Dehum Innovations and Essentials w/ Nikki K.
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Release Date: 02/19/2026
The Vacuum Deep Dive: Microns, Moisture, and Molecular Science
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
In this action-packed live stream episode of HVAC School, host Bryan is joined by Eric Kaiser, Ty Branaman, and Roman Baugh for a continuation of a deep-dive conversation on vacuum practices — picking up where a previous episode left off with Andrew Greaves and Jim Bergmann. The team sets out to both reinforce the foundational best practices every HVAC technician should follow and to explore some genuinely uncharted scientific territory around how vacuum gauges actually work, how refrigerant contaminates micron gauge readings, and what really happens to moisture inside a system when...
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Surge Protection for HVAC - Short #285
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
This short podcast is from the Bry-X stage of the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium: Cheryl Klein's "Surge Protection for HVAC." Cheryl is with DITEK, a veteran-owned company based in Florida, and has extensive knowledge of whole-home surge protection and HVAC-specific surge protectors. HVAC systems may have their lifespans reduced by power surges (tens of thousands of volts within microseconds) or sustained overvoltage. Surge protectors specifically protect the equipment from power surges, though DITEK manufactures products that help manage sustained overvoltage (and undervoltage, which...
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20 Years in Family Business from the Kalos Founders
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
In this special live panel session recorded at the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, the three founders of Kalos Services — Bryan Orr, his father Robert (Bob) Orr, and uncle Keith Huntington — sit down together to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary and answer questions from the audience and online attendees. Hosted by Bert, the conversation blends humor, hard-earned wisdom, and surprising candor about what it actually takes to build and sustain a trades business over two decades. From humble beginnings with $100,000 in startup capital to managing multi-million-dollar commercial...
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Permanent Load Reduction As a Sales Driver - Short #284
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
This short podcast episode is Jeremy Begley's Bry-X session from the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium: "Permanent Load Reduction in HVAC – The Hidden Driver of Long-Term Sales." Some common customer complaints we hear as HVAC contractors include high humidity, high electric bills, noise, and uncomfortable rooms. The typical HVAC solution is to change the equipment or ductwork, such as by downsizing the unit, adding ancillary dehumidification, or modifying the ductwork. If we can't solve the problem, the customer will ultimately choose a different contractor, no matter how hard we...
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Cold Climate Evacuation Livestream - Pandora's Box
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
In this long-awaited live episode of HVAC School, host Bryan Orr reunites with three industry veterans — Jim Bergmann of measureQuick, Roman Baugh (Kalos), and Andrew Greaves of NAVAC — to tackle one of the most pressing and underaddressed challenges in modern HVAC: performing refrigerant recovery and system evacuation in extreme cold-weather conditions. The conversation was sparked by a real-world observation from technician Chris Hughes, who relocated from Louisiana to Minnesota and quickly discovered just how different — and difficult — cold-climate HVAC work can be. What follows is...
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Training Refrigeration: Building Technicians Who Think, Not Just Fix - Short #283
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Training the refrigeration technician is about building technicians who think, not just fix. In this engaging conversation from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, host Trevor Matthews sits down with Billy Carlson to explore what it really takes to develop technicians who think critically and troubleshoot effectively. Billy shares his journey in the HVAC/R industry, from residential air conditioning to commercial refrigeration, and ultimately specializing in supermarket rack systems and CO2 refrigeration. With only five years in the grocery sector, his company now dedicates 70-80% of its...
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Succession in Family Business w/ TruTech & Kalos
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
In this special collaborative episode between the Building HVAC Science Podcast and HVAC School, host Bryan Orr sits down with his father and co-founder Robert Orr (Kalos) and Bill and Billy Spohn, the father-son duo behind TruTech Tools, for an in-depth conversation about the realities of running, transitioning, and ultimately passing the torch in a family-owned business. What makes this episode particularly compelling is that both pairs are actively living through their own succession journeys in real time, offering listeners an unusually candid and personal look at the emotional,...
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Adding Plumbing To Your HVAC Business - Short #282
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Looking to Add Plumbing To Your HVAC Business? Learn the critical pitfalls to avoid before you make the leap! In this livestream from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium, service plumber and third-generation tradesman Nate Agentis breaks down why adding plumbing to your HVAC business isn't as simple as hiring a plumber and stocking PVC on your trucks. What You'll Learn: Why most HVAC companies fail when adding plumbing services The hidden costs beyond just hiring plumbers Marketing challenges specific to emergency plumbing How to structure your plumbing division for success The...
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Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks w/ Let's Be Techs
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, host Bryan sits down with Johnny, the creator behind the popular social media channel “Let’s Be Techs.” Johnny brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the table, having spent his first 13 years in residential HVAC before transitioning into commercial refrigeration. He shares his unconventional path into the trade—starting out building houses before being recommended to an HVAC contractor—and how the lack of quality mentorship early in his career motivated him to create educational content for technicians. His videos, which began as a fun...
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Heat In....Heat Out: All About Heat Transfer w/ Joe Joe The HVAC Man - Short #281
HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Join Joey Henderson LIVE from the 7th Annual HVAC/R Training Symposium in Florida! This essential training breaks down the science of heat transfer into practical field techniques every technician needs. What You'll Learn: Understanding sensible heat (dry bulb) vs latent heat (wet bulb) removal Why airflow matters Heat transfer diagnostics BEFORE pulling out gauges Gas furnace temperature rise troubleshooting How all about heat relates to cooling, heating, and refrigeration Inverter/cold climate heat pump heat transfer principles Target saturated temperatures Key Takeaways: Industry...
info_outlineIn this live episode recorded at the AHR Expo 2026 Podcast Pavilion in Las Vegas, host Bryan sits down with longtime friend and industry expert Nikki Krueger of Santa Fe and AprilAire. Nikki brings over 15 years of experience in indoor air quality and whole-home dehumidification to the conversation, having started her career with AprilAire before moving to Santa Fe (formerly Ultra Aire) — and now coming full circle as the two brands have integrated under the AprilAire umbrella as of January 1st of this year. The episode dives deep into a topic close to both hosts’ hearts: how to properly manage indoor humidity, and what role a whole-home ventilating dehumidifier plays in a comprehensive HVAC system strategy.
Bryan and Nikki lay out a holistic framework for tackling moisture problems, emphasizing that a dehumidifier should be the last tool added — not the first. Before reaching for dedicated dehumidification equipment, contractors need to assess the building envelope for air leaks, evaluate whether the air conditioning system is properly sized (oversizing is a major contributor to poor latent removal), confirm that the AC is set up with the right airflow and sensible heat ratio, and take into account the ventilation strategy and occupant behavior. The pair discuss real-world scenarios ranging from elderly residents in Florida who keep their thermostats at 80°F, to a project in Barbados where overcooling caused interstitial condensation in walls and ceilings. The message is clear: humidity control is a systems problem, not a single-product fix.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to proper installation practices for whole-home dehumidifiers. Nikki explains why Santa Fe recommends pulling from a dedicated return and discharging into the supply side of the AC duct — rather than tying into the return side — because the heat generated by dehumidification (roughly 1,054 BTUs per pint of water removed) can warm the AC evaporator coil and reduce its latent removal capacity. Bryan adds nuance around dew point management when routing outdoor air ducts, and both hosts agree that fan operation strategy (continuous low-speed vs. intermittent) matters more in tight, low-load homes where mixing is harder to achieve naturally. They also clarify a common misconception: a ventilating dehumidifier is not a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) and does not automatically condition incoming ventilation air before it enters the home.
The conversation wraps up with an exciting look at Santa Fe’s newly launched Ultra V Series, which features an upgraded 8-inch ventilation duct (up from 6 inches), a more powerful fan for handling higher static pressure in retrofit applications, a new digital control panel, and a wired remote humidity sensor that can be placed in the living space for more accurate readings. Nikki and Bryan also field audience questions on topics like short-cycling risks from oversized dehumidifiers and why Santa Fe chose a wired sensor over wireless (accuracy, reliability, and fewer callback headaches). Bryan closes by noting that rising dew points across most U.S. markets over the last 20 years make whole-home dehumidification more relevant than ever — and that any region where you can see green grass outside is a candidate for a more advanced moisture control strategy.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Nikki Krueger and the merger of Santa Fe and AprilAire under one brand
- The purpose of whole-home ventilating dehumidifiers and how they fit into an overall HVAC system strategy
- Latent vs. sensible heat loads explained — and why both matter for comfort and moisture control
- Geographic reach of humidity problems — why dehumidification isn’t just a Florida or Gulf Coast issue
- Ken Gehring (“Teddy Bear”), inventor of the whole-house ventilating dehumidifier, and his framework for diagnosing moisture problems
- The four-factor checklist before deploying a dehumidifier: building envelope, AC sizing, AC setup/airflow, and ventilation strategy
- How occupant behavior (thermostat preferences, activity levels, large households) creates latent load variability
- The dangers of overcooling — how setting thermostat too low can cause interstitial condensation in walls, ceilings, and attics
- Sensible heat ratio (SHR) and its role in a system’s ability to remove moisture — targeting ~350 CFM per ton in humid climates
- Why dehumidifiers should connect to a dedicated return and discharge into the supply — not tie into the AC return side
- How dehumidifier heat output (~1,054 BTUs per pint) can reduce AC coil efficiency when ducted incorrectly
- Fan-on strategy debate: when running continuous low-speed circulation helps vs. hurts humidity control
- Tighter homes, smaller systems, and the importance of air mixing strategies (including ceiling fans)
- Ventilating dehumidifiers vs. dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) — clearing up a common misconception about how ventilation air is conditioned
- Dew point management for outdoor air ducts — preventing condensation inside duct runs
- Using dehumidifiers to address sweating ductwork in multi-story homes
- Rising dew points over the past 20 years and what “green grass climates” means for dehumidification demand
- Heat pump oversizing challenges in colder climates and the downstream impact on AC latent removal
- Santa Fe’s new Ultra V Series: 8-inch ventilation duct, stronger fan, digital controls, and wired remote humidity sensor
- Why proper dehumidifier sizing matters: short-cycling risks, moisture reservoir release, and uneven RH throughout the home
- Why Santa Fe chose a wired humidity sensor — accuracy, reliability, and reducing contractor callbacks
- Audience Q&A: oversizing consequences, short-cycling mechanics, and sensor placement best practices
Learn more about Santa Fe Dehumidifiers at santafeproducts.com.
Connect with Nikki Krueger on LinkedIn or Instagram @nikkikruegerIAQ.
Check out the work of Ken Gehring ("Teddy Bear") or ask him a question on the HVAC Talk Forum: hvac-talk.com.
Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.
Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 7th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.
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