Field Guides

HVAC Diagnostic Field Guides

Written by technicians for technicians. Systematic diagnosis for the calls that matter — offline, in the field, when it counts.

Heating

Gas Furnace Pressure Switch Fault: How to Diagnose It the Right Way

Pressure switch faults are the #1 misdiagnosed furnace call. Systematic diagnosis — inducer motor to condensate drain — before condemning any part.

March 20267 min read
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Heat Pumps

Heat Pump Not Heating in Cold Weather: A Field Technician's Diagnosis Guide

Reversing valve diagnosis, defrost cycle faults, low charge in heating mode, and auxiliary heat sequencing — step by step.

Coming soon8 min read
Mini-Splits

Mini-Split Error Codes: A Technician's Guide to Reading and Diagnosing Them

Mitsubishi, Daikin, Gree, LG, Pioneer — every brand uses different code systems. What codes mean and how to find what applies.

Coming soon7 min read
Refrigerant

Superheat and Subcooling: How to Calculate Target Values and Diagnose Refrigerant Charge

Target values matter more than actual readings. Fixed orifice vs TXV systems, calculating targets, and what abnormal readings indicate.

Coming soon8 min read
Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heater Fault Codes: Navien and Rinnai Diagnostic Guide

Navien E003, E012, E016 and Rinnai error codes explained. Ignition failures, flame loss, and venting faults on the two most common brands.

Coming soon7 min read
Airflow

How to Measure and Diagnose HVAC Static Pressure Problems

High static pressure is the most under-diagnosed problem in residential HVAC. How to measure TESP, interpret results, and find the root cause.

Coming soon7 min read
Cooling

HVAC Compressor Diagnosis: How to Test a Compressor Before Condemning It

Compressor replacement is expensive. Every test to run before condemning — capacitor, winding tests, hard start, pump-down.

Coming soon8 min read
Heating

Boiler No-Heat Diagnosis: A Step-by-Step Guide for Hydronic Heating Systems

Hydronic systems fail differently than forced-air. Low water cutoff, zone valve faults, ignition sequence troubleshooting.

Coming soon8 min read
Refrigerant

R-454B Refrigerant: What HVAC Technicians Need to Know

R-454B is replacing R-410A. A2L handling requirements, safety considerations, charging procedures, and tool compatibility.

Coming soon7 min read
Electrical

HVAC Thermostat Wire Color Reference: What Every Technician Should Know

Wire colors aren't always standardized — assuming they are leads to callbacks. Conventions, exceptions, and how to verify on unfamiliar systems.

Coming soon6 min read

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