Industry Related Articles

HVAC Business Challenge: How to Deal with Difficult Customers and Keep Their Business

Posted: January 15, 2019 by Zander Buel

Like any other industry, the HVAC industry gets its share of difficult customers. How do you deal with them? Equipment can break down at the most inconvenient times: late at night or during the extreme temperatures of the busy summer and winter seasons. Plus, it can be expensive to repair or replace. And sometimes, customers […]

What Is a Smart Thermostat? Here’s What You Need to Know

Posted: January 8, 2019 by Zander Buel

These days it’s all about connectivity: smartphones, smartwatches and even smart homes. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), homeowners can remotely control the operation of everything from their refrigerators to speakers to flower pots. But most start with a smart thermostat.[1] This means students in HVAC classes now will likely work with these devices […]

What Is Pipe Welding?

Posted: January 2, 2019 by Zander Buel

Pipelines are the veins of modern cities and towns. They transport drinking water, gas, oil and much, much more. Without them, keeping your home warm in the winter, cooking dinner and driving to work wouldn’t be possible. Who constructs, maintains, repairs, and replaces pipes and pipelines? Pipe welders, of course![1] Learn more about this welding […]

Green HVAC Trends to Watch in 2019

Posted: December 27, 2018 by Zander Buel

Comfort shouldn’t come at a steep cost to customers and the environment. Unfortunately, this was the case with the HVAC equipment of yore. Air conditioners and heaters would use massive amounts of electricity and release harmful refrigerants into the atmosphere. But that’s all changing now. Thanks to government programs like SNAP, customer demand and manufacturer […]

Career Comparison: HVAC/R Technician Versus Solar Photovoltaic Installer

Posted: December 18, 2018 by Zander Buel

HVAC/R and solar panel installation, maintenance and repair are both growing industries that will need trained workers in the coming years.[1][2] But which career should you choose? Comparing the training requirements, responsibilities, work environments, pay and job outlook of these two occupations could help with the decision. Weighing Your Career Options While HVAC/R techs and […]

Billing for Work: Tips for Creating an HVAC Invoice

Posted: December 11, 2018 by Zander Buel

One of the biggest parts of working as an HVAC technician is billing for HVAC services. An HVAC invoice is an itemized bill for the equipment and services you provided. But it can be much more than that: an opportunity to track HVAC system efficiency and performance, offer incentives for future repair work or even […]

Faculty Connections – Jene Dawson

Posted: December 10, 2018 by Zander Buel

Jene, 63, from Wisconsin, is an instructor at The Refrigeration School (RSI). Jene has been with RSI for a little over a year. Thanks for sharing your story, Jene. Is this your first teaching job? No, it’s not. I studied electronics at DeVry in the 1970s. After graduating, I was a telephone engineer for a […]