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Service calls about condensing fan motor failure are quite common. Even though fan motor replacement is a standard procedure for residential split systems, it requires careful attention to safety and detail. This article will give you a step-by-step guide showing how to replace a condensing fan motor. Along the way, we will also explain a few […]

Condenser Fan Blade Placement

In a previous article, I talked about wiring permanent split capacitor (PSC) condenser fan motors. While researching the topic, I realized that there isn’t as much information available on condenser motors as there is on their counterpart—the indoor blower motor. I had never really given it much thought, as I assumed that the condenser motor […]

Motor Overheating

An important rating on motors is the AMBIENT temperature rating that the motor can operate at. This rating refers to the temperature of the air around the motor, not the temperature of the motor itself or even the temperature of the outdoor air—since the motor is often in a condenser air stream that is higher […]

Aftermarket Motor Selection & Considerations

This article was written by technician and HVAC School community star Kenneth Casebier. Thanks, Kenneth! When looking at replacing a single-phase A/C motor with an aftermarket motor from your van, there are a few things you should know and pay attention to. First, the factory OEM motor will always be the best option, especially when […]

Motor Ambient Rating – Short #241

In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about what the ambient rating means on a motor. These ratings can be found on both condensing fan motors and blower motors. They have Cs in their rating, which represents the maximum ambient temperature the motor can handle in degrees Celsius (like 40C or 60C). Heat and […]

Cory Connors
#condensing fan motor #flir1 #motor heat #motor temperature #thermal imaging

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In this short podcast episode, Bryan explains how duct tape got its name and why it shouldn’t actually be used on ducts. Duct tape is a versatile home DIY-fix tool, but despite its name, it wasn’t initially made to seal ducts at all.

In 1943, we were in the thick of World War II, and ammo shipments were sealed with wax and paper tape. These were often not durable or difficult to open. Johnson & Johnson developed a tape with rubber adhesive on a cotton duck cloth backing (which was already widely used for military uniforms and tent fabrics). This new tape was nicknamed “duck” tape due to the material and its waterproof abilities (like the waterfowl). A woman named Vesta Stoudt informed President FDR about duct tape, and the War Production Board began using it in wartime supply packaging.

After the war, America had a housing boom in the 1950s, which included the demand for forced-air heating and cooling systems. Marketers thought the tape could seal the ducts in those homes, so they changed the color to match sheet metal and rebranded it as “duct tape.” In the 1960s, this tape was available in retail outlets with the “duct tape” branding.

Unfortunately, in tests by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, duct tape failed miserably at sealing the ducts because the rubber adhesive dries out under heat, and dust weakens the adhesive. As a result, many building codes ban duct tape on ducts (spearheaded by California). Instead, UL-listed foil tape and mastic are approved for sealing ducts. However, duct tape still became famous for its versatility as a patching material. It’s prevalent in pop culture and has been used in television shows and even in space.

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How Duct Tape Got Its Name (and Why It Shouldn’t Be on Ducts) – Short #264

11/04/2025

Bryan Orr

The Art of De-escalation

10/30/2025

Bryan Orr