In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about band-aids, hacks, and ethics. He explores ethical “band-aid” solutions and how to charge for them. He also covers the difference between patching up equipment ethically and unethical repairs.

Temporary fixes and ugly permanent fixes fall into the ethical gray area for a lot of people, especially if technicians or HVAC business managers don’t know where to draw the line between replacing a part completely and patching up issues. Patching condenser coils is an example of repair work that can be ethical. Some protocols say that the copper needs to be cut out and couplings need to be installed, but you can often patch tubing in areas where there isn’t too much vibration. As always, you want to make sure that the system can hold pressure whenever you patch up a leak. 

The ethics question comes into play when the longevity of the equipment or repair is questionable. Bryan draws the line when the system has structural integrity issues, including damaged fins and severe corrosion. Beyond a certain point, patching a system up either won’t be effective or will be an added expense without a payoff. Some companies also strongly favor sales over repairs, so some of those decisions may also come down to company policy.

The key to ethical and successful “hack” work is situational awareness; you need to know which repairs you’re capable of, your company’s policies, and the client’s needs. You ultimately need to make sure your actions are legal and safe for you and the client. 

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