HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
752 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 943 ratingsReal training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.
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Episodes
Vacuum Pump Basics w/ Kevan Mayer
August 29, 2018 17:50 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MBHow does a vacuum pump work? When should you change the oil? What does that oil do anyway? Kevan Mayer of NAVAC comes on the podcast to answer these questions and more in this episode. Vacuum pumps help remove moisture and non-condensables from the system. Moisture can freeze at temperature drops in the system, and it can block refrigerant flow to the system. Moisture can also combine with POE oil to become acidic, which causes burnouts. A vacuum pump uses an impeller to bring a system und...
Short #20 - Tips for Service Valves
August 28, 2018 11:00 - 8 minutes - 12.2 MBIn today's short podcast episode, Bryan covers some tips about HVAC/R service valves and caps for new technicians. While service valves may seem simple, there are some things you should know about them before you handle them in the field. Before you connect your gauges, ask yourself if you even need to connect gauges. If you've already benchmarked the system and know what to expect, then you may be able to suffice with line temperatures. If you have a system with caps or Schrader cores and...
Hard Shut Off TXVs
August 23, 2018 11:00 - 43 minutes - 59.5 MBJamie Kitchen returns to the podcast and talks all about hard shut off TXVs/TEVs. He discusses bleed and non-bleed valves and why the TXV type matters to your compressor. When it comes to TXVs, there are two main types: bleed and non-bleed. The former may be referred to as a bleed TXV, and the latter may simply be called a TXV. However, OEMs may refer to TXVs as a "hard shut off TXV" (HSO), which is a non-bleed TXV. The core difference between bleed and non-bleed TXVs is the equalizatio...
Short 19 - Superheat, Evaporator vs. Compressor
August 21, 2018 11:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBIn today's podcast, we cover why both compressor and evaporator superheat matter. We also address some common confusion related to each. Evaporator and compressor superheat are two different readings that give you different indicators about the system's health. When you look at evaporator superheat, you see how far you feed boiling refrigerant into the evaporator coil. You don't want to overfeed your evaporator coil and risk flooding your compressor. However, you also don't want to starv...
Pulling a Vacuum 2.0 w/ Jim Bergmann
August 16, 2018 10:54 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MBIn today's podcast, Jim Bergmann joins us to talk about evacuation. He discusses pulling a vacuum, conductance speed, microns, core removal, decay rate, and all that other nerdy vacuum stuff. Jim has helped develop some new BluVac hoses with AccuTools, and he's here to explain why we need those. He also explains why we need to be more educated on evacuation. While we have many good hoses today, we still have a way to go when it comes to moisture removal. Jim Bergmann has seen the need for ...
Short 18 - Can You Freeze Water in a Vacuum?
August 14, 2018 11:00 - 8 minutes - 12.5 MBIn today's short podcast episode, Jim Bergmann and Bryan answer the age-old question: Can you really freeze water in a vacuum by pulling down too fast? Is that a problem? What should you do about it? Here is the short answer: NO. You CAN'T freeze water in a vacuum in a typical residential A/C system. First of all, you would need to have water in the system to freeze water in the system. We typically don't see large amounts of water in JVAC systems, but there could be moisture in the ev...
What We Learn From HVAC/R Trade School
August 09, 2018 11:00 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBIn this episode, we talk with two techs recently out of trade school. We get their perspective on their trade education and how it compares to the field. Jeremy and Blake have been kind enough to share their experiences with us and give some advice. Schooling undoubtedly gives technicians a leg-up once they got into the field. However, the knowledge you gain isn't all practical. Bookwork is still important for a solid foundation in theory, and it would likely benefit a lot of training pro...
What We Learn From HVAC/R Tradeschool
August 09, 2018 11:00 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBIn this epsiode we talk w/ two techs recently out of tradeschool and get their perspective on their trade education and how it compares to the field
Short 17 - MicroChannel
August 07, 2018 11:00 - 9 minutes - 13.7 MBBryan talks about MicroChannel coils, what issues could happen with them, and what the best practice is to clean them. MicroChannel coils are kind of like car radiators; they have a small, honeycomb-like channel, and the sections that go between the crisscross fins carry refrigerant from the front surface to the back surface. These coils have a bit of a bad reputation. The refrigerant flows close to the surface of the coil. When the MicroChannel suffers damage, these coils can leak much mo...
Water Source - The Water Side w/ Eric Mele
August 02, 2018 10:00 - 45 minutes - 62.4 MBIn this episode, Eric Mele dives into the world of pumps, controls, cooling towers, and everything else related to the water side of a water source heating and cooling system. Many of these systems are water-to-water setups that use heat exchanges for heat transfer. You can listen to an introduction to water source heat pumps HERE. A cooling tower is where we reject the heat that we put into water loops. Most of these towers are of the induced-draft variety, meaning that they have fans ...
Short 16 - Air Velocity is Useful
July 30, 2018 19:11 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBIn this short podcast episode, Bryan covers how to measure air velocity directly at a return or supply and what those readings tell you. Since many techs like to focus on CFM and static pressure readings, they can neglect air velocity in their measurements. Air velocity is the speed at which the air is moving. Conversely, static pressure is the force of the air against the sides of the ducts, and CFM is the air volume. We measure air mass in pounds (in the USA); when air is denser, you wil...
Intro to Water Source Heat Pumps w/ Eric Mele
July 26, 2018 11:00 - 29 minutes - 40.1 MBIn today's podcast episode, Eric Mele walks us through the components of water source heat pumps, how they work, and what to look for. Water source heat pumps use water to transfer heat to and from the outdoor unit; the water takes the place of outdoor air in an air source heat pump. These units have heat exchangers and water lines, but they otherwise operate exactly the same as any other heat pump. These units have reversing valves, which are commonplace on heat pumps, and they are ener...
Short 15 - Testing Capacitors, A Practical Approach
July 24, 2018 11:00 - 12 minutes - 18 MBIn this short podcast episode, Bryan Orr discusses the best practice methods for testing run capacitors in the field. We understand the capacitor to be a voltage storage device. We can benefit from comparing the capacitor to a balloon that inflates and deflates with electrons as the alternating current changes (60 times per second). A capacitor causes a phase shift and allows there to be current on the start winding. So, when a run capacitor fails, you won't have current on the start windi...
Seasons of HVAC
July 19, 2018 11:00 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBIn this episode, Bryan Orr talks about how the seasons affect our HVAC work and how to manage stress during the busy season. If you work in the trade, you will notice that we have busy and slow seasons. If you own a business, you understand the pressure that you're under to serve the community during those times. Hiring and training people for the busy seasons is difficult and may not be feasible for many companies. Fortunately, the busy season can bring out the good in other people who wa...
Short 14 - The Voltage Drop Tool
July 17, 2018 21:33 - 12 minutes - 16.8 MBIn today's short podcast episode, Bryan discusses the voltage drop measurement tool, also commonly known as the voltmeter. You can also find this voltage drop tool on multimeters. You use them to check voltage drops, NOT the actual voltage. We get voltage values from a potential difference. So, we check for these differences via voltage drops. For example, you can determine if contactor pitting or carbon buildup is problematic by measuring the voltage across contact points. Your meter will...
Commercial vs. Residential w/ AK HVAC
July 12, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 91.4 MBIn today's podcast episode, we have a conversation about the pros and cons of commercial vs. residential HVAC with Andrew Greaves. (You may know him as AK HVAC on Youtube. Check out his channel HERE and his comedy channel, HVAComedy, HERE.) In many cases, young people don't know if they want to go into commercial or residential HVAC, or residential techs may think about getting into commercial HVAC. Commercial HVAC may include RTUs, chillers, market refrigeration, or industrial refrigera...
Short 13 - 3 things the condenser does
July 10, 2018 10:00 - 6 minutes - 9.61 MBIn this short podcast, Bryan covers three things that the condenser does. He also explains where those things happen and what those they mean in terms of system operation. The evaporator coil does two things: boiling and superheating. However, a condenser does three things: desuperheating, condensing (changing state), and subcooling. Desuperheating occurs early on in the condenser, at the top. Refrigerant enters the condenser as a highly superheated vapor. Even though we have a few degre...
Short 12 - The First 4 Rules to Learn
July 05, 2018 10:00 - 7 minutes - 10.6 MBMany techs have said, "That's the first thing you should have learned in school." In today's short podcast, Bryan talks about the four rules that have his vote for the first things to learn in school. These four rules don't just apply to HVAC work; they apply to science and the world as a whole. They describe how the forces in our world work in our HVAC careers and our everyday lives. The overarching theme of these rules is that high goes to low. Gravity is the prime example of this rule...
Coil Cleaning with John Pastorello
July 03, 2018 10:00 - 49 minutes - 68 MBIn this episode, we speak with the founder of Refrigeration Technologies, John Pastorello. He also tells us all about chemicals, cleaners, and HVAC coil cleaning. John Pastorello started out working as a chemist before becoming an A/C installer. He initially planned to return to a lab job, but he found his niche in HVAC work. He took his chemistry experience to his HVAC work to develop better chemical products. It all started with his decision to make a better leak detector fluid (Big Blu)...
Danfoss ERC213 Parameters Review
June 27, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBIn today's podcast episode, Jonathan Romberg comes on to discuss how the Danfoss ERC 213 works and reviews its parameters with us. Timestamps: 10:30 – Key Features 10:41 – Voltage Protection 10:56 – Compressor Protection 14:43 – Applications 15:15 – App 0 No predefined application 15:28 – App 1 Medium temperature ventilated refrigeration units with timed natural defrost 15:52 – App 2 Medium temperature ventilated refrigeration units with timed electrical defrost 16:03 – App...
Short #11 - Superheat, The True Meaning
June 25, 2018 10:00 - 9 minutes - 13.4 MBIn this podcast, we discuss the real significance of superheat and why it is much more than "a way to set the refrigerant charge on a fixed metering device." Superheat is the temperature of a vapor above saturation. Many people use it to set the charge on a piston or fixed orifice, but that's not its only purpose. Superheat is a much more important reading than that, and you can take that measurement at a few different places. For example, most of us measure it outside. However, to determi...
How to Go From Tradesman to Franchise Empire
June 21, 2018 15:42 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBThis is the story of WITH JOSHUA NICHOLLS FROM PLATINUM ELECTRICIANS and how he went from pulling wire, to creating a franchise empire to giving back.
PCO Air Purification with Jon Bennert
June 19, 2018 10:00 - 50 minutes - 70 MBIn today's podcast, Jon Bennert with Air Oasis talks about photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) air purification. He explains how it works and what it does. The NANO products are PCO-type technologies. These technologies were initially developed for NASA storage systems on the International Space Station. Photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) products work to reduce or sterilize pollutants or organisms in the air by using light. Sunlight produces UV rays that can kill nasty germs in the air; PCO pr...
Short #10 - Air Has Weight and Takes up Space
June 15, 2018 03:34 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MBIn this episode, we talk about air as a form of matter. We cover air volume, density, weight, and mass and why it matters to you. So, air has weight and takes up space. When we measure air, we typically measure it by volume (CFM or cubic feet per minute). When we say that air takes up space, we are referring to air volume. A cubic foot of air is equivalent to a 1'x1'x1' box of air. When we measure CFM, we measure how many boxes of air we move per minute. We usually want around 400 CFM pe...
Special EP Inverter Equipment With Ralph Wolf
June 12, 2018 11:00 - 58 minutes - 80.4 MBIn today's podcast episode, Ralph Wolf comes on and discusses inverter equipment. He also talks about Mitsubishi, Bosch, and what he’s been up to nowadays. An inverter system can vary its output of rated capacity. Inverter equipment makes load matching much easier and is generally comfortable. These systems maintain temperatures in tighter ranges and remove more moisture with longer runtimes. Mitsubishi is one of our top ductless systems at Kalos. Due to building codes, they are one of...
Basic Refrigerant Circuit Revisited (Part 2)
June 07, 2018 11:00 - 45 minutes - 62.9 MBPart 2 - Bert (Kalos Tech) and Keiran (Kalos Apprentice) join Bryan in the studio to talk through the basic refrigerant circuit and how it functions. They talk compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator as well as the four lines and the states of the refrigerant as it travels. The four lines that move refrigerant are the suction line, discharge line, liquid line, and expansion line. The suction line moves cool superheated vapor from the evaporator to the compressor. Then, the d...
Basic Refrigerant Circuit Revisited (Part 1)
June 05, 2018 10:55 - 40 minutes - 55.7 MBPart 1 -Bert (Kalos tech) and Keiran (Kalos apprentice) join Bryan in the studio to talk through the basic refrigerant circuit and how it functions. They talk compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator as well as the four lines and the states of the refrigerant as it travels They talk about the compressor, condenser, metering device, and evaporator as well as the four lines and the states of the refrigerant as it travels. We have already covered all of the basic components in e...
Making of a TV Show About Home Performance
May 31, 2018 16:00 - 29 minutes - 40.4 MBIn today's podcast, I talk with Corbett Lunsford about his new show about home performance and diagnosis. Home Diagnosis airs on PBS in winter 2018. Even though Home Diagnosis mostly deals with building performance, HVAC work is a large component of overall home performance. Corbett Lunsford used to be a pianist before becoming a building performance expert. He was already familiar with media and decided to launch a YouTube channel. The goal of the YouTube channel was to bring visual infor...
Sealing Ducts From the Inside w/ Sean Harris
May 29, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutes - 27 MBSean Harris with Positive Energy and Aeroseal Austin sat down with me at the humid climate conference and talked about how to seal ducts from the inside with Aeroseal. We regularly see air leakage by poor connections, especially when we deal with flex ducts. When a house comes under negative pressure, it draws a bunch of air in from the outdoors or unconditioned spaces. Unfortunately, that air can be very low-quality in humid climates. The humid air can be even worse if it comes from an un...
Sealing Ducts From the Inside w Sean Harris
May 29, 2018 10:00 - 19 minutes - 27 MBSean Harris with Positive Energy and Aeroseal Austin sat down with me at the humid climate conference and talked about how to seal ducts from the inside with Aeroseal
Short #9 - Commercial Maintenance
May 24, 2018 11:00 - 9 minutes - 13.8 MBToday's short episode covers five things residential techs need to consider when tasked with doing maintenance on a commercial system. We mostly talk about light commercial package unit maintenance in this episode. If you come across fresh air filters, be sure to wash those. Some commercial units have economizers that bring in fresh air, but not all fresh air is high-quality. Wash those filters to avoid pollen and other types of outdoor gunk buildup. Then, you'll want to check and adjust...
Air Filters, They are More Complex Than You Knew w/ Lee Andrews
May 21, 2018 10:00 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBIn today's podcast episode, Lee Andrews with Andrews Filters talks about the complicated and important topic of air filters and filtration. He also explains why they should matter to you and your customers. As indoor air quality (IAQ) becomes more important in HVAC work, air filters will become even more important than they already are. We classify air filters by MERV ratings. MERV ratings describe the ability of filters to capture finer particles; a MERV 11 filter will catch a lot more pa...
How to Repair Aluminum Leaks
May 15, 2018 10:00 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBHave you ever struggled to repair a leak in an all-aluminum coil? Lance Robinson with SolderWeld talks about his product to do just that and makes a convincing case for aluminum repair. We've been using aluminum for several decades before the shift to copper; unlike copper, aluminum is corrosion-resistant. However, copper is typically better for brazing due to its heat transfer properties and ductility. If we can get to a point where we can use aluminum for the same uses as copper, we will...
Short #8 - Resistance Up, Amps Down
May 14, 2018 23:55 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MBThis short podcast episode covers the most misunderstood portion of Ohm's law explained masterfully from 1921: when resistance goes up, amps go down. The American Electrician's Handbook (1921) contains a lot of electrical knowledge that holds up in the present day. (The electrical testing methods don't hold up quite as well, though...) One of those principles that hold up is the idea that amps go down as resistance goes up. Amps refer to current (electrons). The ohm is the unit of electric...
Universal Digital Refrigeration Controls and the Danfoss ERC 213
May 10, 2018 19:10 - 37 minutes - 52.2 MBIn today's podcast episode, Jamie Kitchen talks about refrigeration controls and applications. He also tells us about the Danfoss ERC 213 universal digital controller. Electronic refrigeration controls tend to have greater accuracy and flexibility than traditional electromechanical controls. These electronic controls also allow you to perform many more tasks than traditional ones. Electromechanical controls also wear out and lose their accuracy over time. When you deal with applications ...
Manifolds vs. Probes Battle w/ Adolfo Wurts
May 08, 2018 15:58 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBIn this episode, Adolfo Wurts from Arbiter comes on and debates why a tech would want to use a manifold over wireless probes and vice versa. In our industry, we are likely to see a trend of moving towards wireless equipment that connects to a single device. Wireless connections and digital displays may save us money on tools and allow us to store and interpret data more efficiently. However, a manifold can help you recover refrigerant, whereas probes cannot. Manifolds also have sight glass...
HVAC/R Conductor, Breaker, and Fuse Selection
May 07, 2018 18:06 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MBIn this podcast episode, Phil Barr joins Bryan to explain sizing for wires and breakers in HVAC/R work. You will be able to select breakers, conductors, and fuses properly and without confusion. Phil Barr is the leader of the electrical division at our business. HVAC/R equipment may have hermetically sealed motors. Unlike squirrel-cage motors, hermetically sealed motors have an outer shell that makes it impossible to access the inner components. Semi-hermetic equipment, such as some comp...
HVAC/R Conductor, Breaker and Fuse Selection
May 07, 2018 18:06 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MBHow to properly size HVAC/R wires and breakers without confusion
Humidity Talk w/ Johnathan Jones
May 01, 2018 19:01 - 53 minutes - 73.1 MBIn today's podcast episode, Johnathan Jones from Clean Comfort, Ultra-Aire, and Therma-Stor talks to us about humidity, dehumidification, and ventilation. Relative humidity (RH) is a moisture content ratio that depends on temperature. Hotter air can hold more moisture, and colder air can contain less moisture. You can increase or decrease the temperature to change the relative humidity, but the dew point stays the same. The safest humidity range is between 40-60%. It is typically harder to...
Short #7 - A Moisture Problem
April 27, 2018 20:24 - 9 minutes - 13.9 MBIn this short episode, we replace a dirty "M" word (mold) with another "M" word (moisture) that gets to the root of the problem. "Mold" and "mildew" can freak out your customers. For years, I've refrained from saying "mold" at my own company and trained my techs to avoid it AND "mildew." Instead, we have called it "biological growth" or "organic growth." Those still aren't great. Just recently, my friend Joe Medosh suggested referring to fungal growth as a "moisture problem" instead. "...
Prevent Compressor Murder Part 2 w/ Emerson
April 24, 2018 15:02 - 38 minutes - 53.8 MBHere is part 2 of the discussion with Trevor Matthews about the causes and prevention of air conditioning and refrigeration compressor failure. Slugging occurs when the compressor attempts to compress oil or liquid refrigerant. A telltale sign of slugging is valve plate damage. On a semi-hermetic compressor, you can remove the screws on the head to access the valve plate. Wrist pin wear occurs during slugging the wrist pin is between the rod and the piston; you should test the wrist pin to...
Short #6 - Energy? Compared to What? EP1
April 20, 2018 18:45 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBIn this short podcast, we start the conversation about "Energy? Compared to What?" and explore several energy comparison examples. When we think about energy, we can confuse some terms. For example, temperature and heat are related but NOT synonymous. Temperature is an average measurement of heat energy; when many molecules move at a bunch of different speeds, the temperature represents the average speed of those molecules. Temperature does NOT measure total heat content. Voltage and amper...
Prevent Compressor Murder Part 1 w/ Emerson
April 17, 2018 19:16 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBIn today's podcast, we talk with Trevor Matthews with Emerson. He tells us about the causes and prevention of air conditioning and refrigeration compressor failure. Most compressors don't die a natural death... they're murdered. Of course, that's to say that installation and maintenance play a major role in the compressor's operation and lifespan. Electrical and mechanical failures are the two broad causes of compressor failure. When it comes to electrical failures, Trevor often sees sin...
Intro to Manual J & S w/ Jack Rise
April 12, 2018 16:34 - 48 minutes - 66.5 MBIn today's podcast episode, we talk with system and duct design educator Jack Rise about ACCA Manual J load calculation and Manual S system selection. Many people know about Manual J, but relatively few techs follow it properly. When people attempt to do Manual J calculations, many of them go wrong when they overestimate the difficulty of the equations in Manual J. However, many of these techs do better when they can use software like Wrightsoft to help with their load calculations. The ...
Low Voltage Diagnosis Basics w/ Bill Johnson
April 03, 2018 20:19 - 36 minutes - 50.7 MBIn this podcast, Bill Johnson shares his practical tips to make low-voltage electrical diagnosis easier in HVAC work. Bill is one of the original authors of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology manual. A common issue that techs have in low-voltage diagnosis is that they overcomplicate the issue. Techs should take the time to trace out the system and see where all the wires lead. The techs can be more effective if they know a system's components and those parts' relationships....
Introduction to Walk-in Refrigeration
March 28, 2018 16:21 - 28 minutes - 39.2 MBIn this podcast episode, refrigeration tech Eric Mele talks us through some common characteristics of walk-in freezers and refrigerators. Eric recently discussed reach-in refrigerators on the podcast, and you can listen to him talk about those HERE. Common walk-in applications include coolers, freezers, and wine rooms. You may even see some package units. Condensers typically go on top of the box or the roof, and evaporators are inside the refrigerators. Many of these refrigerators also h...
Short #5 - Wire Routing & Connection
March 27, 2018 20:22 - 23 minutes - 33.2 MBIn this short podcast episode, Bryan covers some basic best practices for wire routing and wire connections in HVAC work. When it comes to electrical work of any kind, the wires must have proper protection. For example, the wires must be in the proper conduits. They must also work on appliances that they are rated for. HVAC technicians must also understand their qualifications against local codes to ensure they have been authorized for electrical work. You also NEVER want to route the ...
Furnace Commissioning Part 2 w/ Jim Bergmann
March 21, 2018 18:15 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBIn the second part of this podcast series, Jim covers the basics of furnace commissioning in more detail with some common-sense practices. (Listen to Part 1 HERE.) Even though installers set up a furnace system, the technicians help with the equipment startup and commissioning. That way, two parties can ensure that the installation is proper. The technician is perhaps better equipped to check the electrical connections. As technicians, we can also check the polarity of the power supplie...
Short #4 - Blower Taps
March 19, 2018 20:36 - 13 minutes - 19.3 MBIn this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about blower taps in furnace systems. He explains how to set up their fan speeds and repair them. Before you even look at the blower taps in a system, you must know a bit about the system design. Is the system supposed to remove high amounts of sensible heat? What is the capacity? How quickly should the thermostat drop? When a system is supposed to move lots of heat and has a high capacity, it needs high airflow; to run optimally, the system nee...
Furnace Commissioning Part 1w/ Jim Bergmann - Input / Rise
March 15, 2018 16:07 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MBJim covers setting up furnace input, clocking the meter, setting temperature rise and much more