Hacked Trane XB13 Heat Pump - Baboon install!

[rokkrawler66]

they were trying to help by putting a restriction in the refrigerant line before the expansion device, makes it work more efficient. a good pressure test and vaccum would have caught the leak but they probably did not pull one.

[sanity599]

@TheStampedOctagon I saw a Tee Shirt I wish I had. It said Are you stupid or just stoned?

[sanity599]

@TheStampedOctagon All you had to pay the guy that did this install was a six pack.

[hackfreehvac]

@TheStampedOctagon

HA HA HA!

[hackfreehvac]

@TheStampedOctagon

Yeah. I probably slandered the Baboons on this comparison. :-)

[azthundercloud]

looks like high quality pride in their job. LOL. i had a tech come out and he couldnt find a leak. i used silver paint to show him. mmm sun of a gun there it is. WTF!!!! i got rid of my 2 carrier units and put in american standard.

[TheBL1tZKrieG]

yer in aus if we see sumthing like this we just say the "dodgey brothers" have been here

[Xerox6085I]

Aren't Trane the low efficiency cheap route to go compared to a Carrier high-efficiency (high seer) unit? People never do the math, or research it seems.

[O7ROADKING]

@Xerox6085I Carrier is now the cheapest around the Boston area i stopped putting them in to many brand new junk units and they pass the buck about repairs no more Carrier for me

[SwimmingPoolHeatPump]

Thanks for sharing the heat pump video.

[nubemuffin]

are your fingernails painted? O_o

[damion0068]

You know I won't have believed it if you told me that either. I've seen some mess up crap in my days but you found the masterpiece of FUBAR.

[3Mudbone1]

I was working at the Seattle Coast Guard Base and the past technicians did deplorable work! I found one damper that had a shaft and acuator but no damper in there! The hiring at Federal military and other positions is crazy! I have 25 to 30 years working as a mechnaic and engineer, but since I am only a regular veteran and did not serve during a certain time frame a guy with one week experience gets hired before me! If only I had entered the Coast Guard a few months earlier I would be set!

[chillichomper]

Nothing like testing out an employee BEFORE hiring them. I think federal laws that prevent this hiring practice are B.S. It should apply to EVERY field HVAC, ELECTRICAL , PLUMBERS, PROGRAMMERS, ACCOUNTANTS. Sales is the only thing that proves itself right off the bat 'cause its driven off commssion.

[legendarystamina]

I've seen worst

[BGreenHVAC]

We just call them "Hacks" This kind of poor installs happen from all kinds of companies. I have seen similar issues from very reputable companies who just happened to hire a "Dud" employee. The companies end up spending a fortune fixing their mistakes. It may take a while before the company discovers the problem(s). My company hired an idiot that spent his first week taking pictures of our previous work for his resume. My next job was fixing a major mess that he installed.

[BGreenHVAC]

We just call them "Hacks" Like a previous comment, this kind of poor installs happen from all kinds of companies. I have seen similar issues from very reputable companies who just happened to hire a "Dud" employee. The companies end up spending a fortune fixing their mistakes. It may take a while before the company discovers the problem(s).

[bigguysa210tx]

that is a crappy job i have never seen anything like that! good luck with that leak! i hope this company gets their license taken away if they even have one!

[jfirewindz]

i guess it's like a homeade ORIFICE tube?

[40172]

With all those joints, had to have trash in the line!

[brightb7]

I think most HVAC men are  rip offs when you can by system for $1,200.00 and they put it in and charge $3,000.00 or more to put it in when it don`t take no more then 4 or 5 hour to install. THATS A RIP OFF

[velociti1985]

@brightb7 well i used to do a/c and heating and as far as that goes you have to remember they are out there to make money its not something you can easily do and it took alot of schooling and training to get good at it for those who take pride and our companies have to pay the salaries of the office personnel and the insurance on vehicles and gas and materials used for the install which ...ain't cheap! specailly with that crappy job then its warranteed for a whole year

[MrJohanasBilderberg]

@brightb7

Good you should install it yourself. 

[BGreenHVAC]

@brightb7  Do understand the cost of running a business? Things like licenses, offices, vans, equipment, fuel, various insurances, bonding, etc. If you think they are charging too much and you can do a better job, in business, we call that a niche.....Fill it!

[StarsAndStraps4E]

That isn't going to affect anything, not that short. Now on a 410-A system maybe, but being on the suction line it is doubtful, It won't cause any flashing problems. Still whoever put it in is a hick dip shit, as usual givin us installers a bad name.

[MrMadden73]

Nice

[airlocka]

needless to say their work was shit but they oviously didnt even evacute it or charge with nitrogen to test for leaks biggest problem in my country is electricians doing ac work they do all sorts of nastys deburr pipe with the open end of copper facing upwards so burrs go inside system

[sirevil120]

lol that leak detectors about to short circuit

[kengine7]

Let's pass some more laws and get some more enforcement going on. More permits, inspections, regulations, mandatory testing, license fees, more, more, please.

It's Less complicated to get into medical school and become a surgeon than to be a plumbing contractor in our city. Many older journeyman plumbers could not pass the licensing exam when code enforcement took over. Those guys plumbed for 20+ years. Unless they stay with their contractor, they will be considered apprentices.

[gofixmechickenpotpie]

I cant see ever doing that, even if the boss said so.

[JustinJustin2929]

This unit doesnt have King Valves douche.... Looks like the Company you work for needs to Fire their installers, and start from scratch....... Also, if this is a Heat Pump why is it not on riser legs??? Whats gonna happen with this thing Defrosts??

[wduane2807]

When I was in HVAC school we called people like that who did sloppy work like that "Joe Crap the Rag Man" you know the types who drive old beat up service trucks with trash and drink cups falling out when you open a door, look like mountain men just like the ones you'd see riding on the back of a garbage truck, dressed real sloppy, rag hanging out of their rear pocket, butt crack showing, and their mighty fine "duct tape and zip tie" type work they do just like the piping in this video.

[hackfreehvac]

@wduane2807

Never heard that name.

I made up a name "Blow n Go Joe Joe"!

I even made a cartoon strip as a joke!

Anyway what is sad is the big companies here with NICE vehicles do this crap too! And charge TOP dollar for it! Like the company who installed this unit!

[wduane2807]

@hackfreehvac That's very true too... after seeing this video last night and commenting on Joe Crap the Rag Man i seen a furnace today sitting on a wooden plyboard box and holes patched up with cardboard and duct tape. Sad... very sad

[hackfreehvac]

@wduane2807

Sad. And looks like they still sell Goodman to everyone.

[mhoppe920]

Refrigeration & AC for years seen all kinds of crazy stuff. Condensers over one hundred feet away with no increase in line set.

[redsquirrelftw]

holy crap that's brutal. He just happened to have those small pieces lying in the back of his pickup... lool

[BuLLsAndBeaRs1]

im new here. what does scw stand for?

[9020powrmax]

What kind of reefer were those baboons smoking?? Must have been some good shit..LOL...

[Shakira2164]

lol

[tmsteffan]

looks like they had a good scab hard at work!

[Lodizal03]

HAHAHAHAH dude...thats a fucking installer for you....service and installs are 2 totally different worlds

[unicursalhex]

god dammit I hate hackers!

[MrMaleBee]

Awesome for

posting this!!!!!!!!!

[Scrat335]

This may be hard for you to believe but I once went on a call for no A/C at a new office building. 7 units 3 tons cap. There were long runs into the building. They had not used the recommended 7/8 line sets for the job and used 5/8 instead. 4 of the 7 units had burned out their compressors. Working for this company I also found a unit that was installed with the liquid line hooked up.

[Scrat335]

@Scrat335 Excuse me, the liquid line was not hooked up. Early in the morning guys. :)

[drak56]

jeez im bout to move to phoenix cuz i've been doing hvac alittle over 2yrs and know not to do that kinda crappy work, u can't reduce the refrigerant line it restricts it. plus if they'd put the service ports on the opposite side they probably wouldv'e had enough copper, and they should have at least shot nitrogen through the line and they wouldv'e found the leak. did they even use a drier filter?

[CrappyApple001]

There's a company here in Jacksonville called Sonnys that does this kinda crap. It's sad.

As a manufacturer rep, we had them come out and replace the driers that were gummed up within two days. The guy they sent asked me why they had to take the old one out and just couldn't install a new one in down stream !!! No kidding !!! HVAC mechanics should be required to pass a state test of some sorts before they are allowed to work on the shit.

[txmanzilla]

LOL.....fuck!

[linoleumcarving]

how expensive are electronic dectors. My boss won't by one so I use soap sulation.

yea my spelling sucks

[txmanzilla]

@linoleumcarving electronic detectors suck!!! they beep like crazy for no reason ..soap is still the best for me!

[greg11025]

Gee I wonder if they used nitrogen while brazing

[dub2]

I live in Portland OR. I i got a dent in my cover on the edge. Can someone tell me if i can buy that indiviual piece?? i can do any 'body' work on it becacuse it's dented on the outer line. or body line.

[FatherJudgement]

Joe's Two Guys and a Truck AC service Company typical install....I've seen worse....lol

[Qtiservices]

Cheapest bid get's the job!!

[woodstockslim]

@Qtiservices Thats wright. People dont realize that they are paying for your value. Someone with more experience is going to be more expensive because they have more value. You get what you pay for, I am a strong believer in that.

[sharkfin2009]

what does scw mean?

[rosal2006]

installer was larry curley and moe... didn't have the money to buy the right size fittings...

[leshoffman1]

I'm sorry man but when you showed the multiple sized suction line I had to laugh. WTF .....WTF

[earseyesnose]

i spend more time fixing screw ups like that than actual equip. failure......many idiots keep me employed and their antics also make me look bad for wat they do

[tazztt1]

@earseyesnose ... no, idots make the 'business' of hvac installation look bad... these situations make you look GOOD when YOU prove that you are the guy that re-installs it correctly, the 'last' service man on the job is always the BEST one

[indfilmr]

All new a/c unit installed regarding air cooled equipment. line sets need to be changed... usually old line sizes are 3/4 -3/8 new line sizes the factory specs usually 1 1/8 - 3/8 .. Hack contractors leave the existing line set in. Then your friendly warranty tech comes out and tells you that you are screwed.. I take pride in my work .. Just hate to see people getting ripped off. Crazy!

[hackfreehvac]

Yup, I think the manufacture does recommend the new line set. While it may still operate ok with the old line set, these guys reduced the 7/8 suction that was there to 3/4 then 5/8 then back up to 7/8 just because they obviously didn't have the fittings and didn't want boss man to be mad if they left to go get the correct fittings.

[dbbuilder]

I am a remodeling contractor. I have seen so much nasty home improvement work that homeowners do themselves. Amazing to see how some people will ruin their own house.

[DHumps82]

I'm a lead installer and do 2 changouts a week and I have never seen anything like that copper before. I have seen condensers put under decks and shoved in corners and against walls all the time.

[hackfreehvac]

Yeah, that copper reduced two sizes and back up was the worst I'd seen. And my boss at the time didn't believe me!

[lexmarks567]

did you ever show your the boss the pictures if so what did he say. you made those pictures up or thats a normal install get back to work. i would kick my boss in the nuts.

[linoleumcarving]

I trained down in Florida and thats how many hvac bosses act. [Tampa Bay area}

[lexmarks567]

@hackfreehvac

does he believe you now

[doublebass1985]

what a pain in the ass fixing that

[hackfreehvac]

Indeed.

[monicasuetannehill]

we ended up calling the repair man - we were lucky, it was just a $4.00 part. (plus $70.00 service call!) but now it's great. thanks!! Merry Christmas!!

[monicasuetannehill]

thank you! merry Christmas!!

[monicasuetannehill]

do you know why my central heat would have a frost build up out side? weather is in the mid 50's and sunny - heater is heating - but humming and frosted over on the metal grid part. i turned it off - but it's going to be in the 30's next week!!! help!!!

[hackfreehvac]

Sounds like you have a heat pump. Ice does delevope on the coil as it runs colder than the outside temperature. If it is still heating it is probably ok. It should cycle through defrost every now and then to thaw the ice. If defrost does not work the ice will build up and the heating performance will drop to nill.

[monicasuetannehill]

thank you so much. it was actually iced over pretty thick. the fan was not running - sounded like it was on "defrost mode" for a while...then I noticed the ice build up. any way to check the defrost?? should i just replace it?? is it expensive?? it's Christmas - we don't have the bucks for a professional visit right now. but we're pretty handy in a pinch. thanks again!

[hackfreehvac]

Well, the fan stops during defrost. Defrost runs a total of 0 minutes max. If the fan is off longer than that, you may have a bad fan motor. Which of course will cause it to ice up quickly and not heat the home.

[monicasuetannehill]

Thanks to your suggestions - my husband went out and paid attention to the fan. It would spin very slow - then stop. He put 3in one oil in the fan - and now it's doing great. ( is that OK?!) We probably need to replace the fan motor anyway...but at least tonight with temperatures changing from 75 to 30...we'll be OK. Hopefully it will be enough till after Christmas! Thank You, again! Monica ( - :

[hackfreehvac]

Yeah the oil will be a temporary fix. If he takes the motor apart, cleans the shaft with fine emery cloth and then oils the bearings it MAY last a little while. That is if it was just TIGHT. If there is any slop in the bearings then it will just bind no matter if it's got oil. Good to know you've got it trouble shooted.

[0917caicas]

it all depend on the company, Im a tech in Phoenix,Az and i also go trough all these shit

That condenser already has a drier inside.

[hackfreehvac]

Hey nice to hear from a local guy.

You gotta love this shit eh? Especially squeezing yourself in between the condenser and the wall because someone doesn't want to rotate the new unit for proper access.

[demmylowther]

Unfortunety ,that's hilarious.The trouble I would have to go thru to become a Trane Dealer and you have hacks like this. It's simply not right.For now Bryant will do.

[hackfreehvac]

Everything in the Phoenix Arizona area is so different. The installers techs are only required to have an EPA card, and that's rarely enforced. The local dealers don't care about install either, as long as these hack shops keep installing the units and they all make money. The only person screwed here are the home owners, and of course the techs stuck with servicing this sh*t later. >:-[

[bankroll310]

You need to add a Cool-N-Save to that thing

[hackfreehvac]

OMG!!! LOL! HA HA HA! No sh*t!

[astranine]

That leak is probably another coupler that didn't get brazed well due to poor torch performance in a tight spot.

[astranine]

Also, I didn't see a liquid line filter installed. I wonder what the evaporator looked like?

[hackfreehvac]

The driers are internal on Tranes. Now Carrier on the other hand, they would be field installed. This job here cracked me up. I still can't fathom that someone would reduce the copper down like this instead of leaving to get the correct fittings.

[OcRefrigeration]

Unfortunately Some company's are just concerned about Getting it running and do not care or even have the knowledge that piping sizes Equal Performance. Too small a pipe (even a small section) reduces performance greatly and causes low suction pressures etc.

etc.etc.they don't even leak check or recover refrigerant.just put gas in it and go.They Don't even care about leaks. used to work for a guy like that.He's now retired, a Millionaire! Makes ya think huh.

[hackfreehvac]

That's sad isn't it?

[hackfreehvac]

Yup, and that's a shame. Here in an area where Air Conditioning is in such high demand, many unskilled and/or dishonest people can make quick cash while doing crappy work. :-(

[BIGHOG99999999999999]

train installs their filter dryer in the cabnet

[masshred]

This system is clearly contaminated with non condenceables. The charege is ruined. Re-do the whole fukin thing!

What a bunch of assholes!

[hackfreehvac]

I told the manager that it needed to be repiped. But instead, them office bitches told me that I was WRONG and that it was 5/8 coming out of the wall and they adapted down to it. Clearly, in the pictures and video, you can see it was NOT 5/8 coming out of the wall, but the installers didn't have the proper materials so they butchered it together! This is what you get when you work for a company that does not CARE about the quality of the installs! Trane should be PROUD of this shit! :p

[amfan12]

So, do you work for the company that did this install?

[hackfreehvac]

I used to. And half of our service calls were warranty crap like this. They decided "I wasn't right for the company" after I refused to "just do the calls we give you and don't talk about them..." etc.

[gavincurtis]

Send these videos to Trane and shut this installer down.

[hackfreehvac]

LOL! I emailed the link to someone I found online once. Never heard nothing back. I DID show them to one of the Trane distributors. He laughed his ass off! Then said that the local Trane area rep wont give a rats ass, as long as he makes his commission from all the new units these guys are installing! Hacked or not!

[gavincurtis]

Makes me feel bad for the engineers and those that do care about trying to make a quality productsa.

Good effort seems to be always tarnished by greed and ignorance of the idiots. Snake oil promoting fools out to make a quick dollar.

Guess it doesn't matter if you sell Air Conditioners or are running for next President :)

[hackfreehvac]

"Snake oil promoting fools". That's some sad truth right there.

[Rudedude2uTube]

Cowboys

[davidchadfish]

Very sad piping--Why does Trane sell to people doing this crap work--they make an acceptable quality unit nothing special-when this is found the installer should be stopped from buying the units to keep the name in good standing-I am a master mechanic and tool carrying fellow with a deep understanding of this stuff and a knowlege of the buisness, there needs to be some action taken against these hacks....90% ffailures are installed by the hacks, not mfg fault.

[jimmymoss7644]

what state n city?

[hackfreehvac]

I believe this one was in either Peoria or Avondale, Arizona. It's been almost 2 yrs now.

[12poncho1000]

where was the liquid line drier

[hackfreehvac]

On most brands, like Tranes, they come inside the unit from the factory. Brands like Carrier (Bryant, etc) do not and you mount the liquid drier diring install, external to the condenser. Some people orefer the filter next to the indoor coil as well.

[DrZarkloff]

I'd have installed a new line set and not put it underground. I loathe underground line sets. Here in Florida, underground leaks tend to suck in underground moisture when the system is pumped down.

[hackfreehvac]

"underground leaks tend to suck in underground moisture when the system is pumped down." Yikes, that wouldn't be good! BTW. Here in Phoenix I virtually NEVER see a new line set installed with a change out. Not even on HIGH EFFICIENCY systems. There are many new systems on old undersized line sets.

[BillyDouglas]

why god why

[hackfreehvac]

THAT is the $100 question right there! Why? Because they were forced to do these jobs in as little time as possible and with as little extra parts! They RARELY left to go get the proper parts needed to do the job right! Because the office would bitch about it. So they made due with whatever they had on their truck. As evident here!

[25HNA6]

It does not look like a XB13. It looks like a Trane XR14 or 13. I'm just letting you know. It was probably a typo.

[hackfreehvac]

They never sold the XR14's. Wasn't even in our price book. Just the XB13's as entry level, and then XL14i, XL16i, XL19i.

[datranedog]

You watch Phoenix will be going more toward 90 plus furnaces with Southwest Gas @ $1.90 plus a therm. Which gives Paysonbadboy more oppoortunity to get us more lol pics. jk lol

[hackfreehvac]

You may want to note the username for these videos, LOL! I had to make some seperation from the HVAC stuff from the other stuff. Hopefully not to disappoint in the reduced amount of NEW pictures/Video, but I am now working for a company that only does commercial and some industrial. But I still take pictures/video when I have reason. :)

[MikeDilznick]

run into stuff like that all the time, just did a changeout on a two year old furnace,2" pvc flu was terminated into 4" metal b-vent and sealed with duct tape, might have to post that one

[paysonbadboy]

I wonder how well that b-vent and tape will hold up to the condensation, in that CONDENSING furnace? Luckily 90% furnaces are almost never installed in Phoenix. If they were, I don't think the jackleg installers would know what to hook up where! The few I've seen were really hacked. Usually the intake was piped outside, and the flue was left not connected! Last one was on a nice house too. Builders always go low bid, non union companies!

[1995bisquick]

i live in phoenix, I dont think the heating load hours are enough to justify installing a condensing furnace, i think you may need one in flagstaff though

[hackfreehvac]

Yeah they are popular in Payson, Flagg etc. But not in Phoneix. Like I said, they don't know how to install them. And if some salesman does sell one, the installers don't know what to hook up where! LOL! Residential HVAC is suck hackery around these parts!