Hvac School - For Techs, By Techs

In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan discusses superheat with guest JD, who recently co-authored an article on the topic with Ty Branaman. The conversation explores the often misunderstood concept of superheat, its importance in HVAC diagnostics, and common misconceptions technicians have when measuring and interpreting it. Bryan begins by sharing how superheat was initially taught to technicians in the late 1990s and early 2000s, primarily as a method for charging fixed metering device systems. He explains how this limited view led to problems, as technicians would often add or remove refrigerant based solely on superheat readings without considering other system factors or giving the system time to stabilize. JD points out how the industry shifted when TXVs (Thermostatic Expansion Valves) became standard, with many technicians abandoning superheat measurements altogether in favor of subcooling measurements, missing crucial diagnostic information in the process. The discussion then evolves