#hvac

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 original tools of the trade were all analog: electrical meters, gauges, and even manometers (Magnehelic, anyone?). However, digital tools have also become a staple of the skilled trades—where would most of us be without digital multimeters? And then probes also joined the fray with the rapid improvements to smartphone technology over the last 15–20 […]

This tech tip came from an email sent by Adam Blunkall, a Tennessee-based HVAC technician. He shared some tips to help overcome this issue in his market, and we appreciate his insight. Thanks, Adam! If we’re draining our 90% furnaces (or any condensing heating system) outside the structure in a similar fashion as we would […]

Troubleshooting and commissioning are entirely data-dependent processes. How can you know that a system is undercharged unless you measure the superheat and subcooling? How can you know how much static pressure a blower motor has to overcome? In both cases, we use tools to help us determine the next steps. However, using the right tools […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question and gives some of his tips for moving to HVAC sales from field technician/installer roles. The world of sales has a different pay structure, which makes it an appealing option to many technicians. Salespeople need to be able to have money conversations with […]

 This unique podcast episode is a commentary on the phenomenon of “white shirt techs” in the HVAC industry – a term that refers to technicians who focus heavily on sales and maintaining a pristine appearance rather than technical expertise. While there's nothing inherently wrong with having good sales skills or maintaining a professional appearance, […]

 In this short podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about double flares and their application in the HVAC/R industry. Flare connections are common in certain types of equipment, and they connect the copper to the appliance. As a result, when we make a flare, our goal is to make it leak-free. A regular […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan interviews Zach about duct coatings and their applications in HVAC systems, particularly focusing on the Hardcast RE500 product. The discussion delves into the importance of proper duct coating applications and their benefits for both contractors and customers. Zach, who has extensive experience in duct cleaning […]

 In today's podcast, Bryan talks with legendary Hydronics author and trainer Dan Holohan about the history of steam heating and some practical applications of old ideas. Recently, Dan has been working on more novels, having published two of them over the past few months. Steam heating is a “lost art” nowadays; it has become […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about superheat, including what it is and how we measure it. Superheat is the number of degrees a refrigerant is above its saturation point. The saturation point is where you will have a liquid-vapor mix, so superheat only exists when a substance is […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan interviews Zach from Southeast Clean Air Solutions about the intricacies of professional duct cleaning. Zach specializes in addressing duct cleaning challenges specific to the Southeastern climate, with a particular focus on fiberglass-lined ducts. The conversation delves into the complexities of cleaning different types of duct […]

 In this short podcast, Bryan talks about electric vehicles and whether EVs present an opportunity for HVAC technicians. The residential sales lead at Kalos recently mentioned that keeping an EV in a conditioned garage is advantageous, and it's an upgrade we can offer our customers. In hot weather, EV battery performance and health can […]

 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 […]