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Electronic Expansion Valves (EEV) w/ Jamie Kitchen (Podcast)

By Bryan Orr

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In today’s podcast, Bryan and Jamie talk about the electronic expansion valve (EEV). Bryan and Jamie describe how EEVs work and the reason they exist. In the process, the hosts also review a wide range of metering devices. We made this podcast to address the rising demand for EEVs in the aftermarket element of the HVAC business.

Like the TXV, the EEV is a metering device. Metering devices create a pressure drop as refrigerant moves from the liquid line to the evaporator. Traditional refrigerators typically use capillary tube metering devices because they require a constant temperature and operate in a fixed temperature environment. However, TXVs are a bit more variable but open linearly and are dictated by a minimum stable superheat value. EEVs are also variable, but they can influence the superheat more directly; the superheat always exceeds the minimum stable superheat. Therefore, EEVs can increase efficiency by reducing the evaporator temperature and compression ratio by increasing saturation temperature.

Even though EEVs dominate the grocery refrigeration market because of their head pressure control, we can use them in residential HVAC too. The EEV controls superheat more precisely than a TXV, and their algorithms can maximize efficiency and fill the evaporator coil with the most refrigerant possible.

There are two types of EEVs: the pulse-width EEV and the stepper motor EEV. The stepper motor has “steps” to modulate the degree to which it opens or closes. The pulse-width EEV either opens or closes, much like a solenoid valve.

Bryan and Jamie also discuss:

Hot pull down
Ideal compression ratios and efficiency
Minimum stable superheat
Compressor cooling accessories
Downsides of oversizing TXVs
Evaporator superheat vs. suction superheat
Technological advancements for EEVs, especially for Danfoss EEVs
Less obvious advantages of EEVs over TXVs

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Author:

Bryan Orr

Company: Kalos Services

Position: Co-Founder and President

Check out our most recent video

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Our latest Podcast

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.

Heat pumps may be everywhere, but according to David Richardson, the industry is in danger of aiming at the wrong target. In this 2026 HVACR Training Symposium session, the Kentucky contractor’s son, who has never lived in a home without a heat pump, opens with the story of Olympic rifle shooter Matthew Emmons. Emmons hit the bullseye with perfect precision in 2004, only to discover he had fired at the wrong lane’s target. Richardson argues that contractors risk the same mistake when they treat the heat pump itself as the goal and market it with the same “magic” promises used in the 1970s, a pattern that led to poor installations and a reputation problem that has lasted 50 years.

The real target, Richardson says, is the customer, and the heat pump is only one ring on that target alongside ductwork, the building envelope, equipment sizing, noise, and expectations. He distinguishes between HVAC equipment, which anyone can sell, and the HVAC system, which is where a contractor’s skill and craftsmanship show up. Average installations, he notes, deliver roughly 57% of rated performance, while a high-performance retrofit aims for 88% or better. With “free heat pump” offers likely coming next, he urges contractors to differentiate through engagement, education, clear expectations, and measured results, ending with what he calls a “craftsmanship receipt.”

The heart of the talk is five practical tips. First, learn what the customer is really after and set expectations early, including what a defrost cycle looks like. Second, don’t inherit a bad duct system, and use pressure, airflow, and temperature measurements to find problems before they become yours. Third, don’t inherit a bad building, since the structure works like a duct system and can undermine a perfect install. Fourth, bring the customer along by putting simple tools in their hands, such as a thermal camera or flow hood, and translating data into plain language. Fifth, follow a repeatable process that defines where testing begins and where additional paid services start.

Richardson closes with a call to document lessons learned, including mistakes, and to build these practices into company culture. His message is that heat pumps aren’t magic, but they can perform as if they were when installed well and priced to reflect the work. The session wraps with audience questions.

Topics Covered

The Olympic shooter analogy: precision aimed at the wrong target
History of heat pumps, the 1970s energy crisis, and early marketing hype
Why heat pumps shouldn’t be treated as a silver bullet, and the “silver buckshot” approach
HVAC equipment versus the HVAC system
Installation performance benchmarks: roughly 57% for average work, about 6% more for code-approved work, and a goal of 88% or better
The three E’s: engagement, education, and expectations, plus measured results
The craftsmanship receipt and verification: “if you don’t test, you’re just guessing”
Setting customer expectations, including cold-climate performance and defrost
Right-sizing and the pitfalls of oversized equipment, even with inverter technology
Testing for pressure, airflow, and temperature (PAT) and not inheriting bad ductwork
Building science basics: leakage, room pressures, blower doors, and thermal imaging
Using Socratic questions and plain language to involve the customer
Avoiding data overload and using tools like Measure Quick and the TrueFlow Grid
Following a process and getting paid for diagnostics, basic versus advanced retrofits
Learning from mistakes and changing company culture

This episode contains embedded sponsor messages from Refrigeration Technologies, Carrier, NAVAC, and Filtrete.

Resources

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 8th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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