Skipping the First Combustion Test Costs You a Baseline - Part 1

In this episode of HVAC Know It All, host Gary McCreadie talks with Jamie Chadwick, HVAC Product Manager at Testo Instruments - North America, about putting safety first during heating service and maintenance. They explain testing before and after repairs, recognizing possible carbon monoxide exposure, preparing an analyzer, and selecting a sampling location. Technicians will learn how these practices support safer testing and help document their work.

Jamie draws on his contracting experience and current training work to connect analyzer procedures with field conditions. His approach emphasizes checking equipment before making changes, verifying operation afterward, and recognizing when emergency services need to make a site safe. He also explains why general training cannot replace checking local codes and manufacturer requirements.

  Key Takeaways

• How testing before and after service helps document equipment condition and demonstrate the effect of maintenance.

• Why reported headaches, lightheadedness, or nausea warrant attention to possible carbon monoxide exposure and personal CO monitoring.

• Why suspected hazardous CO conditions call for evacuation and emergency assistance rather than attempts to continue troubleshooting.

• How zeroing an analyzer in clean outdoor air and allowing equipment operation to stabilize helps prepare for combustion testing.

• Why sampling location matters for flue temperature and efficiency readings, and why an outdoor termination reading may not match a reading near the appliance.

 

Key Timestamps

00:00 - Factory Direct Filters Ad

00:42 - Guest and Episode Introduction

03:52 - Importance of the safety of the machine 

07:14 - What do the training for Combustion Analysis include?

12:22 - A walk-through of the Combustion Analysis call

15:59 - Correct position to put the Combustion Analyzer Probe

19:17 - Jamie's take on shoving the probe in the termination outside

This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:

Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/hvacknowitall

Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ 

Factory Direct Filters: https://www.factorydirectfilters.com/ 

SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm 

Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse!

 

Follow the Guest and His Company on:

Jamie Chadwick - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-chadwick-b72a43148/

Testo Instruments - North America - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testo-usa/

Testo Instruments - North America - Company Website: https://www.testo.com/en

 

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