#hvac

I was talking about dry contacts with one of my techs, and he looked at me like I had three heads—and one of them was on fire. So, I figured it would be good to cover the difference between wet and dry contacts in a tech tip. Basically, “dry” contacts are switches with no shared […]

If you are new to the trade, I'd like to welcome you. Like many skilled trades, the HVAC/R trade has many opportunities and can help you make a good living. If you are young and new to the trade, we need you. We are grateful to have you. However, if you aren't thoughtful, you might […]

We all learned how to read the tonnage off of a model number within a few weeks of beginning in the trade. What you may (or may not) have learned is that just because something has an 036 in the model number, that does NOT mean it actually produces 36,000 BTU/hr. It doesn't reach the […]

First, let's state the obvious and clear the air a bit. The photo above is SUPER CHEESY! But this story is about three bad techs who don't know it, so a photo of three models clearly posing in clean clothes makes as good of a proxy for a bad tech as anything else. First off, I'm […]

Even though there will almost surely be a healthy demand for HVAC service businesses, any service business is still at risk of going under. Most of the trouble comes down to money mismanagement or misunderstanding. The good news is that the risks are avoidable with proper education and care. We aren’t accountants or lawyers, but […]

Most of the content in this article is based on Alex Meaney’s contribution to the HVAC School podcast in the October 2nd, 2020 episode: “How to Get The Most From Online Education,” which you can listen to HERE. Attending a class from your bedroom or home office sounds very convenient, right? That was probably what […]

Nomenclature on HVAC/R equipment is a sequence of numbers and letters a manufacturer uses to speak directly to the technician. Lots of initial upfront information is handed to the technician by the manufacturer the moment the technician reads the nomenclature in the model and serial numbers. So, how do we make sense of these seemingly […]

I’ve seen a lot of guys recently who reach for the motor puller tool first thing when attempting to remove a blower motor from a wheel/fan blade. Motor puller tools are an awesome backup tool when needed, but using a motor puller tool shouldn’t be the go-to method of removing a motor. The main issue […]

Dielectric grease is an often misused and misunderstood product that could easily benefit HVAC/R technicians in various ways. From food service to electrical connections, dielectric grease can help lubricate mechanical components and prevent corrosion on electrical connections. But we need to understand what it is in the first place before we can properly apply it […]

 In this short episode, Bryan talks about wiring in condenser fan motors, including aftermarket motor considerations and the different wire configurations. When condensing fan motors fail, we need to know what to use to replace them. We often use PSC motors, though in cases when we replace a motor with an ECM, we still […]

 This podcast episode focuses on the critical shortage of HVACR technicians and installers across the industry. The hosts discuss the massive gap that exists, with estimates of nearly 200,000 open roles expected in the next few years. They are joined by Lenny Diaddario from Copeland's contractor services department and Chris Harris from the educational […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan interviews Rachel Kaiser, a chemist with a passion for making science more accessible and understandable, especially when it comes to the topic of combustion. Rachel shares her background of how her family's restaurant business sparked her early interest in chemistry and the science behind mixing […]

 In this short episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan talks about hoses and their various types and applications, particularly focusing on NAVAC hoses. Charging hoses (NAVAC: NH5 and NH5L) ideally shouldn't be longer than 5-6 feet, as the longer the hose, the more refrigerant it will hold. Manifold gauges also have leak points, […]

In this insightful episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Ty Branaman, an exceptional educator and trainer, shares his unique approach to making learning not just effective but also engaging and memorable. He delves into the art of connecting with students, unlocking their curiosity, and fostering a love for learning. Ty emphasizes the importance of understanding […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan interviews Pat Ward, an HVAC technician who specializes in servicing and maintaining computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units for data centers. They dive deep into the unique challenges and setups involved in cooling these critical facilities. Pat provides an overview of data centers, explaining that […]

 This episode dives into an interesting and pragmatic discussion about how HVAC contractors can better balance their workload throughout the year. Kevin from Haven shares insights from observing HVAC businesses across the country and how some are taking a more strategic approach to triaging work. The main idea is to get systems up and […]

This podcast episode is Part 1 of a Kalos class on rack refrigeration given by Matthew Taylor. This first segment focuses on the basic refrigerant circuit and oil management of a parallel rack system, common in market refrigeration. Parallel racks follow the same general process as any other compression refrigeration system. However, they contain multiple […]

In Part 2 of the Rack Refrigeration Class at Kalos Services, Matthew Taylor discusses safeties, service, and more. Part 1 focuses more on the basic refrigeration circuit of a rack refrigeration system. When safeties are piped together, we have to keep in mind that they're a bit more complex than most HVAC refrigeration systems, especially […]