Author: clidzbarski@fieldpiece.com

HVAC wireless tool apps put data at your fingertips, consolidate customer system information and history, and ultimately, enable you to work faster and smarter. The best of the bunch – the Job Link® System app, makes you look like the pro you are with professional quotes, invoices, and service reports. Here are a few more of the biggest reasons to go digital.

Built-in Data Integrity

A wireless app connects to all your wireless tools across a job site – from digital manifolds and psychrometers, to pipe clamps and manometer probes. You then have a full-spectrum view of system performance throughout a service call. Additionally, with wireless probes, you can save valuable time by placing individual probes exactly where you need them and not spend time checking individual measurements and moving tools from one spot to another. The Job Link app also reduces your need to scribble calculations on a random scrap of paper, as the system calculates critical values and helps you to diagnose issues if the numbers don’t align with typical data. Also, measurements and calculations may be recorded by the app directly from the tools, offering a higher level of precision, efficiency, and service integrity.

 

Ditch the Clipboard and Pen

Never have that mad search for a pen in your service truck again. Checklists, customer files, and photos previously kept on a clipboard or filed in an office folder are now stored in the cloud and accessible directly through the app. Every tech has complete access to account history wherever they are.

Additionally, Job Link tracks jobs, helps organize and assign teams, and generates instant customer reports on-site. Its unique geolocation tagging functionality also allows a tech to drop a pin on a location and add system info. That way, future job planning includes all the details of previous service calls.

Job Site Quoting and Invoicing

The Job Link System also integrates with QuickBooks and creates and sends custom invoices with full job details. Right away, customers have a bird’s-eye view of the work that was done and can authorize payment. The app also helps develop quotes for work to be done eliminating paperwork for you and your customer.

Live Look-ins for Diagnostic Help 

Have you ever wished a master tech could teleport to your job site? If you need a second set of eyes on the data you’re seeing, the Job Link app will instantly connect to another tech or the office to help diagnose a problem. Through remote access, everyone sees the system measurements in real-time, making diagnosing problems easier and reducing call-backs. This indispensable training and support tool helps techs benefit from the support of their teams, enabling quicker diagnostics and avoiding potential delays.

Go wireless today to streamline your service calls and make the Fieldpiece Job Link System app part of your toolkit. Explore all its unique features: www.fieldpiece.com/product-category/job-link-system/.

As HVACR professionals, we all play a role in combating climate change. One important way is to safely recover, recycle and reclaim all refrigerant from systems. How much of an impact will we have by doing this? One pound of leaked HFC has the same impact on the atmosphere as thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide. While it may be heating season now, the proliferation of heat pump installations to both heat and cool interiors highlights the critical importance of the “three R’s” year-round. 

 

What the A1 Phaseout and A2L Adoption Means for You 

Because commonly used refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, the EPA is phasing out refrigerants with a high global warming potential (GWP) in most new equipment starting January 1, 2025. These discontinued A1 refrigerants include R134a, R404A and R410A. Your diligence in recovering, recycling, and reclaiming these refrigerants not only limits their release into the atmosphere but it helps ensure an adequate supply of reclaimed refrigerants to service the installed base of A1 systems. The production phase down of today’s major refrigerants will inevitably increase charging costs, but full participation in recycling and reclaiming will help mitigate the rise in costs – saving your customers money.   

 

The phase down of A1 refrigerants is leading to the adoption of A2L refrigerants, such as R-32 and R454B, which have a low toxicity and low GWP. A2L refrigerants are mildly flammable compared to A1’s, however they are still difficult to ignite with a relatively low energy release and low flame propagation speed. When installing or servicing an A2L system, it is important to ensure that your service tool and test equipment is A2L compatible prior to handling A2L refrigerants. 

 

How to Safely Recover Refrigerant  

Before handling refrigerant, be sure to wear the appropriate PPE, such as gloves, safety glasses, and impermeable clothing. Liquid refrigerants can cause frostbite so it’s paramount to avoid skin contact.  

 

When recovering refrigerant, you will want to identify the refrigerant type on the compressor unit and ideally select your recovery cylinder to match for recycling purposes. Find the cylinder capacity on the tank and calculate the maximum fill weight, which should be 80% of the total capacity for safety. Weigh your initial cylinder weight on a refrigerant scale and determine how much refrigerant can be added to the tank from the system. The Fieldpiece SR47 refrigerant scale allows you to monitor both the total tank weight and the added refrigerant weight during the recovery process.  

 

For the fastest recovery, enlist the best-in-class, A2L compatible, Fieldpiece MR45 recovery machine. The variable DC motor adjusts performance to handle liquid and runs twice as fast on vapor, significantly speeding up the recovery process. Read the MR45: Refrigerant Best Practices blog to learn more tips for a smooth recovery. For recycling and reclaiming purposes, remember to document your final recovered refrigerant weight. 

 

Recycled vs. Reclaimed Refrigerant 

You may use recycled refrigerant, meaning used refrigerant that has undergone a basic, on-site cleaning process with certified equipment, only on the same job site. Note that recycled refrigerant cannot be stored on-site for more than 12 months. There are many regulations that HVAC technicians must follow when recycling refrigerants including Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Make sure your team stays current on training and certification. Typically, your local HVAC supply house will accept drop offs of recovered refrigerant cylinders and submit them to a certified reclaimer. 

 

Refrigerant reprocessed by a certified reclaimer to the industry standard AHRI 700 is considered reclaimed refrigerant. A reclaimer will clean the refrigerant and remove any moisture or toxic particles. They’ll also separate any oil or additives from the refrigerant and dispose of contaminants. Reprocessed refrigerants meet or exceed purity standards for new refrigerant gases and reprocessing will become increasingly more important as the new production of A1 refrigerants is phased down.  

 

The first step to make sure we’re protecting and preserving our planet lies with you, HVACR pros. Recovering refrigerant lies squarely in your hands and we can work together to ensure the proper equipment is used and processes are followed to ensure a steady supply of recycled and reclaimed refrigerant is readily available for the years to come.  

 

The purpose of combustion analysis is to help HVAC technicians ensure fuel-fired heating appliances are running safely and efficiently. Long gone are the days of checking efficiency by the color and shape of the flame. Combustion analyzers measure and calculate a range of variables such as flue temperature, draft pressure, and the byproducts of combustion like oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO). To tap into the full power of your combustion analyzer, here are a few tips and best practices to keep in mind this heating season.

Location, Location, Location

Combustion analysis is all about location. Key measurements are taken in the flue gas after the heat exchanger and prior to any dilution air entering the flue. Typically, the ideal location to measure combustion byproducts, such as CO, is about a foot above the furnace box and at least a foot away from any elbow. Using an existing combustion test access fitting is preferred over drilling into the flue. If an access location must be drilled, reseal the hole following testing with a silicone plug for example, to ensure exhaust gases are not vented into the surrounding space. Silicone is resistant to heat and moisture in the flue, providing a sure seal. When you insert the probe, use a cone lock to hold the sampling tip in the center of flue, at the hottest point.

Warm-up

The best practice is to warm up and insert the combustion analyzer probe prior to firing up the furnace. All measurements should be monitored at start-up, after a system has stabilized and after light out (unit turned off). The analyzer should be turned on and allowed to warm up in fresh air, in order to zero the ambient CO sensor. Avoid starting the analyzer near the exhaust pipe of a service van, or in the furnace room. After the start-up tests, it’s also important to let the furnace run for a few minutes to stabilize before measuring combustion performance.

Monitoring Carbon Monoxide (CO)

During the installation or service of a heating appliance, the fuel and airflow are adjusted to maximize combustion efficiency and safety.  If the adjustments allow too much fuel or too much oxygen into the reaction, the imbalance will lead to incomplete combustion. When this happens, it can create a dangerous amount of CO. While you should always defer to the furnace manufacturer’s recommendations and local regulations, what follows are a few key tips when monitoring CO levels.

After the burners light, the CO should rise and fall and the O2 should slowly fall, and both should stabilize within a few minutes. If the CO or O2 levels spike suddenly after the blower starts on a warm air furnace, it is a sign the heat exchanger is compromised in some way. If the CO sensor oversaturates, immediately bring the probe into fresh air, and let the analyzer pump run until the CO displayed level is at or near zero.

Combustion Analyzer Maintenance

To keep your combustion analyzer ready for every heating season job, there are a few recommended maintenance tips. Always drain the analyzer water trap (if applicable) and check the dust filter regularly. When testing is complete, run the pump until CO, O2 and temperature readings return to ambient, removing any residuals from the sensors and analyzer. Also, when you’re powering the combustion analyzer down, ensure the probe has cooled to ambient temperature before inserting it into the carrying case. And finally, it is recommended that sensors be calibrated annually or as required by local regulations.

Let Your Combustion Analyzer Do the Work

A combustion analyzer is a powerful tool to help you keep fuel-fired heating appliances running efficiently and safely. Therefore, the biggest tip is that combustion analysis should be the first and last thing completed during any heating appliance repair. The outlined tips not only help ensure peak performance, but they help you prioritize safety and the use of best practices in your analysis procedures.

Before you commission or service a fuel-fired furnace this heating season, make sure your combustion analyzer is up to the challenge. Measuring heating system emissions, stack temperature, and draft pressure accurately and effectively are key requirements of combustion analysis and accomplishing these tasks quickly can be a game changer on a busy schedule. We’ve outlined some must-haves for your combustion analyzer so you can cruise through the winter. 

 

Go Rugged 

The Fieldpiece CAT85 Combustion Analyzer HC stands out from the competition for a few simple reasons. For starters, it’s tough and easy to use. After all, it’s from Fieldpiece. The analyzer has a strong magnet for hands-free operation and a rubberized casing for high durability. The large, high-contrast touchscreen is easy to see anywhere, including those dark crawlspaces.  

 

Stay Connected 

The CAT85 also seamlessly connects to the Job Link® System App and allows you to view trends, draft pressure and customer details at the swipe of a fingertip. Easily create a combustion analysis report as verification that all safety parameters are within compliance. Pairing with the Job Link® System App allows you to generate and send a report to your customer, and the CAT85 pairs to an optional Wireless Thermal Printer (CATPR) for a quick printout.  

 

No More Water Traps 

The innovations on the CAT85 don’t stop there. The flue probe features the unique HydroCycle™ Pump that automatically separates and returns accumulated water to the flue prior to reaching the sensors. This means no time wasted monitoring and draining a water trap, and ultimately, time saved on every job you tackle throughout heating season.  

 

Extend Sensor Life  

Another patent-pending feature, SensorVault™ technology, is designed to extend sensor life by sealing off the sensors from the air when not in use. Backed by a 4-year warranty, the field-replaceable sensors maximize your uptime and minimize your cost of ownership.  Fieldpiece also offers an affordable and fast turnaround system calibration and preventive maintenance program when a certificate of calibration is required.  

 

Built-in, Dual-Port Manometer 

The CAT85 combustion analyzer also comes with a built-in, dual-port manometer so you have one less tool to carry. You can measure gas pressure and static pressure, allowing you to view the effects of any adjustments made to the heating system. 

 

Eliminate Guesswork  

While combustion analysis measurements and calculations should be compared to the heating appliance manufacturer’s recommendations to verify compliance and optimal performance, legwork is greatly simplified with the CAT85. Based on the system selected, reference ranges for temperature, O2, CO and CO air free provide visual cues to indicate whether the values are in (green) or out (yellow) of generally accepted ranges. So easy.  

 

Pick up a CAT85 Today 

We created this analyzer to help you provide exceptional service, ensure safety, and optimize the performance of heating systems for all your customers. If you want to work smarter and faster, add a Fieldpiece CAT85 Combustion Analyzer HC to your bag; it’s sure to be your go-to tool throughout heating season.