This is a recap of the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium session, with a few key themes and takeaways. If you missed the symposium but find some topics of interest in this tech tip, you can still purchase a virtual ticket at hvacrschool.com/symposium. You must be logged in to your account with a ticket to view the sessions.

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 It’s been almost a month since the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium returned to the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. This year’s symposium featured a mix of longtime speakers, including the return of Jim Bergmann, and several new faces. Many of those new faces debuted on our new Bry-X stage, which featured intense 20-minute sessions.

While the speakers and training sessions were the highlight of the event, we can’t forget that our sponsors helped make the symposium possible. Whether they sponsored the symposium itself (TruTech Tools), made the virtual access possible (Santa-Fe), sponsored one of the after-hours events (Refrigeration Technologies), provided raffle prizes, or set up a booth to teach others about their products and services, the sponsors are the ones who made it possible to welcome so many people to the symposium and contributed to the rigorous spirit of the event.

Here’s a quick recap of all the symposium sessions and the key themes we saw emerge this year:

More Than Just the Equipment: A Deep Cluster of Sessions on Building Science 

The HVAC equipment—and even the duct system—are all mere components of the entire home. This year’s symposium featured several sessions that focused on the building as a system and how it sometimes works against the HVAC in the quest to deliver comfort to our customers. But it doesn’t have to be that way…

On the Bry-X stage and at the podcast booth, Tessa Murry shared her building science experience in an effort to bridge the gap between builders and HVAC technicians. In her session, “The House Always Wins,” she revealed that many of the issues that are blamed on the HVAC originate with the house, such as poor thermal or pressure boundaries; those issues set up the HVAC system for failure. Sam Myers from Retrotec also had a building science-related session that went beyond the blower door and looked at infiltration and exfiltration pathways in a home. His presentation exposed common pathways (and how those can be identified in the field).

Brynn Cooksey’s session took those Bry-X concepts a step further and showed how techs can use building science to close sales. With the right tools and third-party standards in their arsenal, techs can show customers where the problems are and offer solutions tailored to their house’s needs. Meanwhile, Dr. Allison Bailes’s “Solving the Ventilation Puzzle” was a reprise of his session from the 4th symposium, with new and improved training on ERV design and installation as pieces of the building science puzzle. 

Building Resiliency & Moisture Madness

This year, the symposium even had a dedicated Building Resiliency Panel. This panel consisted of four prolific speakers from various areas of expertise in the building science industry, including Nikki Krueger, Kimberly Llewellyn, Sophie Ashley, and Bill Spohn. These speakers worked together to define the nebulous term “building resiliency” and identified the main factors that will increase the demand for resilient structures, from extreme weather to insurance costs. 

Sophie returned with Tim De Stasio to show a few different ways we can apply dew point to HVAC and building design. Tim provided an HVAC contractor’s perspective, whereas Sophie brought the construction perspective and real-world data (and taught a blueprint literacy Bry-X class right after the session with Tim). 

And, of course, we can’t ignore the Kpop Demon Hunters-themed session about moisture issues in buildings. You can’t just HVAC moisture demons away; we need thoughtful building design to reduce water from entering in bulk (as a liquid), through the air, or by diffusing through building materials—and we need to get it OUT when it does get in. For a practical implementation of reheat, as discussed in Bryan’s session, you need not look any further than Bruce Randall’s Bry-X session on a dehumidification hack with the Honeywell Vision Pro 8000.

LOADS of Load Calc & Home Performance Bry-X Sessions

Load calculation software, HVAC design pitfalls, and general home performance sessions made quite a splash on the Bry-X stage.

Peter Troast spoke at our first-ever Bry-X session about the ever-present problem of homeowners simply not knowing (or caring) about home performance—and how to make them care. Mike Cianfrocco from the HVAC Grapevine also made his speaking debut on the Bry-X stage at the symposium with his session about why every HVAC company needs a home performance contractor. The integration of home performance with the HVAC load calculation and equipment selection process can (and should!) happen within HVAC companies to produce better outcomes for customers.

Jeremy Begley led two Bry-X sessions about load calculations and permanent load reduction. In Jeremy’s load calc session, he taught technicians how they can pair their load calculations with measureQuick to ensure that their solutions match the house’s needs as much as possible. His permanent load reduction class addressed issues with the building envelope to reduce comfort-related callbacks, which builds long-term relationships with customers that are crucial for good business.

On the software side, Shelby Breger from Conduit shared the things that make or break a load calc—and how Conduit can help fill some of the gaps. In his Bry-X session, Tony Amadio shared the heat balance load calculation method—and how Trueloads can help technicians start using it.

Ken Davis also took our industry’s common healthcare similes and metaphors (e.g., “static pressure is like blood pressure”) to a new level in his Bry-X session. He aligned his healthcare career experience with his high-performance HVAC contractor experience, emphasizing the importance of helpful software, like measureQuick, and a thorough checklist to deliver comfort to customers.

Retrofits, Replacements, and Renovations Remain Relevant

This year’s sessions on retrofits, replacements, and renovations covered all the bases: electric heat pumps, combustion appliances, and ductwork.

The NCI team of David Richardson and Adam Mufich taught sessions about high-performance heat pump retrofits and duct renovations, respectively. David’s session explained how contractors can work with customers, existing ductwork, and the existing building envelope to deliver high-performance heat pump retrofits that live up to their potential. Adam’s session identified a pervasive industry problem: bad ductwork. Duct renovations are a great way to improve customers' comfort, especially since most systems are oversized and paired with undersized, leaky ductwork. 

The TEC duo of Chris Hughes and Steve Rogers also had a session about system replacements. Their session hit particularly close to home, as it was bolstered by real-world experience from a furnace retrofit in Chris’s own Wisconsin home.

Airflow and Refrigerant Are NEVER Going Away

Let’s face it—we’ll always have airflow and refrigerant in the industry, and it’s important to keep teaching the basics and advanced concepts alike. Sponsors and speakers alike discussed airflow measurement and presented many airflow solutions; some veteran speakers made some noise on the two long-session symposium stages with their sessions about airflow, air distribution, and terminations. 

Ed Janowiak and Joey Henderson both led sessions about air movement at the same time. Ed’s session focused on air movement and Manual T, getting into termination selection. He showed how the right duct termination can facilitate natural air movement and promote comfort, and the wrong one can commit the comfort sin of “blowing air on people.” Joey Henderson returned to the symposium to discuss basic airflow dos and don’ts, from both measurement and design standpoints.

Eric Kaiser from the TruTech Tools team taught an airflow measurement class. His session included a thorough look at airflow measurement tools, but it also explored how real-life altitude, humidity, and temperature can affect the HVAC equipment’s ability to move air. Chris Mohalley also followed the troubleshooting and diagnostics theme, specifically for ECM diagnostics. His session provided field-applicable scenario walkthroughs and historical context around the rise of ECMs (and their evolution over the years).

Alex Meaney also returned to the symposium to teach his “Airflow Serenity” session, which shared how we can adjust airflow, even when there are things we can’t change about ducts. Much of duct design hinges on the careful management of friction, and that is the key to making changes that truly improve the ducts.

Refrigerant, Leaks, and Chemistry

Craig Migliaccio (AC Service Tech) returned to the symposium with a session on refrigerant charging tools and how to use them properly. His session went beyond the charge and took a closer look at airflow measurements and how we can use those to set our charge measurements up for success. One topic Craig covered was glide, which Greg Guse expanded upon in his Bry-X session on fractionation, which happens when there are leaks in systems that use refrigerant blends.

How do those leaks happen? There was no person better than Rachel Kaiser to answer that question. She brought her chemistry background to the stage with her session about evaporator coil corrosion. Rachel’s “In Search of the Holey Coil” shared how various substances interact with copper and aluminum (or don’t!) and how they could cause corrosion and even lead to leaks.

Professional Development: Processes, Training, and Growth

Professional development was a consistent theme across the long-form and Bry-X sessions. Many sessions touched on the very nature of education, including obstacles to successful implementation, but the sessions also shed light on plenty of bright spots and opportunities.

In a tribute to the late Dan Wildenhaus, Joe Medosch from measureQuick led a session about home performance from a training perspective. He shared the training practices and principles that he developed with Dan prior to the latter’s testing in the hopes of developing a more skilled workforce. 

Brian Feenie, also from measureQuick, tackled the common problems HVAC business owners face with getting technicians on board with new processes, including training. He identified the key to process adoption: align the techs’ “why” and the owners’ “why.” Jesse Stewart from NAVAC identified some of those processes around everyday field practices that can be developed with consistent training. He specifically focused on preventing restrictions in the refrigerant line with proper brazing and evacuation. Joey Henderson’s Bry-X session also covered the common issue of inconsistency in training programs. He provided advice and best practices to standardize training, which reduces callbacks.

Online Training Kind of Sucks… But It Doesn’t Have To

Ruchir Shah and Dan Riggs from SkillCat took the Bry-X stage to describe how SkillCat has been rethinking the formula for online training. Online training often lacks a means for tradespeople to learn hands-on skills, and Ruchir and Dan put forth an interactive solution that results in better long-term training outcomes. 

Business Development

The symposium also explored business development, including the addition of a new trade to your HVAC business. Nate Agentis, a plumber by trade, highlighted the opportunities that come with adding plumbing to an HVAC business’s offerings. He shared ways to seize those opportunities and build trust with your client base, including starting out with simple maintenance agreements. 

Andy Holt’s customer service-centered Bry-X session focused on communication and addressed the soft skills aspect of running an HVAC business. Communication is not just the words we use around customers but also our nonverbal cues: behavior, appearance, and overall attentiveness to the customer’s property and needs.

Additionally, this year’s Business Panel featured the Kalos founders from three different trades. In this panel moderated by Bert, the founders discussed the twenty years of growth, mistakes, and lessons learned along the way as Kalos grew from three employees to over 300.

Answering the Call

Kevin Hart (from HAVEN, not the comedian) and Bill Spohn represented the Better HVAC Alliance in its partnership announcement with Huff Hoffmaster’s Rewiring America. That Bry-X session identified the gaps in training and outcomes in the industry and described the network of trained contractors that has been developed by these companies. The partnership and contractor network is one way to bring technicians together and promote best practices for industry-wide excellence.

Leilani Orr and Ty Branaman also shared what they’re doing to answer the call to improve the skilled trades in their Bry-X session. They’re training the next generation of skilled tradespeople in the GRIT Foundation. Much of what makes GRIT such a memorable experience for the students is that they are allowed to fail in a safe environment and discover answers on their own via the Socratic method as they learn how to use tools and develop hands-on skills.

Technology Demystified—Including AI and Refrigeration

The HVAC industry has seen a rise in complex technologies, and refrigeration is a completely different animal. This year, several speakers simplified those tricky technologies.

AI Isn’t Going Away—How Do We Use It Effectively?

Jim Bergmann returned to the symposium and wasted no time tackling the AI question. His session took a realistic approach to AI, including its capabilities and limitations, so that technicians can use it responsibly. He also explained how AI is integrating into apps like measureQuick to aid technicians with guardrails to keep its outputs grounded in science and reality. 

Tyler Nelson from Sauermann also discussed the integration of AI and digital tools. He showed how artificial intelligence can compile information from manuals and other trusted sources to aid the technician and even help them come up with customer scripts. The WorkHero team also delivered a talk at lunch about using AI to automate tedious, costly administrative tasks.

The Mysterious World of Refrigeration

Returning as a representative of the refrigeration part of the trade, Trevor Matthews (Refrigeration Mentor) taught a Bry-X class on electrical troubleshooting methods in refrigeration. He identified measurements that are commonly misused (including using ground as a reference outside of safety checks) AND powerful ones, such as measuring across a component. 

Matthew Taylor also returned to demystify commercial refrigeration pulse valves; he explained how they work in ways that the HVAC tech can understand, as it’s possible that the technology could make its way into commercial HVAC in the coming years.

New and Perennial Technologies

Andrew Holden, Cheryl Klein, Brad Cooper, Bruce Randall, and Jeff Kukert also kept their sessions focused on technology: thermistors, surge protection, geothermal heat pumps, communicating systems, and Copeland compressors, respectively. It was the symposium’s first time with dedicated classes on thermistors and geothermal heat pumps. While we focused on how communicating systems work during previous symposiums, Bruce Randall shared a practical communicating system startup guide to help get unstuck in the field. Surge protection and scroll compressors are also ever-relevant in the industry. Cheryl and Jeff shared updates to DITEK and Copeland’s product lines and how they’re responding to the industry’s needs.

Troubleshooting and Commissioning Complex Technologies

Tony Gonzalez from Fieldpiece delivered once again when he showed how “easier, faster, better” can be applied to new equipment commissioning. This time, his session featured processes and guidelines for VFDs and inverter-driven equipment startups, which we’re seeing in greater numbers over the years. 

And the symposium wouldn’t be complete without a VRF session. Roman Baugh’s presentation simplified the VRF diagnostic process. He identified the three pillars of VRF diagnosis—the three data points you NEED to diagnose a system—and how we can see how they relate to each other and the other components. No sine waves or overwhelming piping diagrams, just simple shapes. 

Combustion Tools, Troubleshooting, and Safety Are Always In Season

A couple of Bry-X sessions touched on combustion analysis and safety. Louise Kellar from UEi taught a session centered on carbon monoxide (CO): allowable ambient levels, health hazards, and where ambient CO is most dangerous in our homes. Dan Kelly from Seitron Americas took a deep look at combustion analysis in only 20 minutes: CO safety risks and standards, combustion analyzer use, and combustion analyzer maintenance.

Jim Fultz from Copeland taught a class on HVAC Troubleshooting 101 with a focus on gas furnaces. He discussed where gas furnace diagnostics begin—with a holistic view of the entire appliance based on the gas furnace sequence of operations. He then showed how to narrow down the possibilities and test individual components. 

Exciting New Features

Some of the previous symposiums at Kalos had a podcast space, but this year was the first time we brought it to Ocoee. During and between educational sessions, many educators and industry figures picked up the mic and talked about key issues facing the industry, training, new tools, and complicated technologies (definitely talking about VRF). 

The GRIT Foundation also brought a dunk tank to the symposium for the first time. Whenever an attendee bought GRIT merch or donated to the foundation, they received chances to dunk their favorite educators and industry figures, including Dustin Cole, Bill Spohn, Craig Miggliaccio, Ty Branaman, and many more.

Ty also did various HVAC science demos throughout the symposium, including his air and pressure demonstration with a vacuum pump and a large drum, which drew quite a crowd.

Final Thoughts and Looking Forward

It was a privilege to have so many people dedicate their time, knowledge, and generosity to the symposium—both speakers and sponsors alike. 

The symposium is about knowledge, first and foremost. However, the real value is in the connections we make at it each year. These connections are how we solve the problems facing our industry. Knowledge isn’t hoarded by one group of people; we share what we know because we genuinely want the trade to be better for ourselves, our customers, and even our children who might enter it as they grow older.

This year’s speakers consisted of people who are relatively new to the trade, have extensive experience in building science but not HVAC (and vice versa), and tool and part manufacturers who really just want to see a better trade. It’s a mix of people who all have something unique to bring to the table, and we look forward to bringing that spirit back next year.

Planning for the 8th Annual HVACR Training Symposium is already underway. It will be held at the same location, and we hope to have a similarly diverse array of speakers and topics. 
You can still purchase a virtual ticket to catch these sessions in full at hvacrschool.com/symposium. All sessions have been recorded and can be viewed at any time if you are logged in to an account with a linked ticket. (NOTE: Most technical issues can be resolved by clearing your browser’s cache.)