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HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Auteur(s): Bryan Orr
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À propos de cet audio

 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. Développement personnel Gestion et leadership Réussite Économie
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  • Building Tools & the Trade w/ Tony G. from Fieldpiece

    Building Tools & the Trade w/ Tony G. from Fieldpiece
    Mar 12 2026
    Recorded live on the third day of the AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this episode of HVAC School brings together host Bryan and longtime friend of the show Tony Gonzalez, Director of Training at Fieldpiece Instruments. The conversation kicks off with some light-hearted banter about trade show survival tips — including the classic trick of hanging around near closing time to score free gear from exhibitors who don't want to ship anything home. Tony, who spent much of the show working the Fieldpiece booth, shares what it's like to be on that side of the expo floor, while Bryan admits he stopped by the booth but somehow managed to avoid saying hello. One of the highlights of the episode is a hands-on look at Fieldpiece's brand new analog manifold gauge set — a surprise addition to their lineup. Bryan gives his first impressions live on the mic, noting the heavy-duty build quality, four-port design, dual-scale display for popular refrigerants including R-22, R-32, R-454B, and R-410A, and high-pressure ratings. The standout feature that catches Bryan off-guard is a built-in pressure marker ring — what Tony jokingly calls a "fidget spinner" — that allows techs to mark a pressure point on the gauge dial during standing pressure tests, replacing the old wax pen or Sharpie workaround. Bryan makes a compelling case for why every truck should carry a set of analog gauges as a reliable backup, especially for dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, or situations where digital probes or batteries fail. Tony shifts the conversation to something he's deeply passionate about: Fieldpiece's commitment to tackling two of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry today — low-quality workmanship in the field and the growing skills gap as experienced technicians retire. Fieldpiece has launched a formal School Partnership Program, developed after extensive conversations with trade school directors and union leaders to understand their real needs. The program offers in-person support, supplemental training materials focused on best practices, prizes for top graduates, tools for labs and classrooms, and student discounts. Tony also unveils Fieldpiece's mobile training trailer — a fully-equipped 35-foot rig with live HVAC equipment, including a variable-speed heat pump and furnace — designed to bring hands-on training directly to contractors, distributors, and schools. Bryan passionately echoes the importance of repetitive, hands-on practice, arguing that reading books or watching videos will never replace actually pulling vacuums and executing best practices over and over again. The episode wraps up with Tony sharing details about Fieldpiece's revamped rewards program, where technicians and contractors can earn points by registering products, attending events, and completing free courses on Fieldpiece University — Fieldpiece's online learning platform offering continuing education credits. Bryan encourages small contractors to leverage Fieldpiece University as the backbone of an in-house apprenticeship program without needing a big budget. Tony also teases some exciting future developments, including a new office and learning facility under construction in Heber, Utah, near Park City, a larger state-of-the-art training facility coming to Tustin, California, and a fully redesigned website expected to launch within the next couple of months. Topics Covered Trade show tips: how to score free gear at the end of the last dayTony Gonzalez's personal life updateFirst look at Fieldpiece's new analog manifold gauge setRefrigerant compatibility: R-22, R-32, R-454B, R-410A display on the new gaugesThe built-in pressure marker ring — a clever replacement for the wax pen trickWhy every HVAC truck should have a set of analog gauges as a backupUse cases for analog gauges: dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, dead batteriesFieldpiece's two-pronged approach to the HVAC industry: reducing low-quality work and closing the skills gapThe Fieldpiece School Partnership Program — resources, in-person support, student prizes, and lab toolsFieldpiece's 35-foot mobile training trailer: bringing live equipment to schools, contractors, and distributorsThe importance of hands-on, repetitive practice for trade skills — not just classroom learningFieldpiece's new and expanded training facilities in Tustin, CA, and Heber, UTThe revamped Fieldpiece Rewards Program — earning points for swag through product registration, events, and coursesFieldpiece University: free online courses with continuing education creditHow small contractors can use Fieldpiece University to build internal apprenticeship programsA shoutout to the GRIT Foundation and their shared mission in workforce developmentUpcoming redesigned fieldpiece.com websiteTony's trailer driving lessons — and a certain "learning opportunity" involving a sharp turn Learn more about Fieldpiece's School Partnership Program at https://...
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    28 min
  • Symposium - Do Inverters Suck?

    Symposium - Do Inverters Suck?
    Mar 10 2026

    Join us for this eye-opening session from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium featuring industry experts Roman Baugh, Jon Esquivel, and Adam Mufich as they expose the truth about inverter-driven HVAC systems.

    What You'll Learn:

    • Common Inverter Problems - Why these systems fail and how to prevent callbacks
    • Design Mistakes - Oversized inverters acting as expensive single-stage units
    • Dehumidification Challenges - Understanding sensible heat factors and humidity control modes
    • Building Science Integration - How envelope leakage and infiltration affect inverter performance
    • Installation Best Practices - Proper setup, commissioning, and field settings configuration
    • Troubleshooting Techniques - Using the diagnostic triangle and understanding EEV operation
    • Refrigerant Charging - Advanced methods for verifying proper charge in inverter systems
    • Climate-Specific Applications - When inverters thrive vs. when they struggle

    Key Topics Covered:

    • Why education is the biggest challenge with inverter technology
    • The difference between "smart" and "dumb" inverters
    • Dehumidification modes: overcooling vs. coil saturation control
    • How duct leakage creates a "double whammy" effect
    • Rotary vs. scroll compressor technology in inverters
    • Mini-split performance data and missing specifications
    • Variable capacity adjustments and compressor overclocking
    • ERV integration and ventilation strategies
    • The importance of building envelope testing

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

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    37 min
  • 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 min
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excellent in every way, down to earth, straight forward decent people trying to make their part of the world better by sharing their knowledge and experiences.

excellent

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