The Right Tools For The Job

  June 1, 2015      Jeff Rosenblum

If you have been following along in the previous Tech Tips, we have talked about testing and diagnosing, but what do you need in your tool belt to perform these tests? With today’s high efficiency furnaces and air conditioners, you need more than a big screwdriver and hammer to get the job done. Newer equipment requires some finesse.

When installing an air conditioner or heat pump, you must pull a vacuum to remove any moisture. Simply running a vacuum pump for 45 minutes will not work; you must use a micron gauge. This will verify that you have reached an optimum vacuum level so that the system is properly dehydrated. A digital gauge set makes the charging process a snap. When adding refrigerant, a digital scale is needed to make sure you add the right amount.

How about once the system is running? In order to make sure it is cooling correctly, you need to know the wet bulb temperature in and out of the evaporator coil. This will require a digital psychomotor. So now that the system is cooling, it is now necessary to make sure all that nice new ductwork delivers the cool air the system is producing. The right tool to grab would be a dual input digital manometer kit, as it comes with everything you will need. Using this tool will tell you your static pressure, and it can also be used to test pressure switches and gas pressure. A great tool to pair with this would be a mini vane air flow meter to verify your CFM.

Having these tools in your arsenal will make your installs perform correctly and will make any problems easier to diagnose. If you need any help in choosing the right tool for the job, or how to make the tool work for you, feel free to call the Technical Services Department at 330-434-5194.

Jeff Rosenblum 
Technical Support
16 Years Industry Experience
Cell (330) 962-2491
[email protected]