HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

By Bryan Orr

Education Business Careers

What's HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs about?

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

4.9

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HVAC Performance Summit w/ ...

03.23.2023

Dominick Guarino from NCI joins the podcast to talk about the High-Performance HVAC Summit, an upcoming event hosted by NCI from April 17–20. The National Comfort Institute (NCI) is a training organization that helps technicians learn crucial skills and succeed ...

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs episodes:

03.23.2023 HVAC Performance Summit w/ Dominick G. Dominick Guarino from NCI joins the podcast to talk about the High-Performance HVAC Summit, an upcoming event hosted by NCI from April 17–20. The National Comfort Institute (NCI) is a training organization that helps technicians learn crucial skills and succeed ...
03.14.2023 Training, Combustion and More w/ Tony G. In this podcast from AHR 2023, Tony Gonzalez from Fieldpiece joins Bryan to talk about training, combustion, and more. Fieldpiece has a new combustion analyzer that reduces the cost of tool ownership and maximizes the tool's uptime, namely by using ...
03.09.2023 The Future of Refrigerants is Here With Opteon XL41 In this podcast from AHR 2023, Brandon Marshall from Chemours and Chris Forth from JCI talk about the future of refrigerants and Opteon XL41 (R-454B). Refrigerant regulations are changing to pave the way for lower-GWP refrigerants, but M1 is also ...
03.07.2023 MeasureQuick is EXPLODING with Jim & Joe In this podcast from AHR 2023, Jim Bergmann and Joe Medosch talk about measureQuick and the ways it's EXPLODING with growth and new features. They also talk about heat pumps, electrification, and other hot topics in the industry. Jim Bergmann ...
03.02.2023 Infiltration Skeletons Behind Closed Doors w/ Genry Genry Garcia returns to the podcast to talk about pressures in the building envelope, namely the infiltration skeletons behind closed doors. When doing load calculations (Manual J), we need to know how much of the heat load, especially the latent ...
02.28.2023 Understanding Leak Detectors With Inficon In this episode recorded live at AHR Expo 2023, Nick from INFICON joins Bryan to talk about leak detectors and how we can improve our understanding of them. Some leak detectors, including the INFICON Stratus, measure concentrations in PPM (parts ...
02.23.2023 Making Cold Climate Heat Pumps Work w/ Copeland and White Rodgers In this episode recorded live at AHR Expo 2023, Dustin and Jim from Copeland/White-Rodgers join Bryan to talk about the use of heat pumps in cold climates. They talk about the history of heat pump innovation and talk about changes ...
02.21.2023 RTU Retrofits Facts and Considerations with JCI In this episode recorded live at AHR Expo 2023, Matthew Schlegel, the Commercial Product Manager of Ducted Systems from JCI (Johnson Controls) joins Bryan to talk about rooftop unit (RTU) retrofit facts and considerations. When doing an RTU retrofit, you ...
02.16.2023 Troubleshooting The Modern ECM Chris Mohalley returns to the podcast to talk about troubleshooting the modern ECM (or EC motor) and give diagnostic tips. ECMs are electronically commutated motors; they are mechanical motors with an electronic control module that dictates everything the motor does. ...
02.09.2023 Training for the Future w/ Clifton & ESCO Clifton Beck of ESCO Group returns to the podcast to talk about training for the future. He also talks about how he became an educator, what it's like to be a trades educator with ESCO Group, and how educators can ...
02.07.2023 MERV vs. Motors ECM expert Chris Mohalley joins the podcast to talk about the balance between selecting air filtration and motor performance, also known as "MERV vs. Motors." As the industry realizes that filtration is more important, we're starting to see an interest ...
02.02.2023 Effective Filtration & More w/ John Ellis John Ellis, a business consultant who specializes in IAQ training, joins the podcast to talk about effective filtration, product development, and more. John has recently worked with an OEM to bring field practicality and application to the engineers who design ...
01.26.2023 Do Houses Need to Breathe? w/ Allison Bailes Dr. Allison Bailes from Energy Vanguard joins the podcast to answer the age-old question: do houses need to breathe? He also talks about his new book, A House Needs to Breathe... Or Does It? You can purchase that book directly ...
01.19.2023 What the Heck is High Performance HVAC w/ David Holt David Holt with the National Comfort Institute (NCI) returns to the podcast to talk about high-performance HVAC and what the heck it even is. High-performance HVAC is all about delivering the highest possible equipment performance out of the box. High-performance ...
01.12.2023 Setting Realistic Customer Expectations w/ Ed Janowiak Ed Janowiak returns to the podcast to talk about setting realistic customer expectations when designing residential HVAC systems across climates, seasons, and load conditions. Being honest and aggressive is one of the best ways to set realistic expectations, and our ...
01.03.2023 Mini Split Install and Service Tips Craig Migliaccio, aka AC Service Tech, returns to the podcast to share his knowledge about mini-split install & service. He also talks a bit about his upcoming book, “Inverter Mini-Split Operation and Service Procedures.” Mini-splits are unique because they are ...
12.29.2022 CO Doesn't Leak w/ David Richardson David Richardson from NCI returns to the podcast to talk about why CO (carbon monoxide) doesn't leak and what it does instead. CO is a highly dangerous gas that is colorless and odorless, and we can keep ourselves safe by ...
12.27.2022 One HSI Furnace Control to Rule Them All w/ Jim Fultz Jim Fultz with Emerson White-Rodgers returns to the podcast to talk about one HSI furnace control to rule them all, the 50M56X-843 Universal Single Stage Integrated Furnace Control. The 50M56X does not come with wiring harnesses; the control comes with ...
12.22.2022 Using Ice to Balance Energy Consumption Yaron Ben Nun from Nostromo Energy joins the podcast to talk about ice banking, a way of using ice to balance energy consumption. Nostromo Energy is an Israel-based company that has recently started working in California. Water has a very ...
12.20.2022 We need to Pay Better! - An Audio Manifesto Eric Kaiser and Ty Branaman return to the podcast to talk about why we need to pay technicians and field workers better in the HVAC industry and how small and medium businesses can help current employees. When the pay for ...
12.15.2022 Refrigerant Myth Busting w/ Dr. Chuck Dr. Chuck Allgood from Chemours returns to the podcast to do some refrigerant myth-busting. Many people don’t understand why high-GWP HFCs can impact the atmosphere if the refrigerant is heavier than air. High-GWP HFCs exist for a long time, and ...
12.13.2022 The Good, Bad and Ugly of Trade Schools Ty Branaman and Eric Kaiser return to the podcast to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of trade schools. They cover the opportunities and challenges they've observed in trade schools. As with for-profit colleges, for-profit trade schools market ...
12.08.2022 Selecting Proper Cleaners w/ John Pastorello John Pastorello from Refrigeration Technologies returns to the podcast to talk about selecting proper cleaners for various HVAC/R jobs. From the beginning, the goal of Refrigeration Technologies has been to make cleaners that are safe but have the same effectiveness ...
12.06.2022 Good Tech, Good Service Manager? Eric Kaiser and Ty Branaman return to the podcast to talk about the progression from technician to service manager and if a good tech always makes a good service manager. They discuss career paths, differing skills between technicians and service ...
12.01.2022 Why Aren't the Trades More Respected? w/ Kimberly Llewellyn Kimberly Llewellyn from METUS joins the podcast to talk about the value system around the trades and why the trades aren’t more respected. In many cases, the people who are involved in engineering and design miss the practical details that ...
11.29.2022 Getting More People Into The Trade Eric Kaiser and Ty Branaman return to the podcast to talk about getting more people into the trade. They focus on how the HVAC/R industry could be better at attracting and training skilled workers, not just getting more bodies to ...
11.24.2022 Becoming a Complete Tech Genry Garcia returns to the HVAC School podcast to talk about what becoming a complete tech really means and entails. He talks about his professional journey and what we must do to address our deficiencies. Career progression looks a bit ...
11.22.2022 Inductive Current Myths - Short #158 In this short podcast in our electrical myths series, Bryan talks about some inductive current myths. There is a common myth surrounding voltage drop in inductive loads. When you decrease the voltage in a circuit with a resistive load, you'll ...
11.17.2022 Why it REALLY gets hot upstairs w/ Alex Meaney Alex Meaney returns to the podcast to explain why it REALLY gets hot upstairs and what we can do about it. He also talks a bit about his new business. Heat technically doesn’t rise; warm air is less dense than ...
11.15.2022 Electrical Myths - Single phase is Really 2-Phase - Short #157 In this short podcast, Bryan busts the common electrical myth that single-phase 240v power is really two-phase power. When power goes into a structure that runs 240v appliances, we may understand that two 120v sine waves are 180 degrees out ...
11.10.2022 Pumping Away, Hydronics Changes And Electrification Moe Hirsch joins the podcast to discuss the hydronics side of the industry, particularly focusing on Dan Holohan’s Pumping Away and exciting developments in the hydronics market, especially regarding electrification. Pumping Away is many people’s entry point to hydronics. It ...
11.08.2022 Electrical Myths - Hard Starts Reduce Start Current - Short #156 In this short podcast, Bryan busts the myth that hard starts reduce the start current on the run winding of a compressor. A single-phase motor’s main winding is the run winding; it has a lower resistance and a higher current ...
11.03.2022 The 24-Hour Technician w/ Andy Holt Andy Holt joins the podcast to talk about what it means to be a 24-Hour Technician. We talk about what it means to be HVAC/R technicians AND deal with the human aspects of our lives at the same time. Service ...
10.27.2022 Furnace Commissioning w/ MeasureQuick 2.0 Jim Bergmann returns to the podcast to talk about furnace commissioning procedures and the development of measureQuick 2.0. MeasureQuick 2.0 has been a collaborative effort between Jim Bergmann and Joe Medosch, and it comes with an upgraded user interface that ...
10.20.2022 Light Commercial PM Process Mike Klokus and Jeff Crable walk us through Kalos Services' light commercial PM process. First, we verify that everyone is clear on the agreement. Then, we start the PM with a thorough visual inspection, taking copious notes about things that ...
10.18.2022 Electrical Myth - Wire Length Code - Short #155 In this short podcast, Bryan covers a common electrical myth about wire length and its relationship with the National Electrical Code. The NEC is concerned with safety—protecting buildings and people—but less so with making sure things work. Wire sizing is ...
10.13.2022 Why CO2 Matters w/ Trevor Matthews Trevor Matthews, the founder of Refrigeration Mentor, returns to the podcast to talk about why CO2 matters in commercial refrigeration and even HVAC applications. CO2 (R-744) has entered the residential HVAC sphere in some places around the world, though it ...
10.06.2022 Electrical Basics This podcast is Bryan’s full-length electrical basics class for the Kalos technicians. He covers electrical theory and circuit basics. Volts, resistance, and amps all affect the behavior of electricity in circuits. These are also critical factors in electrical safety. Watts ...
10.04.2022 Myth: Path of Least Resistance - Short #154 In this short podcast, Bryan debunks the myth that electricity only takes the path of least resistance. It is true that more current will typically take paths of lower resistance; it’s much easier for more electrons to flow through a ...
09.29.2022 Dehumidification in Shoulder Seasons w/ Nikki Nikki Krueger from Santa Fe Dehumidifiers returns to the podcast to talk about dehumidification equipment and strategies in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall). The shoulder seasons (and the weeks leading up to them) are when many homeowners begin to ...
09.27.2022 Time Management - Short #153 In this short podcast episode, Bryan gives some quick tips for time management. You can save a lot of time by prioritizing what really matters and delegating tasks. One of the simplest but most effective ways to manage your time ...
09.22.2022 Become a Better Mentor w/ Eric Kaiser Eric Kaiser returns to the podcast to talk about how to become a better mentor. He explains the topic from the perspective of a mentor and a mentee. The goal of mentorship is to pass your knowledge on to someone ...
09.15.2022 HVAC Measurement Types and Benefits Eric Kaiser joins the HVAC School podcast to talk about HVAC measurement types and the benefits of taking each one. He also talks about point measurements and data trends. Point measurements include static pressure, voltage readings, and readings provided by ...
09.08.2022 Ventilation and 62.2 Intro & Rant w/ Genry Garcia Genry Garcia joins the podcast to give an intro to ASHRAE Standard 62.2. He and Bryan also share a nice rant about accountability in HVAC design. Standard 62.2 is the ventilation standard for low-rise residential buildings, which dilutes airborne contaminants ...
09.01.2022 Pressure Enthalpy without Tears RACT manual co-author Eugene Silberstein joins the podcast to talk about the titular topic of his book, Pressure Enthalpy Without Tears. Pressure Enthalpy Without Tears is a book that introduces engineering concepts to HVAC technicians in a way they can ...
08.30.2022 Total Heat of Rejection - Short #152 In this short podcast, Bryan talks about THOR, total heat of rejection. He explains what it is and why we should care about it when working on HVAC/R systems. THOR is another aspect of pressure-enthalpy calculations, along with net refrigeration ...
08.25.2022 Hard Start vs. Easy Start Matteo Giovanetti from Micro-Air joins the HVAC School podcast to talk about the differences between a hard start and an EasyStart. Micro-Air’s “EasyStart” provides a soft start rather than a hard start. A hard start abruptly ramps up the voltage ...
08.23.2022 Heat of Compression - Short #151 In this short podcast, Bryan explains what the heat of compression is and why we should care about it as HVAC/R professionals. More heat is rejected in the condenser than absorbed in the evaporator coil, and that’s because the compressor ...
08.18.2022 Intro to ACCA Manual T Ed Janowiak joins the podcast to introduce us to ACCA Manual T. Compared to other manuals, Manual T is one of the least-considered ACCA manuals. However, it’s the manual that advises us on how not to blow high-velocity air on ...
08.16.2022 Net Refrigeration Effect - Short #150 In this short podcast, Bryan explains what the net refrigeration effect (NRE) is and how it affects HVAC systems. The net refrigeration effect (NRE) is what happens in the evaporator coil. The evaporator is the heat absorber; as air passes ...

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