Combustion Analysis w/ Tony G.

Key takeaways

Combustion analysis is crucial for safety, efficiency, and liability protection when servicing HVAC systems.
Key measurements such as stack temperature, oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide levels, and draft pressure are essential for diagnosing appliances.
Proper techniques in combustion analysis, including startup procedures and test port installations, are vital for accurate readings.
Investing in combustion analysis tools can provide significant business benefits by reducing callbacks and fostering customer trust.
Fieldpiece tools, such as the CAT 85 analyzer, feature innovative technologies that enhance usability and efficiency with less maintenance.
Generating professional PDF reports not only protects technicians but also improves customer relations through transparency and accountability.

Summary

Introduction to Combustion Analysis

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Brian Orr welcomes Tony Gonzalez, Training Director at Fieldpiece, to discuss combustion analysis. The conversation reiterates the importance of ensuring safe and efficient operation of HVAC systems, particularly as the heating season approaches. Brian emphasizes the necessity of understanding combustion processes, carbon monoxide safety, and proper testing methods.

Key Measurements in Combustion Analysis

Tony introduces the key measurements used in combustion analysis: stack temperature, oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide levels, and draft pressure. He explains how these measurements help diagnose the efficiency and safety of heating appliances. By fostering an understanding of how to interpret these measured values against industry standards, technicians can effectively troubleshoot and ensure optimal appliance performance.

The Importance of Proper Technique

Throughout the episode, Tony stresses the significance of best practices in combustion analysis, such as ensuring proper startup procedures for analyzers, creating test ports correctly, and performing ambient CO testing. He illustrates how the proper installation of test ports and temperature measurements can influence results and recommendations.

Business Benefits of Combustion Analysis

Tony makes a business case for investing in combustion analyzers, explaining how they can enhance professional credibility, improve relationships with OEMs, and ultimately protect technicians from liability. He points out that the financial benefits—like reducing callbacks and satisfying customers—make the use of these tools a valuable asset for HVACR professionals.

Fieldpiece Innovations

The discussion highlights several innovative features of Fieldpiece products, including the CAT 85 combustion analyzer's hydro cycle pump technology and sensor vault capability. These features alleviate common maintenance tasks and enhance the longevity of the tools. Tony encourages technicians to use the Job Link app for seamless connectivity and data management.

Report Generation and Customer Relations

As the episode wraps up, Tony emphasizes the importance of generating professional PDF reports that can be shared with customers. This practice fosters transparency and builds trust while allowing technicians to provide a higher level of service. He discusses the documentation process as a means to reinforce customer relationships and maintain comprehensive records.

Show notes

In this comprehensive training session from the symposium, Tony Gonzalez, Training Director at Fieldpiece, delivers an engaging and practical guide to combustion analysis for HVAC technicians. With 25 years of experience at Fieldpiece—from warehouse worker to training director—Tony brings both technical expertise and real-world application to this 50-minute interactive session focused on the company's CAT 85 combustion analyzer.

Tony emphasizes that combustion analysis serves four critical purposes: safety, efficiency, equipment specification verification, and liability protection. He makes a compelling business case for investing in combustion analyzers, noting that preventing just two callbacks or one liability lawsuit can pay for the equipment ten times over. The training walks attendees through the complete process, from properly warming up the analyzer in fresh air (allowing sensors to calibrate to ambient oxygen and zero carbon monoxide) to generating professional PDF reports that can be shared with customers or integrated into work order management systems like ServiceTitan.

The session provides detailed guidance on interpreting key measurements, including stack temperature, oxygen percentage, carbon monoxide levels, and draft pressure. Using design parameters from the National Comfort Institute, Tony demonstrates how to diagnose issues by comparing actual readings against acceptable ranges for different furnace types (atmospheric, 80% induced fan, and 90+ percent condensing). He walks through practical troubleshooting scenarios, showing how measurements like high oxygen combined with low stack temperature can point to specific problems like low gas pressure that technicians can then verify and correct.

Throughout the presentation, Tony emphasizes proper technique and best practices, from creating test ports at least 12 inches above the inducer fan to the importance of plugging test ports after completion. He also highlights innovative features of Fieldpiece's analyzers, including the hydro cycle pump that eliminates traditional water traps, sensor vault technology that extends sensor life to four years, and built-in wireless connectivity allowing technicians to view measurements on their mobile devices through the Job Link app.

Topics Covered:

Why perform combustion analysis: Safety verification, efficiency optimization, OEM specification compliance, and liability protection
Business benefits: Reducing callbacks, improving OEM relationships, enhancing professional image, and protecting against lawsuits
Proper startup procedure: Warming up analyzers in fresh air for accurate oxygen and CO sensor calibration
Ambient CO testing: Using combustion analyzers vs. dedicated walk-around detectors for carbon monoxide detection in living spaces
Test port installation: Proper placement at least 12 inches above inducer fans and away from 90-degree elbows
Key measurements explained: Stack temperature, oxygen percentage, CO PPM, CO air-free, draft pressure, and efficiency calculations
Equipment type selection: Choosing correct settings for atmospheric, 80% induced fan, or 90+ percent condensing furnaces
Diagnostic interpretation: Using National Comfort Institute parameters to identify issues like excess combustion air or low gas pressure
Advanced features: Built-in dual port manometer for gas and static pressure, wireless Job Link app connectivity, and hydro cycle pump technology
Report generation: Creating professional PDF reports with company branding for customer documentation and CYA protection
Maintenance tips: Checking particle filters, understanding sensor vault technology, and the importance of annual calibration
Sensor longevity: Four-year sensor life warranty and field-replaceable sensors without sending equipment for service

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