Basic Electric Circuits for HVAC - If you are new to electricity and want to learn you need to start with the fundamentals of electricity first. Included in the basics of electricity and the primary lesson in electricity is electrical safety. Electricity can be very dangerous and safety needs to be practiced. Electricity is invisible to the eye and can only be felt when touched. (more…)
HVAC Fire Safety - I’m not sure how many HVAC technicians have heard of on-the-job horror stories. Whether the job was commercial or residential. However, I am certain they have happened as I have heard of these horror stories happening to others.
Whether you have ever heard of it happening to others or even if it has happened to you it is important that we remain forever vigilant. This is absolutely true when it comes to fire safety on the job. Especially when we are constantly using fire as a part of our job.
And especially for silver soldering (brazing), soft soldering, or even when we are working on gas or oil boilers or furnaces. Here is an account of a few things that I’ve personally experienced and the lessons learned from these occurrences.
Common Sense Safety HVAC Codes - Some HVAC Installation technicians take pride in their work and make any installation job they perform look like a work of art. There are others who don’t care and want to install the unit as quickly as possible and move on down the road to the next job so they can do the same.
It really does not take much more time to do things right in the first place including reading the instruction manual that comes with every new condenser or air handler (actually all new HVAC equipment comes with instructions for installation). (more…)
Chapter Three NEC and HVAC - Chapter Three in the NEC covers Wiring Methods which includes how the wiring is supposed to run, the conduit for wiring, outlets, junctions, and switch points, and a host of other topics about the proper way to run wiring.
HVAC Technicians will be familiar with piping support as is required in the Mechanical Code and electricians must follow some of the same rules when running conduit and add support for the conduit. (more…)
HVAC Technician Tools - I can remember when I first got out of HVAC school a few years back I wanted to know what kind of basic tools I needed to begin my work as an HVAC technician. Of course, I had lofty goals and wanted to rise to the top but my expectations at the time matched my skill level. That skill level was a lot of book knowledge and not a lot of field experience.
After all, admittedly there are many lights that do not turn on in the classroom that does turn on in the field after some experience. Stress can turn some light bulbs on while others turn on easily after you see something for real the first time instead of reading about it in a book. (more…)
Guides for Residential HVAC Technicians - There are many HVAC technical guides and manuals available to help HVAC technicians hone their skills on the job and become even better and more knowledgeable HVAC technicians. We can all use improvements in everything we do in life whether it is professionally or personally and always remember one can never know everything. (more…)
Learning the Basics of HVAC - To understand air conditioning and heat pump applications you will need to study refrigeration. Both air conditioners and heat pumps use refrigeration to move heat. Air conditioners move heat outside in the summertime using the process of refrigeration. Furthermore, heat pumps move heat in both directions (to the inside in the winter and to the outside in the summer) using the principles of refrigeration. (more…)
HVACR Pipe Soldering Brazing - In HVACR there are two major types of soldering done. Soft Soldering for soldering water pipes and brazing or silver soldering for soldering refrigeration piping. There are various techniques for both types of soldering and everyone develops their own in the field but it is important to follow the basics of soldering when joining the piping together. Following the basics of soldering will ensure success and we all enjoy a successful job completed.
As always safety is first with anything. Two big considerations must be adhered to when soldering or brazing:
