#hvac

As HVAC/R Technicians, we use tools and instruments to take measurements every day. In fact, 90% of our job could not be done efficiently without some kind of measurement.  “How do we measure?” “With what instruments?” “How accurate are these measurements?” These are all questions a thoughtful technician should ask before spending money on a […]

This is the second article in a three-part series where we explore advanced psychrometrics. The source material for each of the articles in this series is ACCA Manual P Sections 3, 4, and 5. This article is based on information found in Section 4. If you followed the previous advanced psychrometrics article, you now know […]

This is the first of a three-part series of articles that will dive deep into advanced psychrometrics. The source material for each of these articles may be found in ACCA Manual P Sections 3, 4, and 5. This article is based on information found in Section 3.  Psychrometrics is the study of the physical and […]

Many installers and service technicians know how to read and use a manufacturer fan table, but this is a quick review with a few extra tips for newer techs. It’s also a good reminder to senior technicians about how this easy-to-use practice can also be easily abused. At installation, properly setting up airflow is imperative to the […]

Newer technicians often get hung up and frustrated when searching for low voltage shorts. This is understandable due to the broad spectrum of possibilities for the location of the short. However, this doesn’t mean that the process needs to be complex. The time it takes to find a low voltage short may vary greatly depending […]

The old adage goes: “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.”  For some techs I know, even having a hammer can be challenging. I was pretty new in business, and my first real “employee” hire in the HVAC part of Kalos was my brother, Nathan. Many of you know him, […]

We can all agree that the future we all would have expected for 2020 when we rang in the new year isn't the one we got. We are all worried and looking to hedge our bets or cut our losses in one way or another, which makes sense. Given what we now know, let's look […]

At the time of the publication of this article, COVID-19 (coronavirus) is spreading across the world at an alarming rate, and many people have self-quarantined to help slow or stop the spread of the virus. These precautionary measures are prudent and responsible. However, with the increased amount of time people spend inside their homes, there […]

This is the tale of how I found myself stuck on a service call for over 12 hours on a weekend due to my failure to re-diagnose an issue. I was working for a service company that had many accounts with local gas stations. These were large customers, and we did everything we could to […]

In this class, Bryan teaches the Kalos techs about low-voltage electrical diagnosis in the HVAC field. Low-voltage electrical operations confuse quite a few technicians, so Bryan covers basic circuits and clears up some misconceptions about the terminology we use. Circuit boards seem to trip up a lot of techs. Unfortunately, every circuit board has a […]

I hear many techs complain about the finicky and ineffective nature of electronic leak detection. So much so that some claim that is is a waste of time altogether. we recently located a leak inside the fins of a ductless evaporator coil, pinpointed to an exact spot using an electronic leak detector. For demonstration purposes, we took […]

 Standard 310 is a technical workflow created by ACCA, ResNet, and ANSI for grading the installation of HVAC systems, typically in new home construction. It plays a crucial role in obtaining Energy Star certification, which can qualify homeowners for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. The five steps of Standard 310 are design […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Gunther's question about kitchen exhaust and makeup air. Gunther asked if there were any studies that showed that makeup air should come very close to the hood to avoid infiltration. He also asked how to educate others who push back against the idea, particularly in kitchen […]

 This episode featured Bryan Orr interviewing Sam Myers, the building science consultant at Retrotec. Retrotec manufactures products like blower doors and duct testers for measuring air tightness and leakage in buildings. Sam discussed his role at Retrotec, which involves training contractors on using their tools properly, product design, software testing, presenting at conferences, and […]

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Jeremy's question about checking the charge on rooftop units, and he gives some RTU tips. Rooftop units often come in sets, so you can use a thermal camera to look at all of the RTUs and compare them. A thermal imaging camera may even show you where […]

 In this short Q&A episode, Bryan answers podcast listener Cooper's question about starting an internal training program. Eugene Silberstein has been on the podcast before to offer his perspective on this topic, which you can listen to HERE. Bryan recommends a combination approach: instructor-led, hands-on, and self-paced learning, all deployed together. Hands-on learning often gets […]

 This episode features an insightful conversation with Brynn Cooksey, an experienced HVAC contractor and trainer from Southeast Michigan. Brynnn shares his expertise on conducting proper load calculations, sizing equipment correctly, improving duct design, and addressing common issues contractors face. Brynn emphasizes the importance of performing accurate load calculations, especially in older housing stock where […]

 This episode was recorded live on location at the 2024 ACCA conference in Orlando. Bryan starts by interviewing Marissa Reddy, a co-founder of Conduit Tech, a software company providing load calculation and sales tools for HVAC contractors. Marissa shares insights into what it takes for contractors to successfully adopt new technology in their businesses. […]

 This short podcast is a Q&A based on a question submitted to us by Andy Holt. Bryan gives some tips on how to go from service tech to service manager. Service managers may have better pay, but they also have different sources of stress than service technicians, and not all service tech skills will […]

 This episode of the HVAC School Live Stream covers the key concepts around heat pump efficiency and understanding the coefficient of performance (COP). Eric Kaiser from TruTech Tools and Jim Fultz from White-Rodgers provide valuable insights into how heat pumps operate and how to optimize their performance, especially in colder weather conditions. The discussion […]