon.
Well said. Let this "DIY Guy" teach the public in a 25-minute video what takes us YEARS of training and practice. Next time when they burn down the house and the insurance company refuses to pay, we'll be having the last laugh. Not to mention damaging the brand-new compressor because they didn't know they were supposed to flush the line set or change it altogether.
I used to work for a Rheem dealer Ruud is their other brand only difference used to be one was green the other tan. Always found them to be good units.
I have 3 that came with my new house. I'm not sure of the brand name off the top of my head but I've only had to replace1 capacitor probably about 10 years ago. I've cleaned the fins to which only 1 needed it as my shedding dog used to sleep next to it. I'm not looking forward to replacing one of them let alone 3. I've never let a serviceman touch them ever. That's probably why they still work. Every summer I sweat it though as I live in Las Vegas and they do get a few hours of sun everyday.
Appreciate the knowledge, only things I don't mess with in house are ac/heat, and garage door springs, because I don't want to take a metal spring to the face at 50mph! Everything else is game on.
I have a 1985 doublewide I remodeled like a house, the old ac that came with it is an r22 system from back then thats still running, ive changed the outside fan and capacitors, next im going to try re-insulating the freon lines and adding a soft start to it to add more efficiency. I was looking at a goodman for 3600$ to put in myself when this one eventually goes out. This video is has good information for me, when i eventually put in the new ac ill be coming back to this for some tips. Thanks
I second this! My downstairs A/C died and I spent over 2k for the guy to replace it. He told me that if it goes down again I should buy a newer model since mine is from 2007. I don't have thousands to spend on a new a/c...
Are you asking about sizing a unit or choosing a brand or type of unit? as for evacuation there are a lot of videos showing this and during evac there is a decay test for leak detection, that's an important step, its also outlined in the install manual.
LOVING that you show how the lineset can be soldered and still work fine. The one thing that has always kept me at bay from performing my own installation has been brazing. Dealing with very high heat + cost of one-time-use brazing equipment may just be a thing of the past! - Please comment on differences and reliability of soldering (stay-bright) Vs. Brazing. - Thanks!
It’s not as reliable you need to have more skill and tighter tolerances. Also you risk introducing flux into the system. Not a move for rookies. It’s also against code because if you had a fire inside the joint could blow at much lower temperatures.
Stay-bright 8 has been around for 30 plus years, however it’s still a matter of preference. Also soot from brazing has zero effect on residual AC systems and the nitrogen purge is just a manufacturing suggestion, just as using Stay-bright 8 should not be used on high temperature equipment. You should never attempt any type of AC replacement without proper tools, training, and license requirements. You risk getting hurt and causing a fire or major damage to your system.
30 year commercial industrial veteran tech here. Tuned in not to learn but to see if this guy knows what he's doing. I gotta say....he did great. All very positive. The only thing that I'm not a fan of is soft solder because it can break down with time....however, to be completely honest, staybrite with a higher silver content like he used is very good stuff.
Absolutely amazing that you are sharing your trade with us. I hope the HVAC companies don't give you too much issue as this is like the magician sharing how to do the trick. Anyway, you really saved me from a bad situation. I'm already testing for my EPA Universal cert and about half way through. So that is my first thank you! My second thank you is introducing me to something other than silver brazing. I've sweated 100s of linear feet of copper but nothing is slower and more aggravating that brazing. I live in SoCal it's really hard right now to get a tech to do repairs on old systems. When I say hard, I mean near impossible. For example, I have a R22 condenser at home that should be replaced as it's near end of life. No one will touch it without me agreeing to buy an entirely new system. Even though my evap coil is pressure rated for R410A, they will only replace it with a new condenser, evap coil, and air handler...costing between $15k-$20K. When I ask for a retrofit, the answer is "No thanks" and they just leave. So I plan to do it myself. I've installed a whole new system before but that was easy as everything was new and matched up. The refrigerant charge was in the condenser and the line sets were empty of course. I just paid an HVAC tech to pull a vacuum (no leaks), open the valves, and add some additional refrigerant. But retrofitting an existing system is a whole different game.
There's no trick or magic to any of this. It's actually very straightforward physics and the equipment will come with installation and operating manuals. And I promise you every manufacturer is going to recommend replacing the lineset or at the very minimum flush it out as the oils in the old R22 system will form a paraffin like paste and destroy this brand new system. I don't know about Ruud/Rheem but I know Trane says to use a filler material of no less than 15% silver.
Yes please keep up the good work. Just as many of those fear mongering HVAC professionals argue for only licensed people to do HVAC work, I sure they only let professionals do their plumbing work, wiring, home repairs, service their vehicles, etc. Otherwise their house may explode and vehicle catch on fire. That’s basically their argument trying to protect their trade with its obscene markups and labor rates. Worse is when they bid $7500 for 4 man hours worth of work and $1500 in equipment, parts, etc. And they do that all the time.
There is no way to remove the lubrication oil (mineral oil) from your evap coil. It's been ran with R-22 for years and will have MO trapped inside of it. The MO will also hold moisture and liquid refrigerant. The 410a systems are lubricated with POE. If you mix POE and MO, you will have big problems. Not immediately, as it takes a few years to manifest. You can flush the line-sets with cleaners and/or pigs, but cleaning the inside of your evap coil is close to impossible; financially unfeasible to say the least. Companies will walk away from corner cut jobs because they have labor warranties they have to honor. If you don't do the repair/replacement exactly right, it will cost them man hours and senseless repairs in the long run. All while giving the customer an excuse to act like the installer did a bad job, and the real reason for failure was an unwillingness, or financial inability, to repair/replace correctly; as the manufacture states. Never should you put a 410a Condenser on an Evaporator coil that has been running with R-22. Its a huge investment in the first place, do you really want to risk that investment on something so trivial? Or cut corners to save cost up front, and then eat repairs in the long run. The choice is the home owners'.
@@BrandonJeffries-v6g I don’t disagree about the risks. As such, I ended up refurbishing my system and it’s working great now. I put a sound blanket on for the noise and cleaned the both the coil and condenser. It’s quiet and cold and no longer freezes at night.
Great vid, but.... "You can replace your own..." as long you have all the cool tools, nitrogen tanks, skills and knowledge to do the work... oh! so if I am a skilled, working HVAC tech I could do it myself! lol this was a great sales pitch for why homeowners need to call a pro... lol
I’m all for DIYing within reason but I think replacing your own central AC system is a stretch and a half. Aside from the thousands of dollars in tools he used (electrical meter, refrigerant gauges, temp probes, vacuum pump, Micron gauge, propress with RLS jaws, nitrogen tank with regulator, Schrader core removal tools, sheet metal tools etc), there’s also the looming chance that an inexperienced homeowner damages the equipment and now has blown a wad on equipment that will not be covered under warranty due to improper installation. I could see someone: -Dumping the charge due to misunderstanding the valve orientations and/or schrader removal process (risk of refrigerant burns + EPA frowns upon this), -Damaging or puncturing the evap coil in the process of installing, -Mangling their ductwork beyond their ability to repair, -Introducing noncondensibles during the evacuation process, -Failing to properly seal around the linesets causing water ingress, -Failing to properly insulate the suction line causing sweating, -Improperly orienting the drain causing water damage, etc Not to mention the risks associated with trying to wire it with no experience, among many, many other things. Is it rocket science? No. But there are very good reasons why people go to school for this and take several years of on the job training to be considered a competent tech.
@@bigthey1827 DIYer's code: You know if your skilled enough or not and have the necessary tools. No risk ,no reward. If you don't and F-up, then you pay the price for a pro to fix it. Even at that you won't spend 10K to get it fixed. If you get it rite, you'll have saved 5 to 10K. winner winner .. you know the rest. Such is the life of the DIYer and the entire reason we exist. So we can save some serious Benjamin's, learn some cool new skills and pass them on to the next self sufficient generation.
Great - video! I have a couple questions: 1 -how do you go about disposing of the old condenser, full of R-22 and the evaporator? I thought the R-22 had to be placed in a recovery cylinder? 2 - I noticed that you reused the existing lines - I thought you cannot mix R-22 with R410 A. Wouldn't it have been better to replace the existing lines with net? 3- How to you access the evaporator coil for cleaning ? It looks like you have to take it all apart each time you want to clean it. Do you have to reseal the duct-work with tape each time? Keep up the great content!
Tech tip: always pull a wrench and plier toward the bottom jaw. That’s how it’s intended to be used. Proof is even with unidirectional ratcheting wrenches, watch which way they engage a fastener…. With the bottom jaw leading the way.
Great stuff as usual! 2 requests... 1) With R410a being phased out, can you educate us about what gas will replace it for residential and is it a drop in replacement or is any retrofit needed? 2) What's recommended for DIYers when shopping for an hvac unit? Buy online or at a local hvac store? Brand recommendations? Thanks!!
First off, I advice you get training in the HVAC field before you attempt any type of replacement or repair. You also need to be properly licensed, or you risk fines and imprisonment. The new replacement refrigerant for R410a is R454b, which is flammable and very dangerous. It can not be dropped in, R410a would need to be recovered. However R410a will not be totally phased out until 2037. Lastly no supply house or online retailers will sell HVAC equipment to unlicensed DIY customers. However you could buy a mini split like Mr Cool, but any major system will not be sold to you, due to liability issues. You need to know proper electrical codes and you need specialty tools. My advice is to leave it to professionals or get proper training, licensing, and experience. This guys videos leave out so much information that you are setting yourself up to get hurt.
Please tell me a case where somebody has been imprisoned for working on their own hvac system at their own home. I can see fines being applied to unlicensed contractors working on other people's systems at privately owned owned homes. But if you can be arrested for working on your own HVAC system you guys have gotten in deeper with Gov't and regulatory authorities then I could have imagined and I suggest everybody start working on their own HVAC and training their son's and daughters how to do it now.
@morallyinsane7639 "properly licensed" just means you paid money to get a piece of paper, doesn't mean you know what you're doing. I've come across some outstanding individuals that really know their craft, but others that just paid for the piece of paper and don't know up from down. This applies in many industries. Also, 454b is in the A2L category which is mildly flammable, but interestingly enough 410a also can be flammable under pressure in the right conditions so please don't take things out of context. Also, "drop in" doesnt mean you mix it with R410a. Its implied you evac the 410 before putting in the new gas 🤦🏻♂️. As for specialty tools, even spending 1K in tools is well under the 13-15K+ that you're going to be paying if you get a company to install it in my area. If you're competent enough to perform an install yourself and save thousands, do it!
@@glencouls Easy answer, in some states people see you accidentally release a cloud of refrigerant gas and then claim to be effected by it. You could be fined or you could be arrested. Will it happen, depends on the area you live in and who your neighbors are. Also you could get in trouble for not having proper permits. Most of the time nothing will probably happen, but I had a contractor sited just for doing a roof job. It can happen and should it happen and your not properly licensed to handle the chemicals involved, take your chances with the law.
@@morallyinsane7639 I'll take my chances. So many cars running around here with unlicensed tags I think the police have there hands full with real crimes. Scare tactics ain't going to work here, when challenged you begin pointing to contractors which is my point. A home owner can service their own stuff. I do agree with your sentiment, know the refrigerant you are working with... study what you are doing, don't put yourself into a position where you are over your head. The pros can do this very well, and are happy to do it for $16k. Most of us say that's ridiculous and robbery, which is why we are here. *** Edit- let me answer my own question 5 people have been convicted working on air conditioner since 2012. All of them were actually stealing the air-conditioners and the EPA levied stiff penalties on these losers because they literally just hack sawed the copper lineset to separate the condenser from system for later sale. 36 month sentence was the penalty for one of the them while most had 12 month probation. NO HOMEOWNER TO DATE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME WORKING ON THEIR OWN AIR CONDITIONER BY THE EPA. *** don't let these people scare you, they start off with the Refrigerant is gonna get you, then the EPA is going to fine you (mostly commercial contractors and people sneaking refrigerant in from Mexico) then the complicated electrical is going shock you. It's almost like a script, don't believe me read on. I'm not saying throw caution to the wind, obviously you need to be smart to maintain your own system, but the Notion that anybody working on their own HVAC system has a death wish is completely false and misleading. AKA a crock of crap. **** cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/criminal_prosecution/index.cfm
There is a reason you need a HVAC license to buy equipment and freon. I applaud you for doing things the right way but how are home owners suppose to save thousands? By the time they buy the proper tools to do this job right they are already thousands into it.
You don't need the HVAC license to purchase freon. That is the EPA license, which is easily obtained. Commercial appliance repair, residential appliance repair, and automotive all have some variant of the EPA license.
Have you received a quote from a professional lately for a new hvac system? I have, and the cheapest qoute I got was 16 grand for a 3 ton system. The equipment cost was only around $4500. The rest was labor! Even if you spent $1000 dollars in tools, you're still saving thousands of dollars. Granted, if you can afford it, have a pro do it. However, if you're like millions of people right now who are struggling to pay bills because of our economy, then doing a diy install makes sense. Especially if your old system needs replacing and you can't afford 16 grand for a pro installed unit.
@@number1pappy My AC unit is 24 yr old. I called couple of HVAC companies to see how much it will cost to replace a 3.5 ton. The first company wants $16,000 , second company wants $12,000 , the third one was $9,000. Found out you will get a better price if you replace it during winter time. Apparently they jacked up the price during summer time.
@@number1pappy Talking to the wrong people then, I just did a 2.5 ton unit with a 80k btu furnace for 5000 out the door for a guy because he was getting insane quotes and I wanted to help him out.
Mini Split system. They have a higher sere. Easy to install. Very reliable. Mr. Cool multi zones. Saves electricity and they are extremely efficient. Don't need the air handler. Don't need the ducting that actually looses heat and cooling traveling through them. Mini Split system. The rest of the world has been using them for years.
I'm ready to change my condeser unit and Air Handler because they're super super old 👴 like me and and you give me the courage to do it haha Thanks 🙏 😎 🤝 And by the way I got my EPA 608 II because you my friend God bless you 🙏🙏🙏
Awesome! If you need help with your replacement, feel free to check out our remote support page at Patreon.com/DIYHVACGuy. We can help you from locating and procuring new equipment to the actual installation process. Hope we can help you out! Cheers, Dave .
These professional 😂 comments are hilarious 😂, reminds me of the Auto repair shops, when a skill is in less demand, people will not pay inflated prices. So now we have cars that you can't fix without a computer or some kind of factory technician and everything cost $80,000. Being an HVAC technician has nothing to do with the HVAC business and as far as I'm concerned homeowners should be learning how to maintain install and do whatever they want with the equipment they have in their home.
You can fix a modern car too, at least if not a BMW or battery-car. I find most repairs as easy as in my 1960's classics. Diagnostics is much easier, especially as compare to what is going on inside a carburetor.
Just FYI, some of these tools (HVAC Guages, Vaccum Pump) CAN be rented from your local auto parts stores. And by rented I mean you borrow and return their loaner tools for a full refund.
I’m sure there are some great, honest techs that are far superior to a DIYer. However, in my large urban area, service calls cost hundreds, and cost to install a new HVAC system using existing ductwork is unit price plus $12K or more in labor. For that price, the air handler will be butchered, leaky, no attempt to balance, and the compressor will be scuffed up and dented with half the service panel screws missing and the other have stripped out. At least the unit will be covered in stickers so one knows who to call to pay $600 in annual maintenance. For what it’s worth, while not a pro, I’ve been a machinist, have built a dozen houses from the ground up, have an engineering degree, and have a decent amount of experience bending and riveting sheet metal and a lot of mechanical experience. This channel is perfect for a guy like me who has solid fundamental skills, enjoys mechanical work, and wants to save money.
You reused the old lineset, R22 oil is not compatible with R410a oil. You should have replaced the lineset or at minimum used a RX11 flush kit to clean the old lineset before reuse... you'll probably be needing a new compressor in a few years, good luck!
Haven’t had any issues, and I have talked to a lot of guys that done either. I have a few videos showing the Hilmor flush pigs, they’re easy to use. The only time I flush it, is if it has acid or compressor burnout
You need to let everyone know that in most cases if they buy a unit off the interenet without a HVAC license. When its time for warranty they will not get a warranty. I had this conversation with a Goodman outside sales person. He said can buy but no warranty at all.
Those warranties are terrible products. You may get a replacement part for free, but the caveat is you're paying someone else 50-75% more for the materials as well as their labor charge. You could replace the entire system twice for the same price a contractor would charge for one installation, only the warranty wouldn't cover labor charges. So really, even in a worst case scenario, you're still coming out ahead considering you're investing in the knowledge of how to do this. Can you put a price tag on not being dependent on someone else? Perhaps so, but even still a DIY is a way better outcome for most people
The big problem with Stay Brite 8 is that you need a very tight connection in the fittings and too often the low side, offering a 5/8 copperline has been connected by swagging (stretching) one side of the 5/8 copperline and doesn't give you that tight-fitting you need with stay Brite 8. At that point you're stuck because AC companies will not fix the connection for you, they don't want the liability. I did find there are other welding that you can use with MAPP gas and there are much better than stay Brite 8 which has 6% silver. Regular braising by AC techs use 15% silver so they don't want the risk of raising over a failed stay Brite 8 6% connection. However there are other welding sticks that use MAPP gas and have a much higher % of silver, like the SSP 6 56% silver 70,000 psi product from Muggy Weld in Washington State. Plus the flux is on the welding stick itself and it is very good, great at cleaning the connection. You can get it on Amazon or direct from the company. I called them at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time and they shipped it overnight to Florida so it arrive at 9:30 a.m. Another thing that was not brought up in his videos is that if you are switching out condensers with the same refrigerant there is no explanation about transferring it back into the new or new to you unit. What I learned the hard way is that you have to leave the low side (big pipe) closed and close the small pipe coming out of the old unit where you cut it or all the freon will leak out when you go to transfer. I think there's a way to bend and crib recorder inch copper at the end but I didn't find any videos on that. So I bought a faucet valve with a 3/8 compression fitting and that fit the 1/4" copper line perfectly, then I closed that valve. Unfortunately stay Brite 8 on my 5/8"s connection failed after 30 minutes and I lost all my R-22 freon! Now I have to buy 8 - 10 pounds of it in AC companies charge $75 per pound + installation. You can't buy it on eBay anymore, but I found some on Facebook marketplace a 3 hour drive away. Buying R-22 without a license is possible but not easy. I hope this helps some others who are going to take this on. Anyone else who wants to offer advice would be appreciated.
I thought I made this pretty clear but all new units are precharged with 410a refrigerant. The old refrigerant stayed in the old condenser and I recovered that later, but that is not used for the new system. The new refrigerant is in the new condenser, so all you do is pull your vacuum, then open those two king valves which allows the refrigerant to flow into the whole system 👍🏼
@@diyhvacguy both of you are wrong, he bought another R22 condenser, they are not pre charged and are cheaper, he was trying to reuse the refrigerant in the new system. It can be done without recovery. You see how your advice is causing problems, you give people hope while setting them up for failure. Educate your customers and teach them how to service their units, but leave the installation to professionals. I have seen too many DIY fuck it up based on videos like yours. Are you going to take responsibility if one of you subscribers gets hurt or killed based on your DIY videos?
@@JamesxRamirez My comment had nothing to do with the original video, it was in response to the other posters comment who upgraded to a new condenser for his system that use R22. Those condensers are not pre charged and he asked how to transfer the charge from the old system to the new one.
Yet, he didn’t recover the refrigerant. He simply pumped it down to the condenser. As a homeowner, you now have to pay someone to come recover the refrigerant before you can legally dispose of the condenser, not to mention draining the oil from the compressor….
When you change the outdoor unit you have to do the indoor unit one as well & the line sets they won't be as compatible. And don't forget the black or blue colored outdoor refrigerant filter thing on the line set's outside.
Yeah well, he also didn’t mention that he was changing from an R22 system to an R410A system and should have flushed the lineset out, not to mention that the average homeowner is not going to have a nitrogen tank and regulator, gauge manifold, vacuum pump, etc. He just gives out bad advice one video after another.
That would be a filter drier.... He installed that on the inside instead of at the condenser. Its best to install those inside in my area due to the salt air living on the coast. Everything that's quickly.
I have a few questions: 1. Have you noticed any leak issues with using staybrite 8? I know Mikey Pipes did. 2. How does a home owner register self installed equipment with the manufacturer? Are some manufacturers more friendly to self installed central HVAC than others?
i'm not an expert by any means, but installing yourself and not being a licensed HVAC contractor means you're giving up on the warranty. But heck at what you're saving, its worth it.
On the warranty, what was said isn’t true. So right out of the box, every single piece of Goodman equipment comes with a 5 year warranty. The thing people get confused about is that YOU as the homeowner can’t remove a defective part and bring it into a Goodman dealer and get a warranty. They simply won’t process it. However an hvac company has to come and do the repair, but the part would be warrantied no problem. In addition to that, as part of our Patreon remote support membership, we offer a service where we will warranty your equipment so it has the FULL 10 year warranty. So the warranty isn’t automatically given away, but this is all so new to many people, that we are just now finding ways to get the same exact equipment with the same warranty, for a fraction of the cost. As far as Staybrite 8. I haven’t had a single issue with it, and I have a dozen if not more systems running it. I’m curious to see what Mikey had to say about it though. Cheers all
@diyhvacguy so let me get this straight,a homeowner can install there own equipment,then pay you a small fee,and you will go online and register it and claim you installed it,so they can get the full warranty
@@diyhvacguy Here's the video where they had an issue with staybrite leaking on a new install and it was a comeback. ruclips.net/video/NQXy61aejSY/видео.html
you are amazing I thank you so much and for your sharing , no one give you any trouble because this is you sharing your experiences . I wish you always thrive on your career path Sincerely
Love your content! Not sure if heat-pump are conventional in you area. But, I start observing people replacing evaporator conic /furnace combos with heat-pump and air-handlers. If you get a chance to work on such conversation, that will be a very welcomed content.
Please educate yourself, unless you plan to have a heat pump with back up furnace, it’s not advisable to remove your furnace and replace it with a heat pump, unless you live in a southern state where it does not get below 30 degrees on average in the winter.
@@JamesxRamirez sorry but you are mistaken, a heat pump starts to lose efficiency around 32 F and at lower temperatures it does not produce as much heat and causes backup heat to initiate. Basically if you do not have electric or fossil backup, the heat produced will be around 80-90 degrees F below outside air temp of 32 degrees F. Backup electric heat adds an additional 40 degrees F.
I paid 7k for an oil to gas conversion in my house …I watched the techs like a hawk…asked them where they buy the things…saved all the boxes . Later I had to replace the furnace at my mother’s house. I imitated everything the techs did. The only problem is that furnaces can’t be sold to homeowners, until I found a web site that did. From $7k on my house I did it for $2k at my mother’s….if I can rebuild a car engine I can do anything 😊 cut into the gas line and everything
Thanks for posting the procedure/. I doubt that I will change out my condenser and evaporator coil since I had a new AC unit 410 refrigerant installed at the beginning of this year. But one is never to old to learn how to do stuff.
The only thing I would do different is make the condensate line PVC instead of the tubing. Plus I probably would’ve put the bulb on the inside, instead of close to the bend. Also need to flush the lineset
I rarely flush a system that doesn’t have acid in it. Haven’t had a single problem yet. But I’ve given people the knowledge in other videos on how to easily flush the lines. Hilmor sells little foam pigs you blast through the lineset and it gets all oils/contaminants out.
@@diyhvacguy The only time I flush my line set is if it was different refrigerant. Those little pigs scare me. What if one gets stuck in the line set. Lol.
@@Bro_Jared is it over charged with refridgerant?? Something does not add up. Like going from a Tahoe to a 3 cylinder Trailblazer or maybe carb to injection.....and gas price goes up with same drive to work!!
Was that 3.5 ton that you replaced your max load on the duct work? If so ,just going up even more to 4 tons could be a very bad deal for you. Unit will run even more then it should and cost you $$. I see a lot of over sized units not installed correctly. Load calulation on the home and checking the duct size or load is a must. This video was great but was missing alot of info for homeowners. Homeowners forget that hvac is the most important part of the home and most expensive as well.
Brazing is best soft solder cracks easily. Causing an expensive repair. That and the lack of line flushing which I prefer over replacement since the wall on older linesets are thicker.
I have been watching your videos, they are interesting and educational. I am planning to replace my own split system and since this is a DIY channel, can you please make a video of an install with an analog manifold? As of today, one of those digital ones are over $800 and it is not on my budget. I am sure many can relate to my case. Thanks.
Anyone Can Install An A/C Central Unit Without Vacuum Pump, Gauges And Nitrogen, They Know The Secret But They Donot Want You To Know, I Did My Self After Only Less Of One Week Of HVAC Training. Amén.
I replaced my own and it saved me about 7k. It was not easy though. I ran into "software problems". Not your typical system, so if you get a system with a minicomputer on it, you better make sure the pre-matched packages are actually matched correctly. I was lucky enough that my air handler and condenser were matched when the supplier started stocking them, but the software revision they had "unmatched" them. The supplier didn't realize this and still sold the matched set anyways. Always get a licensed tech to call for software revision compatibility from the manufacturer before you try DIY on a unit with software. (If one will do that for you, that's the lucky part. I had a guy). The manufacturer won't talk to residential customers. Had I not ran into that issue, I'd have saved about 12k. But live and learn I guess. (I had to buy a new air handler that did match and re-install)
I love how all the "Pro's" are on here talking sh*t about people doing it themselves, and how they'll "burn their house down". Yeah, ummm, here's the thing Jimmy... I'm an E.E who has worked with M.E's for 20 years in designing HVAC systems. Installing and replacing this stuff is nowhere near as hard as you "Pro tech" guys make it out to be. The average guy with average intelligence can do this job just fine... I mean, how do you guys think you got your jobs?
Same thing the pro said when they switched to obd-II protocol. Every manufacturer was upset because average guy buy a scantool to read computer code and fix their own. The information today is not under lock & key pre worldwideweb/youtube. Just like they say the freon burn holes in ozone yet no holes in ozone. In areas where wild fires earthquakes floods tornadoes huuricanes wipe out entire cities with thousand ac units destroyed. Enough!
Well for start to go to trade school to get a epa is not cheap then for me to invest my time to buy the tools learn what each tool does and know how to install properly and actually know what I’m doing and if something does happen the pro will fix it then doing it urself off RUclips university and what guarantees are you getting that it’s going get done right how do they know that the home they bought the duct work is properly sized for the home or insulation levels are high there’s a lot more to it not just connecting stuff everyone is like a mechanic intill something happens
Not necessarily burning their house down but making their $5000 HVAC become a giant paperweight because the lubrication and refrigerant is lost. There's a reason people get master or journey HVAC and plumbing specialists to install this stuff. They're insured, and more importantly, they're certified. It takes 2-5 years, depending on the trade to become certified to work under a master tradesperson as a journey person or a stringent test to become a master in their field.
Well done. Detailed enough for me and I learn a little bit more every video. Can you tell me where you get the white tube insulation? I've looked high and low for it with no luck.
Abilityrefrigerants.com for refrigerant Amazon or hvacdirect.com for equipment. If you need help locating equipment and walking you through a replacement from start to finish, check out our remote assistance page at Patreon.com/diyhvacguy Hope we can help! Cheers
My family called me first whenever their ac doesn't cool. So far I am able to help them out on 3 different calls...saved them $$...plus make me looks like an ac God. Thank you man!
Here, like I imagine in many places, permits are required to replace an HVAC residential system (Vero Beach, FL). I have a package unit that replacement would only involve reconnecting the return and supply flex hoses up to the back of the unit, the electrical and reusing or fabricating a sheet metal "cover" between the unit and the house stucco wall (stucco over concrete block). When I need a new unit, I'd sure like to be able to do the install myself. As to the warranty, it's 5 yrs. unless installed by a licensed HVAC tech/company - then it doubles to 10 yrs. Which I think sucks. Also, it's impossible to get replacement parts from local distributers as they'll only sell to licensed companies. This also sucks.
Mechanical HVAC permits are cheap and easy to get. The inspection usually takes all of 2 minutes and you’re fine as long as it looks up to code. Replacing an outdoor unit is especially easy assuming the previous one was up to code. The same is true of a home inspection when you go to sell your place. Contrary to what all the HVAC protective fear mongering people trying to protect their obscene trade are posting here, DIY A/C and heat pump units are not dangerous once installed. And some basic knowledge will keep the DIYer safe during the install.
@@johneldorado Consider yourself lucky Some people here certainly do. If you get caught as a seller, you’d have to pull permits and have it inspected and approved.
Hearing these prices for a new system installed these days is insane. In 2019 i sold my house and had to replace the central a/c system. Not the furnace. It was about 3k in the Milwaukee area.
Perfect, reusing the old lineset with no sort of flush . Should work perfect once those different oils mix from refrigerants that are not supposed to mix
lol 😂.....I'm just a typical homeowner and although you're hatein' on the guy, you're correct. The original lineset should be wiped with a "pig" + compressed air/nitrogen for good measure.
@@KefirTView 25 years in HVAC you learn a few things. I'm not hating, I just don't like that these channels don't cover a lot of the actual important things. I prefer a homeowner does it because I can charge more to come fix it.
Chad, in your experience what happens if some residual oils mix? I’ve done quite a few systems with no flush and have seen zero ill effect. I’ve actually talked with alot of other guys who feel the same. The only time I make sure and flush, is when there is a burnout or the system has acid in it.
I watch a lot of your vids. Well done and interesting. I'm needing to do this replacement. Everything looks pretty straight forward and relatively easy to do. The hard part is buying the $1500 worth of tools not including the nitrogen tank. Kind of blows whatever money you save from having a pro do the job. Plus, I might not ever need to use these tools since I don't do this for a living. If there's any way to do this job without the $550 field piece, I'd like to see a video supplement with that. I'm guessing I can get a good vac pump for a lot less than $750. I have a $200 vac pump that I use for auto A/C. It can't pull hard enough to get down to zero though. Is that required here for these home A/C jobs?
Youd be surprised how quick you can go broke trying to save money. The chances a homeowner gets it right are slim to none with zero training.. Chances they harm themselves or make things a whole lot worse are pretty high. Great video man. Top Notch click bait!
Ha - I am that handy homeowner. I have replaced 2 furnaces and 4 air conditioner systems in my lifetime. All work great and look nicer than a professional install at about 1/3rd the cost!
@@craigstrand962 nice job Craig. More scare tactics from the industry. This DIYhvac guy has these turkey's fearful for their livelihood and they should be, trying to charge consumers 200% over the cost of the hardware.
How did you go about flushing the old refrigerant lines? What method did you use? Pro-flush or RX11? There was no mentioning in your video about not mixing the two different oils.
To bad in my State, DIY AC isnt legal... I couldnt even pull a permit without a HVAC company on it, which super comlicated things as I had already bought a whole new system to put in and no one wanted to touch it. I finaly found a small 1 man shop that signed the permit for me and then brased and charged the system. In the end i turned a $13,000 job into a $7,000 job and now iI recomend the one man shop to everyone that needs AC work. Check you local laws before you attempt any of this and find a shop willing to install your own equipment.
Great video. The old unit was an R22 and the new was a R410A, right? I've replaced capacitors, have a set of gages and checked pressures, charged when refrigerant was low, replaced condensing unit fans, air handler fans,. heating elements,. etc as a DIY'er on my existing units. But I never thought about replacing the entire condensing unit and coil myself,.. handling the refrigerants and all. I didn't realize the condensing units came pre-charged with enough for the lines and coil to an extent. With your video, I think I'm gonna try it next time. Thanks,
They are factory charged (in theory) for a matching capacity evaporator coil and 15 feet of lineset. Longer lineset will need refrigerant added. Shorter lineset will need refrigerant recovered.
Umm more like a thousand in tools. But let’s do the math here. A full system replacement, 12-15 THOUSAND DOLLARS. So if you spend 4k on some good equipment, and another stack for tool. You are still saving $7-10k. How long does it take you to earn $7k? Worth it in my opinion but you do you boo.
Good Video BUT... 99% of most people don't have hvac gauges, vacuum pumps, nitrogen, micron gauges, jugs of 410(a) or anything else involved with doing this.
Correct, I have all those items in my Amazon store. Let’s take a hypothetical example here: you need a new air conditioner. You are quoted 8-9k to replace it. Yes, that is the going rate here and in many other places. But you, being mechanically inclined decide to tackle it yourself. So you buy the equupment for $3k on Amazon, and the tools for $1000 (this is on the higher end) Even if you used these tools once, which most homeowners would use again if they have multiple systems, you are still saving $3-4000!!!! I’m not twisting anyone’s wrist here, just sharing knowledge is all. I’ve helped many people save thousands so I know it’s easily done. Cheers
How is this not a DIY job? Just buy the tools. 4 ton units are $3900+$1200 in tools, maybe $2-300 in miscellaneous. So $5400 vs. $8600 to pay a company.
@@JohnColeman-ul5rjpaying the company that is bonded and will carry a warranty that the average DIYer will end up having to pay that extra $3K to fix their install anyway.
@jasonbuxton3358 Have fun. But for most people, this is not a DIY project. Also, you can void your warranty by doing it yourself if you're not licensed.
LOL! Somebody will fix it. Haven’t you watched any of Steve Lav’s videos? BTW, I installed my own equipment so I am providing the warranty on labor. The equipment warranty is five years.
@@iwenive3390 I would like to see that challenged in a court of law. They would have to prove the damage was done by improper installation. Yes, the legal costs would far exceed the cost of a complete new system. But I wish someone would challenge this to set a legal precedent. I can buy any auto part in store or online and have a warranty on that part. Why should HVAC parts be any different? Are you going to tell me an HVAC system is more complex than a car engine or transmission / brake system? And what about DIY brake repair, no jurisdiction I know of makes that illegal. How many people can you potentially kill with a poor brake repair job on a busy freeway? Oh but it's too dangerous to work on your own HVAC equipment? This is just the HVAC service industry trying to get a monopoly on the profession. Not going to happen in the good old USA, especially now with the internet and the DIY movement.
Exactly, in my experience, the dealer does not care where the equipment was purchased. The biggest thing is that YOU as a homeowner can’t go in and get a warranty replacement. It has to be a licensed contractor. But the part itself is warrantied no problem. That’s what they mean when they say if it’s bought online it doesn’t have a warranty. Part of that is they don’t want you to know it has a 5 year warranty.
How come so many HVAC professionals are watching “DIY HVAC” videos? It seems like every post there is some warning from a tech saying it’s illegal or dangerous to do this on your own. I guess they are learning from you just like the rest of us. Thanks for the helpful videos! I know I personally saved thousands doing this myself after buying all the tools from Amazon and everything else I needed online.
Illegal no, so long as you're EPA certified to handle and purchase the refrigerant. If you're EPA certified then you'll know that you may need a recovery machine depending on what you're doing. You'll need a deep vacuum pump and a manifold set with low loss fittings, etc. These are some of things you'll need to meet EPA requirements and be legal. As for dangerous, of course it is. Everything is dangerous. HVAC DIY is probably the ultimate and most demanding residential thing that is capable of being DIYd so it's not for the person who just finished up tiling their bathroom and thinking they can do anything. It's only for those that are extremely comfortable with their abilities and have the aptitude to understand how everything works.
@@kdk2286 Well said! If you study up and do it one step at a time, it’s not too bad for someone used to working with tools. I read Craig Migliaccio’s A/C book 3 times before attempting and install and at that point, it was fairly…I’m not going to say easy, but straight forward. I imaging that diagnosing issues is much more challenging, but installing isn’t terrible if you get an understanding of everything prior to attempting it and have all the tools on hand.
The videos are good! That's why so many people watch them; there's no doubt about that! However, he should have disclaimers on all of his videos. It is crazy to think that this job can be done by DIY'r! Especially if they are not mechanically inclined! Yes, some folks would have no problems doing the things in the video with some mechanical knowledge. However, there is no mention of safety! Doesn't matter what torch you use, you have to have something to put out a fire in the case of an accident. All torches take practice to get proficient on them. A novice may burn a hole in the copper tubing. YES a map torch can burn a hole in copper tubing! He makes it look easy because it is easy ONLY after having been trained and acquired the experience on how to use a torch.
If I were the DIY HVAC Guy, I would change my name to something else other than THE DIY HVAC Guy, put disclaimers on all videos before I get sued! I would change it to: "THE FORMER DIY HVAC Guy" and put disclaimers on all the videos! And yes, this job is dangerous! It takes several years to be as proficient as the tech in the video! So if you're reading this and are thinking about DIY'ing replacing your system and are not mechanically inclined or have no AC training, STOP!!!!!!!! Don't do it!
@@kdk2286 Eff the EPA.
@@lucho106 I’m not an HVAC tech and did it myself and thought the job was pretty straightforward. The hardest part for me was getting the proper charge, which wasn’t necessarily hard, but just a little challenging for me to understand the concept. Compared to other mechanical jobs like automotive electrical diagnosing, an air conditioning replacement was easier than people make it out to be. Just study up and understand each part of the process (and understand how the system works) and just do it one step at a time.
I am a DIYer Vehicle Mechanic and enjoy watching DIY mechanic how-to's. Watching your videos feels like watching a mechanic work on a car and it's like therapy for me. You have a new subscriber, Thanks!
I sure hope none of these HVAC contractors that charge obscene rates work on their own vehicles. According to them only a professional auto mechanic should even change their oil otherwise the vehicle might catch fire.
@@sharedknowledge6640😂😂😂and those hvac peeps that dont work on their own cars, still wanna charge you and arm and a kidney for work. I was a certified mechanic in a shop for 15 years and been working on my own cars over 35 years now. Its not that hard. Just people are lazy these days. Noone wants to do stuff for themselves.
@@d1specdrifter Guys, listen to this guy. Do it yourself or even Buy the Unit and then call someone to install it for you. You will even save thousand do it yourself. A company in this desert heat charge me $ 11,800 in heating and cooling Unit: Amana 4-ton 15 seers. This Unit could cost to them less than 5 or 4 K dollars, but they kill me with $ 11800 and the company is a shit.
--- If you buy the Unit for $ 3 or 4 K, you can call even a company and how much they will charge you? No one will charge you more than 3K, will be an abuse. $4K+3K= 7k dollars, it will be a save of $ 4,800 in total. My unit was installed last year 2023. I learned with pain, next time I will laugh for sure of those company. LEARN, LEARN, AND LEARN.
i got out of wrenching in the early 90s and i.t. in the mid 200x. i'd rather dig a ditch or ride a garbage truck for a living, if it came down to it. so i guess i'd say u have my respect - doing that kind of job nowadays. lol
my job for the last 15yrs was 20/80 mental/physical. but jobs are so technical today, i'm not sure hvac is any more cutting edge than a 100 other bluecollar jobs. they just have to realize it. engineers are flooding the world campuses, imho. well ok, i guess i'd say - many dam bluecollar jobs require constant education of tech upgrades and digital/logic seminars. that's all i meant. for this channel, its kinda sad to see someone bristle over the idea that it takes a lot of mental goals to accomplish this task. as if they don't realize how many trades have been very technical for a long time now.
This video brings back memories of one summer between college semesters I got a job at my wife’s uncles plumbing heating and cooling company being a helper installing HVAC systems.
This was when everyone had to get “EPA certified “, so I read a book that they gave us and took the test and aced it. I got the highest score and didn’t know a thing about how to recover refrigerant.
One of the things that really sticks out to me is I didn’t know that an attic could be hotter than hades in summer and that there was something called a crawl space underneath houses where all the spiders are.
lol yup they joys of being in the hvac trade
@@diyhvacguy How do you buy a Ruud without being a licensed dealer/distributor? I'm universal certified, but not working with a dealer. I can buy the off brands, but how do you get the Ruud without being a dealer?
Yep. I went to community college HVAC certificate program after which I got IMACA 609 for working on RVs and buses and RSES 608 for HVAC in 1980's when most companies had a single recovery machine in entire company if at all. The testing services gave you a book to study with all the answers, you then took a closed book test and BINGO "You is a tech now" lol.
@@crforfreedom7407 Yeah, no answer to your question.
Thanks for sharing your tale. What are you doing now? How was college?
Just had a tech out today.. He recommended I replace my house. It was built in 2017 so I might as well go ahead before it cost me more money in the future.
Right
Going through this at the moment. I’m a mechanic and I understand sometimes it’s cheaper to replace more parts that might need to be replaced sooner than later but these hvac techs see your units and want to just replace everything.
Bad capacitor? You should probably just replace the system. @@jesusmelendez9829
If your house was built in 2017 it was probably built by meth heads and should be replaced with a 90s home immediately
@@makojuicedaniel930790d homes are built fairly well, but sometimes you can get a solid turn of the century home for almost nothing if you pay to move it. Some people prefer newer, so maybe you can get a nearby neighbor with an old Craftsman, Victorian, etc home and trade for a smaller house moving fee.
I was immediately going to flag the non-flush but I see others have beat me to it! Going from R22 to 410a there's no need to replace the line set. I have 60 feet of line set under my slab and there is no way I'm doing that. I did completely flush my system though. First with Toluene as it does not evap so easily and then with Acetone for the final flush. If doing it yourself, remember to disconnect from the evaporator and condenser first so it's a straight shot into and out of the 3/8 and 7/8 or whatever your low side tubing is. Going on 5 years with my Goodman and running fine.
Read your warranty! I installed my own system but without a licensed installer I would have voided a ten year warranty. I did have a licensed guy come in to flush and evacuate the line set side and then open the service valves. I have installed a couple of Mr Cool mini splits that are designed for do it your self installation, those have no warranty issues.
A lot of companies try to pull that for self install or repair across many industries. It's illegal. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act strictly forbids it and the FTC has fined companies over the years for trying to do this.
@@Vinzi79Maybe they received a waiver from the FTC under 15 U.S.C 2302 (c)...
yes
Well, the nice thing about doing it yourself, if it does break, you can buy 2 more before you break even.
Mr. Cool also makes whole house units like this. Same concept as the mini split with the refrigerant in the line set.
I really appreciate the videos. One thing that would be really helpful is to have more content about troubleshooting. The hardest thing with diy is when things go wrong and I need to know what to do next. Example - what if the tightness test fails (your tests always pass lol), how do I find a leak (what tools are needed). What if the pressures don't drop when pumping the refrigerant into the old unit? If my lines are too long for the precharge how will that be evident on the guages. Etc.
When things work like in the video, it's easy, but things seldom go to plan. You have some amazing videos on the procedures on how things are supposed to work which is very helpful. Would love to see more details about what you do when things don't go according to plan. Thanks for the great work!
If the pressure doesnt go to zero, there is probably a low pressure switch stopping it. You can bypass the low pressure switch.
Please keep up the great work with these videos. Most of the HVAC industry is very protective of their obscene pricing and profit margins.
There are some profit mongers for sure, but running your own business costs a lot of money these days. No one can keep their business going charging a few hundred bucks to do this hard work
Then do to yourself and do it incorrectly. Then you can pay one of the ripoff companies to come fix your mistakes. Easy peasy.
Man, I love your channel. I have learned so much. You have rid me of the big, scary monster with doing some of my own a/c work. Thank you for demystifying this stuff. I think you're doing a lot of good for the world.
Excellent training. Need to take test now so I can get licensed. Love the way you set things up.
Anyone can get the license, it's such a basic test
@@mookfaru835 Hello, I am not trying to make fun or mess with you. If you could let me Know what I need to do/study to pass the test ,it would be greatly appreciated I am un employed looking for work .Respectfully -Peter
@@Peter-Du It's like 35 bucks. But they require in field experience first. Which is the rub. There are online courses to get around this, but they are like $300. Still worth it. You have to check with the state government website to find the basic test.
Brother I think you’re awesome for doing this. I’m a plumber. Some people can’t afford to hire a professional. I watch your video from time to time. Just want to say thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
I really wish there were HVAC professionals like this in South Jersey! He was incredibly precise and detail-oriented, making sure every step was covered. You can tell this AC unit is built to last. Unfortunately, my experience with HVAC folks in New Jersey hasn't been great. When I had my AC replaced, the technician didn’t even brace the high-pressure line properly, and it ended up leaking. I mentioned the leak, but I’m not even sure if he ran nitrogen through the system.
Do the work yourself and then just call the HVAC person in the end to test and fill. Just like you would if a line broke and it all the refrigerant leaked out. It will still save you thousands. Saved me about 50%.
Thanks for sharing!
I guarantee you you'll be having issues within 5 years.......
@@marcusaurelis bet lost. it's been 10 and going. But I do get your point. Most people..
@@marcusaurelis nah
@@rcisneros8567 most people wont even attempt this only mechanically inclined which isnt many
Again as always, I love it DIYers. I have worked more than one of their calls to make their stuff wor and I’m sure plenty of folks can figure it out well enough to this, But who that isn’t in HVAAC owns refrigerant gauges? Vacuum pump? Reclaim machine? Reclaim tank? EPA card to work with refrigerant? Also, you do do a micron test, but there are two ways to fail it. One way indicates a leak. One way just indicates you still have moisture in the lines.
I'm on both sides here.
I love the pros who don't reconnect the thermostat wires from the condenser to the furnace when it was replaced.
Looking for an easy callback perhaps?
Pros aren't the gods they think they are nowadays. I'm a licensed plumber and am seeing the quality and thoroughness being thrown out the window the past few years. Not many have pride in their work. Just there for the check.
Way back in 2004 I installed a 6K BTU mini split 100% DIY. It was for a 350 SF detached office building and we only had 110V. The pros that gave me estimates (some said I needed a “real” system and 240 VAC) quoted ridiculous (at the time) prices of $2K-3K. The unit (pre-charged, flare fittings) went in easily with a day of work, and when we sold the place 12 years later it was still working like a champ. Total cost was under $500.
Great video and I can confirm the title, "-SAVE THOUSANDS-" is 100% accurate. We are getting a new slab poured in our backyard. Our contractor let us know that they'd need the condenser moved/disconnected to raise the current slab it sits on. Called up our HVAC company. They quoted us just under $3000. Called an HVAC friend of a friend and was quoted $1600. #TIL.
We decided to live with our condenser being an inch or two lower than our patio.
Years ago when I installed my AC, I was told by a number of "experts" that you cannot solder an R-410a system - it wouldn't hold up to the pressures. So I invested in the equipment to braze. Fast forward 10 years later, and many of those same experts are saying they have been soft sodlering with 95/5 tin/antimony, and zero field failures of the joint. So, there you are. Apparently the advice about soft soldering was based on experience with plumbers solder, which is 50/50 tin and lead. Make sure you get the correct solder!
When I had my goodman installed about 4 yrs ago they braised the connections
Storing refrigerant in the condenser is pretty neat. Wish we could do that in the auto field
It’s not allowed here either.
all manufacturers state in the manual, do not use the compressor as a vacuum pump .
@@gallardo360 he's not using it as a vacuum pump. He uses his vacuum pump later to apply a vacuum to the system before opening the Freon lines on the new unit.
He uses the compressor on the old unit to pump back the Freon into the old unit.
@@Eman-vp5wk
I know that,,,,, typically the compressor is bad and the reason for replacement, but you should never back the refrigerant back into the compressor to change out a part like the txv valve. good day
You have teachable communication skills.
Rare these days.
I'm not even a HVAC person, but I loved the video. Learned some things. Super interesting dude. Be safe out there.
Thanks brotha
I'm retired now but in my 40 years in the industry I've seen many techs that don't know what they are doing. So some could learn. Since I'm old I'm a bit more old school. He seems to be a good tech and not doing anything wrong, except with the change from R-22 to R-410A, I always preferred flushing the lines with solvent. Gets them super clean. I've actually gotten a lot of mineral oil out and it is recommended. I've been told most guys don't flush (added time and expense) and I suppose the jury is still out whether or not mixing the oils shortens the life of the unit. You can buy anything online nowadays so the EPA and licensing are fairly irrelevant. I was licensed and universal certified.
I watch videos like this out of curiosity rather than looking for info. I see this video as an explanation of all the work necessary to properly replace a system more so than encouraging homeowners to do it themselves. After all, we saw all of the equipment he used to get it done. He has top of the line equipment. You can get by on less than the thousands of dollars worth he has shown but you do still need relatively expensive equipment (which he will gladly sell you via his Amazon page) to do the job. For one job?
HVAC work is a bit more technical than other DIY projects. If it doesn't go right you could pay a lot for someone to come fix it, if you could get anyone at all. Honest contractors give a fair price. Shop around because there are plenty who gouge. Honest ones get what they need to run their business and put food on their table. I don't think "The DIY HVAC Guy" works for free.
A lot of manufacturers these days don't recommend using R11 to flush the line set. Sweeping with a nitrogen a few times is good enough, unless it's a burnout.
I understand in some cases you can't change out the copper lines, but where you can why not just change them?
I do a lot of stuff on my own..not sure I would do this though. Nevertheless I like seeing how things ARE done.
A lot of the work is just moving things and setting them up. For the final step, you get in the HVAC person to fill it and test it. It would still have you THOUSANDS!!!
@@rcisneros8567 Guys, listen to this guy. Do it yourself or even Buy the Unit and then call someone to install it for you. You will even save thousand do it yourself. A company in this desert heat charge me $ 11,800 in heating and cooling Unit: Amana 4-ton 15 seers. This Unit could cost to them less than 5 or 4 K dollars, but they kill me with $ 11800 and the company is a shit.
--- If you buy the Unit for $ 3 or 4 K, you can call even a company and how much they will charge you? No one will charge you more than 3K, will be an abuse. $4K+3K= 7k dollars, it will be a save of $ 4,800 in total. My unit was installed last year 2023. I learned with pain, next time I will laugh for sure of those company. LEARN, LEARN, AND LEARN.
Quoted 9k-14k here in SC on 3 ton Goodman split. I spent $1500 on tools , $3200 on equipment and did it myself . Could have done it cheaper but I purchased decent equipment which included testo 550 digital manifold set , r410 25lbs, victor acetlyn torch set , Eli tech scales , nitrogen 40lbs tank with gauges , yellow jacket manifold set , charging hose set with ball valve , 2 schrader valve removal tools , and a few other various items . The only thing I borrowed was a cps vacuum pump . It was really enjoyable doing it myself
Mini split system is a little bit simpler not the same that was shown .
@@bluejay713 thanks , but I did both . Testo 552i micron gauge worked excellent
@@bluejay713 not the best way to test for leaks , if you have a leak While using a vacuum pump You will pull moisture into the lines
Unfortunately most HVAC issues are install related which is why new construction and DYI guys are such a pain to deal with. Every day we have to clean up the mess they made 5 years ago lol
@@theviking8513 For example? What mess ?
I'm an HVAC Professional with 20+ years of industry experience and after watching HVAC DYI videos all I'm going to say is this. Beware of DIY HVAC repairs/change outs especially when you open up the system. HVAC is a very meticulous process and if you don't know what you are doing you can seriously hurt or you will be replacing compressor every 2-3 years. FYI. When doing R22 equipment change out but using the existing copper lineset, you MUST flush the lines using a solution like RX11 to rid of all R22 oils and contaminants. If you fail to do this task you will be replacing your compressor very very soon.
Most people don’t know this, and some contractors skip this important part of installation!
Just like this video? I know residential installers love soft solder but that flux is a contaminate.
lets not forget your required a EPA 608 before messing with any refrigerant or your screwed
Let's not forget brazing with nitrogen to prevent carbon build up on the interior of the line set.
Well said. Let this "DIY Guy" teach the public in a 25-minute video what takes us YEARS of training and practice. Next time when they burn down the house and the insurance company refuses to pay, we'll be having the last laugh. Not to mention damaging the brand-new compressor because they didn't know they were supposed to flush the line set or change it altogether.
I used to work for a Rheem dealer Ruud is their other brand only difference used to be one was green the other tan. Always found them to be good units.
I thought I was rheemed but they were just ruud to me.
@@eddiesouther 😯😲😳🥴
I have 3 that came with my new house. I'm not sure of the brand name off the top of my head but I've only had to replace1 capacitor probably about 10 years ago. I've cleaned the fins to which only 1 needed it as my shedding dog used to sleep next to it. I'm not looking forward to replacing one of them let alone 3. I've never let a serviceman touch them ever. That's probably why they still work. Every summer I sweat it though as I live in Las Vegas and they do get a few hours of sun everyday.
They're 15 years old.
Appreciate the knowledge, only things I don't mess with in house are ac/heat, and garage door springs, because I don't want to take a metal spring to the face at 50mph! Everything else is game on.
Smart man to know your limits. You are definitely ahead of the curve.
Great video. Informative and detailed without being boring. Well done
Been using R134 car freon for my unit recharges... works just fine! 🙂
I have always used the old line sets with no flush on 22 to 410 as long as a filter was installed and no shelled compressor.
So you've always done it wrong. Congratulations.
I have a 1985 doublewide I remodeled like a house, the old ac that came with it is an r22 system from back then thats still running, ive changed the outside fan and capacitors, next im going to try re-insulating the freon lines and adding a soft start to it to add more efficiency. I was looking at a goodman for 3600$ to put in myself when this one eventually goes out. This video is has good information for me, when i eventually put in the new ac ill be coming back to this for some tips. Thanks
id never do this myself but it was interesting to watch to gain more understanding
Agreed. Next time I ever need a new system I at least know what questions to ask to ensure all the tests were properly conducted.
Thanks!
Do you have any videos that show your initial evaluation of the old systems and how to select the best replacement? That would be great info.
I second this! My downstairs A/C died and I spent over 2k for the guy to replace it. He told me that if it goes down again I should buy a newer model since mine is from 2007. I don't have thousands to spend on a new a/c...
Are you asking about sizing a unit or choosing a brand or type of unit? as for evacuation there are a lot of videos showing this and during evac there is a decay test for leak detection, that's an important step, its also outlined in the install manual.
LOVING that you show how the lineset can be soldered and still work fine. The one thing that has always kept me at bay from performing my own installation has been brazing. Dealing with very high heat + cost of one-time-use brazing equipment may just be a thing of the past! - Please comment on differences and reliability of soldering (stay-bright) Vs. Brazing. - Thanks!
Another option would be RectorSeal ProFit HVACR Connectors. Like SharkBite but rated for HVACR Pressures. No torch needed
and just like a sharkbite no professional would be caught using one@@hjc4604
It’s not as reliable you need to have more skill and tighter tolerances. Also you risk introducing flux into the system. Not a move for rookies. It’s also against code because if you had a fire inside the joint could blow at much lower temperatures.
Brazing is actually easier especially for rookies. Just get a turbo torch and skip the oxygen tank
Stay-bright 8 has been around for 30 plus years, however it’s still a matter of preference. Also soot from brazing has zero effect on residual AC systems and the nitrogen purge is just a manufacturing suggestion, just as using Stay-bright 8 should not be used on high temperature equipment. You should never attempt any type of AC replacement without proper tools, training, and license requirements. You risk getting hurt and causing a fire or major damage to your system.
30 year commercial industrial veteran tech here. Tuned in not to learn but to see if this guy knows what he's doing. I gotta say....he did great. All very positive. The only thing that I'm not a fan of is soft solder because it can break down with time....however, to be completely honest, staybrite with a higher silver content like he used is very good stuff.
Absolutely amazing that you are sharing your trade with us. I hope the HVAC companies don't give you too much issue as this is like the magician sharing how to do the trick. Anyway, you really saved me from a bad situation. I'm already testing for my EPA Universal cert and about half way through. So that is my first thank you! My second thank you is introducing me to something other than silver brazing. I've sweated 100s of linear feet of copper but nothing is slower and more aggravating that brazing. I live in SoCal it's really hard right now to get a tech to do repairs on old systems. When I say hard, I mean near impossible. For example, I have a R22 condenser at home that should be replaced as it's near end of life. No one will touch it without me agreeing to buy an entirely new system. Even though my evap coil is pressure rated for R410A, they will only replace it with a new condenser, evap coil, and air handler...costing between $15k-$20K. When I ask for a retrofit, the answer is "No thanks" and they just leave. So I plan to do it myself. I've installed a whole new system before but that was easy as everything was new and matched up. The refrigerant charge was in the condenser and the line sets were empty of course. I just paid an HVAC tech to pull a vacuum (no leaks), open the valves, and add some additional refrigerant. But retrofitting an existing system is a whole different game.
There's no trick or magic to any of this. It's actually very straightforward physics and the equipment will come with installation and operating manuals. And I promise you every manufacturer is going to recommend replacing the lineset or at the very minimum flush it out as the oils in the old R22 system will form a paraffin like paste and destroy this brand new system. I don't know about Ruud/Rheem but I know Trane says to use a filler material of no less than 15% silver.
Yes please keep up the good work. Just as many of those fear mongering HVAC professionals argue for only licensed people to do HVAC work, I sure they only let professionals do their plumbing work, wiring, home repairs, service their vehicles, etc. Otherwise their house may explode and vehicle catch on fire. That’s basically their argument trying to protect their trade with its obscene markups and labor rates. Worse is when they bid $7500 for 4 man hours worth of work and $1500 in equipment, parts, etc. And they do that all the time.
There is no way to remove the lubrication oil (mineral oil) from your evap coil. It's been ran with R-22 for years and will have MO trapped inside of it. The MO will also hold moisture and liquid refrigerant. The 410a systems are lubricated with POE. If you mix POE and MO, you will have big problems. Not immediately, as it takes a few years to manifest. You can flush the line-sets with cleaners and/or pigs, but cleaning the inside of your evap coil is close to impossible; financially unfeasible to say the least.
Companies will walk away from corner cut jobs because they have labor warranties they have to honor. If you don't do the repair/replacement exactly right, it will cost them man hours and senseless repairs in the long run. All while giving the customer an excuse to act like the installer did a bad job, and the real reason for failure was an unwillingness, or financial inability, to repair/replace correctly; as the manufacture states.
Never should you put a 410a Condenser on an Evaporator coil that has been running with R-22. Its a huge investment in the first place, do you really want to risk that investment on something so trivial? Or cut corners to save cost up front, and then eat repairs in the long run. The choice is the home owners'.
@@BrandonJeffries-v6g I don’t disagree about the risks. As such, I ended up refurbishing my system and it’s working great now. I put a sound blanket on for the noise and cleaned the both the coil and condenser. It’s quiet and cold and no longer freezes at night.
@@BrandonJeffries-v6gNotice that he also didn’t say a word about flushing the lineset? New compressor won’t last terribly long, but, not my problem.
Thanks for the instructions. I’d be willing to tackle a project like this as a DIYer. I need 2 things though. The tools and an inspection after.
Great vid, but.... "You can replace your own..." as long you have all the cool tools, nitrogen tanks, skills and knowledge to do the work... oh! so if I am a skilled, working HVAC tech I could do it myself! lol this was a great sales pitch for why homeowners need to call a pro... lol
pro schmo
I hear you but even if all the tools cost $2000, that will still save you over 5 grand.
I’m all for DIYing within reason but I think replacing your own central AC system is a stretch and a half.
Aside from the thousands of dollars in tools he used (electrical meter, refrigerant gauges, temp probes, vacuum pump, Micron gauge, propress with RLS jaws, nitrogen tank with regulator, Schrader core removal tools, sheet metal tools etc), there’s also the looming chance that an inexperienced homeowner damages the equipment and now has blown a wad on equipment that will not be covered under warranty due to improper installation.
I could see someone:
-Dumping the charge due to misunderstanding the valve orientations and/or schrader removal process (risk of refrigerant burns + EPA frowns upon this),
-Damaging or puncturing the evap coil in the process of installing,
-Mangling their ductwork beyond their ability to repair,
-Introducing noncondensibles during the evacuation process,
-Failing to properly seal around the linesets causing water ingress,
-Failing to properly insulate the suction line causing sweating,
-Improperly orienting the drain causing water damage, etc
Not to mention the risks associated with trying to wire it with no experience, among many, many other things.
Is it rocket science? No. But there are very good reasons why people go to school for this and take several years of on the job training to be considered a competent tech.
@@bigthey1827 DIYer's code: You know if your skilled enough or not and have the necessary tools. No risk ,no reward. If you don't and F-up, then you pay the price for a pro to fix it. Even at that you won't spend 10K to get it fixed. If you get it rite, you'll have saved 5 to 10K. winner winner .. you know the rest. Such is the life of the DIYer and the entire reason we exist. So we can save some serious Benjamin's, learn some cool new skills and pass them on to the next self sufficient generation.
Great - video! I have a couple questions:
1 -how do you go about disposing of the old condenser, full of R-22 and the evaporator? I thought the R-22 had to be placed in a recovery cylinder?
2 - I noticed that you reused the existing lines - I thought you cannot mix R-22 with R410 A. Wouldn't it have been better to replace the existing lines with net?
3- How to you access the evaporator coil for cleaning ? It looks like you have to take it all apart each time you want to clean it. Do you have to reseal the duct-work with tape each time?
Keep up the great content!
I’m always excited seeing new videos from your channel.
Glad you like them! Cheers friend
Tech tip: always pull a wrench and plier toward the bottom jaw. That’s how it’s intended to be used. Proof is even with unidirectional ratcheting wrenches, watch which way they engage a fastener…. With the bottom jaw leading the way.
Great stuff as usual! 2 requests...
1) With R410a being phased out, can you educate us about what gas will replace it for residential and is it a drop in replacement or is any retrofit needed?
2) What's recommended for DIYers when shopping for an hvac unit? Buy online or at a local hvac store? Brand recommendations?
Thanks!!
First off, I advice you get training in the HVAC field before you attempt any type of replacement or repair. You also need to be properly licensed, or you risk fines and imprisonment.
The new replacement refrigerant for R410a is R454b, which is flammable and very dangerous. It can not be dropped in, R410a would need to be recovered. However R410a will not be totally phased out until 2037.
Lastly no supply house or online retailers will sell HVAC equipment to unlicensed DIY customers. However you could buy a mini split like Mr Cool, but any major system will not be sold to you, due to liability issues. You need to know proper electrical codes and you need specialty tools. My advice is to leave it to professionals or get proper training, licensing, and experience. This guys videos leave out so much information that you are setting yourself up to get hurt.
Please tell me a case where somebody has been imprisoned for working on their own hvac system at their own home. I can see fines being applied to unlicensed contractors working on other people's systems at privately owned owned homes. But if you can be arrested for working on your own HVAC system you guys have gotten in deeper with Gov't and regulatory authorities then I could have imagined and I suggest everybody start working on their own HVAC and training their son's and daughters how to do it now.
@morallyinsane7639 "properly licensed" just means you paid money to get a piece of paper, doesn't mean you know what you're doing. I've come across some outstanding individuals that really know their craft, but others that just paid for the piece of paper and don't know up from down. This applies in many industries. Also, 454b is in the A2L category which is mildly flammable, but interestingly enough 410a also can be flammable under pressure in the right conditions so please don't take things out of context. Also, "drop in" doesnt mean you mix it with R410a. Its implied you evac the 410 before putting in the new gas 🤦🏻♂️. As for specialty tools, even spending 1K in tools is well under the 13-15K+ that you're going to be paying if you get a company to install it in my area. If you're competent enough to perform an install yourself and save thousands, do it!
@@glencouls Easy answer, in some states people see you accidentally release a cloud of refrigerant gas and then claim to be effected by it. You could be fined or you could be arrested. Will it happen, depends on the area you live in and who your neighbors are. Also you could get in trouble for not having proper permits. Most of the time nothing will probably happen, but I had a contractor sited just for doing a roof job. It can happen and should it happen and your not properly licensed to handle the chemicals involved, take your chances with the law.
@@morallyinsane7639 I'll take my chances. So many cars running around here with unlicensed tags I think the police have there hands full with real crimes. Scare tactics ain't going to work here, when challenged you begin pointing to contractors which is my point. A home owner can service their own stuff. I do agree with your sentiment, know the refrigerant you are working with... study what you are doing, don't put yourself into a position where you are over your head. The pros can do this very well, and are happy to do it for $16k. Most of us say that's ridiculous and robbery, which is why we are here. *** Edit- let me answer my own question 5 people have been convicted working on air conditioner since 2012. All of them were actually stealing the air-conditioners and the EPA levied stiff penalties on these losers because they literally just hack sawed the copper lineset to separate the condenser from system for later sale. 36 month sentence was the penalty for one of the them while most had 12 month probation. NO HOMEOWNER TO DATE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME WORKING ON THEIR OWN AIR CONDITIONER BY THE EPA. *** don't let these people scare you, they start off with the Refrigerant is gonna get you, then the EPA is going to fine you (mostly commercial contractors and people sneaking refrigerant in from Mexico) then the complicated electrical is going shock you. It's almost like a script, don't believe me read on. I'm not saying throw caution to the wind, obviously you need to be smart to maintain your own system, but the Notion that anybody working on their own HVAC system has a death wish is completely false and misleading. AKA a crock of crap. **** cfpub.epa.gov/compliance/criminal_prosecution/index.cfm
I learn a lot brother, You are awesome and thank you so much for all great videos. May God bless you and your family.
There is a reason you need a HVAC license to buy equipment and freon. I applaud you for doing things the right way but how are home owners suppose to save thousands? By the time they buy the proper tools to do this job right they are already thousands into it.
You don't need the HVAC license to purchase freon. That is the EPA license, which is easily obtained. Commercial appliance repair, residential appliance repair, and automotive all have some variant of the EPA license.
Have you received a quote from a professional lately for a new hvac system? I have, and the cheapest qoute I got was 16 grand for a 3 ton system. The equipment cost was only around $4500. The rest was labor! Even if you spent $1000 dollars in tools, you're still saving thousands of dollars. Granted, if you can afford it, have a pro do it. However, if you're like millions of people right now who are struggling to pay bills because of our economy, then doing a diy install makes sense. Especially if your old system needs replacing and you can't afford 16 grand for a pro installed unit.
@@number1pappythat’s crazy what area are you in? We do them in Oklahoma on average a new 3-4 ton system is $7500
@@number1pappy My AC unit is 24 yr old. I called couple of HVAC companies to see how much it will cost to replace a 3.5 ton. The first company wants $16,000 , second company wants $12,000 , the third one was $9,000. Found out you will get a better price if you replace it during winter time. Apparently they jacked up the price during summer time.
@@number1pappy Talking to the wrong people then, I just did a 2.5 ton unit with a 80k btu furnace for 5000 out the door for a guy because he was getting insane quotes and I wanted to help him out.
Wow! True professional! This unit looks identical to my American Standard unit.
Mini Split system. They have a higher sere. Easy to install. Very reliable. Mr. Cool multi zones. Saves electricity and they are extremely efficient. Don't need the air handler. Don't need the ducting that actually looses heat and cooling traveling through them. Mini Split system. The rest of the world has been using them for years.
Mr Cool units aren’t going to last terribly long….
Would have liked to see more of ductwork transition to coil cabinet
I'm ready to change my condeser unit and Air Handler because they're super super old 👴 like me and and you give me the courage to do it haha Thanks 🙏
😎 🤝 And by the way I got my
EPA 608 II because you my friend God bless you 🙏🙏🙏
Awesome! If you need help with your replacement, feel free to check out our remote support page at Patreon.com/DIYHVACGuy. We can help you from locating and procuring new equipment to the actual installation process. Hope we can help you out! Cheers, Dave .
These professional 😂 comments are hilarious 😂, reminds me of the Auto repair shops, when a skill is in less demand, people will not pay inflated prices. So now we have cars that you can't fix without a computer or some kind of factory technician and everything cost $80,000. Being an HVAC technician has nothing to do with the HVAC business and as far as I'm concerned homeowners should be learning how to maintain install and do whatever they want with the equipment they have in their home.
You can fix a modern car too, at least if not a BMW or battery-car. I find most repairs as easy as in my 1960's classics. Diagnostics is much easier, especially as compare to what is going on inside a carburetor.
Just FYI, some of these tools (HVAC Guages, Vaccum Pump) CAN be rented from your local auto parts stores. And by rented I mean you borrow and return their loaner tools for a full refund.
almost no one could do this as a DIY. The real story is that most of these units can be repaired. Basic components are plug and play.
I’m sure there are some great, honest techs that are far superior to a DIYer. However, in my large urban area, service calls cost hundreds, and cost to install a new HVAC system using existing ductwork is unit price plus $12K or more in labor. For that price, the air handler will be butchered, leaky, no attempt to balance, and the compressor will be scuffed up and dented with half the service panel screws missing and the other have stripped out. At least the unit will be covered in stickers so one knows who to call to pay $600 in annual maintenance.
For what it’s worth, while not a pro, I’ve been a machinist, have built a dozen houses from the ground up, have an engineering degree, and have a decent amount of experience bending and riveting sheet metal and a lot of mechanical experience. This channel is perfect for a guy like me who has solid fundamental skills, enjoys mechanical work, and wants to save money.
Awesome. Thanks for the support!
You showed how to set a condenser and poorly put in a coil. Good shit.🤙🏼
Evap coil and condenser with new lineset, interesting way to restrofit preexisting system
You reused the old lineset, R22 oil is not compatible with R410a oil. You should have replaced the lineset or at minimum used a RX11 flush kit to clean the old lineset before reuse... you'll probably be needing a new compressor in a few years, good luck!
I concur with that! Always flush the lineset if your going from one refrigerant to the other if you aren't going to replace them!
Yeah, changing the R?? Need to flush IMO.
Haven’t had any issues, and I have talked to a lot of guys that done either. I have a few videos showing the Hilmor flush pigs, they’re easy to use. The only time I flush it, is if it has acid or compressor burnout
That’s a hack excuse of an answer. There’s a right way and a way that so far has worked. Don’t be that guy
@@diyhvacguy that a bs answer. There’s a saying, Hacks bring me Stacks. Your complete misinformation will cost people more in the long run.
You need to let everyone know that in most cases if they buy a unit off the interenet without a HVAC license. When its time for warranty they will not get a warranty. I had this conversation with a Goodman outside sales person. He said can buy but no warranty at all.
Those warranties are terrible products.
You may get a replacement part for free, but the caveat is you're paying someone else 50-75% more for the materials as well as their labor charge.
You could replace the entire system twice for the same price a contractor would charge for one installation, only the warranty wouldn't cover labor charges.
So really, even in a worst case scenario, you're still coming out ahead considering you're investing in the knowledge of how to do this. Can you put a price tag on not being dependent on someone else? Perhaps so, but even still a DIY is a way better outcome for most people
The big problem with Stay Brite 8 is that you need a very tight connection in the fittings and too often the low side, offering a 5/8 copperline has been connected by swagging (stretching) one side of the 5/8 copperline and doesn't give you that tight-fitting you need with stay Brite 8. At that point you're stuck because AC companies will not fix the connection for you, they don't want the liability. I did find there are other welding that you can use with MAPP gas and there are much better than stay Brite 8 which has 6% silver. Regular braising by AC techs use 15% silver so they don't want the risk of raising over a failed stay Brite 8 6% connection. However there are other welding sticks that use MAPP gas and have a much higher % of silver, like the SSP 6 56% silver 70,000 psi product from Muggy Weld in Washington State. Plus the flux is on the welding stick itself and it is very good, great at cleaning the connection. You can get it on Amazon or direct from the company. I called them at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time and they shipped it overnight to Florida so it arrive at 9:30 a.m.
Another thing that was not brought up in his videos is that if you are switching out condensers with the same refrigerant there is no explanation about transferring it back into the new or new to you unit. What I learned the hard way is that you have to leave the low side (big pipe) closed and close the small pipe coming out of the old unit where you cut it or all the freon will leak out when you go to transfer. I think there's a way to bend and crib recorder inch copper at the end but I didn't find any videos on that. So I bought a faucet valve with a 3/8 compression fitting and that fit the 1/4" copper line perfectly, then I closed that valve.
Unfortunately stay Brite 8 on my 5/8"s connection failed after 30 minutes and I lost all my R-22 freon! Now I have to buy 8 - 10 pounds of it in AC companies charge $75 per pound + installation. You can't buy it on eBay anymore, but I found some on Facebook marketplace a 3 hour drive away. Buying R-22 without a license is possible but not easy. I hope this helps some others who are going to take this on. Anyone else who wants to offer advice would be appreciated.
I thought I made this pretty clear but all new units are precharged with 410a refrigerant. The old refrigerant stayed in the old condenser and I recovered that later, but that is not used for the new system. The new refrigerant is in the new condenser, so all you do is pull your vacuum, then open those two king valves which allows the refrigerant to flow into the whole system 👍🏼
@@diyhvacguy both of you are wrong, he bought another R22 condenser, they are not pre charged and are cheaper, he was trying to reuse the refrigerant in the new system. It can be done without recovery. You see how your advice is causing problems, you give people hope while setting them up for failure. Educate your customers and teach them how to service their units, but leave the installation to professionals. I have seen too many DIY fuck it up based on videos like yours. Are you going to take responsibility if one of you subscribers gets hurt or killed based on your DIY videos?
@@morallyinsane7639 The unit that was installed is a R410A unit my guy. The condenser was pre-charged - did you even watch the video?
@@JamesxRamirez My comment had nothing to do with the original video, it was in response to the other posters comment who upgraded to a new condenser for his system that use R22. Those condensers are not pre charged and he asked how to transfer the charge from the old system to the new one.
Awesome job...I like how you involve the kids in the process
Does the recovery procedure work for heat pump condensers as well? Thanks guys, beautiful trailer set up! ❤
Yesir!
@@diyhvacguy awesome 🤩 thanks!
Yet, he didn’t recover the refrigerant. He simply pumped it down to the condenser. As a homeowner, you now have to pay someone to come recover the refrigerant before you can legally dispose of the condenser, not to mention draining the oil from the compressor….
When you change the outdoor unit you have to do the indoor unit one as well & the line sets they won't be as compatible. And don't forget the black or blue colored outdoor refrigerant filter thing on the line set's outside.
Yeah well, he also didn’t mention that he was changing from an R22 system to an R410A system and should have flushed the lineset out, not to mention that the average homeowner is not going to have a nitrogen tank and regulator, gauge manifold, vacuum pump, etc. He just gives out bad advice one video after another.
That would be a filter drier....
He installed that on the inside instead of at the condenser.
Its best to install those inside in my area due to the salt air living on the coast. Everything that's quickly.
I have a few questions: 1. Have you noticed any leak issues with using staybrite 8? I know Mikey Pipes did. 2. How does a home owner register self installed equipment with the manufacturer? Are some manufacturers more friendly to self installed central HVAC than others?
i'm not an expert by any means, but installing yourself and not being a licensed HVAC contractor means you're giving up on the warranty. But heck at what you're saving, its worth it.
On the warranty, what was said isn’t true. So right out of the box, every single piece of Goodman equipment comes with a 5 year warranty. The thing people get confused about is that YOU as the homeowner can’t remove a defective part and bring it into a Goodman dealer and get a warranty. They simply won’t process it. However an hvac company has to come and do the repair, but the part would be warrantied no problem. In addition to that, as part of our Patreon remote support membership, we offer a service where we will warranty your equipment so it has the FULL 10 year warranty. So the warranty isn’t automatically given away, but this is all so new to many people, that we are just now finding ways to get the same exact equipment with the same warranty, for a fraction of the cost.
As far as Staybrite 8. I haven’t had a single issue with it, and I have a dozen if not more systems running it. I’m curious to see what Mikey had to say about it though.
Cheers all
@diyhvacguy so let me get this straight,a homeowner can install there own equipment,then pay you a small fee,and you will go online and register it and claim you installed it,so they can get the full warranty
@@diyhvacguy Here's the video where they had an issue with staybrite leaking on a new install and it was a comeback. ruclips.net/video/NQXy61aejSY/видео.html
you are amazing I thank you so much and for your sharing , no one give you any trouble because this is you sharing your experiences . I wish you always thrive on your career path
Sincerely
Love your content! Not sure if heat-pump are conventional in you area. But, I start observing people replacing evaporator conic /furnace combos with heat-pump and air-handlers. If you get a chance to work on such conversation, that will be a very welcomed content.
I have a video on my personal house coming out soon where we convert it to a heat pump. Stay tuned!
Please educate yourself, unless you plan to have a heat pump with back up furnace, it’s not advisable to remove your furnace and replace it with a heat pump, unless you live in a southern state where it does not get below 30 degrees on average in the winter.
@@diyhvacguy Hello HVAC guy, Can a 2.5 ton line set System be changed over to a 3 ton Condenser Unit ❓❓❓
@@morallyinsane7639 Depends on the type of heat pump. A lot of models perform at 100% down to 5*F these days, and around 80% at -22*F.
@@JamesxRamirez sorry but you are mistaken, a heat pump starts to lose efficiency around 32 F and at lower temperatures it does not produce as much heat and causes backup heat to initiate. Basically if you do not have electric or fossil backup, the heat produced will be around 80-90 degrees F below outside air temp of 32 degrees F. Backup electric heat adds an additional 40 degrees F.
I paid 7k for an oil to gas conversion in my house …I watched the techs like a hawk…asked them where they buy the things…saved all the boxes . Later I had to replace the furnace at my mother’s house. I imitated everything the techs did. The only problem is that furnaces can’t be sold to homeowners, until I found a web site that did. From $7k on my house I did it for $2k at my mother’s….if I can rebuild a car engine I can do anything 😊 cut into the gas line and everything
OMG you just helped thousands of low-income people like me
He just helped you do it the wrong way, though.
he also didnt tell u those tools and material are easily over 2k. not including the equipment
@@garrybillick3979 How so?
Thanks for posting the procedure/. I doubt that I will change out my condenser and evaporator coil since I had a new AC unit 410 refrigerant installed at the beginning of this year. But one is never to old to learn how to do stuff.
The only thing I would do different is make the condensate line PVC instead of the tubing. Plus I probably would’ve put the bulb on the inside, instead of close to the bend. Also need to flush the lineset
I rarely flush a system that doesn’t have acid in it. Haven’t had a single problem yet. But I’ve given people the knowledge in other videos on how to easily flush the lines. Hilmor sells little foam pigs you blast through the lineset and it gets all oils/contaminants out.
@@diyhvacguy The only time I flush my line set is if it was different refrigerant. Those little pigs scare me. What if one gets stuck in the line set. Lol.
which is exactly what happened here. He went from 22 to 410a@@deanmartin1966
True, never thought of that. Lol@@joepetreng471
@@diyhvacguyyet….
Wanted to see the removal and replacement of the coil. Completely glossed over.
I replaced my old unit a couple years ago. My electric bill doubled since then.
Did you replace it with a lower seer rated system?
@@diyhvacguy no I went from a 3.5 ton to a 14 seer 4 ton Rheem
@@Bro_Jared is it over charged with refridgerant?? Something does not add up. Like going from a Tahoe to a 3 cylinder Trailblazer or maybe carb to injection.....and gas price goes up with same drive to work!!
that's why you should have called a professional, being cheap always cost alot more in the long run
Was that 3.5 ton that you replaced your max load on the duct work? If so ,just going up even more to 4 tons could be a very bad deal for you. Unit will run even more then it should and cost you $$. I see a lot of over sized units not installed correctly. Load calulation on the home and checking the duct size or load is a must. This video was great but was missing alot of info for homeowners. Homeowners forget that hvac is the most important part of the home and most expensive as well.
This Trane condensing unit is the longest lasting unit of all times. They consistently last 20 plus years.
Mine is 25 years and still working great. I installed it in 1998! Hard to stop a trane.
Thanks for soldering them and not being lazy and using a press on fitting.
Get with the times, both are acceptable
Brazing is best soft solder cracks easily. Causing an expensive repair. That and the lack of line flushing which I prefer over replacement since the wall on older linesets are thicker.
awesome ill just install my own next time and hire my friend thats in hvac to fill the system
I love getting calls from diy clients.
You’re welcome 🤣
DIY’ers can create lots of service calls. Just when they thought they saved a few bucks….😂😂😂
Pay me now, or pay me later.
I totally agree hahaha
💯😂
I did ac for a second. This is great stuff.
I have been watching your videos, they are interesting and educational. I am planning to replace my own split system and since this is a DIY channel, can you please make a video of an install with an analog manifold? As of today, one of those digital ones are over $800 and it is not on my budget. I am sure many can relate to my case. Thanks.
Anyone Can Install An A/C
Central Unit Without Vacuum
Pump, Gauges And Nitrogen,
They Know The Secret But They
Donot Want You To Know,
I Did My Self After Only Less Of
One Week Of HVAC Training.
Amén.
Agreed... have done it for years without any help from the so called pro's and their gadgets 🙂
In our area, ac suppliers will not sell to you if you are not a contractor licensed to do the work.
This only applies to hvac equip.
Hvacdirect.com or Amazon will sell equipment to the general public 👍🏼
I replaced my own and it saved me about 7k. It was not easy though. I ran into "software problems". Not your typical system, so if you get a system with a minicomputer on it, you better make sure the pre-matched packages are actually matched correctly. I was lucky enough that my air handler and condenser were matched when the supplier started stocking them, but the software revision they had "unmatched" them. The supplier didn't realize this and still sold the matched set anyways. Always get a licensed tech to call for software revision compatibility from the manufacturer before you try DIY on a unit with software. (If one will do that for you, that's the lucky part. I had a guy). The manufacturer won't talk to residential customers. Had I not ran into that issue, I'd have saved about 12k. But live and learn I guess. (I had to buy a new air handler that did match and re-install)
I love how all the "Pro's" are on here talking sh*t about people doing it themselves, and how they'll "burn their house down". Yeah, ummm, here's the thing Jimmy... I'm an E.E who has worked with M.E's for 20 years in designing HVAC systems. Installing and replacing this stuff is nowhere near as hard as you "Pro tech" guys make it out to be. The average guy with average intelligence can do this job just fine... I mean, how do you guys think you got your jobs?
Same thing the pro said when they switched to obd-II protocol. Every manufacturer was upset because average guy buy a scantool to read computer code and fix their own. The information today is not under lock & key pre worldwideweb/youtube. Just like they say the freon burn holes in ozone yet no holes in ozone. In areas where wild fires earthquakes floods tornadoes huuricanes wipe out entire cities with thousand ac units destroyed. Enough!
Well for start to go to trade school to get a epa is not cheap then for me to invest my time to buy the tools learn what each tool does and know how to install properly and actually know what I’m doing and if something does happen the pro will fix it then doing it urself off RUclips university and what guarantees are you getting that it’s going get done right how do they know that the home they bought the duct work is properly sized for the home or insulation levels are high there’s a lot more to it not just connecting stuff everyone is like a mechanic intill something happens
Not necessarily burning their house down but making their $5000 HVAC become a giant paperweight because the lubrication and refrigerant is lost. There's a reason people get master or journey HVAC and plumbing specialists to install this stuff. They're insured, and more importantly, they're certified. It takes 2-5 years, depending on the trade to become certified to work under a master tradesperson as a journey person or a stringent test to become a master in their field.
@@WJCTechymansure sandy.... It's no harder than framing. Most Hvac guys are the dumbest of the dumb.
Love it lol. All you need to do is be smart enough to find out what you need to know
Thanks a trillion brother!!!! You’re truly are the best!!!!
No one uses soft solder on 410 a that is some hack ass shit. What’s the point of sucking refrigerant back into the unit still have to reclaim it.
Well done. Detailed enough for me and I learn a little bit more every video.
Can you tell me where you get the white tube insulation? I've looked high and low for it with no luck.
You can buy some online as a retrofit, but it’s crazy expensive. Otherwise have to buy a new lineset to get it.
Yes, but how and where can I purchase without a HVAC license? Nobody will sell me Freon. Thanx. Love your videos
google, acwholesalers.Ingrams Water & Air Equipment, hvacdirect
You don't need an HVAC license to purchase refrigerant. You do need a EPA 608 license. which is easy to get if you are a good DIYer.
Abilityrefrigerants.com for refrigerant
Amazon or hvacdirect.com for equipment.
If you need help locating equipment and walking you through a replacement from start to finish, check out our remote assistance page at Patreon.com/diyhvacguy
Hope we can help!
Cheers
My family called me first whenever their ac doesn't cool. So far I am able to help them out on 3 different calls...saved them $$...plus make me looks like an ac God.
Thank you man!
Here, like I imagine in many places, permits are required to replace an HVAC residential system (Vero Beach, FL). I have a package unit that replacement would only involve reconnecting the return and supply flex hoses up to the back of the unit, the electrical and reusing or fabricating a sheet metal "cover" between the unit and the house stucco wall (stucco over concrete block). When I need a new unit, I'd sure like to be able to do the install myself. As to the warranty, it's 5 yrs. unless installed by a licensed HVAC tech/company - then it doubles to 10 yrs. Which I think sucks. Also, it's impossible to get replacement parts from local distributers as they'll only sell to licensed companies. This also sucks.
Mechanical HVAC permits are cheap and easy to get. The inspection usually takes all of 2 minutes and you’re fine as long as it looks up to code. Replacing an outdoor unit is especially easy assuming the previous one was up to code. The same is true of a home inspection when you go to sell your place. Contrary to what all the HVAC protective fear mongering people trying to protect their obscene trade are posting here, DIY A/C and heat pump units are not dangerous once installed. And some basic knowledge will keep the DIYer safe during the install.
When is anyone going to go to a house and check if an AC system has had a permit pulled?
@@johneldoradoWhen they go to sell it and the buyers agent checks and finds out that the work was not permitted.
@@garrybillick3979
In my state, no such system exists for HVAC. Most places, no one is checking AC permits on whether they buy a home or not.
@@johneldorado Consider yourself lucky Some people here certainly do. If you get caught as a seller, you’d have to pull permits and have it inspected and approved.
Hearing these prices for a new system installed these days is insane.
In 2019 i sold my house and had to replace the central a/c system. Not the furnace.
It was about 3k in the Milwaukee area.
Perfect, reusing the old lineset with no sort of flush . Should work perfect once those different oils mix from refrigerants that are not supposed to mix
lol 😂.....I'm just a typical homeowner and although you're hatein' on the guy, you're correct. The original lineset should be wiped with a "pig" + compressed air/nitrogen for good measure.
Wondering about the flush here. Looks like around $100 bucks for a flush kit. Going from 22 to 410.
@@KefirTView 25 years in HVAC you learn a few things. I'm not hating, I just don't like that these channels don't cover a lot of the actual important things. I prefer a homeowner does it because I can charge more to come fix it.
Yes did you flush the line set?
Didn't see on video
Chad, in your experience what happens if some residual oils mix? I’ve done quite a few systems with no flush and have seen zero ill effect. I’ve actually talked with alot of other guys who feel the same. The only time I make sure and flush, is when there is a burnout or the system has acid in it.
I watch a lot of your vids. Well done and interesting. I'm needing to do this replacement. Everything looks pretty straight forward and relatively easy to do. The hard part is buying the $1500 worth of tools not including the nitrogen tank. Kind of blows whatever money you save from having a pro do the job. Plus, I might not ever need to use these tools since I don't do this for a living. If there's any way to do this job without the $550 field piece, I'd like to see a video supplement with that. I'm guessing I can get a good vac pump for a lot less than $750. I have a $200 vac pump that I use for auto A/C. It can't pull hard enough to get down to zero though. Is that required here for these home A/C jobs?
Youd be surprised how quick you can go broke trying to save money. The chances a homeowner gets it right are slim to none with zero training.. Chances they harm themselves or make things a whole lot worse are pretty high. Great video man. Top Notch click bait!
Ha - I am that handy homeowner. I have replaced 2 furnaces and 4 air conditioner systems in my lifetime. All work great and look nicer than a professional install at about 1/3rd the cost!
@@craigstrand962 nice job Craig. More scare tactics from the industry. This DIYhvac guy has these turkey's fearful for their livelihood and they should be, trying to charge consumers 200% over the cost of the hardware.
scare language shall not intimidate me.
@@glencoulsNo, he actually has us laughing at giving out bad advice.
How did you go about flushing the old refrigerant lines? What method did you use? Pro-flush or RX11? There was no mentioning in your video about not mixing the two different oils.
He didn’t. He skipped right over the lineset flush….
To bad in my State, DIY AC isnt legal... I couldnt even pull a permit without a HVAC company on it, which super comlicated things as I had already bought a whole new system to put in and no one wanted to touch it. I finaly found a small 1 man shop that signed the permit for me and then brased and charged the system. In the end i turned a $13,000 job into a $7,000 job and now iI recomend the one man shop to everyone that needs AC work. Check you local laws before you attempt any of this and find a shop willing to install your own equipment.
Great video. The old unit was an R22 and the new was a R410A, right?
I've replaced capacitors, have a set of gages and checked pressures, charged when refrigerant was low, replaced condensing unit fans, air handler fans,. heating elements,. etc as a DIY'er on my existing units.
But I never thought about replacing the entire condensing unit and coil myself,.. handling the refrigerants and all.
I didn't realize the condensing units came pre-charged with enough for the lines and coil to an extent.
With your video, I think I'm gonna try it next time.
Thanks,
They are factory charged (in theory) for a matching capacity evaporator coil and 15 feet of lineset. Longer lineset will need refrigerant added. Shorter lineset will need refrigerant recovered.
Did You Know You Can Replace Your Own Air Conditioner? While using Hundreds of dollar HVAC tools, if not more. 🤣😂
Umm more like a thousand in tools. But let’s do the math here. A full system replacement, 12-15 THOUSAND DOLLARS. So if you spend 4k on some good equipment, and another stack for tool. You are still saving $7-10k. How long does it take you to earn $7k? Worth it in my opinion but you do you boo.
Good video. Thank you. Where do you buy a AC unit? In Texas the AC supply stores will not sell a unit to a homeowner with a Universal EPA license.
You can buy Goodman systems online, but you will lose the warranty coverage on it.
@@garrybillick3979No, you won't lose the warranty coverage. It's called the Magenson-Moss warranty act. Look it up.
Good Video BUT... 99% of most people don't have hvac gauges, vacuum pumps, nitrogen, micron gauges, jugs of 410(a) or anything else involved with doing this.
Correct, I have all those items in my Amazon store. Let’s take a hypothetical example here: you need a new air conditioner. You are quoted 8-9k to replace it. Yes, that is the going rate here and in many other places. But you, being mechanically inclined decide to tackle it yourself. So you buy the equupment for $3k on Amazon, and the tools for $1000 (this is on the higher end) Even if you used these tools once, which most homeowners would use again if they have multiple systems, you are still saving $3-4000!!!! I’m not twisting anyone’s wrist here, just sharing knowledge is all. I’ve helped many people save thousands so I know it’s easily done. Cheers
You can rent good number of the tools he used from your local auto parts store...
@@diyhvacguyso, you’re really just giving out bad advice as a sales gimmick to buy from your Amazon link where you can make an commission.
one of the best a/c video to date
This is not a DIY project.
How is this not a DIY job? Just buy the tools. 4 ton units are $3900+$1200 in tools, maybe $2-300 in miscellaneous. So $5400 vs. $8600 to pay a company.
@@JohnColeman-ul5rjpaying the company that is bonded and will carry a warranty that the average DIYer will end up having to pay that extra $3K to fix their install anyway.
I disagree this looks very doable. I’m replacing my system this weekend
This should be the top comment
@jasonbuxton3358 Have fun. But for most people, this is not a DIY project.
Also, you can void your warranty by doing it yourself if you're not licensed.
Can't wait to see the DIY for A2L 😂
Good video, but why should a home owner be allowed to do this kind of work without getting EPA certification like the rest of us have
to do?
Great videos.. but what I see are all ground level HVAC units. I have two roof top units. Any info on working on those, from cleaning coils etc.
Expect zero warranty and don’t call me to fix it
LOL! Somebody will fix it. Haven’t you watched any of Steve Lav’s videos?
BTW, I installed my own equipment so I am providing the warranty on labor. The equipment warranty is five years.
That’s what I understand install yourself and the warranty is five years.
@@iwenive3390 I would like to see that challenged in a court of law. They would have to prove the damage was done by improper installation. Yes, the legal costs would far exceed the cost of a complete new system. But I wish someone would challenge this to set a legal precedent. I can buy any auto part in store or online and have a warranty on that part. Why should HVAC parts be any different? Are you going to tell me an HVAC system is more complex than a car engine or transmission / brake system? And what about DIY brake repair, no jurisdiction I know of makes that illegal. How many people can you potentially kill with a poor brake repair job on a busy freeway? Oh but it's too dangerous to work on your own HVAC equipment? This is just the HVAC service industry trying to get a monopoly on the profession. Not going to happen in the good old USA, especially now with the internet and the DIY movement.
Exactly, in my experience, the dealer does not care where the equipment was purchased. The biggest thing is that YOU as a homeowner can’t go in and get a warranty replacement. It has to be a licensed contractor. But the part itself is warrantied no problem. That’s what they mean when they say if it’s bought online it doesn’t have a warranty. Part of that is they don’t want you to know it has a 5 year warranty.
@@diyhvacguy that’s not true
This reminded me why I am good with paying tradesmen for services. All the equipment and knowhow is worth it for jobs like this.