He checked his gauges and everything seemed fine, he went up to the attic and the only thing he could see was the TXV bulb just dangling and not tied to anything.

There's always a reason. The bulb of the TXV senses what it needs to deliver to the coil.

But that doesn't make it work if poor practices are put into place.

So if this guy then puts the bulb back to where it's supposed to go... did he then check again? Assuming he knows is another big leap here.

There is more to this than the unit turns on and off. If the unit has refrigerant circuit issues (too much / too little refrigerant (or wrong type) / air in the system / other things in the system that do not belong there etc.) all of this assuming many different things. Is your "lucky break" money all paid up?

So you call yet another one. That other guy has no clue as to what was done, let alone what should have been done but was not. Sure you could tell him the bulb was flapping in the wind -- but that doesn't tell all.

Given my skill level, I enjoy this kind of challenge. These kinds of fixes rarely come cheap. (Most will probably tell you to replace everything --- so you understand your dilema... hopefully.)

I service the Katy, Texas area.

"A more concise statement might be "Abandon hope all ye who enter this forum looking for help."

Huh???

I'm not exactly sure what's going on here haha, but carry on. As for the second technician, I explained to him and provided all images of what the first tech did. Seems as though the first tech, since it was forced warranty work from the company he works for, didn't care as much. The second tech, all he did was check the gauges, looked at the condenser and attic and got paid his inspection fee and left.

I'm not exactly sure what's going on here haha, but carry on.

The builder is one of these guys who likes to look over shoulders of those who actually do work as opposed to those who sit behind desks in ivory towers barking orders and demeaning people who pay his salary.

He doesn't have me under his contract scheme and this upsets him. ( Just laugh him off -- you're fine)

-------------------

So you're doing the right thing explaining things to techs, but the company who installed it is their baby... because they did the work.

Now you ask another tech from another company even explaining what has been going on... warranties in the sense that the work was never done properly isn't covered by a warranty.

Warranties in HVAC merely cover a part. That part when it is tied to the refrigeration circuit of an air conditioner or heat pump --- there are other costs over and above just a part.

refrigerant? nope, not covered. Tools etc. Labor and so on.

If you purchase an extended labor warranty, then labor is marginally covered but we're talking whole system replacement most likely before you get to the realm of extended labor warranties. Even then they are not free because they come with requirements to maintain the equipment, by the installing contractor.

If you deviate from any of that, the labor warranty is virtually worthless. Even then it still doesn't cover refrigerant.

------------ the nitty gritty why things are like this ----

Techs are mostly paid via a scheme of commission + salary (small) or commission and hourly based upon the hourly rate of the commission scheme.

These are methods to motivate a tech to make money + do the job with little to no supervison. (can't ride the clock and get paid) There is no money in these kinds of schemes to make them to want to do "warranty work" especially that from a different company that did the work.

So the techs run these calls just to get thru them to get to the next better paying call. I've been there I know. Companies like to then send the techs on free calls, which are nothing more than high pressure sales picnics. The cost of free if you will.

The tech that came to this job from a different company is not responsible for the work of another company and vice versa. This is why it is oh so important in who you choose to do the work that is needed.

It is the responsibility of the installing contractor to make this right.

OR if you hire someone like me who runs my own show, I will give you other options --- but those most likely will not have anything to do with a warranty. (cost money)

If you read your warranty paper fine print you will see there is no coverage for improper installation / methods etc. ( no matter what brand it is. )

You start over essentially because I am not going to guess what this other company did or didn't do but should have.

I service the Katy, Texas area.

There's disconnections within what was described,mainly that unit shouldn't have worked with the bulb like described. If the swings in temperature and volume are in 30 minute to 1 hour cycles,easy things to try before getting another tech. #1 Be sure all air is going through ,not around coils. #2 I think I saw both sides of coils and they were clean but if they have lint on side where air enters,use a plastic brush to remove it. #3 Unless thos pics were taken within 30 minutes of malfunction,set t-stat to cool,highest temp and fan to on for 2 hours. Set t-stat to cool as usual. If it blows hard and cold for an hour or more,coil freezing should be suspected.

If the hot/cold/warm-strong/weak cycles are sporatic and sometimes cycle within minutes,something obstructing RETURN AIR should be suspected. If you can see coil from return grill this will be easy. When air flow weakens look through duct to see if a loose piece is flipping up to block flow. If nothing is blocking flow,coil is freezing or blower motor is bad. Just on a hunch,make sure wheel is tight on motor shaft.

If you can't see all the way through return,you must use your imagination on checking for something flapping around and blocking air. You can eliminate freezing coil by setting t-stat to high temp and running fan. If flow comes and gos that means it isn't from frozen coil. Flex duct has a linner that occasionally come's loose and collapses inside.

All that should be in your wheelhouse and hopefully finds the problem.

1. The TXV bulb is flapping in the wind.

2. Why would someone install it that way? (Refrigerant flow problem.)

3. Why is there a refrigerant flow problem? (see step 1)

When you only care that the unit turns on and off. It isn't about it working properly.

Certainly there could be more issues as to what Klem1 lays out. This is a forum board and fixing AC's are done in person.... so if you chase around all these other things and there is a refrigerant flow problem?

If you don't fix the refrigerant flow problem, it's not going to work.

I service the Katy, Texas area.