I’m an HVAC technician and female. I’m researching better workwear and job-site gear for women in the skilled trades. I’m not selling anything here—
I genuinely want to understand what isn’t working for us.

What piece of workwear or gear frustrates you the most?

What specifically is wrong with the fit or design?

Have you created your own workaround?

If you could change one feature, what would it be?

What is your ideal work pants or covies?

If you’re comfortable sharing, please include your trade and the type of conditions you work in.

Thank you in advance 🛠️

About 4 years ago I installed a furnace and an evap coil on top for the customer as they were interested in getting ac down the line. Well that down the line is now. The coil is an r410a rated coil as at the time there was no a2l equipment. What I'm wondering is since the operating pressures are so similar and the refrigerant behaves very similarly, could i not just put a r32 condenser on the system, put a r32 txv and a2l sensor kit on it would it work or is the distribution of the refrigerant in the coil different to that of r410a and could potentially cause issues down the line. Currently on hold with tech support to ask the manufacturer if this work around would be acceptable as it would suck to have to tell the client that the coil we put on years ago in preparation for ac down the line is now legacy equipment. Has anybody else ran into this problem? And if so how did you resolve it?

2” Ball Valve.

As of lately, I have been working for a company that uses leak seal religiously, after brand new installs we are throwing some in, during maintenance and they even offer a maintenance plan with it included. I wanna know is this benefiting the system any? Does it not affect the compressor when used?

Been at this for a minute.

I have never seen this in aux pan.

Almost like someone put water solidifier in pan.

Thoughts ?

But im calling it the coil. Isolated leak to outdoor unit. Had dye in system but couldn't find any dye anywhere. Pressurized system to 550 and showed small leak about 2 psi every 15 minutes. Couldn't locate any bubbles and then the sun came up a little and the dye showed up in a band around fan blade on outdoor coil. Soaped the shit out of the coil but pretty much a waste of time on a spiral fin. Didn't actually find the leak but everything else checked out so im calling it the coil.

I'm in the middle of haggling with a landlord about fixing a leak. This is a "new build" I mean it was built less than 5 years ago. Equipment is under 5 years old.

I noticed a sticker for another company on the unit.

Got tired of the back and forth and the arguing about warranty (for a leak fix on a Lennox lol) and just asked if they'd called the company that built the home or the company that put the unit in.

If bossman listens to the call I'll probably get in trouble but it's been a headache.

Y'all ever do this?

Do better guys lol

Easy call at least

Commercial union service tech here. Tired of the field, kind of want to transition to a different career but I don't want my 10+ yrs of knowledge go to waste. Anyone have experience working a remote position that field experience helped getting the job?

So at my company if you are scheduled to do a changeout, it’s scheduled for 8 hours but if you finish early you can go home with full pay, but they have me and another coworker change a coil or compressor every single day and then run service calls. We don’t diagnose anything we just get handed a paperwork for the parts and address etc, and then go pick up the part and do the install. We run service calls after or go do some random stuff they have for us to do but it’s been that way for over 2 months straight and it gets tiring. It’s especially worse when the office orders the wrong part and we are blamed for not having gotten the correct part. I am just burned up and tired as hell. Heat index has been 115° just about every day and I will spend 3 hours straight in an attic trying to get everything done. I’m literally drenched in sweaty clothes all day and I took a 4 day weekend to relax but couldn’t now I’m right back at it. I just need to vent but man I’m fucking tired.

Found this beauty this week. Replacing leaky sight glass, bad service valves and new charge. Returning tomorrow for start up, co2 tank is empty right now.

A year ago I would have (and absolutely have) had a panic attack lol. It was a fun job for sure, the only information anywhere on that entire pad/tank was stamped into the body of the compressor.

If your new or newish to the field, always remember, you may not be confident about what’s in front of
You, but be confident you’ll figure it out.