AK HVAC case studies
AK HVAC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Alaska HVAC exam is a licensing assessment used by the state to evaluate whether a contractor applicant has the trade knowledge and business understanding needed to hold a mechanical/HVAC contractor credential in Alaska. It is aimed at people who already have field experience and are moving into qualifying or running a contracting business, not at entry-level technicians seeking a first job. The AK HVAC case studies are 5 cases and about 1,899 words.
1Condensate Trap Depth on a Cold-Climate Air Handler
A 3-ton upflow air handler with a draw-through evaporator coil is installed in a conditioned mechanical closet of a Fairbanks home. The coil is upstream of the blower, so the drain pan sits in the negative-pressure section.
371 words, about 2 min2Combustion Air and Draft on a Sealed Mechanical Room
A 100,000 Btu/h natural-draft gas furnace and a 40,000 Btu/h natural-draft water heater share a 10 ft x 12 ft x 8 ft mechanical room in an Anchorage basement. The room was recently tightened: weatherstripping on the door, sealed rim joist, and a new insulated door.
375 words, about 2 min3Low-Side Diagnosis on a Cold-Weather Heat Pump
A ductless mini-split serving a Kotzebue office runs in heating mode at 5°F outdoor ambient. The technician finds: suction line frost extending from the outdoor unit back toward the wall, indoor coil not delivering rated heat, suction pressure low, discharge pressure low, and subcooling low.
359 words, about 2 min4Duct Sizing and Insulation for a Vented Crawlspace in Bethel
A 1,800 ft² single-story home in Bethel has a vented crawlspace (open foundation vents year-round) and a forced-air furnace with trunk-and-branch ductwork running through that crawlspace. Supply trunk is 14 in.
375 words, about 2 min5Electrical Disconnect and Licensing on an Owner-Built Rural Job
A contractor is asked to replace a failed 5-ton rooftop packaged unit on a commercial building in a small Alaska town. The existing unit is fed from a 60 A breaker in a panel 40 ft away; the unit has a factory-mounted disconnect on the curb, and the nameplate shows a minimum circuit ampacity of 38 A and a maximum fuse size of 50 A.
419 words, about 2 min