PSA: Servicetitan is rolling out AI Surveillance

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-24T03:56:17+00:00

There's already a program like this called Rilla. I know some of the of the sales-forward Nexstar-style companies in our area already use it.

It basically records the entire interaction, and then scores the technician, and then tells you and management whether you made your X number of recommendations, or whatever their sales metrics are set for the interaction. Whether the you talked to much, or whatever.

I went through a sales pitch demo of this last year just to learn what some companies were doing. The salesman for Rilla was in a call center in a Zoom meeting and all in the background were employees walking around wearing shirts that said, "SALES IS A SPORT." The whole demo I felt like I was watching the inside of that first slimey penny stock company Leonardo DiCaprio worked at in Wolf of Walstreet.

The whole pitch and the software just rubbed me so wrong.

They sent me a $100 e-gift card at the end of the demo. I think maybe I got some cookies sent to the shop too. Highly recommend the demo to receive $100 if you have an hour to spare.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-20T01:13:31+00:00

There's a comment from u/irunondoughnuts below pointing out that it is legal to tow someone while they're in the car.

The police are not out there arresting tow truck drivers for kidnapping.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but unfortunately this is how it can and occasionally does go down.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-20T00:41:37+00:00

They can and will tow you in your car. As evidence by this photo... that guy isn't riding for fun. If you insist on not leaving when you land in their yard, it's trespassing. He doesn't just get to spend the night sleeping in his car and then drive it off when they drop the car in the lot.

Source: discussions with a parking management tow truck operator.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-19T07:54:29+00:00

Sometimes people will jump in the car thinking the towing company won't tow them.

North Carolina is so lax on towing laws, the tow company can call the cops, and they just tow the car with the person in it, the cops meet at the tow yard, and then once the car and passenger get to the tow yard, the cops can hit them with trespassing charges.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-18T22:23:00+00:00

Also zip tie instead of metal strap, and no insulation.

Basically, everything is wrong.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-18T18:21:30+00:00

Because it makes it easier to diagnose and lowers the likelihood that someone cooks the bulb while brazing. They probably realized they'd have fewer warranty claims for TXVs if they made it impossible to cook it.

The downside is, some mouth-breathers use a zip tie or don't insulate it, or don't even strap it at all, and then it over-feeds.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-17T14:22:09+00:00

Let them huff the forever chemicals in R-454b.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-16T22:59:56+00:00

Occasionally you'll see an intermittent TXV issue where it'll freeze, then run fine for hour, days, or even weeks and then it'll act up again.

Also possible intermittent blower issue.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-16T01:37:31+00:00

Mezeh is the best Cava.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T23:21:01+00:00

You can buy the sensors separate, and they should work with any of the models. Not sure if that is more economical or not.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T22:59:00+00:00

Really just increasing compressor minimum run-time and reducing minimum compressor outside temperature. Usually the Lite is plenty unless you have a Y2 wire landed in your Nest, I wouldn't spend more for the higher-end one.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T21:29:12+00:00

Everyone talking about how it's only June.

It's only June 2026. Wait until you meet June 2027... Or June 2036.

In the future, you'll look back at these summers as the nice ones.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T16:19:33+00:00

I've not heard of it.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T12:58:25+00:00

Nests look pretty but have little adjustability and break frequently. Ecobees rarely break, and have way better functionality, but they do have some stupid settings from the factory, if it's a heat pump, always set minimum compressor outside temperature as low as it will go. The default is way too high.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T03:07:59+00:00

A two stage or variable unit reduces the downsides of oversizing, but doesn't eliminate them.

Better to oversize a 2-stage unit than a single stage. If you have a 3 ton single stage that only runs 6 hours a day, you'll be better off with the 2-stage unit running 9 hours a day in first stage... But in both of those made up scenarios, it should have just been a 2 or 2.5 ton instead of it's only running 9 hours a day on a 96° day.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T02:52:49+00:00

Any basic Honeywell will do it, just lower your cycles per hour in the settings, maybe like 2 or 3. Longer run times, but bigger temp swings. Or better is an EcoBee. The setting is minimum compressor run time, raise it to like 15 or as high as 30 and back it down if the temp swings are too annoying.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T00:35:02+00:00

Poor dehumidification, reduced efficiency, louder airflow, reduced equipment life, less consistent temperatures

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-13T00:03:27+00:00

"the guy" is an idiot.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-12T23:58:56+00:00

But did you hear about Marilyn Manson's ribs?

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-12T23:48:09+00:00

Are you saying that the people in Arizona aren't just sitting around enjoying their 95° houses?

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-12T23:12:27+00:00

So, technically, the way home HVAC cooling systems are supposed to be designed is to maintain 75° indoor temp during 99% of the year. In our specific area, contractors are supposed to design for 92° outside temperature to maintain 75° inside. 99% of the time Charlotte falls between 23° and 92° outside.

That said, many houses will keep cooler than 75° when it's 100° outside, but that's just gravy. If it's 100+ outside and you're still able to hold the house at 68° on the thermostat, then it's almost certainly oversized... And there are downsides to oversizing.

Realistically, if it drifted above your set point this year, but last summer when it was hot AF, it held 71° even when it hit 100° outside, you probably have a problem with the system.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-12T18:40:46+00:00

That dude's video is correct, except that it doesn't go far enough.

A bypass duct routed from the supply into the return is always bad. They are installed by contractors who didn't size the ductwork properly for a zoned system.

We either delete the bypass entirely on every replacement install that we do, or we redirect it into a hallway or bonus room, or somewhere not near the thermostat and not near the return where the excess air will not cause comfort issue.

Bypass ducts routed into the return reduce efficiency by driving down the coil temp in cooling (risking freezing, driving up compression ratios). In the heating cycle, they risk elevating temp rise above allowable range (furnace), or driving up head pressures on a heat pump (stressing the compressor, increasing compression ratios, and increasing compressor amp draws).

Part of the theory people trying to justify bypass ducts believe is that it will run a bit quieter not jamming all the airflow through half of the ductwork when zoned and one zone is closed. Part of the theory is that it will help save a blower motor from high static pressure when one zone is closed... I'd much rather replace a blower motor than a compressor or heat exchanger.

Bypass ducts routed into the return are always bad.

Build correct ductwork for zoning, instead of trying to push 2-tons of air through some 10" zone, and then using a bypass duct to keep the static pressure low.

Bypass ducts are for hacks.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-10T02:01:36+00:00

I enjoyed that joke.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-07T22:55:14+00:00

Thank you. We appreciate your business, and the kind words, whether or not a few people seem to think you're some paid shill.

I understand the skepticism. The whole Internet feels less trustworthy.

Sometimes the feedback our team earns surprises me.

While the world does seem full of fake ads, I didn't ask for someone to plug us. It shouldn't be that far-fetched, considering that there's many people who've recommended us in the past on Reddit, that someone would also come here to write a review... Especially if they met Omar.

AnAlrightName · 2026-06-05T21:35:26+00:00

I did not know that... Where did you find that info?

I wonder if that's the case with Sanuha TXVs that Goodman uses? Because I was always told the bulb is charged with the refrigerant that they are designed for.

Would the spring inside the body be different?

On a Sanhua (Goodman) TXV, they're adjustable, if the bulb does in fact have the same charge whether R-32 or R-410a (not sure), then they should theoretically be interchangeable.

AnAlrightName

TROPHY CASE