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Curated Programs HVAC Technician (Heat Pump Comfort Advisor Specialty Only)

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician that focuses on heat pump design and customer interactions, including in scenarios where an existing fossil fuel heating system is replaced in part or in full by a heat pump.  The heat pump comfort advisor specialty curriculum equips an HVAC contractor to understand customer needs and to specify and design an adequately sized heat pump system for both heating and cooling.

The curriculum begins with a general overview of heat pumps, variable speed heat pumps, and heat pump retrofit options (including retrofitting existing fossil fuel heating systems to use heat pumps) in Introduction to Heat Pumps. Electrical Panel Assessments covers the basics of assessing an existing electrical panel size which may be required when retrofitting from fossil fuel systems. Duct Leakage Testing is necessary when determining the home's heating and cooling loads, which is essential to correctly sizing all systems, even during retrofits. Thermostats for Heat Pumps and Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps covers dual fuel heat pump control including balance points. Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing provides guidance on sizing a heat pump for heating, with strategies for covering partial or full heating loads with heat pumps. Lastly, the curriculum covers Business Development topics which provides contractors sales and business planning strategies to use heat pumps to increase their business and ensure customer satisfaction.

This curriculum is recommended for Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, US Department of Labor SOC 49-9021.00, and supports the Heat Pump Comfort Advising Recognition Program.

HVAC - Introduction to Heat Pumps

Remember

  • Describe what an air source heat pump is and what it can be used for.
  • Remember key terms related to sizing and design of heat pumps.
  • Know the customer benefits of ASHPs.

Understand

  • Understand how a heat pump moves heat.
  • Understand the different types of heat pumps.
  • What are the different heat pump options when looking for alternatives for homes that are currently heated by a gas furnace or boiler?
  • Understand the market trends for heat pumps and the benefits of switching to heat pumps in existing homes.
  • Understand the business case for ASHP installation services.

Apply

  • What should a person consider before installing an air source heat pump?
  • What should an HVAC installer consider about the ductwork and condensate drain in an existing home before installing a heat pump?
  • Be able to compare the operating costs of ASHPs and fossil fuel heating systems.
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HVAC - Electrical Panel Assessment

Remember

  • What are electrical panels and what role do they play in switching from fossil fuel to electric heat pump heating?

Understand

  • Know how to determine a home’s electrical panel size.

  • What are the components in a typical electrical panel?

Apply

  • Understand your electrical load and service capacity needs when adding circuits for new appliances.
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HVAC - Duct Leakage Testing

Remember

  • What is duct leakage testing, who performs the test, and why is it useful?
  • Understand key terms used with duct leakage testing.

Understand

  • What are the components of a duct blaster used to test for duct leakage?
  • Understand what the two different types of duct leakage testing are, the acceptable leakage limits for each test, and when they are used.
  • Understand the impact duct leakage can have on energy losses in high-performance homes.

Apply

  • Understand how to conduct both “Total Duct Leakage” and “Duct Leakage to the Outdoors” types of duct leakage tests.
  • Understand what suitable materials and sealants are used in duct sealing and where they should be applied.
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HVAC - Thermostats for Heat Pumps and Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps

Remember

  • Learn what a thermostat is and what it does.

Understand

  • Understand why smart thermostat control is important for heat pumps.
  • Understand when different components of dual fuel systems should operate.

Apply

  • Understand terminal wiring for thermostats.
  • Understand the thermostat settings for the dual fuel configuration for ecobee and NEST.
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HVAC - Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing

Remember

  • Remember the principles of heat pump operation, and why some heat pumps need to be made specifically suitable for cold climates.

Understand

  • Understand the traditional approach to sizing heat pumps.
  • Understand the approaches to sizing heat pumps in cool and cold climates.
  • Understand the balance point temperature.
  • Understand heat pump cycling.

Apply

  • Apply energy efficiency improvements to lower cooling and heating loads to allow for a smaller heat pump.
  • Apply the steps used to size a cold climate air source heat pump (ccASHP).
  • Apply the sizing and selection process for a ccASHP
  • Calculate the formula for linear interpolation
  • Apply linear interpolation to HVAC equipment sizing

Apply

  • Calculate the formula for linear interpolation
  • Apply linear interpolation to HVAC equipment sizing
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HVAC - Business Development

Understand

  • Understand how to communicate the benefits of ASHP’s to customers
  • Understand the market trends for heat pumps and the benefits of switching to heat pumps in existing homes
  • Understand the business case for ASHP installation services

Apply

  • Know how to build rapport with a customer.
  • Know how to prepare a design questionnaire and perform a building walkthrough.
  • Talk through the benefits of an ASHP and provide an economic analysis for the customer’s investment.
  • Know how to close the deal.
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