Safe Chemicals are Good Chemicals w/ Mike Pastorello

This podcast covers refrigeration technologies' growth and focus on providing safe, high-performing chemicals for HVAC technicians without hazardous ingredients.

Mike Pastorello discusses the 2017 rebranding that gave their products a more modern, cohesive look. He also talks about bringing on new marketing talent like Ashley and Becca to amp up refrigeration technologies' social media presence and connect more directly with end users. Throughout, Mike emphasizes enabling the marketing experts to drive strategy rather than micromanaging.

Regarding products, Mike highlights their priority of keeping technicians safe while effectively doing their jobs. He mentions constantly improving formulas to eliminate skin burns, bad odors, and other issues with traditional chemicals. Bryan shares an example from his contracting company where lax safety practices led to an emergency room visit and realigned his team's commitment to using safer alternatives like Viper products.

They also overview popular refrigeration technologies offerings like Nylog thread sealant and the Venom Packs compact container system. Mike states the Venom Packs will avoid upcoming taxes on traditional gallon jugs. Bryan praises the durable, flexible packaging and smaller nozzle.

Bullet points:

2017 rebrand and modernizing refrigeration technologies' visual identity
Bringing on new marketing talent to expand social media reach
Empowering new hires to take the lead rather than micromanaging
Keeping technicians safe while effectively doing their jobs
Continually improving chemical formulas to reduce hazards
An emergency room visit underscoring the need for safety focus
Overview of Nylog refrigerant thread sealant
Benefits of the durable and flexible Venom Packs

Check out all Refrigeration Technologies products at https://www.refrigtech.com/.

Learn more about the 5th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/Symposium24.

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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 this enlightening episode, we sit down with Mike, a 20-year veteran from DITEK, a leading American manufacturer of surge protection devices based in Largo, Florida. The conversation begins with a brief discussion about recent hurricane impacts in the Tampa Bay area, where DITEK maintains its 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Mike shares how the company, despite facing challenging weather conditions, continued its operations and maintained its commitment to American manufacturing.

The bulk of the discussion centers around surge protection technology and its critical importance in protecting HVAC systems and other electronic equipment. Mike provides an excellent analogy, comparing surge protectors to pressure relief valves for electrical systems. He explains how Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) work as semiconductors that create low impedance paths to ground when voltage exceeds certain thresholds. The conversation delves into the evolution of MOV technology, particularly the development of thermally protected MOVs that provide enhanced safety features.

The episode also addresses common misconceptions about surge protection, particularly the belief that surge protectors are primarily for lightning protection. Mike explains that while lightning strikes are a concern, especially in areas like Florida, approximately 65% of surges actually originate from within facilities themselves, often from equipment cycling on and off or other power quality issues. He emphasizes the importance of proper installation, particularly regarding ground connections and lead lengths, noting that every six inches of wire length can add about 100 volts to the clamping voltage of the device.

Key Topics Covered:

DITEK’s history and commitment to American manufacturing
Basic principles of surge protection and how MOVs work
Evolution of MOV technology and thermal protection features
Difference between transient voltage and temporary overvoltage (TOV)
Importance of proper grounding and lead length in surge protection
Cascading surge protection strategy for comprehensive protection
UL testing standards and voltage protection ratings (VPR)
Common misconceptions about surge protection
Impact of aging electrical infrastructure on power quality
Importance of customer support and ethical business practices
Installation best practices for surge protection devices
Relationship between ground resistance and surge protector performance
Types of surge protective devices (SPD) and their classifications

Learn more about DITEK at https://www.diteksurgeprotection.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.