This tech tip was written by Eric Kaiser from TruTech Tools. Thanks, Eric! Filling refrigerant recovery cylinders is a task HVACR technicians perform regularly, but figuring out how much refrigerant to safely put into a cylinder can still be confusing. The challenge almost always comes back to refrigerant density or specific gravity. Specific gravity, also […]

Depending on what segment of the business you are in and your location, you either work on pump-down solenoid systems all the time, or YOU HAVE NO CLUE what a liquid line solenoid is. A liquid line solenoid valve (LLSV) is just a valve that opens and closes; it has a magnetic coil. Depending on […]

Maintaining the correct vapor-liquid refrigerant balance is crucial for air conditioning and refrigeration system performance. Longer line sets hold more refrigerant, which increases the risk of liquid accumulating in the suction line or entering the compressor during off-cycles. Heat pumps are one common application that requires additional measures. Refrigerant flow reverses during heating, turning the […]

John Pastorello from Refrigeration Technologies joins us to talk about testing oil and refrigerant for contamination. He also explains what each test is good for. John developed the Checkmate testing kit when he recognized a need to test reclaimed and recycled R-12 for acid and moisture. The Checkmate method removed a small amount of refrigerant […]

John Pastorello from Refrigeration Technologies is back on the podcast to talk about leak detection procedures from start to finish. Big Blu was what started the Refrigeration Technologies empire. John developed Big Blu to create a bubble leak detector with a higher sensitivity to leaks than any other bubble test solution on the market. Big […]

John Pastorello, the HVAC chemist, comes on the podcast and discusses refrigerant additives such as acid inhibitors, oil enhancers, dyes, and leak sealants with his knowledge and some things to consider. Acid neutralizers are refrigerant additives. Oil works best in a slightly acidic environment, and these additives can change the pH of the system. If […]