For those of you who are mystified," condemned" , is a term used to scare the customer into buying a new unit, and usually from a person/ outfit, who is a bit clueless on how to actually diagnose and repair, in a timely manner.
Good job. You went beyond typical by cleaning the sensor and what I call the "snapper" (igniter). The only thing I liked to do was to blow the orifices and area of the burners with air to get rid of possible spider webs that may block an orifice one way or another. I was also curious if the older (and probably wal mart special) Tstat had a time delay? But the new tstat might have been a better idea anyway. It's good to know honest guys are still out there doing it right instead of worshiping money. I'm semi retired right now after 48 years in this trade and loved every minute of it.
Hey man I’m over here in Hilton Head, been in HVAC around 4 months and I just started running maintenance on my own this week! Keep up the good work and I appreciate your videos
Much respect for treating your customers with honesty and integrity. Got it fixed, Swept the dirt out of the unit while you were in there. Nice! That little extra goes a long way. I bet this customer was super happy that they found out the truth, that their existing system is perfectly fine.
I bought my Florida house 22 years ago. I called an air conditioning company to check out my unit and to service my unit. That was 22 years ago and we have "not" had any problems in that 22 years.
One happy customer knowing that they called someone who knows what he's doing. Still puzzled as to why it was declared condemned, but hey great video you got it all sorted out plus saved your customer a lot to replace the entire unit. What impresses me with your work is your approach to your job, you take the time to actually troubleshoot plus you've got a real good eye for the little things someone else may just overlook for whatever reason in this instance...simply replace the thermostat. Kudos to you though on you using that magnetic bowl for those pesky screws which seems to go for unannounced walks ...lol. nice touch. Keep the videos coming ...
Airtime 500… condemned it. Big ticket companies.. They drive in service vans but they are not service techs… they are trained sales tech looking for commission.
@@ryb1906 That being the case with those guys who will tranish the trade, try to put the reputation of the ones who actually troubleshoot and do a great job in a bad light. But to each his own .
@@jeremydefreitas9753 yes that’s what it does at least that’s what I thought when I started to recognize this sales trend starting to happen.. I worked for a true blue collar company 11 years ago, Motto was Try to repair before condemning.. explain to the customer if it was time to truly change out equipment. But the company switched up. They went to an Airtime 500 seminar in Vegas and came back with a whole new identity for the company. We went from showing time and material to straight forward pricing out of a book that had a number system that had what scope of work that needed to be done, with a fixed amount.. the pricing was a complete ripoff.. and I couldn’t do it to the customer.. I left. They brought in a sales guy, changed the color of our vans and uniforms, it was red, white, and blue. They got radio ads, news paper ads with some cheesy maintenance program and financing for change out… along with a so called free AC.. 😞. Not more techs just a tech van with no parts just a clipboard, flashlight, tape measure and a sales guy. But I see the customer are starting to catch on now after I saw this crap taking place 12 to 15 years ago. It works best in the long to be a true service tech.. cause you will always have faithful customers that will refer you. That company I worked for, well the two owners parted ways… they got away from being true blue collars…
First for once. Soon as you see wiring run through a return like it's a conduit, you have to be prepared for some bullshittery by a previous technician. Lol
Curtis i sure learn a lot from watching your videos. You make them not only informative but entertaining and the camera work is great. I especially enjoy your honest and thorough work ethic. You will always have work with your skill set, moral code & strong ethics.
I have replaced many goodman/janitrol heat exchangers and I have found most of them have those snap rings that sandwich the cells. Those rings will fall off and sit at the bottom of the heat exchanger area or the blower housing. So you won't see any cracks or rust throughs, but when those rings fall off they lose that seal which keeps the flue area separated from the airstream. I couldn't tell in your vid if those cells had those rings or not. I think they started using them in newer units. The other common thing I found is their gas valves are known for needing to be adjusted. They mostly over fire and cause over heating/failed heat exchangers. Good job!!
Great job. The number of screws has to do with fabrication code based on the gauge of the metal. One screw every six inches is pretty standard or they become rattle traps real quick.
When checking the heat exchangers it's important to look at those eyelets for any sort of cracking on those it may not show on the carbon monoxide levels but any crack is bad and the crack will only develop large overtime. It will generally see that in those clamshell style heat exchangers. I would recommend getting a small mirror to see those. Also in some American standard (I know we're looking at a Goodman gas pack, but its worth pointing out) clamshell heat exchangers often they'll be a crack not any longer than an inch at most at the start of the entrance of the heat exchanger on the underside where the gas enters and it's only on one side of the heat exchanger. I would look into all of that and not just rely on the co testing as any crack is unsafe regardless if it's outputting any carbon monoxide into the home.
I agree..when I watched the inspection, I thought a mirror and a flash light would help to insure no cracks... Thats the way I found the one inch or larger cracks.
Im a biomedical engineer by trade so I guess I'm just an engineering geek but you should open a HVAC school. I live near Columbia SC and I've run into a lot of HVAC guys that don't appear to know what their doing. You are a consummate professional
I'd say most of the "techs" that condemn a unit are just looking to make a buck. Unfortunately, there are more of them than there are honest guys like Curtis. Another great job Curtis! 👍. As an aside: for all the Goodman haters.... Here's your proof they aren't the junk you've been told they were.
unfortunately yes that's often the case or they're taking the easy way out, either because lack of tools or they cannot repair anything due to lack of knowledge and adaptability. now there are many times in which the equipment is very unsafe and needs replaced before burning down the building or CO poisoning the occupants. sometimes the techs are smart, find the issues and throw up all the red flags, whilst other shysters would condemn everything, including brand new old stock, mainly because they didn't understand it.
SEEMS TO ME MORE AND MORE TECH'S ARE BECOMING SALESMEN AND NOT REPAIRMEN . I WENT INTO THIS TRADE 21 YEARS AGO TO FIX AND REPAIR THEM NOT TO SELL THEM . YES THERE IS A POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO GO BUT THAT ONE STILL HAS A FEW MORE YEARS .
I think by only pushing sales, it really takes away from the ability to properly Troubleshoot the system.The new tech skills is limited and it robs him of a opportunity learning this trade .
Outstanding JOB!>>>> can I recommend that you have a small leaf blower to blow out those units like the one in the video? I realize someone would say , but where does the cleaning end, but it does help the JOB!
because nobody can easily can be trusted to fix anything I watched a few videos I changed the condenser fan motor myself and the capacitor of course then the blower motor capacitor went and then the heat went I changed the igniter the flame sensor and the high limit myself I was wondering I was really wondering about the heat exchanger I never thought to take that whole stinking top off thanks for showing me that
I think I asked before, but must be Myrtle Beach, maybe? Looks so much like the coast of N.C./ S.C. Great vids and hvac knowledge.Just read your descriotion, saw you are in Ga. Keep up the good work.
As chemistries and voltage vary across both battery types and brands be careful mixing different batteries in the thermostat. I have had them break open and corrode the battery compartment. Same goes with mixing old and new batteries, the new one tries to "equalize" the old one causing the pressure relief to pop spilling out the electrolyte.
Usually, units are condemned because the company wants to sell a new unit. Sometimes, there is a legit HX failure, but most of the time you can get a new part. They don't know how to replace a HX, and they know that they get a spiff or commission to sell new. They spend so much time talking about "efficiency" that people start to believe it. Rarely is one unit more efficient than another outside of the lab. The only exception is a condensing furnace or a very expensive mini split. Typically, if the unit is actually more efficient, the parts needed to fix it cost five time more. You decide.
Indeed. I had a company condemn my gas pack for rusty burner tubes and a rusted out heat exchanger. I ordered the parts myself for 1/8 the cost of a replacement unit and it's humming away again.
I love , how in the hvac world, electrical signals, are called getting a call. In home wiring, and automotive, this term is never used. I bet it originated, by trying to explain to the hovering cutomer, in terms they may better understand.
Likely comes from old steam systems, the original central heat, where you'd send a "call" for heat down to the boiler room where the boiler operator would make the required changes to the system. Like the engine order telegraph on ships of old.
You did all you can to be honest technician, But I not enough at checking the heat exchanger as SnapesTones montionted in his comment: '"When checking the heat exchangers it's important to look at those eyelets for any sort of cracking on those it may not show on the carbon monoxide levels but any crack is bad and the crack will only develop large overtime. It will generally see that in those clamshell style heat exchangers. I would recommend getting a small mirror to see those. Also in some American standard (I know we're looking at a Goodman gas pack, but its worth pointing out) clamshell heat exchangers often they'll be a crack not any longer than an inch at most at the start of the entrance of the heat exchanger on the underside where the gas enters and it's only on one side of the heat exchanger. I would look into all of that and not just rely on the co testing as any crack is unsafe regardless if it's outputting any carbon monoxide into the home" 3 HVAC GUY
Hell's bells and I thought super Steve Lav was rough !!! why do you measure across red and white ?? I would not expect to read 24V there when it is 'calling' - yep that flame detector will be hot even after a very short running time - 'Merican stuff looks so poorly made and little effort made in maintenance - you guys are always slap dash - I did like that you swept out the crap that was on the burner floor though.
Look man don’t use a rag too clean the flame sensor use a 1 Dollar bill too clean it because you can damage it useing other things I promise dollar 💵 bill will work better trust me
Nice to see you an honest person Mr. HVAC Guy!
Heck yeah man. I love coming after someone condemns a unit to find a small problem. You feel like a hero lol
For those of you who are mystified," condemned" , is a term used to scare the customer into buying a new unit, and usually from a person/ outfit, who is a bit clueless on how to actually diagnose and repair, in a timely manner.
Solid work Curtis. You did right by the customer.
Treat every system like it was installed in your own home...keep it clean...good job great video.
Good job. You went beyond typical by cleaning the sensor and what I call the "snapper" (igniter). The only thing I liked to do was to blow the orifices and area of the burners with air to get rid of possible spider webs that may block an orifice one way or another. I was also curious if the older (and probably wal mart special) Tstat had a time delay? But the new tstat might have been a better idea anyway. It's good to know honest guys are still out there doing it right instead of worshiping money. I'm semi retired right now after 48 years in this trade and loved every minute of it.
Hey man I’m over here in Hilton Head, been in HVAC around 4 months and I just started running maintenance on my own this week! Keep up the good work and I appreciate your videos
Much respect for treating your customers with honesty and integrity. Got it fixed, Swept the dirt out of the unit while you were in there. Nice! That little extra goes a long way. I bet this customer was super happy that they found out the truth, that their existing system is perfectly fine.
I bought my Florida house 22 years ago. I called an air conditioning company to check out my unit and to service my unit. That was 22 years ago and we have "not" had any problems in that 22 years.
One happy customer knowing that they called someone who knows what he's doing. Still puzzled as to why it was declared condemned, but hey great video you got it all sorted out plus saved your customer a lot to replace the entire unit. What impresses me with your work is your approach to your job, you take the time to actually troubleshoot plus you've got a real good eye for the little things someone else may just overlook for whatever reason in this instance...simply replace the thermostat. Kudos to you though on you using that magnetic bowl for those pesky screws which seems to go for unannounced walks ...lol. nice touch. Keep the videos coming ...
Airtime 500… condemned it. Big ticket companies.. They drive in service vans but they are not service techs… they are trained sales tech looking for commission.
@@ryb1906 some people are just out too ripe you off.
@@earlestes8649 sad but true.
@@ryb1906 That being the case with those guys who will tranish the trade, try to put the reputation of the ones who actually troubleshoot and do a great job in a bad light. But to each his own .
@@jeremydefreitas9753 yes that’s what it does at least that’s what I thought when I started to recognize this sales trend starting to happen.. I worked for a true blue collar company 11 years ago, Motto was Try to repair before condemning.. explain to the customer if it was time to truly change out equipment. But the company switched up. They went to an Airtime 500 seminar in Vegas and came back with a whole new identity for the company. We went from showing time and material to straight forward pricing out of a book that had a number system that had what scope of work that needed to be done, with a fixed amount.. the pricing was a complete ripoff.. and I couldn’t do it to the customer.. I left. They brought in a sales guy, changed the color of our vans and uniforms, it was red, white, and blue. They got radio ads, news paper ads with some cheesy maintenance program and financing for change out… along with a so called free AC.. 😞. Not more techs just a tech van with no parts just a clipboard, flashlight, tape measure and a sales guy. But I see the customer are starting to catch on now after I saw this crap taking place 12 to 15 years ago. It works best in the long to be a true service tech.. cause you will always have faithful customers that will refer you. That company I worked for, well the two owners parted ways… they got away from being true blue collars…
A 2nd opinion, from the right guy, paid off. Nice, honest work, as always.
Taking care of the homeowner again! Well done!
Nice troubleshooting and repair
You now have a client for life
First for once.
Soon as you see wiring run through a return like it's a conduit, you have to be prepared for some bullshittery by a previous technician. Lol
So much for the condemned system. Thank god they called you! Great work brother!
Nice job.
Great effort.
Thanks for sharing.
Curtis i sure learn a lot from watching your videos. You make them not only informative but entertaining and the camera work is great. I especially enjoy your honest and thorough work ethic. You will always have work with your skill set, moral code & strong ethics.
I have replaced many goodman/janitrol heat exchangers and I have found most of them have those snap rings that sandwich the cells. Those rings will fall off and sit at the bottom of the heat exchanger area or the blower housing. So you won't see any cracks or rust throughs, but when those rings fall off they lose that seal which keeps the flue area separated from the airstream. I couldn't tell in your vid if those cells had those rings or not. I think they started using them in newer units. The other common thing I found is their gas valves are known for needing to be adjusted. They mostly over fire and cause over heating/failed heat exchangers. Good job!!
Great job. The number of screws has to do with fabrication code based on the gauge of the metal. One screw every six inches is pretty standard or they become rattle traps real quick.
Hi y’all from west Alabama ty for your show peace love
When checking the heat exchangers it's important to look at those eyelets for any sort of cracking on those it may not show on the carbon monoxide levels but any crack is bad and the crack will only develop large overtime. It will generally see that in those clamshell style heat exchangers. I would recommend getting a small mirror to see those. Also in some American standard (I know we're looking at a Goodman gas pack, but its worth pointing out) clamshell heat exchangers often they'll be a crack not any longer than an inch at most at the start of the entrance of the heat exchanger on the underside where the gas enters and it's only on one side of the heat exchanger. I would look into all of that and not just rely on the co testing as any crack is unsafe regardless if it's outputting any carbon monoxide into the home.
I agree..when I watched the inspection, I thought a mirror and a flash light would help to insure no cracks... Thats the way I found the one inch or larger cracks.
Just run a screwdriver on the HXT cell, and call it a crack
On those heat exchangers need to use a mirror, to look for hair line cracks just rubbing your hand you would not find them
You get some of the worst jobs but you take it like a pro.Good job. Love watching your work habits.
Im a biomedical engineer by trade so I guess I'm just an engineering geek but you should open a HVAC school. I live near Columbia SC and I've run into a lot of HVAC guys that don't appear to know what their doing. You are a consummate professional
If he was running a school he need to have fixed the big violation with the t stat wire.
Thanks for doing right by the customer! Love your videos!
I'd say most of the "techs" that condemn a unit are just looking to make a buck. Unfortunately, there are more of them than there are honest guys like Curtis. Another great job Curtis! 👍. As an aside: for all the Goodman haters.... Here's your proof they aren't the junk you've been told they were.
unfortunately yes that's often the case or they're taking the easy way out, either because lack of tools or they cannot repair anything due to lack of knowledge and adaptability.
now there are many times in which the equipment is very unsafe and needs replaced before burning down the building or CO poisoning the occupants. sometimes the techs are smart, find the issues and throw up all the red flags, whilst other shysters would condemn everything, including brand new old stock, mainly because they didn't understand it.
SEEMS TO ME MORE AND MORE TECH'S ARE BECOMING SALESMEN AND NOT REPAIRMEN . I WENT INTO THIS TRADE 21 YEARS AGO TO FIX AND REPAIR THEM NOT TO SELL THEM . YES THERE IS A POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO GO BUT THAT ONE STILL HAS A FEW MORE YEARS .
I think by only pushing sales, it really takes away from the ability to properly Troubleshoot the system.The new tech skills is limited and it robs him of a opportunity learning this trade .
Great job and I really like your seat covers on your van.
Good video!! Thank you!!!!
Outstanding JOB!>>>> can I recommend that you have a small leaf blower to blow out those units like the one in the video? I realize someone would say , but where does the cleaning end, but it does help the JOB!
because nobody can easily can be trusted to fix anything I watched a few videos I changed the condenser fan motor myself and the capacitor of course then the blower motor capacitor went and then the heat went I changed the igniter the flame sensor and the high limit myself I was wondering I was really wondering about the heat exchanger I never thought to take that whole stinking top off thanks for showing me that
Should do a combustion analysis on that old unit.
Such a good guy!
I think I asked before, but must be Myrtle Beach, maybe? Looks so much like the coast of N.C./ S.C. Great vids and hvac knowledge.Just read your descriotion, saw you are in Ga. Keep up the good work.
Gotta wait for the 5 mt time delay on t stat sometimes and sometimes the call is quick
Awesome work brother.
As chemistries and voltage vary across both battery types and brands be careful mixing different batteries in the thermostat. I have had them break open and corrode the battery compartment. Same goes with mixing old and new batteries, the new one tries to "equalize" the old one causing the pressure relief to pop spilling out the electrolyte.
It’s even written on the batteries… people need to read that stuff
You are full of shit been mixing different brands of batteries for years never have had a issue
Usually, units are condemned because the company wants to sell a new unit. Sometimes, there is a legit HX failure, but most of the time you can get a new part. They don't know how to replace a HX, and they know that they get a spiff or commission to sell new. They spend so much time talking about "efficiency" that people start to believe it. Rarely is one unit more efficient than another outside of the lab. The only exception is a condensing furnace or a very expensive mini split. Typically, if the unit is actually more efficient, the parts needed to fix it cost five time more. You decide.
Indeed. I had a company condemn my gas pack for rusty burner tubes and a rusted out heat exchanger. I ordered the parts myself for 1/8 the cost of a replacement unit and it's humming away again.
Nice job the only thing I did not see was a co level Check
Good job Curtis.
Sounded like it was really close to the tracks
Small Air Return. Should Have Been the Whole Closet Floor
Nicw Job! Turned a $10,000 replacement quote into a $300 (or less) repair.
Dude, she is an old lady. Give her a standard dial thermostat!!
sad companies try to take advantage of people
Mine does the igniter spark noise but not flame! Any ideas?
You’re the Pro.
Nice job 👍
I like how you clean that hsi 😉
How many thermostats do you have to order to get your logo on them?
6 i think call Jackson Systems
How much u charge service fee and whole ticket
Good job
I love , how in the hvac world, electrical signals, are called getting a call. In home wiring, and automotive, this term is never used. I bet it originated, by trying to explain to the hovering cutomer, in terms they may better understand.
The thermostat is "calling" another component for activity. Pick up the phone.🤣
@@joehead1294 I hear ya! I wonder if it is: 8675 three oh niyine?
Likely comes from old steam systems, the original central heat, where you'd send a "call" for heat down to the boiler room where the boiler operator would make the required changes to the system. Like the engine order telegraph on ships of old.
@@jkbrown5496 I like that analogy! Watson, can you hear me!
That's right. You would call down to the boiler room for more coal to be added to the boiler.
Do you perform a combustion analyst to read CO levels?
Hard to on a package unit. But, I do check for CO
Only thing different would use a carbon monoxide at a supply. Just cause it is old, doesn't mean it won't work
I think I've asked already. Are you solo or have techs working for you?
By myself
You didn't check for CO leakage?
I did check for CO. Customer was with me. I couldn’t use video.
I bet the last work order said it was😂
Brilliant
15:20 why were the burners yellow
Likely dust from sweeping it off
People just wanna SELL SELL SELL sad would have taken advantage of this homeowner
Just run a screwDriver on the hxt cell, and call it a cracked !! LoL
know she can go to Vegas, with the money she saved,LOL.good job.
You did all you can to be honest technician, But I not enough at checking the heat exchanger as SnapesTones montionted in his comment:
'"When checking the heat exchangers it's important to look at those eyelets for any sort of cracking on those it may not show on the carbon monoxide levels but any crack is bad and the crack will only develop large overtime. It will generally see that in those clamshell style heat exchangers. I would recommend getting a small mirror to see those. Also in some American standard (I know we're looking at a Goodman gas pack, but its worth pointing out) clamshell heat exchangers often they'll be a crack not any longer than an inch at most at the start of the entrance of the heat exchanger on the underside where the gas enters and it's only on one side of the heat exchanger. I would look into all of that and not just rely on the co testing as any crack is unsafe regardless if it's outputting any carbon monoxide into the home"
3
HVAC GUY
Lazy tech just wanted to make a sale.
Hell's bells and I thought super Steve Lav was rough !!! why do you measure across red and white ?? I would not expect to read 24V there when it is 'calling' - yep that flame detector will be hot even after a very short running time - 'Merican stuff looks so poorly made and little effort made in maintenance - you guys are always slap dash - I did like that you swept out the crap that was on the burner floor though.
Look man don’t use a rag too clean the flame sensor use a 1 Dollar bill too clean it because you can damage it useing other things I promise dollar 💵 bill will work better trust me
That’s Scotchbrite - at least I think that’s what it is. I haven’t tried the dollar bill yet
glasses needed...too thick to be a pad...he knows what hes doing.
👍
dunno
277 thumbs up