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Today's podcast is about a neat topic that we haven't talked about very much: glycol skids for market refrigeration. Max Johnson, one of the commercial refrigeration startup techs at Kalos Services, has worked on many of these and joined us to explain what they are and how they work. You can learn more about glycol skids and catch all of Max's practical field tips for working on them in the full episode, which you can listen to on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/glycol-skids-for-market-refrigeration-w-max-johnson/.

Elliot here is describing the pigtail method for wiring in surge protectors, which allows you to connect just one wire to each terminal instead of double lugging. Our latest video is about how to wire a surge protector to a disconnect that does NOT have terminals rated for double lugs, plus some extra electrical code and safety considerations. You can watch it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/how-to-wire-a-surge-protector-to-a-disconnect-pigtails-phasing-tape/.

We sometimes need to get creative when faced with a new or unique install. We can save ourselves a lot of heartache if we think through the physics of the install first. Things like water flow in the condensate assembly and wiring all have their natural behaviors and site limitations we need to be aware of. We recently learned this lesson the hard way with a double-trapped drain and a float switch mistake.

The 8th Annual HVACR Symposium brings together the most dedicated technicians, business owners, and educators in the industry. We’re proud to partner with industry-leading brands like NAVAC, TruTech Tools, Refrigeration Technologies, Fieldpiece, measureQuick, Inficon, ACCA, Santa Fe, and Retrotec to make this event happen. Visit hvacrschool.com/symposium to review our official sponsor packet and lock in your spot today!

When we talk about filters with customers, the filters themselves can be great communication tools. We can use them to explain system performance and indoor environmental benefits. Chris Howells from AprilAire recently joined the podcast to talk all about next-gen filtration and how the filtration part of the industry is evolving. The full episode also covers how we think about pressure drops, bypass prevention, and other directly applicable service considerations. You can listen to it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/next-gen-filtration-pressure-drop-merv-16-and-bypass-prevention-w-chris-howells/.

Jesus came across a poorly built condensate drain on a recent call and decided to rebuild it by following some classic wisdom: RTFM! Knowing your static pressure and following the manual is always better than using rules of thumb. In our latest video, Jesus shows his process for rebuilding a commercial drain on a 10-ton unit the right way, including the trap and vent and getting the slope right. You can watch the full video at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/commercial-condensate-drain-leaking-trap-vent-and-slope-fix/.

One of our top practices for callback prevention is to take ALL the panels off. That includes filter racks. We want to be able to see everything that could contribute to a callback in the weeks after the service procedure. Our latest video is about our 5-step callback prevention checklist, and it includes practices like taking off all panels and cleaning every drain line. You can watch it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/why-we-clean-every-drain-line-a-5-step-callback-prevention-checklist/.

Good CO alarms save lives. Questionable ones pose severe risks to public health and safety. Our latest podcast with Bill Spohn from TruTech Tools is all about questionable CO alarms, including ones with contradictory claims or unknown manufacturers. You can listen to it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/questionable-co-alarms-w-bill-spohn/.

Thorough conversations with customers are productive for long-term satisfaction. They also often make customers impatient or uncomfortable in the moment. A proposal system that documents everything about a system and lets a customer accept or decline your offerings is a great way to be thorough and build that satisfaction without those awkward conversations. Our latest video is all about how to give better HVAC customer service and earn 5-star reviews. You can watch it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/earn-5-star-reviews-with-better-hvac-customer-service/.

Knowing how to replace a failed condenser fan motor is a must for any service tech. Our Kalos service technician, Jesus, shows how it's done; including comparing the old and new motor, swapping them out, and wiring the new one up.

The symposium high never dies Don't forget to purchase your tickets today before it's too late at hvacrschool.com/symposium

We've recently found that when there is a short interruption to power, the Carrier Infinity control may not trigger a reboot cycle. Here, Elliot explains what we've seen in the field and how we've been able to solve some of these issues, such as with a delay on make (DOM) timer. You can watch the full video about technical solutions for Infinity controllers on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/technical-solutions-for-infinity-controllers/.

Ever wanted to see exactly what's inside a Schrader valve and how the core depressor on a service hose works? Here's a full cutaway so you can see it all.

Along with addressing airflow issues at the unit, balancing can be a powerful method to help customers solve their airflow problems. But installing adjustable dampers isn't always practical. When we consider feasible options, we have to understand what homeowners really want to help them pick the best realistic option for their comfort needs. Alex Meaney's 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium session, titled "Airflow Serenity," is now on the podcast. You can learn more about airflow testing, diagnostics, and solutions by listening to his full session at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/airflow-serenity-w-alex-meaney/.

Long wire runs on communicating systems are susceptible to all sorts of problems, especially after transient events. Shielded cable, when used correctly, can help stop several of those communication errors. And don't forget to make good, tight connections.

We teamed up with Steve Rogers from TEC for our latest 3D-animated video on blower door testing. This test reveals how leaky a home is and gives valuable insight into the building's role in comfort issues. You can watch the video at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/blower-door-test-explained-in-3d/ to learn about what blower door tests do and how to conduct them.

Got a frozen case? Ditch the torch or the heat gun. Hot water is one of the best ways to thaw a frozen walk-in evaporator, and there should have plenty of it in commercial facilities. Our latest video is a class with our techs on how to thaw and then diagnose frozen commercial walk-in evaporator coils. You can watch the full class at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/how-to-thaw-and-diagnose-a-frozen-walk-in-evaporator/.

When a customer sets the thermostat really low when outdoor temperatures are high, the capacity of their HVAC system will DECREASE due to an INCREASE in the compression ratio. You can see this in action when you use measureQuick. The app calculates the capacity based on tonnage and the data collected from your tools. Ty's latest class is about how you can use measureQuick to collect better data, which leads to better diagnostics. You can watch it at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/measurequick-better-data-better-diagnostics-w-ty-branaman/.

We recently had a livestream all about advanced refrigerant recovery with Jim Bergmann and Jesse and Zane Stewart from NAVAC. We had some lively debates and touched on some unique applications, and now it's on the podcast. You can listen to the full episode and learn more about fast, safe refrigerant recovery at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/advanced-refrigerant-recovery-best-practices-for-diverse-systems-and-environments/.

Bacterial zoogloea is a huge problem for drains in our market, but we can fight it by installing copper drains (or by putting copper in the drain pan). Copper has antibacterial properties, making it a useful material to help us prevent condensate drain clogs. Our latest video is about recurring drain issues we've recently seen in the field and how we've been thinking through them. You can watch it at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/recurring-drain-issues-w-bryan-orr/.

MERV ratings do NOT necessarily indicate how restrictive a filter is! We need to base our filtration decisions on actual resistance data and pressure measurements, not just a label. You can learn more about Filtrete filters' performance, including efficacy and initial resistance, at https://www.hvacrschool.com/filtrete.

You've seen our 9-panels before. Now, you can have them in your classroom! These posters show how to measure gas pressure, braze in a condenser, do a one-hose evacuation, and use a manufacturer fan table. And they come with links to more resources and tool lists! These are perfect for HVAC/R educators who want to give their students a solid start. Get yours today for FREE at https://trutechtools.com/ttt-educational-poster-pack/.

The Refrigeration Technologies team recently tried something new with their product development: working directly with field technicians to make their lives easier in the field. Through their new "lab" initiative, they've developed a product called "Easy Dose" to make it easier to apply their Pan & Drain Treatment consistently in the field. You can learn more about this new development by Refrigeration Technologies and their commitment to making products for techs, by techs in our podcast with Mike Pastorello and Ashley Lynds. Listen to it now at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/invented-for-techs-by-techs-inside-refrigeration-technologies-the-lab/.

Multi-position service valves are a LOT different from your typical Schrader valves! These valves have a dual-seating design and come with a few unique design and service considerations. Among these is the packing nut, which you must be careful with. Our latest 3D video takes a look at how these valves work, and it even gets into a few specific types: King and Queen valves. You can watch it on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/how-multi-position-service-valves-work-3d/.

AprilAire and Santa Fe sent Elise one of their Healthy Air Monitors! This air quality monitor has a bunch of neat features, including visual indicators and app integration. It tracks several vital IAQ factors and can show you exactly when humidity, CO2, fumes, and particulate levels peak. Click on the link to watch the full video on our website: https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/is-your-homes-air-quality-bad-i-tested-mine-for-4-days/.

You heard that right! Listen to the industry geniuses and head on over to hvacrschool.com/symposium to get your ticket for the 8th Annual HVACR Symposium today! Plus, if you haven't yet, you still have some time to watch the previous year's recorded sessions on the website.

400 CFM per ton is a rule of thumb you've all probably heard of before. But if you move from Miami to Vegas, you must understand that the air is very different in both places, and that will have an impact on system airflow. We really need to understand the properties of the air we're moving and use that information wisely. Our latest podcast with Ty tackles that very question: Is 400 CFM per ton always right? You can listen to our perspective on our website at https://www.hvacrschool.com/podcasts/is-400-cfm-per-ton-always-right-w-ty/.

Airflow restrictions have different effects on different blower motor types. We need to understand the differences between PSC motors and the different ECM types (because there's variation between those as well). You can watch Ty's most recent class about external static pressure, airflow, and delta T at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/hvac-diagnostics-external-static-pressure-esp-airflow-delta-t/.

We can eliminate a HUGE chunk of callbacks by addressing drains on every call, whether that means cleaning it ourselves as part of a service agreement or quoting it and letting the customer accept or decline it in writing. Bert's latest video is about how to stop callbacks for good with 5 simple steps, and drains are just one part of it. You can watch it at https://www.hvacrschool.com/videos/how-to-stop-hvac-callbacks-for-good-5-simple-steps-w-bert/.

Don't be that guy. Get your tickets to the 8th Annual HVACR Training Symposium before you forget! Link to purchase and learn more: https://www.hvacrschool.com/events/8th-annual-hvac-r-training-symposium/