Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses

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In this episode, we're talking with longtime technician and Refrigeration Mentor Community Ambassador, Andrew Freeburg, about utilizing a consistent troubleshooting framework to get to the cause of issues faster and more accurately - no matter what system you're working on. We cover a variety of refrigeration topics - from extreme heat, to aging equipment, refrigerant changes, poor maintenance and managing long on-call hours. Andrew also shares how he prioritizes on-call calls, the importance of customer communication and teamwork during call surges. This episode is packed with a ton of great tips and advice for refrigeration techs to handle calls and address issues more efficiently and confidently.

In this episode, we discuss:

(00:23) Heat Wave Workloads

(04:09) High Head Troubleshooting

(07:04) Managing On-Calls

(07:46) Prioritizing Emergencies

(10:03) Troubleshooting Framework And Communication

(16:19) Reading The Wiring Diagram

(18:17) Digital Compressor Controls

(24:10) False Oil Trips

(28:53) Flash Codes And Resets

(35:41) Airflow Basic Checks

(38:41) Self Care In The Field

(40:57) Verifications

Helpful Links & Resources:

Episode 203. Supermarket Refrigeration Service Tech Tips with Andrew Freeburg

Episode 401. Troubleshoot Systems and Compressors Quicker (Get My Free Guide)

Episode 413. My 4-Pillar Framework to Learn CO2 Refrigeration Faster

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses

Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here

In this episode, I'm sharing real world stories of workplace injuries in the refrigeration industry and safety lessons we teach at Refrigeration Mentor. These include liquid refrigerant burns, ladder and roof access risks, brazing hazards, chemical exposure and inadequate PPE, even fatigue-related driving dangers. We'll discuss safety measures like job hazard assessments, using proper protective equipment and ventilation, strapping ladders correctly, and the right to refuse unsafe work. I'll also give a preview of what's to come inside Refrigeration Mentor Academy and what we offer to help refrigeration technicians build confidence and improve troubleshooting.

In this episode, we cover:

01:34 Refrigerant Burns

03:08 Ladder and Roof Access Risks

06:08 Brazing Fumes and Store Safety

08:29 Fatigue and Driving Dangers

10:08 Heavy Lifting and Roof Rigging

Helpful Links & Resources:

Episode 378. Field Stories: Compressor Failure, Case Freeze-Up Troubleshooting, and Electrical Safety

Episode 355. An Inside Look at How We Design Our Training (The Refrigeration Mentor Playbook)

Episode 250. Service Call Stories and Troubleshooting Tips with Andrew Freeburg

Learn more about Refrigeration Mentor Customized Technical Training Programs at www.refrigerationmentor.com/courses

Join the Refrigeration Mentor Hub here

In this episode, we're breaking down how CO2 high pressure valves (HPV) work. We'll cover basic operation and design, as well as tips on proper settings, sensor placement and protection, fine-tuning for climate, and using trend graphs to diagnose issues. We'll also discuss the role of an HPV in receiver/flash tank protection versus gas cooler control across transcritical, transition, subcritical, and holdback modes.

In this episode, we discuss:

00:48 High Pressure Valve Basics

05:07 Gas Cooler Sensor Setup

06:58 Receiver Pressure Protection

12:26 Gas Cooler Control Modes

16:48 Winter Flooding Holdback

19:39 Trend Graph Diagnostics

Helpful Links & Resources:

Episode 318. Designing High Pressure Valves for Summer Heat and Winter Challenges with Chris Griffiths

Episode 144. Troubleshooting CO2 High Pressure Valves Using Trend Graphs with the CAREL Boss System

Episode 58. CO2 High Pressure Valves, Flash Gas Bypass and Ejectors controlled by a pRack300T