BORROWED TIME IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

Borrowed time is an understatement, this story was insane. The customer decided to replace the unit over a year ago but someone dropped the ball when they ordered it and never signed off on the final approval... long story short they had me do a temporary repair to get them thru the heat of the summer.
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00:00 VIDEO START
00:52 I THINK I FOUND THE UNIT
03:06 BE CAREFUL PULLING MOLEX PLUGS
05:16 RESETTING THE BREAKER
10:26 I'M BAACK
12:45 ROOFER MADNESS
17:55 OIL LEVEL CHECK
20:21 BRAZING MONTAGE
25:32 CHARGING THE SYSTEM WITH JOBLINK PROBES
33:02 AUTOPSY TIME
36:15 CLOSING WORDS

[@EnderMalcolm]

I see 43 minute video, I like.

[@flexortiz92]

F yea

[@darwisyaiman1865]

When the last time video 10 min or less 🤣

[@levilambert8068]

Love it

[@charlessolazzojr6767]

Chris, Platinum video and discription of RTU history and follow up of both customer mentality from 1st compressor burn out and and eventual path of destruction to the rest of the unit. That customer mentality might work in 48 other states, but your death valley summer heat will take suffacate the life out of anything that dares to fly in the face of those conditions, great video Thank You.

[@royalwins2030]

Simple man

[@jonarmedpiandsecurityoffic9051]

If you haven't already, make a flyer of the teardown photos on systems like these and put in explanation "this is what happens when you don't perform preventative maintenance " and put price averages of replacement costs vs preventative cost

[@MFCSTUDIOS]

the thing is for these bigger company's is its all a Write off. they don't care as much as some people whould about just replaceing or major repairs as they just write it off there taxes each year

[@Zonkotron]

@@MFCSTUDIOS Which means to me, that much like equipment inventory should not count towards taxes (to deincentivize demolition and scrapping and general deindustrialization of non fully utilized equipment just to save some taxes) that maintenance should be a "better" tax deductible than replacement (to incentivize economical and efficient buisiness).

[@TheNemosdaddy]

Why?? Lol Dude wants to make money. Let them destroy their equipment

[@etherealrose2139]

@@Zonkotron the units are depreciated per year. As far as accounting goes the old system is worth nothing.

[@gnasty30]

Your a fucking true GEM 💎 to the HVAC community Been doing commercial for 3 years now after 10 years in residential and seeing your videos are just an absolute treasure man. It’s as if I’m running the service call with you and it’s so helpful

[@flexortiz92]

He really is tho crazy how good he is at his job while recording and explaining clearly

[@almaefogo]

I only worked for 3 months on small AC stuff like residential multisplit units and one or 2 HVAC units as a helper and without liking to follow this profession I really like to watch this, better than some tv series.

[@mick2171]

Someone could just reply LANGUAGE here

[@damianrush01]

Hi

[@ShukenFlash]

You keep saying how you're just an average technician but in my experience, just trying your best, actually putting in the effort and really trying, makes you better than a lot of techs, mechanics, people in general. It can be frustratingly hard to find people who'll just be honest and actually give it their best effort. Eric O from South Main Auto always says the same thing, but half the reason people love and respect you guys is that you're actually putting in your best effort every time and not half-assing it. I wish more people still felt that way, a lot of times it feels like those of us who do actually feel like that's just the right way to do things, to always give the best effort we can, are in the minority. You folks are a reminder that there are still people like that out there.

[@flexortiz92]

He has a big argument for being THEE best tech literally

[@mick2171]

AYO IS THAT A FURRY

[@armandorodriguez6447]

I feel really bad for the customer but back order is a reality. We are getting hit up here in the Northeast Haven’t seen your videos in a hot minute,awesome work hvac family

[@christopherscott8853]

You gotta stop calling it "preventive maintenance"...we aren't preventing anything...and the courts have ruled against us Mechanical companies for calling it such. Call it "planned service" instead.

[@walkingfreak]

That 2nd compressor that died you could tell right away that it was hardcore cooked and far more cooked than the first one that died. That was a hell of a repair and probably brutal in the cost just to replace it in 2-3 months.

[@Lembemupixo]

I know nothing about this trade but was wondering, how much can this repair cost in total in comparison to the whole replacement cost?

[@walkingfreak]

@@Lembemupixo this repair is probably 4 to 5 grand at least. A new unit is probably about 20 to 25 grand after labor.

[@Starchface]

I have a feeling that after that outlay of cash, they're probably going to wait until the third stage goes out. lol

[@throttlebottle5906]

2 to 3 months, you mean 6 to 18 months. lol

[@dtiydr]

@@Lembemupixo Much less, these units are really expensive but so are compressors but still less.

[@YuShudNoe]

This is a perfect video for HVAC/R junkies ! To get the approval to get all that work done on a unit is fun honestly haha Ain't nothing like working with others for a day instead of doing the lonely service tech thing everyday

[@nrdesign1991]

These longer videos are great to listen to while working on stuff

[@timbrown9305]

Anyone who has to be told that a tripped breaker needs to be turned to off first does NOT need to be putting their hands into a machine of any kind especially a monster with 3 compressors. Really enjoy your videos.

[@BrokenSet]

"Roofer Madness" as a chapter name. You know full well what you're doing with that one. Have a sub.

[@HVACRVIDEOS]

Ha ha thanks bud I love when people understand my quarky antics

[@str33tb1k3r]

Brother, I appreciate all your videos! While, I am not a tech myself, I love the trade! I really appreciate how humble you are for the work you do! I especially love your occasional words of wisdom. People get so caught up in the crap of this world, a little reminder to look at "The Big Picture" may help get someone to step back and enjoy what little time we have on this earth!

[@GameingGilmore]

you just made a years worth of random hvac learning click and i thank you sir

[@kenb1918]

The saying “pay me now or pay me later, and it’s gona be ALOT more later....” rings tire here!

[@750kv8]

I wondered if there's a compressor teardown part, and I'm not disappointed, *thank you.* 👍 I can only imagine the death rattle they made. Probably by now that I watch this video, even the third one already quitted the same way.

[@chilledguy-appliancesensei]

You need to replace batteries in your meter 🙂. Just don't want you to have to make an extra trip to the van ✅ Great video as always!

[@johnbell6956]

You know how when you take all your tools on a roof with a really difficult access and get everything up. Fire up the torch and immediately head to the truck or worse yet to the supplier for a spare oxygen or acetylene tank. Never on a ground mounted condenser. Nice videos.

[@luciangorman1388]

Good Ole Lennox, the error code log on the left panel is great. You're the best! I still work on a 20 year old unit in Florida, needs to be replaced but still running. Love your videos thank you, 8 years in the trade you are an ace tech

[@NorthernS0utherer]

Imagine being the guy that was supposed to tell them to build the unit and only got quotes now they cost the company $5k+(in guessing) in bandaids Love the videos keep it up

[@dashcamandy2242]

Yeah, I remember this unit... It's appeared a few times on your channel, I think. You did all the driers, I remember you capping off Stage 2 when it shorted, and I also remember Stage 3 sounding like crap. You managed to get this unit running well-enough to get them through the summer, hopefully. Like you said, polishing a turd. There's only so much you can do when it's clearly overdue for retirement!

[@MattTrevett]

Just want to say, often times we do recognize the units. Especially the ones you customize (for example removing some fins or redoing the drain pan lines).

[@gregmercil3968]

That unit was probably “whhhyyy won’t you just let me die already” 🤣

[@tbelding]

Guess you'll end up with two 'emergency install' compressors once they replace the main unit.

[@semidvdcdt8433]

I'll just write this : thank you for taking the time on opening these ... filming.. commenting... editing and sharing all these components failure. It's super interesting 💯

[@JM-wk2tz]

Awesome tear down, great to see after taking Trevor’s Compressor class and learning about scrolls, it’s really starting to make sense!

[@KansasHVAC]

The last minute of this video was definitely the most valuable. Great content as always. I'm looking forward to more.

[@MariosACandRefrigeration]

I got to give it to you ,you are the man,great work,not only the work but also filming.

[@Vapxy]

i didn’t realize it was so long and i’m almost halfway through until i saw a comment, after 18+ hours in the field good to watch this on my drive home

[@HappilyHomicidalHooligan]

I don't think him sealing the traffic mat to the roof is necessarily a sign of a Bad roofer as it is a sign of a Lazy or Frustrated roofer... When he sealed the mat down, I think he was FAR past the point of "FUCK IT! I'm just gonna seal the ever-loving HELL out of everything up here that could, theoretically, possibly have made even the slightest smidgen of contribution to the mystery leak"... 😄😁😆😅😂🤣

[@gibbsmeedat3954]

From what I saw in that video, the store manager doesn't seem to have knowledgeable support from a good maintenance crew. Or maybe its their own fault from cheaping out and having a "handy man" do the filters, coils and roofing. either way, I would fully expect that a manager who has their quote on a new unit denied would be frustrated and tell their "handyman" to get up there and seal anything with a crack or seam.

[@shawnschroeder2]

Bro...I have been in hvacr wholesale for almost 30 years and I ALWAYS thought HH was high acid....your wax removal tidbit is gold...thank you for educating me....knowledge is power

[@DedmenMiller]

Its nice to see the same equipment multiple times, its like following some years long story, very interesting.

[@zaccody6980]

Love the autopsies. One of the best parts of the video

[@truepcs]

Great Video!, and that's coming from a 60+ thermostat turner, that has watched all your videos over the years

[@Pop_A_Chaderall]

I love the autopsy. I'm a lowly residential peasant, but I love this trade. I take things apart if I can, and you can really learn a lot from it.

[@zacharyloewke6366]

Hey brother, don't kid yourself. Residential systems have their own demons. I'm a residential tech as well and while our systems are less complex, they are still similar. I appreciate the insight into bigger systems just as much as the next guy. The way I see it, "the more you know."

[@SuperVstech]

THIS is why I push for a water spigot on rooftop units! Such fun stringing hoses up multistory buildings…

[@holdendevil938]

Thank you for making your videos, they've helped me improve myself as a technician your videos are extremely helpful

[@ThePete2432]

Your techs are lucky to learn from and work with you

[@stephenhunter70]

I would've thought the no 3 compressor would've failed by now, I'd have been wrong! I wonder how much longer it will last and if the different filter dryer made the difference! Seems to me they may as well just replace the last compressor now before it fails, it's pretty much all that's left that hasn't been changed inside that AC!

[@trixter192]

I would change that last compressor and call it a day, why bother replacng the unit at that point.

[@Goldstacker1972-kp2bh]

That compressor sounds like how scrolls sound when they are in reverse rotation.

[@knockitofff]

unless it's a small txv and doesn't have the option, I always just replace the guts and powerhead, the body is just that, a brass body, so no need to braze in new TXV's, a couple wrenches and you're done. I also always add an acid neutralizer to the new crankcase if I suspect acid, along with an HH drier, better to be safe than sorry. Just my 2 cents though, great work as always Chris!

[@blendpinexus1416]

i see a new video. i now watch the fun unfold before my eyes

[@jakedicecco3180]

i live for the brazing montage music! hits me right in the science every time.

[@peterhodgkins6985]

That condenser with the dead coils needed a drift eliminator downstream of the coil! ;) Man, those compressors were hammered.

[@crabmansteve6844]

Every time I'm feeling lazy at work I think about what you would do. Lol You're a bastion of good practices and work ethic. Helps to keep me on my game.

[@joshdavis2064]

Awesome video, love when you do compressor teardowns! Could you do a full in depth explanation on how every component works whilst tearing it down?

[@deepierce5030]

Man I really appreciate you taking your time to go step-by-step thoroughly giving an in-depth description of what the proper procedure is to diagnose, treat, repair, and maintain these machines. Your knowledge & experience is very well versed and appreciated! Thank you for the compressor autopsy portion to allow us to discover what failures are evident. I do wonder if you may have a way to show what an actual working compressor is supposed to look like internally. Now I realize you couldn't take a brand new one apart, but perhaps one that was working that maybe had a minor defect that we could compare to to have a deeper understanding of what we are learning. I completely respect the fact that your time is valuable and humbly ask simply for the sake of educating those who seek a better set of knowledge. Really appreciate and enjoy seeing how you've evolved your business throughout these years and to see you thrive is an inspiration! Thank you, Chris!

[@Three_Sevens]

Man when the HVAC guy is telling you to cherish your time with loved ones and things are crazy .... Things must be crazy. Very good video

[@tphvac87]

Chris I love these videos man I can’t get enough, I work residential HVAC but this light commercial stuff really intrigues me, it’s similar to what I do just a ton more safeties and compressors these things are crazy fascinating to look at! Thanks for the videos man!! Fan for life!

[@vickreyc]

man you help me so much learning, just an apprentice here ... thank you.. what you do is helping people !

[@ThatBigGuy824]

I’ve learned so much from watching your videos! Keep up the awesome work!

[@TimmyTechTV]

I couldn't agree more with the message at the end of the video.

[@brandonmays7345]

Love the early 90’s top gun music haha.. educational video, keep up the good work

[@ReasonablySlow]

Did I just get off a 12hours shift (commercial tech) and then proceed to watch a 45min video on a unit I just worked on for the last 6 hours? Yup😂

[@EverythingHVACR]

nicely done Chris! love the compressor tear down, so much good information

[@SuperVstech]

On a bad burn out, I flush refrigerant through an expansion valve bypassed setup with my reclaimer through a large suction and liquid dryer set

[@cameroncrider6970]

I love seeing the raw troubleshooting!

[@markae0]

I came for the compressor autopsy and was not disappointed.

[@PilotInCommand777]

You and your guys do beautiful work!

[@stevegreene6272]

Love your videos as you explain why you are changing this out and the way you take us thru trouble shooting the unit. Keep up the good work and keep your videos coming.

[@LuciferMorningstar-ix3lb]

I need this guy to fix my HVAC he's so damn good!!

[@davehenry728]

Imp: noun, a small mischievous devil or sprite. Referring to the small, compact cutter size. Fantastic videos! Dave Cash

[@Starchface]

Chris, you are a legend. I'm sure you don't want it to get to your head, but a lot of people look up to you-not just for your technical insights, but for your philosophical ones. While this is not my field, I have learned a tremendous amount about HVAC systems from watching your videos. I always look forward to learning more, but I also have come to look forward to those messages about what is truly important. I am learning that I too need those. Thanks for putting it all in perspective

[@timothydelgado4907]

I had the same problem!! I did a job at bww yesterday replaced the compressor and filter drier and opened the comp and drier up and it was filthy! Its the same exact lennox unit as the one in the vid

[@davewallace5701]

Love the videos Chris! Appreciate you sir.

[@kevinb158]

I appreciate your end message

[@xelaju8]

You are the ultimate Pro. I like your approach and your efficiency to work. Thank you for taking the time to make this videos. They are very helpful. Also thank you for your message about tolerance. We need it in our life. God bless you.

[@nowhereclose4465]

JB: Just Better Than Garbage

[@zachstammen9337]

6 months for a Lennox unit, they are seeing the worst lead times for any traditional packaged unit the only brand with worse lead times is Vertive/liebert with over a year.

[@HamiltonMechanical]

digging the tunes on this brazing montage lol

[@CookieManCookies]

Whenever you see silvery sheen on oil, it means mechanically your looking at the compressor eating the metal off different parts, or metal bearing failure. Never a good sign. Too bad compressors are not user serviceable.

[@falloutguy8878]

Interesting video Chris thanks for sharing keep safe dude

[@rhinohino]

The 80's "Brazing" music reminds me of my mullet days.

[@RT-qd8yl]

13:00 I was always taught that if roofers were smart, they wouldn't be roofers.

[@kg4muc]

That third stage compressor is a duck and cover when you power it on. I was looking for shrapnel to start flying lol

[@danpresson]

Awesome video you do Awesome work

[@joecorbin5158]

Chris…. Why don’t you use replaceable core drier shells? Screens… felts and all the new cores you can buy. The winding insulation is overwhelming the refrigerant circuits. I hope you get it all out and the customer sees some light on the maintenance front…. Your a good man for trying to do what the customer requires but I don’t see any benefits in the repair. Be safe keep being a good employer

[@JFirn86Q]

Great video man, thanks

[@muhddanial977]

Quick sharing from my exp when cleaning d system. Im always use this kind of creatures that we call Solvent Cleaner(degreaser for hvac system). Its works perfect to clean d system n very quick dry too. Its kind a nasty when using this method, but believe me, the result is super impressive. Im not saying that blowing n2 alone is not efficient. But sometimes in few cases it need to be done with this degreaser. Im learn a lot through ur impressive breakdown call video n u amazed me. U re my Guru. Thnx a lot to u n your team. & last advice in the video was really touching n u re saying right things. Thnx again. Really appreciate.

[@jayzzz1234]

Nice work Chris

[@pepsi82]

That was a very determined o-ring.

[@shifter8207]

I remember the video you re referring to . That was a crazy one

[@jamiemoodley]

Love the long videos

[@KingSharpeMan]

I apologize but I'm going to assume any time a compressor is failed, even if its a short to ground, LRA, or even failed seals, that system should have acid and as a precaution acid test and scavenge should be performed! NOTE: Glad I never see these big Lennox units out here in Colorado, they look like a nightmare to work on, especially for restaurants. Definitely going to tag this video and use it to help my green technicians learn. Thanks for the time you spend making these videos don't stop, ever. NOTE, don't forget that suction HH dryer for extra safety.

[@brnmcc01]

A nightmare to work on? I think they're pretty good, heat exchangers come out like a drawer once you get the door/mullion/gas train out of the way. And much better than a Trane to service, I like how they have doors with handles and hinges, and not a bunch of 5/16" screws that strip out. Also it's nice to be have the compressors in their own compartment like that, sucks having to take a huge panel off of a Trane/American Standard, and then connect guages and you're losing a lot of airflow thru the condenser. Wireless probes help but lately the newer stuff isn't made very good. I just bought a new 13 ton Lennox unit (Trane was completely out of stock), and even Lennox has gotten cheaper, the handles are cheap plastic now, instead of the nice metal ones that lasted forever. Have quiet a few mid 1990's bigger Lennox units that are still going strong, 17.5 to 20 ton. One 20 ton unit has a bad leak somewhere, so I have that circuit disabled. Not worth finding and fixing it since it's most likely in one of the coils somewhere, and it's R-22. That place has 3 20 ton units on it, and that unit with one compressor down is in the back of the store well away from the front door and any windows so it stays cool anyway.

[@Rhy90]

I’m surprised to see that none of those contractors have overloads on them? Might have saved some of those compressors

[@cjshvacjourney4034]

I was excited I was going to cut open my 1st compressor today but got back to the shop and its in the dumpster😶 lol Great video as always!

[@rawr51919]

Woulda done it anyway just to see why it failed

[@cjshvacjourney4034]

@@rawr51919 me too lol but the dumpster is like 12ft high and the compressor is like 237lbs lol

[@YuShudNoe]

I love this video

[@Ki113dbysw0rd]

tech: Hey here's how to fix this corporation: nah we don't want to fix it also the corporation: hey why is there still a problem I thought you were supposed to fix it

[@zachsilkey9404]

Two months ago I got a lead time for a 5 ton Lennox package and it was 42 weeks

[@davebrunson125]

You need to get a good ultrasonic detector not a cheap one $2-3K. you can hear tiny leaks under vacuum, nitrogen, freon from feet away. I hear some spray water to hear leaks better that's a cheap sonic not ultrasonic. I can tell if and where a leak is without removing panels. I paid 2K 20 years ago best HVAC tool I've ever bought. It's amazing what a good one can do. Even those leaks that are hard to find and many just top off every couple years, I find in seconds

[@0ohoaxo0]

I always laugh when ppl say “look it…” I grew saying that all the time.

[@a4000t]

Always good Brazing music!

[@jitomingo2000]

Love this videos , super informative and into detail, just curious what did all that work ended up costing them?

[@CaelThunderwing]

i've been binging the whole channel, and love everything i've seen sofar, eventhough a good chunk of what you do goes over my head you do break it up well enough that its not completly lost. though, what *was* that song you used durring the brazing montage? catchy tune.

[@frankcruz6878]

Outstanding

[@philllsxga.7737]

Man you are thorough and are a professional!! So after a compressor burn out and or a refrigeration change you purge the line's with nitrogen nothing else??

[@volactic8495]

Lol at 41:12 the captions say you were charging the system with £11 of gas

[@madzmadeit]

He sealed the mat im dead

[@webluke]

36:31 Wow, that hair! Did I just not notice it, or is it time for a cut? :D This was definitely polishing a turd. From the looks of these businesses, they are not just neglecting the HVAC equipment, but the roof is looking bad. I can't imagine how the equipment they touch each day is getting worn out.

[@theranger1701]

At work I’ve had some components that have had an eta of December next year

[@pathaze4299]

I remember when I was a kid I cut open a few old HVAC compressors and the oil smelled exactly like old burnt power steering fluid. Not sure which smells worse. That or gear oil.

[@c21meister]

Chris I feel like your tablet gets bigger every video 😂🤣

[@HVACRVIDEOS]

Ha ha yeah it's kinda silly how big it is, I prefer a smaller one but the big one is really nice for the videos

[@Farm_fab]

Chris, silver is about $22 by the ounce, so you might want to save those contacts, and melt them down when you have a good quantity. Laundry borax is a good purifying agent to remove impurities when melting that down. There are lots of videos available on this.