Taking the Temperature on HVACR

In this episode of “Taking the Temperature of HVAC,” Jamie Kitchen is joined by John Broughton and Jörg Saar to swap their strangest refrigeration and HVAC stories from the field—from diagnosing systems by sound and touch, to mystery refrigerants, water-filled chillers, oversized solenoid valves, and wildly improvised installations. Along the way they revisit old-school practices with legacy refrigerants, discuss how design oversights and poor evacuation procedures can wreck systems, and highlight what these “Stranger Things” taught them about troubleshooting, safety, and the evolution of best practices in the industry.

In this episode of Taking the Temperature of HVAC, Jamie Kitchen sits down with John and Jorg to unpack the real-world differences between TXVs (thermal expansion valves) and EEVs (electronic/electric expansion valves) in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. They break down how each valve controls superheat, the balance of forces inside a TXV, and why concepts like pump down, minimum stable superheat (MSS), and maximum operating pressure (MOP) matter for system reliability and compressor protection. Along the way, they share field stories about liquid hammer, early electronic controllers, variable-speed compressors, and why EEVs offer powerful flexibility—but can’t rescue a poorly designed system.

Oversizing HVAC and refrigeration equipment might seem like the “safe” choice—but it can quietly destroy efficiency, product quality, and component life. In this episode of Taking the Temperature of HVACR, Jamie Kitchen, John Broughton, and Jörg Saar discuss how to properly size compressors, evaporators, condensers, valves, and piping; what really happens when systems are too big or too small; and why balance points, humidity control, and ambient conditions matter more than most people think. Packed with real-world examples—from flower rooms and walk‑in coolers to grain drying and variable‑speed systems—this conversation shows why “don’t oversize your equipment” is more than just a rule of thumb.

In this episode of Taking the Temperature of HVACR, Jamie Kitchen is joined by John Broughton and Jorg Saar to break down the essentials of cold rooms, walk-in boxes, and refrigeration design, covering everything from the difference between holding and blast freezing, to airflow, evaporator placement, refrigerant choices, safety considerations, defrost strategies, and practical installation challenges. Packed with real-world examples and expert insights, this episode offers a clear and engaging look at what it really takes to design and operate efficient walk-in refrigeration systems.

In this episode of Taking the Temperature of HVAC, Jamie Kitchen sits down with John Broughton and Jorg Saar to explore the fascinating history of refrigerants—from harvested ice, water, ammonia, and CO2 to CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, and today’s low-GWP alternatives.
The conversation traces how refrigeration evolved from ice houses and early evaporative cooling to mechanical systems in homes, factories, ships, and supermarkets. Along the way, the team shares stories from the field, reflects on the rise and fall of refrigerants like R-12, R-22, R-11, and R-502, and discusses why the industry is once again adapting to a new generation of refrigerants, including propane, CO2, R-32, and A2Ls.
It’s a practical, entertaining look at how the past continues to shape the future of HVAC—and why understanding refrigerant history matters more than ever.