#hvac

It took me years to build a picture in my head of what superheat and subcool mean. They were these strange words that dropped out of nowhere when I entered the HVAC world, and in the midst of grappling with so many other things, I could tell they were very important. Over time, I have, […]

This tech tip was written by David Richardson, the Vice President of Training for NCI. David has been on several podcasts and has spoken at the HVACR Training Symposium multiple times. Thanks, David! Your ideas and experiences are the ingredients for great articles. Unfortunately, they are easy to forget if you don’t capture them in […]

If you have worked at more than one company in your HVAC career, chances are you’ve found there is more than one place to put a float switch. Every company seems to have its own “secret sauce” for running drain lines and placing float switches.  Is your company a “no float switch” company? Although a […]

If a furnace runs for years and years while tripping the limit switch but satisfies the thermostat, will it ever be noticed? The answer is most likely “no,” but it will depend on whether the furnace utilizes soft or hard lockouts when the limit switch trips. So, what is a soft lockout vs. a hard […]

This tech tip was written by Jennifer Manzo, an HVAC technician and the founder of the HVA-Chicks coalition, which offers tech support and training as well as resources for women in the industry. She was one of our panelists on this year's Women's Panel at the symposium and was recently featured on a livestream and […]

In the last year or so, I have had a couple of puzzling experiences related to pulling a vacuum. These instances have left me with questions and clues where I thought I had given up on understanding a certain vacuum situation. Typically, if I’ve had a hard time achieving a proper vacuum, I would be […]

The other morning, I was scrolling through HVAC Facebook groups when I came across a post from a homeowner. He was requesting recommendations for a book that would teach him how to design and install a new HVAC system, complete with ductwork, in his home. Immediately, my HVAC career flashed before my eyes like a Christian reliving […]

Imagine this: you are pulling into your driveway from a long day at work, and you see a package waiting for you on your porch. You jump out of your truck and trip over the rose bush while running to see if this is what you have been waiting for. Upon closer inspection, you realize that the […]

This tech tip recaps the livestream by the same name, featuring HVAC School contributors Matt Bruner and Adam Mufich, as well as special guests Corbett Lunsford and John Semmelhack. You can watch that livestream on our YouTube channel HERE, and you can learn more about the great educational opportunities Corbett has to offer at https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/. […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Edward's question about how to deal with customers who ask, “Why didn't you notice it last time?” There isn't an easy answer to that question. The truth is that air conditioning and home health and comfort issues are complicated, and it's entirely possible that an issue […]

 In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan dives deep into the topic of vacuum in HVAC and refrigeration systems. He addresses two questions from social media about vacuum, expanding them into a comprehensive discussion of best practices, common issues, and techniques for effective vacuum procedures. Bryan starts by explaining where to […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a question about drain traps and static pressure. This question was sent by Stephen with The Comfort Squad when he noticed an uptick in nuisance calls on retrofit systems that kept having their secondary drain pans filled. In negatively pressurized systems (i.e., straight-cool or heat pump […]

 In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Kenton's question about how to stop vents from condensating, especially when sealing and insulation don't do the trick. When approaching a condensation problem, we have to consider the source of moisture and where the condensation is happening. Moisture that builds up on top of the vent […]

 In this episode of the HVAC podcast, Bryan and Max Johnson from Kalos discuss the critical role of a startup and commissioning technician in the HVAC industry. Max, who has experience in both residential and commercial HVAC, shares his insights on the importance of understanding the scope of work, equipment specifications, and code requirements. […]

 In this short podcast of the Q&A series, Bryan answers a question about “stubborn old techs” (submitted by Luke via Speakpipe). In several cases, old-school techs are “being positional,” which means they feel that they have a piece of turf to protect; they see challenges to the status quo as a threat. They may […]

 In this episode, Josh Souders from Copeland joins the HVAC School Podcast to discuss modulating and variable capacity technologies in HVAC systems. Josh provides an in-depth look at the different levels of modulation available in residential HVAC equipment, from traditional fixed-speed systems to two-stage, multi-stage, and true variable-speed compressors. The conversation covers the benefits […]

In this short podcast episode of the Q&A series, Bryan answers a question about testing dehumidifiers (submitted by Steven via Speakpipe). Dehumidifiers run air over a cold evaporator coil (to pull moisture out of the air and drain it out) and then reheat it over a condenser coil. The air leaving a dehumidifier is of […]

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of residential HVAC installations with Matt, a senior technician and residential install supervisor at Kalos Services. Matt brings a wealth of experience from both the service and installation sides of the business, offering valuable insights into improving installation processes and workmanship. The conversation highlights the importance […]