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Upgrading a Single-Pole Contactor with a SureSwitch: Using a Wiring Diagram
Refrigerant Recovery Cylinder Fill Calculations Simplified
Confirming Liquid Levels with a Little Thermodynamics
Léon Creux’s Scroll Design: From Initial Failure to an Enduring Legacy
Traditional & Desiccant Dehumidification and When to Use Each (or Both)
Discovering Mental Reference Points
Three Levels of Acid Testing
Dedicated Dehumidifier vs. Electric Reheat Dehumidification – Who Ya Got?
HH vs. EK Filter-Driers: Technical and Field Comparison
Understanding Airflow: David Bowie, a Used Car Lot, and a 40¢ Tool
Returns – Passive? Active? Sizing? w/ Adam & Matt
Fan of Fans – Short #250
Keys to VRF Maintenance w/ Roman
Maintenance Mindset – Short #249
IAQ, Ethical Selling & Building Better Techs w/ Brynn Cooksey
Crankcase Heaters – Short #248
The Contactor Reimagined w/ Copeland
Capacitor Testing and Replacement – Short #247
Understanding Dual Fuel
Why Home Performance and HVAC are One
The Quality Installation Conundrum
The Devil is in the Data
#hvac
Tech Tips:
Along the path to becoming a great HVAC technician lies the dreaded wiring diagram. It's meant to be a helpful map of the equipment's electrical system, but with its crisscrossing lines and cryptic symbols, it often feels more like a barrier than a guide. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. But what if you […]
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This tech tip about recovery cylinder fill calculations was written by Eric Kaiser from TruTech Tools. Thanks, Eric! Filling refrigerant recovery cylinders is a task HVACR technicians perform regularly, but figuring out how much refrigerant to safely put into a cylinder can still be confusing. The challenge almost always comes back to refrigerant density or […]
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Maintaining the correct vapor-liquid refrigerant balance is crucial for air conditioning and refrigeration system performance. Longer line sets hold more refrigerant, which increases the risk of liquid accumulating in the suction line or entering the compressor during off-cycles. Heat pumps are one common application that requires additional measures. Refrigerant flow reverses during heating, turning the […]
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The HVAC/R industry isn’t short on tragic figures. There’s John Gorrie, whose ice machine showed a lot of promise but didn’t have enough financial backing due to the lucrative ice industry and the death of his business partner. While Gorrie may have died without seeing his vision reach the masses, he was ahead of his […]
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This tech tip about traditional and desiccant dehumidification is based on a conversation with Nikki Krueger and David Schurk. Nikki is a longtime contributor to HVAC School and is a relatively frequent podcast guest and symposium speaker. David Schurk is the Director of Applied Engineering and National Sales Manager at Innovative Air Technologies. Nikki specializes […]
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Trying to wrap your head around HVAC can feel like a constant firehose of new info, right? Whether you're in class or on the job, there's just so much to soak up. And when you finally think you've got one thing down, BAM, here comes another concept. For me, remembering everything can be a real […]
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Anytime we have a compressor failure, we can’t just pull out the bad compressor and drop a new one in. We have to put our detective hats on and find the culprit so that it doesn’t happen again. In many cases, acid is a prime suspect. Whenever there’s acid in the system, the next compressor […]
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This dehumidification tech tip was written by Tim De Stasio. He originally published it on his website, which you can visit HERE. Thanks, Tim! In March of 2024, I set out to better understand the cost of ownership and return on investment for two dehumidification strategies: a dedicated dehumidifier versus using electric reheat dehumidification from […]
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When we think of HVAC system components, the big four come to mind: evaporator, compressor, condenser, and metering device. However, there are several accessories that keep the HVAC system working as intended, and the filter-drier is one we cannot ignore. Filter-driers protect HVAC/R systems by removing moisture, acids, and debris from refrigerant. In typical residential […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
In this enlightening presentation, Alex Meaney breaks down the fundamental concepts of airflow in HVAC systems using practical analogies and real-world examples. Rather than diving straight into complex mathematics, Alex focuses on helping technicians and contractors understand what's actually happening inside ductwork and why traditional design methods may be falling short in modern residential […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan Orr sits down with Adam and Matt to tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of HVAC system design: return air systems. The conversation dives deep into the common myths surrounding returns, particularly the widespread belief that adding returns to rooms will automatically improve comfort […]
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If you're a fan of fans, this is the podcast for you! In this short podcast episode, Bryan shares how installing ceiling fans can be a smart HVAC design strategy (even though he wasn't a fan of fans!). Ceiling fans break the “don't blow air on people” rule we usually refer to in duct […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan Orr sits down with Roman Baugh, a leading VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) specialist and co-host of the VRF Tech Talk podcast, for an in-depth exploration of VRF system maintenance. The conversation begins with some lighthearted back-and-forth before shifting to the technical realities of maintaining VRF […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan explores the maintenance mindset. Maintenance procedures require a different skill set from troubleshooting, especially the customer service mindset and dedication to execution. Good maintenance is important, and it may be “boring” to some techs, but it provides value and is worth doing well. Clients purchase maintenance plans for […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan welcomes back Brynn Cooksey from Air Doctors and HVAC U to discuss critical topics facing the HVAC industry today. Brynn brings his unique perspective as both a successful contractor in southeast Michigan and an industry educator who has made the transition to focusing primarily on […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about crankcase heaters, including their different types, what they do, and when we need to use them. Crankcase heaters usually come in belly band varieties, but some can be inserted into the sump of the compressor. As their name suggests, crankcase heaters heat the crankcase when the […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan welcomes back Jim to discuss the groundbreaking SureSwitch contactor technology from Copeland. This isn't just another incremental improvement – it's a complete reimagining of how contactors should work in modern HVAC systems. Jim brings his expertise and even demonstrates the technology with a special cutaway […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan goes through the process of testing and replacing a run capacitor. Run capacitors provide continuous phase-shifted current to the start winding, allowing the motor to run in the right direction and with the appropriate amount of torque. These capacitors are needed in most of the single-phase PSC motors […]
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Events:
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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