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Non-Invasive Testing: A Smarter Approach to System Diagnostics
Solving Superheat
Living in a World of Acids (and why HVAC coils are secretly crying for help)
AHRI Ratings Are Not Design Conditions
Valve Core Removal Tools
โWhite Shirt Techs – Manifestoโ in Practice
Solving Subcool
Contactor Alternatives and Upgrades
Using Heat & Nitrogen In Vacuum
Residential vs. Commercial HVAC Sales
When Ammonia Ruled the World – Short #270
Humidity, Airflow, and Refrigeration
The Finned-Tube Coil – Short #269
Are Two Are Better Than One: Understanding Tandem Compressors
The Tech That Tried to Beat the Compressor – Short #268
VRF, Ductless and Humidity Control w/ Roman
The History of the Thermostat – Short #267
Tech Support Highs and Woes w/ Roman
#hvac
Tech Tips:
This tech tip about non-invasive testing comes from a post in the HVAC School Facebook group by Ed Janowiak. Ed is the Manager of HVAC Design Education at ACCA, a longtime friend of HVAC School, and an educator who does a lot of great work for the industry. Thanks, Ed! This past Thursday, I taught […]
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In this article, weโll discuss solving superheat using this diagnostic sheet to help us better understand how it is calculated and from where it is derived. I want to thank Ty Branaman for helping me develop these sheets that will hopefully aid in a better understanding of some of the basic HVAC measurements that both […]
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Imagine a small IT room packed with servers, monitors, and humans. COโ levels easily spike to over 3000 PPM since the room lacks fresh air ventilation. Two overworked mini-split units churn away, cooling the space and unknowingly creating the perfect acidic environment. Fast forward a few months, and those shiny coils now resemble something pulled […]
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Iโve been designing a system for a home here in Dallas and noticed a couple of interesting (and disturbing!) things about the equipmentโs advertised capacity vs. the actual capacity at design conditions. Equipment is rated at AHRI conditions (95 degrees outside and 80-degree dry bulb, 67-degree wet bulb inside). These conditions make equipment performance LOOK […]
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Valve core removal tools were originally developed to remove damaged valve cores without the need to pump the system down. This technology was a major leap forward in work efficiency, as pumping down a system can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Eventually, technicians discovered that removing valve cores led to faster evacuation, recovery, and […]
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I wanted to offer some practical advice from Bryanโs last podcast, โWhite Shirt Techs – Manifesto.โ The link can be found HERE. In this episode, Bryan strongly (and rightfully) critiques sales tactics that are divorced from technical skills and meaningful benefits for homeowners.ย As a one-man HVAC company, I wanted to offer a suggestion for […]
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I teamed up with Ty Branaman to design an intuitive way for techs to solve some of the โwhat should it be?โ questions in the HVAC field. The topic for this sheet is subcooling (or subcool). Subcooling is a measurement of the temperature DECREASE of a liquid below its saturation (mixed liquid/vapor) temperature at a […]
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Our HVAC equipment canโt run without the contactor coil, but contactors can develop problems with age and during high-voltage electrical events. Contact pitting is unmistakable, and itโs unfortunately all too common in areas where bugs can get into the coil and fry on the contacts. Factor in problems with the utility, such as brownouts and […]
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In these tips and on the podcast, we talk a lot about the importance of deep vacuum. Pulling a deep vacuum using proper processes and tools is really the ONLY way to ensure that a system is clean, dry, and tight. Just for review, that means: Nitrogen purge, flow, and pressurize > Cores removed > […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this candid conversation, Nathan and Bryan dive deep into the often-misunderstood world of sales in the construction and HVAC trades. Nathan, who has transitioned from fieldwork to spending roughly 60% of his time in sales, offers a unique perspective on why sales professionals are necessary despite the skepticism they face from tradespeople. The […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode, Bryan takes us on a history journey back to when ammonia ruled the world. In the mid-1800s, before R-12, many inventors and scientists experimented with vapor-compression refrigeration systems to make ice. They used a variety of refrigerants in their patents, including ether, ethyl ether, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methyl […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan and Nathan dive deep into the challenges of humidity control in grocery stores and other refrigerated environments. While the conversation takes several entertaining detours (including discussions about morning radio shows, Indian weddings with elephants, and imaginary lava-heated homes), the core content provides valuable insights for […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode, Bryan explores the history of the finned-tube coil, which is what we use for heat exchange in air-source air conditioners and heat pumps. Air-source HVAC systems have copper tubes threaded through thin metal fins. This design was optimized to ensure the greatest possible surface area for heat exchange to […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this comprehensive episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan Orr sits down with three experts from Copeland to demystify tandem and trio compressor systems. Joining him are Gina Kahle (Multiples Engineering Manager with 12+ years at Copeland), Tyler Daniels (Product Management team member), and James Stevenson (Technical Sales veteran with 28 years […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode, Bryan tells the story of the technology that tried to beat the compressor… and still may someday. We associate cooling with refrigerant… and all the things that come with it, including compressor noise, oil, recovery machines and tanks, leaks, superheat, and regulations. However, there is a means of providing […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this comprehensive episode, Bryan and Roman dive deep into one of the most challenging topics in modern HVAC: making VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) and ductless systems perform effectively in humid climates like Florida. The conversation tackles a common misconception that inverter-driven equipment automatically handles humidity well simply because it can “turn down.” Roman […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast, Bryan gives another history lesson and goes over the history of the thermostat. Before 1883, automatic temperature control simply did not exist; we shoveled fuel into the furnace and opened windows. If a room got too hot in a commercial building, the janitor would go downstairs to choke the draft […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this candid and comprehensive episode, Bryan sits down with Roman to tackle one of the most frustrating yet crucial aspects of the HVAC industry: technical support. What starts as a conversation about their own tech support nightmares quickly evolves into a deep dive examining the entire ecosystemโfrom manufacturers and distributors to technicians and […]
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