Episode 199: Hands-On Isn’t Enough: Rethinking HVAC Training

<p>What actually makes great HVAC training?</p><p><br></p><p>It isn&#39;t memorizing a PowerPoint, following a checklist, or teaching technicians to become parts changers. Great training should teach technicians how to THINK, troubleshoot, ask questions, find reliable information, and understand why a system is doing what it&#39;s doing.</p><p><br></p><p>This week on Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat sits down with HVACR trainer, consultant, researcher, and longtime technician Eric Kaiser for a conversation focused heavily on HVAC training, technician development, building performance, troubleshooting, and the future of the skilled trades.</p><p><br></p><p>Eric started in the HVAC trade more than 20 years ago as a residential service technician. Early in his career, training wasn&#39;t optional. Before working independently on fuel-fired equipment, he went through an intensive combustion analysis class. That emphasis on education helped develop something that would shape his entire career: curiosity.</p><p><br></p><p>That curiosity took Eric from residential service into commercial and industrial HVACR, distributor technical support, industry engagement, HVAC education, consulting, research, building science, and building performance.</p><p><br></p><p>A major focus of this conversation is HOW we train technicians.</p><p><br></p><p>Hands-on training is important, but sometimes we need &quot;brains on&quot; training too.</p><p><br></p><p>Are we teaching technicians how to diagnose a system, or just giving them procedures to follow? Can they understand airflow, refrigeration, combustion, electrical systems, and building performance well enough to recognize when something doesn&#39;t make sense?</p><p><br></p><p>More importantly, are we teaching technicians how to find the answer?</p><p><br></p><p>Pat and Eric discuss combustion analysis, airflow, air balancing, belts and sheaves, pulley alignment, lubrication, makeup air, refrigeration, HVAC maintenance, building science, indoor air quality, human comfort, troubleshooting, technical support, and why experienced technicians should never stop learning.</p><p><br></p><p>They also tackle one of the biggest challenges facing today&#39;s HVACR technician: information.</p><p><br></p><p>Technicians now have YouTube, social media, forums, manufacturer documentation, technical support, Google, online training, and artificial intelligence at their fingertips. But having more information doesn&#39;t mean that informatio