A homeowner in Phoenix called me out for not checking the condensate drain slope

I was wrapping up an AC install near Scottsdale last month and the guy walks over, points at the drain line, and says it has to drop at least a quarter inch per foot. I always just eyeballed it, but he pulled out a level and showed me it was barely half that. He said if it clogs later I'd be back out there on my dime. Now I carry a small level in my bag and check every single one before I leave.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_miles1mo ago

Man that's one of those things where you don't realize how much you were just winging it until someone actually calls you out with a tool. It's like how every guy I know who works on cars has that one friend who checks the torque wrench settings before they do anything. Once you start carrying that level you'll start noticing all the other stuff people just assume is fine. It's the same pattern with anything you do long enough, you get comfortable and start cutting corners without even thinking about it. But that one guy with his level probably saved you from a bunch of headaches down the road.

-1

martin.margaret1mo ago

My buddy hung a whole gallery wall by eye and it looked fine until his dad brought a laser level over. Every single frame was slightly off in a different direction. Once you see that stuff you can't unsee it, and now he checks everything twice.