There is a lot more to this industry than, " I topped it off with some juice and now it runs great!" What the heck does "runs great" mean!?!? or "Yeah I put my hand over the register and I could feel lots of air so I know my airflow is good!".  Seriously!?!? I've looked at all of my test instruments, and not a single one that I own reads "Good" on the display. 

Our industry is a Skilled-Trade. So where is all the skill? "Beer-can cold" is not taught in any class that I am aware of. 

I hear this alot as well "I've been doing this for 35 years and I've never had to do that before, that's stupid!"  Are you telling me that with 35 years experience, that you've never had to check superheat or subcooling? You've never had to set manifold gas pressure? You're going to stand there and tell me that you have never once had to verify airflow by checking ESP!?!?!? Even though the furnace manufacture has been putting ESP on the rating plate since the 70's?

There is no doubt that equipment is changing. Every manufacture is making changes to there lines. Cost, sales, efficiency, all play a role in this. However, just because the equipment is changing, doesn't mean the testing standards or the laws and rules of science are, or ever will for that matter.  I am fully aware that the new stuff now-a-days isn't built the same. Why should it be? If the system is installed and set up correctly, then there is no need for it to be built like a tank. Just because the old stuff could handle the abuse and still work, does not mean that it was installed and set up correctly, nor does it make it right that we neglected to do the job properly. 

The furnace does not need to be so hot that we cant touch it, for it to heat properly. Why do I need 200*F plenum air when 115*F is plenty to keep me comfortable in the dead of winter. Who's paying for that wasted cost?

R22, AB/MO oil and hermetic compressors were forgiving with improper install practices as well. Now that we've switch to Blended refrigerants and POE oil, people are losing their minds now because they have to pull a proper vacuum and adjust SH/SC. Things we should've been doing all along.

We have a responsibility as technicians to make sure the equipment we install and service is set up and working properly. This is a service that YOU are providing to your customer, this is what they are paying you for. Do you want repeat business or repeat call backs? 

Its ultimately your name and reputation on the line, not the equipment. Its all heating and cooling in a box, regardless of brand. If its not installed and set up properly, it will fail. 

Carlos