Please excuse any percieved ignorance, but I have an observation in regard to the acid issue. If the compressor smoked immediately, then how could any acid from a burn-out be pumped thru the system when the "pump" was killed immediately? The HO is concerned about acid pumped thru the system, and saw it smoke immediately, what leads the HO to believe acids have been pumped through the system? Now the HO appears to have enough knowledge of the system to be dangerous. So, I have to wonder, if he believes there were acids pumped thru the system, he must have some reason to believe that the compressor was burning out before the 18 year old tech showed up. Like he had been trying to start/run the unit until a tech showed up. Who's to say the gooped board wasnt sending some voltage to the compressor. But, before I would blame the 18 year old tech, although he may have screwed up, he did replace the bad board that shouldve been replaced by the previous tech, I would look to the tech that replaced the cap and didnt follow through and replace the obviously damaged board. But,I dont believe the HO is being straight up, he's giving his perspective and not the true facts to get responses to validate his position. It wouldnt suprise me if he's copying/pasting/printing selected posts to show to the contractor or mouthpiece to do so. There is no way, IMVHO, that the system would get contaminated w/ acid in less than 10 sec. Had to happen over time, no doubt. The 18yr old just happened to be the lucky one to touch it last. But there hasnt been any proof posted of a complete system contamination. Only the HO rantings that it is, unless I missed something. IMVHO compressor/flush/driers should solve the issue. But it escapes me why the hell would the contractor try to fix this with a fkd up unit, if youre gonna fix it do it right! Looks like the contractor was trying to get out cheap, which appears to be be how he chooses and trains his people, on the cheap. Without looking at it, it appears that the failed cap was the initial problem, which should be warranty, and the HO shouldnt have to pay squat, Just IMVHO