#hvac

If you’ve been following my writing for the last couple of years, you know that I like to blather on and on about combustion analysis. Now, I am by no means an expert on the subject, as I live in North Texas (which is not known for its intense heating season), but I love using […]

I’d like to give special thanks to Roman Baugh for the section about compressor superheat. It’s not something we talk about very often outside of chiller and commercial refrigeration applications, but it definitely has value in the HVAC world as well. Thanks, Roman! Since I started in the trade, we would take discharge line temperature […]

We’ve entered that season of service calls for “smoking heat pumps,” and I figured now is as good a time as any to share a few quick tips for troubleshooting defrost. Of course, the “smoking heat pump” calls can be solved over the phone with a quick explanation of normal defrost conditions—as can the service […]

Who was Michael Faraday—besides the guy we named the capacitor after? Well, actually, we named the measure of capacitance after him (the farad), but let’s not get all caught up in semantics. Faraday was a scientist who lived from 1791 to 1867. He was an experimental scientist who had little to no formal education but […]

I'd like to give special thanks to Steve Rogers from TEC for helping write this tech tip and sharing some helpful visuals. Thanks, Steve! ACCA Standard 310 introduced a grading protocol for HVAC systems. While HVAC practitioners won’t be the ones carrying out the tasks laid out in Standard 310, energy raters will conduct them […]

I'd like to give a special thanks to Tony Gonzalez from Fieldpiece for providing technical guidance about the SC680's power measurement capabilities, as well as VAC and AAC measurements on ECMs. We’ve talked through specifications, applications, and features for a few tools, but none of them have been quite as hardcore as electrical meters. Like […]

While gauge manifolds and manometers may only have one main function, some tools take several different measurements and will have more expansive specs. The combustion analyzer is one such example—combustion has so many elements, and we need something that can analyze the concentrations of several different substances as well as temperature.  As such, a combustion […]

Last week, we briefly looked at the spec sheet of a gauge manifold. All things considered, it was quite short; we only had to worry about the refrigerant types, pressure ranges, and hose diameters. However, manometers’ spec sheets are quite a bit longer than gauge manifolds’ because they have resolution and accuracy specs, among other […]

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 […]

 The podcast delves into the world of HVAC chemical solutions through an in-depth conversation with Becca Stamey, the marketing director at Refrigeration Technologies. The discussion provides insights into the company's unique approach to developing cleaning products, rooted in a commitment to safety, effectiveness, and customer feedback. Founded by John Pastorello, a chemist turned HVAC […]

 In this short podcast, Bryan talks about evaporator coil placement based on a question submitted by a listener, John. Evap coil placement differs in furnace applications versus air handlers. When we use air conditioners with furnaces, we usually put evaporator coils on the positive side to protect the heat exchanger from rusting out during […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan interviews Zachary Ortwine, a duct cleaning professional who provides insights into ethical duct cleaning practices. The conversation delves deep into the complexities of cleaning different types of ductwork, the importance of proper assessment, and the potential challenges in maintaining indoor air quality. Zach emphasizes the […]

 In this short podcast episode, Zach joins Bryan to answer a common duct maintenance question: Should I fog or sanitize my ducts? The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) outlines the uses of chemical products. Adding chemicals is usually a last resort in flex or sheet metal (externally wrapped) duct systems; they should NOT […]

 Bryan and Craig Migliaccio (AC Service Tech)dive deep into the complexities of managing condensate drainage in high-efficiency (90%+) gas furnaces. The conversation begins with a clear explanation of why these furnaces produce condensate in the first place – they have two heat exchangers that extract so much heat from the combustion gases that water […]

 Chris Hughes and Steve Rogers from The Energy Conservatory discuss TEC's TrueFlow technology and its crucial role in predicting airflow issues in the sales process, particularly for heat pump retrofits. They explain how the TrueFlow app helps contractors accurately measure both static pressure and airflow in existing systems, enabling them to predict whether proposed […]

 In this short podcast episode, Bryan and Mike from DITEK talk about what to do in tricky electrical scenarios, such as when the MCA is 27 and you have a 50A breaker. When you size an HVAC system for compatibility with voltage monitors, like the DITEK Kool Guard, you need to pay attention to […]

 Bryan discusses surge protection devices (SPDs) with Mike from DITEK, focusing on practical applications for HVAC contractors and how to provide value to clients. Mike emphasizes that surge protection is essential for modern HVAC systems, particularly given that they are typically the most expensive appliance in a home and increasingly rely on sophisticated electronic […]

 In this short episode, Bryan clears up the confusion behind pumping vs. compression. Pumping is usually associated with liquid. Liquid, like vapor, is a fluid, but it's a lot denser and is essentially incompressible because the molecules are close together. Liquid volume varies based on temperature and density, but we can't squish the molecules […]

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.