NCI Article Library

High-Performance HVAC Resources

Current Category: Measurements

Standing Out From the Crowd

The southern shores of the Great Lake Erie were once the domain of Native American Indians, including the Wyandot, Ottawa, and Erie people. These groups helped their French and Dutch allies to develop a very lucrative fur trade, especially on the lands to the west of...

by Mike Weil

It’s out! Manufacturers are building and selling super high efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment. How cool is that? Wait a tick – that’s old news right? That’s been happening in this industry since the first Oil Embargo back in 1973. So why is it after 42...

Member Spotlight Home Energy Experts

by NCI Staff Writer

Member Spotlight Home Energy Experts by Steve Vannoy, NCI Technical Curriculum Manager “When can I go to work with you dad” is the question Eric Robnett remembers asking from the time he was just a little boy. Eric’s dad Lonnie founded Lonnie’s Nevada Gas Service in...

Working on Implementation: The Struggles and Successes of Performance-based Service

by Mike Weil

Working on Implementation: The Struggles and Successes of Performance-based Service by Mike Weil, NCI VP Communications & Publications In some ways, FisherAir Heating and Air Conditioning, of Brea, CA, is a very typical HVAC service company. In other ways, the...

Measuring Static Pressure on Service Calls is a Sure Thing

by National Comfort Institute, Inc.

We've been advocating service technicians assure total external static pressure on every service call. How are you doing with it? First, a question. How's your annual summertime bet going? You know, your annual bet on the weather. If it's working out you're really...

Measure Fresh Air BTU Gain

by National Comfort Institute, Inc.

Have you ever found an economizer with the louvers screwed closed or the linkage disconnected? There's a reason for that. There are days in the heat of the summer when the heat load of the fresh air makes it impossible for the system to keep up. The logical and...

Measure and Understand Air Flow

by Rob "Doc" Falke

Accurately measuring fan airflow is a critical, yet illusive test that is key to diagnosing the performance of any HVAC system. Our industry poses many methods of finding this essential number, some are great, some are good, and some test methods are purely...

Magnehelic® Fundamentals

by David Richardson

The Magnehelic® is the go-to test instrument for many NCI-trained technicians for measuring static pressure. This test instrument has been around the HVAC industry for decades and is still the test instrument of choice for many. In this article, we explore the basics...

Magnehelic Magic

by National Comfort Institute, Inc.

There's nothing like a quality tool that speaks to the soul...a good ole Magnehelic Gauge. You know, that shiny, fascinating pressure gauge spun from billet aluminum, solidly attached to the precision ground helix that drives the needle upward responding to even the...

Low Airflow and Thermostatic Expansion Valve Operation

by David Richardson

Low Airflow and Thermostatic Expansion Valve Operation by David Richardson The effects of low airflow on the performance of an HVAC system have been taught by NCI for decades. One of the topics we don’t discuss as frequently is the relationship The effects of low...