HVAC system temperature diagnostics depend more on your skill and understanding than the accuracy of the test instrument you’re using. Let’s take a look at several test methods, tips, and terms to see how you can sharpen your ability to solve your customer’s problems. We’ll focus on air temperature measurement methods for now. We’ll save …
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It’s that time of year when thermostats are switched to heating in the evening and cooling in the afternoon as we try to maintain comfort in our homes and offices. Unfortunately, some of our lives look like this back and forth thermostat war. If you’ve ever felt like you take one step forward and one …
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Over the years, I’ve had many discussions with engineers about the accuracy of technicians who do HVAC system field testing. It is clear this subject is on the minds of many industry leaders. In fact, as many groups look to the future, decisions are being made based on their opinions that field personnel can test …
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NCI Legacy Series Blog Posts In memory of those who came before, we bring you some of their best posts and articles from the past. Nita Brooks, who lost her battle with cancer 2016, was an integral part of the National Comfort Institute team for many years and was prolific in her writing. This post …
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Economizers are in the spotlight as a prime opportunity for energy savings in the commercial HVAC marketplace. It’s said, with little argument from those in the field, that nearly 80% of air-side economizers are non-functional. So if that’s true, opportunity is calling any mechanical contractor willing to step up and take this bull by the …
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How do I know what my team is really doing when most of the time they’re not under my direct supervision? What can I do to make sure my team delivers on my expectations consistently? These are two very common questions we regularly hear from our business coaching clients. So when things don’t go well …
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With the end of the heating season there’s a tendency to forget the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO). As you transition to the cooling season, be sure to keep your awareness for CO high even though it’s likely to be the last thing on your mind. Let’s look at five summer CO issues you should …
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Air filters create resistance to airflow that can reduce a fan’s ability to move air by up to 50%. You can evaluate the filter’s impact on airflow by measuring the pressure drop over it. It takes less than a minute to do. It is often the diagnostic test that identifies the problem in nearly one …
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What makes modular or two-piece different from their single-piece cousins when it comes to measuring total external static pressure (TESP)? In this article we’ll examine the differences and discuss how to measure TESP correctly. “As-Shipped” The “As-Shipped” idea is helpful when measuring the TESP of two-piece air handlers. So, what do you find when you …
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When it comes to the HVAC Industry from a consumer’s perspective, there seems to be a lot of misinformation about how to manage and maintain comfort systems. These tidbits of misinformation come disguised as “truth” when actually they are more like myths and urban legends. The problem is that a lot of contractors out there …
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