HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Jason Obrzut joins Nathan Orr with the HVAC School podcast live from AHR. In this episode, they discuss A2L refrigerants and upcoming regulations. They explain what a “flammable” refrigerant really is and why the industry may be making a bigger deal of the new regulations than is really necessary. Whenever regulations are passed, we need to understand that there is a notable transition period. This period will mostly be about training, and the only people who should be working on the new equipment should be the most experienced technicians. A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable, non-toxic refrigerants, including R-32. Flame propagation is possible but quite rare for A2L refrigerants under normal operating conditions. However, even A1 refrigerants can propagate flame under the right conditions (just not ones we’d normally see). Many countries all over the world have been using A2L refrigerants for much longer than we have, so we can make those refrigerants work safely. All trades will evolve, and we need to be prepared and trained to adapt to changes over time. When we learn all the new practices that come with these new regulations, we become better technicians. The only place where we can make a difference is in our work, so it pays to focus on learning new things instead of resisting change. Jason and Nathan also discuss: A2L vs. A1 vs. A2 vs. A3 refrigerants What does “flammable” really mean? Recordkeeping regulations for A2L refrigerants Getting over the fear of the unknown Why the HFC phasedown is NOT driven by refrigerant manufacturer profits   Learn more about ESCO’s HVAC Excellence conference HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE.

David Holt with NCI returns to the podcast to discuss the evolution of HVAC training; we cover the past, present, and the possible future of training in the industry. In the past, we had a lot of hands-on training, whether it was one-on-one or in a traditional classroom setting. These learning practices remain beneficial today, especially since many uninformed practices are still prevalent in the industry today (charging to beer-can cold, condemning TXVs without a second thought, etc.). However, the pandemic has forced us to consider online and remote training in the present. The content has also changed from the past; we are a lot more aware of combustion and airflow nowadays, which are very important topics for safety and efficiency. Those training topics allow us to understand what we’re doing when we take the “vital signs” of the equipment.  Being better versed in basic and advanced diagnostics will also give us a more holistic understanding of the HVAC equipment as a system, which can help us truly optimize the systems instead of changing parts and making band-aid fixes. Moving forward, we can expect HVAC training to use virtual reality to help bring traditional hands-on training to the online sphere. We can’t expect a perfect replacement, but we can expect improvements in technology to close the learning gaps that result from online training. David and Bryan also discuss: NCI training during the pandemic Components vs. systems ASHRAE Standard 221-2020 Older educational resources and standards Occupational safety Pricing Online classes, podcasts, and other modern training media   Learn more about the National Comfort Institute (NCI)’s training and sign up HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

Jim Bergmann returns to the HVAC School podcast live from AHR 2022 to discuss a bit about proper system commissioning. He explains the commissioning mindset and some helpful procedures. Successful system commissioning starts with the mindset. A good commissioning organization broadens its vision; instead of focusing on the appliance, techs and installers focus on the system. Commissioning early on saves time later; you can focus on installs and maintenance instead of callbacks, and your organization can make more money as a result. When installing and testing new piping, make sure you insulate the tubing properly and keep the lines CLOSED OFF to the atmosphere. Measuring the line set is also critical for weighing the charge properly, as long lines have special considerations. When doing the decay test, use a quality vacuum rig and try to keep the micron gauge as far away from the pump as possible. Cleaning line sets also helps your vacuum results by getting rid of oil and moisture within the lines. Flowing nitrogen while brazing and sweeping with nitrogen are two other important installation/commissioning practices. They may seem idealistic, but it’s easy to adopt these practices widely and reduce problematic scale buildup. Methods for setting airflow have changed over time. Nowadays, the best practice is to take a volumetric flow measurement (such as with a TrueFlow grid). Jim and Bryan also discuss: Preventing callbacks and warranty returns Evacuation and dehydration Factory practices One-hose evacuation with large hoses Flushing the line sets with pigs Nitrogen flow regulators “Airflow before charging” and metering devices Special considerations for MicroChannel coils   If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

Russ King joins us for a short podcast episode about using 3D load and energy calculations with duct design. Russ has developed the Kwik Model 3D software program with the help of his son, Connor. Kwik Model 3D uses a video game platform to build a house out of boxes instead of a sketch. The software has evolved and been integrated into EnergyGauge to do load and energy calculations based on a house’s geometry. Kwik Model makes it easy and fun to create that geometry profile for a home, which makes building design and load calculation attractive to technicians. Software like Kwik Model may especially become popular as Generation Z steps into the workforce; we can expect the learning curve to be quite shallow for the digital generation. The Manual J calculation uses the home’s characteristics in Kwik Model and does all of the mathematical calculations in EnergyGauge for an advanced load calculation. KwikModel then receives those calculations for each room. Then, you can draw the ductwork and use an auto-size function to get the proper duct size based on the calculations. Energy simulations use several load calculations with advanced data to figure out what the energy usage will look like in a home with a certain set of load conditions. Russ and Bryan also discuss: Modeling quickly with Field Draw How building materials impact load calculations and energy simulations Energy simulations vs. load calculations Upcoming events with Russ King Kwik Model’s tech support Using the Unity platform to develop software for many different industries   Learn more about the software and get your 30-day free trial at kwikmodel.com.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

In this live podcast from AHR Expo 2022, John and Mike Pastorello of Refrigeration Technologies give us a history lesson in HVAC chemical chemistry. They also explain what it takes to make a truly beneficial product for the industry. From the beginning, Refrigeration Technologies has focused on solving problems instead of jumping on product trends. Before Big Blu was introduced, technicians had to rely on less-than-reliable electronic leak detectors and poor-quality soap bubbles. So, John Pastorello learned about the fundamentals of foaming and bubbles to create a leak reactant that works, even creating microbubbles for tiny leaks. Nylog has a similar origin story, and it has evolved to work for both mineral oil (red) and POE (blue) systems. As with Big Blu, John ran several tests to make sure the Nylog was compatible with HVAC equipment and did not cause contamination. The Viper Pan & Drain Treatment was developed to replace pan tabs, which failed to remove the dead biological material in drains. The spray coats the whole pan and dissolves sludge with enzymes. The Venom Packs are highly concentrated cleaners that arose from a move to consolidate the chemical line into something lighter, smaller, and faster. (Think about laundry detergent pods.) So, Venom Packs were inspired by laundry detergent and developed into a concentrated product line with recommended dilution ratios. Mike, John, Jessica, and Bryan also discuss: All the considerations that go into creating a leak reactant “Controversial” uses for Nylog Nylog white pipe dope for gas, water, air, and glycol Overcoming drain/pan odors Enzyme-based cleaning Safety considerations with HVAC chemicals Durability of Venom Pack packaging Family businesses Women in the business   Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies at refrigtech.com.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

Michael Housh returns to the podcast to discuss upgrades and proposals that are worth considering. These upgrades and proposals can actually benefit the customer AND lead to clarity and profit without turning you into a white-shirt tech. When assessing a system for replacement, it’s a good idea to look at the airflow side by measuring static pressure AND using a flow grid; these practices set you apart from others and supply you with good data about system sizing. Filtration is another area where you can consider upgrades and proposals; customers generally want to keep their air clean and may be happy to pay for better filtration, fresh air, and de/humidification.  Surge protection is a high-value upgrade that many customers may benefit from, especially if the electrical company allows overvoltage or the customer has a voltage-sensitive ECM or inverter system. Some upgrades are useful and can be offered automatically (the customer can decline it); depending on the climate, a humidifier or dehumidifier may fit into that category. Proposals are a chance to put all of the offers on the table and allow the customer to select and decline whatever they want. When we adopt this business method, we would be wise to remove our egos from the process. Some processes that add clarity to proposals include creating checklists and taking lots of pictures for the customer. You’ll also create trust between you and the customer when you establish that clarity. Michael and Bryan also discuss: HVAC industry game-changers Profit margins Free quoting Fresh air considerations Consistent overvoltage Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) and the ICM493 IAQ monitors Attic infiltration and can lights Proposal verbiage and templates Callbacks and consultations   If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

In this short podcast episode, Clifton Beck joins us to talk about Bluon’s free tech support and resources available to technicians and installers. Clifton has been very in touch with the HVAC technician community since he got his start in the trades, and he has taken that into tech support. He has noticed that the inefficiency in our industry tends to come from poorly learned practices, and working in tech support is a way for him to do his part to spread better practices while helping others. Lately, Bluon has become more of a tech support business. The new shift to focus on innovation has prompted Bluon to shift from making equipment more efficient to making technicians more efficient. The whole HVAC industry relies on that progression from developing on equipment to people. Tech support consists of answering calls but also creating training videos and creating layers of technician education and development. Manuals are just part of the picture; tech support helps with part identification AND the sequence of operations. Tech support reduces the amount of time it takes to learn about a part or locate components, which makes technicians more efficient and strengthens our industry. Overall, tech support calls are opportunities to train technicians to do better; they don’t just have to give away simple answers that don’t really help anyone. Clifton and Bryan also discuss: Bluon’s growth Trends in tech support calls Tech support and community involvement Feeling accomplished as a tech support representative   Learn more about Bluon’s free tech support on the Bluon app, or you can check out bluon.com.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

Genry Garcia returns to the podcast to talk about blower doors and why ACH50 may needlessly complicate efforts to tighten a building envelope. A large element of indoor comfort comes down to controlling the load, especially the latent load. Even though we can control indoor humidity sources, we may also deal with infiltration, which contributes to a high latent load and decreases comfort. The blower door test comes in when we can no longer control the load and need to determine how much infiltration is happening. When using blower doors, we would typically use an ACH50 test, which takes the CFM50 (cubic feet per minute that the blower door moves to get the house up or down to 50 Pascals) and translates it to air changes per hour at 50 Pa. To do that, you would need to find the volume of the space, which adds hurdles that the HVAC technician needs to deal with. However, Genry prefers using the CFM50 and factoring in the square footage and LAIR (leakage area infiltration ratio) to determine how tight a house is; he doesn’t focus on the building’s volume. To decrease the leakage, it’s best to stay focused on the CFM50 the entire time; worrying about the ACH50 just adds an extra step that we don’t necessarily use. Genry and Bryan also discuss: Connecting design and execution Attic encapsulation How to use LAIR Ceiling height and stack effect Blower door testing for code compliance vs. comfort consultation/diagnostics Common duct problems in new constructions Balancing supply ducts Automation of communicating controls IAQ products and dehumidification   If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.

Eugene Silberstein, co-author of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, introduces us to psychrometrics, focusing on air properties and human comfort. Understanding air's content helps us have a holistic view of HVAC performance. The psychrometrics chart contains valuable information to understand air conditions. Furnaces don't dry out air; they pull moisture out and back in. Air filters, blower motors, weight of air, humidification, and high-pressure air movement are also discussed.

Brandon Marshall, Chemours’s North American marketing manager for thermal and specialized solutions, joins the podcast to discuss refrigerant changes that are coming and how we can prepare for those. Brandon started in the industry by going to a technical school when he was 14 and has been hard at work ever since, studying light commercial design and going to college in between. Local and global regulations have changed a lot over the years and continue to change as we continue maximizing our equipment’s efficiency. California will soon start switching to low-GWP refrigerant on new equipment in 2025; even R-410A can’t be used in new equipment. We will begin seeing the rise of A2L refrigerants and moving away from the A1 refrigerants that are more detrimental to the environment; we’ll have to focus on safety as we begin working with more flammable refrigerants. As new refrigerants get off the ground, we can expect increased communication between manufacturers and dealers to prepare for the sale of equipment built for the new refrigerants. Although we can’t confirm anything, Brandon has speculated that the EPA will soon follow in California’s regulatory footsteps when it comes to new equipment and R-410A.  It’s a good idea to stay educated, subscribe to A2L newsletters, and follow HVAC trends in Europe to predict what might come next in North America.  Brandon and Bryan also discuss: Educational resources about refrigerants What “mildly flammable” actually means European HVAC equipment Chemours at the AHR Expo   Learn more about Chemours A2L training at opteon.com or Opteon’s YouTube channel. Check out what Chemours has in store at the AHR Expo at https://www.opteon.com/en/ahrexpo.  If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. Check out our handy calculators HERE. Check out information on the 2022 HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium/.