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Compressor Failure: Diagnosis and Replacement Checklist for Residential and Light Commercial Equipment
Scroll Compressors in a Changing Regulatory Landscape
Ducting Ventilating Dehumidifiers
Measuring RTU Curbs with Adapters in Place
Voltage Protection Devices
HVAC in Nuclear Emergencies
A2L Refrigerant Sensors: Understanding False Alarms from Off-Gassing
Refrigeration Communication Troubleshooting Using Oscilloscopes
Preventing Heat Illnesses in the BLAZING Summer Heat
Symposium – Do Inverters Suck?
Recovery Pro Tips w/ Jesse from NAVAC
Symposium – What is the House Trying to Tell Me?
Don’t Die! w/ Louise from UEi
Heat Exchanger Crack Comment – Short #280
Dehum Innovations and Essentials w/ Nikki K.
Lifetime of HVAC/R w/ John Pastorello – Short #279
Vapor Injection + Modulation Innovation w/ Copeland
TXV vs. EEV – Short #278
#hvac
Tech Tips:
Special thanks to Ty Branaman and Bert Testerman for their work and feedback on this tech tip about compressor failure diagnosis and replacement. A PDF checklist that covers all of the procedures in this tech tip can be found at https://www.hvacrschool.com/compressor-replacement-checklist. Important Note Before You Begin Industry data indicates that up to 30% of compressors […]
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This tech tip is based on an HVAC School podcast episode about scroll compressors and new refrigerants with Jeff Kukert and Tom Fesenmyer from Copeland. Jeff is the senior technical trainer, and Tom is the manager of technical services. You can listen to the original podcast HERE, and you can explore Copelandโs vast selection of […]
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This tech tip was written with the guidance of Nikki Krueger, the Director of Marketing & Business Development at Santa Fe Dehumidifiers. Nikki has been a longtime contributor to HVAC School as a recurring podcast guest and presenter at the HVACR Training Symposium. Most of the illustrations and instructions for ducting ventilating dehumidfiers came from […]
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Each commercial rooftop unit (RTU) needs to be mounted to a curb. A curb supports the RTU and provides openings for the supply and return ductwork (which can be massive compared to what we see in residential and light commercial HVAC). Occasionally, weโll need to do an RTU changeout and put in a bigger or […]
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As HVAC technicians, our responsibilities extend beyond the mechanical and refrigerant systems. The electrical power supply is an often-overlooked factor in equipment longevity. Protecting an HVAC system from damaging voltage fluctuations is a strategic step that reduces service calls and enhances the reliability of our installations. This guide will discuss the importance of voltage protection […]
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This tech tip is based on a podcast episode with Bill Nowicki about the latest DHS guidance on HVAC use in nuclear emergencies. You can listen to that podcast HERE. Bill has 45 years of experience in the nuclear industry, starting with his Naval career, and he also has a few podcasts of his own. […]
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As the HVAC industry transitions to refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP), A2L refrigerants like R-454B are becoming more common. These refrigerants are classified as “mildly flammable” and require the installation of A2L refrigerant leak detection sensors in many applications to ensure safety. While these sensors are essential for detecting actual refrigerant leaks, HVAC […]
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This tech tip is the final installment in our short series on using oscilloscopes to troubleshoot communicating systems. This time, we’re focusing on troubleshooting communication issues in commercial refrigeration systems. Imagine this scenario: you’ve got a refrigeration system acting up, and the comms network, whether it’s LON or MOD-bus, seems a bit flaky. Let me […]
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This tech tip about preventing heat illnesses covers information and resources from the Cleveland Clinic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). HVAC School is NOT an official OSHA training resource, and although these safety tips are […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Join us for this eye-opening session from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium featuring industry experts Roman Baugh, Jon Esquivel, and Adam Mufich as they expose the truth about inverter-driven HVAC systems. What You’ll Learn: Common Inverter Problems – Why these systems fail and how to prevent callbacks Design Mistakes – Oversized inverters acting […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Recorded live on the floor at the AHR Expo 2026, this episode of the podcast brings together host Bryan and his guest Jesse, National Training Manager at NAVAC, for a candid, high-energy conversation about professional best practices in the HVAC/R trade. The two have a long-standing friendship and professional rapport that makes the discussion […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ Join Chris Hughes and Adam Mufich at the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium as they interview building scientist Tessa Murray. In this eye-opening conversation about what your house is really trying to tell you. Discover why HVAC techs need to understand building science fundamentals to truly master their craft. What You’ll Learn: The critical […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this episode, recorded live at AHR Expo 2026, Bryan sits down with Louise from UEi Test Instruments for an in-depth conversation about one of the most underestimated dangers in the HVAC trade: carbon monoxide. Rather than treating CO as just another checkmark on a safety list, Bryan and Louise dive into the full […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode, Bryan responds to a comment we received about cracked heat exchangers and how they were characterized in a recent combustion safety podcast episode. In reality, heat exchanger cracks counter the effects of the inducer motor.ย The inducer pulls air through the heat exchanger, but a crack causes the inducer […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this live episode recorded at the AHR Expo 2026 Podcast Pavilion in Las Vegas, host Bryan sits down with longtime friend and industry expert Nikki Krueger of Santa Fe and AprilAire. Nikki brings over 15 years of experience in indoor air quality and whole-home dehumidification to the conversation, having started her career with […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode from AHR Expo 2026, Bryan sits down with John Pastorello for a discussion about the latter’s lifetime of HVAC/R. John was a chemist and an HVAC technician before founding Refrigeration Technologies in 1987, and he received the HVAC Tactical Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026. Prior to entering the trade, […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this live episode from the AHR 2026 Podcast Pavilion, Bryan sits down with Copeland’s Josh Souders (Manager of Commercial Unitary Product Management) and Jeff Kukert (Compression Senior Technical Trainer) to dive deep into Enhanced Vapor Injection (EVI) technology and its transformative impact on HVAC systems. This conversation offers both technical professionals and industry […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast episode, Bryan breaks down the differences between a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) and an electronic expansion valve (EEV). He highlights their strengths and weaknesses. In the basic refrigerant circuit, the metering device drops the pressure. TXVs and EEVs are both metering devices that cause the liquid refrigerant to drop in […]
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