Whether you are a large or small contractor, any business can benefit from inventory management. SimpleStock can help those who experience a delay in jobs due to stock outs or manual ordering of product. It can also help prevent overstocking of unnecessary items, excess inventory and high write-offs. SimpleStock allows you to take control of your inventory anywhere, anytime from your mobile device or tablet.
When I was first starting out in the HVAC Industry as a new technician, it was a common joke at my first company that you could tell the longer a technician had been in the industry by looking at his tool bag. The joke was that while newbie technicians such as me had a tool bag loaded with tools, the veteran technicians had a mostly empty and worn bag that had a few things here and there in it. Granted, I learned a lot from the senior technicians at that company, but I did not carry that habit with me. If you want to do a job correctly, then you must have the correct tools.
Check in with Dockside Pickup right from the East Coast Metal Distributors mobile app. Your order is then entered in a priority queue where you can monitor the progress of your order while you wait in your vehicle. When your order is ready, you will be notified so that you can just load and go.
1. Minimize Contact – Limit contact when picking up your orders for a safer, quicker pickup experience.
2. Priority Pickup – Your order will go into a priority queue for our staff to pick and stage. Dockside pickup allows you to skip the line for VIP service.
3. Monitor Progress – Track the progress of your order while you wait in your vehicle.
4. No More Phone Calls – Cut out the time it takes to call the branch to let them know you are on your way. Check in, pickup and go.
Dockside pick up can be easily accessed from the home page of the mobile app. Once you check in, your order will be entered into a priority queue that you can track for quicker, more convenient pick up.
1. Check In – Select check in located on the home screen of the mobile app (make sure that you are logged in).
2. Select Orders – Select the orders you wish to pick up.
3. Your Vehicle – Enter your vehicle description and how you would like to be notified.
Interested in using Dockside Pickup? Download the app and start checking in today!
Robert Frost once famously fretted over which two diverging roads in the woods to take. He presented the case of a traveler that has come to a crucial decision that must be made. The same theme often rings true in HVAC diagnosis. The technician finds themselves at a diagnostic crossroads, if you will, and a choice must be made:
Today I am going to review troubleshooting an inverter compressor and the control that drives it. Often in analyzing service manuals you find flow charts that look like this:
Continue reading “Series: Pro Training – Troubleshooting An Inverter Driven Compressor”
I don’t know about you, but I can say comfortably that I do not find myself in the position of having thousands of dollars I want to dispose of. If you find yourself in a different position, please contact me and I will be happy to help you relieve yourself of those burdensome funds. I am using that statement because I know we can all never agree on the exact “average” cost of a Ductless AC installation, but I feel confident we can all agree that the number is over $1000. My point being that the price point means I am not interested in just “throwing it away” at the first sign of trouble. These machines or appliances are not disposable. They can be maintained, and they can be repaired. However, both of those concepts must begin with us doing something that many of us feel uncomfortable with … opening the machine up.
Continue reading “Series: Pro Training – Non Disposable A/C Units”
A common service call that arrives in the latter days of summer is a clogged drain line. It is par for the course in the Southeastern United States; we have warm temperatures combined with high humidity. Air conditioning systems work to address both the temperature of the home (sensible heat) as well as the humidity of the home (latent heat). As the HVAC system runs it absorbs both heat and humidity from the home into the evaporator section of the unit. The heat is transferred outside via the refrigerant lines and superheated refrigerant while the humidity is transferred outside the home via the HVAC system drain line.
Slime in a drain is a universal problem. It occurs in shower drains, sink drains, and even appliance drains. There are many variables that can increase the likelihood and frequency in slime forming in the HVAC drain system. However, two key ingredients are always present: food and moisture. Food is provided by dust or dirt that manages to get into the HVAC system. This dust and/or dirt will contain some organic matter which will serve as a food source. This will combine with already present moisture from normal cooling operations and provide a moist environment with a food source. The result will be a slimy gunk that will easily clog the HVAC drain line. The drain lines in an HVAC system are not under any pressure, therefore it does not take a large amount of resistance to block the drainage of condensate.
If face masks protect the air that humans breathe, air filters are certainly the face masks of the HVAC realm — clearing particles from the airstream that a building “breathes” and transmits to those within. While there may not be a run on air filters the way there is on face masks, contractors and manufacturers alike report increased interest from their clients in IAQ since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Continue reading “From ACHR NEWS: Dealing With Dirty Air Filters During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
At East Coast Metal Distributors we know that you are busy, so we want to make ordering as easy as possible. Check out these 4 easy ways to order – pick which one is the best for you and get started today!
Continue reading “4 Easy Ways to Order with East Coast Metal Distributors”
30% of truck rolls are due to clogged condensate lines. Knowing that the float switch was tripped on the air handler helps to get the right tech onsite before you get an emergency call from your customer.
Now you can get notified when the float switch trips or there is water in the drain pan. New smart water sensors send alerts to your phone for floods, leaks, and clogged condensate lines.
Watch this short video to see the float switch alert system in action.
Book a demo with Alert Labs to learn more about this remote A/C monitoring and alert system.
The United States market has come a long way on embracing ductless HVAC units. From 20 years ago when you would occasionally see a unit installed on a sunroom to present day when this technology is regularly used to combat discomfort in bonus rooms, additions, garages, and even whole home applications. Along the way code has had to change in order to adapt to the more widely used ductless technology. One of these areas of adaption is in the protection of a wall mounted indoor unit from condensation overflow. Unlike traditional installations where auxiliary drain pans are widely used, the standard wall mounted indoor unit only has the internal drain pan. This design leaves open the possibility of wall and/or flooring damage should the drain line become obstructed.
Continue reading “Series: Pro Training – Ductless Drain Safety Installation”
