The Refrigeration, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning industries (HVACR) are still growing even though they have been in existence for about 150 years. Hundreds of refrigeration uses including fresh food preservation, air-conditioning, and cryogenics should propel the industry well into the next millennium. That kind of growth sounds like a man power issue doesn’t it? So, lets discuss what it takes to be a HVACR technician.
It’s mid-January and 15 degrees outside. A fresh snow has fallen and covered all the roads and yards in your neighborhood. Thanks to your natural gas furnace, your home is a toasty 70 degrees. This is because a properly installed gas furnace has a large temperature rise that heats your home quickly and works very well on high demand days. Could it be possible that a new gas furnace will be unavailable as a home heating appliance in the coming decades? Not only is it possible, it is probable.
There is an old joke among HVAC contractors. When bidding on a replacement system for a customer, step back 100 feet from the house and hold up your hand. If three fingers will block the view of the house, install a three-ton unit. If it takes four fingers to block the view, then install a four-ton unit. That meager attempt at humor does highlight an issue that has been kicked around since the beginning of the industry. Are load calculations necessary? If so, how do you properly size a heating and air conditioning system for a house or commercial building?
JADE Learning, a nationally trusted electrical continuing education provider, now offers online CE courses for HVACR technicians in 12 new states across the U.S. with courses approved for New Jersey coming in the Fall of 2019. JADE works with each state’s board of contractors to design approved courses helping heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration technicians meet continuing education requirements for license renewal.
Back in the rural south, around 1940, power companies would mail flyers to their customers at the beginning of summer. These flyers would give tips on how to stay cool during the hottest days ahead. Some of the tips were; grow ample shade around your residence, stay inside during the hottest part of the day, use open windows for increased air circulation, and keep wet towels available to cool your forehead and neck. Homes, in those days, were designed to facilitate air movement. Large porches and arched ceilings in hallways enhanced air currents that moved freely through the structure. These conditions were the norm for homeowners before the availability of affordable air conditioning.
There are quite a few challenges to hurdle over when installing or upgrading HVAC systems for historic buildings. A major dilemma arises for HVAC technicians when you are charged with the task of providing a system that meets the needs of those occupying the building while also preserving as much […]
Commercial HVACR systems make up a large portion of a building’s energy demands and need regular maintenance to operate at peak efficiency. Even with the best care, your HVACR system can develop problems that impact air and temperature quality, increase energy consumption, or damage system components. Common concerns with commercial […]
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