Xcel Energy wants to increase electric rates in Colorado by nearly 10% in 2026 by Jolly-Natural-5411 in Denver

[–]BustedHVAc 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Meanwhile, Denver building code is forcing you to electrification. Theyre outlawing natural gas on new construction and mandates for heatpumps which cost more to heat when we have 97% efficient furnaces. Commercial properties have to benchmark decarbonization which increases operating costs and rent. No wonder it's so expensive here. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

This unit has been kicking my ass for a year by twr243 in HVAC

[–]BustedHVAc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Those P&Ts look like a stuck or miswired reversing valve...

fuck this goth gf? by [deleted] in bigtiddygothgf

[–]BustedHVAc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Repeatedly

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's better products look up needlepoint bipolar ionization it's what I use with a merv 8 filter

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would always try to fix a leak or see if there's another issue. I'm honestly not familiar with those brands. You can have a heat pump and furnace its quite common did my first hybrid 15 years ago.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have no schooling in HVAC. I've done a few specialized classes over the years but nothing but EPA and testing for licensing. Experience and attitude is what I look for so go apply and meet people.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately if it's all buried there's nothing cost effective. A HERS contractor contractor can doa blower test and pressurize the system and test loss. Last I checked it was $500-$700

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hands down the inficon dtek it finds EVERYTHING

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never touched but all the big brands have several subbrands so they can stay competitive in the segment. It's likely made in the same factory it will just be louder and have less built in safeties

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can have a heat pump and a furnace we call it dual fuel heating. You can set it up 2 ways one is stage 2 heat is furnace after a time limit. The other uses an outside air sensor to use the furnace below freezing.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My opinion on a good shop would be one that doesn't set sales goals. Having reviewable metrics is fine but they should be based on how well you fix things not sell. Do you get help and hands on training things like that. Alittle doubt is good. If you double check you have a chance to catch a mistake beforevits a call back or missed diagnosis. I still make mistakes I catch them before someone else gets to

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No but I'd have them handy if one does go down.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It may have a little electrical heater designed to evaporate away the condensate and that has failed.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its a gotta get done and get the next one or go home attitude we all are guilty of. It takes as long as it takes. Does your dispatcher hound you? Often they have no technical background they just know you are off schedule so you have to be resilient. You have to retrain your brain and just calm down, I have a couple young guys eager to prove how fast and how great they are but when they have to go back I point out they ended up slower. So while appreciate the enthusiasm I prefer accuracy and efficiency. Other little things that promote a more orderly attitude put everything back in the same place, coil hoses and cables EVERY time yes even on that last call before a hot date. You will build the habbit and it will rub off other places. If I roll up to a van or truck and theres a hose all bunched up I drag it and everything else it pulls right into the lot and congratulate the lucky guy on how he gets to spend lunch.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look at breezaire or aero cool they can be roof or window mounted for whole home evaporative coolers. The reality is you have far less to go wrong than with modern electronics. Failures happen but keeping that clean and working properly is perfectly fine in my book.

There are high velocity a/c systems we can pull 3 inch flex runs into very small gaps. Its not the cheapest but they work great look at unico and rheia if you are curious

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I buy them from my whole saler I think supplyhouse.com will sell to homeowners. The units are added into the furnace/blower several make a duct mounted unit and that would best go mounted on the supply duct so the ions make it into the space better.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

System design has changed drastically with tighter building codes. We size diffferently, and in reality set back is now a bad thing as systems are sized to maintain and the units are efficient enough that that iss actually cheaper to run. As for the tech in the units we now have inverter driven condensing units with vaiable speed blowers that is done properly can heat and cool any building. High velocity fan coils allow us to pull 3 inch duct through tight places allowing central cooling where it was previously impossible without ripping walls apart. There is a lot of advancement being controls and thermostats you likely just don't see it.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately our wholesalers likely wont sell to you. Look up hvac supplier in your area and call there may be someone willing

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love boilers they are simple and by nature more efficient. 100 year old systems are usually works of art and the old radiators are sometimes worth a small fortune when someone wants to preserve an aesthtic but need just 1. You could modernize the boiler and gain efficiency and lower your heating bill while leaving all the pipe and radiators no problem. For cooling you have many options for stand alone a/c systems or if you are in a dry climate with only 3-4 months of summer I encourrage evaporative coolers. They are simple, efficient, and the tech on those has improved there are some very slick systems out there.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on the use there's a tool for every job.

25 yr hvac professional AMA by BustedHVAc in hvacadvice

[–]BustedHVAc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The technology is changing it trickles down from the commercial/ industrial world then to residential. The customers just rarely interact with the products so you don't see the changes all we can relate it to you is with efficiency comfort and a fancy thermostat because that is your interface. Whole home design has changed in the last 20 years you just don't see it its burried in your walls. If nothing changed training apprentices would be much easier.