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Invented For Techs, by Techs: Inside Refrigeration Technologies’ “The Lab”

By Bryan Orr Mike Pastorello

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In this episode, Bryan sits down with Mike Pastorello, owner of Refrigeration Technologies, and Ashley Lynds, director of education and brand management for Viper, to talk about the company’s roots, its newest product launches, and where the brand is headed next. This podcast focuses on “The Lab” and how it integrates field technicians with product development.

Refrigeration Technologies was built on a “for techs by techs” philosophy after John, an HVAC technician with a chemistry background, began inventing products to solve his own field problems. Now, technicians are using their field problems to inspire innovation in the Refrigeration Technologies lab, and the Easy Dose is the first product that was developed, tested, and distributed via the “Lab” initiative.

The team also discusses chemical safety in their approach to products and what’s really inside products like the Viper Pan & Drain Treatment and Nylog.

This episode contains embedded sponsor messages from Refrigeration Technologies, Carrier, NAVAC, Fieldpiece, and AHR Expo 2027.

Resources:

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 8th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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#cleaning #drain cleaning #hvac #nylog #refrigeration technologies

Author:

Bryan Orr

Company: Kalos Services

Position: Co-Founder and President

Mike Pastorello

Company: Refrigeration Technologies

Position: President

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Our latest Podcast

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 of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan sits down with Chris Howells, senior training manager at AprilAire, to talk about what really makes a filtration system perform. Chris has nearly thirty years in the industry, including fifteen as a technician, and brings a field-first perspective on why filtration is more than just “a filter.” Bryan also admits up front that his own contracting company is looking to put more high-efficiency filters into the field, so this conversation doubles as a practical learning session.

The discussion starts with a common misconception: that a “thicker” filter is simply a filter with thicker media. Chris explains that what matters is surface area, face velocity, and pressure drop, not the width of the cabinet. They cover why using the full face of the filter is one of the easiest wins, how a poorly designed return can load just one section of the media, and why a high MERV rating does not automatically mean high resistance. Cabinet design, media construction, and overall system design all play a role, and modern ECM blowers make low static pressure more important than ever.

From there, the conversation turns to bypass air and measurement. Chris describes how AprilAire’s cabinets use top and bottom rails and a self-seal media overhang to force air through the filter, backed by a 10-year clean coil guarantee. He and Bryan stress using the right tools, including a dual-port manometer and a proper static pressure probe, and checking pre-filter and post-filter pressure drop against manufacturer performance data at around 500 feet per minute. Chris also debunks the idea that deeper media is always more restrictive, pointing out that a typical retail one-inch pleated filter can raise pressure drop dramatically compared with a basic fiberglass filter.

The final stretch is about communication and growth. Chris and Bryan share simple, natural questions technicians can use to start air quality conversations without sounding like a sales pitch, and they encourage listeners to stay curious and keep asking “why.” Chris closes with resources for learning more, including AprilAirPartners.com and the AprilAire Academy, and mentions that the Santa Fe and UltraAire product lines are now part of the AprilAire family.

Topics Covered

Why “thicker” filters are really about surface area, face velocity, and pressure drop
Using the full face of the filter and avoiding uneven loading
How filters affect blower performance, system capacity, and equipment protection
Why filtration is a high-value upgrade compared with bulbs and modules
AprilAire’s new high-efficiency product line and its three-layer media design
Reducing bypass air with rail design, self-sealing media, and the 10-year clean coil guarantee
Measuring static pressure correctly and using manufacturer pressure drop charts
Sizing media cabinets by CFM and face velocity instead of what fits under the air handler
Common myths about MERV ratings and restriction
Conversation starters that help technicians talk about indoor air quality
How to learn more through AprilAirePartners.com, the AprilAire Academy, and local distributors

This episode contains embedded sponsor messages from Refrigeration Technologies, Carrier, Copeland, Santa Fe Dehumidifiers, and TruTech Tools.

Resources

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 8th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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