I am a tech of 13 years and have developed some bad habits. These videos are a benchmark of how I need to do things. It is not that I am bad or stupid. Just was thrown in the field with little supervision other than a phone call for direction. Thank you for this!
I love seeing the time and energy you invest in your crew's training. Speaks to the values of your company. Keep it up. As an experienced tech I still watch so many of your videos as refreshers and for good business philosophy. Never stop learning.
same here i have 20 years in HVAC and love to learn, always from day 1 told myself i dont want to be one of those old lazy techs stuck in the past. to stay present we have to continually evolve
I started working hvac with a 87 years old veteran with 40 years experience, first thing made me do is take coil out put a shader valve on it ,pressure it and submerge it on pool, or lake...lol now I know how much extra work I was doing
I found that when I managed a large department that the most common excuse for poor practice was the “we’re so busy” I had to get done. I always told the techs let ME worry about how behind we are not you. I would rather have you do 3 calls properly and completely than do 7 and I need to send someone back on 5 of them. Great job Brian as always
That's great as long as your company lets you do that. Sometime your being pushed to get to the next job. That's one reason I don't like these guarantee on time places. We had a garage door company come out to fix a garage door opener. They only had 15 minutes to fix it and be on their way to the next job. The clutch was slipping. Their solution was just to tighten the clutch. They didn't check check to see if the spring tension was right or if the track/wheels were messed up making the door require more force to open.
Yeah I don't understand how some techs can somehow do 3 TXV's two coils and a leak repair on the same day 😂 there's no way they're pulling a good vacuum and finely tuning the charge
@@AGON17 agreed. especially in high humidity climates or system that have had multiple compressors, txv's with alot of oil migration then high static that never gets diagnosed
Our problem is the 7 calls a day tech sells them new gear and never diagnoses the problem. Then and 20 year guy is sent after the new equipment doesn't work. Finding range between 3/8 brass farrow at the recessed can light to 3 foot birds nest in the intake 3 inch pvc combustion air pipe. Customer looked at me and said, YOU MEAN I BOUGHT A NEW FURNACE FOR NO REASON!!!!!!!! Answer I'm sorry sir I was sent here to repair the new equipment. I did notice a higher than normal volume of calls here. Would you like me to have management call you? I mean sales is not always the answer.
I'm glad Bert specifically pointed out the problem with Lennox equipment. We were primarily a Lennox dealeruntil the leak issues got so bad we had to go with another brand. Cracked discharge lines, cracked permanent suction, crack TXV bypass tubing, outdoor TXV rubs, leaks on the front and back sides of evaporator coils, leaks under the black coating they use to insulate the feeder tubes. And this has been going on for years.. And they don't show any interest in fixing the problems on their end. Way to contribute Bert 😎👍
I work in an RNC company and we sell Lennox. You won’t believe the bs we are seeing now. Units leaking left and right. Not even 2 month to a year old and leaks in the evap, condenser coil, compressor connection, distribution tubes. You name it it leaks. Leaky Lennox it’s a nightmare.
@@The1JBanks I'm telling you man, Lennox should have their asses sued off over this. That's the only way they're going to improve their product. You got to hit them in their pocket, where it hurts. Before they'll actually make things better. As long as they're allowed to get away with it and there are never any repercussions or reparations on their part, they'll just continue making shoddy equipment the way they have been. THE CONSUMER DESERVES BETTER!!!
Thanks! I have been licensed for almost 40 years and still working a little and I do enjoy your classes if nothing else you remind me of my bad habits ! and yes I jest check my detector at the tank by jest taking off the schrader cap of what ever refrigerant the system is using
i got my certicate of hvacr 19 years ago in Arizona,and when I see your videos I really missed those days in class . learning a lot with your videos. Thanks a lot.
Yep. I’m one of those ol’ techs that is learning the hard way to do proper steps. Thxs for reminding me of good refrigeration practices! Plus you teach me a thing or two alone the way. Been carrying double tools and backups for a good reason. Lol. Keep the info flowing.
I love seeing someone who is smart enough to be willing to learn after a long time. I've had people defiantly tell me "I've been doing it this way for 10 years!", to which I can only reply "doing it wrong for 10 years isn't a good thing."
As a tech support guy with Bluon, we love these videos, I had a call this morning asking about leak detection, I intend to forward this link to him. Great video! It's all about helping techs get better.
thank you so much, thorough leak detection is one of the things my school hasn't really helped us with. it really bothers me that the systems in our lab are always leaking.
I very much appreciate your work as an educator. One thing that would help is if you would repeat the questions/comments of those in your live audience as they are nearly impossible to hear online. Thanks for helping us.
Great job! These meeting videos are very informative and educational. Bad habits are giving good companies and good technicians a bad rap, thank you for doing your part to combat that issue! Thank you.
I have the h10 and stratus both. The h10 is perfect for cases and HVAC and the stratus is awesome in a contaminated environment like a compressor room where the ppm readout really helps zero in on the leak location. Most of leak detection success is in the experience and skill of the tech and the actual tool you use is of secondary importance.
Hi and thanks for the help the other day. JASON OFTEL here. There are 3 detectors that will pick up sub 1ppm leaks. I use the srl8. After many years of success with h10 ge and Bach. Then srl2 was good after that. As long as the filter was kept clean. However the srl2 could find the small leaks. So then I started dyeing systems. Wow some of those leaks required a magnifying glass in the 6" range to see. Anyways thanks again wish I chose a shop that didn't end up being a sales positive employer. I'll continue being the customer retention department. Again thanks for the help even if we haven't met.
I’ve been having success finding leaks by trace testing, usually I’ll leave whatever refrigerant is in system if there’s any, and shoot nitro in til pressures are 200 psi. It’s been working for me
Thought about getting the srl8, but iv found every leak so far by looking for oil stains, soap/water mix or isolated and pressure testing. Used dye a few times but I don't like putting that stuff into the system then it gets into your gauges.
Love these videos but it would be great to hear what they are saying as well. I'm fortunate enough to work for a company like this one with people who care enough to have meetings like this. Always great to get together on a topic or 2 and hear other perspectives. 🤙🏼
Bert had no answer for the mistakes that people make doing leak detection because he doesn't make those mistakes being the greatest leak detector in the world.
There's more to just being observant or patient. An experienced tech needs to evolve and rise to the problem. Some system leaks are so difficult, one may end up cutting and capping off the lineset, condenser and evap sections, pressurizing each, then check which one has a pressure drop. Many times I was told the previous tech blamed the lineset, and many times I found leaks at the txv, solenoid stems that had tiny holes burnt in them when the coil burnt out, and tiny cuts in the coil tubes where they pass through the metal supports...sometimes caused by too wide of settings on a condenser fan cycling control. Last, when you do find and fix the leak, clean up any old oil deposits, and write on the unit when and where the leak was repaired...you may even want to mark the area with a paint marker and take a picture with your phone so you can show the customer and so you cover your butt.
14:05 is where it starts... I have a question Bryan, what if your using an ultrasonic leak detector? I live in Utah Salt Lake City. The accutrak I use doesn’t get affect by being used outside. I just don’t use the koss earphones they came with because there crap. But I mostly work in commercial till this day it hasn’t failed me. Now being if I used an infrared or headed diode then yes I’m 100% with you. By the way I watch every single video you post and your an amazing instructor as well.
I work on commercial equipment and currently I am opening a residential business, can you talk about coil cleaning agents and potential problems with plants animals and potential property damage? Do you have the customer sign a waiver or is there generally no problems? On commercial equipment we typically only use water unless we have a reason to use chemicals but try selling a maintenance and not use a cleaning agent?
Excellent videos, you are great at what you do. I just wish I could get the full experience by being able to listen to the techs comments. Skeptical the videos coming
I use a halo style leaked director. I got in the habbit of change the filter and calibration once water gets in the filter it's be comes useless. works well when it works.
I find the JB Prowler leak detector does so well with 410 if there is no liquid in the system but still around 50 psi and you pressurize with nitrogen it will pick it up.
Pin hole hardest to find. You can spray bubble soap right on it and it won't show up. I use to spray bubble soap on my hand and when you come across the pin hole you will hear that whistle that any tech knows...just have to get it to blow a bubble then. Sometimes on the bottom of a line and hard to find.
If a leak is hard to find meaning you check from bottom to top, and top to bottom, but you still cannot find it. Is it good practice to run the unit to check for the leak?
When pulling a vacuum on an existing system, will remaining refrigerant oil in the tubes affect your vacuum reading? In my mind the oil will evaporate just like water and ruin your vacuum reading?
Great vid. Here's a question, did these guys want to be there or they were forced to be there? Nobody (except that one guy) seems smiling or engaged. They seem tired - was it a 7AM meeting? You could use mics in the audience too, we didn't hear them.
If there is a pin hole leak in the evaporator coil will it freeze up? Will you smell the freon (sweet noxious odor) every time the ac goes on? What else would cause a sweet sugary smell on a brand new hvac unit?
Doesn’t work outside if there’s any wind or background noise and you can forget trying to use inside an active mechanical room. Basically they work great in dead silence.
@arthurcastillo8767 That's utterly completely false. The accutrak filters out background noise, wind and everything else other than the gases from fluorescent lighting. As any leak detector there's an art to using the detector. One of the best educational hvac youtubers uses ultrasonic as their main source.
@@alexzapata692 H10 is the best heated diode while the stratus is the best infrared. It's like comparing a pickup to a sedan. Both have their pros and cons.
@@HVACS Doesn't matter, I can sit and listen to a speaker and it's the little things that don't have anything to do with the subject matter that make me want to fact check the instructor lol Nice work
i know that’s what he meant because i’ve heard him explain ambient air being composed of 78% nitro and 21% O2 and start describing other trace gasses that my college professors couldn’t even recall from memory.
Wow! Only $89 for an electronic leak detection? Over here on the Gulf of Mexico we charge every bit of $300 for an electronic leak detection....& I think that price actually is our 20% discounted price!! & yes, people pay it. When it's 80+ degrees in their house....they will pay for it. & That does NOT include the repair to patch up the leak. If they want a leak search & a patch.... that's over $800. -Again, that $800 is discounted by 20%. So yeah, you guys have an insane deal on that!!!!
When a leak is suspected because refrigerant is low, is there any situation you would use a direct injection sealant? (for example if you can not find the leak?)
I'm using the liquids soap,to find the leaks, and putting the evaporator and condenser in the waters with liquids soap while I put some air pressure in it.😀😀😀.that kind of techniques, I didn't learned from the school, but I do it on my own, then solve the problem. Done
That’s great where you can or situation will allow that but try telling the mom and pop shop sorry leak check to hell with your product in your only walk-in. Doesn’t work that way always with customer driven industry.
@@lordjaashin lol why would the customer pay for that? Especially on a older system. Just add a nu calgon leak sealant and comeback in 3 days and check it with a uv light.
Wow. I'm not trying to bragg, but that sucks. I was doing HVAC when I was 16. Got my universal license at 18 and just got my contractor's license at 23. I hope your course got better.
@@coolrich8781 I wasn't passing on him. I told him it sucked, and what I did. I'm self taught. I didn't have the money to go to a course, I dropped out at 16 and worked shit jobs in HVAC. When I was 18 I took all the tests I could, got hired as an apprentice, then I learned the real technical stuff. My life wasn't freaking easy dude. I sincerely hope his course taught him, I do. I'm currently in college, so I can sympathize with him now more than ever.
@@christianruvalcaba7788 Reading your first reply to him you ONLY pointed out positive points, and while still young. That was why I made that first comment to your reply. Read it over so you can see and hear what I understood.
@@coolrich8781 What one hears or understands is not always what is true. I'll admit, it does sound like I'm bragging. I probably was incredibly arrogant and proud in what I accomplished at a young age. It was incredibly easy for me to just deny what you said and get pissed off and maybe belittle you like I usually would, but I looked at myself and called myself out internally. Even me mentioning that I was in college was another attempt in showing my superiority. Thank you for giving me a reality check even if it wasn't intentional. I'm bowing to you in real life to demonstrate my sincerity.🙏
Is it a good practice when looking for a leak at Condensing unit, to pump down the system before hooking up you gages; to minimize the release of refrigerant while threading on your hoses to the service ports? I am asking because, I used to have low-loss fittings on all of my hoses. I had the JB Kobra hoses with low-loss fittings. I paid quite a bit of my bet for them. I took very good care of them. & A month or so after using them, they started leaking. I was NOT happy because the whole point of spending the extra money for them is to minimize release of refrigerant when hooking & unhooking my hoses. If I suspect a leak outside at the Condensing unit, it's crucial to minimize that release, so that I don't get a false positive with a leak detector. & if I inject UV dye into the system, I really do not want any blow-back when disconnecting my hose, because then I get the dye on me, my equipment; whick gets tracked onto the customer's property as I touch things. Yes I wear gloves, but still it creates a problem, not to mention that it leaves me to wonder if the system got the full, proper dosage of dye, needed to find a micro-leak. So I threw out my low loss fitting hoses & now I just use hoses with ball-valves on them. So I pump down the system before I hook up my hoses. I start to thread my hoses on the schräder valves, but not all the way. As the system is pumping down, I'll hold in the contactor if there is a low pressure switch or some sort of technology that opens the Y circuit when the pressures get too low. I listen for the distinguished sound of the compressor when the system is close to being pumped down. As the liquid line sweats & looks like it's about to form frost on it's lowest point, I start tightening my closed off ball-valves hoses to the high & low side schräders. By the time my hoses are all the way threaded on, no refrigerant has been released because the system is pumped down. So, I'll release the manually held in contactor or pull the disconnect switch; which ever is the most convenient. This way, I do not run the compressor in a vacuum. Then with the system off, I slowly re-open the high side valve with my refrigeration wrench. I wait until the high & low side pressures on my gages equalize (I've already opened up my manifold by this point). Once pressures have equalized, I put the disconnect switch back in to bring the system back on. Now, if I find the system to be low on refrigerant, I do not have to worry about my leak detector giving me a false positive when searching around the valves & my hose connections. Also, I do the same thing before disconnecting my hoses, to minimize the release of refrigerant when un-hooking my hoses. It's a lot of extra steps to take. But I don't want to keep spending money replacing low loss hoses/ fittings. I thought they'd be a great investment, & instead they were a great loss of my hard earned money. I get paid by the hour, so I don't mind spending a little extra time pumping down the system to hook & un-hook my ball-valve hoses. Yes I know ball-valves also leak, eventually. But they are cheaper than the low-loss hoses that I originally bought. & I have had these ball-valve hoses for almost a year & they (knocking on wood) are not leaking.
@Eric M probes sometimes require a brass T-fitting to be installed on them. Which puts us in the same predicament as gages do. Maybe not as much, but still the problem exists. Probes are great. But if their batteries die, or if their is no wifi signal, then they are useless. & We are forced to hook up our gages. So no matter what, the issue to minimal release of refrigerant is still an issue. My pump down method, so far, is working so I think I'll stick with it. But some compressors have a Vacuum Break Protection technology, that will not let you pump the system all the way down. But still, I can pump it down below typical low side pressures for R410a (about 125 to 140 psig) So it's still a plus. But some refrigerant will be released when I hook up & un-hook my hoses.
@@sprockkets Is it like the appion of yellow jacket tool that lets you remove a schräder valve stem core without recovering the charge? Or is it more like a (I think it's called) a King Valve where your use a wrench to back seat the valve after threading on your hoses? I like those, btw. The nature of their design makes more sense to me. But I am guessing that they probably leak after a while, too.
@@HVACS Thank You Sir. Looking forward to all your videos before they come out!! You've taught me a ridiculous amount of stuff!! I can't thank you enough. Too bad, I am in Corpus Christi, Texas, or I'd love to come over there & join your awesome team of Great Techs!!!
WoW.! $89 for a Leak Search.? Some places in south Texas charge up to $250 for Leak Search. i guess because they figure 2 techs 1 hour each @ $125 per hour, or 1 tech spending 1 - 2 hours. Yes South Texas labor rate is approx. $125/hr for AC / Refrig.
I got mad leak detecting once, and I farted on my leak detector… I can confirm that the leak detector was working. As a bonus, I was no longer mad after. lol
I put a schrader cap on the port of a 410 tank, open and close the valve. Then remove the cap to test. Works great.
Good thinking.!
That’s the absolute best way. It’s what I do
Same, was going to say it till i saw the comment.😊
I am a tech of 13 years and have developed some bad habits. These videos are a benchmark of how I need to do things. It is not that I am bad or stupid. Just was thrown in the field with little supervision other than a phone call for direction. Thank you for this!
Best way to learn. threw out to the wolves. Made your mistakes early
I love seeing the time and energy you invest in your crew's training. Speaks to the values of your company. Keep it up. As an experienced tech I still watch so many of your videos as refreshers and for good business philosophy. Never stop learning.
Much appreciated!
same here i have 20 years in HVAC and love to learn, always from day 1 told myself i dont want to be one of those old lazy techs stuck in the past. to stay present we have to continually evolve
I started working hvac with a 87 years old veteran with 40 years experience, first thing made me do is take coil out put a shader valve on it ,pressure it and submerge it on pool, or lake...lol now I know how much extra work I was doing
I've been a HVAC contractor for 35 years. Seen it all. This was a great video..
Thanks 👍
I found that when I managed a large department that the most common excuse for poor practice was the “we’re so busy” I had to get done. I always told the techs let ME worry about how behind we are not you. I would rather have you do 3 calls properly and completely than do 7 and I need to send someone back on 5 of them. Great job Brian as always
That's great as long as your company lets you do that. Sometime your being pushed to get to the next job. That's one reason I don't like these guarantee on time places.
We had a garage door company come out to fix a garage door opener. They only had 15 minutes to fix it and be on their way to the next job. The clutch was slipping. Their solution was just to tighten the clutch. They didn't check check to see if the spring tension was right or if the track/wheels were messed up making the door require more force to open.
Yeah I don't understand how some techs can somehow do 3 TXV's two coils and a leak repair on the same day 😂 there's no way they're pulling a good vacuum and finely tuning the charge
@@AGON17 agreed. especially in high humidity climates or system that have had multiple compressors, txv's with alot of oil migration then high static that never gets diagnosed
Our problem is the 7 calls a day tech sells them new gear and never diagnoses the problem. Then and 20 year guy is sent after the new equipment doesn't work. Finding range between 3/8 brass farrow at the recessed can light to 3 foot birds nest in the intake 3 inch pvc combustion air pipe. Customer looked at me and said, YOU MEAN I BOUGHT A NEW FURNACE FOR NO REASON!!!!!!!! Answer I'm sorry sir I was sent here to repair the new equipment. I did notice a higher than normal volume of calls here. Would you like me to have management call you? I mean sales is not always the answer.
I'm glad Bert specifically pointed out the problem with Lennox equipment. We were primarily a Lennox dealeruntil the leak issues got so bad we had to go with another brand. Cracked discharge lines, cracked permanent suction, crack TXV bypass tubing, outdoor TXV rubs, leaks on the front and back sides of evaporator coils, leaks under the black coating they use to insulate the feeder tubes. And this has been going on for years.. And they don't show any interest in fixing the problems on their end. Way to contribute Bert 😎👍
i am glad it helped
I work in an RNC company and we sell Lennox. You won’t believe the bs we are seeing now. Units leaking left and right. Not even 2 month to a year old and leaks in the evap, condenser coil, compressor connection, distribution tubes. You name it it leaks. Leaky Lennox it’s a nightmare.
@@The1JBanks I'm telling you man, Lennox should have their asses sued off over this. That's the only way they're going to improve their product. You got to hit them in their pocket, where it hurts. Before they'll actually make things better. As long as they're allowed to get away with it and there are never any repercussions or reparations on their part, they'll just continue making shoddy equipment the way they have been. THE CONSUMER DESERVES BETTER!!!
Thanks! I have been licensed for almost 40 years and still working a little and I do enjoy your classes if nothing else you remind me of my bad habits ! and yes I jest check my detector at the tank by jest taking off the schrader cap of what ever refrigerant the system is using
i got my certicate of hvacr 19 years ago in Arizona,and when I see your videos I really missed those days in class . learning a lot with your videos. Thanks a lot.
Yep. I’m one of those ol’ techs that is learning the hard way to do proper steps. Thxs for reminding me of good refrigeration practices! Plus you teach me a thing or two alone the way. Been carrying double tools and backups for a good reason. Lol. Keep the info flowing.
I love seeing someone who is smart enough to be willing to learn after a long time. I've had people defiantly tell me "I've been doing it this way for 10 years!", to which I can only reply "doing it wrong for 10 years isn't a good thing."
I like how honest you are. Appreciate your knowledge.
Man I really love these classroom teaching videos. Please keep them coming. And I would love to get your opinion on bluon thanks
that would be nice to get his take on it.
Noted!
We inquired about Bluon and the quote was more than R22
@@arthurcastillo8767 what? Bluon isn't a freon lol
As a tech support guy with Bluon, we love these videos, I had a call this morning asking about leak detection, I intend to forward this link to him. Great video! It's all about helping techs get better.
thank you so much, thorough leak detection is one of the things my school hasn't really helped us with. it really bothers me that the systems in our lab are always leaking.
I very much appreciate your work as an educator. One thing that would help is if you would repeat the questions/comments of those in your live audience as they are nearly impossible to hear online. Thanks for helping us.
Another excellent lecture. Love them and keep em comin. You’d be surprised at how many people these will actually help.
That's the plan!
Great job! These meeting videos are very informative and educational. Bad habits are giving good companies and good technicians a bad rap, thank you for doing your part to combat that issue! Thank you.
So true!
I have the h10 and stratus both. The h10 is perfect for cases and HVAC and the stratus is awesome in a contaminated environment like a compressor room where the ppm readout really helps zero in on the leak location.
Most of leak detection success is in the experience and skill of the tech and the actual tool you use is of secondary importance.
Hi and thanks for the help the other day. JASON OFTEL here. There are 3 detectors that will pick up sub 1ppm leaks. I use the srl8. After many years of success with h10 ge and Bach. Then srl2 was good after that. As long as the filter was kept clean. However the srl2 could find the small leaks. So then I started dyeing systems. Wow some of those leaks required a magnifying glass in the 6" range to see. Anyways thanks again wish I chose a shop that didn't end up being a sales positive employer. I'll continue being the customer retention department. Again thanks for the help even if we haven't met.
Glad my videos help you
Did you notice Daikin University pulled all there videos from UA-cam
I’ve been having success finding leaks by trace testing, usually I’ll leave whatever refrigerant is in system if there’s any, and shoot nitro in til pressures are 200 psi. It’s been working for me
This guy is the GOAT of teachers, lol!
thankyou
Many great tidbits of info. Thank you, Bryan.
Thought about getting the srl8, but iv found every leak so far by looking for oil stains, soap/water mix or isolated and pressure testing. Used dye a few times but I don't like putting that stuff into the system then it gets into your gauges.
It’s a privilege to even be seated near this man Awsome Guy much love from Pgh Pa
Thank you so much for your classroom lessons I’m a young technician and I’m learning a lot of what not to do
Be nice if the classes questions had subtitles because it's impossible to make out what they are saying/asking. Appreciate these videos.
Noted... thanks
if planning to do more of these... add a room mike? I have no idea about production acoustics.. forgive the lack of tech knowledge on audio production
You can turn on the subtitles from youtube settings 👍
T
Love these videos but it would be great to hear what they are saying as well. I'm fortunate enough to work for a company like this one with people who care enough to have meetings like this. Always great to get together on a topic or 2 and hear other perspectives. 🤙🏼
Noted!
Really good video. Only thing I took from it though was using r22 as a trace gas, great idea
Bert had no answer for the mistakes that people make doing leak detection because he doesn't make those mistakes being the greatest leak detector in the world.
You got it!
I love the classroom discussions. So much.
Excellent discussion and training. Thank you brother.
Lennox has a lot of leaks I’m finding on the tru suction tubbing and txv’s in the condensers.
They also like to leak on the suction line at the evap coil where you're supposed to field install a Schrader core but no one ever seems to.
There's more to just being observant or patient. An experienced tech needs to evolve and rise to the problem. Some system leaks are so difficult, one may end up cutting and capping off the lineset, condenser and evap sections, pressurizing each, then check which one has a pressure drop. Many times I was told the previous tech blamed the lineset, and many times I found leaks at the txv, solenoid stems that had tiny holes burnt in them when the coil burnt out, and tiny cuts in the coil tubes where they pass through the metal supports...sometimes caused by too wide of settings on a condenser fan cycling control. Last, when you do find and fix the leak, clean up any old oil deposits, and write on the unit when and where the leak was repaired...you may even want to mark the area with a paint marker and take a picture with your phone so you can show the customer and so you cover your butt.
Thanks for the videos, I like to listen between service calls in Va.
Thank you for posting these instructional videos they’re great!
Glad you like them!
Very good class. Very good instructor. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Very good teaching as always and I laughed with some of the comments too. I wish I were closer to your school. Keep the good work. GBY
Man I wish I had an instructor that was as engaging with his students. My instructor was horrible. Basically paid to teach myself
Lol, I’m going to school now and my instructor spelled compacitor instead of capacitor on the board.. 😂
Revelator 713 -I had a teacher mess up an important HVAC word too back when I was in school. First sign of the school being near useless.
Me too bro I learn more on UA-cam thanks to hvac school and two more guys mainly
I'm at Eastland career...should've played the lottery with the money ...horrible school very disappointed
Another great classroom setting training video! Keep it up Bryan 👍
More to come!
Leaks go from big to small, glad I was paying attention, my man in the front row, flip that.
14:05 is where it starts...
I have a question Bryan, what if your using an ultrasonic leak detector? I live in Utah Salt Lake City. The accutrak I use doesn’t get affect by being used outside. I just don’t use the koss earphones they came with because there crap. But I mostly work in commercial till this day it hasn’t failed me. Now being if I used an infrared or headed diode then yes I’m 100% with you. By the way I watch every single video you post and your an amazing instructor as well.
I really love this class room teaching wish I was there I have sooooo many questions
you can ask in comments and i will try to answer them in Q/A video
I work on commercial equipment and currently I am opening a residential business, can you talk about coil cleaning agents and potential problems with plants animals and potential property damage? Do you have the customer sign a waiver or is there generally no problems? On commercial equipment we typically only use water unless we have a reason to use chemicals but try selling a maintenance and not use a cleaning agent?
Excellent videos, you are great at what you do. I just wish I could get the full experience by being able to listen to the techs comments. Skeptical the videos coming
excellent class¡¡¡¡¡ Very good instructor¡¡¡¡¡ saludos desde argentina
Pura vida! Sigues la lucha contra burros y idiotas. Continua su deseos de mejorar su fuente de informacion
Bert's definitely got the Ron Burgundy stash going on
I use a halo style leaked director. I got in the habbit of change the filter and calibration once water gets in the filter it's be comes useless. works well when it works.
very good vid! first one I see. just a suggestion. add a room mic! so we can listen to the questions and coments?
Thanks for the idea!
Since you already recording the techs in the room it would be since to hear what their questions are. maybe have a mic passing between the guys.
noted!
When will we have another Bert Life episode? I saw him sitting there and realized you haven't uploaded one in a long time. I really enjoy his stuff.
I find the JB Prowler leak detector does so well with 410 if there is no liquid in the system but still around 50 psi and you pressurize with nitrogen it will pick it up.
This was a good refresher on finding leaks. Thanks
pleasure
Need more Bert life vlogs
Great explanation Brian !!!!!
Glad you liked it
Pin hole hardest to find. You can spray bubble soap right on it and it won't show up. I use to spray bubble soap on my hand and when you come across the pin hole you will hear that whistle that any tech knows...just have to get it to blow a bubble then. Sometimes on the bottom of a line and hard to find.
FYI, in Florida if a commercial AC loses more than 10 % freon per year it has to be replaced or repaired.
I personally like using a nu calgon leak sealant and adding refrigerant if it's a minor leak. Then I'll come back in 3 days to uv test it.
The Office vipes are strong in this video shout out to the camera man , Great video as usual thanks a lot.
I usually isolated the condenser from the evaporator and test them individually.
for speed I put both on a micron have and pull the indoor and out door indapently that works well too.
If a leak is hard to find meaning you check from bottom to top, and top to bottom, but you still cannot find it. Is it good practice to run the unit to check for the leak?
Noted!
I will answer your question in Q/A video
I would turn off the blower if you do. Or else the fan will mess with the leak detector.
Nice job!
Congratulations
Thanks!
Interesting session
Do you recommend liquid leak sealant for a hard to find leak?
I'm getting sea sick, was the tripod broken?
Sir where is that school located in USA or canada
When pulling a vacuum on an existing system, will remaining refrigerant oil in the tubes affect your vacuum reading?
In my mind the oil will evaporate just like water and ruin your vacuum reading?
Great vid. Here's a question, did these guys want to be there or they were forced to be there? Nobody (except that one guy) seems smiling or engaged. They seem tired - was it a 7AM meeting? You could use mics in the audience too, we didn't hear them.
It was a 7:30 Monday meeting. They were just tired and most of them are young so some of that is just how it is nowadays.
@@HVACS lowered expectations.... they should read the comments of guys wanting to replace them!
I like my ultrasonic finds smallest leaks every time.
ultrasonic??
@@ilovenythismuchilovenewyor5801 It listens for the leak via a microphone rather than sniffing for it.
If there is a pin hole leak in the evaporator coil will it freeze up? Will you smell the freon (sweet noxious odor) every time the ac goes on? What else would cause a sweet sugary smell on a brand new hvac unit?
9pm? that's a gas and go, and see ya in the morning.
Good class. Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Iron city beer does NOT constitute pumping iron!
and which grove is that... China Grove?...'They just keep on looking to the east" www.songfacts.com/lyrics/the-doobie-brothers/china-grove
can Direct Inject Sealant from Leak Savers fix the small leaks? Thanks
I know this is a year late... but yes they can. I prefer the nu calgon brand. They usually work 8/10 times.
What do you think about ultrasonic leak detection
Doesn’t work outside if there’s any wind or background noise and you can forget trying to use inside an active mechanical room. Basically they work great in dead silence.
@arthurcastillo8767 That's utterly completely false. The accutrak filters out background noise, wind and everything else other than the gases from fluorescent lighting. As any leak detector there's an art to using the detector. One of the best educational hvac youtubers uses ultrasonic as their main source.
Get a battle of nitrogen and pressuring with 250 to a 300 psi and you find a leak
Great info. and meeting.
Glad it was helpful!
yes always re-diagnose last techs diagnosis
Inficon D-Tek Stratus is where it’s at👌🏼
That's an expensive toy I'm saving for it. What do you think of the H10
@@alexzapata692 H10 is the best heated diode while the stratus is the best infrared. It's like comparing a pickup to a sedan. Both have their pros and cons.
Wish I'd seen thus Video a couple of weeks ago!
Nice video. The perfectionist in me wants to point out your error that the air we breathe is 60% nitrogen. Actually it is near 80%
Haha true... not sure why I said 60 like a dummy 🤦🏼♂️
@@HVACS Doesn't matter, I can sit and listen to a speaker and it's the little things that don't have anything to do with the subject matter that make me want to fact check the instructor lol
Nice work
i know that’s what he meant because i’ve heard him explain ambient air being composed of 78% nitro and 21% O2 and start describing other trace gasses that my college professors couldn’t even recall from memory.
Testing for leaks is fun. Feel accomplished when finding the culprit. He said bubbles lol 😆
Wow! Only $89 for an electronic leak detection? Over here on the Gulf of Mexico we charge every bit of $300 for an electronic leak detection....& I think that price actually is our 20% discounted price!!
& yes, people pay it. When it's 80+ degrees in their house....they will pay for it. & That does NOT include the repair to patch up the leak. If they want a leak search & a patch.... that's over $800. -Again, that $800 is discounted by 20%.
So yeah, you guys have an insane deal on that!!!!
Saturate everything with Big Blue
“I’m pretty sure you said your the best leak detector in the world?”
Student: naw
Teacher: “yes… you… did👀🔥”
😂😂😂😂
U could have told them or weight it before and after at the truck less to carry
When a leak is suspected because refrigerant is low, is there any situation you would use a direct injection sealant? (for example if you can not find the leak?)
I use them if a homeowner can't afford a better option. But I always give a disclaimer saying that there's no guarantee on the repair.
@@christianruvalcaba7788 Thanks! They since found the leak and replaced the coil in the air handler.
@@TravelwithNJSteveandSue no problem. You're gratitude is much appreciated.
Thanks. Why use R22 in a 410 system when you can use 410? Is R22 more detectable with electronic detectors?
I'm using the liquids soap,to find the leaks, and putting the evaporator and condenser in the waters with liquids soap while I put some air pressure in it.😀😀😀.that kind of techniques, I didn't learned from the school, but I do it on my own, then solve the problem. Done
Man, where do you find such a bowel or barrel?!
Thanks for sharing
That's some time wasting right there.
Lol the techs looked that they have been overworked by the boss and now he is with his training. Just kidding keep with your great work!
They are overworked by the Florida Summer. It happens every year
@@HVACS i want to join 😊
Where I work an electronic leak check is 154 24 hour isolation test 330
That’s great where you can or situation will allow that but try telling the mom and pop shop sorry leak check to hell with your product in your only walk-in. Doesn’t work that way always with customer driven industry.
I have an inficon Tek mate, fieldpiece slr2k Infrared, amprobe ultrasonic and an H10 and I still can't find leaks sometimes 😂
Ouch. You have the best of all worlds.
at that point you go old school, pressurize the coil and submerge it in the water
how many out of spec sensors?
@@lordjaashin lol why would the customer pay for that? Especially on a older system. Just add a nu calgon leak sealant and comeback in 3 days and check it with a uv light.
Great videos ..im actually in my HVAC school (eastland career) watching all these videos...my $11,000 course is very disappointing at best....
Wow. I'm not trying to bragg, but that sucks. I was doing HVAC when I was 16. Got my universal license at 18 and just got my contractor's license at 23. I hope your course got better.
@@christianruvalcaba7788 Yup, sounds like “bragging” to me… Why piss on him, then do the runway “catwalk” after? Just saying.
@@coolrich8781 I wasn't passing on him. I told him it sucked, and what I did. I'm self taught. I didn't have the money to go to a course, I dropped out at 16 and worked shit jobs in HVAC. When I was 18 I took all the tests I could, got hired as an apprentice, then I learned the real technical stuff. My life wasn't freaking easy dude. I sincerely hope his course taught him, I do. I'm currently in college, so I can sympathize with him now more than ever.
@@christianruvalcaba7788 Reading your first reply to him you ONLY pointed out positive points, and while still young. That was why I made that first comment to your reply. Read it over so you can see and hear what I understood.
@@coolrich8781 What one hears or understands is not always what is true. I'll admit, it does sound like I'm bragging. I probably was incredibly arrogant and proud in what I accomplished at a young age. It was incredibly easy for me to just deny what you said and get pissed off and maybe belittle you like I usually would, but I looked at myself and called myself out internally. Even me mentioning that I was in college was another attempt in showing my superiority. Thank you for giving me a reality check even if it wasn't intentional. I'm bowing to you in real life to demonstrate my sincerity.🙏
Love the discussion. May I suggest Brian reiterate the questions or comments of the guys in the room asI could not hear them. Thanks!
Noted!
Is it a good practice when looking for a leak at Condensing unit, to pump down the system before hooking up you gages; to minimize the release of refrigerant while threading on your hoses to the service ports?
I am asking because, I used to have low-loss fittings on all of my hoses.
I had the JB Kobra hoses with low-loss fittings.
I paid quite a bit of my bet for them.
I took very good care of them. & A month or so after using them, they started leaking.
I was NOT happy because the whole point of spending the extra money for them is to minimize release of refrigerant when hooking & unhooking my hoses.
If I suspect a leak outside at the Condensing unit, it's crucial to minimize that release, so that I don't get a false positive with a leak detector.
& if I inject UV dye into the system, I really do not want any blow-back when disconnecting my hose, because then I get the dye on me, my equipment; whick gets tracked onto the customer's property as I touch things.
Yes I wear gloves, but still it creates a problem, not to mention that it leaves me to wonder if the system got the full, proper dosage of dye, needed to find a micro-leak.
So I threw out my low loss fitting hoses & now I just use hoses with ball-valves on them.
So I pump down the system before I hook up my hoses.
I start to thread my hoses on the schräder valves, but not all the way.
As the system is pumping down, I'll hold in the contactor if there is a low pressure switch or some sort of technology that opens the Y circuit when the pressures get too low.
I listen for the distinguished sound of the compressor when the system is close to being pumped down.
As the liquid line sweats & looks like it's about to form frost on it's lowest point, I start tightening my closed off ball-valves hoses to the high & low side schräders.
By the time my hoses are all the way threaded on, no refrigerant has been released because the system is pumped down.
So, I'll release the manually held in contactor or pull the disconnect switch; which ever is the most convenient.
This way, I do not run the compressor in a vacuum.
Then with the system off, I slowly re-open the high side valve with my refrigeration wrench. I wait until the high & low side pressures on my gages equalize (I've already opened up my manifold by this point).
Once pressures have equalized, I put the disconnect switch back in to bring the system back on.
Now, if I find the system to be low on refrigerant, I do not have to worry about my leak detector giving me a false positive when searching around the valves & my hose connections.
Also, I do the same thing before disconnecting my hoses, to minimize the release of refrigerant when un-hooking my hoses.
It's a lot of extra steps to take.
But I don't want to keep spending money replacing low loss hoses/ fittings.
I thought they'd be a great investment, & instead they were a great loss of my hard earned money.
I get paid by the hour, so I don't mind spending a little extra time pumping down the system to hook & un-hook my ball-valve hoses.
Yes I know ball-valves also leak, eventually. But they are cheaper than the low-loss hoses that I originally bought. & I have had these ball-valve hoses for almost a year & they (knocking on wood) are not leaking.
@Eric M probes sometimes require a brass T-fitting to be installed on them.
Which puts us in the same predicament as gages do.
Maybe not as much, but still the problem exists.
Probes are great.
But if their batteries die, or if their is no wifi signal, then they are useless. & We are forced to hook up our gages.
So no matter what, the issue to minimal release of refrigerant is still an issue.
My pump down method, so far, is working so I think I'll stick with it. But some compressors have a Vacuum Break Protection technology, that will not let you pump the system all the way down.
But still, I can pump it down below typical low side pressures for R410a (about 125 to 140 psig) So it's still a plus. But some refrigerant will be released when I hook up & un-hook my hoses.
Your concerns are noticed
I will answer them in Q/A vid
@@sprockkets Is it like the appion of yellow jacket tool that lets you remove a schräder valve stem core without recovering the charge?
Or is it more like a (I think it's called) a King Valve where your use a wrench to back seat the valve after threading on your hoses?
I like those, btw. The nature of their design makes more sense to me. But I am guessing that they probably leak after a while, too.
@@HVACS Thank You Sir.
Looking forward to all your videos before they come out!!
You've taught me a ridiculous amount of stuff!!
I can't thank you enough.
Too bad, I am in Corpus Christi, Texas, or I'd love to come over there & join your awesome team of Great Techs!!!
@@adamspears3819 or this: www.amazon.com/Thumbscrew-Core-Depressor-Part-CD5050/dp/B01HQG4OB6#ace-7448806443
WoW.! $89 for a Leak Search.? Some places in south Texas charge up to $250 for Leak Search. i guess because they figure 2 techs 1 hour each @ $125 per hour, or 1 tech spending 1 - 2 hours. Yes South Texas labor rate is approx. $125/hr for AC / Refrig.
And does this school have website on goohle
www.hvacrschool.com/
24.24 there is a law in epa regulations limiting us from changing the same unit over and over ,, comfort cool 30% per year, or something like that
I got mad leak detecting once, and I farted on my leak detector… I can confirm that the leak detector was working.
As a bonus, I was no longer mad after. lol
Thank you for the content
Manual says to slowly pressurise 410A system up to 500 PSI of nitrogen.
i LOL'd at the keep an eye on it joke
As always info sir. 😎👍
Thanks again!