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Short #37 – The Trade Skills Gap: A Manifesto (Podcast)

By Bryan Orr

This is a voice-over audio presentation of the article of the same title on the HVACRschool.com website (“The Trade Skills Gap: A Manifesto).

The manifesto discusses the value of technicians and the trades in modern society. It also covers the plague of snobbery that we are all too familiar with in the world.

You can read “The Trade Skills Gap: A Manifesto” HERE.

Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE.

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

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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.

Training the refrigeration technician is about building technicians who think, not just fix. In this engaging conversation from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, host Trevor Matthews sits down with Billy Carlson to explore what it really takes to develop technicians who think critically and troubleshoot effectively.

Billy shares his journey in the HVAC/R industry, from residential air conditioning to commercial refrigeration, and ultimately specializing in supermarket rack systems and CO2 refrigeration. With only five years in the grocery sector, his company now dedicates 70-80% of its work to refrigeration, with 40% focused on rack systems. This rapid transition offers valuable insights for contractors looking to expand into commercial refrigeration.

Key Topics Covered:

Building Technicians, Not Just Fixers – Why understanding component flow, P&IDs, and electrical diagrams is crucial for developing thinking technicians rather than parts changers
CO2 Refrigeration Training – Billy’s honest account of learning CO2 systems, including challenges with dry ice formation, charging procedures, and system tuning
Supermarket Rack Work – The unique pressures and rewards of maintaining systems that hold entire stores, including HFC and CO2 racks with multiple compressors
Effective Training Methods – Billy’s approach to teaching his five-person team, from component identification to reading refrigeration schedules and understanding sequence of operations
Fine-Tuning Systems – Insights on slowing down ramp rates, adjusting flash tank pressure, and the importance of proper startup commissioning time
Controls & Communications – Why modern refrigeration technicians need to understand networking, gateways, and digital controls alongside traditional refrigeration knowledge

Billy emphasizes that patience and willingness to ask for help are essential traits for anyone entering supermarket refrigeration. He shares practical tips on charging CO2 systems, avoiding dry ice in lines, working with VFDs, and reading trend graphs to optimize system performance.

Whether you’re a residential tech considering commercial refrigeration, a trainer developing curriculum, or a service manager building a team, this conversation offers real-world wisdom on creating technicians who understand the “why” behind every repair.

Check out Refrigeration Mentor at https://refrigerationmentor.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 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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