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.
Bacharach Combustion Analyzer Furnace Testing - The combustion analyzer is used to test gas and oil furnaces to make sure the combustion process is as efficient as possible. This multi-function HVAC test instrument can also be used to test spaces for carbon monoxide, test building pressure, all in addition to testing the combustion process of the furnace.
The combustion analyzer allows an HVAC technician to test the flue temperature, the amount of oxygen in the furnace flue gases, the amount of carbon monoxide in the flue gases, the amount of carbon dioxide in the flue gases, and the pressure of the flue. All these readings are necessary so the HVAC technician can make adjustments to the burner settings to ensure efficient combustion using the combustion analyzer. (more…)
HVAC Careers - So you want to become an HVAC Technician and want to know how to find a successful career? It’s not easy but here’s some help for you. First of all, you need a good foundation of the basics and it would help if you understood the different types of jobs you can find by pursuing a career in HVAC. (more…)
Air Conditioning Preventive Maintenance | HVAC Spring Cleaning - Do You Benefit from Maintenance Agreements?
Air conditioning preventive maintenance is a thorough check of the air conditioning system by a professional HVAC Technician. The technician will check the following:
What is NATE? HVAC Education NATE Certification - NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence and NATE is a certification group that oversees the training, testing, and certification of HVACR technicians throughout North American. NATE is highly respected throughout the HVACR industry and an HVAC technician who achieves NATE certification is considered very knowledgeable and skilled in the HVAC trade or HVAC certification specialty. It is a step up in heating and cooling education for HVAC Techs. (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…)
Warning!! blowers can cause injury if you do not turn the power off! Additionally, blowers that are belt-driven can be harmful to loose clothing and fingers. Be very cautious when working around moving parts such as blowers.
Air Handler Blower Motor - All air handling units have a blower located inside the air handler cabinet. The air handler blower motor has a motor that drives it. Some air handling unit blowers are direct drive and some are belt driven.
Many light commercial and residential blowers are direct drive blower motors by the motor’s shaft while many commercial air handling units are belt driven by the blower motor and some sheaves attached to the blower motor shaft and the shaft attached to the blower wheel.
Some sheaves are adjustable and some are not. If the belt is slipping always change the belt first before adjusting the sheave. Adjusting the sheave can cause the unit to produce more or less than designed airflow. Sheaves are typically set by Testing and Balancing HVAC Technicians. (more…)
This photo shows the air handler blower compartment. This is how the air handler is opened when the blower needs service or repair. The evaporator coil is on top of the blower which makes this an upflow air handling unit. The supply air ductwork will be above the AHU. Since this air handler is installed in a closet then the ductwork is installed in the ceiling and makes this an ideal installation for AC since cool air falls. (more…)
Air Conditioning Service Repair - No matter what name brand (York, Trane, Carrier, Goodman, Lennox, Rheem) of air conditioning and/or heating unit you purchase some time or the other you will need to have that air conditioning and heating equipment checked for a problem and repaired. Even if you have regular air conditioning maintenance done. While there are air conditioning and heating manufacturers that engineer quality into their air conditioning and heating equipment, that equipment is prone to breakdown simply because it is a mechanical/electrical device and will need repair sometime throughout its useful life. (more…)
HVAC Tip - Carbon monoxide detectors are important to own for those people who burn fossil fuels for heat. Carbon monoxide is a flammable, colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuel - Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Wood, Kerosene, etc. Someone suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning generally has severe headaches, nausea, and sinus problems. These symptoms generally begin with mild effects and people usually remain unaware of what the exact problems are until, sometimes, it is too late. How many cracked heat exchangers or faulty furnaces are out there that no one knows anything about except a slight headache and nausea? Don't take any chances, get your carbon monoxide detector and call your local heating and air conditioning company for a heater inspection today. Read more on this subject on the Furnace Page.
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HVAC Careers - So you want to become an HVAC Technician and want to know how to find a successful career? It’s not easy but here’s some help for you. First of all, you need a good foundation of the basics and it would help if you understood the different types of jobs you can find by pursuing a career in HVAC. 
Air Handler Blower Motor - All air handling units have a blower located inside the air handler cabinet. The air handler blower motor has a motor that drives it. Some air handling unit blowers are direct drive and some are belt driven.
This photo shows the air handler blower compartment. This is how the air handler is opened when the blower needs service or repair. The evaporator coil is on top of the blower which makes this an upflow air handling unit. The supply air ductwork will be above the AHU. Since this air handler is installed in a closet then the ductwork is installed in the ceiling and makes this an ideal installation for AC since cool air falls. 
Air Conditioning Service Repair - No matter what name brand (