close call with a Trane condenser install gone wrong

Had a near-miss last week on a Trane XR17 install where the line set wasn't properly evacuated, superheat was way off at 25 degrees. Charged the customer $850 for the fix but it could've blown the compressor if we didn't catch it in time. Always double-check your gauges, boys.

always vacuum down to 500 microns minimum on those Trane units, saved my ass more than once.

fuckin homeowners think they can DIY this shit and leave us with the mess.

what was the actual leak rate on that line set?

same here, bosses cutting corners on evac time to hit quotas.

goddamn near-misses like this are why I drink after every job.

every time I see a botched evac, I think of that r/HVAC post about the exploded coil.

15 years in and still get that pit in my stomach on installs.

Trane tech support is worthless half the time anyway.

we're all one bad day from a lawsuit in this field.

use nitrogen sweep before brazing, never skip it.

proud of catching it, most apprentices wouldn't notice.

i feel you, had a similar scare with a carrier infinity last month.

the struggle is real with these rushed jobs.

anyone using app-based monitoring to catch superheat issues early?

SharkBite for refrigerant lines? Nah, stick to flares.

that sounds stressful, hope the customer didn't bitch about the bill.

down in the HVAC Techs Network group, everyone's sharing evac horror stories.

me too, knees still shaking from my last close one.

group in The Contractor Fight fb page was raging about cheap parts causing this.

watched a bryan orr video on proper evacuation, eye-opener.

boss had me skip the vacuum once, never again.

lol remember that time the pump seized mid-job?

feelin that, near-misses build character I guess.

my back's killing me from crawling attics to fix others' mistakes.

haha, customer called thinking their unit was haunted from the noises.

every damn time with these installs.

we're doomed if regs don't tighten on this.

same boat, but glad you're sharing so we learn.

insurance companies are the real villains here.

trimmed a bad install last week, superheat was 30+.

that sucks, but you did right by fixing it quick.

watched essential craftsman on tool safety, applies to hvac too.

fuck these bosses who prioritize speed over safety.

glad it turned out ok, man.

always test for leaks with soap solution first.

we all been there with a bad evac.

customer wanted a refund after we fixed their DIY mess.

don't cheap out on the vacuum pump.

that Trane model's finicky as hell anyway.

PE firms are turning us into button-pushers.

use a ratchet strap on the line set to avoid kinks.

feels good to share these stories.

everyone hates the on-call life after crap like this.

hit 10 years without a major incident, knock on wood.

these rollups are killing the trade.

never trust a job without full evac, period.

saw a post on r/hvacadvice about a frozen coil from bad install.

i hear ya, close calls keep you sharp.

managing employees who skip steps is the worst.

what micron level do you aim for on Trane?

get the fieldpiece gauges, worth every penny.

always double-check superheat with a thermometer.

we all feel that relief after a save.

guy in HVAC Pros group had a compressor explode from this.

same, but mine was with a rheem unit.

tommy mello talks about safety protocols on his ig.

use the right oil for the pump too.

don't do partial charges, ever.

haha, my apprentice almost brazed without purging.

warn your crew about line set traps.