Magical Thinking

HeatingHelp

Magical Thinking

Study everything pertaining to the heating equipment that you are supposed to work on and don't be afraid to ask for help.

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Bill_Kitsch69

"“This happened to my wife and I two years ago when our air-conditioning system developed a leak. We have an insurance plan that covers all the equipment in our home. I was going to repair the a/c since I had installed it 20 years ago, but my wife insisted I call the insurance company because that’s what we’re paying them for.

“They sent some wet-behind-the-ears apprentice who, after two hours, tells me the leak is happening because I used ACR pipe instead of tubing. He said it had too many silfossed joints.

"I told him to leave and I repaired it myself. That child was using magical thinking. He didn’t know what was wrong so he grasped at the most outlandish problem he could think of. He decided that the only way to repair the system was to repipe everything with tubing. Really?! How about trying to educate yourself so you do understand, or just admit you’re stumped and you’re going to call in someone more knowledgeable.”

I assume here by 'sil-fos' is meant a true braze, not a 'sta-brite' refrigeration solder..

Either way, the kid was sharp. 50+ years in, I'd have done the same thing.

* Apparently line leaks weren't covered.
* The kid is with some cheap old guy with 20 year old lines with multiple braze joints serving some 20 year old (end of life) junk.
* Potentially finding and fixing leaks properly and legally with all that goes along with that, could be more expensive than a new line set (which can be used with a new unit next year when that POS dies.)

*So, the kid cut through the leak search/repair BS and mitigated both any multiple-fitting leaks, and his own/company liability because he knows he'd "own" the old coot's leaks once he touched it.

Yes, a new line set was the Professional HVAC Contractor approach, or walk away because you can't relive somebody's glory days for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQpW9XRiyM

HomerJSmith

Nobody can be that happy playing music. It was fun to watch, but proves a point, a truism in life. The Whole is greater than its parts. The Whole is purposeful, the outcome is not even envisioned by the parts. Fixing a boiler or furnace is to re-establish that purposefulness.

Mad Dog_2

Sage advice Mad Dog 🐕 👌

Bill_Kitsch69

HomerJSmith said:

Nobody can be that happy playing music. It was fun to watch, but proves a point, a truism in life. The Whole is greater than its parts. The Whole is purposeful, the outcome is not even envisioned by the parts. Fixing a boiler or furnace is to re-establish that purposefulness.

Doesn't work nearly as well with old AC systems.. At a point, replacement of the whole, is far greater purposefulness than replacing parts.

HomerJSmith

Bill_Kitsch69, we don't go to our jobs riding in a horse and buggy. Sometimes reaching a goal is more efficient and economical in making that change.

HomerJSmith

Most of the "Progress" experienced by mankind is a saving of time. Perhaps, people, except for the very young who think they are immortal, feel that saving time will gives them more of it are mistaken. Saving time gives them an opportunity for more experiences in the time allotted to them, which is what life is all about.

Steamhead

HomerJSmith said:

Nobody can be that happy playing music....

Au contraire, @HomerJSmith - I saw them on that tour and a bunch of other times, and they were always having fun on stage. Can't beat doing something you love, that's fun, and getting paid for it.

EdTheHeaterMan

WOW. Thanks @DanHolohan for the memory. I stopped carrying that box of books on the passenger seat once I got my iPad. Everything you ever want is in there. If it is not in there, then I could always go back to the shop and find that old box of books. LOL