Academic Catalog

APRT 141B: TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR FOR RESIDENTIAL HVAC SERVICE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 3
Hours: 30 lecture, 24 laboratory per quarter (54 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Sheet Metal Residential Service Apprenticeship Program.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will be able to change out a small refrigeration compressor.
  • A student will be able to test and trace electrical circuits.

Description

Troubleshooting approaches for HVAC equipment problems, with diagnosis and repair. Testing and tracing of circuits; visual evaluations for electrical and mechanical HVAC equipment. Review and practice of all basic skills necessary for A/C residential service technicians.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Discuss troubleshooting approaches for furnace, air conditioner, and heat pump problems.
  2. Perform visual electrical and mechanical evaluations.
  3. Test and trace electrical circuits.
  4. Describe compressor functions and failures.
  5. Change out refrigerant compressors.

Course Content

  1. Discuss troubleshooting approaches for furnace, air conditioner, and heat pump problems
    1. Diagnosis and repair of furnaces; electrical and mechanical approaches
    2. Diagnosis and repair of electrical heaters and electric filters
    3. Troubleshooting air conditioning and heat pumps problems
  2. Perform visual electrical and mechanical evaluations
    1. Access and visual overview of circuit and mechanical components
    2. Check for wiring disconnections, evidence of malfunction, shorts, and proper mechanical functions of components
  3. Test and trace electrical circuits
    1. Initial testing without disconnection
    2. Describe when and how to test for current flow versus continuity equipment usage
  4. Change out refrigerant compressors
  5. Describe compressor functions and failures
    1. Review of electrical and refrigeration systems; test 1. Condemnation and change-out of compressors

Lab Content

  1. Practice troubleshooting of residential HVAC equipment
  2. Practice repairing of residential HVAC equipment

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

Laboratory equipped with air conditioning equipment.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written quizzes and tests
Satisfactory completion of shop projects
Comprehensive written final examination
Maintenance of a workbook of student's daily work activities

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Discussion
Laboratory
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry. Residential HVAC Service Technician. 2007.

This is the standard Sheet Metal textbook/workbook used for this course. Although it is older than 5 years, it is the most current book used when teaching this course.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Readings from textbook on diagnosing residential HVAC system problems using electrical diagrams
  2. Writing assignments given in the laboratory
    1. Review questions regarding diagnosing compressor circuit problems

Discipline(s)

Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating