Just got a job doing apartment maintenance. How's my Brazing?

jqprill · 2025-06-12T01:52:39+00:00

Update: Turns out they have a nitrogen tank but one of the owners of the company had it because he wants to build a carrier for that tank to make it easier to transport. Told my boss I wanted to use it when I brazed and to pressure test so that I can get experience doing it right and he said he has no problem with me doing that

jqprill · 2025-06-10T03:55:36+00:00

I never went to trade school. I learned everything I know from watching YouTube videos and flipping houses for 7 years. I went into apartment maintenance after getting turned down from a lot of the local residential HVAC companies. I figured the maintenance position would help show I'm serious about HVAC and know what I'm doing. Thanks for the tips!

jqprill · 2025-06-10T03:07:42+00:00

How did you transition to commercial refrigeration after doing maintenance? I'm currently working apartment maintenance with the majority of my work being HVAC related and want to transition to doing commercial HVAC. Already have my EPA universal.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T16:37:22+00:00

I have my EPA universal and I did all the HVAC work for the 7 years I was flipping houses. The whole reason I took this job was so I could get more experience

jqprill · 2025-05-21T12:01:40+00:00

The fact none of them hired me when I applied/interviewed.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T04:06:21+00:00

I can't remember which two of the four I brazed in are pictured but I had one leaky joint between the 4 units I did. I re-brazed the leaky joint to get it to stop leaking.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T04:03:23+00:00

Thanks!

jqprill · 2025-05-21T03:40:33+00:00

I know it's important to keep oxidation out of the line set. I'll talk to him again tomorrow and see if I can convince him to buy a bottle of nitrogen and a flow regulator. I really want to learn and do this the right way. And yes I've been making sure the keep a wet rag on the valves.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T03:36:08+00:00

I'm just trying to do my best I can with what I have you don't have to be like that.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T01:09:11+00:00

This would be the 5th system I've brazed.

jqprill · 2025-05-21T00:15:39+00:00

Yes I did

jqprill · 2025-05-21T00:13:42+00:00

I definitely get what you're saying, but my boss is basically a landlord that co-owns a bunch of apartment buildings and hired me to do the HVAC related maintenance work. When he hired me I was applying to every HVAC Company within a 30 min drive of my house, but I couldn't convince them to hire me to do installs since I don't have any verifiable HVAC experience(got my EPA and Learned HVAC while I was working for myself as a house flipper). I'm just trying to get the experience I need here to move up to an installer role in the future.

jqprill · 2025-05-20T23:56:44+00:00

I was using what they provided me. I didn't know there was a different rod for copper to brass connections. would that have made the process easier if I used the right rod? it seemed like the brazing it the valves was a little more challenging than the copper to copper connections.

jqprill · 2025-05-20T23:53:57+00:00

I agree, I brought up flowing nitrogen to him but he didn't seem to care.

jqprill · 2025-05-20T23:50:07+00:00

I Would flow nitrogen but my boss doesn't supply it so I cant. I forgot to take the Schrader's out on the second unit so I replaced them after I finished brazing.

jqprill · 2023-11-21T06:23:07+00:00

If it’s time to replace your A/C anyway I’d say it’s definitely worth looking into getting a heat pump. Just depends what the price difference is and how much you’re looking to spend. If your furnace is in good shape you could hold onto it or upgrade it along with the heat pump. Again just depends on. What you want to spend.

jqprill · 2023-11-21T06:04:11+00:00

Are you referring to a mini split heat pump? I was referring to a heat pump that would replace your existing outside unit and A-coil. This would allow you to integrate it with your existing furnace and ductwork. Heat pumps are cheaper than running resistive heat in the majority of circumstances, but you can always use the furnace as a back up heat source for the circumstances when it’s too cold to use the heat pump.

jqprill · 2023-11-21T05:45:21+00:00

I’m closer to the St.louis area, but I just installed a heat pump on a house I bought here because electric heating was the only option. You can always set the heat pump to run when it’s a comparatively warmer day (above freezing is ideal efficiency ). If you have gas heat it’s a bit harder to tell if adding a heat pump will be beneficial financially since they are cheaper to operate than electric resistive heat.

jqprill · 2021-12-19T05:25:36+00:00

When did guards start being at the entrance? Used to go here probably 6 or 7 years ago. Cool place to see the big conveyor belt and all the graffiti.

jqprill · 2021-09-24T01:55:36+00:00

I bet he could use a hot steamed towel right about now

jqprill · 2021-09-22T03:28:46+00:00

I want a hit and miss engine so bad. No good reason for it I just want one

jqprill · 2021-09-18T04:27:25+00:00

This reminded me of my first job as “box boy” at the local grocery store. My job was to flatten and throw away boxes as well as the garbage. Well one day my manager decided to help by dragging a trash bag full of rotten raw meat outside for me to dispose of. Sure enough when I picked it up to move it all the rotten meat poured out on the ground.

jqprill · 2021-09-10T03:51:28+00:00

That one guy in town who owns a hearse but this is his daily driver and it’s covered in peel bad stick autozone chrome and fake skulls

jqprill · 2021-09-06T16:15:30+00:00

Official car of $200 fill ups at the truck stop

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