Articles Tagged with ''National Comfort Institute (NCI)''

Since Halloween is right around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect time to take a look at some of the ghosts in duct systems that are often tracked down by progressive HVAC companies. Some of these issues are directly caused by the duct system itself while others are an indirect result of its influence.

Performance-based contracting involves HVAC professionals measuring the live, installed field performance of systems to ensure customers are getting what they’ve invested in. The field-performance measurements obtained by an HVAC professional are then used to rate the operating efficiency of the installed system.

As common as this installation method is, it has some unintended consequences that can plague the safe and efficient operation of an HVAC system. Let’s look at why open filter racks can be a problem and the issues they might be creating in the systems you install, maintain, and service.

Many professionals are wondering exactly what’s involved in this test, the equipment that’s needed, third-party testing, and how to pass these tests. Let’s take a look at some of the basics for residential duct-leakage testing.

A subject that is sure to get some hearty debate going is whether ducts inside a conditioned space should be sealed or not. What is your opinion on this sticking point of energy efficiency?

The National Comfort Institute (NCI) kicked off its 12th annual Summit last month with a distinct gold-mining theme, having fun with its San Diego venue. The event drew about 115 attendees, including record attendance from NCI’s California members, according to Dominick Guarino, chairman, NCI.

Over time, the fortunes of multiemployer plans and their participants mirrored the economic conditions of the industries they served. Eventually, many of these plans became unfunded, and that is where all the trouble really took root.

A couple of months ago, I addressed the topic of how proper HVAC system design could not guarantee the installed performance of a system. Since that article, I have received a number of emails requesting I go into further detail about the measurements I mentioned and how to verify the installed performance of a system.

Life sure is strange. I find myself appearing in the pages of this fine publication after more than 30 years of working for a competitive magazine. And, yet, it’s like a homecoming of sorts.