#nylog

Tech Tips:

This article is not a full lesson on making a flare, but it will give you some best practices to make a flare that doesn't leak. First off, we need to clarify that very few unitary manufacturers use flares anymore. You will most often find flares on ductless and VRF/VRV systems and in refrigeration. A […]

How I Failed to Re-diagnose: The Lesson I Learned

This is the tale of how I found myself stuck on a service call for over 12 hours on a weekend due to my failure to re-diagnose an issue. I was working for a service company that had many accounts with local gas stations. These were large customers, and we did everything we could to […]

5 Simple Service Valve Tips

Service valves are so basic, and we see them with such regularity that we can miss them altogether. Before I give the tips, I want to address the tech who tells the customer it was “probably the service valve” or “the caps were loose” as a plausible reason for a leak without actually making a […]

Nylog, Oil? Where does it go? – Short #238

In this short podcast, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about Nylog, oil, and where you put them when you're making flares. Nylog is a thickened refrigerant oil (which is either POE for Nylog Blue or mineral oil for Nylog Red), and it's miscible with the refrigerant and moves with it through the circuit. You […]

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

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. In some cases, fire sprinklers are linked to a larger fire suppression system in which several may go off at once, but most of the time, only a single fire sprinkler will go off if bumped or exposed to heat.

If you’re using torches or doing any form of hot work in a closet or other location with a fire sprinkler, make sure to keep torches away from the heat-sensitive bulb or at least cover the sprinkler with a wet rag (and follow your company’s guidelines). Blunt force is another possible issue, so we want to avoid hitting the sprinklers with lifts, ladders, or building materials like studs. Keep clearances in mind, and watch out for your colleagues.

You can get some specialty-built cages to protect the sprinklers, but awareness is one of the best ways to protect fire sprinklers. If possible, make sure signage is posted or that you alert other people in the area about the fire sprinklers.

If the fire sprinkler does go off, make sure you can quickly reach the person(s) who can access the fire shutoff or direct you to the fire shutoff. While fire sprinklers won’t pose much of a personal safety hazard, property damage is a major concern. Training and awareness are the keys to preventing property damage due to fire sprinklers.

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Fire Sprinklers – Short #239

05/06/2025

Bryan Orr

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05/01/2025

Bryan Orr