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Bob and Tim have just repaired a leak on a 10-ton commercial air conditioning system and are ready to charge the unit. The system has a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) for the evaporator.

To keep their units operating at peak efficiency, homeowners are encouraged to schedule regular system maintenance. However, there are a number of problems with this approach. As a result, companies are developing hardware/software products to provide a means for monitoring and maintaining optimum performance of residential HVAC units.

Your role in this month’s troubleshooting situation is providing a second opinion on a failed compressor diagnosis. The customer’s complaint is that the unit isn’t cooling properly — the equipment is a heat pump package unit that is just past the warranty period for the compressor.

Welding fumes aren’t good to breath, and all regulatory agencies agree that welding fumes should be directed away from the welder’s breathing zone when local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is being used. While all fumes are bad, some fumes are recognized as more hazardous than others. One such fume is hexavalent chromium, which is produced when welding stainless steel and other materials containing chromium.

Whether you focus on HVAC, plumbing, or another contracting specialty, you got into the contracting business because you wanted to be your own boss and love what you do. If you lose focus, worry about accountants, and stop thinking about what you are good at, you can fail. Adding effective habits will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.

Littledave has achieved the position of coil shop supervisor, making her the first female at RAE Corp. to hold this title, with manufacturing being a traditionally male-dominated industry. She brought her sales knowledge back to the production department and utilized it to optimize operations. In less than 10 years, Littledave has climbed from soldering coils to supervising approximately 100 employees that build the coils for all the divisions of the company.

Bob and Tim just arrived at the house of a new customer. The customer explained to them that he just started up his air conditioner for the first time this spring. There was a warm spell, and the system didn’t work. As a matter of fact, it didn’t cool — the outdoor unit did not run at all. Bob explained to the customer that they would get started looking at the system and figure out what was going on.