In Moving Heat is Cool: Presented by a Legend in the Refrigeration Industry, author Ronald R. Berkan shares a story that mixes real-life experience with practical knowledge. This book isn’t just about air conditioners or furnaces.
It’s about what it took to help shape a rapidly growing industry, one repair and one rooftop at a time. Through short stories and hands-on lessons, Berkan brings readers into the world of heating and cooling without making it sound like a science textbook.
Born in 1938, Berkan worked in his father’s small Sacramento business during the post-war boom. He then spent a lifetime learning, troubleshooting, and adapting to change. His book highlights the people, places, and machines that made heating and cooling systems a part of everyday life.
Building a Business in a Growing Country
Berkan grew up in California, where neighborhoods were still forming and homes often came without air conditioning. He watched as his father, a shipyard worker, and his partner started Berkan & Clark Sheet Metal. At first, they installed forced-air furnaces. Later, as demand grew, they moved into air conditioning and heat pump systems.
Homes in the 1950s and 60s had to accommodate this new technology. Western houses didn’t have basements, so closets and rooftops became the next best option. It wasn’t easy. Early units were bulky, expensive, and hard to maintain. But families wanted relief from hot summers and cold winters. Berkan’s team helped bring those changes to life, one home at a time.
Learning by Doing, Not Just by Reading
While many learned in traditional classrooms, Berkan gained his knowledge through hands-on experience, working directly with systems and tackling real-world challenges.. As a teenager, he worked service calls during holidays and weekends. Many calls were for simple issues, like clogged filters or broken thermostats, but each one taught him something new.
In one job, he had to figure out why a large heat pump kept freezing in winter. It turned out the equipment had been designed for lab settings, not the real-world humidity of Sacramento. Through trial and error and creative fixes, Berkan deeply understood how air systems worked. These lessons became the backbone of his business.
New Rules, New Equipment, and Changing Times
As homes and buildings got more complex, so did the systems inside them. Codes and safety rules changed. More electrical power was needed to run newer units. By the 1970s, energy shortages and government regulations started pushing for better fuel use and cleaner materials.
Some of these changes made sense, while others added costs and confusion. For example, new refrigerants were introduced to protect the ozone layer. However, many of these replacements were harder to handle and more dangerous if misused. Berkan kept up with every shift, often creating tools to solve problems no one else could fix.
He also trained workers and inspectors, helping them understand the rules and the real-world results. His work helped shape better practices across the state.
Real Stories from a Lifetime on the Job
One of the strengths of Moving Heat is Cool is its use of stories. Berkan doesn’t just talk about equipment—he talks about people. He recalls working on a shopping center with 61 rooftop heat pumps, the biggest project. Another story involves a failed inspection caused by a wire nut too small to carry power, a small part that could’ve started a fire.
He also shares stories about tricky jobs in hospitals, schools, and prisons. Each came with challenges, like too much oil in a compressor or a cooling tower with clogged water flow. Berkan found creative solutions using tools as simple as a video camera and as clever as a homemade refrigerant recovery machine.
His work was guided more by doing the job well and supporting others in the field than by seeking recognition.
A View on Industry Changes and the Bigger Picture
Over the years, Berkan saw the HVAC field move from craftsmanship to quick replacements. He worried that essential skills were being lost in the rush to install new units. Many newer systems were more expensive, but not always more reliable. At the same time, rising costs and stricter rules made it harder for small businesses to keep up.
He also raises thoughtful concerns about evolving regulations, including refrigerant bans, especially in cases where the science is still developing or where administrative demands may overshadow practical results. But even with these concerns, Berkan stayed committed to doing quality work. He trained others, took on expert witness cases, and kept finding ways to serve clients across California and beyond.
Ronald R. Berkan’s story is one of steady work, careful thinking, and learning from the ground up. Moving Heat is Cool gives readers a clear view of how heating and cooling systems became part of modern life. It shows what happens when a person sticks with a job, pays attention to details, and treats others with respect.
About the Author | Ronald R. Berkan was born in San Francisco in the winter of 1938. His father worked with tools and had a strong work ethic, while his mother, who came from Europe, brought warmth and grace to their home. Growing up, Berkan learned the value of hands-on learning, listening closely, and figuring things out. He struggled in school because of undiagnosed near-sightedness, but became skilled at remembering what he heard and watching how things were done. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1326442295
This story originally appeared on Upscalelivingmag
