The Refrigeration Mentor Podcast Trevor Matthews

In this episode of the Refrigeration Mentor podcast, host Trevor Matthews talks with Mark Parliament, Fire College Instructor with the Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario and longtime HVAC technician and teacher, about mentorship and proper training in the trades. Mark shares his thoughts on the challenges facing apprentices today, including lack of proper mentorship, inadequate training, and the need for a cultural shift in the industry towards embracing and investing in the education of newcomers. This episode also debunks myths about the skills required for trades and potential for lucrative careers within the trades. Mark also talks about skills competitions and his efforts to promote learning and excellence among students. This episode was recorded at the 2024 Canadian Mechanical and Plumbing Expo (CMPX).
In this episode, Trevor and Mark discuss:
Addressing the challenges in trade education and skills development The need to promote trades in high school Boosting confidence and skills for apprentices Accelerating timelines for Red Seal accreditation The challenges with modern apprenticeship programs The impact of age and experience on learning and career transition Improving training quality and the importance of mentorship Skills competitions and elevating trade education The impact of technology on the trades Getting into HVAC as a second career Advice for technicians and business owners


Canadian Mechanical and Plumbing Expo (CMPX)
Skills Ontario Competition 
Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)
Mark Parliament on LinkedIn
REGISTER HERE for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here

In this episode of the Refrigeration Mentor podcast, host Trevor Matthews talks with “The HVAC Doctor” Matt Waxer about using social media to help educate people. From programming boards, to understanding filters and explaining all of the parts of a compressor, Matt’s highly engaging social media videos offer free education and information for followers, fellow mechanics, cohorts, apprentices and business owners - something he believes elevates the HVAC industry collectively. And Matt doesn’t come by the title “Doctor” loosely - he’s a 313A Red Seal Refrigeration and Air Conditioning System Mechanic, Gas Fitter, and holds a Ph.D in Psychology/Neuroscience. In this episode, Trevor and Matt discuss:
Getting into education so you  don’t get stuck in the field Sharing free information to empower people in the industry vs holding onto knowledge for the sake of job security Getting over the fear of putting yourself out there The formula for an engaging social media video Dealing with negativity on social media Incorporating confidentiality on the job site Benefits of doing educational videos on social media Tips for shooting good videos on the job site How to get better engagement on your social media posts Being your authentic self on social media Different platforms for different audiences Tip for getting started making social media content Useful tools and apps for creating social media content Helpful links and contacts:
Follow Matt Waxer “The HVAC Doctor” on Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
Social Media Tools: Veed.io | BigVU
REGISTER HERE for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here
 

In this episode of the Refrigeration Mentor podcast, host Trevor Matthews talks about the ways refrigeration technicians are maximizing their earning potential, outside of just working more regular hours or asking for a raise. The key to making more money: bring more value to your company and your customers. It takes work, training and planning, but here, Trevor details the ways technicians (including unionized) are earning more money by designing revenue-generating and cost-saving solutions for both their company and customers, showcasing problem-solving skills, specializing in specific skills, networking, building relationships, and learning how to be a better salesperson. This episode was taken from a recent North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) Training Summit presentation.
References and helpful links:
Chillventa
AHR Expo
International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration (IIAR)
ATMO Events
North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) 
Copeland Product Selection Software
REGISTER HERE for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here

REGISTER HERE for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
This is the fifth of a 5-part series on “Designing CO2 Supermarket Refrigeration Systems” where host Trevor Matthews talks with Nabil Cook, Technical Director for Omega Solutions, about projecting annual energy consumption for refrigeration systems. With decarbonization and constantly evolving global warming standards, many refrigeration system designers now need to factor in electricity consumption, energy efficiency and long-term sustainability into their designs. In this episode, Nabil explains how to calculate refrigeration system energy consumption, direct vs indirect emissions, and how to calculate total emissions of a system. This entire 5-part series is for you if you’re looking to learn how to design a CO2 supermarket refrigeration system - a method that’s becoming more prevalent in supermarkets around the world. This was recorded as part of “CO2 Mondays” - which you can check out more episodes of on The Refrigeration Mentor YouTube channel.
Follow The Refrigeration Mentor podcast for this entire series:
Part 1: Selecting Compressors and Gas Coolers (listen here)
Part 2: Understanding Heat Loads (listen here)
Part 3: Applying Heat Recovery (listen here)
Part 4: Sizing Pipework (listen here)
Part 5: Projecting Annual Energy Consumption
Episode 114: Energy Consumption Breakdown of CO2 Transcritical Systems with Nabil Cook

Learn more about Omega Solutions  
Follow Omega Solutions on LinkedIn
Connect with Nabil on LinkedIn
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here
 

REGISTER HERE for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
This is the fourth of a 5-part series on “Designing CO2 Supermarket Refrigeration Systems” where host Trevor Matthews talks with James Bailey, Operations Director for Omega Solutions, about sizing pipework. In this episode, James explains how to properly size CO2 refrigeration piping - one of the most important things when designing a CO2 refrigeration system. Here, James talks about the principles of good piping design, pressure drop, velocities, energy efficiency, design parameters and metrics, and tips for how to balance capital costs vs lifetime efficiency when working with a customer. This entire 5-part series is for you if you’re looking to learn how to design a CO2 supermarket refrigeration system - a method that’s becoming more prevalent in supermarkets around the world. This was recorded as part of “CO2 Mondays” - which you can check out more episodes of on The Refrigeration Mentor YouTube channel.
Follow The Refrigeration Mentor podcast for this entire series:
Part 1: Selecting Compressors and Gas Coolers (listen here)
Part 2: Understanding Heat Loads (listen here)
Part 3: Applying Heat Recovery (listen here)
Part 4: Sizing Pipework
Part 5: Projecting Annual Energy Consumption
REFERENCE: MicroPipe - White Rose Software: Refrigeration System Pipe Network Analysis and Sizing
Learn more about Omega Solutions  
Follow Omega Solutions on LinkedIn
Connect with James on LinkedIn
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here 
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/ 
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here

Register here  for the next 12 Week Advanced CO2 Design Course (starts May 2024).
This is the third of a 5-part series on “Designing CO2 Supermarket Refrigeration Systems” where host Trevor Matthews talks with Chris Griffiths, UK Technical Manager for Omega Solutions, about understanding and applying heat recovery. In this episode, Chris explains the different ways to use the heat generated by a CO2 refrigeration system - heat that would otherwise be wasted - to space heat the supermarket air, domestic hot water heating, glycol defrost loop heating, even parking lot heating in colder climates. He also talks about how a CO2 refrigeration system has distinct advantages and cost savings when it comes to heat recovery over other refrigerants, including low viscosity, high thermal conductivity and high discharge temperatures. This series will be a game-changer for you if you’re looking to learn how to design a CO2 supermarket refrigeration system - a method that’s becoming more prevalent in supermarkets around the world. This was recorded as part of “CO2 Mondays” - which you can check out more episodes of on The Refrigeration Mentor YouTube channel.
Follow The Refrigeration Mentor podcast for this entire series:
Part 1: Selecting Compressors and Gas Coolers (listen here)
Part 2: Understanding Heat Loads (listen here)
Part 3: Applying Heat Recovery
Part 4: Sizing Pipework
Part 5: Projecting Annual Energy Consumption
Episode 50. Using Warm Glycol Defrost in CO2 Transcritical System with Daniel Clark of Isentra
Learn more about Omega Solutions  
Connect with Omega Solutions on LinkedIn
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
Email Chris: chris@omega-solutions.co.uk 
Refrigeration Mentor on Instagram
Refrigeration Mentor YouTube Channel
Upcoming Servicing Compressors, Supermarket and CO2 Trainings: Learn More Here
Learn More About Refrigeration Mentor: https://refrigerationmentor.com/
Get your FREE Service & Compressor Troubleshooting Guide: Access Here