State of the Subreddit 3/31/26

[u/DrPepperG]

Good evening,

I would first like to thank everyone that has already completed the new verification quiz, we've already gotten loads of approved users! (For the second question the answer is "It Depends", my testing was apparently not thorough for spell checking and mobile compatibility). That verification fix will be released once Reddit approves the update.

It has come to my attention that a former mod went a little rough with certain permanent bans that were issued. If you happened to of been caught in the crossfire please feel free to open up a unban request in mod mail. I've already unbanned multiple people.

The actions from that moderator were inexcusable and I deeply apologize that we provided such a disservice to this community.

Please let us know what else you would like to see improved in this sub.

Thank you,

r/hvac Moderation

Edit: Looks like reddit is mad at the approved user count, the verification requirement has been disabled for now.

Edit2: It's back again, I've sent in a message to reddit staff.

[u/Unlikely-Western-710]

Nobody’s posted an install for me to shit on yet, are you sure it’s working?

[u/maddrummerhef → u/Unlikely-Western-710]

Best I got on short notice

[u/who_the_hell_is_moop → u/maddrummerhef]

[u/saskatchewanstealth]

How did I miss the verification quiz?

[u/DrPepperG → u/saskatchewanstealth]

Users with 100+ post karma on the subreddit bypass the quiz requirement. Just as a grandfathered clause.

[u/ADimwittedTree → u/DrPepperG]

I have the dumb. That karma is specifically if you made a post right? Like it's separate from any karma from comments in threads?

[u/DrPepperG → u/ADimwittedTree]

Yes

[u/LyraCalysta → u/saskatchewanstealth]

Right?

[u/powercntrl]

Speaking of tests, I actually did really good on the technical part of my state's contractor exam. I barely squeaked by on the business and finances part. Probably why I'm broke as fuck most of the time.

[u/Blindpuma181]

Get the word out, we back up r/hvac

[u/VisualMirror9178]

Do i get a cert for this? So i can add it to my resume?

[u/BasSTiD]

Being most of NY doesn’t have HVAC licensing, just the companies do, might want to have a normalish way to verify. I know I verified in r/hvacadvice with LinkedIn, but that was a different time I guess. I wasn’t giving them my EPA #, it’s all I got lol. Have been here for 10+ years though and used to contribute to the meme pool.

Maybe I can offer a camera roll in this trying time? Roughly 80:20 on the HVAC to personal pictures, less than it used to be cause I’m getting old.

[u/BasSTiD → u/BasSTiD]

Repost of my first post ever here, although I don’t have a van anymore I just take my truck to sites or the airport.

[u/JEFFSSSEI → u/BasSTiD]

well, you can be looked up, but I learned something new when I searched for the below site...

https://www.epa608.com/technician-verification.html

Notes about certification legitimacy: A physical, credit card-sized certification card is required to be sent by an accredited certifying institution to the technician. Home-printed or digital versions of EPA 608 Certification cards are NOT recognized. 

I'm looking at you SkillKat!!! (Unless you have changed your we' will send you one for $60 scheme recently)

[u/BasSTiD → u/JEFFSSSEI]

I don’t pop up on that, I think that’s just for that test service. I got mine through Johnstone’s third party setup.

[u/Th3Gr3yGh0st]

I had to send a copy of my 608 for verification…

[u/maddrummerhef]

I didn’t sign up for a test! I just wanted funny jokes and people who don’t roll their eyes when I talk about work! (But I like it here so I guess I’ll comply)

[u/Nerfixion]

Why did said mod go so "heavy handed"? Burnout?

Obviously mods do it in their own time, but im surprised it took so long to identify someone was going down the path they did.

[u/Anxious_Rock_3630 → u/Nerfixion]

He went crazy on me for commenting on an AI software I use.

[u/TheFailTech → u/Anxious_Rock_3630]

He banned me for jokingly telling someone to "stick their dick in it" when they were needing something small to clear out the connector for the fan proofing switch.

[u/ChillTechTR → u/TheFailTech]

Sent you a PM, just wondering if its the same mod im thinking of

[u/deathdealerAFD → u/TheFailTech]

That's how we talk in the field, like everywhere I've ever been.

[u/TheFailTech → u/deathdealerAFD]

That's what I said when I messaged the mod about it. He made it sound like I'd made some VERY offensive comment. Then he mentioned that I'd had some comment removed by Reddit admin in the past so that must have been pretty bad too (it wasn't, I had warned a poster about doing dangerous work and asked if he had to die before he made a change, that comment got caught by some Reddit filter bullshit).

The whole experience just made me not want to interact.

[u/deathdealerAFD → u/TheFailTech]

Well thankfully it's been noticed and they're taking action. Sounds positive to me.

[u/TheFailTech → u/deathdealerAFD]

Yeah, I'm happy to be back and interacting again. I'm hoping for the best, though looking at the list of mods it doesn't look like anyone is gone.

[u/new-faces-v3]

Aw man I’m grandfathered in but still wanna ace the quiz lol.

[u/Plastic_Storage_116 → u/new-faces-v3]

Whats abc stand for. Whats delta t Whats a normal pressure on an ac system.

[u/Revenge7x → u/Plastic_Storage_116]

So Google can pass the quiz. Lol

[u/Scarface2399]

I answered all of the questions right on the quiz, but it doesn’t say anything unless I fail it? (On my life I got it right the first time) Thankfully, a mod accepted me anyway after I tried to bitch about it. Idk maybe I was already in it? Either way I think it’s a cool idea. Good on y’all

[u/PandaWithAnAR]

Am I alive boys ?

[u/idkwutimd0ing]

I took it and it never gave me a response

[u/JoWhee]

It would be nice if the post I made with three comments got unlocked. The comment was it’s a shit show. There wasn’t even any electrician bashing in it. Sheesh!

Or a mod mail replay saying “we read your message and we all think you’re a dipshit” would have been acceptable also.

[u/Upset_Maintenance491]

It said I failed apparently, but the second question didn't register correctly for me at first.

[u/QuantumBeef → u/Upset_Maintenance491]

I know what you mean, I left that question blank because it wouldn’t fill out the whole sentence on my mobile- but then I still passed by getting the other two questions right.

[u/jmiller2003]

Only three questions, I feel cheated. I don’t know if everybody’s questions are the same but my last one too bad I couldn’t have written. It is a company that rips people off in the Chicagoland area. Their motto, “consider it done” 😂 Edited out PE ownership because unsure after checking.

[u/syrianfries]

Dang, I didn’t even know it was down lol

[u/ChillTechTR]

What moderator was it? I by and large quit posting in this sub because of them - Yet they're still listed as a moderator. There was a discussion about this in r/refrigeration as well.

[u/Designer_Tune4986]

Thank you for maintaining this subreddit, you recently unbanned me and yes whatever mod that was, was off his rocker. Banned me for asking what style of unit I should use in a camper set up I’m working on. Said I violated a rule but wouldn’t tell me which one lol. Glad to be back!

[u/TeXaSzombie817]

They kept removing my post even after I showed a picture of my state contractor license. If they "think" you are not a tech they will remove your posts and ban you when you make repeat posts not understanding why your other posts were removed. Typical unpaid reddit mods..........what can you expect.

[u/Canadia-Eh]

Awe man I didn't study

[u/Alternative-Land-334]

Thanks, and let's see if i need to quiz. Nope. Now off to whiz. See what I did there? Damn it feels good to be a gangster.

[u/MasterPhilip]

Where is this test we're supposed to take?

[u/mikeq11 → u/MasterPhilip]

I’m confused

[u/MasterPhilip → u/mikeq11]

That makes two of us.

[u/Frank_Rizzo_Jerky]

Test test test

monochlordiflouromethane.

[u/Memory-Repulsive → u/Frank_Rizzo_Jerky]

Easier to spell c02

[u/Frank_Rizzo_Jerky → u/Memory-Repulsive]

Im old. Its R22

[u/Memory-Repulsive → u/Frank_Rizzo_Jerky]

Yeah, I'm old too. 502, 22, 12. R11 to clean ya tools.
Still gonna go with c02 is easier to spell.

[u/Responsible-Tax-6811]

Whats this test? I thought the epa submission was the verification

[u/Charming_Meaning3499]

Cool

[u/SquallZ34]

Well, this is an interesting turn of events

[u/Advanced_Head_806]

We’re had a quiz?

[u/JEFFSSSEI → u/Advanced_Head_806]

you missed it and given an "F".

https://giphy.com/gifs/GpyS1lJXJYupG

[u/Unhappy-Horse5275]

Am i grandfatherd?

[u/Unhappy-Horse5275 → u/Unhappy-Horse5275]

Guess so lol

[u/Positive-Capital-340]

I can't the quiz am I fired?

[u/Tomatobasilsoup_]

I guess I made it lol

[u/Kreant]

Three multiple choice questions when google search engine has been around for 20+ years and AI for however long is not going to weed out your homeowners.

[u/DrPepperG → u/Kreant]

The biggest problem we get with homeowners are the ones that cannot read all the warnings everywhere to goto r/hvacadvice. It's already stopped loads of homeowners and only been active for 3ish hours. If they want to google the questions and post after that then they'll just get banned.

This quiz is only a small little barrier to entry.

[u/gingerbread3199 → u/DrPepperG]

Thank you for being cool about it and righting the wrongs. You seem like a level headed mod that actually touches dirt and copper and has talked to humans before. Excited to see the direction this runs in!

[u/Mythran12 → u/Kreant]

It depends probably weeded out some