HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

In this podcast, HVAC School team members Kaleb and Leilani walk the floor and talk to various people about their products and companies at AHR 2020. Bryan also has a quick conversation with Frank from HVAC Outlawz. The newest RectorSeal surge protection (RSH-50 with the 60A disconnect) uses MOVs and gas discharge tubes, which work together to fight off power surges. The effectiveness of the product has allowed RectorSeal to give customers a lifetime warranty on their product. RectorSeal also has a new drain cleaner, Nu Line. Nu Line eliminates the biofilm in drains AND protects the drain from growth after cleaning. One of Bryan's AHR 2020 highlights was speaking with Frank of HVAC Outlawz. Frank wants to push the limits of what we know so that we can perform the best work possible. In his 15 years, he has worked with a wide range of equipment. His experience led him to start creating content on Facebook and Instagram (also with inspiration from Andrew Greaves). He also involves himself in local trades education, which is the key to making our trade accessible to young people. Emerson is also an HVAC titan that participates in events like AHR 2020. Emerson is at the forefront of new HVAC technology and always focuses on doing the right thing for contractors, wholesalers, and industry partners. We also explore: Gas discharge tube technology Various applications for Line Sets Inc. products Measuring duct pressures and velocities with Dwyer Refrigeration Technologies Venom Packs Maintaining building envelope integrity with Friedrich A/C Recovery units with NAVAC Emerson's Sensi Predict and Multiple Thermostat Manager Fieldpiece vacuum pumps and Job Link probes Ultra-Aire dehumidifiers RGF Environmental Group REME Halo LED Women in HVACR Ultravation Synergy   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.

In this live recording from the AHR Expo, Kaleb Saleeby, Nate Adams, Michael Housh, and Steve Rogers discuss building performance. The building science world is an exciting place; we're all excited about improvements to reheat dehumidification, which is when we use waste heat to take care of humidity without cooling. As equipment becomes more efficient, we also look forward to tackling new challenges that make us think more broadly. New people are also stepping up, using new tools, accessing more knowledge, and doing better work. Building performance is becoming more important in HVAC via HVAC 2.0, which focuses on design efficiency. However, the biggest challenge right now is making HVAC 2.0 sustainable and profitable. We must simplify and scale building performance; when we make it accessible, we can work it into the HVAC industry and do more thorough work. One of the challenges to widespread adoption is the lack of experience with building performance. The average technician simply doesn't have the needed exposure to building science concepts and practices. Perhaps the best way to bring people into the building science side of the business is to work on the techs' own homes. We need to bring the personal part of building performance to the technicians and their families if we want to see widespread adoption of HVAC 2.0. We also need to make building performance solutions accessible to the consumers. Although the solutions may be too expensive for many customers right now, the goal is to start holistic comfort conversations. Kaleb, Nate, Michael, Steve, and Bryan also discuss: Tapping into the engineering mindset Economic sustainability Psychrometric charts vs. app-based learning Math vs. software Working with techs and the CSRs The Gulf of Disappointment Contractor relationships Economic and environmental impacts Fossil fuels Upgrading the electrical grid Propane   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.

Mike from Refrigeration Technologies talks to us about his journey in business, some new and old products, and how well the business is growing. Refrigeration Technologies tries to make products that do the job correctly the first time and are safe for techs to use. The products are odorless, don't burn skin, and are safe around food. John and Mike Pastorello are passionate about using chemistry to make quality products that make techs' lives easier. Mike joined his father's business full-time when he was 23; he performed a lot of the menial tasks while his father developed the products. Nylog is perhaps one of the most popular yet controversial products. The product is made of refrigeration oil, which is inside the system anyway. While many people may be suspicious of additives to avoid warranty complications, nothing inside Nylog will harm the system. It also won't clog the lines when used properly. Lately, Mike and John have made highly concentrated cleaners that have taken all the excess water out of coil cleaners. These Venom Packs are pure concentrate, meaning that they are very strong but maintain their original cleaners' non-toxic properties. They are also easier to store and come in brightener, all-purpose, evaporator, and condenser varieties. Refrigeration Technologies cleaners also work on tough bacterial zoogloea, a common plague in humid climates like Florida. The Pan & Drain Treatment also works very well to clean out and treat drains. The spray is also tough on odors. Refrigeration Technologies has experienced a lot of growth recently. Most of the company growth happens in John's lab, as the products are constantly getting better. The goal is to improve the quality without raising prices, and improvements to packaging are crucial to that element of growth. The company is also very active on social media and actively takes feedback.   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.

Richard Trethewey from This Old House joins Bryan on the podcast and tells his incredible story and shares some encouragement and laughs. Richard works with his sons, Ross and Evan. He has always worked in a family business and then left it to start his own with his sons. Family businesses truly are the backbone of this industry, as our business attracts lots of family-oriented business owners. Richard's sons volunteered to join the business early on. This Old House started off with a phone call from PBS about a home-renovation show idea; Richard had to start the show from scratch with no money, but his father agreed to do the show. The first years of the show were difficult because that was before Home Depot and the internet became popular, so DIY home renovation was still pretty new and unknown; Richard worried about "selling the secrets" of the trade. However, his main concern was with doing good work and setting a positive example for others whenever they watched him. If Richard had to give one piece of advice to young people, it would be to join the skilled trades. Many high-profile jobs have an ebb and flow of good workers, but the skilled trades ALWAYS need good workers. Regardless of where people are or what the market looks like, people will need comfort. One of the most rewarding things about being in the skilled trades is being able to inspire others to obtain the skills to provide for themselves. Nowadays, Richard spends time learning about new technologies and feels excited by the prospect of making American technology even better. He looks to Western European HVAC technologies as an example of what we can do. Richard also looks forward to empowering and inspiring the new generation and getting them to a point where they have pride in their 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.

This podcast is by Sal at Products by Pros, featuring Bryan Orr of HVAC School. In this episode, Sal asks Bryan all about micron gauges.   Products by Pros Guest: Bryan Orr   What should technicians look at when deciding on a micron gauge? You should look for superior accuracy and resolution, especially if you'll be doing decay testing. You need to see what the trends are in clear detail. (The Bluvac app makes that easy.) Why should a tech even use a micron gauge? You use a micron gauge to verify that you have pulled a proper vacuum. What role does fear or pain play in the use of micron gauges? People respond primarily to pain; most technicians in the field know what they can get away with to avoid the pain of punishment for bad practices. What type of technician doesn’t care about proper vacuum or micron gauges? They typically come from companies that don't care about having clear startup and commissioning practices. What is the cost of adoption for high-end tools? Technicians think in terms of the tyranny of the urgent. They have to take time to learn it, and many of them don't have that time. What are the pressures techs deal with? Scheduling pressures are already immense, and field techs are also under constant pressure to get work done and do their jobs even better. How can techs save time and relieve pressures? Learn how to do things right and become proficient with newer, better tools. How do you pull a proper vacuum? Don't use leaky manifold gauges during evacuation; just use good-quality vacuum-rated hoses. Use core remover tools and keep your micron gauge as far away from your pump as you can get it during evacuation. What are the incentives for techs to do things properly? A common thread among many techs is that they want to avoid blame; if we focus on reducing blame, then techs might feel more encouraged to learn and do things correctly. (There will always be sticks in the mud, though.) What role does integrity play when it comes to business owners doing things properly? Integrity comes in when we show techs how to do procedures right. When you teach techs how to do things right, the work will speak for itself, and your company will earn a positive reputation. What micron gauge from AccuTools would you suggest for technicians? I recommend the Pro for new techs or installers, the LTE for intermediate technicians, and the Micro for pros. Why do you consider AccuTools micron gauges reliable? I consider those products reliable because they work consistently with the typical wear-and-tear that's expected in the field. Except in cases of extreme abuse, they seem to maintain their sensing abilities very well.   Looking to learn more? Go check out hvacrschool.com/evac or the AccuTools YouTube channel HERE. Want to have your local suppliers carry AccuTools? Reach out to sal@productsbypros.com If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Rachel and Eric Kaiser join us to talk about connecting STEM concepts to the trades. They also explain how to teach STEM in a way that sticks. STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and math. In traditional classroom settings, teachers usually tout these subjects as the ones that lead to the most promising careers. However, STEM concepts are not limited to their respective subjects; we use many of those scientific and mathematic concepts in the trades as well. Rachel believes that undergraduate programs would be more effective if they focused more on teaching critical thinking and less on making students meet requirements for degrees. Eric believes that traditional education needs to be more holistic; right now, trades education fixates on details; that approach may help for teaching specific tasks, but it doesn't broaden the students' knowledge. We can start talking about STEM more broadly when we start eliminating stigmas around STEM topics. For example, many students dislike math, but many of those people still use math effectively in several real-world applications without knowing it. We can break down that stigma against math to start having productive discussions and connecting STEM to the trades and other careers. The next step is to spark interest in others so that they seek out new STEM knowledge. The HVAC trade has many scientific concepts in play, even though we focus on diagnostics and field techniques at work. Most of our diagnostic skills are informed by the principles of heat transfer and phase changes. Rachel, Eric, and Bryan also discuss: HVACR Training Symposium Undergraduate vs. graduate programs University research and funding Principles of algebra in real life Gas laws and galvanic corrosion as chemistry concepts in HVAC Theoretical vs. diagnostic vs. instructional applications Continued learning vs. degree programs Applications and limitations Hands-on BEFORE theoretical Choosing to learn Improving safety and productivity through education   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.

This short episode is a review of a list of installation reminders made by Kalos manager Jeff Crable. Kalos is doing a bunch of these installs for a commercial customer. Hopefully, the business leaders can take a few things from our checklist and help out their installers. Whenever we do an install for our large commercial customers, we give our installers a long checklist of reminders; that way, they can do the best install possible. Some of those install reminders include: Don't rush the details. Ensure the drain line is clean, pitched correctly, trapped, ventilated, and insulated. Install float switches in the unit and auxiliary pan. Wire in series and test. Replace the auxiliary drain pan or ensure that it's in good condition and has proper sizing. Hang the auxiliary drain pan WITH Unistrut; don't hang with wire. Install a new thermostat. Attach and hang the ductwork properly; silver-tape will NOT support duct board plenums. Replace incorrectly sized breakers (for licensed electrical contractors only). Replace old and faulty disconnects (for licensed electrical contractors only). Ensure that the outside conduit is watertight or replaced. Anchor condensers properly with isolators if the pad is attached to the building foundation. Mark the unit with the correct number using paint and stencils or vinyl stickers. Post pictures of the units and data tag in the appropriate location in our communication software; make detailed notes. Address vertical air handlers and take them as they come. If a unit is in a difficult area, try moving to a more accessible place if you can. Pour gallons of water into the drain pan and observe draining. Listen for noises of concern. All work will be checked by lead techs or managers. Get everything right the first time if you want a full bonus.   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.

In this face-to-face discussion, Bryan and Kaleb share some tips for diagnosing and replacing the reversing valve on a heat pump. These valves may also be known as four-way valves. Kaleb and a trainee recently had to diagnose a heat pump with a scroll compressor. The motor was also over-amping due to a failed capacitor, and the compressor was making a metallic grinding noise. Because reversing valves are pilot-activated, they need a pressure differential to shift, so the scroll plate can sometimes pop up and make noise during bypass. Another possibility was that the compressor could have been running backward, but that wasn't the case. There are some cases when techs misdiagnose a compressor problem as a reversing valve failure; however, in Kaleb's case, there was a problem with the reversing valve that then caused compressor failure. To determine if a system has a reversing valve issue, you should look at the temperature difference across the valve (more than 3 degrees). Another thing to look for is an abnormally low compression ratio (high suction, low head pressure). You also want to watch the compressor amperage, as it will likely be lower than normal. When doing more advanced tests, such as delivered capacity tests, use Bluetooth tools to make your life a lot easier; that way, you can clamp your probes on. When Kaleb replaces a reversing valve, he cuts them out wherever possible. If he can't cut them out, he sweats them out and sweats the new one in. Sometimes, it's also easier to remove the entire condenser coil during replacement. Kaleb and Bryan also discuss: Common suction port Causes of compressor damage Unreasonably hot discharge lines Compressor amperage drop Common suction, common discharge lines Kaleb's compressor replacement Cutting out suction dryers Sweating out reversing valves in Trane units Purging with nitrogen before a pressure test Deburring properly   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.

In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about the times he has been hoodwinked in his career. It's time to name and shame. One time at a trade show, Bryan came across a product called KVAR. KVAR is already an electrical term for kilovolt-amps reactive; those are volt-amps that show up and generate heat but don't do anything useful, just like foam in a beer mug. So, the product supposedly balanced out the power factor to save energy. However, power companies don't charge based on VA; they charge based on wattage, which already accounts for the power factor. So, the KVAR products made no actual difference; the KVAR motor was simple and very inefficient, which did little to improve energy savings. Bryan was hoodwinked because he didn't ask the right questions. He should have asked about the difference between volt-amps and watts, and he should have asked to see hard data about energy savings. Hoodwinking happens quite often in our industry; the only way we can prevent it from happening to us is to learn more and ask the right questions. So, how do we avoid hoodwinking? The best thing we can do is ask to see the data. Don't accept platitudes, graphs, or name-dropping; ask about the test methodology and specific details. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an area that has a high potential for hoodwinking. Unfortunately, the IAQ products' data is often incomplete and only tests for a few contaminants. While the products have the potential to do a lot of good, there is potential for deceptive marketing and lazy science. Something to remember, however, is that not everybody who hoodwinks you has bad intentions. They sometimes don't understand what they're doing or are more familiar with marketing than science.   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.

This live podcast episode is all about pool heater talk. We cover gas pool heaters and pool heat pumps, explaining how they work and common issues. Pool heat pumps work a lot like air conditioners, but they have heat exchangers that help transfer their heat to the water. Instead of having a typical condenser, a pool heater has a unit that works like a heat pump's outdoor coil in heat mode. There is usually an option to cool the water, but there are almost no cases where someone would want to use that mode. The heat exchanger is the core component of a pool heater, and this part has evolved a lot to improve efficiency and reduce the effects of water chemistry. The old designs were cupronickel tube-in-tube heat exchangers where the refrigerant and water flow in opposite directions. Unfortunately, these corroded and failed easily. Titanium coaxial heat exchangers replaced those, though they can still fail. If heat exchangers fail, water can get into the refrigerant circuit; when that happens, the whole heat pump will fail prematurely. Actuators are also components that commonly cause issues. Gas pool heaters work similarly to gas furnaces, so they tend to work better than heat pumps in low-ambient conditions. However, they have their own set of challenges. They have very short lifespans in Florida and corrode easily because steel, heat, chlorine, and water all interact in the same area. Inducer fans especially tend to rust out easily. We also discuss: Manufacturer quality control Hooking up gauges Water level and flow Low ambient conditions BTUs Float switches Internal thermal overload Heat and water pressure losses Temperature sensor issues on pool heat pumps Pool vs. spa mode Special considerations for indoor pools Flame rollout Cleanliness issues Double-lugging Circuit breaker failure Piping configuration and valves   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.