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#flex duct

Tech Tips:

Flex Ducts: Peeling Back the Layers

A few times in the past, we’ve heard the phrase “the house is the biggest duct” because of the way air moves through it. Well, we can take it a step further and see that there are similarities that go just beyond air movement. A building has several layers to keep things like moisture, heat, and […]

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Flex Ducts – Best Practices

Some techs and contractors swear that flex ducts are an evil invention and should never be used in ANY circumstance. I agree with what duct design legend Jack Rise said on the podcast a few years ago when I asked him about flex ducts: “There's a lot of problems with flex duct, there really is, and […]

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Videos:

Pro Tips for Perfect Flex Duct to Duct Board Connections with Bert

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Events:

A Duct Up Situation

NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.

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Users with Tag #flex duct

shurakhunter
#duct design #flex duct #flexible duct #jack rise

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How to Evacuate an AC system, Full Vacuum Procedure

Our latest Podcast

HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

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.

The Art of De-escalation

byBryan Orr

In this comprehensive discussion, Bryan and Bert tackle one of the most critical yet underdeveloped skills in the trades: conflict resolution and de-escalation. They argue that poor conflict management is one of the primary reasons technicians lose jobs, damage team dynamics, and limit their career advancement. The conversation explores both customer-facing conflicts and internal team disputes, offering practical strategies grounded in real-world experience.

The hosts distinguish between rational and irrational customer anger, noting that both require similar approaches—taking clients seriously, listening fully, and resisting the urge to immediately correct or defend. Bert emphasizes the importance of body language, describing how he physically leans into difficult conversations rather than backing away, making eye contact, and allowing customers to repeat themselves until they feel genuinely heard. Bryan adds that the “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” military principle applies perfectly to people problems—rushing to fix the emotional situation often prolongs the conflict, while patient listening typically resolves issues more quickly.

When addressing internal team conflicts, they stress going directly to the person involved rather than gossiping or complaining to management. Both hosts acknowledge that ego, the need to be right, and past trauma can trigger fight-or-flight responses that sabotage productive conversations. They advocate for approaching conflicts with humility and a willingness to be wrong, focusing on the single most important issue rather than bringing up a laundry list of grievances. Bert shares that preventing conflict often means letting minor issues go while addressing patterns before they fester into major problems.

The conversation concludes with practical advice about maintaining relationships after difficult conversations, recognizing that drawing back creates rejection while intentionally staying connected demonstrates genuine care. They emphasize that mastering conflict resolution isn’t just about keeping your job—it’s about becoming invaluable in your career and developing skills that serve you in every area of life.

Topics Covered:

Common sources of customer anger: feeling dismissed, not taken seriously, fear around property damage, and frustration with time and money
The difference between rational emotions (legitimate grievances) and expectation gaps (perceived as “irrational”)
Body language techniques for de-escalation: leaning in, maintaining eye contact, staying present rather than fleeing
Why interrupting customers to prove you’re right backfires and escalates conflict
Managing fight-or-flight responses and recognizing when fear drives aggressive reactions
The importance of letting customers repeat themselves until emotional release occurs
Internal team conflict triggers: lack of recognition, perceived unfair workloads, misinterpreted communication
Why going directly to the person involved beats gossiping or complaining to management
The danger of storytelling and assigning motives to others’ actions
Practical conflict resolution framework: prepare both parties, choose private settings, listen twice as much as you speak, and be willing to be wrong
How mastering conflict resolution makes you invaluable and accelerates career advancement
Maintaining relationships after difficult conversations to avoid creating rejection

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The Art of De-escalation

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Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment

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Nylog Blue Gasket -Thread Sealant for AC/R Systems

Nylog Blue Gasket -Thread Sealant for AC/R Systems One drop of Nylog on your rubber hose gaskets prior to attaching your core tools, hoses or vacuum gauge will assure that things do not bind or leak during evacuation. Derived from refrigeration grade lubricants. Non-hardening, non-drying fluid which bonds tenaciously to many different substrates. Typically, one drop of Nylog can be stretched about three feet before breaking.

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