BACK
Solving Superheat
Living in a World of Acids (and why HVAC coils are secretly crying for help)
AHRI Ratings Are Not Design Conditions
Valve Core Removal Tools
“White Shirt Techs – Manifesto” in Practice
Solving Subcool
Contactor Alternatives and Upgrades
Using Heat & Nitrogen In Vacuum
The Chemistry of Combustion In the Wild
No Serve Situations – Short #243
Locked Compressor Mistakes w/ Bert
When 0V Isn’t Safe – Short #242
Compressor Ohm Mistakes w/ Bert
Motor Ambient Rating – Short #241
Superheat Talk w/ JD Kelly
How to Deal w/ Too Much – Short #240
Delta T Talk w/ JD Kelly
Fire Sprinklers – Short #239
Women’s Panel
30 Minutes or Less and You Only Have…
#hvac
Tech Tips:
In this article, we’ll discuss solving superheat using this diagnostic sheet to help us better understand how it is calculated and from where it is derived. I want to thank Ty Branaman for helping me develop these sheets that will hopefully aid in a better understanding of some of the basic HVAC measurements that both […]
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Imagine a small IT room packed with servers, monitors, and humans. CO₂ levels easily spike to over 3000 PPM since the room lacks fresh air ventilation. Two overworked mini-split units churn away, cooling the space and unknowingly creating the perfect acidic environment. Fast forward a few months, and those shiny coils now resemble something pulled […]
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I’ve been designing a system for a home here in Dallas and noticed a couple of interesting (and disturbing!) things about the equipment’s advertised capacity vs. the actual capacity at design conditions. Equipment is rated at AHRI conditions (95 degrees outside and 80-degree dry bulb, 67-degree wet bulb inside). These conditions make equipment performance LOOK […]
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Valve core removal tools were originally developed to remove damaged valve cores without the need to pump the system down. This technology was a major leap forward in work efficiency, as pumping down a system can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Eventually, technicians discovered that removing valve cores led to faster evacuation, recovery, and […]
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I wanted to offer some practical advice from Bryan’s last podcast, “White Shirt Techs – Manifesto.” The link can be found HERE. In this episode, Bryan strongly (and rightfully) critiques sales tactics that are divorced from technical skills and meaningful benefits for homeowners. As a one-man HVAC company, I wanted to offer a suggestion for […]
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I teamed up with Ty Branaman to design an intuitive way for techs to solve some of the “what should it be?” questions in the HVAC field. The topic for this sheet is subcooling (or subcool). Subcooling is a measurement of the temperature DECREASE of a liquid below its saturation (mixed liquid/vapor) temperature at a […]
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Our HVAC equipment can’t run without the contactor coil, but contactors can develop problems with age and during high-voltage electrical events. Contact pitting is unmistakable, and it’s unfortunately all too common in areas where bugs can get into the coil and fry on the contacts. Factor in problems with the utility, such as brownouts and […]
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In these tips and on the podcast, we talk a lot about the importance of deep vacuum. Pulling a deep vacuum using proper processes and tools is really the ONLY way to ensure that a system is clean, dry, and tight. Just for review, that means: Nitrogen purge, flow, and pressurize > Cores removed > […]
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If you’ve been following my writing for the last couple of years, you know that I like to blather on and on about combustion analysis. Now, I am by no means an expert on the subject, as I live in North Texas (which is not known for its intense heating season), but I love using […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about some no-serve situations he's encountered as a technician and HVAC business owner. He also talks about situations that may be unpleasant but aren't quite no-serve situations. Some common and obvious no-serve situations are when a client threatens a technician, especially with lawsuits, bad reviews, or even […]
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In this informative HVAC podcast episode, Bryan and Bert dive deep into the complex world of locked and internal overload compressors, focusing specifically on single-phase residential units. The discussion begins with Bert explaining one of the most common challenges technicians face: diagnosing a locked compressor. He describes how compressors that are locked will typically […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan covers some unique electrical cases: when 0v isn't safe. When you measure voltage, you're finding out the electrical potential between two points. Just because there is 0v between one point and another doesn't mean there will be 0v between those points and other points. Non-contact voltage detectors are […]
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In this episode, Bryan and Bert dive into the often misunderstood world of compressor testing, focusing on common mistakes technicians make when using ohmmeters, compressor testers, and megohm meters. The conversation highlights how diagnostic errors can lead to unnecessarily condemned compressors and wasted time and resources. The hosts begin by discussing fundamental concepts like […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about what the ambient rating means on a motor. These ratings can be found on both condensing fan motors and blower motors. They have Cs in their rating, which represents the maximum ambient temperature the motor can handle in degrees Celsius (like 40C or 60C). Heat and […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan discusses superheat with guest JD, who recently co-authored an article on the topic with Ty Branaman. The conversation explores the often misunderstood concept of superheat, its importance in HVAC diagnostics, and common misconceptions technicians have when measuring and interpreting it. Bryan begins by sharing […]
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In this short podcast, Bryan talks about how to deal with too much at work and in life. He gives some practical tips to help you when you feel overwhelmed. One of the best ways to get ahead is to wake up early, exercise, get sunlight, stay hydrated, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. […]
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Bryan from HVAC School interviews JD Kelly, known as “student of HVAC” on Instagram, about Delta T measurements in HVAC systems. This episode dives into the fundamentals of Delta T, common misconceptions, and proper measurement techniques. JD explains that Delta T is simply a temperature difference between two points of the same medium, which […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about fire sprinklers and how to avoid setting them off on job sites. Fire sprinklers have an element in the center that expands when exposed to heat (like a TXV sensing bulb) and breaks the glass. When the glass breaks, the fire sprinkler starts pouring out water. […]
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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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