HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

In this short podcast from the Bry-X stage of the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium, Matthew Taylor from Kalos Services introduces refrigeration pulse valves, which started as a solution for CO2 refrigeration systems and are now common in commercial refrigeration as a whole. He briefly explains how they work and describes their role in the refrigeration systems (and possibly commercial HVAC systems in the future!). Refrigeration systems have moved away from electronic expansion valves (EEVs), which have been adopted by residential HVAC systems only recently, and have been using pulse valves instead. Pulse valves are also electronic expansion devices with fewer parts than EEVs (which often have stepper motors and complex electronics) and lower failure rates as a result. Pulse valves have a pressure transducer and a temperature sensor that go on the suction line to calculate the superheat; these report to a controller that takes the data from those parts, calculates the superheat based on the refrigerant and programming, and controls the valve like an EEV. However, there are only two wires, and the controller turns the valve on or off (like a solenoid) instead of sending pulses out. Solenoids just open or close completely, but pulse valves have a port (oversized fixed orifice) through which liquid refrigerant passes; when the load changes, the controller merely sends power to open the valve when the load goes up and stops sending power to close the valve when the load goes down. The valve is open for a certain percentage, and the on/off function is open for that amount of time in a six-second duty cycle (and off for the remaining time); this is pulse-width modulation. They also work well with refrigerants that have glide. However, pulse valves have some challenges. They may have issues in cases where we have very long evaporators, as there are delays between what happens between the inlet and outlet. Having multiple, shorter evaporators is a common solution to this problem, and these designs are more efficient in general (especially when they can be used with efficient refrigerants that move slowly through the evaporator). Pulse valves also require a computer (though EEV ones are similar), and are less serviceable than other valves; some may require technicians to take the valve apart to take the screen out, which requires replacement O-rings and gaskets. They are also noisy enough for customers to hear them. 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.

In this candid team meeting, Bryan — a founder of Kalos Services and a veteran of residential HVAC — gathers his install crew to have an honest conversation about what goes wrong on the job. With summer around the corner and the workload about to spike, Bryan circles back to his roots in residential HVAC to lead a round-table discussion on the pain points his technicians face every single day. Rather than pointing fingers, he opens the floor for every team member to voice the specific frustrations that slow down their installs, and what emerges is a surprisingly consistent list: size and clearance problems, missing small materials, incomplete job photos, and last-minute schedule changes that leave crews scrambling before they even pull out of the shop. Bryan draws on his own humble origins as a one-man operation hauling equipment on a Gladiator trailer — doing installs, service calls, and waste runs all in the same day — to remind his team that chaos is not inevitable; it is the byproduct of poor process. He is refreshingly self-aware, admitting that he was a very bad installer who routinely showed up with equipment that did not fit the space. That honesty sets the tone for the entire session: this is not a lecture about accountability, but a collaborative problem-solving conversation about building repeatable systems that prevent the same mistakes from happening over and over again. As Bryan frames it, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result — and right now, the team is living that cycle. The heart of the session focuses on a three-phase planning framework: what should be done the night before a job, what should happen at the shop before the crew leaves, and what needs to occur during the first 30 minutes on-site. Bryan emphasizes that skipping proper measurements and job photos should carry the same weight as failing an inspection or leaving a refrigerant leak — because the downstream cost is just as real. He breaks down the two categories of mistakes that are truly unacceptable for any installer: refrigerant leaks from improper brazing, and water leaks from poorly executed drain lines. No amount of clean workmanship makes up for either of those failures, and he walks the crew through the non-negotiable steps — pressure testing and bubble solution on every single joint — that prevent them. Bryan wraps up by tying individual preparation habits to the bigger picture of company growth. He acknowledges that last-minute installs and mid-job equipment runs may never fully disappear, but that investing 15 minutes the evening before and 30 minutes on arrival creates a compounding tipping point effect — over time, the crew gains back hours, reduces surprises, and frees up the time that matters most: commissioning the system properly. Checklists, he argues, are not about turning skilled tradespeople into robots; they are about transferring institutional knowledge to the next generation of technicians and ensuring that nothing critical gets overlooked, no matter how many times you have done the job before. Topics Covered 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.

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 GRIT has also evolved quite a bit from its beginnings. Leilani and Ty have found that the Socratic method is great for getting students to think critically; instead of spoon-feeding answers, teachers ask the students "why" and "how" questions. In GRIT Camps, mentors are there to keep students safe and guide them when needed, but mentors ultimately let students make mistakes and figure things out on their own. Students often make leaky joints when they braze for the first time, but it's their first time holding torches and most of the tools used at GRIT Camp. Making mistakes is crucial to the learning process. The mistakes we (and the students) make with our own hands also stick with us more than being told how to do a task the right way. Then, when students struggle, we can ask if they want to know a shortcut; they give their mentors permission to show them the right way. This method builds curiosity, and it allows students to get excited about a career in the trades or realize that the trades aren't for them but still walk away with hands-on skills and a newfound respect for the trades. Many tradespeople take the trade skills they learned as children for granted, as many children nowadays don't develop the same hands-on skills. The GRIT Foundation has a course that teaches mentors to teach students those hands-on skills that already seem like second nature to them. Even so, the course is just a guide, not something that needs to be followed to the letter. Many of the concepts taught in the guide and that mentors use at GRIT Camp also apply to apprentices. Learn more about the GRIT Foundation at https://www.thegritfoundation.com/. 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.

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...

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 grow when people retire and it becomes more difficult to hire qualified new people. Hiring apprentices with little experience also has costs associated with it, and SkillCat aims to address the training reasons for the skill gap and provide the needed accreditation for trades like HVAC (including EPA 608). After receiving feedback that the curriculum was too theoretical and could do better in the applied learning areas, the SkillCat team has been revamping the training program with a skill map. Now, there are partnerships with trade educators, more interactive videos, and interactive virtual activities to create a more relevant learning experience. There are now kits that SkillCat ships out to trainees, and assignments have offline proctors who verify all submitted materials and online activities to ensure that the trainees' submissions align with real field conditions and expectations. The goal is to have trainees who enter the field and can be fully functional helpers with a basic tool kit and enough working field knowledge to identify system components and perform basic tasks, bringing value to employers from day one. SkillCat is going to be piloting a new training program with a mentorship component as well. Learn more about SkillCat at https://www.skillcatapp.com/ and the GRIT Foundation at https://www.thegritfoundation.com/. 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.

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 — picking up where a previous episode left off with Andrew Greaves and Jim Bergmann. The team sets out to both reinforce the foundational best practices every HVAC technician should follow and to explore some genuinely uncharted scientific territory around how vacuum gauges actually work, how refrigerant contaminates micron gauge readings, and what really happens to moisture inside a system when temperatures drop below freezing. A central revelation of the episode is Eric's explanation that modern electronic vacuum (micron) gauges do not actually measure pressure directly — they measure heat transfer and translate it into a pressure reading. Because these gauges are calibrated to nitrogen or air, the presence of refrigerant vapor in a system (which has roughly three times the heat conductivity of nitrogen) can cause the gauge to display a falsely high reading. This means a technician could believe the system still has poor vacuum when it may actually be further along than indicated — or, more concerning, that a system appears to have passed vacuum when contamination is still present. The team acknowledges that controlled experiments are needed to quantify exactly how much refrigerant affects the reading, and they commit to designing those tests. The conversation then pivots into the physics of water at the triple point — the precise pressure (4,580 microns) and temperature (32°F) at which water can exist simultaneously as solid, liquid, and vapor. Eric walks the audience through a phase diagram built from International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam data, explaining that once pressure drops below the triple point, liquid water no longer exists. Any moisture in the system either sublimes directly from solid ice to vapor or remains frozen. This has major practical implications: a system with ice inside can still pull down to a very deep vacuum, but will not pass a decay test until that ice is fully sublimated — which requires both sufficient vacuum depth and available heat energy. The colder the ambient environment, the deeper the vacuum must go to create the temperature differential needed to drive sublimation. The episode wraps with an illuminating discussion on refrigerant oils — specifically the differences between POE (polyolester) and PVE (polyvinyl ether) oils and how each interacts with moisture in fundamentally different ways. POE chemically bonds with water through hydrolysis, breaking down into acid and alcohol and permanently degrading the oil. PVE, on the other hand, physically traps moisture through surface tension and can hold up to twice as much water as POE, but remains chemically stable. This distinction affects vacuum strategy, dryer sizing, and long-term system reliability — particularly in VRF and cold-climate heat pump systems where compressor oil management is far more complex. Topics Covered Core vacuum best practices refresher: large hoses, removing valve cores, skipping the manifold, using clean pump oil, micron gauge placement, and decay testingWhy micron gauges measure heat transfer — not pressure — and how refrigerant vapor causes false-high readings on the gaugeThe impact of refrigerant retained in compressor oil on vacuum accuracy and the potential role of nitrogen sweeps in displacing refrigerant moleculesTriple point science: what happens to moisture when pressure drops below 4,580 microns and why liquid water no longer exists below that thresholdHow ice inside a system can allow a deep vacuum pull-down while still failing a decay test, and what that means for cold-climate HVAC workThe role of heat during evacuation: why adding heat accelerates moisture removal and how deep vacuum increases temperature differential to drive sublimationCold-climate challenges: vacuum pump limitations,...

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 of thousands of volts within microseconds) or sustained overvoltage. Surge protectors specifically protect the equipment from power surges, though DITEK manufactures products that help manage sustained overvoltage (and undervoltage, which surge protectors CANNOT protect against). Nearby lightning strikes and high voltage from the utility company (especially after undervoltage) are common causes of surges. Everyone in the country has risks of power surges, but some areas are exceptionally high-risk, whether due to utility causes or climate (lightning storms). Degradation is the invisible damage that occurs over time with repeated surges. Destruction can be associated with a specific event, like a direct lightning strike or a blown transformer. Surge protection helps with both; when a surge comes through, the surge protector directs the surge to ground instead of your HVAC equipment. DITEK uses thermally protected MOVs (TPMOVs) to redirect the surge; TPMOVs react to surges and change from a low-impedance state to a high-impedance state, effectively pointing the surges to ground, and only a clamped voltage makes it to the HVAC equipment. However, surge protectors will degrade with each event; DITEK's surge protectors have LEDs indicating their health. NEC 2020 requires surge protection on all dwellings, so many homeowners have whole-home surge protection already installed. Surge protection on the HVAC unit can still be added as an extra layer, which provides better protection for the HVAC system specifically. HVAC surge protection works at the condenser. DITEK's KoolGuard2 (KG2) is a voltage monitor that works on single-phase equipment under 40 continuous amps. It cuts power if the power exceeds or dips too far below the typical voltage, and then it restores power after three minutes. It also does not require programming, but it has a few best practices, such as reducing lead length to improve the clamping voltage and keeping protected and unprotected wires in separate conduits. Ground must also be within code have low enough impedance to redirect the surges effectively; the resistance can only be measured properly with a megohmmeter or clamp meter. DITEK also has three-phase surge protection for commercial equipment and has options for BAS systems. Learn more about DITEK's products and DITEK University at https://www.diteksurgeprotection.com/. 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.

In this special live panel session recorded at the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, the three founders of Kalos Services — Bryan Orr, his father Robert (Bob) Orr, and uncle Keith Huntington — sit down together to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary and answer questions from the audience and online attendees. Hosted by Bert, the conversation blends humor, hard-earned wisdom, and surprising candor about what it actually takes to build and sustain a trades business over two decades. From humble beginnings with $100,000 in startup capital to managing multi-million-dollar commercial contracts today, the founders pull back the curtain on the messy, unpredictable, and deeply human reality of entrepreneurship in the skilled trades. A recurring theme throughout the panel is that starting a business requires far more than technical skill — it demands grit, personal support, and an almost stubborn refusal to outspend your income. Bryan shares a raw, memorable story about living in a double-wide trailer with seven kids while Kalos was already nine years old, choosing to improvise a drainage workaround rather than take on debt he couldn't afford. The founders agree that the number-one ingredient for small business survival is grit — the ability to wake up the next morning after a terrible day and take the next step anyway. Robert adds a philosophical note that extreme negative emotions in business are almost never accurate; they pass, and tomorrow tends to look better than the night before suggested it would. One of the most discussed topics in the panel is how to motivate technicians to care about quality — not just revenue targets. Bryan makes a pointed distinction: if you build a compensation system optimized purely for money, you attract people who are only motivated by money. Instead, he advocates building a culture where belonging is tied to quality of work. Practical tools like daily photo-posting of installs in Google Chat, public shout-outs for great work, and peer commentary create an environment where craftspeople hold each other to a standard — not because they're forced to, but because it's who they are. Keith echoes this, emphasizing that most technician frustration stems not from laziness but from unclear systems and expectations set by leadership. When people don't know what's expected, they disengage — and that's a leadership problem, not a people problem. The panel also dives into the nuances of running a family business, with all three founders offering surprisingly candid takes. Keith notes that the key to 20 relatively friction-free years has been that all three founders are "120 degrees different" from each other — their strengths don't overlap, so they rarely fight over territory. Bryan adds that healthy family businesses require the ability to have real conflict for the sake of mission, not just harmony. He also speaks to the importance of organizational structure when family members are involved: his own son Gavin, at 21 years old, works at Kalos but reports through multiple layers of management precisely so Bryan doesn't micromanage him. The session closes with reflections on the riskiest moments in the company's history — and Bryan's honest admission that four weeks prior to the symposium ranked among the most stressful, as large promised contracts delayed in paperwork can shake even an established business to its core. Topics Covered Expanding HVAC services into electrical and plumbing — what technicians can realistically do and when to partner with specialistsThe real prerequisites for going out on your own: craft knowledge, personal support system, and financial disciplineWhy grit — not capital or credentials — is the single most important ingredient for small business survivalHow to attract technicians who genuinely care about quality, not just technicians who chase commissionsUsing internal tools like Google Chat to reinforce a culture of craftsmanship and peer accountabilityThe danger of...

This short podcast episode is Jeremy Begley's Bry-X session from the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium: "Permanent Load Reduction in HVAC – The Hidden Driver of Long-Term Sales." Some common customer complaints we hear as HVAC contractors include high humidity, high electric bills, noise, and uncomfortable rooms. The typical HVAC solution is to change the equipment or ductwork, such as by downsizing the unit, adding ancillary dehumidification, or modifying the ductwork. If we can't solve the problem, the customer will ultimately choose a different contractor, no matter how hard we try to modify the HVAC system. However, we may be able to use our thorough load calculations to turn our attention to the building and find ways to reduce the overall loads. We expose problems with the structure and can solve them with permanent load reduction strategies, rather than the equipment and ductwork modifications, and serve customers better while earning more money. Key performance indicators (KPIs) drive money in a business, and ServiceTitan has identified five KPIs closely linked to profit: callbacks, first-time fix rate, warranty claims, comfort complaints, and average ticket. Callbacks are often driven by comfort complaints, which may occur when we modify equipment but not the envelope and vice versa. Warranty claims occur when the equipment can't work as well or efficiently as intended, such as when the load doesn't match the equipment and strains the unit. When we solve these problems, we become trusted advisors and increase customer satisfaction. The customer will continue to work with a company that solves their problems and will recommend HVAC businesses to their family and friends, which also drives sales. Permanent load reduction requires us to understand load calculations thoroughly, but it's a means for HVAC companies to control outcomes. It requires a mindset change, but when we control system outcomes and increase customer satisfaction, we earn trust and earn more sales in return. 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.

In this long-awaited live episode of HVAC School, host Bryan Orr reunites with three industry veterans — Jim Bergmann of measureQuick, Roman Baugh (Kalos), and Andrew Greaves of NAVAC — to tackle one of the most pressing and underaddressed challenges in modern HVAC: performing refrigerant recovery and system evacuation in extreme cold-weather conditions. The conversation was sparked by a real-world observation from technician Chris Hughes, who relocated from Louisiana to Minnesota and quickly discovered just how different — and difficult — cold-climate HVAC work can be. What follows is an honest, science-heavy, and often humorous deep dive into a problem the industry has largely ignored. The episode centers on the growing prevalence of cold-climate heat pumps, especially inverter-driven systems capable of operating at extremely low outdoor temperatures. As these systems become the primary heating source in cold regions, technicians are increasingly being called to make repairs — and perform evacuations — in sub-zero conditions. The group walks through why this is such a challenge, examining the fundamental physics that make pulling a proper vacuum nearly impossible once temperatures drop below 40°F. The conversation draws heavily from refrigeration science principles that, as Jim Bergmann bluntly points out, were largely left out of HVAC trade education over the past several decades. One of the most compelling moments of the episode is Andrew Greaves' introduction of the "heat provocation test," a term he coins on the spot to describe a technique for verifying whether moisture has truly been removed from a system by observing micron gauge behavior after applying external heat to cold-soaked components. This sparks a rich debate between Jim and Andrew about where moisture actually concentrates in a system — in the line set vs. the outdoor unit — and whether heat can realistically reach those areas in a real-world installation. The panel ultimately agrees that heat is the only viable tool when you absolutely must complete a job in cold conditions, but that prevention and scheduling remain the gold standard. The episode closes with a fascinating dive into the phase diagram of water, specifically the concept of the "triple point" and how it governs moisture behavior at low pressures. Andrew uses a whiteboard diagram to explain why, below 4,500 microns, moisture can only exist as vapor or solid — not liquid — and why that makes sublimation the only removal pathway when heat is absent. Jim adds nuance by describing the self-refrigerating cycle that occurs during deep vacuum pulls, a phenomenon that makes the problem progressively worse the deeper you pull without adding heat. The group wraps up with practical field takeaways and a promise to revisit the topic, including the potential role of nitrogen purging and triple-evacuation techniques in cold-weather scenarios. Topics Covered The rise of cold-climate heat pumps and why they demand refrigerant work during cold seasonsWhy evacuation becomes extremely difficult — or impossible — below 40°F ambient temperatureThe physics of moisture removal: heat energy, vapor pressure, and molecular movementJim Bergmann's real-world demonstration pulling a vacuum to 135 microns on a wet system and still failing the decay testAndrew Greaves' "heat provocation test" — using external heat sources to verify dryness after evacuationThe debate over where moisture concentrates: outdoor unit vs. line setWhy mini-split manufacturers don't allow permanent desiccant dryers — and workarounds using temporary bypass configurationsVRF systems and how shell dryers can be temporarily added and then removed post-evacuationThe self-refrigerating cycle: how pulling a vacuum on ice makes the system progressively colder and more resistant to dryingPhase diagram of water: the triple point (~4,580 microns) and why liquid water becomes unstable below itWhy sublimation is the only moisture removal pathway below the...

Training the refrigeration technician is about building technicians who think, not just fix. In this engaging conversation from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, host Trevor Matthews sits down with Billy Carlson to explore what it really takes to develop technicians who think critically and troubleshoot effectively. Billy shares his journey in the HVAC/R industry, from residential air conditioning to commercial refrigeration, and ultimately specializing in supermarket rack systems and CO2 refrigeration. With only five years in the grocery sector, his company now dedicates 70-80% of its work to refrigeration, with 40% focused on rack systems. This rapid transition offers valuable insights for contractors looking to expand into commercial refrigeration. Key Topics Covered: Billy emphasizes that patience and willingness to ask for help are essential traits for anyone entering supermarket refrigeration. He shares practical tips on charging CO2 systems, avoiding dry ice in lines, working with VFDs, and reading trend graphs to optimize system performance. Whether you're a residential tech considering commercial refrigeration, a trainer developing curriculum, or a service manager building a team, this conversation offers real-world wisdom on creating technicians who understand the "why" behind every repair. Check out Refrigeration Mentor at https://refrigerationmentor.com/. 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.

In this special collaborative episode between the Building HVAC Science Podcast and HVAC School, host Bryan Orr sits down with his father and co-founder Robert Orr (Kalos) and Bill and Billy Spohn, the father-son duo behind TruTech Tools, for an in-depth conversation about the realities of running, transitioning, and ultimately passing the torch in a family-owned business. What makes this episode particularly compelling is that both pairs are actively living through their own succession journeys in real time, offering listeners an unusually candid and personal look at the emotional, structural, and cultural dimensions of handing off a business you helped build from the ground up. The conversation begins with each participant sharing where they stand today. Bill Spohn Sr. is transitioning into semi-retirement as CEO and co-owner of TruTech Tools, which has tripled in revenue since his son Billy joined the company in 2018. Billy Spohn has stepped into the role of President and co-owner, focusing on working on the business rather than in it. Robert Orr, co-founder of Kalos alongside Bryan, has similarly stepped back after a formalized three-year succession plan, with Bryan now holding majority ownership and day-to-day control. Together, these four men represent two different approaches to the same deeply human challenge: what does it really mean to let go of something you built, and how do you do it in a way that honors both the past and the future? A major theme throughout the episode is the emotional weight of identity and transition that founders and long-time leaders rarely talk about openly. Both Bill Spohn Sr. and Robert Orr reflect candidly on how much of their personal identity has been wrapped up in their respective companies, and how surprising it has been to grapple with the shift from decision-maker to advisor. Robert speaks movingly about health challenges, including having suffered strokes, that accelerated his thinking about succession and mortality. The group explores how no amount of business planning fully prepares you for the emotional reality of stepping back, and yet both men express genuine peace and gratitude for how their transitions have unfolded. The honesty in these reflections is rare and refreshing, especially in business media that often skips the messy human middle. The discussion also digs deeply into the operational and cultural infrastructure that makes a successful handoff possible. TruTech Tools implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) starting in 2022, a framework that Billy says was one of the greatest gifts his father could have given him before assuming leadership. EOS brought role clarity, accountability structures, and regular team rhythms that transformed how the company functions. Bryan and Robert took a more organic approach at Kalos, leaning on trust, a shared value system, and clearly defined responsibilities that evolved over years of working side by side. Both companies emphasize that clarity and accountability are non-negotiable, regardless of company size, and that culture is not a poster on the wall but a reflection of how leaders actually behave when things get hard. The episode closes with practical advice for other family business owners navigating similar journeys. Key takeaways include starting the conversation early, building an advisory board outside the company, making public commitments to accountability, investing in business reading and peer groups, holding regular family meetings so that everyone understands the plan, and above all, prioritizing emotional health and the ability to have hard conversations before they become festering resentments. Bryan offers a memorable point: intelligence gets beaten by emotional regulation and patience every day. The group is unanimous that succession planning is not a single event but a thousand small handoffs, and the best time to start preparing is well before you feel ready. Topics Covered Introductions:...

Looking to Add Plumbing To Your HVAC Business? Learn the critical pitfalls to avoid before you make the leap! In this livestream from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, service plumber and third-generation tradesman Nate Agentis breaks down why adding plumbing to your HVAC business isn't as simple as hiring a plumber and stocking PVC on your trucks. What You'll Learn: Nate shares real-world insights on avoiding the cash flow drains, cultural toxicity, and structural mistakes that plague HVAC companies trying to diversify. Whether you're considering adding plumbing or already struggling with your plumbing division, this conversation provides actionable strategies for sustainable growth. 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.

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Bryan sits down with Johnny, the creator behind the popular social media channel "Let's Be Techs." Johnny brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the table, having spent his first 13 years in residential HVAC before transitioning into commercial refrigeration. He shares his unconventional path into the trade—starting out building houses before being recommended to an HVAC contractor—and how the lack of quality mentorship early in his career motivated him to create educational content for technicians. His videos, which began as a fun hobby and a way to teach his helper remotely, have since grown exponentially across TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, and continue to attract technicians hungry for practical, real-world knowledge. The bulk of the episode is a deep dive into real-world troubleshooting strategies, covering everything from the very first moments you arrive on a job site to diagnosing complex intermittent electrical faults. Bryan and Johnny both emphasize the value of using your senses before reaching for specialty tools—listening for surging liquid lines, feeling condenser airflow with your hand, and visually inspecting service valves for oil before removing caps. They share a mutual philosophy that the best technicians are those who can step back, assess the big picture, and narrow down the problem systematically rather than immediately jumping to assumptions about charge levels or component failures. A significant portion of the conversation centers on low-voltage electrical diagnostics, an area where both techs have noticed major changes over the last several years. Bryan and Johnny discuss the rise of contactor coil failures, transformer overload from aftermarket add-ons like UV lights and zone dampers, and the clever use of a contactor in place of a fuse as a low-cost short-finder tool. They also revisit the concept of "tattletale" fuses and resettable fuses, comparing their reliability and appropriate applications. Throughout these discussions, both hosts bring in personal war stories that make the technical content feel grounded and immediately applicable to everyday service calls. The episode wraps up with discussions on thermal imaging cameras, scroll compressor anomalies, and a memorable consulting story from Barbados involving a VRF system. Johnny and Bryan also touch on the importance of sharing knowledge openly in the trades, pushing back against the gatekeeping mentality that leaves newer technicians struggling to find reliable information. Both agree that the comment sections of field-focused videos have become a valuable community resource—a place where techs teach each other, correct each other, and build a collective knowledge base that benefits the whole industry. Topics Covered Follow Johnny on social media as "Let's Be Techs" on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. 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.

Join Joey Henderson LIVE from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium in Florida! This essential training breaks down the science of heat transfer into practical field techniques every technician needs. What You'll Learn: Key Takeaways: Joey Henderson shares real-world stories and field-tested methods for mastering heat in, heat out principles. Whether you're working with mini-splits, gas furnaces, or commercial chillers - understanding heat transfer is the foundation of excellent HVAC work! 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.

Recorded live at the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium, this episode brings together Roman from HVAC School and building science practitioner Brynn for a deep-dive conversation on one of the most pressing challenges in the HVAC industry: how contractors can use building science principles not just to solve problems, but to communicate value and close sales at the kitchen table. With 26 years of industry experience and 15 years of consistently applying building science in his contracting business, Brynn shares the process his team has refined to help homeowners understand their comfort problems — and confidently invest in the right solutions. Central to the conversation is the idea that testing — not guessing — is the foundation of a great HVAC business. Brynn outlines his team's "big three" diagnostic approach: starting with indoor air quality testing, followed by a load calculation using a LIDAR tool, and finishing with a duct evaluation. These three steps give technicians the data they need to tie findings directly to a homeowner's stated concerns. Rather than overwhelming customers with spreadsheets and raw numbers, the goal is to present information in a way that connects with their lived experience — validating that their hot rooms, cold spots, or humidity discomfort are real, measurable problems with real, measurable solutions. Brynn's team can complete a full load calculation in as little as 20 minutes on-site, a capability that routinely impresses homeowners and sets them apart from competitors. The episode also tackles the business case for slowing down. Rather than rushing technicians through six to eight calls a day, Brynn's company reduced daily call volume to two to four, giving technicians time to perform thorough diagnostics. The result? Ticket sales increased, replacement opportunities grew organically, and install callbacks dropped to a remarkable half of one percent, compared to an industry average closer to ten percent. Roman and Brynn agree that adopting building science practices isn't about overhauling your business overnight. The key is to start with one skill — like combustion testing or airflow measurement — master it, embed it in company culture, and build from there. Over time, these small habits compound into a business that delivers on its promises every time. Beyond the technical content, the conversation wraps with a heartfelt discussion about workforce development and the GRIT Foundation, a nonprofit working to reintroduce skilled trades exposure to young people. With shop classes having largely disappeared from schools across the country, Brynn and Roman emphasize the importance of giving children the chance to discover a passion for hands-on work. Brynn's team hosted a GRIT camp in Detroit, and one participant has since enrolled in HVAC college — a reminder that sparking curiosity early can change the trajectory of a young person's life. Contractors interested in Brynn's training programs and building science bootcamps can find more information at HVACTrain.com. Topics Covered Learn more about Brynn's education opportunities at https://www.hvactrain.com/. 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.

Join industry veterans Tim De Stasio, Roman Baugh, Eric Kaiser, and Nathan Orr as they share their most memorable HVAC lessons learned the HARD WAY. This unfiltered conversation from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium reveals the real stories behind costly errors, dangerous situations, and valuable HVAC training moments that shaped their careers. What You'll Learn: From seized compressors and ruptured refrigerant lines to dangerous gas leaks and combustion incidents, these HVAC professionals hold nothing back. Each story comes with crucial HVAC/R lessons that can help you avoid making the same mistakes. Whether you're a seasoned technician or just starting your HVAC career, these hard-earned insights will help you work safer, smarter, and more professionally. Remember: The best lessons are often learned the HARD WAY by others. Learn from these experiences so you don't have to repeat them! 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.

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode, host Bryan reconnects with Jim Bergmann of measureQuick after nearly three years apart. The reunion is anything but ordinary — Jim opens up about a serious battle with non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma that sent him through not one but two rounds of chemotherapy, ultimately requiring a cutting-edge CAR-T cell immunotherapy treatment at the Cleveland Clinic. Jim shares the remarkable medical journey of having his T cells extracted, genetically modified in a Maryland lab, and reintroduced into his body to permanently attack cancer cells. Now past the critical six-month remission milestone, Jim is back, healthy, and more motivated than ever to push the HVAC diagnostics industry forward. From his medical comeback, the conversation transitions naturally into what Jim loves most: the world of HVAC diagnostics and the evolution of measureQuick. After years of defending a per-use pricing model that the market simply didn't embrace, Jim candidly admits the old model wasn't working. With the help of business partner Eric Preston (formerly of TruTech Tools), the team overhauled the software's pricing structure in February — a move that has since driven 90%+ customer retention and accelerated growth significantly. The new focus is squarely on "time to value," streamlining workflows so technicians reach key diagnostic reports faster than ever before. A significant portion of the episode dives into how measureQuick is thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence. Rather than chasing AI trends, Jim and his team — including AI specialist Ben Reed — took a deliberate approach: identifying the precise areas where AI genuinely helps technicians without creating distractions. The standout use case is label identification, where AI reads equipment labels and auto-populates system profiles. Jim is refreshingly candid about AI's limitations in HVAC diagnostics, explaining that the field variability of real-world systems (varying line set lengths, mismatched equipment, non-standard airflow conditions) makes purely AI-driven diagnostics unreliable. Instead, measureQuick leans on first-principle modeling and non-dimensional mathematics to generate objective, data-driven results. The episode closes with a thought-provoking discussion about the state of the HVAC industry at large. Bryan and Jim tackle the growing influence of private equity consolidation, the persistent problem of technicians skipping probe deployment, the difference between clearing faults and actually fixing them, and the importance of commissioning and retro-commissioning equipment to manufacturer design intent. Throughout it all, the conversation is anchored by a shared belief: that measuring everything — in business and on the job — is the foundation of genuine, lasting improvement. It's a must-listen for any HVAC professional or business owner who wants to understand where the industry is headed. Topics Covered Learn more about measureQuick at https://measurequick.com/. 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.

Discover what separates elite HVAC technicians from average ones in this eye-opening session from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium. Shelby Breger, co-founder of Conduit Tech, and Jim Bergmann, President of measureQuick, reveal what good HVAC techs do differently with data and how they leverage data to transform their diagnostics, commissioning, and service work. What You'll Learn: Jim shares insights from analyzing 270+ data points per service call and explains how HVAC professionals can use tools like measureQuick to eliminate uncertainty from their work. Learn why contractors doing Manual J load calculations are downsizing equipment 1-3 tons and becoming more profitable in the process. 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.

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Bryan sits down with Jeff Staub, Director of OEM Sales for Danfoss North America, to explore one of the most rapidly evolving frontiers in the HVAC and refrigeration world: thermal management for AI data centers. With nearly 30 years of industry experience spanning technical support, application engineering, and product development, Jeff brings deep expertise on how the explosive growth of AI chip technology is reshaping data center cooling architecture — and creating major new opportunities for HVAC professionals, contractors, and facility managers alike. A central theme of the conversation is heat recovery — specifically, how the enormous amounts of heat generated by high-density GPU chips in modern data centers can be captured and repurposed rather than simply rejected into the atmosphere. Jeff explains that while heat recovery itself is not a new concept (supermarkets have used reheat coils and heat reclaim for decades), its application in AI data centers presents fresh challenges and possibilities. The heat coming off liquid-cooled server chips typically runs around 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit — useful, but not immediately at the temperature needed for most end applications like domestic hot water or space heating. Boosting that heat using heat pumps or feeding it into district energy systems, boiler pre-heat loops, vertical farms, or multifamily housing developments are among the most promising strategies being explored around the world. Jeff highlights a significant contrast between Europe and the United States in how heat recovery is being adopted. In Europe, where district energy networks are widespread, data centers can plug directly into community heating infrastructure — and projections suggest that 80% of European data centers will incorporate heat recovery in the near future. In the US, the picture is more fragmented: while opportunities exist at universities, hospitals, urban mixed-use developments, and facilities co-located with nuclear power plants, the economics are trickier. Key sticking points include who owns the capital expenditure for heat recovery modules and heat pumps, and who ultimately benefits from the recovered heat. Bryan and Jeff discuss how innovative ownership models — with landlords, municipalities, or co-tenants sharing infrastructure — are beginning to unlock these opportunities, and how co-generation arrangements with power stations present exciting long-term potential. The episode wraps up with highly practical guidance for HVAC contractors and facility managers looking to break into the data center space. Jeff encourages technicians not to be intimidated: the fundamentals of vapor compression, chiller systems, and fluid flow that HVAC professionals already know transfer directly to data center work. The key additions are familiarity with large centrifugal and screw compressors, variable frequency drives on pumps, glycol loop management, and central distribution unit (CDU) architectures. Bryan emphasizes that the boundary between HVAC and plumbing will continue to blur as secondary fluid pumping becomes more prevalent — and that staying curious and investing in ongoing training (through manufacturer programs like Danfoss Learning, Carrier University, and others) is the best way to ride this wave rather than get left behind. Both hosts agree: AI data centers are not going away, and the technicians who keep them cool will be indispensable. Topics Covered The evolution of data center cooling — from direct vapor compression on chips, to air-conditioned server rooms (CRAC units), to today's liquid cooling and chiller-loop architecturesWhy AI GPU chips generate unprecedented heat densities, with individual server racks approaching 250 kW to 1 MW of heat outputWhat heat recovery means in the data center context: capturing hot water (90–100°F) off chip cooling loops instead of rejecting it to outdoor airThe concept of 'heat quality' — why...