NCI Article Library

High-Performance HVAC Resources

Current Category: Heating

Don’t Let “Mother Nature” Control Your Summer Success and Profits!

We all love hot, humid and miserable weather in the summer because it's good for business. Unfortunately in many parts of the country that's not been the case the past few years, and for many, business just hasn't been what it should be. But should air conditioning be...

Diagnostic Tests That Teach and Sell

by Rob "Doc" Falke

Since the mid 1980's most contractors have been selling air conditioning and heating using methods like slick calculations that promised return on investment and energy savings. Times have changed and so have our customers. Today's buyers are better equipped to make...

David Richardson, Richardson Heating and Air, Frankfort, KY

by National Comfort Institute, Inc.

David Richardson cut his teeth in the industry in the low bid game of residential new construction air conditioning and heating. He works in a small family business and was thinking about getting out of it. He knew there was more to the HVAC industry, but didn't know...

Corcoran Heating & Air Conditioning – Schaumburg, IL

by National Comfort Institute, Inc.

Member of the Month: Corcoran Heating & Air Conditioning - Schaumburg, IL Tom Corcoran is our April NCI Member of the Month. Tom got started in the HVAC business when he didn't make the hockey team in college and followed a buddy into trade school nearly 30 years...

Changing Fan Speed with an Adjustable Pulley

by Rob "Doc" Falke

Changing Fan Speed with an Adjustable Pulley by Rob "Doc" Falke Adjustable pulleys are the most commonly used method for changing fan speed in commercial balancing. Let’s take a look at how adjustable pulleys work and learn how to adjust them. We’ll also learn how to...

Calculating Heating Energy Savings

by Jim Davis

Calculating Heating Energy Savings It is safe to say 98% of equipment in the field is underfired at factory settings, making that equipment quite inefficient. It can also be said that two-stage equipment can be even worse, especially in "low-fire" mode. To tune this...

Building Surface Temperature and Your Customer’s Comfort

by David Richardson

Building Surface Temperature and Your Customer's Comfort by David Richardson One of the primary goals of an HVAC professional is to ensure the comfort of their customers. Let's say that you have designed and installed an HVAC system that is absolutely perfect. The...

Airside vs. Refrigerant Performance Measurement

by Rob "Doc" Falke

Airside vs. Refrigerant Performance Measurement When it comes to performance measurement and air conditioning systems, most master technicians gravitate to one of two measurement techniques. They either choose to measure the airside or the refrigerant side....

A Closer Look at Barometric Damper Modifications

by Jim Davis

Since we're deep in the throes of another winter, it must be time to review the use, installation, and application of barometric dampers. While we're at it, let's focus on proper installation of spill switches as well. There are times a draft hood may be viewed more...

10 Reasons to Get CO & Combustion Certified

by Jim Davis

1. Your customer's lives may depend on it. Yours too. 2. Because there is no other way to properly service, maintain and maximize the efficiency of a furnace, boiler or water heater. 3. To move ahead of the industry. The sad fact is there is no requirement to do...