In this comprehensive training session from the symposium, Tony Gonzalez, Training Director at Fieldpiece, delivers an engaging and practical guide to combustion analysis for HVAC technicians. With 25 years of experience at Fieldpiece—from warehouse worker to training director—Tony brings both technical expertise and real-world application to this 50-minute interactive session focused on the company's CAT 85 combustion analyzer.

Tony emphasizes that combustion analysis serves four critical purposes: safety, efficiency, equipment specification verification, and liability protection. He makes a compelling business case for investing in combustion analyzers, noting that preventing just two callbacks or one liability lawsuit can pay for the equipment ten times over. The training walks attendees through the complete process, from properly warming up the analyzer in fresh air (allowing sensors to calibrate to ambient oxygen and zero carbon monoxide) to generating professional PDF reports that can be shared with customers or integrated into work order management systems like ServiceTitan.

The session provides detailed guidance on interpreting key measurements, including stack temperature, oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide levels, and draft pressure. Using design parameters from the National Comfort Institute, Tony demonstrates how to diagnose issues by comparing actual readings against acceptable ranges for different furnace types (atmospheric, 80% induced fan, and 90+ percent condensing). He walks through practical troubleshooting scenarios, showing how measurements like high oxygen combined with low stack temperature can point to specific problems like low gas pressure that technicians can then verify and correct.

Throughout the presentation, Tony emphasizes proper technique and best practices, from creating test ports at least 12 inches above the inducer fan to the importance of plugging test ports after completion. He also highlights innovative features of Fieldpiece's analyzers, including the hydro cycle pump that eliminates traditional water traps, sensor vault technology that extends sensor life to four years, and built-in wireless connectivity allowing technicians to view measurements on their mobile devices through the Job Link app.

Topics Covered:

• Why perform combustion analysis: Safety verification, efficiency optimization, OEM specification compliance, and liability protection
• Business benefits: Reducing callbacks, improving OEM relationships, enhancing professional image, and protecting against lawsuits
• Proper startup procedure: Warming up analyzers in fresh air for accurate oxygen and CO sensor calibration
• Ambient CO testing: Using combustion analyzers vs. dedicated walk-around detectors for carbon monoxide detection in living spaces
• Test port installation: Proper placement at least 12 inches above inducer fans and away from 90-degree elbows
• Key measurements explained: Stack temperature, oxygen percentage, CO PPM, CO air-free, draft pressure, and efficiency calculations
• Equipment type selection: Choosing correct settings for atmospheric, 80% induced fan, or 90+ percent condensing furnaces
• Diagnostic interpretation: Using National Comfort Institute parameters to identify issues like excess combustion air or low gas pressure
• Advanced features: Built-in dual port manometer for gas and static pressure, wireless Job Link app connectivity, and hydro cycle pump technology
• Report generation: Creating professional PDF reports with company branding for customer documentation and CYA protection
• Maintenance tips: Checking particle filters, understanding sensor vault technology, and the importance of annual calibration
• Sensor longevity: Four-year sensor life warranty and field-replaceable sensors without sending equipment for service

 

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