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How do HVAC surge protectors work? What sorts of electrical events do they protect HVAC systems from? Does every HVAC system need one? What is undervoltage protection? In this article, we will cover the basics of surge protection and help you determine the best use cases for the various options available in residential applications. […]

Surge Protection for HVAC – Short #285

This short podcast is from the Bry-X stage of the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium: Cheryl Klein's “Surge Protection for HVAC.” Cheryl is with DITEK, a veteran-owned company based in Florida, and has extensive knowledge of whole-home surge protection and HVAC-specific surge protectors. HVAC systems may have their lifespans reduced by power surges (tens […]

Deploying Surge Protection & Voltage Monitoring w/ DITEK

Bryan discusses surge protection devices (SPDs) with Mike from DITEK, focusing on practical applications for HVAC contractors and how to provide value to clients. Mike emphasizes that surge protection is essential for modern HVAC systems, particularly given that they are typically the most expensive appliance in a home and increasingly rely on sophisticated electronic […]

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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.

In this episode, Brad Cooper — second-generation HVAC technician, educator at Arkansas State University-Beebe (ASUBB), and CMHE-certified professional with HVAC Excellence — breaks down geothermal systems for everyday HVAC technicians. Brad brings a grounded, no-hype perspective to a technology that has long intimidated many in the trade. His central message is simple: if you already understand heat pumps and air conditioning, you already have most of the knowledge you need to service geothermal units. The only real difference, as Brad explains, is swapping air for water, a fan for a pump, and a condenser for two heat exchangers.

Brad opens with a compelling real-world story: a customer with two malfunctioning geothermal units called a company for help, but because the technicians were unfamiliar with geothermal systems, they replaced both units with air-to-air equipment — costing the customer $25,000 and stripping them of the significant efficiency benefits geothermal provides. This kind of outcome is exactly what Brad wants to prevent. He urges technicians not to shy away from geothermal work the way past generations were told to avoid flex duct or mobile homes, but instead to approach these systems with the same confidence and diagnostic mindset they bring to any HVAC call.

A major portion of the episode is devoted to practical diagnostics — specifically, how to use a pressure probe and a temperature probe on the water side to calculate GPM flow, BTU output, and system efficiency using a straightforward chart. Brad walks listeners through the math: a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, multiplied by flow rate and delta T, gives you a reliable BTU reading — all without expensive equipment. He also covers the flush cart, the one specialized tool you’ll eventually need for water-side work, and explains that most geothermal calls don’t require it at all — the majority of failures are standard heat pump issues like bad capacitors, clogged drain lines, or faulty thermostats.

Brad closes with an encouraging, community-minded message: you don’t need to go it alone. He encourages technicians to build a network of mentors — someone like a “Paul and a Barnabas” — who can guide them through unfamiliar territory in the field. He also highlights key industry resources, including IGSHPA (International Ground Source Heat Pump Association) for training and certification, GeoFlow for parts and materials, and his brother’s company, EDGE Geo Supply, for tools and field training. Brad himself offers his personal phone number and email for anyone with questions, reinforcing that the geothermal community is accessible and willing to help.

Topics Covered

• Brad’s background as a second-generation HVAC tech and his role at ASUBB and HVAC School

• Why geothermal systems intimidate technicians — and why they shouldn’t

• The core analogy: air-to-air vs. geothermal (air → water, fan → pump, condenser → two heat exchangers)

• A $25,000 cautionary tale: replacing working geo units out of fear and unfamiliarity

• Geothermal efficiency: constant EER ratings vs. seasonal SEER ratings and why seasons don’t affect geo performance

• BTU fundamentals: what a BTU is and how to calculate BTU output on the water side

• Tonnage review: 1 ton = 12,000 BTUs per hour, melting a ton of ice in 24 hours

• Water weight and flow math: 8.34 lbs/gallon, calculating GPM and BTUs with delta T

• Using a two-probe setup (pressure + temperature) and a field chart to diagnose water-side performance

• The flush cart: what it is, when you need it, and why most jobs won’t require it

• Common heat pump-side failures in geo units: capacitors, low-pressure switches, evaporator coils, bad thermostats

• Common water-side failures: bad pump, low water, dirty water, frozen loop field

• How antifreeze/glycol affects heating load and BTU output — and when to add it

• Responding to frozen loop fields during extreme cold events (ice storms in Arkansas and Texas)

• Humidity control advantages of geothermal in high-humidity climates vs. high-efficiency air-to-air units

• Selecting the right system: geo isn’t for every home or every situation

• Open-loop options: pulling water from lakes or rivers and utility company incentives

• Closed-loop installation considerations: drilling costs, lot size, and buried line depths

• Building a mentor network for field support (the “Paul and Barnabas” principle)

• Industry resources: IGSHPA for training and certification, GeoFlow, and Edge Geo Supply

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.

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#overvoltage

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#overvoltage

Tech Tips:

Podcasts:

Users with Tag #overvoltage

To continue you need to agree to our terms.

The HVAC School site, podcast and tech tips made possible by generous support from

The HVAC School site, podcast and tech tips
made possible by generous support from