Unpopular opinion: a torque wrench is not optional for HVAC work

Had a guy at a supply house in Phoenix tell me he just tightens by feel on compressor bolts. Three months later he called me asking why his unit was shaking like crazy on startup. Has anyone else seen a DIY job fall apart from skipping the torque specs?

2 comments

2 Comments

riverp376h ago

Tightened a condenser that way once and it cost me a new compressor.

johnson.lee6h ago

Yeah that 1/8 inch over torque on the brass fitting can crack the swage ring inside the block. I had a 410A system at a Walgreens a couple years back where a service port was tightened just past spec and it caused a slow leak at the condenser outlet. We lost the whole charge and the compressor died from running dry for a few days before we caught it. Did you have any vibration issues before the compressor went out?