In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, host Pat Finley reconnects with Louise Kellar, National Training Manager at UEi Test Instruments and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Trainers of 2025. Louise shares her unexpected journey from retail management to becoming a nationally recognized leader in HVAC/R education and training, while offering valuable insight into combustion analysis, CO safety, and the real-world applications of test instruments in both commercial kitchens and residential HVAC systems.
💡 Learn how UEi Test Instruments, a second-generation family-owned business, maintains top-tier standards by designing and manufacturing their own tools—from combustion analyzers made in the UK to meters and manometers crafted in South Korea. Louise breaks down UEi’s same-day recertification process, extended 10-year warranty program, and how their ISO-certified lab in Indianapolis makes all the difference for techs in the field.
🔥 Whether you’re testing CO2 on a combi oven or dialing in a furnace, this episode highlights the importance of proper meter usage, preventive maintenance, and staying on top of annual recertifications to keep your tools accurate—and your customers safe.
🔧 Topics Covered:
CO safety and combustion analysis in commercial and residential environments
Why recertifying your combustion analyzer yearly is a life-saving best practice
UEi’s COHU personal ambient CO detector
Common technician mistakes and training gaps
Louise’s transition from sales to national training
The role of trade schools and hands-on learning
How to engage different learning styles as a trainer
Cross-industry equipment overlap between HVACR and foodservice repair
🎯 If you’re an HVAC technician, foodservice tech, instructor, or tool nerd, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways, tool talk, and training wisdom from someone who's passionate about educating the next generation of tradespeople.
🛠️ Proudly sponsored by TrueTech Tools – your go-to source for high-quality HVACR tools. Visit truetechtools.com for fast shipping and top-tier support.
Looking for top-quality HVAC/R tools? TruTech Tools is here to help! From instruments to hand tools, in-stock and shipped fast, they have you covered to get the job done right. Visit TruTechTools.com - Quality Tools - Essential Support!
📍 Learn more about Louise and UEi Test Instruments at ueitest.com
📲 Follow and tag @ueitestinstruments when you’re using UEi gear – they love to feature real techs in action!
Louise Kellar
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-kellar-bbb659101/
https://www.facebook.com/louise.kellar.5
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This podcast is all about the people who keep the world running — from commercial kitchen repair pros to electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and more. We shine a light on real stories from the trades, sharing your journey, lessons learned, and why the skilled trades matter now more than ever.
💪 Proud to feature the backbone of the industry – YOU.
Pat@commercialkitchenchronicles.com
https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com
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