Belly band crankcase heater When I first started in the trade as an apprentice, we worked on many Trane heat pumps that used crankcase heaters. These crankcase heaters slid into the compressor sump on the big orange Tyler reciprocating compressors. They looked like the one in the picture below. It was very common for these […]

The piston (fixed orifice) and TXV (thermostatic expansion valve) are the two most common metering devices in use today, though some modern systems utilize an electronically-controlled metering device called an EEV (electronic expansion valve). It should be noted that there are other types of fixed-orifice metering devices, like capillary tubes; however, their use is not […]

This is a basic overview of the refrigeration circuit and how it works. It isn't a COMPLETE description by any means, but it is designed to assist a new technician or HVAC/R apprentice in understanding the fundamentals. First, let's address some areas of possible confusion:  The word “condenser” can mean two different things. Many in […]