Pump down solenoid valves are commonplace for any refrigeration technician. They are energized with the compressor still running, shutting off flow in the liquid line so that the refrigerant is pumped into the condenser and receiver. The compressor will then shut off once a low-pressure switch opens the circuit when the pressure falls below a […]

Yeah? Well, how do you know? What should they be? What are the outdoor and return air temperatures? What SEER rating is the equipment?  These are the questions I ask every single time a technician says the phrase,  “But the pressures look good for [insert refrigerant of choice here].”  When they can’t answer the questions […]

Why is it called single-phase 240 when there are two opposing phases (or legs)? I wondered why we called two 120v opposing legs “single-phase 240” for years. Then someone pointed out to me that a typical “single-phase” pole transformer only has one power leg entering and two coming out. That freaked me out. How can […]