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Tool Selection: Analog vs. Digital vs. Probes
Two Ways to Prevent Freezing in 90%+ Furnace Condensate Lines
Decoding Measurement Lingo
History of Thermometry and the Invention of Thermometers
It’s All Relative… Humidity
The Heating Sequence of Operations and Onions
Electronic Expansion Valve Troubleshooting
The Best (and Worst) Ways To Duct a Dehumidifier
The Evolving Career of the HVAC Contractor: Embracing Change to Stay Ahead
TXV Troubleshooting – Short #245
Learning and Teaching GRIT w/ Ty Branaman
Band-Aids, Hacks, and Ethics – Short #244
Why VRF Compressors Die w/ Roman
No Serve Situations – Short #243
Locked Compressor Mistakes w/ Bert
When 0V Isn’t Safe – Short #242
Compressor Ohm Mistakes w/ Bert
Motor Ambient Rating – Short #241
Understanding Dual Fuel
Why Home Performance and HVAC are One
The Quality Installation Conundrum
The Devil is in the Data
Women’s Panel
30 Minutes or Less and You Only Have…
#hvac
Tech Tips:
The original tools of the trade were all analog: electrical meters, gauges, and even manometers (Magnehelic, anyone?). However, digital tools have also become a staple of the skilled trades—where would most of us be without digital multimeters? And then probes also joined the fray with the rapid improvements to smartphone technology over the last 15–20 […]
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This tech tip came from an email sent by Adam Blunkall, a Tennessee-based HVAC technician. He shared some tips to help prevent the issue of freezing in 90%+ furnaces in his market, and we appreciate his insight. Thanks, Adam! If we’re draining our 90%+ furnaces (or any condensing heating system) outside the structure in a […]
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Troubleshooting and commissioning are entirely data-dependent processes. How can you know that a system is undercharged unless you measure the superheat and subcooling? How can you know how much static pressure a blower motor has to overcome? In both cases, we use tools and measurements to help us determine the next steps. However, using the […]
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So, what is thermometry anyway? Thermometry is the scientific study of measuring temperature and has roots that date back to as early as 220 BC. During this time, Philo of Byzantium began to study the effects that temperature had on air. Specifically, he observed expansion and contraction caused by temperature change. He did this using […]
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Florida’s got a lot of great qualities: some pretty neat wildlife, beaches all around, and theme parks. On the flip side, Florida also has hurricanes and a lot of humidity. As much of a pain as it might be for residents and contractors alike, humidity is one of my favorite topics. We see relative humidity (RH) […]
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Just like Shrek, I like to think about the heating sequence of operations as an onion—it has layers. And each layer builds upon the previous one. We have written previously in great detail about gas furnaces, from top to bottom. I want to focus today on why there is a sequence of operations and how […]
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Electronic expansion valves (or EEVs) are metering devices that you’ll find in a variety of modern HVAC equipment, including heat pumps, VRF units, inverter mini splits, and chillers. This valve is electronic rather than mechanical and can precisely control the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator and optimize efficiency for heating and cooling units. Other […]
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There are a couple of really important things to understand when ducting a dehumidifier. Getting one or both of these things wrong can throw off your entire dehumidifier install. Instead of just telling you the different ways you can install a dehumidifier, let’s talk through some dehumidifier basics, which will help us understand why it’s […]
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This tech tip was written by Shelby Breger, co-founder of Conduit Tech. You can check out everything Conduit has to offer and learn more about that interesting platform and how it helps contractors at https://getconduit.com/. Thank you, Shelby! Before starting Conduit Tech, Marisa and I spent a year doing everything we could to learn about […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
In this short podcast episode, Bryan walks through some common thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) troubleshooting scenarios. Many of the same principles apply to troubleshooting electronic expansion valves (EEVs). These dynamic metering devices maintain a constant superheat. Troubleshooting does NOT start and end with the TXV. First, you need to inspect components (especially filters, ductwork, […]
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In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan Orr and guest Ty Branaman have an in-depth, hands-on conversation about the philosophy, structure, and impact of GRIT Camps—workshops designed to introduce kids to the trades through immersive, practical experiences. The episode opens with reflections on a recent successful GRIT Camp in New Jersey, […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about band-aids, hacks, and ethics. He explores ethical “band-aid” solutions and how to charge for them. He also covers the difference between patching up equipment ethically and unethical repairs. Temporary fixes and ugly permanent fixes fall into the ethical gray area for a lot of people, especially […]
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In this episode, Bryan and Roman dive deep into the world of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems, focusing on the persistent issue of compressor failures. VRF technology has evolved, and it has seen a major rise in the North American market since the early 2010s. Roman shares his passion for VRF, tracing its origins […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about some no-serve situations he's encountered as a technician and HVAC business owner. He also talks about situations that may be unpleasant but aren't quite no-serve situations. Some common and obvious no-serve situations are when a client threatens a technician, especially with lawsuits, bad reviews, or even […]
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In this informative HVAC podcast episode, Bryan and Bert dive deep into the complex world of locked and internal overload compressors, focusing specifically on single-phase residential units. The discussion begins with Bert explaining one of the most common challenges technicians face: diagnosing a locked compressor. He describes how compressors that are locked will typically […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan covers some unique electrical cases: when 0v isn't safe. When you measure voltage, you're finding out the electrical potential between two points. Just because there is 0v between one point and another doesn't mean there will be 0v between those points and other points. Non-contact voltage detectors are […]
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In this episode, Bryan and Bert dive into the often misunderstood world of compressor testing, focusing on common mistakes technicians make when using ohmmeters, compressor testers, and megohm meters. The conversation highlights how diagnostic errors can lead to unnecessarily condemned compressors and wasted time and resources. The hosts begin by discussing fundamental concepts like […]
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In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about what the ambient rating means on a motor. These ratings can be found on both condensing fan motors and blower motors. They have Cs in their rating, which represents the maximum ambient temperature the motor can handle in degrees Celsius (like 40C or 60C). Heat and […]
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Events:
NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
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NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
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NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
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NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
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NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
Read more
NOTE: If you cannot view the recording, the video may still be processing. The maximum wait time is 24 hours. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience.
Read more
