Tech Tips

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? […]

Some techs and contractors swear that flex ducts are an evil invention and should never be used in ANY circumstance. I agree with what duct design expert Jack Rise said on the podcast when I asked him about flex ducts: “There's a lot of problems with flex duct, there really is, and it's a good product, […]

I didn't install this unit. First off, attic installations are among my least favorite applications from the standpoints of serviceability, system longevity, and a laundry list of other items. Here in Florida, it's just a bad idea due to the high humidity and temperature in a vented attic and the condensation issues that can and […]

The term “short” has become a meaningless phrase in common culture to mean “anything wrong with an electrical device.” A short circuit is a particular fault that can mean one of two things in technical lingo: 1. Any two circuits that are connecting in an undesigned manner This issue would be the case if a […]

If you work in refrigeration, you may have heard the term “hot pull down.” This phrase describes a condition where the load on the evaporator is above design due to the box temperature or the temperature of the product in the box being higher than it would normally be. My grandpa called me a few […]

Imagine a glass of ice sitting on a table. Now, imagine you place a lid on the glass so that all the water and ice are contained in the glass. If the ice and water are well mixed, the water and ice will both be at 32°F because the ice is slowly changing state from […]

Before I start on this one… At HVAC School, we focus on a wide range of topics. Many of them are very basic. My experience as a trainer for over 16 years has taught me that no matter what I assume others SHOULD know, it doesn't change the fact that they often do not. This […]

This is the second article in a three-part series where we explore advanced psychrometrics. The source material for each of the articles in this series is ACCA Manual P Sections 3, 4, and 5. This article is based on information found in Section 4. If you followed the previous advanced psychrometrics article, you now know […]

There has never been a more complicated and confusing time surrounding refrigerants than what we are in right now. We are seeing flammable HC (hydrocarbon) refrigerants with increasing regularity, and EPA rules that just changed appear to be changing again. With all this tumultuous change, it's important to know what to look for in refrigerants […]