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Replacing an Evaporator Coil
Different Ignitor Types and How They Work
The VOCs Lurking Under Your Customersโ Sinks (and In Many Other Spots)
Another Ob-NOx-ious Combustion Product
How to Replace a Condensing Fan Motor
Design and Performance Challenges of Air-Source Heat Pumps Across Diverse Climatic Conditions
Brownouts and How They’re Killing HVAC Equipment
CAT Ratings on Electrical Multimeters
AHRI Performance Data vs. Manufacturer Expanded Performance Data (and When to Use Each)
Communications Might Be Your Best Tool – Short #289
All About Airflow Testing w/ Eric Kaiser
The Deep End with Roman Baugh: Live Call, Grounded Compressor, Mitsubishi Mini-Split
Add Duct Renovations to Your Product Offerings
How to Teach Kids the Trades – Short #287
Geothermal โ Back to the Basics w/ Brad Cooper
How to Make Online Training That Does Not Suck – Short #286
The Vacuum Deep Dive: Microns, Moisture, and Molecular Science
Surge Protection for HVAC – Short #285
#hvac
Tech Tips:
Evaporator coil leaks are a fact of life in the industry. (We could have a long and lively discussion about how evap coils arenโt made like they used to be, but thatโs for another day.) When you have an evaporator leak on a system, youโll have two choices to fix the problem: replace the coil […]
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In the furnace sequence of operation, the ignition sequence happens after the safeties have been checked, the inducer fan comes on, and the pressure switch closes. The ignition sequence begins with the ignitor. This part provides the heat needed for combustion (remember: a fire needs heat, oxygen, and fuel), and the ignition process looks a […]
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In HVAC, we have a few infamous indoor air quality monsters that bring terror to our customersโ homesโgases, particles, and organisms that wreak havoc on indoor air quality (and may contribute to moderate to severe health problems). The big one is carbon monoxide (CO), which we all know is deadly. Although not deadly by itself, […]
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As we do fall maintenance and head into the heating season, combustion analysis becomes a big deal. (Itโs always kind of a big deal, but now itโs a really big deal.) First and foremost, it tells us how much carbon monoxide (CO) is produced by burning. CO can make people ill, contribute to cognitive deterioration […]
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Service calls about condensing fan motor failure are quite common. Even though fan motor replacement is a standard procedure for residential split systems, it requires careful attention to safety and detail.ย This article will give you a step-by-step guide showing how to replace a condensing fan motor. Along the way, we will also explain a few […]
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This tech tip was inspired by Alex Meaney and Ed Janowiakโs session at NCIโs High-Performance Summit 2025: โGood Design Isnโt a Buffet: The Importance and Interconnection of Manuals J, S, and D.โ Alex is a building science expert who worked at Wrightsoft (now MiTek) for several years before launching his consulting firm, Mean HVAC Consulting […]
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HVAC technicians typically focus on diagnosing issues related to mechanical wear, refrigerant leaks, or control problems within the equipment. However, damage can also originate from external sources. For instance, a failed control board might be attributed to internal shorts or rubouts. Yet, the root cause could be external, such as the voltage spike that can […]
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If you have a multimeter for HVAC work, you most likely have a meter with a CAT III rating on it. Some might also be rated for CAT II at higher voltages or CAT IV at lower onesโor both, like this model of the UEi DL599 from our Multimeter 101 for HVAC 3D video. In […]
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Equipment selection may seem like a pretty straightforward process: look at the data plate, find the tonnage thatโs close to your Manual J calculationโs total load, and youโre good to go, right? The problem with that approach is that a 3-ton unit wonโt deliver 36,000 BTUs per hour like it says on the data tag. […]
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Videos:
Podcasts:
๏ปฟ๏ปฟ This short episode is Andy Holt’s session from the Bry-X stage of the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium: Communications Might Be Your Best Tool. In this session, Andy covers some key communication and customer service principles that can help you become a better technician. In the end, customers won’t remember your technical knowledge; they […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this session from the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium in Florida, Eric “Elk” Kaiser delivers a comprehensive workshop on airflow testing and measurement. Eric opens by challenging technicians to think beyond simply pointing an instrument at a duct and reading a number. Before selecting any tool, he argues, professionals must understand exactly what […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast, Roman Baugh takes over with his new series, “The Deep End,” where he shares tech support conversations. This time, Roman is on the other end of a live tech support call about a grounded compressor with an existing Mitsubishi mini-split (Mr. Slim heat pump). The unit in this case had […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this episode, HVAC veteran Adam Mufich of National Comfort Institute (NCI) pulls back the curtain on one of the industry’s most overlooked problems: the majority of residential HVAC systems in the United States are not delivering the correct amount of airflow. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Adam opens up about his own […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast from the Bry-X stage of the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, Ty Branaman and Leilani Orr talk about how to teach kids the trades. They share lessons they’ve learned from the GRIT Foundation and over their careers as trades and home educators. Their approaches have evolved over the years, and […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this episode, Brad Cooper โ second-generation HVAC technician, educator at Arkansas State University-Beebe (ASUBB), and CMHE-certified professional with HVAC Excellence โ 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 […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this short podcast, Ruchir Shah and Dan Riggs from SkillCat talk about how to make online training that does not suck! They talk about how to develop training that is relevant to the trades and can be applied in real-world trade work. The skill gap is widening in the trades, especially as shortages […]
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๏ปฟ๏ปฟ In this action-packed live stream episode of HVAC School, host Bryan is joined by Eric Kaiser, Ty Branaman, and Roman Baugh for a continuation of a deep-dive conversation on vacuum practices โ picking up where a previous episode left off with Andrew Greaves and Jim Bergmann. The team sets out to both reinforce the […]
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๏ปฟ 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 […]
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