NCI Article Library

High-Performance HVAC Resources

Minnick’s

"It's been a long, winding road, but now we're off the back roads on the highway" is how Rob Minnick describes his company's journey over the past few years. Beginning with a small business started in a garage, Minnick's now operates from a contemporary,...

Performance Instead of Promises: Aire Rite, Inc.

Contractor Spotlight: Performance Instead of Promises: Aire Rite, Inc. by Mike Weil, NCI VP Communications & Publications In the HVAC world, a performance-based contractor delivers a healthy, comfortable, safe, and energy efficient environments with proven...

Precision Air Conditioning and Heating, LLC

Any time you’re talking with Larry Stewart and Kathe Stewart, it doesn’t take very long to be infected by their pride in, and enthusiasm for, their business and for the HVAC industry. When Kathe says, “we’ll work harder than anybody to make our customers happy”, and...

Mechanical Miracles (and Mistakes)

When working in the field, there are an infinite number of variables to deal with. When listing the operating ranges of equipment on all the different NCI Diagnostic Forms, 98% of equipment is covered. However, there is that last 2% that are called mechanical...

Measuring Static Pressure on Service Calls is a Sure Thing

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...

Make the Decision to Make Money

NCI training seminars show you how to achieve gross margins of up to 80% on testing and system renovation work. This should result in net profits of 20% or better. Some of you make these margins regularly on this type of work, yet many still do not. As we provide...

Magnehelic Magic

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...

Lonnie & Eric Robnett, Nevada Heating, A/C & Plumbing – Reno, NV

Eric and Lonnie Robnett of Nevada Heating are quite a father-son team. Lonnie, the dad, is a true marketing guru and Eric the son, is a full-time air and combustion diagnostic testing and selling master. They have found success in their business together by separating...

Link Mechanical, New Britain, CT

Chris Link, President of Link Mechanical located in New Britain, Connecticut starts the New Year as National Comfort Institute's Contractor of the Month. Among other industry leading traits, Chris was selected for his ability to adapt his company to these changing...

Lessons From a Quick Lube

We all make mistakes as we evolve our businesses. Each of us can probably tell a few exciting stories about failures we've experienced, and hopefully, enough time has passed so we can finally chuckle about them. I was on the receiving end of a sales experience...