Every day on the jobsite, you want to work smarter and more efficiently. But working safely is most important. As an HVACR technician, you frequently work around hazardous chemicals, near exposed wires, in poorly lit spaces, up on ladders and around heavy equipment. Here are a few HVACR safety tips to make sure you always make it back home at the end of a long day.

Plan pre-emptively.
For starters, give yourself enough time to do the work. Many HVACR installations are done under tight deadlines in order to meet customer needs. During busy seasons, schedules can often be grueling with back-to-back maintenance calls that don’t allow much wiggle room for unforeseen delays in between. It’s tempting to rush through the job or make up time by driving unsafely to your next one. With that in mind, be sure to schedule enough time between appointments so you aren’t rushing to finish the job or to make your next call. Safety on the job site starts before the work even begins.

Pack water and listen to your body. It is probably safe to say you’re working year-round, including summer, which means you’re in tight, stuffy crawl spaces or on rooftops at the peak of the afternoon heat. Remaining hydrated is key for just about anyone, but especially critical to those who are exposed to extreme heat as these elements can pose threats such as heat stroke and exhaustion. Be sure to remain hydrated and take breaks when needed.

Proceed with caution.
When you’re on-site, there are many ways to reduce your risk of an accident. For one, treat every exposed wire as live and handle each wire and cable accordingly. Before working, remember to turn off the power at the breaker panel, and don’t forget to follow procedures by locking-out and tagging each circuit to stop anyone from turning on the power.

If you’re servicing a unit that has recently been operating, some components could still be extremely hot – even in an air conditioning unit, so be cautious. Check the temperature of each part before performing any work to ensure that it has had enough time to cool down.

Prep your gear.
Working around HVACR chemicals like refrigerants, cleaning liquids, solvents and gases is dangerous and even as we grow more comfortable handling these materials throughout years on the job, it’s important not to grow complacent, and to always remember to treat them with proper care. You’ve already undergone HVACR safety training, so remember to follow all HVACR servicing procedures to stay safe. This includes wearing protective personal equipment (PPE) like safety glasses, protective footwear and work gloves safety-rated for HVACR technicians.

Since we sometimes work in basements and crawlspaces, we risk exposure to everything from molds to bacteria to fungi every time we breathe in. Make sure to wear an industrial grade respirator if you find yourself working in close proximity to these substances for extended periods of time. Also, if you’re working on a poorly functioning or improperly vented furnace, you could unknowingly be in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure to take all necessary precautions.

Play it safe from head to toe.
To stay safe, prepare ahead and have all of these protective materials available when you’re on the jobsite. You might not need them to service every customer, but having them available can make all the difference.
• Hard hat
• Steel-toed work boots
• Full-coverage clothing
• Thick HVACR work gloves
• Safety goggles
• Face shields
• Respirators
• Earplugs

Practice safer options.
Large HVACR systems are heavy and moving or installing them is not a one-person operation. Often, cranes or other equipment are necessary to move or lift these large pieces. Follow all safety procedures while working with these.

Every time we’re on a jobsite, keeping these HVACR safety tips in mind can help you, and those around you, remain out of harm’s way.

From digital manifolds to manometers, many of the HVACR tools we use every day are practically indispensable. If you install a new A/C unit or recharge a unit after a repair, you can add a digital vacuum gauge to your list of indispensable tools. They’re much more accurate than analog gauges with improved accuracy. You’ll know that all moisture, non-condensable gasses, and contaminants are removed and that your system won’t leak refrigerant.

Let’s dive into a few of the best ways to use a digital vacuum gauge. For starters, you might already have a vacuum gauge on your digital manifold. In a pinch, you can use this gauge, but it isn’t a best practice. A standalone digital vacuum gauge HVAC technicians connect directly to the system will be unaffected by leaky hoses, valves, and other connections between the manifold, the pump, and the system.

Before using the vacuum gauge, it’s important to pick the right location to install it. Sure, the easiest location is the area right next to the pump, however, this should be avoided. Instead, pick a location on the system that’s as far as possible from the pump itself, for the same reason you won’t install a thermostat right over a supply vent. Placing the gauge far away from the pump will give true visibility that the entire system reached the system-recommended vacuum or 500 microns as a rule of thumb.

Once the pump is up and running, be sure you understand what the readings on the vacuum gauge mean. You may see fluctuations. But these fluctuations are normal, and they can be caused by a host of factors. When the pump is running, every hose and O-ring in the system may adjust slightly. Each adjustment could release a bit of gas. Even this small amount could cause the gauge values to fluctuate. This should stop over time.

Also, after you’ve reached 500 microns and isolated the pump, you may notice a spike in the vacuum reading. This could be caused by the ball-valve connection to the vacuum pump. This valve can sometimes trap a small bit of air inside, causing your readings to spike. To mitigate this, periodically open and close the valve during evacuation.

The next step is to make sure that the system can hold steady pressure. If the micron value increases quickly and never stops until it reaches atmospheric pressure, you know you have a leak somewhere. This merits an investigation. If the system can’t hold a vacuum; it won’t hold refrigerant.

You may also notice the pressure slowly increasing and leveling off higher than 1,000 microns. This means you still have moisture in the system. Start by making sure the oil in your vacuum pump is fresh. If it isn’t, replace it and continue your evacuation. If lots of moisture is still present, you may need to flush nitrogen through the line set. This will remove the excess moisture and help you pull a vacuum to the system-recommended pressure.

Pulling a vacuum is an important part of being an HVACR technician, and the right tools ensure the job is done right. For help with a digital vacuum gauge HVACR technicians can depend on, visit Fieldpiece.com today.