I get questions all the time about performing “load calculations” and “rules of thumb” or how to do it properly. This article isn't about load calculation, but the only good answer is to find a quality ACCA-approved Manual J software and get used to using it. You may have heard from others in the field […]

Brake horsepower (BHP), motor nameplate HP, and the actual electrical power (watts) a motor will consume are different but related concepts. They can get confusing. So, we will tackle them one at a time. Let us start with simple definitions of work, power, and horsepower. Work = distance in feet x force in pounds, both […]

When we install systems, we should have three main goals in mind: maximizing longevity, efficiency, and capacity. We want our units to work as long as possible, use the lowest amount of energy, and move the greatest amount of BTUs possible with a proper mix of sensible and latent heat transfer. Unfortunately, some installation practices […]