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HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Written by: Bryan Orr
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About this listen

 HVAC School is the ever growing online source for real training topics for technicians in the Air-conditioning, Heating and Ventilation Fields. In the podcast, we will share recorded training, tech ride alongs, share challenging diagnostic scenarios. All to help make the industry, your company, and your truck a better place to be. Careers Economics Personal Success Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Recovery Pro Tips w/ Jesse from NAVAC

    Recovery Pro Tips w/ Jesse from NAVAC
    Mar 5 2026
    Recorded live on the floor at the AHR Expo 2026, this episode of the podcast brings together host Bryan and his guest Jesse, National Training Manager at NAVAC, for a candid, high-energy conversation about professional best practices in the HVAC/R trade. The two have a long-standing friendship and professional rapport that makes the discussion feel both educational and genuinely entertaining. Jesse brings a unique background to the table — from underground coal mining in West Virginia to becoming a lineman, then pivoting to HVAC through vocational school and a contractor-sponsored apprenticeship program. His path to becoming a national trainer is a testament to the value of investing in yourself and being open to learning at every stage of a career. The core of this episode centers on refrigerant recovery and charging best practices — a topic that might sound routine but quickly reveals how many technicians, even experienced ones, are cutting corners that cost their clients and their companies money. Bryan and Jesse dig into the problems caused by unnecessarily opening sealed systems, the refrigerant lost every time a technician gauges up a system without need, and why the HVAC industry needs to shift its mindset to treat equipment more like a home refrigerator: a sealed system that should run for years without needing to be cracked open. Jesse makes a compelling case that many so-called "mysterious leaks" are actually caused by repeated unnecessary gauge hookups removing small amounts of refrigerant each time. A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the transition away from manifold gauges toward digital probes and modern recovery setups. Jesse isn't dismissive of manifolds — he acknowledges their place in the classroom and as a backup tool — but he makes a strong case that eliminating restrictions throughout the recovery and charging process is one of the single most impactful things a technician can do to improve efficiency, protect equipment, and deliver better results for customers. Topics like pulling Schrader cores, using 3/8" hoses, Rapid-Y fittings, and the importance of using a filter dryer inline with the recovery machine are all covered with practical, field-tested advice. Bryan and Jesse also tackle some timely and emerging issues facing the industry, including the equalization behavior of R-454B blends and the growing challenge of refrigerant recovery in extreme cold climates as cold-climate heat pumps become more widespread in northern markets. These aren't hypothetical — they're problems technicians are encountering right now, and Bryan's theory about refrigerant fractionation showing up on thermal imaging cameras offers a genuinely fascinating technical angle. The episode closes with Jesse's overarching message: eliminate restrictions wherever you can, take pride in your craft, and never stop learning. Topics Covered Jesse's background: coal mining, lineman work, HVAC vo-tech, contractor apprenticeship, and path to becoming a national trainerThe sealed system philosophy: why unnecessarily opening refrigerant circuits causes more problems than it solvesManifold gauges — their appropriate role in training and as a backup vs. the case for moving to digital probesHow repeated gauge hookups can introduce refrigerant loss and fake "mystery leaks" — the 3.5 oz. per hose problemRestrictions as the enemy of efficient recovery: pulling Schrader cores, using core removal tools, and proper hose sizingThe importance of recovering liquid first and how restrictions cause flash gas that slows recovery and adds heatHose size trade-offs: why 3/8" hoses are the recommended sweet spot between flow rate and refrigerant retentionUsing a filter dryer inline with the recovery machine as cheap insurance against acid contamination and machine damageWhy recovered refrigerant should generally NOT be reused — dirty recovery tanks, fractionation, and the limits of a single filter passScales as a non-negotiable tool: weighing refrigerant in AND out, and why techs who estimate by feel are guessingDiagnosing overcharge and undercharge situations using scale data before making repairsAirflow first, charge second: the importance of confirming CFM before adding refrigerant to a struggling systemThe R-454B equalization issue: refrigerant fractionation in new blends and Bryan's thermal imaging theoryCold-climate heat pump recovery challenges at sub-zero temperatures and strategies for adding heat to the systemHeat pump maintenance best practices: testing defrost cycles and what happens when they haven't been checked in yearsWord of mouth as the most powerful (and dangerous) form of advertising in the service industryRecovery cylinder safety: the dangers of overfilling tanks and the 80% rule Learn more about NAVAC's products and resources at https://navacglobal.com/. Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool. ...
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    55 mins
  • Symposium - What is the House Trying to Tell Me?

    Symposium - What is the House Trying to Tell Me?
    Mar 3 2026

    Join Chris Hughes and Adam Mufich at the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium as they interview building scientist Tessa Murray. In this eye-opening conversation about what your house is really trying to tell you. Discover why HVAC techs need to understand building science fundamentals to truly master their craft.

    What You'll Learn:

    • The critical connection between HVAC systems and building science
    • How to identify hidden moisture problems in walls and attics
    • Combustion safety testing that could save lives
    • Understanding dew points and thermal bridging
    • Proper ventilation strategies for different climate zones
    • Why duct leakage testing is just the beginning

    Key Topics Covered:

    • Transition from cold climate (Minnesota) to hot/humid (Florida) building science
    • Ice dams, ghosting, and crying houses explained
    • The house as a system approach for HVAC professionals
    • Blower door testing and pressure diagnostics
    • Indoor air quality concerns and solutions
    • Natural draft appliance safety considerations
    • Wall assembly moisture management
    • Occupant behavior impacts on building performance

    Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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    36 mins
  • Don't Die! w/ Louise from UEi

    Don't Die! w/ Louise from UEi
    Feb 26 2026
    In this episode, recorded live at AHR Expo 2026, Bryan sits down with Louise from UEi Test Instruments for an in-depth conversation about one of the most underestimated dangers in the HVAC trade: carbon monoxide. Rather than treating CO as just another checkmark on a safety list, Bryan and Louise dive into the full history of the gas — all the way back to early publications from 1922 and 1923 that were already studying the effects of low-level CO exposure. One of the most fascinating takeaways from their discussion is just how long the industry has known about the dangers of carbon monoxide, yet how frequently it remains misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and overlooked on the job site. Louise breaks down the science behind CO poisoning in a way that is both accessible and eye-opening. Unlike high-level acute poisoning — where symptoms are immediately obvious — low-level, chronic carbon monoxide exposure is an entirely different beast. It can mimic the flu, chronic headaches, early-onset Alzheimer's, and even heart attack symptoms. Because CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and victims often have no idea what is causing their illness. Compounding the problem is the cumulative nature of CO toxicity: the gas builds up in the bloodstream over time and can linger in the body for days, months, or even years after exposure ends. Bryan draws an entertaining but sobering historical connection between the prevalence of carbon monoxide poisoning during the Victorian era — when gas lamps were common inside homes — and the widespread reports of ghost sightings, fugue states, fainting spells, and the spiritualist movement of the time. It was almost certainly CO poisoning, not the paranormal. The conversation then shifts to practical, on-the-job guidance for technicians and contractors. Bryan and Louise walk through the proper process for combustion analysis: starting your analyzer outside in fresh air, identifying test ports on furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, and understanding what readings at steady state actually mean. They emphasize that CO production is not limited to furnaces alone — ranges, ovens, dryers, fireplaces, water heaters, and even propane-powered forklifts are all legitimate sources. One of the most critical points they make is that carbon monoxide hazards are often intermittent and condition-dependent. A system can appear to be working perfectly during one visit and be producing dangerous levels the next time a door is closed or a vent is accidentally blocked. Visual inspection, awareness of combustion air sourcing, and thoughtful analysis are just as important as having the right instruments. On the product side, Louise introduces two exciting new offerings from UEI. The first is the UEI Clip, a compact personal CO detector that clips onto a bag, belt, or lanyard, activates automatically at 20 ppm, and is designed as a set-it-and-forget-it safety device with a two-year sealed battery lifespan. Priced under $100, it is an affordable way to outfit an entire team with a baseline layer of personal protection. The second highlight is the new High Accuracy Clamp Meter (HAC), a commemorative product celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary. This meter excels at wattage measurement — particularly with low-draw ECM blower motors where most meters fall short — and Bluetooth integration with MeasureQuick is on the horizon. Louise also walks through UEI's revamped combustion analyzer recertification program, UEI Service Plus, which offers same-day turnaround on standard recertifications at their Indianapolis facility, extended warranties with each annual service, and transparent, upfront pricing directly on their website. Topics Covered The history of carbon monoxide research dating back to publications from 1922 and 1923, and a 1923 patent for a hot water heater that sparked a friendly debate between Bryan and Louise about terminology.How low-level, chronic CO exposure is underdiagnosed and can mimic conditions like the flu, chronic headaches, early-onset Alzheimer's, and heart attack symptoms — and why CO builds up cumulatively in the bloodstream.The fascinating historical theory connecting widespread Victorian-era reports of ghosts, fugue states, and fainting spells to chronic carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor gas lamps.CO safety thresholds: residential standard (9 ppm), World Health Organization guideline (4 ppm), first responder evacuation threshold (35 ppm), and how UL-rated home alarms may not trigger until 70 ppm sustained for 1–4 hours.Sources of CO that technicians often overlook, including ovens, ranges, dryers, fireplaces, water heaters, propane forklifts, generators, and vehicles idling near garages.Proper combustion analysis procedure: starting the analyzer outside in ambient air, identifying or installing test ports, running tests at steady state, and interpreting O2, CO, and stack temperature readings.Industry CO ...
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    51 mins
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