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#heat transfer

Tech Tips:

Why the Sauna Feels Hotter When You Throw Water on the Rocks

I admit it, I'm a sauna guy now. The ones at the gym are pretty gross, so I got a small one at home because I guess I’ve missed sitting in attics or something. If you’ve ever sat in a traditional sauna, you know the drill: the heat’s already intense, and then you or someone […]

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Homeowner’s Guide to Sizing an AC System (and who is responsible when you’re uncomfortable)

This tech tip was a collaborative effort between Matt Bruner, Adam Mufich, Ed Janowiak, and Genry Garcia. Thank you to everybody who gave their input! The next time you come across a homeowner who wants a bigger HVAC system, or you simply want to set expectations for a customer, share this tech tip with them. […]

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Videos:

AC Not Keeping Up in Hot Weather | HVAC Troubleshooting & Customer Communication

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Podcasts:

Heat In….Heat Out: All About Heat Transfer w/ Joe Joe The HVAC Man – Short #281

Join Joey Henderson LIVE from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium in Florida! This essential training breaks down the science of heat transfer into practical field techniques every technician needs. What You'll Learn: Understanding sensible heat (dry bulb) vs latent heat (wet bulb) removal Why airflow matters Heat transfer diagnostics BEFORE pulling out gauges […]

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Users with Tag #heat transfer

Check out our most recent video

How to Evacuate an AC system, Full Vacuum Procedure

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

20 Years in Family Business from the Kalos Founders

byBryan Orr

In this special live panel session recorded at the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, the three founders of Kalos Services — Bryan Orr, his father Robert (Bob) Orr, and uncle Keith Huntington — sit down together to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary and answer questions from the audience and online attendees. Hosted by Bert, the conversation blends humor, hard-earned wisdom, and surprising candor about what it actually takes to build and sustain a trades business over two decades. From humble beginnings with $100,000 in startup capital to managing multi-million-dollar commercial contracts today, the founders pull back the curtain on the messy, unpredictable, and deeply human reality of entrepreneurship in the skilled trades.

A recurring theme throughout the panel is that starting a business requires far more than technical skill — it demands grit, personal support, and an almost stubborn refusal to outspend your income. Bryan shares a raw, memorable story about living in a double-wide trailer with seven kids while Kalos was already nine years old, choosing to improvise a drainage workaround rather than take on debt he couldn’t afford. The founders agree that the number-one ingredient for small business survival is grit — the ability to wake up the next morning after a terrible day and take the next step anyway. Robert adds a philosophical note that extreme negative emotions in business are almost never accurate; they pass, and tomorrow tends to look better than the night before suggested it would.

One of the most discussed topics in the panel is how to motivate technicians to care about quality — not just revenue targets. Bryan makes a pointed distinction: if you build a compensation system optimized purely for money, you attract people who are only motivated by money. Instead, he advocates building a culture where belonging is tied to quality of work. Practical tools like daily photo-posting of installs in Google Chat, public shout-outs for great work, and peer commentary create an environment where craftspeople hold each other to a standard — not because they’re forced to, but because it’s who they are. Keith echoes this, emphasizing that most technician frustration stems not from laziness but from unclear systems and expectations set by leadership. When people don’t know what’s expected, they disengage — and that’s a leadership problem, not a people problem.

The panel also dives into the nuances of running a family business, with all three founders offering surprisingly candid takes. Keith notes that the key to 20 relatively friction-free years has been that all three founders are “120 degrees different” from each other — their strengths don’t overlap, so they rarely fight over territory. Bryan adds that healthy family businesses require the ability to have real conflict for the sake of mission, not just harmony. He also speaks to the importance of organizational structure when family members are involved: his own son Gavin, at 21 years old, works at Kalos but reports through multiple layers of management precisely so Bryan doesn’t micromanage him. The session closes with reflections on the riskiest moments in the company’s history — and Bryan’s honest admission that four weeks prior to the symposium ranked among the most stressful, as large promised contracts delayed in paperwork can shake even an established business to its core.

Topics Covered

Expanding HVAC services into electrical and plumbing — what technicians can realistically do and when to partner with specialists
The real prerequisites for going out on your own: craft knowledge, personal support system, and financial discipline
Why grit — not capital or credentials — is the single most important ingredient for small business survival
How to attract technicians who genuinely care about quality, not just technicians who chase commissions
Using internal tools like Google Chat to reinforce a culture of craftsmanship and peer accountability
The danger of building systems that look great on paper but don’t survive contact with real-world field conditions
Advice on contractor mentoring programs — how to absorb outside coaching without losing your own identity and standards
Lessons from running a family business: complementary roles, honest conflict, and the importance of organizational separation
How Kalos Services grew from $100,000 in startup capital to a multi-trade general contractor over 20 years
The role of visionary vs. operator personalities in a founding team, and why both are essential
The founders’ biggest career mistakes — including owning full responsibility for a six-figure grocery store power outage
Why private equity growth models don’t translate to owner-operated trades businesses
Hiring to fill your weaknesses: from permitting to office management, delegating what you hate frees you to lead
Recommended training resources: HVAC School, Ty Craig / Skill Cat, Ruth King, ESCO, and Dirk Nauman
Why the riskiest stage of business is never behind you — it scales with the size of your contracts

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

20 Years in Family Business from the Kalos Founders

Search Episodes

20 Years in Family Business from the Kalos Founders

04/30/2026

Bryan Orr

Permanent Load Reduction As a Sales Driver – Short #284

04/28/2026

Bryan Orr

Cold Climate Evacuation Livestream – Pandora’s Box

04/23/2026

Bryan Orr

Training Refrigeration: Building Technicians Who Think, Not Just Fix – Short #283

04/21/2026

Bryan Orr

Succession in Family Business w/ TruTech & Kalos

04/16/2026

Bryan Orr

Adding Plumbing To Your HVAC Business – Short #282

04/14/2026

Bryan Orr

Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks w/ Let’s Be Techs

04/09/2026

Bryan Orr

Heat In….Heat Out: All About Heat Transfer w/ Joe Joe The HVAC Man – Short #281

04/07/2026

Bryan Orr

Building Science at the Kitchen Table: Using Testing to Close the Sale

04/02/2026

Bryan Orr

Hard Lessons w/ Roman, Tim D., Nathan O. and ELK

03/31/2026

Bryan Orr

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VIPER SNIPER UNIVERSAL AEROSOL TRIGGER SPRAYER

VIPER SNIPER UNIVERSAL AEROSOL TRIGGER SPRAYER The Viper Sniper is an ergonomic trigger sprayer that fits all standard aerosol cans. Designed for comfort and control, it reduces finger fatigue and delivers a smooth, consistent spray, especially in those hard-to-reach areas. Features quick-attach side clips for easy, secure use. Compatible with all standard aerosol cans —including Viper Aerosol Coil Cleaner and Coil Coating Spray. Fits Any Aerosol Can Full Hand Ergonomic Grip Easily Clips On and Off 2 Sprayers per pack

VENOM PACK CONDENSER PURE CONCENTRATE COIL CLEANER

VENOM PACK CONDENSER PURE CONCENTRATE COIL CLEANER Venom Pack Condenser Cleaner is a high foaming pure concentrate liquid designed to tackle the toughest soils. The proprietary blend of specialty detergents will liquify heavily embedded grease and grime to restore heat transfer and increase the efficiency of the coil.

Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment

Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment is a sprayable gel. It coats the pan, p-trap and drain piping with a lubricative film to improve flow and prevent future soil adhesion. The slow dissolving enzyme gel will outperform and outlast conventional tablets and strips.

Nylog Blue Gasket -Thread Sealant for AC/R Systems

Nylog Blue Gasket -Thread Sealant for AC/R Systems One drop of Nylog on your rubber hose gaskets prior to attaching your core tools, hoses or vacuum gauge will assure that things do not bind or leak during evacuation. Derived from refrigeration grade lubricants. Non-hardening, non-drying fluid which bonds tenaciously to many different substrates. Typically, one drop of Nylog can be stretched about three feet before breaking.

NAVAC

Find out more about the Innovative NAVAC line of Vacuum Pumps

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