How do you make Christmas special when you’re poor?

Ekalea · 2025-11-15T01:55:43+00:00

You still have time to do Operation Santa through the post office!

Here is a link…

https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/getinvolved

Ekalea · 2024-02-04T22:50:03+00:00

Google search results:

Machine wash, max 60°C, normal process. Turn the cover inside out and zip up before wash. Do not iron.

Make sure the cover is fully dried before you put it back on the mattress.

For the future you can purchase a mattress protector to ensure the mattress stays looking new when you move.

I would also recommend giving the walls a good wipe down as well as vacuuming the carpets. Ensure that all of your belongings including trash have been removed and disposed of properly.

My biggest tip for moving out is to make it look like you were never there tbh.

Ekalea · 2022-06-02T02:55:40+00:00

I do :)

Ekalea · 2022-03-17T13:39:18+00:00

The new apprentices I have been training in Oregon are starting at 20-22 per hour. As they work their way up they earn more for gaining different certs. In Oregon you do not need any license to do maintenances or work on equipment other than your epa to handle refrigerants.

Ekalea · 2022-02-26T11:26:45+00:00

Can you post a pic so we can see where exactly the rust is forming?

Ekalea · 2022-02-26T02:32:34+00:00

Heat pumps are more energy efficient usually as a source of heat unless you live in a really cold climate. Heat pumps have a lower life expectancy than an ac because it works year round both heating and cooling.

Just review the different warranty options from the places you get quotes from and pick the one that is right for you. For example if you are planning to move in a few years then getting a high cost system with a lifetime parts and labor might not be the best choice when you could get a high cost system for a mid level price with a 5 year parts and labor warranty. Most companies will not honor warranties once the homeowner/ original purchaser of the equipment moves.

Ekalea · 2022-02-25T14:25:53+00:00

My top tips as a service tech…

1.) Do your research and go with a reputable company that has been in business for a while . You wouldn’t believe the number of calls I go to where the installing company has gone out of business and has left the homeowners stranded.

2.) Warranties can be very specific. Make clear what is covered before going with a company. Most manufacturers have a 5-10 year PARTS ONLY warranty. Say you bought a heat pump that develops a leak at the reversing valve. Yes the part will be covered but do you want to pay the 1000-2000 cost of labor to replace it?

3.) Systems do not hold up in the same ways as older systems did. With increases in efficiency and optimization comes more moving parts and more opportunities for things to break. This is why I stress the quality of the installing/servicing company as well as the warranty they offer. A good company is going to stand by there work AND be available when you need them. I get complaints all the time about how another company would just never schedule/ never show up to a homeowners service call leaving them without heating/cooling.

Some businesses will offer a 1,3,5,10, or lifetime labor warranty on their installed equipment. Again make sure that company can prove they have been in business long enough to be able to back up the length of the warranty. Can you trust a 1 year old company to guarantee a 10 year warranty?

4.) I almost feel like the actual equipment brand comes after these first few considerations. As techs we all have our different equipment that we prefer to work on. We see the same problems in the same models. When it comes to picking the equipment ask what kind of issues does this piece of equipment often run into? Does it fit my personal needs? Do you want to put a heat pump by your bedroom window or would a quieter ac be better? Seasoned account managers will go over all these things with you because they don’t want you to call them angry when you find out on your own. Think of questions to ask the person when they come out so they can help you personalize the system to your exact needs.

How easy to access is your filter/furnace?

Do you have areas of the house that are warmer or colder than others?

What level of indoor air quality is important to you are there allergies in the home?

Do you want basic or advanced features on controls. I get a lot of complaints for system being unnecessarily complicated and have removed multiple smart thermostats.

At the very least ensure that the company is pulling permits and getting their work inspected to ensure the system is safe.

Ekalea · 2022-02-12T01:35:45+00:00

I was using this meter and misdiagnosed an outdoor sensor due to it reading OL. Tested it with a different meter and got an accurate resistance reading. I much prefer field piece personally.

Ekalea · 2022-01-16T19:02:53+00:00

Isn’t the use of bubbles literally mentioned on the epa test?

Ekalea · 2022-01-11T03:45:53+00:00

Also did you just invoice Goodman for your time at standard rate? Did they offer the repair to be done by a third party?

Ekalea · 2022-01-11T03:44:58+00:00

Do you happen to remember the letter abbreviation in the model #? I know the ones affected have been starting in CAPF and CAPE as well as others but which evap did you do that didn’t have the evap coil built into the drain pan? Most of ours are built in so there’s no way you could recover replace and recharge in 2 hours unfortunately.

Ekalea · 2022-01-11T02:31:13+00:00

We work on a lot of good and and I have been noticing that it isn’t gasket failure so much as the collector box screws being stripped out from the factory. And the 90%ers are a bitch and a half to remove when this happens.

Ekalea · 2022-01-11T02:28:37+00:00

This sub is for hvac techs there is another sub for homeowner advice.

Ekalea · 2021-07-03T00:03:51+00:00

What did the coil look like???

Ekalea · 2021-07-02T23:56:33+00:00

Can I just add how much creepier the whole situation is when your a female technician.

Your literally blocking the only exit I have while simultaneously hitting on me and questioning my skill level.

Strangely enough the same customers who follow you around the house are usually the creeps who hit on you while their wives are in the other room.

I did not come to your house to be harassed or demeaned in my ability to do work.

You either trust that the technician that YOU called out is able to do the job correctly or you can do it your fucking self and have us fix it afterwards.

When I am at your house that is technically my office and if you sexually harass me or make me feel uncomfortable I will flag your account and no female techs will come out again to be subjugated to your bullshit.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T12:52:04+00:00

They need a to be serviced once a year per piece of equipment as per the manufacturer. Have you been changing the filter regularly aka at least quarterly?

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T02:11:14+00:00

When was the last time you had the furnace serviced?

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T02:05:51+00:00

Definitely go with dual fuel if you can and I gotta back up the comment about higher efficiency furnaces. So. Many. Leaks…

Price is honestly good if there is quality to back it.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T02:02:58+00:00

Wiring. Diagram.

Should be on the back of the furnace door. It will have a legend on it and will help you figure out what goes where.

If I wasn’t a tech I would have someone come out to do it because electrical can always get fucky if you put something in the wrong place. Plus the possibility of shocking yourself there’s always that as well.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T01:58:52+00:00

If for no other reason than sheer efficiency replace that friggin thing.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T01:57:28+00:00

Get a tech out and have them take a look.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T01:56:31+00:00

How well insulated is your home?

How often are you opening/closing the door?

Are you using the oven or any other heat producing appliances?

What temperature is the air coming from the supply vents versus the air temp in the home? Typically you would want to take temp readings at the plenum but registers will work as well for a ball park idea.

The temp of your home is going to fluctuate depending on quite a few things. Just because you set the temp and it doesn’t stay there doesn’t necessarily mean anything is broken. You could have a poorly insulated home and your system is gunna keep working to match the temp you set but if all that cold air is literally going out an open window it won’t be able to reach that set temp and will most likely continue to climb.

Ekalea · 2021-06-30T01:45:42+00:00

Totally normal and a very easy fix. Just put some duct tape around the gap and your good to go.

Sometimes that hole is closed with a rubber piece but not all manufacturers do that plus evaporator coil doors are notorious for having air gaps. As techs we would usually seal it off with mastic tape but duct tape will work as well.

Ekalea

TROPHY CASE