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How shame freezes your air conditioner
Format: Post-call
Runtime: ~8 minutes
Source: Psychology , shame versus guilt (June Price Tangney, George Mason; Brené Brown, Houston); self-concealment theory (Larson & Chastain, 1990)
He knew. He knew before he called and he definitely knew by the time I pulled up. What I had to work through was getting him to a place where he could let me find it without it becoming a thing.
The call was a system not cooling. August, peak of the worst stretch of the summer. He sounded a little sheepish on the phone , I caught it even then, though I didn't know yet what the sheepishness was about. He just said the system wasn't keeping up and he'd appreciate someone taking a look.
When I got there he walked me to the unit. I started going through the checks. Refrigerant looked fine on a quick read. Outdoor unit running clean. I went inside to check the evaporator.
I pulled the access panel on the air handler and there was the filter. Or what had been a filter, at some point. It was so restricted with dust and debris it had partially collapsed inward. The static pressure differential across that filter was probably double what it should have been. The evaporator coil behind it was already starting to show frost because of the restricted airflow.
I stood there for a second. I'd seen worse, but not often.
I heard him in the doorway behind me. I didn't turn around yet.
He said: I should have checked the filter.
Not a question. A confession.
I said: when did you last change it?
He said: I'm not sure exactly. Maybe a year. Maybe more.
He'd known. He'd been ignoring a nagging sense that the filter should be checked and hadn't checked it and now here was the evidence and here was a stranger looking at the evidence and he was standing in the doorway waiting to see how this was going to go.
Give Us A Shout
Thanks for tuning in to Hartzell's Heat & Air, your trusted HVAC experts in Oklahoma and beyond. From Kingfisher to coast-to-coast consulting, we design, install, and maintain smart, efficient systems that deliver year-round comfort.
We're employee-owned, family-run, and powered by 45+ years of experience. Whether it's AI-powered thermostats, geothermal systems, or classic tune-ups, we deliver upfront pricing, expert care, and warranties that back it all up.
🛠️ Book Online:
https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hartzells-Heat--Air/4a569038b3dc460daf2d5f6497b18351?v2=true
🌐 www.hartzellsheatair.com
📞 (405) 375-4822
🚛 Trane Comfort Specialist • Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer • ClimateMaster Elite
🛡️ VIP Comfort Club • Remote Monitoring • Extended Warranties
📲 Follow us for tips, updates, and real-world installs:
YouTube: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.
View all episodes
By Dave Hartzell's Heat & Air - Kingfisher,OKFormat: Post-call
Runtime: ~8 minutes
Source: Psychology , shame versus guilt (June Price Tangney, George Mason; Brené Brown, Houston); self-concealment theory (Larson & Chastain, 1990)
He knew. He knew before he called and he definitely knew by the time I pulled up. What I had to work through was getting him to a place where he could let me find it without it becoming a thing.
The call was a system not cooling. August, peak of the worst stretch of the summer. He sounded a little sheepish on the phone , I caught it even then, though I didn't know yet what the sheepishness was about. He just said the system wasn't keeping up and he'd appreciate someone taking a look.
When I got there he walked me to the unit. I started going through the checks. Refrigerant looked fine on a quick read. Outdoor unit running clean. I went inside to check the evaporator.
I pulled the access panel on the air handler and there was the filter. Or what had been a filter, at some point. It was so restricted with dust and debris it had partially collapsed inward. The static pressure differential across that filter was probably double what it should have been. The evaporator coil behind it was already starting to show frost because of the restricted airflow.
I stood there for a second. I'd seen worse, but not often.
I heard him in the doorway behind me. I didn't turn around yet.
He said: I should have checked the filter.
Not a question. A confession.
I said: when did you last change it?
He said: I'm not sure exactly. Maybe a year. Maybe more.
He'd known. He'd been ignoring a nagging sense that the filter should be checked and hadn't checked it and now here was the evidence and here was a stranger looking at the evidence and he was standing in the doorway waiting to see how this was going to go.
Give Us A Shout
Thanks for tuning in to Hartzell's Heat & Air, your trusted HVAC experts in Oklahoma and beyond. From Kingfisher to coast-to-coast consulting, we design, install, and maintain smart, efficient systems that deliver year-round comfort.
We're employee-owned, family-run, and powered by 45+ years of experience. Whether it's AI-powered thermostats, geothermal systems, or classic tune-ups, we deliver upfront pricing, expert care, and warranties that back it all up.
🛠️ Book Online:
https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hartzells-Heat--Air/4a569038b3dc460daf2d5f6497b18351?v2=true
🌐 www.hartzellsheatair.com
📞 (405) 375-4822
🚛 Trane Comfort Specialist • Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer • ClimateMaster Elite
🛡️ VIP Comfort Club • Remote Monitoring • Extended Warranties
📲 Follow us for tips, updates, and real-world installs:
YouTube: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.