HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Bryan sits down with Jeff Staub, Director of OEM Sales for Danfoss North America, to explore one of the most rapidly evolving frontiers in the HVAC and refrigeration world: thermal management for AI data centers. With nearly 30 years of industry experience spanning technical support, application engineering, and product development, Jeff brings deep expertise on how the explosive growth of AI chip technology is reshaping data center cooling architecture — and creating major new opportunities for HVAC professionals, contractors, and facility managers alike.
A central theme of the conversation is heat recovery — specifically, how the enormous amounts of heat generated by high-density GPU chips in modern data centers can be captured and repurposed rather than simply rejected into the atmosphere. Jeff explains that while heat recovery itself is not a new concept (supermarkets have used reheat coils and heat reclaim for decades), its application in AI data centers presents fresh challenges and possibilities. The heat coming off liquid-cooled server chips typically runs around 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit — useful, but not immediately at the temperature needed for most end applications like domestic hot water or space heating. Boosting that heat using heat pumps or feeding it into district energy systems, boiler pre-heat loops, vertical farms, or multifamily housing developments are among the most promising strategies being explored around the world.
Jeff highlights a significant contrast between Europe and the United States in how heat recovery is being adopted. In Europe, where district energy networks are widespread, data centers can plug directly into community heating infrastructure — and projections suggest that 80% of European data centers will incorporate heat recovery in the near future. In the US, the picture is more fragmented: while opportunities exist at universities, hospitals, urban mixed-use developments, and facilities co-located with nuclear power plants, the economics are trickier. Key sticking points include who owns the capital expenditure for heat recovery modules and heat pumps, and who ultimately benefits from the recovered heat. Bryan and Jeff discuss how innovative ownership models — with landlords, municipalities, or co-tenants sharing infrastructure — are beginning to unlock these opportunities, and how co-generation arrangements with power stations present exciting long-term potential.
The episode wraps up with highly practical guidance for HVAC contractors and facility managers looking to break into the data center space. Jeff encourages technicians not to be intimidated: the fundamentals of vapor compression, chiller systems, and fluid flow that HVAC professionals already know transfer directly to data center work. The key additions are familiarity with large centrifugal and screw compressors, variable frequency drives on pumps, glycol loop management, and central distribution unit (CDU) architectures. Bryan emphasizes that the boundary between HVAC and plumbing will continue to blur as secondary fluid pumping becomes more prevalent — and that staying curious and investing in ongoing training (through manufacturer programs like Danfoss Learning, Carrier University, and others) is the best way to ride this wave rather than get left behind. Both hosts agree: AI data centers are not going away, and the technicians who keep them cool will be indispensable.
Topics Covered
The evolution of data center cooling — from direct vapor compression on chips, to air-conditioned server rooms (CRAC units), to today's liquid cooling and chiller-loop architectures
Why AI GPU chips generate unprecedented heat densities, with individual server racks approaching 250 kW to 1 MW of heat output
What heat recovery means in the data center context: capturing hot water (90–100°F) off chip cooling loops instead of rejecting it to outdoor air
The concept of 'heat quality' — why low-temperature waste heat is abundant but difficult to use directly, and how heat pumps solve the temperature-lift challenge
Real-world heat recovery applications: district energy systems, boiler pre-heat, vertical farms, multifamily housing, hospitals, and universities
Europe vs. the US: why district energy adoption makes heat recovery far more common in European data centers, and what the US can learn
Business model challenges: who pays for heat recovery infrastructure, and how co-location, municipal incentives, and landlord ownership models can unlock value
Co-generation opportunities: feeding recovered heat back into steam turbines at co-located nuclear or power plants
How heat recovery makes heat pump technology more viable by raising the source temperature and reducing compression ratio
Danfoss's role in data center thermal management — from compressors and drives to plate heat exchangers, CDU flow control, and prepackaged heat recovery modules
Refrigerant transitions and what they mean for data center cooling (R-410A to R-454B, CO2 transcritical systems, potential two-phase refrigerant direct-to-chip cooling)
The convergence of HVAC and plumbing trades in a world of secondary fluid pumping and isolated refrigerant charges
Absorption chiller technology as a potential future use case for low-grade waste heat
Advice for contractors: how existing chiller and refrigeration skills translate to data center work, and what new competencies to build
Career and training resources: Danfoss Learning, manufacturer universities (Carrier, Trane, McQuay), and leveraging AI tools for self-education
The importance of redundancy and uptime in mission-critical data center environments — and what that means for service response expectations
 
Learn more about Danfoss at danfoss.com/learning
Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
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In this short episode, the HVAC School team members talk with Jim Bergmann (measureQuick) and Renee Tomlinson (ESCO) about the latest and greatest that they brought to their booths at the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium.
First, JD Kelly spoke with Renee about ESCO Institute's educational offerings. ESCO offers a mix of books and online training content, including new training for A3 refrigerants, a new CO2 (R-744) training manual, and the newly released second edition of System Performance. ESCO has been working with Visual 3D Academy to bring augmented reality (AR) training to the market. Beginners and advanced techs alike can find training material to benefit their careers, as ESCO offers courses on fundamentals for beginners and specialized knowledge for those with more industry experience. ESCO's HVACR Learning Network allows you to access all ESCO courses with a monthly subscription package or purchase access to individual courses, such as if you only need one or two courses of specialized training.
Then, Roman Baugh spoke with Jim Bergmann about the latest developments to measureQuick, especially as it has expanded in both breadth AND depth. The unlimited-use subscription has been a positive development that has been well-received, and Jim Bergmann's latest update in development aims to make the value even better with improvements to workflows (creating a hybrid between regular and guided workflows). Developments have also included improved support for VRF systems and all of those systems' operational considerations.
The core function of measureQuick is to bring visuals to data, and measureQuick is implementing AI to reduce user errors, such as when it comes to label-reading and ensuring that pressure-temperature data matches the system. User testing is also rigorous to ensure that the software works as intended and to minimize tech support calls for the app itself, and Jim has spent the past several months on user testing in advance of the update's rollout.
 
Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.
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Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Recorded live on the third day of the AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this episode of HVAC School brings together host Bryan and longtime friend of the show Tony Gonzalez, Director of Training at Fieldpiece Instruments. The conversation kicks off with some light-hearted banter about trade show survival tips — including the classic trick of hanging around near closing time to score free gear from exhibitors who don't want to ship anything home. Tony, who spent much of the show working the Fieldpiece booth, shares what it's like to be on that side of the expo floor, while Bryan admits he stopped by the booth but somehow managed to avoid saying hello.
One of the highlights of the episode is a hands-on look at Fieldpiece's brand new analog manifold gauge set — a surprise addition to their lineup. Bryan gives his first impressions live on the mic, noting the heavy-duty build quality, four-port design, dual-scale display for popular refrigerants including R-22, R-32, R-454B, and R-410A, and high-pressure ratings. The standout feature that catches Bryan off-guard is a built-in pressure marker ring — what Tony jokingly calls a "fidget spinner" — that allows techs to mark a pressure point on the gauge dial during standing pressure tests, replacing the old wax pen or Sharpie workaround. Bryan makes a compelling case for why every truck should carry a set of analog gauges as a reliable backup, especially for dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, or situations where digital probes or batteries fail.
Tony shifts the conversation to something he's deeply passionate about: Fieldpiece's commitment to tackling two of the biggest challenges facing the HVAC industry today — low-quality workmanship in the field and the growing skills gap as experienced technicians retire. Fieldpiece has launched a formal School Partnership Program, developed after extensive conversations with trade school directors and union leaders to understand their real needs. The program offers in-person support, supplemental training materials focused on best practices, prizes for top graduates, tools for labs and classrooms, and student discounts. Tony also unveils Fieldpiece's mobile training trailer — a fully-equipped 35-foot rig with live HVAC equipment, including a variable-speed heat pump and furnace — designed to bring hands-on training directly to contractors, distributors, and schools. Bryan passionately echoes the importance of repetitive, hands-on practice, arguing that reading books or watching videos will never replace actually pulling vacuums and executing best practices over and over again.
The episode wraps up with Tony sharing details about Fieldpiece's revamped rewards program, where technicians and contractors can earn points by registering products, attending events, and completing free courses on Fieldpiece University — Fieldpiece's online learning platform offering continuing education credits. Bryan encourages small contractors to leverage Fieldpiece University as the backbone of an in-house apprenticeship program without needing a big budget. Tony also teases some exciting future developments, including a new office and learning facility under construction in Heber, Utah, near Park City, a larger state-of-the-art training facility coming to Tustin, California, and a fully redesigned website expected to launch within the next couple of months.
Topics Covered
Trade show tips: how to score free gear at the end of the last day
Tony Gonzalez's personal life update
First look at Fieldpiece's new analog manifold gauge set
Refrigerant compatibility: R-22, R-32, R-454B, R-410A display on the new gauges
The built-in pressure marker ring — a clever replacement for the wax pen trick
Why every HVAC truck should have a set of analog gauges as a backup
Use cases for analog gauges: dirty systems, long-term standing pressure tests, dead batteries
Fieldpiece's two-pronged approach to the HVAC industry: reducing low-quality work and closing the skills gap
The Fieldpiece School Partnership Program — resources, in-person support, student prizes, and lab tools
Fieldpiece's 35-foot mobile training trailer: bringing live equipment to schools, contractors, and distributors
The importance of hands-on, repetitive practice for trade skills — not just classroom learning
Fieldpiece's new and expanded training facilities in Tustin, CA, and Heber, UT
The revamped Fieldpiece Rewards Program — earning points for swag through product registration, events, and courses
Fieldpiece University: free online courses with continuing education credit
How small contractors can use Fieldpiece University to build internal apprenticeship programs
A shoutout to the GRIT Foundation and their shared mission in workforce development
Upcoming redesigned fieldpiece.com website
Tony's trailer driving lessons — and a certain "learning opportunity" involving a sharp turn
 
Learn more about Fieldpiece's School Partnership Program at https://www.fieldpiece.com/schools/, Fieldpiece University at https://www.fieldpiece.com/fieldpiece-university/, and Fieldpiece's products at https://www.fieldpiece.com/ 
Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Join us for this eye-opening session from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium featuring industry experts Roman Baugh, Jon Esquivel, and Adam Mufich as they expose the truth about inverter-driven HVAC systems.
What You'll Learn:
Common Inverter Problems - Why these systems fail and how to prevent callbacks
Design Mistakes - Oversized inverters acting as expensive single-stage units
Dehumidification Challenges - Understanding sensible heat factors and humidity control modes
Building Science Integration - How envelope leakage and infiltration affect inverter performance
Installation Best Practices - Proper setup, commissioning, and field settings configuration
Troubleshooting Techniques - Using the diagnostic triangle and understanding EEV operation
Refrigerant Charging - Advanced methods for verifying proper charge in inverter systems
Climate-Specific Applications - When inverters thrive vs. when they struggle
Key Topics Covered:
Why education is the biggest challenge with inverter technology
The difference between "smart" and "dumb" inverters
Dehumidification modes: overcooling vs. coil saturation control
How duct leakage creates a "double whammy" effect
Rotary vs. scroll compressor technology in inverters
Mini-split performance data and missing specifications
Variable capacity adjustments and compressor overclocking
ERV integration and ventilation strategies
The importance of building envelope testing
 
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.

Recorded live on the floor at the AHR Expo 2026, this episode of the podcast brings together host Bryan and his guest Jesse, National Training Manager at NAVAC, for a candid, high-energy conversation about professional best practices in the HVAC/R trade. The two have a long-standing friendship and professional rapport that makes the discussion feel both educational and genuinely entertaining. Jesse brings a unique background to the table — from underground coal mining in West Virginia to becoming a lineman, then pivoting to HVAC through vocational school and a contractor-sponsored apprenticeship program. His path to becoming a national trainer is a testament to the value of investing in yourself and being open to learning at every stage of a career.
The core of this episode centers on refrigerant recovery and charging best practices — a topic that might sound routine but quickly reveals how many technicians, even experienced ones, are cutting corners that cost their clients and their companies money. Bryan and Jesse dig into the problems caused by unnecessarily opening sealed systems, the refrigerant lost every time a technician gauges up a system without need, and why the HVAC industry needs to shift its mindset to treat equipment more like a home refrigerator: a sealed system that should run for years without needing to be cracked open. Jesse makes a compelling case that many so-called "mysterious leaks" are actually caused by repeated unnecessary gauge hookups removing small amounts of refrigerant each time.
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the transition away from manifold gauges toward digital probes and modern recovery setups. Jesse isn't dismissive of manifolds — he acknowledges their place in the classroom and as a backup tool — but he makes a strong case that eliminating restrictions throughout the recovery and charging process is one of the single most impactful things a technician can do to improve efficiency, protect equipment, and deliver better results for customers. Topics like pulling Schrader cores, using 3/8" hoses, Rapid-Y fittings, and the importance of using a filter dryer inline with the recovery machine are all covered with practical, field-tested advice.
Bryan and Jesse also tackle some timely and emerging issues facing the industry, including the equalization behavior of R-454B blends and the growing challenge of refrigerant recovery in extreme cold climates as cold-climate heat pumps become more widespread in northern markets. These aren't hypothetical — they're problems technicians are encountering right now, and Bryan's theory about refrigerant fractionation showing up on thermal imaging cameras offers a genuinely fascinating technical angle. The episode closes with Jesse's overarching message: eliminate restrictions wherever you can, take pride in your craft, and never stop learning.
Topics Covered
Jesse's background: coal mining, lineman work, HVAC vo-tech, contractor apprenticeship, and path to becoming a national trainer
The sealed system philosophy: why unnecessarily opening refrigerant circuits causes more problems than it solves
Manifold gauges — their appropriate role in training and as a backup vs. the case for moving to digital probes
How repeated gauge hookups can introduce refrigerant loss and fake "mystery leaks" — the 3.5 oz. per hose problem
Restrictions as the enemy of efficient recovery: pulling Schrader cores, using core removal tools, and proper hose sizing
The importance of recovering liquid first and how restrictions cause flash gas that slows recovery and adds heat
Hose size trade-offs: why 3/8" hoses are the recommended sweet spot between flow rate and refrigerant retention
Using a filter dryer inline with the recovery machine as cheap insurance against acid contamination and machine damage
Why recovered refrigerant should generally NOT be reused — dirty recovery tanks, fractionation, and the limits of a single filter pass
Scales as a non-negotiable tool: weighing refrigerant in AND out, and why techs who estimate by feel are guessing
Diagnosing overcharge and undercharge situations using scale data before making repairs
Airflow first, charge second: the importance of confirming CFM before adding refrigerant to a struggling system
The R-454B equalization issue: refrigerant fractionation in new blends and Bryan's thermal imaging theory
Cold-climate heat pump recovery challenges at sub-zero temperatures and strategies for adding heat to the system
Heat pump maintenance best practices: testing defrost cycles and what happens when they haven't been checked in years
Word of mouth as the most powerful (and dangerous) form of advertising in the service industry
Recovery cylinder safety: the dangers of overfilling tanks and the 80% rule
 
Learn more about NAVAC's products and resources at https://navacglobal.com/. 
Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.