Hvac School - For Techs, By Techs

In today’s podcast, Eric Kaiser and Bryan talk about mentorship in the HVAC industry. They discuss what it means to be a good mentor, how to find a good mentor, and what it means to be mentored.    Mentorship is an organic process. Most mentees don’t go up to someone they respect and formally ask that person to be their mentor. Respect is the foundation of the mentor-mentee relationship; formal mentorship often resembles friendship in many ways.    However, mentorship can take more forms than the traditional mentor-mentee relationship. In the digital age, podcasts and YouTube channels that readily share information about a skill are resources that can fulfill the same role as a traditional mentor.   A good mentor has a willingness to explain the how and why behind a question or process; they don’t give simple answers. Good mentors must also be able to provide resources for their mentees; they know the limits of their knowledge and are willing to find those answers with their mentees. Often, the better mentors

In today’s podcast, Bryan explores the upsides of choosing a career in the skilled trades instead of going to college. He also covers ways to prepare your child for a trades education and career while they are still deciding what to do with their lives.   When we think about what we want for our kids, the following goals come up quite often: purpose, financial upside and reward, freedom from debt, and joy. The trades can offer a lifestyle that covers all of these bases. However, the opinions of our friends and the fear of failing as a parent may prevent us from encouraging our children to enter the trades.    Going to college has plenty of downsides, such as saddling students with debt and not guaranteeing opportunities to move forward in a career.   Alternative career paths include the HVAC/R trades, electricians, off-grid solar technicians, and so on. Your child will learn hard skills on these career paths that are easily transferable. These trades also generally have plenty of apprenticeship opportunities.

In today’s short podcast, Bryan explores triple evacuation. Many people believe that we don’t like triple evac, but that’s simply NOT true. We’re here to set the record straight.   If the manufacturer tells you to follow triple evacuation processes, then it’s a good idea to do a triple evacuation. We won’t argue with that. However, our argument is that triple evacuation can be more time-consuming than it’s worth when it’s NOT necessary.   Deep vacuum technically counts as a vacuum pulled below 500 microns (in residential, that target is usually 200-300 microns). Most modern micron gauges and tools make it easy to achieve a deep vacuum. In a triple evacuation, you pull the vacuum three times (instead of once). Between pulling vacuums, you break with nitrogen before pulling the vacuum back down.   Triple evacuation originated in a time when micron gauges and vacuum pumps were less reliable. We did not take deep vacuum very seriously, especially since mineral oil (MO) typically did not break down inside the syst

In today’s podcast, Bryan explains how he teaches physics. He believes that teaching physics is about continuously building a mental model, and he covers the methods and mindsets that facilitate that learning style.    The basic Wikipedia definition of physics states that it is a science that deals with matter, energy, and their interactions. Even then, we can simplify “matter” to “stuff.” Simplifications like these help students feel more familiar with the subject and NOT feel intimidated by the material. Students learn best when they feel like they can grasp the topics out of the gate. That is why the math-based approaches of traditional education might turn students away from physics. Some students who don’t like math might feel out of their depth when teachers approach topics with a mathematical approach.    Instead, effective teaching is about attaching experiences to a concept. Teachers can take stock of what students already know and build on that. They can also attach experiences to a concept, such as

In today’s short podcast, Bryan explores the dangers of cold tanks during refrigerant recovery.   Whenever you have a recovery tank, you only want to fill it to 80% capacity in the liquid state. The same goes for all sorts of vessels (coils, etc.).    However, capacity isn’t the only factor to consider for safety. We need to know what our maximum temperature will be. You will be in greater danger of overfilling a tank when it is cold because higher temperatures increase the pressure. High pressure in a closed space may lead to explosions. When you fill a tank to 80% under cold conditions, normal temperature conditions could put you in the danger zone (let alone temperatures above 100°F).   So, it’s better to determine your tank fill based on densities at the MAXIMUM temperatures you will encounter, NOT for the measurements at artificial cooling conditions (such as when you put the tank in ice water during recovery).   In the end, just be careful when you’re recovering into a cold tank or using tanks when it’s

In today’s podcast, Nikki and Bryan discuss dehumidification. They cover the relationship between cooling and dehumidification, humidity control, and dehumidifier installation practices.   If the A/C unit is the king, the dehumidifier is the queen. The A/C unit controls cooling and humidity, but it can only do so much. A dehumidifier helps the A/C manage comfort under more demanding conditions. Many factors contribute to comfort, including sensible heat ratio (SHR), relative humidity (RH), and ventilation. Dehumidification reaches all of those factors.   Humidity control requires a holistic approach. Band-aid fixes DO NOT work. Dehumidifiers should work with the A/C system and building design to keep RH in the 50-55% range. Proper installation is vital. For example, tying into the HVAC supply is a recommended practice. Returns are the opposite; dedicated returns are preferred. Other factors to consider are proper sizing, Manual J, and customer expectations.   Join Nikki and Bryan as they cover:   Relative hu

In today’s podcast, Trevor and Bryan discuss how to troubleshoot thermostatic expansion valves (TXVs/TEVs). They also dive into the various types, applications, and components of TXVs.   TXVs are metering devices that control evaporator superheat to protect compressors from harm. Controlling heat also regulates pressure, which improves efficiency and prevents issues like floodback and overheating. TXVs contain several components that manage the forces that open and close the valve. These components include powerheads, diaphragms, springs, and more. The components all contribute to a delicate balance that can be broken when they fail or are installed improperly. TXV failures lead to high or low superheat and eventually compressor failure.    When you diagnose a TXV, you may encounter hunting, broken powerheads, filthy screens, and improperly sized valves. Once you verify the cause of the issue, you’ll likely have to adjust the TXV, replace a component, or replace the whole TXV. That can be a tricky decision th