DISCLAIMER: HVAC School is NOT an official OSHA safety training resource! Although we provide safety tips in good faith, our website is not a substitute for safety training from an authorized OSHA training source. Many things may deter people from working in the HVAC industry. Perhaps surprisingly, exposure to heights could be the deal-breaker. (Not […]

In residential, most techs and installers size the suction (vapor) and liquid lines to the stubs on the equipment. In larger built-up systems, sizing the piping is rarely the responsibility of the technician. But what happens if we show up to a job where the lines cannot be (reasonably) replaced because the size is different? […]

Fenestration is a fancy architectural term that means “openings in the outside of the building.” You will see this word a lot when you read ACCA Manual J or when you are doing a Manual J load calculation. Fenestration loads include heat losses and gains through windows, doors, skylights, etc., and they can make up […]

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 In this short podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about using R-290 as a drop-in refrigerant for R-22 systems. It is NOT safe to use R-290 as a drop-in, but there are some similar properties between the two and some interesting thought experiments within this topic. R-290 is propane, a hydrocarbon that belongs […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Bryan welcomes Jeff from Copeland to discuss the critical topic of flooding and slugging in compressors. Jeff, calling in from frigid Minnesota (at negative 19°F), explains the differences between these harmful conditions and how they can damage compressor systems. The conversation begins by differentiating between […]

 In this short podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question: what is the best brand of equipment for residential new construction? A lot of people have their own personal preferences when it comes to brands, whether that's with equipment, tools, or even cars. However, when it comes to HVAC equipment, there are a lot […]

Water is weird and water vapor is even weirder – before we dive down this rabbit hole lets define some terms To better understand the behavior of moisture in materials, we need to first define some essential terms and concepts: Relative Humidity (RH): The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to […]

If you are new to the trade, I'd like to welcome you. Like many skilled trades, the HVAC/R trade has many opportunities and can help you make a good living. If you are young and new to the trade, we need you. We are grateful to have you. However, if you aren't thoughtful, you might […]