

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Bryan Orr
Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 16, 2020 • 1h 3min
Viruses, Bacteria, and Fungus #LIVE
In this live podcast episode, we discuss viruses, bacteria, and fungi. We also explain how they interact with HVAC equipment, their effects on indoor air quality, and how businesses can protect their customers and employees. Since we work with the public, we can minimize the risk of viral transmission by keeping our distance between others and avoid handshakes and other forms of contact. However, we also have to respect the feelings of the customers we're serving. Many people confuse viruses, bacteria, and fungi (mold). All particles are small and would typically pass right through a MERV-8 filter; you typically need MERV-11 or better to catch all three. While our equipment can harbor those particles, the equipment can't create them. While bacteria and fungi can propagate on their own, viruses need a host to propagate. Viruses can go airborne, but they only grow and propagate inside our bodies. So, we don't need to worry about minimizing growth on surfaces or inside HVAC equipment. We make it harder for bacteria, fungi, and viruses to survive by keeping the relative humidity between 30% and 55%. That is part of the reason why certain viruses become prominent seasonally, though our own immune systems are also a factor. Probiotic cleaners also exist to attack biofilm on surfaces. To achieve that goal, probiotic cleaners promote good bacterial growth to fight the bad growth we want to eliminate. We may expect probiotic technologies to improve even more in the future. However, those won't affect viruses strongly because viruses don't GROW in equipment. We also discuss: Virus transmission Masks and gloves Mobile air scrubbers HVAC technicians as essential workers Microns Legionella COVID-19 vs. influenza HEPA and activated-carbon filtration Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), bi-polar ionization, and UV lighting Is oxidization effective? Good vs. bad bacteria and probiotic cleaning Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Mar 10, 2020 • 13min
Short #88 - Science vs. What Works
In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about science and how to balance practice and experience with the “why” behind what we do. He also explains how either one can cause an error if you aren’t careful. Science is not just about reading nerdy theories in books; it's all about understanding why the processes in our world. In that sense, many of us field technicians are scientists. When we use problem-solving skills in the field, we try to understand what is going on and why our proposed solutions might fix the issue. We partake in experimentation all the time when we look for solutions, too; we formulate hypotheses about what will happen when we apply a fix, and we test our hypotheses by seeing what happens. However, there has also been a rise in pseudoscience, which uses observation to come to a conclusion WITHOUT the due diligence of experimentation. We see this quite often in brazing; some old-timer technicians use poor brazing practices but still manage to get leak-free joints. While those brazing practices may work on the low side of the system, you can't expect the results to be the same when brazing in a compressor. The methods may "work" in some cases, but they're not backed by scientific understanding, so they can't produce good results under higher-pressure conditions. Science is not perfect and can go wrong, though. When we don't understand the application and the "why" behind the work, we can't expect products and tools to work as they're meant to work. That's when errors pop up. To avoid those errors, investigate the "why" and test out your hypotheses. Bryan also discusses: Multiple ways to do things Thomas Edison vs. Nikola Tesla Poor brazing practices Not pulling a deep vacuum Ozone generators and deodorizers "Hack" work Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Mar 6, 2020 • 53min
New Business Processes #LIVE
We discuss some of the new, possibly strange-sounding business processes we've decided to implement at Kalos in 2020. First of all, we are going to add terms and conditions that our customers must agree to. These terms and conditions include a "hold harmless" disclaimer regarding viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Florida forbids us from discussing mold, so a "hold harmless" disclaimer protects us from liability for something we aren't even allowed to discuss. We also have to reinforce automobile safety to protect ourselves and our employees. Small fender-benders can spiral into serious legal problems when we lack proper evidence, so we decided to use GPS technology and dashcams in company vehicles. That way, we can collect more data on incidents to see who is really at fault in an accident. We've also clarified safety practices in our employee handbook. New business processes also include changing how we pay people per diem. In our construction and refrigeration divisions, our employees eat and sleep out of town, so they need compensation. We've put new processes in place to reimburse employees for those expenses without taxing that money. We also set rules based on the time of year, zip code, and average food/lodging rates. Overall, most of our new business practices are going into place to make Kalos a safer workplace with more efficient administrative processes We also discuss: Warranties on certain products "Assumption of privacy" Company credit cards vs. gas cards Dispatch/service software IRS "proof of transactions" Nurse triage and dealing with injuries Worker's compensation rates OSHA training and SDS Document signage and subcontractor agreements SambaSafety Slack vs. ServiceTitan Keeping track of parts, inventory losses, and supply house plans "Kaizen" Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Mar 5, 2020 • 26min
A Groundbreaking Motor Technology
Ben with Infinitum Electric comes on to tell us more about his super-innovative, groundbreaking PCB (printed circuit board) motor technology that we saw at AHR 2020. The Infinitum motor is a relatively simple permanent magnet motor that can also work as a generator. Infinitum got its start with generators, and the groundbreaking new motor technology works quite similarly to generators. These motors can also work with variable frequency drive technology. In this groundbreaking motor, the traditional stator has all of the iron and copper taken out, and copper is etched into the circuit board. When you take the iron out of the equation, you eliminate core losses and get a much more efficient stator. Instead, electromagnetic waves travel through the air via flux transfer over the air gap, which rotates the motor. The machine has low inductance overall. Energy efficiency is the core of Infinitum's philosophy. The original idea for Infinitum's motor came from optimizing performance in specific applications; Infinitum increased the efficiency while keeping the motors small and quiet. After that, the motor outgrew its application and opened the doors to innovation. There is great promise for Infinitum motors in the aerospace industry because they are lightweight, quiet, and highly efficient. However, Infinitum is also interested in short-term applications, including fans, pumps, and compressors in the HVAC/R industry. Ben and Bryan also discuss: Generator vs. motor technology VFD system integration How to operate motors with low inductance Investors and why they choose to invest Development of major automotive and aerospace technology Serviceability of the motors Using printed circuit boards as stators Starting conversations with OEMs Check out more about Infinitum and its new motor technologies at infinitumelectric.com. Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 27, 2020 • 35min
Refrigerant Management Strategies w/ Rick Roland
Rick from Certified Refrigerant Services joins us to talk about recovery and refrigerant management. He also explains what to look for and do to get the most from your program. A refrigerant management program offers recovery services, reclamation, and other options for processing refrigerants. Rick's company also buys and sells refrigerants. With his line of work, there are also plenty of opportunities to educate contractors. The goal is to reduce refrigerant mixing and keep high-quality refrigerant in circulation. Mixing refrigerants kills their value, though it is sometimes inevitable. On the contractor's side, you can take steps to prevent mixing by diligently using tags and weighing the charge each time. When we commit to careful recovery practices, we can keep high-quality, discontinued refrigerants available for people who have those systems. Contractors can also do injustice to their customers when they recover into dirty tanks, though it can be difficult to understand those tanks' histories. As contractors, we have a lot of difficult decisions to make, but we must always act ethically in terms of EPA guidelines and put the customers' needs first. It's a bad idea (and illegal) to give customers unprocessed recovered refrigerant charges. You can't possibly know if the system has bad refrigerant (such as from a system that burned out) or other issues, so you're probably not helping anyone by giving them unprocessed recovered refrigerant. Quality is the key to the refrigerant management industry, and contractors can both contribute to the cause and benefit from it. Rick and Bryan also discuss: Refrigerant A/C vs. commercial chiller systems and mixing Recycling R-22 EPA refrigerant disposal reports Service vs. recovery cylinders Being proud of being in the HVAC/R trades How much should we really fill our tanks? Life cycle of air conditioners Refrigerant pricing R-410A recovery Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 26, 2020 • 24min
New Refrigerants from Honeywell
Chris LaPietra, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Stationary Refrigerants, joins us to talk about some new releases from Honeywell. He also covers refrigerants in general. As our industry reduces its reliance on R-22 (and eventually R-410A), we have turned to more flammable solutions. There is a tradeoff in safety for the lower GWP, though. However, along with some slightly less flammable A2L refrigerants, Honeywell is releasing two new A1 refrigerants: R-466A and R-515B (N-15). These are non-toxic, don't catch fire, and have a lower environmental impact than R-410A and R-22. The Montreal Protocol was a groundbreaking initiative to phase out ozone-depleting substances to help slow down climate change. As a result, R-22 has undergone a phase-out. The Kigali Amendment is the next step, which addresses global warming potential and targets substances with high GWP for a phase-down. So, as R-410A will go in a similar direction to R-22, manufacturers have come on the scene; they are developing alternative refrigerants that address the global climate initiative. Instead of creating new HFCs, manufacturers are inventing new blends and HFOs to replace HFCs. Honeywell wants to avoid creating undue risk in the marketplace. So, they take feedback from their customers and make sure technicians feel comfortable working with their refrigerants. They also keep the best practices pretty similar to those of working with R-410A. Chris and Bryan also discuss: Residential HVAC vs. commercial refrigeration solutions The ZE product line ASHRAE terms and definitions How R-32 is made (and A2L refrigerant blends) Global warming potential (GWP) vs. ozone-depleting potential (ODP) How Honeywell develops new refrigerants Trading off efficiency for lower GWP E-cooling and the potential of the electronics market Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 21, 2020 • 1h 1min
EPA Myths and recovery Best Practices #LIVE
Eric Kaiser comes on the live podcast to talk through some commonly repeated EPA myths. We also discuss how to get the most from your recovery machine and tanks. The EPA exists to interpret broad laws into specific standards, such as by translating climate initiatives into venting guidelines. One of the most common EPA myths is that you cannot charge a leaking system. If you can repair the leak and get the leak rate below the specified percentage, then you can recharge the system. Not every country allows this procedure. On the subject of refrigerant losses to leaks, making leaks is also NOT a valid excuse to vent refrigerant; the EPA tries to get us to minimize losses as much as possible. De minimis exemptions exist to allow for us to service a system properly, not to give us loopholes for venting. Overall, it's best to use probes to take your readings, not manifolds. R-22 is another controversial subject that gives rise to some EPA myths. R-22 is NOT illegal, but it is no longer being produced or imported. There are limitations based on the amount of charge as well, but recharging a system with R-22 is NOT a crime. When recovering with a recovery machine, you want to prevent junk from getting inside of it (such as from the recovery tank). To protect your recovery machine, it's good practice to run the refrigerant through a filter-drier when returning it to a system, though that won't fully clean the refrigerant. Eric and Bryan also discuss: The ins and outs of new R-22 guidelines Pulling down into a vacuum Low-loss fittings and refrigerant trapped in hoses Whose responsibility is it to keep records? Drop-in refrigerants, mixing refrigerants, and topping off Recovery tank safety basics and cleanliness How recovery machines work Recovering in the liquid phase Heat transfer in recovery PPE Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 20, 2020 • 20min
News from NATE w/ Gurminder
Gurminder Sidhu joins us from NATE to talk about what NATE is all about and bring us some news about the new changes and improvements. NATE was created for the industry by the industry; the organization arose from a need to promote education and standardize HVAC qualifications. Today, NATE continues to address the industry's needs by offering education and certification for technicians. NATE also understands the need of explaining the "why" behind our daily work. The people at NATE also believe in continuing education and offer learning materials to techs of all levels, as well as study guides for their exams. People from all sectors of the industry contribute to the study guide content. These people also review it to ensure that everything in the guide is relevant and accurate. The study guides take what technicians have learned in the field and put them into a form that helps them prepare for quizzes. These guides also have practice questions, a glossary, and formulas. Technicians must take a core and specialty exam before the big NATE exam. When it is time for you or one of your employees to take the NATE exam, you can arrange a date and time to take the test at a local testing organization. NATE is currently working on an alternate pathway to certification for those who are new to the industry. This pathway has a series of five smaller exams that people can take in any order. You can take the alternative tests either traditionally or remotely with an online proctor. Gurminder and Bryan also discuss: Four levels of NATE certification The study guide creation process How employers benefit from employing a NATE-certified technician New NATE user interface Get started or keep up with news from NATE at natex.org. Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 17, 2020 • 45min
HVAC Design Mythbusting #LIVE
Alex Meaney from MiTek/Wrightsoft joins us at AHR 2020 to talk about some HVAC design myths and how to bust them in your mind. It was a really fun talk with a great guy. One common HVAC design myth worth busting is that we can use a set friction rate with a Ductulator to make duct systems work. The friction rate only applies per 100 feet, and it has different degrees of impact based on duct sizing and fan speeds. We CANNOT guarantee that a system will work if we subtract losses to filters, coils, and grilles until we reach a set friction rate (usually 0.1 or 0.8). We experience most of our pressure losses at the fittings, which the friction rate doesn't account for. To prevent some of these myths, we can move away from manual math and start using more software. However, we have to know what our numbers exactly are and what the performance conditions are. For example, filters can show a static pressure drop rating of 0.1, but that WILL change depending on the CFM. Velocity is a confusing area for techs because we have face velocity and duct velocity. Face velocity refers to the speed of air at the register whereas duct velocity refers to the air speed within the duct. These can get a bit complicated when you throw dampers in, but duct velocity doesn't have that much of an impact on the face velocity; the register has a much greater effect on face velocity than a damper in the middle of a duct. Alex and Bryan also discuss: Starting off by learning the wrong thing 12,000 BTUs per ton Radial duct systems What really is "static pressure?" Oversizing ductwork Creating vs. relieving friction Manual D Ideal velocity Variable-speed technology Efficiency vs. moisture removal Sensible heat ratio (SHR) and Manual S Latent loads Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Feb 14, 2020 • 45min
Mentors and Role Models w/ Andrew Greaves
Andrew Greaves joins us again from AHR 2020. This time, he discusses what mentors and role models do in our trade and why they're important. Mentors are not just the grouchy senior techs who throw hammers at apprentices. Mentors have an active role in others' professional development; they spend a lot of time with their mentees and actively aid their growth. Not everyone is cut out to be a mentor, as the role comes with a lot of responsibility (and possibly stress). Role models indirectly influence others by doing good work and inspiring others to do the highest quality work; we should all strive to be role models. However, the mentees need to put in a lot of work and must have emotional intelligence. Both mentor and mentee need to ask questions about the work and each other. The relationship is all about involvement and intentionality. Mentors also have to care about their mentees as people, not just as students or technicians. They respect their mentees' values and acknowledge where their own shortcomings are when communicating with their mentees. However, mentors also know when to question and challenge their mentees when necessary. Mentees are entitled to clarity, and a good mentor understands that there has to be mutual understanding and trust in the relationship. Relationships take time, and mentors usually need to give their mentees a chance to prove their work ethic before they commit to the mentorship. As a mentor, you must understand that your mentee doesn't have your perspective, and that's where empathy and expectation management are required. Andrew and Bryan also discuss: Individual learning styles Formalization of mentorship Investment in training vs. mentorship "Multimedia" and internet mentorship Dave Barefoot stories How to start a mentor-mentee relationship Filtering through unsuitable mentees Setting expectations before goals Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies HERE. If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.