In this podcast episode, Bryan, Jacob, and JD provide an in-depth look at a significant HVAC project that tested their team's ability to adapt, learn, and improve. The discussion centers on a large-scale apartment building project that presented numerous challenges in project management, team dynamics, and installation processes. What began as a chaotic and inefficient workflow ultimately transformed into a more streamlined and collaborative effort through careful analysis and strategic adjustments.

The team candidly discusses their initial struggles with project management, particularly around materials handling, piecework compensation, and team coordination. They highlight the importance of moving from an individual-focused approach to an assembly-line mentality, which dramatically improved both productivity and team morale. The podcast reveals the critical nature of communication, ownership, and consistent processes in managing large-scale construction projects.

A key theme throughout the discussion is the evolution of team culture and interpersonal dynamics. The participants emphasize that effective teamwork isn't about being friends, but about mutual respect, individual accountability, and collective goal achievement. They stress the importance of merit-based performance and creating a work environment where team members are motivated by productivity and quality rather than personal relationships or financial incentives.

Key Topics Covered:

• Project scope: New ground-up apartment building HVAC installation
• Challenges with initial project management approaches
• Transition to assembly-line production methods
• Materials handling and staging strategies
• Piecework compensation challenges and improvements
• Team dynamics and communication
• Importance of consistent processes
• Breaking down installation into specialized tasks
• Balancing speed and quality of work
• Learning from project experiences for future improvements

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 6th 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

In this short Q&A podcast episode, Bryan answers a listener-submitted question about circuit board troubleshooting: is there a quick way to learn how to check circuit boards, and if so, where are those resources?

A circuit board is a bunch of components put together on a printed circuit board (PCB). There isn't a lot of helpful universal information about circuit boards available, as they vary quite a bit by model and manufacturer. However, many of the basic components will be the same across circuit boards: microprocessors, diodes, relays, capacitors, and transformers. If you understand what these are on their own, that will help you understand what they do in circuit boards.

You mostly need to know the inputs, outputs, and sequence of operation of a circuit board to diagnose it. The sequence of operation tells you when certain things are supposed to happen, such as in an integrated furnace control (IFC); the flame rectification process is a classic example. If the flame can be proven, the operation continues; if it can't be proven, then that will cause a lockout (possibly due to improper grounding or poor placement and NOT necessarily because of the board).

A lot of issues with the board can be diagnosed if you understand the inputs and outputs (e.g., 24v signals) or observe it with your senses, such as bloated capacitors or ant nests. Becoming a master of the obvious and checking the manufacturer's literature are the top two things you can do to diagnose circuit boards.

HVAC Control Systems by Ronnie Auvil

Electricity for Refrigeration, Heating, and Air Conditioning by Russell Smith

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 6th 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