HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

In today's short podcast, we answer the following question: Should you ONLY use OEM parts? We also explain why the answer is what it is. It can be tricky to determine the value of OEM parts in general. For example, many OEM capacitors are very prone to failure. Some non-OEM capacitors have much lower failure rates. Operating conditions may also exceed manufacturer specs, so aftermarket components may be better for equipment in extreme conditions. When it comes to OEM parts, try to take those and the manufacturer bulletins at face value. However, you also want to do your own research. What are the OEM parts' fail rates? What are the operating conditions for the equipment? You have to ask yourself if the manufacturer's part is the most efficient and valuable one you can use for a given system. Go the extra mile to help your customers make the best possible decision for their unit based on efficiency, longevity, and price. Some techs avoid using aftermarket parts because of liability issues. For the most part, liability isn't a huge deal except on flammable equipment like furnaces and R-290 systems. However, in many cases, the quality of parts like capacitors and relays may be far greater on aftermarket equipment. Motors can be tricky, especially on blower motors with distinct fan curves from the OEM equipment. No matter what you do, make sure you consult with the customer and explain the benefits and drawbacks of each option so that the customer can make an informed decision. Also, follow your own company's guidelines.   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 rather unorthodox short podcast episode, Andy gives his timeless soft skills tips. We also tell you a bit more about a special training event in Orlando in just a few weeks. Soft skills and communication are critical parts of the HVAC industry, especially residential HVAC. Customers don't compliment you on your tools; they compliment your service and attitude. We must acknowledge that we are in the people business and just happen to use tools when we work. Andy recommends being on time for every job; if you think you might be late, call the customer to let them know. When you greet customers, make sure you smile and be friendly. Put your listening skills first; during that first conversation with the customer, pay attention to them and make sure you let them talk about all of their concerns. When working with a customer, try to make sure that everything you do comes from a place of gratitude. Set the agenda with the customer and make sure that they understand exactly what the service entails. Show the customer everything you come across and involve them in the inspection and service process. Give the customer permission to follow you around and see what you're doing to build up that trust; the customer will know that you're doing your job and not trying to pull a fast one on them. It also helps if you begin to view the customer as a component of the system so that you can keep their well-being at the top of your mind. We are troubleshooters above all, and we would probably all do a bit better if we saw the customer as another part that needs to be taken care of.   Find more at TopRate.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.

In today's podcast, Bryan covers some of the facts about humidity. He also explains how to keep humidity under control in all climates. Humidity refers to water vapor in the air and is a component of the air. Changes in temperature and pressure affect the density of the air. The air density determines how much moisture air can hold. Relative humidity refers to the ratio of water vapor in the air. An RH value of 100% indicates that the air is saturated with water vapor; it has reached the dew point. At that point, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures will be the same. We do not want to reach the dew point inside a building. Many people associate high relative humidity with high temperatures, but that association is a misconception. Unless the moisture content is extremely high at high temperatures, the RH will tend to be lower in hotter environments; hotter temperatures can hold more moisture. The moisture content at 90 degrees with 55% RH will be significantly higher than the moisture content at 65 degrees with 55% RH. If the indoor temperature is below the outdoor dew point, we need to make sure we keep outdoor air out. We can do that by using ventilation strategies like bath fans and kitchen exhaust, especially since construction companies have built homes much more tightly over time. However, we want to ensure that we don't draw in low-quality air from the attic. We find that many humidity control strategies overlap with ventilation. Bryan also discusses: Wet-bulb depression Insulating spaces and the effect on humidity Dehumidifiers Attic and crawl space dew points Humidity drivers inside the home Coil temperature, airflow, and dehumidification Off cycle fan delay Sweating and equipment freeze-ups Running continuous fan   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, we talk about the myth that time at a job or in the business equals or deserves pay increases. Many people believe that showing up for a long time justifies a raise. They aren't necessarily progressing in their field, but they think they've spent enough time to warrant a raise. A business relationship is an agreement that you will perform specific tasks for a specified rate. If you don't go above and beyond or progress, then there's no reason for that pay rate to change. Soft skills, cleanliness, and overall professionalism are also important to job efficiency and performance. If you don't improve those, then you may not give your employer a reason to believe that they should give you a pay raise. You are not owed more money because you have simply worked at a place for a long time. If you work for a company that focuses on sales, the company has to make a profit for them to pay their employees more money. So, improving your own profitability as a tech will give you a case for deserving a raise. Investing in yourself can translate to success within the business. You will be a good earner only if you can bring quality work and skills to the table. You can also choose to move to a different business or segment of the industry. Ultimately, you have to invest in yourself and make decisions for yourself. Your value does not depend on how much time you spend with a company or in the industry. As a technician, your value depends on the work you put into the industry.   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 today's podcast episode, Mark Roth from Goodway talks about chiller and cooling tower cleaning best practices and techniques. Goodway makes industrial maintenance equipment for the HVAC industry, especially tube-cleaning equipment. A chiller has water running through the tubes, and debris from the cooling tower can build up in the tubes. When scale or debris buildup occurs, heat exchange becomes much less efficient. Water hardness can also interfere with heat transfer; harder water will lead to more mineral deposits. So, tube cleanliness is important, especially in high-traffic areas. In those areas, cleaning should happen at least once or twice per year. To access the tubes, you have to take the heads off the chiller. Cleaning the tubes is usually easier than taking the heads off the chiller. When cleaning the chiller and cooling tower, the water flows onto the floor and to a drain. So, floor cleanliness is important when wrapping up a job. "Chiller bibs" also exist to catch the water and transport it to the drain with less of a mess. Cleaning machines often have foot-pedals, and people commonly put toolboxes or other heavy objects on foot-pedals, which is a bad practice. People also need to tighten the brushes to their cleaning machines with channel locks; when techs don't tighten those brushes properly, the brushes can fall off, which is not good for the chiller. Cooling towers act as filters, so they collect a lot of debris in the basin. Goodway has a vacuum that collects the debris in the basin without having to drain the entire thing. Mark and Bryan also discuss: Basic chiller and cooling tower anatomy Legionella Using machines for cleaning Enhanced tubes Nylon, brass, and stainless steel brushes Makeup water and filtration strategies Cooling tower media Descaling strategies and products pH balance   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, we address the myth that IAQ is a joke. We also discuss how to think about IAQ correctly in HVAC work. Indoor air quality is NOT a joke. However, it has a bit of a bad reputation in our field due to the overuse of accessories and bells-and-whistles to solve whole-home air quality issues. (Oxidizers, UV lights, etc. can help IAQ issues, but they are not a fix-all.) We don't want completely sterile air, just as we like to have a beneficial microbiome inside our own digestive systems. However, there are also a bunch of things suspended in our air that are really bad for us. Some of those bad things include VOCs, carbon monoxide, and radon. Many of the products we bring into our home, including furniture assembled in underregulated factories overseas, end up off-gassing harmful substances into our air. VOCs have a distinct chemical smell, and proper ventilation helps solve the problem. Media filters are an everyday object that we use to help control IAQ. Using higher-MERV filters help keep the air free of particulates, but you must size them correctly to prevent excessive pressure drop and poor airflow. To control moisture problems, we want to make sure we seal buildings as tightly as possible. We also want to make sure we use designed pathways and effective ventilation strategies. Kitchen and bath exhaust fans should be functional. When we think about bringing in outdoor air, we want that process to be controlled, and we want to make sure we're bringing in high-quality outdoor air. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are both undesirable in terms of IAQ, but carbon monoxide is potentially deadly. We want to make sure we vent those gases, especially CO.   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.

Chris Stephens from HVACR Videos joins us to talk about his experiences with and perspective on R290 (propane) refrigerant in restaurant refrigeration. Chris sees R290 propane on a daily basis, and his perspective as a tech differs from that of an R290 equipment manufacturer. While the temperature sensitivity contributes to flammability, R290 is also under pressure in a system. Therefore, propane refrigerant systems require a lot of caution. R290 equipment must undergo thorough redesigning to be entirely spark-proof. Hydrocarbon refrigerants also require OEM components; aftermarket components change the design and can cause problems down the line, and technicians WILL be liable for any damages related to aftermarket components. When techs evacuate/recover R290, all evacuation and recovery tools must also be spark-proof; you also need to check to make sure that those tools are certified to work with propane refrigerant, even digital gauges. When using approved service gauges, also be sure to use short hoses. More so than ever, following the manufacturer's guidelines is an invaluable practice. Unlike R-22 and R-410A, you CAN vent R290. However, the location should be well-ventilated. Chris recommends that you take extreme caution when venting refrigerant, such as by using a leak detector to let you know when to stop. Most of all, we need to be aware of our surroundings when we work with highly flammable R290. When we use our senses and are aware of our surroundings, the refrigerant becomes much more predictable. Chris and Bryan also discuss: Buying and sourcing R290 Recommended R290 training resources Piercing valves Basic R290 behavior Flowing nitrogen Evaluating hydrocarbon systems and using a "common-sense" approach Leak detectors to avoid using for R290 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.

In this short podcast episode, we discuss the common myth about cleaning flame rods/sensors/rectification devices. Flame sensors or rectification rods are NOT the same as thermocouples or thermopiles. Thermocouples and thermopiles use two dissimilar metals to create a temperature differential. So, we do not clean thermocouples and thermopiles because the heavy abrasives in cleaners can damage and reduce the effectiveness of those devices. However, you don't have to worry about that sort of damage on a flame sensing rod; we can indeed clean those. The flame rod sits in the flame (regardless of ignition type) and allows for a DC current to travel through the ions in the flame to ground. The flame creates a path for that current, which makes a closed circuit. Flame sensing rods are merely pieces of metal that allow current to flow when there is an active flame on a furnace. So, you want to keep your flame rods clean to allow for conduction. You may want to avoid using sandpaper or Emory-type materials to clean the rods because sediment can build up on the flame rod. When the flame ignites, the sandy substance on the rod can turn glassy and impede conduction. However, you can use an appropriate cleaner without damaging the rod. You can also replace the rod if you happen to have one on your truck, but you don't have to replace all dirty rods. Pool heater flame sensors can get exceptionally nasty due to the chemicals they encounter. If a piece of equipment has a flame rod that gets dirty a little too quickly, try to find the cause of the excess grime and take care of it.   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 podcast episode, Eric and I discuss his new home and his plans for installing central air the Eric-Mele way. Eric's home doesn't have an attic, crawlspace, or basement. So, designing and installing central A/C will be a challenge, especially since Eric doesn't like high-wall ductless systems. Eric considered using an air handler with exposed ductwork, but he doesn't want the noise issues associated with that design. He also considered using a package system, but it has the same noise concerns as the previous option. In the end, he decided to go with ceiling cassettes. Cassettes have a condensate pump, differentiating them from high-wall ductless systems and making them a bit more expensive. Eric has also collected his latent-sensible capacity data. Moisture removal is critical in his South Florida home, and equipment sizing is an important factor when installing central air. Sizing contributes to dehumidification because of its effect on runtime. However, smaller ductless/VRF units may not have sufficient heat even when they're properly sized. In the future, we expect companies to utilize heat sensors to improve the sensible heat ratio when moisture removal is needed. For filtration, Eric plans on seeing how the fan motors react to pleated filters. Upgrading the filters could help control sensible heat ratio and VOC contamination, but static pressure remains a concern. We also discuss: Ductless unit cleaning Filtration for air handlers with exposed ductwork Lagging vs. drilling Ceiling cassettes and condensate pumps Flex vs. duct board vs. metal ducts Oversizing VRF Two-pipe systems Activated carbon filtration Making flare fittings vs. brazing in factory-made flares   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 today's short live podcast, Bryan discusses the importance of context in education and the challenge presented by information. When we learn, we do ourselves a disservice by searching for information alone. Just-in-time education allows us to "search instead of research," and it works in a limited and inefficient way. Instead, we'd be much more effective if we knew how to learn efficiently. To learn efficiently, we need to bring context to the learning process. Instead of focusing on raw facts or abstract information, we need to know about the surrounding information. It's also beneficial to use similes and metaphors to grasp how something works. In other words, we need to connect new information to past experiences. Therefore, the learning process that most of us accept seems rather backward. Instead of feeding people answers immediately, we can supply them with experiences that can help them draw similarities between those experiences and demonstrations and the theoretical elements. The goal of context in education is to equip us to understand situations and solve problems repeatedly. As humans, we are likely to forget information that is fed to us directly and not connected to our experiences. Ideally, a learning process would begin with observation. We would show students how to do something or how something works. Then, we explain the theory behind why that thing works. Finally, the student or apprentice would be given the space to apply the principles themselves and work with their own hands. We also answer questions and respond to comments about: The value of schooling MeasureQuick compatibility Self-driven curiosity Companies working with educators   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.