HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Latest Episodes:

Using Ice to Balance Energy Consumption Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

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 high latent heat of fusion, meaning it can absorb and store a lot of energy between its solid and liquid states of matter. By storing ice, Nostromo Energy can support commercial and industrial structures that utilize chiller-type applications by offering a clean and sustainable battery thanks to water and its physical properties. Load balancing or management will be critical as the electrification of heating sources continues. Lithium-ion batteries aren't sustainable solutions in many of these cases, and that's where ice banking can support the grid by providing a thermal battery.

Water offers many advantages as a medium for storing energy, especially since it is natural and doesn't have the numerous economic and labor concerns that come with the production of many other batteries. However, there have been some challenges with the widespread adoption of ice banking, especially when it comes to retrofitting and the ability to match the demand for new power stations. Water is also heavy, meaning that it can be difficult to manage in rooftop applications.

Nostromo Energy keeps working to solve those problems and increase the coefficient of performance (COP), especially by maintaining a relatively high freezing temperature.

Yaron and Bryan also discuss:

Yaron's career and Nostromo Energy
HVAC equipment and the electrical grid
Economic and labor factors of lithium-ion battery production
Discharge rates and glycol cycles
COP and compression ratio
Heat recovery chiller technology
Carbon counting, kilowatt-hours, and carbon emission
Thermal energy storage and tax rebate eligibility

Learn more at nostromo.energy.

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We need to Pay Better! - An Audio Manifesto Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

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 entry-level HVAC positions can't compete with fast-food, retail, or warehousing jobs, we can't expect people to flock to the industry, especially since so much skill is required. Overtime is also almost unavoidable in many places, and it's a problem that requires a more nuanced solution than getting more trucks on the road. The tricky part about paying more for overtime is that it's challenging to implement pricing structures that charge the end user proportionally.

As prices for equipment, fuel, and living essentials go up, the company often has to eat those extra costs if they want to pay their technicians fairly. In some cases, HVAC businesses feel bad for the customer when the cost of everything increases, which could be doing a disservice to the techs who deserve higher wages for their work. HVAC companies can increase their value by setting themselves apart in their markets, such as by performing unique services that benefit customers; effort and skill are required, which can justify higher prices. We have to be realistic about what our competitors are selling and work towards selling comfort, not just parts or systems.

Eric, Ty, and Bryan also discuss:

Challenges with reducing overtime
HVAC sales and higher pay rates
Customers' willingness to pay
Base pay and incentives
How managers can take care of their employees
Understanding employee motivation
Using profits for personal luxury items vs. reinvesting in a business
Knowing our numbers
Understanding employee discussions about pay

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Refrigerant Myth Busting w/ Dr. Chuck Dec 15, 2022

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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 they last long enough for natural mixing and the wind to distribute their molecules throughout the atmosphere. HFOs, by comparison, are more reactive in the atmosphere and have relatively short lifespans, meaning they have less of an effect on the environment.

Even though refrigerants with lower GWPs are entering the market, it's always been our job to keep refrigerants inside the system where they can't harm the environment. However, when leaks occur, these lower-GWP refrigerants break down quickly outside the system but not inside it. Contractors and manufacturers should still work together to reduce leak rates as much as possible, even as we keep innovating.

Another common myth is around "natural refrigerants," which are common in some forms of refrigeration, but "natural refrigerants" may be a misleading term; although you find them in nature, they undergo heavy manufacturing and processing before being used in HVAC/R systems. Even "non-toxic" and "non-flammable" labels for A1 refrigerants may be misleading, as they don't capture the full picture of their risks.

There are also some myths around oil miscibility; oil still needs the help of refrigerant velocity and volume to move it through a system. POE and PVE oil are great in terms of miscibility and also get entrained in the refrigerant to ensure good oil return to the compressor.

Dr. Chuck and Bryan also discuss:

Dr. Chuck's recent work and research
"Heat rises" and buoyancy
Pseudoscience
HFO stability and reactivity
Trifluoroacetate (TFA), toxicity, "forever chemicals"
Education and change in the industry
"Future-proof" vs. innovation
Phosgene

Learn more about Chemours and their A2L training at opteon.com. You can also check out the Chemours/Opteon YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@OpteonProducts/videos.

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The Good, Bad and Ugly of Trade Schools Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

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 programs aggressively and can take people who are at a crossroads in their life and saddle them with debt. In some cases, trade schools are hesitant to fail people and end up passing people who don't have the technical proficiency to be effective tradespeople. Sometimes, trade schools don't emphasize practical skills and contractors' experiences as much as they could, either.

The tricky part about trade schools is their allocation of resources, which instructors typically can't control. Sometimes, too much money is spent on equipment, and not enough is spent on the instructors. There needs to be an appropriate balance of both in an effective program. Administrative distractions can also make programs less likely to produce effective technicians. The admission process also doesn't always sort people into appropriate classes; many people with low proficiency are put into classes that are too advanced for them.

People are going into trade schools with less mechanical aptitude than in previous generations, and trade schools often skip over the basics of tool use. Students need to know how to use tools before they learn how to fix systems, and that tool proficiency needs to be reinforced. Continuing education is also more focused on paperwork than application and isn't as thorough as it probably could be.

Ty, Eric, and Bryan also discuss:

First-generation trade school graduates
Administrative challenges with trades instructors
Motivating students
Instructor qualifications
"PowerPoint teaching"
Automated systems
Bringing work experience to the classroom
Where does podcasting fit into trades education?

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Selecting Proper Cleaners w/ John Pastorello Dec 08, 2022

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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 as the strong, hazardous varieties in the industry. The more hazardous cleaners are not food safe and may be corrosive, dangerous to inhale, or irritating to the skin or eyes. Some cleaners can also damage components; brighteners aren't recommended for use on aluminum coils for that reason.

John is a fan of foaming cleaners because the foam gives the cleaner more contact area and holds the detergent in place for a longer time. Foaming cleaners tend to be good for degreasing. However, if used improperly, the foam can overflow in the drain pan and get messy.

Many residential and light commercial HVAC contractors may benefit from keeping Viper EVAP+ for evaporator coils, Heavy Duty for condenser coils, and Brite only when there is an extremely dirty condenser coil. The Viper aerosol coil cleaner can also work well for small systems. The Pan & Drain Treatment also keeps drain sludge and odors at bay inside condensate lines and pans.

Instead of relying on harsh chemicals to dissolve microbial growth, Refrigeration Technologies cleaners help use enzymes to dissolve odor-causing biological material in HVAC systems.

John and Bryan also discuss:

PPE to use when working with cleaners
Acid-based cleaners and "non-acid" cleaners
Dwell time and contact
Dilution ratios
NSF registration and what it means to be "food-safe"
Viper Venom Packs

Watch our 3D video showing how to use several Refrigeration Technologies products HERE.

Learn more about Refrigeration Technologies products and resources at refrigtech.com.

If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Good Tech, Good Service Manager? Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

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 managers, and how HVAC/R companies can support techs who wish to remain techs.

In many cases, top technicians are pulled into service manager positions to keep them with the company. Sometimes, older technicians who have lost some mobility and strength over the years end up going to managerial positions to stay in the industry. Some people genuinely want to acquire managerial positions. Not everybody is motivated by promotions, and HVAC business managers would benefit from knowing what their employees value and want for their professional lives.

Just as we have to teach technicians hard skills to be good at their jobs, we have to teach soft skills to service managers. We can't expect skilled technicians to enjoy or feel comfortable in leadership positions without knowledge of the expectations and required skills. When people genuinely want to go into service manager positions, they can benefit from having a clear path supported by goals and frequent performance reviews to keep them on the right track. However, some people may want to stay technicians; we can do right by them to keep their bodies in good shape so that they can get the most out of their careers and be able to enjoy all types of activities after they retire.

Ty, Eric, and Bryan also discuss:

Leadership training
Setting expectations for positions
Keeping technicians happy
Residential vs. Commercial HVAC soft skills
Taking care of employees over customers
Making room for different personalities and providing opportunities for them

If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Why Aren't the Trades More Respected? w/ Kimberly Llewellyn Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

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 the tradespeople would be able to pick up on. In many cases, tradespeople aren't consulted early enough in the design process, and their input deserves to be brought to the table. Often, not everyone on a project team is on board with the project's goal, and the trades need to be on board from the beginning to work towards the same goal as the architects and engineers.

However, the trades aren't as respected because of the current American dream's emphasis on 4-year college, even despite the student loan debt problem many college graduates have. Despite that, building and troubleshooting systems that are necessary for survival is a fundamental skill for society.

The trades can be especially hard on people and leave them feeling beaten down. To reengage the tradespeople and affirm their value, we need to give them credit for their contributions and expertise. It would also benefit younger generations if we could map out a trades career path and make the career progression opportunities clearer.

Kimberly and Bryan also discuss:

Kimberly's experiences with the trades
Theory vs. practice
4-year college, the trades, and our current value system in education
Professionalism and being treated as professionals
Revising contracts and liability concerns (for contractors/subcontractors)
Having mutual respect
Consultation and what it means in the trades
Working for manufacturers and other career opportunities
Contracting as a "race to the bottom"
Funding training programs vs. investing in people
Mentorship in the trades
Underpriced bids and pricing methods

If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Getting More People Into The Trade Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

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 fill HVAC/R tech and installer positions.

People are starting to see more value in skilled trades careers, but it's difficult to find people who share your company's values and want to grow as HVAC/R professionals. Skilled tradespeople need time, education, and money invested in them, so it can be difficult for HVAC/R business owners to make those investments when other jobs pay close to the same without the same degree of investment from the company and the employee.

To attract more people to the trade, HVAC/R business owners ought to focus on how to give their employees a means of giving a good life. That means making incremental changes to employee pay, benefits, and training to make the trades a competitive option for people who want to improve their skills and grow. We could consider increasing entry-level pay to attract skilled people, allowing us to be more selective in our hiring. Performance reviews can also be more goal-focused to help HVAC/R talent grow within a company. Companies also ought to focus on training their tradespeople to use the many tools at their disposal nowadays; providing these tools and acknowledging the needs of employees will make the industry much more appealing and competitive.

Eric, Ty, and Bryan also discuss:

Labor organizations
Making gradual changes to the industry
Competing with other similar industries
Changing landscape of job ads and applications
"Back in my day..."
Ways of providing tools

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Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Becoming a Complete Tech Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

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 different for everyone, with some technicians going to trade school and others starting as helpers and working their way up. We get used to taking readings and start noticing patterns. Then, we start understanding why we see certain pressures. Our experiences are our most valuable tools for becoming better technicians, but they can be reinforced with other learning materials, including books and podcasts.

There comes a point when we acknowledge that we are solid technician but may want to specialize in a certain aspect of the trade. For Genry, that was building performance and humidity control; along the way, he listened to people who knew more than him and took on many jobs that he'd learn from and would keep him humble.

Everything goes back to the basics; we have to be able to solve all the basic problems and understand the fundamentals. Then and only then can we start thinking about building performance and focus on becoming experts at it. However, we also have to assess our ecosystem and see if it would allow us to grow or if it's more suited for stability. We also have to be willing to be wrong and grow from those mistakes.

Genry and Bryan also discuss:

The pros and cons of trade school
Egos and admitting wrongdoing
Mental models
Humidity control
Looking back on previous work with shame
Building envelopes, pressures, and leakage
Where and how to learn more about building science and performance
Self-auditing and the Dunning-Kruger effect

Get in touch with Genry on Facebook by joining his Facebook Group HERE.

If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcast HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE.

Check out our handy calculators HERE.

Inductive Current Myths - Short #158 Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

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 see a relatively proportional drop in resistance (ohms) and current in accordance with Ohm's law. So, we'll see a decrease in current, but we have to keep in mind that load temperatures also affect the resistance (and the current, by extension).

Some people will claim that reducing the voltage in an inductive load (like a motor or compressor) will increase the current. That is actually generally a myth; many people believe this myth because the current drop is NOT proportional, unlike in resistive loads. The resistance that shows up in a motor is called inductive reactance, which is an opposing magnetic field that creates back electromotive force (back EMF) and impedes the circuit. Back EMF and inductive reactance contribute to the impedance or total resistance of the circuit. Decreasing the voltage may cause the resistance to increase, as some of the work will start contributing to heat instead of mechanical motion; the motor derates, becomes less efficient, and draws more current than it needs, but it doesn't actually draw more total current.

However, some variable-speed motors on VFDs may draw more current because the motor module speeds up the motor to make up for the voltage deficiency, static pressure, etc. ECMs also fall into this category and may draw more current if the motor module or VFD calls for it. However, in terms of simple electrical math without VFD logic, the current won't typically increase if the voltage drops, even in inductive loads.

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