Articles by Joe Marchese

There is a vast selection of refrigerants, and sometimes a technician has a choice in selecting a refrigerant for a particular system. Knowing some of the basic properties of refrigerants can assist a technician in making that selection.

The next time you enjoy a cold draft beer, just think about the technology that went into it. It’s likely you’ll be the only person in the entire bar who appreciates it.

The old saying, “When in doubt, jump it out,” is not really a wise practice to follow.

Thinking in temperature in-stead of pressure can help make the crossover to a new refrigerant much easier. The next time you’re faced with determining the correct operating evaporator or condensing pressure, think in terms of temperature and then convert it to pressure.

Maintaining and servicing these systems is not difficult, but it does require specific knowledge of the machine’s design and operation. 

A refrigeration system can be a major draw on electrical energy, so it can be a real benefit when a technician also can make sure the system is operating efficiently. 

Too often, compressors get replaced when an external component, such as a defective start relay, start capacitor, or overload, is the true cause. A technician must always check these components before condemning the compressor.

Measuring the evaporator’s superheat value is an important part of analyzing a system’s performance. If a lower-than-normal value is measured, too much refrigerant is entering the evaporator for the heat load. If a higher-than-normal value is measured, too little refrigerant is entering the evaporator for the heat load. 

Choosing the correct line size is very important to the overall success of the installation. Incorrectly sized refrigerant lines can lead to system problems, excessive energy consumption, and higher installation and operation costs.

Regularly cleaning commercial ice machines is a necessary part of ensuring their continued and safe operation.