Gartman Mechanical Services inc.

08/27/2026

The larger copper refrigerant line between an air conditioner and the indoor coil should normally be insulated.

When that insulation splits or deteriorates, the exposed suction line gains heat and may sweat heavily. That can reduce performance and allow water to drip onto siding, ceilings, equipment, or finished surfaces.

Replacing damaged insulation is straightforward. Determining why the line is excessively wet may require more than that.

The insulation is the visible condition. System readings tell the rest of the story.

08/24/2026

Cooling equipment that starts, runs briefly, shuts off, and repeats may still be producing cold air. That does not mean it is operating correctly.

Short cycling can be caused by control problems, restricted airflow, dirty coils, refrigerant issues, overheating components, improper sizing, or poor thermostat placement.

Repeated starts add wear to motors, contactors, and compressors. Short run times can also leave humidity behind because the system does not operate long enough to remove it effectively.

A system that technically runs can still be headed toward failure.

08/24/2026

A house can reach the thermostat setting and still feel uncomfortable.

Temperature is only one part of the system. Airflow, humidity, filtration, equipment staging, zoning, thermostat controls, and how the components communicate all affect how the house actually feels.

Trane’s Center of Home Comfort explains how technologies such as variable-speed equipment, smart controls, zoning, diagnostics, and indoor-air-quality equipment work together.

The useful question is not how many features a system has. It is whether those features solve a real problem in the house.

Read more about the Center of Home Comfort: https://www.trane.com/residential/en/resources/center-of-home-comfort

08/20/2026

Mechanical equipment rarely lines up perfectly with the ductwork already in a building.

Transitions, offsets, curb adapters, plenums, and fittings have to move air from one component to another without adding unnecessary restriction, leakage, noise, or access problems.

That work starts in the sheet metal shop with accurate measurements, proper layout, and coordination with the people installing the system.

A poorly made transition can undermine good equipment. Custom fabrication is part of making the complete system operate correctly.

08/18/2026

An air conditioner removes moisture along with heat.

During humid Wisconsin weather, that water has to move through the condensate pan, trap, and drain without backing up. Sludge, dust, algae, or poor drain pitch can stop the flow.

The result may be water around the furnace, ceiling damage below commercial equipment, musty odors, a tripped safety switch, or an AC system that appears to have quit for no obvious reason.

The cooling equipment may still be capable of running. The drain system is what stopped it.

08/17/2026

August 16 is National Backflow Prevention Day. The subject is not glamorous, but protecting the water supply rarely is.

Backflow happens when a pressure change allows water to move in the wrong direction through a plumbing system.

That can allow water from a boiler loop, irrigation system, chemical dispenser, commercial kitchen, hose connection, or another cross-connection to enter the potable water supply.

Backflow preventers are installed to stop that reversal. They also have to be properly selected, installed, inspected, and tested.

08/13/2026

Gartman Mechanical Services is proud to support the Lourdes Academy Tee It Up for Kids Golf Outing as a hole sponsor.

This year’s outing is August 14 at Lake Breeze Golf Club.

We are glad to support the families, volunteers, alumni, and local businesses investing in Lourdes Academy and the Oshkosh community.

Learn more about the Tee It Up for Kids Golf Outing: https://e.givesmart.com/events/KsD/

08/11/2026

Gartman Mechanical Services is proud to be a hole sponsor for the Greater Valley Mini Open on August 13 at Oshkosh Mills Adventure Golf.

Proceeds support the Oshkosh Area School District Education Foundation and help local educators cover classroom needs that fall outside regular school budgets.

Practical support for the people doing the day-to-day work in Oshkosh schools.

Learn more about the Greater Valley Mini Open:

Join us at Greater Valley Mini Open

08/10/2026

When an IT server rack cooling system and split unit went down unexpectedly, restoring cooling was only part of the job.

Brian and the team worked through the HVAC issue, involved Schneider Electric where additional expertise was needed, and coordinated the information Goodwill’s IT and facilities teams needed to move forward.

Jake Lepke, Director of Facilities Management and Planning for Goodwill North Central Wisconsin, wrote:

“Brian and team went far beyond the normal scope of service. His proactive approach, sense of urgency, and commitment to helping us resolve the situation were greatly appreciated.”

Critical cooling problems do not always stay neatly inside one trade. Someone still has to troubleshoot the complete situation, bring in the right people, and keep the work moving.

Thank you to Jake and the Goodwill NCW team for recognizing Brian’s work.

08/06/2026

A severe storm can damage mechanical equipment without destroying it outright.

Before restarting a system after an outage, look for shifted equipment, bent guards or coils, loose conduit, damaged piping, water around controls, and debris near fans or air intakes.

Do not keep resetting a breaker or restarting equipment that immediately shuts down again. That protective shutdown may be preventing a larger failure.