HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Bryan and Craig Migliaccio (AC Service Tech)dive deep into the complexities of managing condensate drainage in high-efficiency (90%+) gas furnaces. The conversation begins with a clear explanation of why these furnaces produce condensate in the first place - they have two heat exchangers that extract so much heat from the combustion gases that water vapor condenses out. This condensate is acidic (...

In this unique episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan interviews Donovan Ryckis, CEO of Ethos Benefits, diving deep into the complex world of healthcare financing and employee benefits. Ryckis shares his journey from financial advising to becoming a healthcare benefits consultant, driven by a mission to expose and transform the inherently problematic healthcare system. The conversation reveals...

Chris Hughes and Steve Rogers from The Energy Conservatory discuss TEC's TrueFlow technology and its crucial role in predicting airflow issues in the sales process, particularly for heat pump retrofits. They explain how the TrueFlow app helps contractors accurately measure both static pressure and airflow in existing systems, enabling them to predict whether proposed equipment changes will work ef...

In this short podcast episode, Bryan and Mike from DITEK talk about what to do in tricky electrical scenarios, such as when the MCA is 27 and you have a 50A breaker. When you size an HVAC system for compatibility with voltage monitors, like the DITEK Kool Guard, you need to pay attention to the MCA (minimum circuit ampacity), which should not be confused with MOCP (maximum overcurrent protection o...

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 components like variable-spee...

In this short episode, Bryan clears up the confusion behind pumping vs. compression. Pumping is usually associated with liquid. Liquid, like vapor, is a fluid, but it's a lot denser and is essentially incompressible because the molecules are close together. Liquid volume varies based on temperature and density, but we can't squish the molecules together. That's why compressors with very little axi...

Trevor Matthews returns to the HVAC School Podcast to discuss building tech confidence and personal growth in the HVAC and refrigeration industry. The conversation explores the transformative power of self-investment, continuous learning, and maintaining a positive mindset. Trevor shares his personal journey from a hesitant technician to a successful business owner, highlighting the importance of...

In this short podcast episode, Bryan talks about the CPS Molecular Transformator and what it does. The Molecular Transformator is a version of a tube-in-shell heat exchanger, which is a method of exchanging heat from one fluid medium to another fluid medium. Tubes containing a fluid pass through a shell containing water or glycol, and there is a heat exchange between that secondary fluid and the f...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Mike, a 20-year veteran from DITEK, a leading American manufacturer of surge protection devices based in Largo, Florida. The conversation begins with a brief discussion about recent hurricane impacts in the Tampa Bay area, where DITEK maintains its 65,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Mike shares how the company, despite facing challenging weath...

Bryan answers a listener-submitted question: "Am I toxic for caring?" He gives advice on how to maintain professional relationships while still maintaining very high standards of quality for your own work. Having high standards is great, but it can be frustrating when you perceive coworkers as having lower standards than you. A poor-quality end product is fairly objective, but other ways of judgin...

Ruchir Shah joins the podcast to share his journey into HVAC education technology and the founding of SkillCat, a comprehensive training platform for skilled trades. As a five-time entrepreneur in educational technology, Ruchir's path to HVAC was influenced by his earlier work studying the BP oil spill and developing training solutions for oil and gas workers. When COVID-19 hit and many skilled wo...

In this short Q&A podcast, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about apps for doing proper loads. Fred specifically asks about apps or charts that can help an HVAC contractor determine the insulation value of a home without assuming numbers or drilling into walls during load calculations. Load calculations account for all the ways that BTUs can enter or leave a home: conduction, convection...

Bryan sits down with Jim Bergmann at the NCI Summit in Asheville, North Carolina, to discuss the latest developments in HVAC technology, training, and industry trends.  The discussion delves into the evolution of MeasureQuick 3.0, highlighting the shift back to a more technician-centric approach. Jim explains how they've redesigned the software to put gauges front and center and implemented an AI-...

In this short podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about an HVAC system that won't dehumidify. This question was submitted by a homeowner with a Carrier heat pump with an attic air handler that cools but won't dehumidify on the hottest days of summer. One of the past companies that serviced the system added charge, but the problem wasn't resolved. This case doesn't seem to...

Bryan Orr and Steve Rogers dive deep into measuring power consumption in HVAC blower motors, particularly focusing on the differences between PSC (Permanent Split Capacitor) and ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) technologies. The discussion stems from a question raised at an educators' conference about the accuracy of clamp-on meters in measuring blower motor watt draw, as specified in the ACC...

In this short Q&A podcast, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about sizing heat pumps for heat load in heating mode, something that we haven't talked much about in the past due to the greater need for cooling in our market. In most cases across the country, a heat pump's heating loads will be greater than the cooling loads. There is a greater swing between the desired temperature and the...

This episode of the HVAC School podcast dives deep into the often-overlooked but critical topic of water issues in HVAC systems. Bryan and Bert discuss the various causes of water leaks and condensation problems, and they explain how to prevent them. They emphasize that water damage is not an inevitable part of HVAC systems and that with proper attention to detail and understanding of the underlyi...

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about cultural diversity in the workplace, especially at an HVAC company. He addresses how we can deal with cultural and language differences in a field where communication is so important. Being open to different demographics of people is great for the industry, especially since we have an aging workforce and need good...

In this informative episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan Orr sits down with Tom Lorenz to talk about some of the Sensi thermostat features, particularly aux lockout and balance point. Tom leads the traditional and smart thermostat lines at Copeland and has over 25 years of experience in the industry. The discussion focuses on two key features of heat pump thermostats: auxiliary lockout a...

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Howard's question about how to deploy a dehumidifier (dehum) in a sealed home. He addresses things like location and fresh air requirements in green-grass markets with high dew points.  Before deploying a dehumidifier, you will need to know about the climate, the structure, and the client's complaints, budget, and comfort goals. You need to make sur...

In this episode of the Spidey Sense series, Bryan and Bert dive deep into the art of refrigerant leak detection, sharing their wealth of experience and practical tips for HVAC technicians. They emphasize the importance of using one's senses and observation skills before relying solely on electronic tools, highlighting how this "Spidey Sense" approach is a hallmark of senior-level expertise in the...

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers Edward's question about how to deal with customers who ask, "Why didn't you notice it last time?" There isn't an easy answer to that question. The truth is that air conditioning and home health and comfort issues are complicated, and it's entirely possible that an issue simply went unnoticed (or the symptoms simply weren't apparent yet). The HVAC in...

In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, host Bryan dives deep into the topic of vacuum in HVAC and refrigeration systems. He addresses two questions from social media about vacuum, expanding them into a comprehensive discussion of best practices, common issues, and techniques for effective vacuum procedures. Bryan starts by explaining where to ideally locate a vacuum pump when working on a ref...

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a question about drain traps and static pressure. This question was sent by Stephen with The Comfort Squad when he noticed an uptick in nuisance calls on retrofit systems that kept having their secondary drain pans filled. In negatively pressurized systems (i.e., straight-cool or heat pump units, not gas furnaces), air can pull water back into the d...

In this informative episode, Bryan Orr speaks with Andre Patenaude from Copeland about CO2 refrigeration systems. They dive deep into the unique characteristics and challenges of working with CO2 as a refrigerant, providing valuable insights for HVAC and refrigeration professionals looking to expand their knowledge in this growing field. Andre explains the reasons behind the increasing adoption of...