

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

Oct 8, 2019 • 20min
Short #75 - Stop Duct & Unit Sweating
Duct and air handler (unit) sweating is a common issue in humid climates. Bryan talks about what causes it and what to do about it. Many people try to keep their ducts and equipment either very cool or very warm to prevent sweating. Despite the good intentions, neither of those methods is great for sweat prevention. If a ceiling grille is sweating, people try to insulate the top of the boot to stop the sweating. The real reason why the grille continues to sweat is that those sweating areas have hit the dew point. If anything reaches the dew point or lower, you WILL see condensation. Another potential cause is that air with a higher dew point is going into the lower-dew-point space. In the latter case, sealing the ducts and cracks near the boot should help that higher-dew-point air from infiltrating; insulation does very little to address leakage, so air sealing is the real solution. Attics often have air with a higher dew point than the conditioned space. Equipment sizing is also important. Oversized equipment leads to shorter run times, meaning that the evaporator coil can't get cold enough to remove moisture. When you have a low latent capacity, you won't have proper moisture removal in the home. We will almost surely encounter sweating when we have air handlers and ducts in unconditioned spaces. To address duct and unit sweating, some technicians increase the air velocity to prevent ducts from sweating, as the higher temperature should prevent the duct jacket from being below the dew point. However, as with oversized equipment, excessive airflow will negatively impact the latent capacity. So, you will have less moisture removal. The best solution is to decrease the attic dew point or increase duct insulation. Reheat solutions are also worth considering on some systems. 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.

Oct 3, 2019 • 33min
Stop Designing Ducts Backwards w/ Alex Meaney
Alex from Wrightsoft is back to discuss duct design. He also explains a common mistake made when designing ducts using a Ductulator. The Ductulator is a common entry point for technicians who get into duct design, so it sticks with technicians despite its flaws. It makes more sense to reverse the process by picking a friction rate and pressure drop as the first step when designing ducts. Figuring out how to overcome restriction is the key to commercial duct design, but it can also work well in residential duct design. However, we can't pull our desired friction rate out of thin air. We have to consider the sources that contribute to the friction rate. We must also consider both velocity pressure (moving forward) and static pressure (pushing against the duct walls). The less restricted the air is, the more energy there will be to go forward; low static generally indicates greater velocity (more airflow). The best designers understand these principles, so many of the best designers come from the HVAC service industry. You can adjust the airflow by balancing duct sizing and restriction, such as from filters. Equipment sizing and Manual S are surely important, but airflow and velocity have a lot more to do with duct design and how fan speed, duct size, restrictions, and air mixing work together to establish comfort. Poor duct design can produce results that resemble those of oversized equipment. Alex and Bryan also discuss: Figuring out desired friction rate and static pressure Changing tonnage and its effects on duct design Load calculations ACCA Manual T Emergency/backup heat Manufacturer coils and pressure drop Rules of thumb Principles at work in HVAC service Use the offer code POD2019 for a great discount on Wrightsoft products at Wrightsoft.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.

Oct 1, 2019 • 16min
Short #74 - So You Wanna Start a Business Eh?
In this short podcast episode, Bryan explains what you need and the things you need to consider if you want to start a business in HVAC/R. When you start a business, you need to have a healthy reserve of money already. Kalos started with $100,000, and that money went towards vans and tools needed for a GC and HVAC business. Even if you start a business with just one person and a truck, it's best to have at least $50,000 available at the start. In the business world, you MUST care about money. Otherwise, you'll go out of business. Profit margin is important, but you must also have a healthy amount of cash readily available at all times. You must have enough cash on hand to weather a storm, and you would be wise to avoid credit card debt at all costs. At the same time, you must separate personal and business funds. You also need to have control of your pricing and know the difference between gross margin and markup. Starting a business is also a commitment that will come with suffering. So, your spouse, kids, and mentors should be willing to help you every step of the way; a support system is extremely important. You may need to pay off the home and car debt, you may work late nights, and you may be frustrated with work at times, so the important people in your life need to be willing to support you. Although hard independent work is necessary for HVAC work, having the right relationships is key. Knowing the right people is better than marketing in your business's early days. Be active in your community and provide excellent, friendly customer service. Discipline, treating people well, hard work, and financial literacy are the keys to starting a business. 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.

Sep 26, 2019 • 1h 6min
The Dangers of Like-for-Like Tonnage
Alex Meaney from Wrightsoft joins us to talk about Manual J and S. He also discusses how load calculations and equipment selection apply to real-world situations where contractors are tempted to replace “like-for-like.” Load calculations have been a staple of new installations, but they are becoming important in retrofits as well. We consult Manual J when we do load calculations for residential HVAC designs. We determine where the heat loads are coming from to see how equipment can address those heat loads; in heating, we want to replace heat losses. The technicians who do load calculations also tend to get more customers and have better outcomes because they show additional care and can educate customers. We must also be diligent and check our mistakes in calculations AFTER we work on them. In general, most load calculations will NOT determine that upsizing is the right solution. Then, we use our Manual J calculations to use Manual S for equipment selection. When we propose solutions for retrofit installations, we should quote the customer for our recommended solution and like-for-like tonnage. You could also talk with the customers about ways to adjust the heat load; just don't tell them they're wrong, even if they are. It also helps to be straightforward about the health and dehumidification benefits of the best solution versus the like-for-like retrofit option. Alex and Bryan also discuss: When customers are comfortable with oversized systems S.W.A.G. in system design Looking at math AND customer demands Uneducated homeowners and what they do know Don't put thermostats in the hallway Moisture issues, latent capacity, and dehumidification Commissioning "One trip, close" sales Talking to customers about sales and quotes "It's not time wasted; it's time invested" Making time for load calculations and consultation Use the offer code POD2019 for a great discount on Wrightsoft products at Wrightsoft.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.

Sep 24, 2019 • 1h 9min
Gauges, Probes & NIST #LIVE
In this live podcast from the Castbox app, we talk about analog vs. digital, digital vs. probes, and probe vs. non-invasive testing of A/C and refrigeration. We also talk about apps and various Bluetooth tools. Although analog gauges are old, reliable tools, digital gauges tend to be a bit more accurate than analog ones. However, the jury is still out on which one has the durability edge. Digital gauges also have batteries to worry about, whereas analog ones don't. Ultimately, the only reason to use analog gauges over digital ones is a personal preference. Probes work well with hoses, tees, and core depressors. We still use manifolds to this day because they have charging tees and are easy to use, though you can modify probes to make them more user-friendly. Refrigerant can be left over in the hoses, and refrigerant mixing is a possibility. Probes minimize the losses of manifolds. However, non-invasive testing is another manifold-free route. The key to using non-invasive testing effectively is to become a master of the obvious and not to put too much focus on the readings alone. While it is important to know the measurements, it is even more important to use your senses to look for clear problems. When you use tools that connect to electronics via Bluetooth, we recommend using a separate device, not your personal phone. For example, Bryan uses an iPad with a data plan. We also discuss: Five Pillars of HVAC Diagnosis Favorite temperature clamps K-type thermocouples Mandating vs. recommending tools Scales Fieldpiece probes for A/C Sporlan probes for refrigeration Advantages and disadvantages of Testo probes Core depressors Checking light commercial systems with probes Rub-outs When readings are overrated Best practices "Negative" superheat and subcooling 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.

Sep 24, 2019 • 10min
Short #73 - Ambient CO
In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about ambient CO. He also explains why it matters and what you do to check for it. CO, carbon monoxide, is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas that can result in death. It should not be confused with CO2, carbon dioxide. Although our bodies inhale oxygen and not carbon dioxide, the latter isn't toxic if it gets into our bloodstream. CO, on the other hand, displaces oxygen, which proves deadly. Carbon monoxide can also build up in your bloodstream over time, so you want to avoid repeated exposure. In some locations, you can expect some degree of ambient CO. For example, lots of car exhaust in busy cities can lead to a low amount of carbon monoxide in the air (a few parts per million). Most CO monitors detect much higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (around 100 parts per million). When working in a place where carbon monoxide is a concern, such as in a home with gas appliances, be sure to use your instrumentation to measure CO in an occupied space. Also, check for carbon monoxide spilling out of the unit. Don't confuse ambient CO with the carbon monoxide found in combustion analysis; they are NOT the same. Ambient CO indicates a bigger problem like backdrafting. Unlike standard CO monitors, you will want to use a personal ambient CO monitor that can measure down to 1 part per million for YOUR safety. Again, do NOT use combustion analyzers for personal protection! You can also offer higher-quality CO monitor/alarm suggestions to your customers. 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.

Sep 19, 2019 • 1h 8min
Geothermal System Considerations w/ Michael Housh
In this podcast, Michael Housh joins us to discuss his years of experience with geothermal heat pumps and their special considerations. "Geothermal" is a rather generic term, similar to how people say "Freon" to refer to any kind of refrigerant. Those heat pumps don't necessarily have to be underground; you can have water-source heat pumps in ponds or wells, and there are also ground-source heat pumps. The ground provides a steady temperature under many conditions, which helps heat pumps work effectively in cold climates. Like other heat pump systems, geothermal pumps come in split or package types. The pump may be either integrated with the equipment or separated from it. When the equipment is separate, multiple units can use the same loop (for example, a 10-ton loop can have five 2-ton units attached). Michael designs geothermal systems. He uses software to design systems, particularly closed-loop systems, and load calculations play an important part in informing his designs. Many contractors use rules of thumb to help size the loops, but the only way to know what you're doing is to take load calculations, especially on water-source pumps. Undersizing loops can severely reduce the system capacity and make it hard to maintain temperature. To keep performance up, we also need to flush heat exchangers as part of regular maintenance. However, restrictions and contamination tend to be relatively uncommon except in pump-and-dump systems. As with any type of equipment, be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Michael and Bryan also discuss: Patience and caring about outcomes of jobs Water temperature and quality effects on system operation Environmental concerns Maximizing efficiency in geothermal systems Geothermal sales and economic trends Return configuration Sharing loops Figuring out gallons per minute and delta T Pump-and-dump configuration Clogged heat exchanger symptoms Identifying problem areas Loop temperature variations 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.

Sep 17, 2019 • 9min
Short #72 - Vapor Diffusion
In this short podcast episode, Bryan explains what water vapor diffusion is. He also explains why it matters to the everyday HVAC technician. Vapor diffusion is the transfer and distribution of water vapor through a solid surface. New constructions sometimes have vapor barriers on the outside of buildings in hot, humid climates or on the inside of buildings in cold, dry climates. (Even so, vapor barriers are not 100% effective.) We are NOT referring to water or mist wicking through the buildings via capillary action; we are referring to water vapor. Drywall, a common building material, is quite permeable and allows moist air to diffuse through it. The vapor diffuses through the drywall from the unconditioned attic to the conditioned living space. Of course, we have to focus on air sealing before anything else, but we also may need a vapor inhibitor or a means of controlling the attic dew point to prevent water vapor from moving through. The driver that causes moisture to move into the space is surprisingly NOT relative humidity. Instead, we need to focus on the actual moisture content as a driver, and it would help us more to look at the dew point. Dew point is the key to controlling vapor diffusion. If the dew point in the unconditioned space is higher than that of the conditioned space, then you will get vapor diffusion into the conditioned space. However, if the dew points are the same in the conditioned and unconditioned spaces, then there won't be a differential that would cause vapor to move. 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.

Sep 15, 2019 • 1h 3min
Difficult Customers #LIVE
In this live conversation, we discuss some real-life situations with difficult customers. We also cover some helpful tips we learned along the way. When Bryan started Kalos, there was one situation where a customer blamed him for lying about a customer diagnosis. So, that was how Bryan fired his first customer. However, many of us want to fire several customers, and that's when we have to look in the mirror and evaluate ourselves. When the problem truly isn't with us, we have to make a choice to say, "Sorry you feel that way," and walk away after we've tried our best. Sometimes, customers will demand that certain procedures are done or certain systems installed. Even if we were to give in to their demands, difficult customers would still be inclined to blame us, so it's up to us to assert our boundaries and do the job correctly. We also need to stop saying that our work is "easy." When we say that work is "easy," it appears to cheapen our work in the customer's eyes. We may encounter customers who are a bit neurotic or who want to take advantage of us. In those situations, the best thing we can do is take the customer seriously and take full responsibility for our work: carry out tests, answer questions, and solve the issue. The manufacturer may do very little to help a situation, so we must be prepared and knowledgeable. We also discuss: Bryan's Christmas pool heater meltdown Commercial HVAC/R finger-pointing Being "good with money" and how that translates to doing good business Valuing our work Working for family members and charging them A ductless disaster with a nervous customer "Calm down" Listening productively Setting expectations Pricing and making a profit Moving on from failing customer relationships Buyer's remorse 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.

Sep 12, 2019 • 38min
Refrigeraton Case Controllers w/ Sporlan
In this podcast episode, Henry Papa from Sporlan joins us in person to talk about refrigeration case controllers on systems with common compressors. We focus on the Sporlan S3C case controller, but some of the information applies to other case controllers. Case controllers control the conditions at each separate evaporator and are responsible for controlling defrost, discharge air temperature, and superheat. They can also monitor conditions at the evaporator, especially discharge air. In grocery, we tend to look at discharge air temperature instead of box temperature. Traditionally, we use EPRs to control a fixed evaporator pressure to control the discharge air temperature. With the S3C refrigeration case controllers, we can assess the discharge air temperature directly. The greatest advantage of the S3C controller is that it is NOT a single centralized control. Those standalone case controllers communicate with each other but work independently. So, if one rack goes down, the rest can keep running. On traditional controls, all of the racks could go down if one goes down. The S3C controller is also quite serviceable and connects to Bluetooth. So, you can sync the case controller display's data to your mobile device for convenient viewing. You can also control a few different functions from your device. However, you must take some time to understand the parameters, inputs, and outputs, as with any other controller. The goal is to read the manual and get comfortable with the details before working with the controllers. Henry and Bryan also discuss: Sporlan's podcast and training resources Parker-Sporlan relationship Demand defrost Alarm systems on refrigeration case controllers Dual-temp control Electronic EPRs vs. traditional EPRs Becoming "masters of the obvious" Check out Sporlan's Chill Skills online training HERE. 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.