HVAC Service
Practices
We have all seen poor, or at a minimum, questionable HVAC
installations. Trade publications frequently post some of these. One publication
has a slide show compiled from reader submitted pictures titled “Wall of Shame”.
I have been doing something similar for a
number of years. I incorporate pictures I take during my travels in the
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware areas into various Power Points for the
respective training areas such as “How Not to Pipe”. These are utilized in my training programs as
examples and discussions on the problems and effects on the system.
Cost of Ownership,
Efficiency and Life-Cycle
How do these poor practices really impact the overall
operation, efficiency, cost of ownership and life-cycle? After a class this semester in which some of
the installations were discussed, I decided to find out and further chronicle
five installations by engaging the owners of the equipment to look closer at
the installation, equipment, and service history, along with their views of our
industry as a result of their experiences.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is not to criticize, or single
out any segment of the industry or contractor, but analyze the information to
see if the training that I provide can be improved as well as sharing the
information for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Others as well as I, compare HVAC compressor failures to
heart disease. In most instances, a compressor failure is not a result of a
single action or misstep, but the effects of years of lack of proper timely
preventive maintenance, poor installations, and service practices. What better
of a way to demonstrate and reinforce the proper methods and procedures then by
incorporating incorrect or poor practices and results?
Stay Tuned
Look for the detailed job analysis and pictures to begin in
the next few weeks.
