Hvac School - For Techs, By Techs

In this short podcast, Bryan talks about checking the charge of a heat pump in heat mode. This skill will become more critical as ambient temperatures get cooler. The most reliable way to check and set the charge regardless of operating mode and season is to weigh the charge. This method is most practical during installation and commissioning, and proper commissioning can prevent issues with charge levels later. Weighing the charge is recommended for big repairs, like major component replacements. But in many cases, we don't need to check the charge by hooking up gauges; we can check for proper operation by taking a few line temperature readings. Before carrying out any tests or taking readings, make sure the heat pump is defrosted and that you've carried out a full visual inspection. You can carry out a full delivered capacity test in either cooling or heating mode (without the electric heat strips energized) to determine how many BTUs the system is moving. Some simpler tests will require you to compare the