Commercial HVAC tools

[Nando17]

I’m moving from residential service to commercial service. I’ll be doing PM’s and helping other senior technicians. What tools do I need for commercial service that residential technicians rarely or don’t use?

I’m talking about the tools I would need to carry on every on service bag. My company will provide the higher priced tools like gauges, vacuum pump, recovery machine ect..

[LakesCo]

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[Makeitcold]

That depends on what you will be playing with. Using the term “commercial” is pretty vague. I would ask your supervisor if your DMM is up to the task for the equipment you’ll be testing. You’ll be walking long distances so I’d recommend a Veto Pro tool back pack, your spine will thank you. A level at least 3’ long with magnetic plates for checking pulley alignment. Most of your tools will probably be fine for PM’s. Also a paint pen will be your friend, rarely do I find units labeled what suite they go to or where the disconnect is or filter/belt sizes. Writing this down really helps the tech that comes behind you and will get you on everyone’s happy list

[mpflood]

Cordless impact driver 5/16 head
Plenty of self tappper screws
You must have 3 screws in every panel
Do not over tighten screws
( strip the holes)
As soon as the screw head makes contact with the metal,Stop

[hands]

Cordless impact driver 5/16 head
Plenty of self tappper screws
You must have 3 screws in every panel
Do not over tighten screws
( strip the holes)
As soon as the screw head makes contact with the metal,Stop

Don’t forget to replace the self tapper screws with regular screws after the new holes are made. This will prevent from enlarging the holes every time the screws are removed and installed.

[timebuilder]

Okay I'm going to get up on my soapbox again here, so any of you who've heard me say this before just take a small time out.

One of the things that irritates me the most whenever I go to a new site is the number of stripped out sheet metal screws holding on panels.... typically used on Carrier units. This is because many young technicians were never told to use a power screwdriver like the Bosch I driver, and instead use an 18 volt power drill with a chuck set for the drill function instead of the screw function. Because they are new and not used to using the equipment, they have a great deal of trouble releasing the trigger in time to avoid stripping out the screws in the metal.

So, what you need is either a drill with a screw setting where you can adjust chuck torque down to the point where it will stop on its own, or simply use a power screwdriver that will drive the screws to tightness but will not be able to generate enough torque to strip them out.

It is truly annoying to walk up to a unit and find 25 screw holes in a panel that accepts 7 screws.

[HVAC_Marc]

It's why I use nut drivers for panels. People piss me off with different sized screws all over. I have to guess when I take them out where they go back.

[airfreightex]

It's why I use nut drivers for panels. People piss me off with different sized screws all over. I have to guess when I take them out where they go back.

This is very aggravating. Just finished working on two six ton units with this exact situation, screws of all shapes and sizes on four different panels. What a waste of time.

[Lahrs]

This is from yesterday. More holes than a hipsters ears.

Yes, Carrier are one of the worst.

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[BALloyd]

This is from yesterday. More holes than a hipsters ears.

Yes, Carrier are one of the worst.

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Are you following the guy that doesn't know his 18v impact is variable speed?

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[MechTech2013]

5/16"-12. If the hole is already stripped, these are great.

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[rider77]

Rope. Several lengths of it.
Buckets, to put stuff in and lift to the roof with said rope.
If your doing PMs, a filter grabber is priceless.
A good grease gun.
Read up on belt tensioning. A rubber band means you will soon be back for bearings.
And for your own safety for those long days on rooftops, a beach umbrella, sunscreen and a sun hat.

[Red Man]

Seems to me like Trane is one of the worst for stripped screws. When I do start ups on Tranes, it seems like all the screws are already stripped.

[LakesCo]

A filter puller can be very useful depending on the type of air filters and equipment you'll be working with. Trane Voyager comes to mind.

Self-tapping screws in various sizes helps when you're not working on Lennox or AAON equipment, I'm sure there's others out there that don't use screws. Until then..

[JasonT]

I never come across an Intellipak where they don't have stripped holes.

This is from yesterday. More holes than a hipsters ears.



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On the smaller units, I've seen guys put screws in between the panel and frame of the unit which, I guess works if you don't want to make anymore holes.

[R123]

The most important thing is USE THE PROPER GREASE. Most electric motors take Polyurea based grease like Polyrex EM by Mobile. If you put regular grease in these motors, you’ll have bearing failure!

[OHTech]

ball end metric and standard allen wrenches (you won't use the metric much but one day you'll be glad when your on some german panel cooler)

lightweight impact or drill with 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 1/2" nut drivers (I think it is engineered air or green heck that is attaching ERV panels with 1/2" bolts these days; the 7/16 is nice for blower wheel housing suction plate removal, 3/8 is required for large trane units)

good clamp-on thermocouple (certainly not that velcro POS fluke passes out)

a set of torx drivers (trane wshp's of a certain vintage use them, replace them with 5/16 for the good of mankind please)

megohmmeter

gear puller (3 jaw that can be converted to 2 jaw is good)

you probably already have a hub puller

set of ratcheting wrenches from 1/4 to 3/4.

decent socket / ratchet set

in my area you want a balaclava and some good overalls for winter

[BALloyd]

Seems to me like Trane is one of the worst for stripped screws. When I do start ups on Tranes, it seems like all the screws are already stripped.

Trane ain't got nothing on Goodman in the RTU stripped screw department.

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[Red Man]

I almost never see Goodman RTUs

[BALloyd]

I almost never see Goodman RTUs

Me either.....and I am thankful every day for it. Lol

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