Tech Tips

There is almost nothing worse than creating something—or doing something you are proud of—and getting no feedback. Wait, I take that back. Putting your heart and soul into something and then getting negative or dismissive feedback can be worse. How many times have you emailed a quote, a design, or photos of something asking for […]

This is the tale of how I found myself stuck on a service call for over 12 hours on a weekend due to my failure to re-diagnose an issue. I was working for a service company that had many accounts with local gas stations. These were large customers, and we did everything we could to […]

As a leader, it’s healthy to take a step back and see if you’ve become “That Boss.” You know, the one who nobody wants to work for and who doesn't have a shred of self-awareness. I worked at a large corporation for 5+ years, and it was easy to tell which managers valued employees. It […]

    Everyone in the HVAC/R trade uses some type of torch to braze or solder alloys together. So, what is the proper way to handle an oxyacetylene torch? It turns out that there’s more than one right answer. Depending on which torch rig you use, the manufacturer’s manuals for operation may vary.  Everyone (hopefully) knows […]

When you think of a salesman, what comes to mind? Do you imagine a quiet person who helps you solve your problems by listening and evaluating you as a customer? Probably not.  When most people hear the word ‘salesman,' they imagine a flashy personality who will talk to you for hours to try to get […]

Let's go with dictionary definitions of each one first. pump noun 1. A mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects such as tires. compressor noun 1. an instrument or device for compressing something. Both compressors and pumps move fluids, and a fluid: Yields or […]

Pump down solenoid valves are commonplace for any refrigeration technician. They are energized with the compressor still running, shutting off flow in the liquid line so that the refrigerant is pumped into the condenser and receiver. The compressor will then shut off once a low-pressure switch opens the circuit when the pressure falls below a […]

When you walk up to a piece of equipment, you want to follow a process to ensure that you accomplish five things: #1 – You diagnose the fault correctly. #2 – If possible, you find the “why” of the failure. #3 – Find any other problems or potential problems with the system that can cause […]

When the quiz or the teacher asks what “latent” heat is, there is generally some reference to it being hidden heat, which is what the word “latent” means. We then learn that it is heat energy transferred that results in a change of state rather than a temperature change. Later on, we hear a lot […]