Bonus – What you missed at AHR w/ Bill Spohn (Podcast)

In this episode, Bill and Bryan recap the 2018 AHR conference with what they learned and what you can expect to see in the HVAC/R trade in the next year. There were 2100 exhibitors who gave demonstrations and discussed products. AHR shows the real scope of the HVAC/R industry, and it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the trade and do some networking.

At the AHR conference, there were some demonstrations that may indicate a paradigm shift in the industry's best practices. For example, the AccuTools booth projected the rate of evacuation through three hoses of different diameters, including the mythical 1″ hose. The visual representation of those evacuation rates showed the trend towards faster evacuations with larger hoses. More tool manufacturers may jump on the trend to make larger hoses that assist technicians and lead to better evacuations.

The technology on display at AHR also testified to the fact that many more tools are integrating with our cell phones, including the CPS IAQ monitor. AHR also had a treasure trove of new technologies, including BluVac's Bluetooth-connected combustion analyzer. BluVac's branding is very science and engineering-focused, and they also fine-tune their technology to support techs in the field. Overall, AHR was a fantastic forum for people to spread information about products. In turn, Bill and Bryan had some of their product research validated and built upon.

Bill and Bryan also discuss:

Attaching micron gauges at the pump
Professional branding
Industry education
Surge suppressors and melting issues
The time Bill called Bryan out
Engagement with HVAC educational materials
Testo precision manometers and additional heads
Filling the HVAC/R skills gap
Increasing your value as an individual technician in this industry
Building performance in the HVAC industry
Internet of things (IoT)
The commercial HVAC market

If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

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Redux – The Lost Art of Steam Heating w/ Dan Holohan

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Q&A – Evap Placement – Short #221

Can Ducts Be Cleaned Ethically?

Should I Fog or “Sanitize” My Ducts? – Short #220

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What Can Be Done About Healthcare? w/ Ethos

Author:

Bryan Orr

Company: HVAC School

Position: Founder

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

In today’s podcast, Bryan talks with legendary Hydronics author and trainer Dan Holohan about the history of steam heating and some practical applications of old ideas. Recently, Dan has been working on more novels, having published two of them over the past few months.

Steam heating is a “lost art” nowadays; it has become increasingly uncommon and has been disappearing since the Vietnam War. Many people who understood steam heating either retired or died after the Vietnam War. Many elements of steam heating are difficult to understand or surprising. (For example, steam pressure has a surprising relationship with velocity: low-pressure steam moves through piping much more quickly than high-pressure steam.) So, Dan Holohan is on a mission to revive that knowledge and teach the newer generations about the lost art.

There are many older steam heating systems still operating today, especially in the older large buildings in New York. Dan learned a lot about steam heating when working on these old systems and optimizing them. Most of the time, he optimized those systems by removing unnecessary accessories, not by adding components like steam traps.

Many old boilers used coal as a heat source. Nowadays, many old boilers have been fitted with conversion oil burners with thermostats, but they are still piped for coal. Some systems now have multiple risers or massive vents on the main riser to prevent the thermostats from getting too hot too early and satisfying the thermostat too early. We call that master venting, which reduces pressure and allows steam to move very quickly and efficiently.

Dan also discusses:

The 2-PSI standard
Transportation metaphors for BTUs in steam
Harmful renovations for old boilers
Replacement vs. restoration mindsets
Gaps in steam boiler education
Monopolizing the market if you HAVE the education
Boiler piping and venting
Two-pipe vs one-pipe steam

Find out more about Dan and hydronic heating at HeatingHelp.com.

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 6th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.