I watched an instructional video the other day where the guy kept palming his gauge manifold and CRANKING down on the valves when he closed them. I've seen techs use channel locks—and even vise grips—to tighten down their gauges “just in case” when they have a hard time finding a leak or a vacuum that […]

I used to call PTCR devices a "Soft Start". I was wrong.

I'm a big dummy when it comes to my own air conditioning maintenance. I talk about the importance of changing air filters to customers and techs, but I never stay up on replacing my own. Yesterday, I walked into my mechanical room, and my 2-ton air handler sounded like a vacuum cleaner about to implode. […]