Heat Pumps on Scary Rooftops!
Scary Rooftop HVAC in the Phoenix, AZ area. Another bad problem with idiot builders who obviously don’t have to pass any mechanical or building code in the Phoenix, AZ area… and the idiot residential HVAC companies who just want to make a buck! Here is a video I took with my camera phone to demonstrate how hard it is to climb one of these death traps with just a small toolbag. (You should see it when we have to bring up compressors, tanks, welding supply, and recovery machines!) The homes shown in this video were built by Deitz Crane Builders in the Phoenix, AZ area as well as El Mirage, AZ and some other areas. These are tile rooftops with just enough shingles to allow the Heat Pump to be placed. I usually have to still walk on the tiles on some of the homes. The two story homes are the worst! One reason is because there is a brick wall in between the home and the neighbors yard that only leaves a few feet to place your ladder, which then is going almost straight up. Getting up the ladder is unsafe in itself. Once you climb onto the rooftop, that is surprisingly steep for an area that sees NO SNOW, you have to be careful not to trip over the drain pipe or electrical whip! So this crap is dangerous enough during BROAD DAYLIGHT, but the customer’s expect you to climb this sh*t AFTER DARK because they can’t wait until morning! And many residential HVAC companies like the one in Peoria/Sun City West, AZ expects you to service these units day or night!!!! If you’re thinking …
August 30th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Edit all the F words. Thanks.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
I can’t figure out why they install package units on the roof of a residential property.
Is the space inside that much of an issue ?
August 30th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I believe ur name is Shawn and known for being a hardcore winer. Nobody makes you do your chosen profession. I agree there is a ton of hack jobs and installs out there but your way of exposing it seems to serve no purpose other than your own self interest. You should join your local ACCA or run for some political office to create positive change. Wining about the way the houses are too close together only makes you sound like a p-ssy. By the way your filming on company time is theft of co. theft
August 30th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I’m glad that I haven’t had to run into this problem in Omaha, NE. There is no excuse for such poor planning. Too many techs get hurt on the job.
August 30th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
would you wanna get in an attic in Phoenix in July
A roof is hot as hell but the attic is an oven
August 30th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
what is so Scary about this try working on an oilrig and have 2 maintain the pipe then you know what is Scary, it makes this seem like a walk i the park, Scary my ass ROFL
August 30th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Have these people never heard of split systems? Why are packaged units used in residential in the first place?
August 30th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
im just starting in the industry here in cali and sum of these old timers hate having to train enrty level techs.I worked for a company for two fucking days and got laid off because old fuck head hated the way i did things.BTW anyone trying to get a job here in palm springs good luck companies are picky around here.
August 30th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
fuck that. no one would do that hear.
August 30th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Ah, some of these are pretty bad.
Oh, while I was in Vegas i saw the same shit. I have a video of those too.
Maybe the same retarded builder has designed houses in Phoenix AND Vegas?
August 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
that roof isnt even that bad, i live in vegas and on a 1 to 10 scale (10 being worst) this is about a 3 on my scale.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
That’s the scary thing right there. Once you used water and cleaners up there, the roof is now slick when you walk back down to your ladder. Because most are TILE roofs with a strip of shingles directly below the units for your ladder, you always get your walkway wet!
August 30th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
How about doing a coil cleaning up there?.
I am glade I live in california..
August 30th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
thats the thing with new houses….they make them so damn close together.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
To be honest with you, If I ever came across a job like that I would call my boss and tell him I wasnt doing it lol. Luckly we dont have that type of stuff in S.E. Alabama
August 30th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
HvacrTalk . com welcomes Techs contractors and consumers to join free and discuss and trade infor and learn meet others in the trade. good links and resources…all you need is a valid email to activate your account.
August 30th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
i helped a sparky mate of mine fitout a house and we had to rewire half of it due to crapy work
August 30th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Damn, sorry to hear that! Don’t you want to find who designed this shit and slap their face with the bitch side of your open hand?
August 30th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
we get the same kinds of fuckarse builders over here
August 30th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Oh yeah. I’ve done a few of those on them homes. NOT an easy thing to do. Just think of all you have to bring up onto that roof and hope it don’t slide off: Recovery Machine. Recovery Tank. Vacuum Pump. Nitrogen Tank. Torch Set. Tank of R-22. And other assorted tools not too mention a 80LB Compressor. Luckily at the residential company that installed these POS units, they used a 2 man crew to do compressor change outs so I didn’t do many of them when I worked for them. But I fixed many leaks.
August 30th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
compressor change-out…ouch!
August 31st, 2010 at 12:10 am
EXACTLY why I post this for all to see. I want eveyone to know how corrupt the inspectors/city/builders are in the Phoenix, AZ area! Maybe something can be done to stop this madness!
August 31st, 2010 at 12:14 am
Man I see why you guy’s have so much trouble!!! Your inspection dept is inadequate! Where I’m from if it remotely look’s like a liability, the inspection dept. jump’s in and they make it right!!! We had to put in two unit’s twenty foot in the air on the side of a church and we built two 8×10 Deck’s with three foot guardrail’s with twenty foot 6×6 treated post and more diagonal braces bolted together than really needed but it was solid and safe!!!!
August 31st, 2010 at 12:21 am
From one HVAC tech to another, Thanks!!! I think code DOES mention a rail for roofs of this pitch, etc. The pipe and conduit “trip wires” strategically placed around the unit doesn’t help my nerves either. But thank gawd my days doing residential are over.
August 31st, 2010 at 1:20 am
The building code needs to be revised to make it mandatory that a roof rail needs to be installed if the air conditioner is placed on a pitched roof. I feel your pain, dude.