GA HVAC study plan

Compute a full room-by-room heating and cooling load for a 2,000 sq ft single-family example using manual methods (U-values, infiltration, internal gains) without software assistance

Select matched condenser, evaporator coil, and air handler for that load and justify the selection with a written sensible/latent breakdown

Calculate required outdoor air and ventilation load for the example and state how it changes equipment capacity

List the code-required documentation and sizing tolerances an inspector would check on a submitted load calculation

Draw and label the vapor-compression cycle with state points (pressure, temperature, phase) for a standard and a heat-pump reversing configuration

Identify the function and typical failure mode of each major component: compressor, metering device, condenser, evaporator, accumulator, receiver, filter-drier

Read a pressure-temperature chart to determine superheat and subcooling for three sample operating conditions

Classify refrigerants by safety group and state recovery, handling, and venting rules that apply to each class

Compare condensing furnace, condensing boiler, and air-source heat pump on efficiency ratings, venting, and application limits

Size a gas furnace and a hydronic boiler for the Week 1 load, including altitude and derate corrections

Trace the sequence of operation for a standing-pilot, intermittent-ignition, and condensing furnace from call for heat to shutdown

Explain balance point, auxiliary heat staging, and defrost cycle behavior for a heat pump installation

Size supply and return ducts using the equal-friction and velocity methods for the Week 1 load, documenting friction rate and velocity limits

Compute external static pressure for a full duct system including filter, coil, and fittings, and compare to the air handler's rated ESP

Lay out a ventilation design that satisfies ASHRAE 62.2 whole-building and local exhaust requirements for the example house

Identify three common duct design defects (undersized return, excessive flex, unsealed joints) and quantify their effect on airflow

Calculate full-load and branch-circuit ampacity for a compressor, blower motor, and electric heat strips using nameplate minimum circuit ampacity and maximum overcurrent protection

Select disconnect, overcurrent device, and conductor size for two sample condensing unit and air handler combinations

Wire and explain a basic low-voltage control circuit: thermostat, transformer, contactor, and fan relay

Describe how a variable-frequency drive changes motor speed and what electrical measurements confirm correct operation

Size refrigerant and hydronic piping for a sample run, accounting for equivalent length of fittings and pressure drop limits

Size natural gas and propane piping by the longest-length method and verify appliance input ratings against available pressure

Write a start-up checklist sequence for a new split system from rough-in inspection through first call for cooling

Describe nitrogen purge, evacuation to a target micron level, and standing vacuum test acceptance criteria, and identify what invalidates each test

Perform a TAB exercise on the example system: measure and record airflow at each outlet and adjust dampers to within plus or minus 10 percent of design

Calculate and record refrigerant charge adjustment using superheat or subcooling targets appropriate to the metering device type

Build a diagnostic flowchart for a low-capacity cooling complaint covering airflow, charge, and metering device branches

List a preventive maintenance schedule by frequency for residential and light commercial equipment, naming the specific measurement taken at each visit

Summarize permit, inspection, and refrigerant-handling requirements that apply to a residential installation in your jurisdiction

Identify jobsite safety controls for lockout/tagout, confined space, and fall protection on an HVAC retrofit

Take two full-length timed practice exams and log every missed question by domain

Re-study the two lowest-scoring domains and rewrite the missed concepts in your own words