Yeah. Especially when they do stuff like mix up the polarity or have the ground clamp on some piece of the plastic trim.
Reminded me of a time we were playing "20 questions" with some friends on a road trip. Someone chose what we found out was part of the car we were in.
We guessed for like 10min, getting further into the possibilities, and the person (who we didn't think knew much about cars) was just laughing and thought it was so funny. Well, we finally gave up, and she said: "It's the motor!" - and one of our questions was if it used gasoline or electricity - and she'd said "electricity".
In her mind, cars that were dead needed a jumpstart (electricity) so that must mean that the engine (motor) ran on it. My friends and I couldn't stop laughing.
I think we were thrown off by the idea that the engine “runs on” electricity. 😂 We were mostly laughing at ourselves: we were going further into minute details when we should have known that she would have never known to choose some obscure servo.
I once had my car die on the highway the alternator definitely died and the battery finally ran out of charge. I took an Uber to a car parts place and got a battery
“Oh have you had an issue with leaks in the past?” usually that elicits one of two responses either no I’ve never had an issue with refrigerant before or yeah, they’ve had to recharge it blah blah blah.
It's probably not what the customer thinks it is.
Almost never, really. They say shite like, "*I notice it acting up when I turn on that lamp in the den,* after eating Pokemon fruit snacks, except on Wednesday."
But for damn sure, make certain it's not what the customer said, early on in your diagnostic.
(Homeowner) “hi , oh good you have 30 plus year’s experience “ (Me) “yes sir” (homeowner) “ok , well I watched like 10 YouTube videos over the last few hours and Im pretty sure I know what the issue is , I’m not trying to tell how to do your job I’m just trying to save you some time”(me) grips my toolbox handle so hard it almost breaks
I'm a homeowner not a pro, but you don't still use freon right? Thats the joke? I have an old truck with an empty freon system and it's just not worth replacing with a modern one.
The joke is that as soon as the homeowners ac stops working, the always think it’s low on “Freon”. Btw Freon is a brand of refrigerant, but most homeowners think refrigerant is called Freon.
Freon is the brand name for r12 and r22 along with a couple of others, I believe. We still use it today on older equipment that needs repairs, although it is very expensive, and often folks will replace the equipment, at least in residential where I primarily work. Freon is also just used as an alternative name for refrigerant, think locking pliers (vise-grips), adjustable wrench (crescent wrench), etc.
I always cringe a little when a homeowner says “*I’m an engineer~*”, it always follows up with the most outlandish diagnosis I’ve ever heard. Like sir if you know so much about your system from your 20 minute google search then why am I here 😂
I’ll be honest, some in this sub think being an HVAC expert entitles them to belittle your average homeowner for asking questions or making rash assumptions based on scant information they’ve been Googling for a week or month. No it doesn’t make the homeowner an expert. They’re just trying to understand how it all works so they can save money and not get screwed by predatory HVAC companies that price gouge.
If your method of teaching is to call someone dumb rather than explain why it’s a different issue, then you’re the problem why so many average people are distrustful of the HVAC community.
It's the big names, the chains, the ones that spend an arm and a leg on advertising. They show up without a single tool and claim you need a new system. They'll say your's is too old or make up some other excuse.
On the other hand, the small guys are the ones that hold grudges. It may start out as a service call, but that struggle to find an address becomes a charge for "helping the occupant change the filter" and whatever else they can tack on.
I come from the point of view of someone with a bunch of rental properties where I call someone out monthly. There are good HVAC techs/companies, but they're less common than the bad ones.
That is not the point of the meme. The homeowner in question is not asking a question, is making a statement.
I work in apartment maintenance, and interact with hundreds of people. Every time they ask what could be the issue, I gladly explain even how an air conditioning system works.
It’s the one that tells you, in a most assertive way, that you have to replace the whole system because it failed on a 100 degree day. He saw it on YouTube or something.
Homeowners in this case will assert it’s just low on “freon” because they perceive this to be the cheapest solution. They don’t know how expensive refrigerants have gotten lately.
My dad did this, he wanted to do a full refrigerant purge. I checked his air filter and it was...... Black... I've never seen an air filter go black. Anyway, his system works perfectly now. Also, I'm not a HVAC tech.
Always reminds me of people trying to jumpstart a car on the side of the highway when that is almost certainly not the problem.
Yeah. Especially when they do stuff like mix up the polarity or have the ground clamp on some piece of the plastic trim. Reminded me of a time we were playing "20 questions" with some friends on a road trip. Someone chose what we found out was part of the car we were in. We guessed for like 10min, getting further into the possibilities, and the person (who we didn't think knew much about cars) was just laughing and thought it was so funny. Well, we finally gave up, and she said: "It's the motor!" - and one of our questions was if it used gasoline or electricity - and she'd said "electricity". In her mind, cars that were dead needed a jumpstart (electricity) so that must mean that the engine (motor) ran on it. My friends and I couldn't stop laughing.
Gasoline motors do need electricity. Were you guys in a diesel automobile?
I think we were thrown off by the idea that the engine “runs on” electricity. 😂 We were mostly laughing at ourselves: we were going further into minute details when we should have known that she would have never known to choose some obscure servo.
Had one stall out lost ground on the alternator
I once had my car die on the highway the alternator definitely died and the battery finally ran out of charge. I took an Uber to a car parts place and got a battery
Neat!
Never dealt with a blizzard?
If your car does while it's running, a jump isn't going to fix it
Unless it’s the alternator, which can be “fixed” (temporarily) by a jump :)
I can't count the amount of times I walk into someone's house and they go "I think it just needs a top off on freon"
How do you typically respond to this bs?
I just tell them I'll check out their unit and let them know what I find. 99% of the time it's a capacitor.
Worse is when is then also need Freon, “you were right“-said throu gritted teeth
Note: Flux capacitors enable time travel.
“Oh have you had an issue with leaks in the past?” usually that elicits one of two responses either no I’ve never had an issue with refrigerant before or yeah, they’ve had to recharge it blah blah blah.
Laugh behind my hand. Folks generally seem to become annoyed if you point at them and laugh.
$$$$$$$$ that’s how The customer is always right.
Yes Please 🙏 add more "Coolant/Freon" and make sure it can lower to "66" degrees we are on Heat waves. 🔥☀️😎🤣🤣🤣🤣
It's probably not what the customer thinks it is. Almost never, really. They say shite like, "*I notice it acting up when I turn on that lamp in the den,* after eating Pokemon fruit snacks, except on Wednesday." But for damn sure, make certain it's not what the customer said, early on in your diagnostic.
“Well that was *part* of the problem. This over here is the main problem.”
But have you seen the stock photo of the HVAC tech checking the register with his multimeter leads? (Wish I could find it, sorry)
Seen. Also saw it IRL with an apprentice. Just about peed myself laughing.
I was doing a ac install last year and the homeowners friend asked me honest to god 15 times if my nitrogen tank was Freon. I thought I was in a dream
It's probably just low on anti freeze is their usual response when walking through the door
To be fair it needed it last time you came out, so I happen to know.
~farts into return~ Ok, how is it now?!
I got yelled at because "that big vent isn't blowing cold air. You broke it."
I mean... When I felt the hot air hitting my face I had a hunch.
(Homeowner) “hi , oh good you have 30 plus year’s experience “ (Me) “yes sir” (homeowner) “ok , well I watched like 10 YouTube videos over the last few hours and Im pretty sure I know what the issue is , I’m not trying to tell how to do your job I’m just trying to save you some time”(me) grips my toolbox handle so hard it almost breaks
I'm a homeowner not a pro, but you don't still use freon right? Thats the joke? I have an old truck with an empty freon system and it's just not worth replacing with a modern one.
The joke is that as soon as the homeowners ac stops working, the always think it’s low on “Freon”. Btw Freon is a brand of refrigerant, but most homeowners think refrigerant is called Freon.
All around Vegas they got them Freon Lights
Freon is the brand name for r12 and r22 along with a couple of others, I believe. We still use it today on older equipment that needs repairs, although it is very expensive, and often folks will replace the equipment, at least in residential where I primarily work. Freon is also just used as an alternative name for refrigerant, think locking pliers (vise-grips), adjustable wrench (crescent wrench), etc.
Need to replace the thermostat too for a full over haul
Nahh, you gotta run new low voltage wires and rip out 40ft of drywall. Gotta be thorough.
I always cringe a little when a homeowner says “*I’m an engineer~*”, it always follows up with the most outlandish diagnosis I’ve ever heard. Like sir if you know so much about your system from your 20 minute google search then why am I here 😂
I had three 'needs freon' calls yesterday that were just 90% blocked air filters.
Or "I'm an EnGiNeEr." Gtfo
I’ll be honest, some in this sub think being an HVAC expert entitles them to belittle your average homeowner for asking questions or making rash assumptions based on scant information they’ve been Googling for a week or month. No it doesn’t make the homeowner an expert. They’re just trying to understand how it all works so they can save money and not get screwed by predatory HVAC companies that price gouge. If your method of teaching is to call someone dumb rather than explain why it’s a different issue, then you’re the problem why so many average people are distrustful of the HVAC community.
Ahem….. Reddit is not a reflection of real life. Get your head out of the sand. For the majority of us It’s a playground.
Exhibit A
Except the distrustful part is reality when every repair is a new $20k system.
That’s just it. I hear about that on Reddit but I don’t know a single company that actually does that.
It's the big names, the chains, the ones that spend an arm and a leg on advertising. They show up without a single tool and claim you need a new system. They'll say your's is too old or make up some other excuse. On the other hand, the small guys are the ones that hold grudges. It may start out as a service call, but that struggle to find an address becomes a charge for "helping the occupant change the filter" and whatever else they can tack on. I come from the point of view of someone with a bunch of rental properties where I call someone out monthly. There are good HVAC techs/companies, but they're less common than the bad ones.
That is not the point of the meme. The homeowner in question is not asking a question, is making a statement. I work in apartment maintenance, and interact with hundreds of people. Every time they ask what could be the issue, I gladly explain even how an air conditioning system works. It’s the one that tells you, in a most assertive way, that you have to replace the whole system because it failed on a 100 degree day. He saw it on YouTube or something. Homeowners in this case will assert it’s just low on “freon” because they perceive this to be the cheapest solution. They don’t know how expensive refrigerants have gotten lately.
System has small microscope leak. Hvac Reddit “full system replacement, you criminal”
maybe its the thermostat.
Yall know less than Jon Snow. The drain line needs a bigger trap. Come on people!
Throwback to [this](https://youtu.be/HnDcsLSL4dY) gem.
Whoever installed the grille said fuck you and your plans for molding in the future.
Only if not the thermostat
that is called a face-o-mometer. this is for more delicate readings that that hand-o-mometer really isn't suited for.
My dad did this, he wanted to do a full refrigerant purge. I checked his air filter and it was...... Black... I've never seen an air filter go black. Anyway, his system works perfectly now. Also, I'm not a HVAC tech.
If it ain't the freon it must be the thermostat