Short #45 – OEM Parts (Podcast)

In today's short podcast, we answer the following question: Should you ONLY use OEM parts? We also explain why the answer is what it is.

It can be tricky to determine the value of OEM parts in general. For example, many OEM capacitors are very prone to failure. Some non-OEM capacitors have much lower failure rates. Operating conditions may also exceed manufacturer specs, so aftermarket components may be better for equipment in extreme conditions.

When it comes to OEM parts, try to take those and the manufacturer bulletins at face value. However, you also want to do your own research. What are the OEM parts' fail rates? What are the operating conditions for the equipment? You have to ask yourself if the manufacturer's part is the most efficient and valuable one you can use for a given system. Go the extra mile to help your customers make the best possible decision for their unit based on efficiency, longevity, and price.

Some techs avoid using aftermarket parts because of liability issues. For the most part, liability isn't a huge deal except on flammable equipment like furnaces and R-290 systems. However, in many cases, the quality of parts like capacitors and relays may be far greater on aftermarket equipment. Motors can be tricky, especially on blower motors with distinct fan curves from the OEM equipment.

No matter what you do, make sure you consult with the customer and explain the benefits and drawbacks of each option so that the customer can make an informed decision. Also, follow your own company's guidelines.

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.

Comments

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

Q&A on Superheat – Short #223

Duct Cleaning – How Long & How Often?

Are EVs an Opportunity? – Short #222

Choosing HVAC Cleaners w/ Becca from Viper

Q&A – Evap Placement – Short #221

Can Ducts Be Cleaned Ethically?

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

Condensing Furnace Drain Guidance w/ AC Service Tech

What Can Be Done About Healthcare? w/ Ethos

Author:

Bryan Orr

Company: HVAC School

Position: Founder

Check out our most recent video

How to Evacuate an AC system, Full Vacuum Procedure

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.

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.