HVAC Performance Summit w/ Dominick G.

Dominick Guarino from NCI joins the podcast to talk about the High-Performance HVAC Summit, an upcoming event hosted by NCI from April 17–20. The National Comfort Institute (NCI) is a training organization that helps technicians learn crucial skills and succeed through high-performance contracting.

High-performance contracting is based on the mindset of “don’t just promise performance; prove it.” To maximize technicians’ potential, NCI teaches technicians how to test equipment properly and monetize their skills. Techs can then use their knowledge to teach the homeowner about the system and solve problems with sales; they can earn money while being solutions-oriented.

NCI’s High-Performance HVAC Summit is a training event geared toward HVAC business owners and contractors. It started as a membership conference for education and networking, and it has since expanded to include like-minded HVAC professionals from all walks of life. Workshops are led by a mix of contractors and NCI staff, and there are breakout sessions and other various session types.

This year’s High-Performance Summit theme will be “It All Starts With Service.” The four focal points of the workshops will be lead generation through service and maintenance, CO safety, the lead handoff from service to sales, and maintenance agreements. One more session will focus on hands-on testing, called “Low-Performance Town” this year, and there will be a panel about the future of high-performance HVAC.

Dominick and Bryan also discuss:

Dominick and NCI’s history in the industry
High-performance maintenance
Consumers who do their research
The HVACR Training Symposium
High-Performance Summit Awards Banquet
NCI’s collaboration with other industry leaders and organizations

Visit https://www.gotosummit.com/ to learn more about the High-Performance Summit. If you decide to register for the summit, type HVACSCHOOL in the coupon code section for a $100 discount.

Learn more about the HVACR Training Symposium or buy a virtual ticket today at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

Chris Hughes and Steve Rogers from The Energy Conservatory discuss TEC’s TrueFlow technology and its crucial role in predicting airflow issues in the sales process, particularly for heat pump retrofits. They explain how the TrueFlow app helps contractors accurately measure both static pressure and airflow in existing systems, enabling them to predict whether proposed equipment changes will work effectively. This is especially vital when considering the growing trend of replacing gas furnaces with heat pumps, as the airflow requirements can differ significantly.

The conversation delves into a detailed example of replacing an 80% efficient 48,000 BTU furnace with a heat pump. They demonstrate how the airflow requirement would nearly double from 652 CFM to 1,200 CFM, potentially causing the static pressure to quadruple due to Fan Law 2 principles. This dramatic increase could lead to significant performance issues if not properly addressed during the system design phase. The experts emphasize that using TrueFlow during the sales process allows contractors to identify potential problems and necessary modifications before installation rather than discovering issues during callbacks.

The discussion also covers the ideal workflow for system assessment and sales, starting with customer comfort evaluation and proper load calculations. It’s important to reduce loads through envelope improvements when possible, particularly in cold climates where heat pump retrofits are becoming more common. Proper system sizing often means going smaller rather than larger, contrary to common industry practices, and the worst HVAC systems are often found in expensive custom homes rather than tract housing.

Key Topics Covered:

TrueFlow technology and its role in system forecasting
Fan Law 2 and its impact on static pressure when changing airflow
Heat pump retrofit challenges and considerations
The importance of accurate load calculations
Dual fuel systems as a solution for cold climates
The relationship between airflow and static pressure
Sales process integration of technical measurements
Common issues with oversized equipment
The importance of envelope assessment
Methods for reducing system loads
Proper duct sizing and modification strategies
The role of proper filter sizing and selection
The benefits of flat-rate pricing for duct modifications
Training resources and support available for TrueFlow users

Check out TEC’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@energyconservatory, and you can visit TEC’s website at https://energyconservatory.com/.

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 6th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.