Prepare yourself for this new level of diagnostics by collecting copies of the fan data found in most installation instructions for the equipment your company installs and services. The most important diagnostic truth about a system is that you can determine how much air the system fan moves. Let’s examine how fan airflow can be …
Read more

Static pressure measurement on commercial HVAC systems can vary significantly from one type of equipment to another. Commercial pressure testing also requires you to interpret and report internal equipment pressure drops. To remain savvy on the latest commercial air pressure testing, let’s take a look at this latest NCI commercial pressure testing update. Packaged Equipment …
Read more

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 …
Read more

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 …
Read more

Consider this: The “Operating System” (programs like Microsoft’s Windows) is the most powerful program in your computer. Without a powerful operating system, your device is just a collection of parts that do nothing but sit there. The first business computer on my desk was an Epson QX-10 that featured the “CP/M” operating system. It was …
Read more

A recent evaluation of several hundred commercial rooftop systems around the country exposed a hidden flaw that deteriorates system efficiency up to 40% — Rooftop equipment curbs. Let’s take a look at how you can quickly diagnose and solve curb problems you may encounter in the field. What’s a Curb? A curb is a pre-fabricated …
Read more

A service manager reviewing the week’s service records called me to report a tell-tale pattern he discovered. He found most technicians consistently repeat the same 10 to 15 repairs. Let’s take a look at the impact on your customers and company when technicians slip into autopilot and fail to search for performance-based solutions. Performance-Based Service …
Read more

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 …
Read more

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 …
Read more

A question I’m frequently asked is, where do you start when improving a poorly performing duct system? Do you tear it out and start over again, or is there an easier way? The good news is, there is a simple way and a logical pattern you can follow to optimize a duct system. Let’s look …
Read more