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HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

The PATH to High Performance HVAC w/ David Richardson

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Bryan Orr

Training, Careers, Airconditioning, Self-improvement, Hvac, Business, Education, Refrigeration, Heating, Ac, Apprenticeship

4.8985 Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this engaging session, David Richardson breaks down the concept of high-performance HVAC, offering a clear roadmap for industry professionals looking to elevate their craft. Richardson argues that the HVAC industry has long been focused on equipment rather than complete systems, leading to widespread inefficiencies. The average system delivers only about 57% of its rated capacity into buildings, while even code-approved systems barely reach 63%. By implementing high-performance HVAC principles, contractors can achieve up to 88% efficiency while improving safety, health, comfort, and energy performance.

Richardson presents a practical framework using the acronym "PATH" - Pressure, Airflow, Temperature, and Heat (BTUs) - as a step-by-step approach to implementing high-performance HVAC. He emphasizes starting with static pressure testing, which he calls "the foundation of airflow" and one of the most misunderstood principles in the industry. Just as doctors check blood pressure as a vital sign during every visit, Richardson advocates for measuring static pressure on every call, or at minimum, when encountering "red flag" issues like repeated equipment failures. From there, professionals can progress to measuring airflow, temperature, and finally BTU delivery to create complete system diagnostics.

The presentation offers a journey-based approach, acknowledging that implementation takes time and requires breaking old habits. Richardson introduces the "one degree principle," suggesting that change happens incrementally, with small improvements eventually leading to breakthrough moments. He urges contractors to apply this methodology not just to equipment, but to extend testing into duct systems and even the building envelope. By making these changes visible through measurement, contractors can prove value to themselves, their teams, and ultimately their customers, transforming the way HVAC work is perceived and delivered.

Key Topics Covered:

  • The definition of high-performance HVAC: getting back to craftsmanship, challenging the status quo, and confirming work through measurement
  • The industry problem: focusing on equipment instead of complete systems, resulting in just 57% of rated BTU capacity reaching conditioned spaces
  • The PATH framework: Pressure, Airflow, Temperature, and Heat as building blocks for system diagnostics
  • How to implement static pressure testing as the foundation for airflow diagnostics
  • The importance of measuring at both equipment and register/grille locations
  • Breaking down implementation into three areas: equipment, ducts, and building envelope
  • STEPS approach: Show, Teach, Equip, Promote, with application to yourself, your team, and your customers
  • The "one degree principle" for making incremental changes that lead to breakthrough results
  • Common obstacles to implementation and how to overcome resistance to change
  • How measurements make your work transparent and lead to better performance

 

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode of the HVAC School podcast is brought to you by our partners.

0:10.0

Are you in Florida and interested in getting a fresh start with a skilled trades career?

0:14.8

Calos is hiring all sorts of tradespeople.

0:17.4

It will be holding a job fair on Saturday, May 10th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

0:22.4

We're looking to fill several positions for commercial HVAC, electrical, pipe fitting, controls,

0:28.0

construction, carpentry, welding, and more. You can see some of the positions we're already

0:33.5

hiring for at kalosflorda.com slash current jobs.

0:38.5

Follow Calo's services on Instagram,

0:40.4

Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the job fair.

0:43.7

Or you can text 352-2437099 at any time to learn more.

0:49.9

We'd love to have you join Team Calos and hope to see you at the Job Fair in May.

0:55.0

Refrigeration Technologies and their Viper Aerosol Coil Cleaner for cadencers and evaporators.

1:02.0

If you don't know, the Viper Aerosol cleaner is a foaming cleaner that you can spray into a coil with its really powerful pin spray.

1:10.0

It has a strong degreasing capability in a convenient package.

1:14.6

It's safe to use with rinsing or no rinse, so there's zero need to bring a bulky pump

1:19.9

sprayer into the house for an evaporator coil cleaning or in many refrigeration applications.

1:25.3

And like we mentioned, it works on our evaporators and condensers.

1:28.5

Find out more at refrigetech.com.

1:31.8

Field piece in the Cat 85 Combustion Analyzer.

1:35.4

Cat 85 measures everything you need to keep your customer safe, O2, CO, CO2, and draft pressure.

1:42.5

It comes with a built-in monometer, so you have one less tool to carry

1:45.6

and can knock out static and gas pressure readings in one fell swoop. The real interesting

...

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