HVAC Shop Blog

Matching the right Testo 420 flow hood to the outlet is the first step to a commissioning result you can sign off on. This guide covers all four hood sizes in the Testo 420 range, explains how to select the right option for square, linear and oversized outlets, and walks through flow straightener maintenance and storage. Practical advice for ARCtick-licensed HVAC-R techs, mechanical contractors, and anyone doing volume flow measurement on Australian commercial or residential sites.

Mechanical balometer or Testo 420 digital flow hood? This guide compares both across accuracy, swirl outlet performance, data logging, total cost of ownership, and suitability by user type. Practical decision support for Australian TAB contractors, HVAC-R technicians, and facilities maintenance teams.

Surface temperature probes are one of the most-used tools on a working HVAC/R technician's belt. When you need an accurate temperature reading from a pipe surface, motor housing, compressor case or coil, contact measurement gives you something an infrared gun simply cannot: direct thermal coupling with the surface itself. This guide covers probe types, accuracy factors and how to pick the right Testo surface probe for every job.

Most HVAC/R technicians carry more than one temperature probe — and for good reason. Pipe surfaces, motor housings, air streams and liquid temperatures each call for a different probe geometry. A Testo temperature probe kit gives you a matched surface, air and immersion set in a single purchase, all using Type K Class 1 thermocouples that work with any Type K meter you already own. This guide covers what's in the kit, when to choose it over individual probes, and how each probe type is used in the field.

Irreversible temperature labels prove a surface exceeded a set threshold at some point between service visits. Thermometers show what a surface is doing right now. They answer different questions — and knowing which tool to use, when to use both together, and what each cannot do is the key to accurate HVAC temperature monitoring. This comparison guide covers evidence value, live diagnostics, reusability, calibration, cost and combined workflow examples.

Applying a Testoterm temperature label correctly takes less than two minutes — but poor surface prep, wrong threshold selection, hidden placement or incorrect reading are the most common reasons labels fail to provide useful information. This step-by-step guide covers the full application, reading and logging workflow: surface cleaning, full contact application, reading irreversible colour changes, photographing results and replacement after activation.

Temperature indicator stickers give Australian HVAC technicians passive, always-on surface-temperature monitoring across compressors, motors, switchboards, pipework and refrigeration cabinets — without power or data connections. This guide maps the right indicator format to each equipment type, covers threshold selection for Australian climate conditions, and includes an implementation checklist for service teams managing large commercial portfolios.

Testoterm Measuring Points are 14 x 14 mm single-threshold irreversible labels sold in booklets of 50 — designed for QA checks, warranty validation and recurring fleet inspections across HVAC motors, compressors, control cabinets and plant-room equipment. This guide covers threshold selection across the 65–121°C range, placement guidance, comparison with Mini Indicators, and logging and replacement workflow.

Testoterm Mini Indicators are Ø15 mm round irreversible heat labels designed for compact HVAC components, small motors, bearings and tight spaces where larger strips won't fit. This guide covers the 15 mm format, available temperature ranges from 116–138°C through 199–224°C, how to read multi-point activation, installation requirements, and when to use Mini Indicators instead of Measuring Points.

Testoterm temperature indicators are irreversible, self-adhesive labels that permanently record when a surface exceeds a rated heat threshold. This technical guide explains how the colour-change chemistry works, how to choose the right threshold, which format suits your application, and how to document heat events correctly across HVAC compressors, motors, switchboards and plant-room equipment.

The Fieldpiece DR82 is Australia's go-to mid-range infrared refrigerant leak detector for commercial HVAC technicians. This complete guide covers how the DR82's infrared sensor works, where it outperforms heated diode technology, correct zeroing and probe technique for real Australian jobs, and how it compares to the TEK-Mate, SRL2, and D-TEK Stratus. Essential reading for any tech considering the step up to professional infrared detection.

The Inficon TEK-Mate is Australia's most widely used entry-level refrigerant leak detector — and for good reason. This complete guide covers how the TEK-Mate works, where it performs best, correct probe technique for Australian conditions, sensor tip maintenance, and how it compares to mid-range and premium options. Essential reading for apprentices, residential techs, and anyone considering their first professional leak detector.