NCI Article Library

High-Performance HVAC Resources

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...

Learning to Test is a Process

Last month we had a contractor attend his first NCI Air Balance training. To protect his honor, we'll call him Brad. Brad was particularly attentive during the training, his questions were sharp and well thought out, and he scored super high on the certification exam....

Learning How to Test

The last couple of days I've been on a number of phone conversations with a great HVAC contractor who is just learning to balance kitchen exhaust systems. He's new to air balancing, but committed and eager to be good at it. I've been impressed with the learning...

Is Airflow Measurement Enough?

Is Airflow Measurement Enough? Rob "Doc" Falke, NCI President Recently a long time successful NCI contractor contacted me concerning a light commercial project he was struggling with - a 7 ½ ton and a 5 ton unit servicing an office area with sixty uncomfortable women....

Interior Doors and Intermittent HVAC Comfort Problems

Interior Doors and Intermittent HVAC Comfort Problems by David Richardson This cooling season, HVAC professionals across the country will be called upon to solve intermittent comfort problems they can't recreate. These frustrating and random problems often involve...

Increase Temperature Measurement Accuracy

When measuring system or equipment temperatures, take your measurements as soon as the system stabilizes. This will allow your performance calculations to resemble (as close as possible), normal operating conditions. In order to keep the system running during testing,...

If You Don’t Measure, You’re Just Guessing

If You Don't Measure, You're Just Guessing by David Holt, NCI Director Sales & Service Leadership I’m a huge college football fan. When the games begin in late August, I’m either glued to the TV or I’m visiting football stadiums around the country enjoying some...

Hydronic Balancing: A New Frontier for NCI Contractors

As we are in the process of developing a commercial air and water balancing training and certification program for larger systems, we have been creating hydronic balancing forms and procedures. Water systems have been an integral part of commercial air conditioning...

Humidity Testing Tips

The primary challenge in effectively measuring humidity is accuracy. The two major elements affecting accuracy are the reliability of your test instrument and the measurement technique that you use. Choose a good quality instrument. Many low cost instruments are...

HSER™ Season is Upon Us

HSER™ Season is Upon Us by Rob "Doc" Falke In May of 2004 we released the CSER ™ and HSER ™ procedures to NCI Members. With the success many members have enjoyed with CSER this summer, several members requested that we address HSER again this fall with additional...