< Previousor Google ® ) told her that adding an- other supply air drop or return air in- take is all she needs. It’s time to shine. Tell her you’d pre- fer to perform airflow tests first to find the real problem(s). Explain that you do not want her to waste money. In almost every case, your client will agree. KNOWLEDGE IS VITAL Here’s where understanding ACCA’s manuals J, S, D, & T can help. zManual J gives us what we need to determine how much heat is gained and lost throughout the building. zManual S guides us in selecting the equipment necessary to satisfy a building’s needs. zManual D provides us with the process of delivering the airflow necessary through our equipment to the rooms needing it. z Manual T, often overlooked and small compared to the others, teach- es how, where, and why we should be delivering the airflow to ensure our time spent doing all of the mea- surements and math does not go un- noticed. SOME EXAMPLES Have you ever noticed people sitting in their chairs, loungers, couches, etc., with a blanket or sweater nearby? The reason is that the original HVAC System designer likely ig- nored Manual T. When the HVAC system comes on, the homeowner is blasted with airflow from improper- ly chosen grilles/registers/diffusers (GRD), causing discomfort. That’s why they grab their blankets. When the equipment turns off, the blankets come off. Ultimately, this discomfort can lead the homeowner to adjust the thermo- stat up or down. By the way, blankets can also indi- cate inadequate mean radiant tem- perature control, often caused by im- properly sized HVAC equipment. Manual J helps to properly size equipment. But what happens if you size the sys- tem to Manual J requirements and it doesn’t work? Let’s say the existing equipment sat- isfies the temperature in heating and They may also say, “I have had three other companies here, and you’re the first to ask these questions or show any concerns about the XYZ problem — Why is that?” Scary stuff, right? You may have to eat crow and explain how, through continuing education, your company has come to understand more about the importance of airflow and its im- pact on comfort. Continue your explanation by telling them that for a successful HVAC ren- ovation, you must test existing condi- tions so the team can perform high- er-level diagnostics. Such diagnostics assure the customer that you have done due diligence to deliver peak sys- tem performance. AIRFLOW IS A BIG DEAL If we fail to test and consider the whole system — the equipment, the return and supply ductwork, AND the house itself — we’re likely to under-de- liver on our clients’ expectations. All three ARE THE SYSTEM, and testing them all is crucial to success. Airflow is a big deal. For example, Mrs. Jones (pros- pect client) wants a quote to replace her system and tells you how her pri- mary suite is always uncomfortable. She then asks to include adding more ductwork or airflow in general. Odds are someone else (competitor 20 SEPTEMBER 2024HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYTECHNICAL materials were used. Then, preferably using software, de- termine what the home and individu- al rooms require to satisfy the home and client’s needs. This approach pro- vides guidance moving forward to deliver repeatable results with client satisfaction. Gathering information means bring- ing your tools, including the appropri- ate test instruments and measuring devices. Most customers will be im- pressed seeing your team (including your salespeople) testing the system with instruments. Manual D-designed duct sys- tems and those who install them rarely get the respect they deserve. When properly designed and in- stalled, the duct system is truly a work of “Blue Collar Art.” In many cases, duct systems be- come a lifetime part of the home and can be a leading cause of un- derperforming of high-performance equipment. GATHER THE INFORMATION FIRST So what do we do? First, gather im- portant information from the home. Find out about the insulation, build- ing materials, occupancy, the direc- tion of the house, types and locations of supply register/grilles/diffusers, and what types of duct fittings and cooling mode. Let’s also say there are no major comfort complaints EX- CEPT that humidity in the home is often at 60% and may even drift to 65% or more. That would suggest the equip- ment does not meet Manual S guidelines for system selection. Manual S looks at both Latent and Sensible heat to ensure the equip- ment chosen can closely match the needs of the home and occupants. MORE EXAMPLES Let’s face it: not all three-ton equip- ment is the same. You can look at the same outdoor section of equipment with three separate “matches” and get three completely different per- forming pieces of equipment. SEPTEMBER 2024 21HVACTODAY.COMTECHNICAL door seal. You will be measuring the home (+) with reference to “WRT” (-) outside. If it is windy, you may need to extend your time averaging or deploy oth- er means of neutralizing the wind effects for your baseline read- ing. Don’t forget to write this num- ber down or snap a picture for your reports. 2. Next, turn on the HVAC sys- tem. Monitor the gauge to de- termine if any changes occurred. Did the pressure in the house go up? If so, you likely have significant return air duct leaks. Did the pressure go down? That means there is likely significant supply air duct leakage. Record this new number (and take a picture) and disconnect from the hose going outside. 3. Next, close all internal doors. Connect a hose to your manom- eter and place the hose into the room. You will measure the room (+) WRT to the home (-). Record each reading, documenting which doors are closed. Take pictures and add notes to your photographs. 4. Finally, once all interior doors are closed, return to the hose you left outside and measure the home (+) WRT (-) outside one last time. Again, take a picture. 5. Measure the existing HVAC system’s performance. You may want to run a measureQuick ® Your evaluation should also in- clude cycling the HVAC equipment on and off. Go outside, capture nameplate infor- mation, and walk around outside the building looking for structural concerns that can im- pact comfort and system performance. Then, re-enter the home and make sure all interior doors are open and all exterior doors are closed. TEST, TEST, TEST Now is the time to discover what ef- fects – if any – the HVAC system has on the home. Let’s start with a blow- er door test. 1. Place a probe from your pre- cision manometer outside on the sheltered side of the home. You can slide a piece of tubing under a EVALUATE, EVALUATE, EVALUATE It’s not always about cool tools, ei- ther. Use your senses when evaluat- ing a home. Never underestimate the value of the information the client will give you. Ask permission to walk the entire house (start at the thermostat and turn the equipment on). Invite them to tag along and engage with them on different observations. Look for spider webs and dust build- up on surfaces, doors, windows, etc. Do you feel air blowing on you as you make your way through areas? You don’t have to say a word. Silence or know- ing looks can spark the right amount of conversation, and the client will handle all the talking for both of you. Also, look for things that signal dis- comfort, like blankets or throws on furniture, open or closed doors, and closed registers. Listen to see if the HVAC equipment sounds loud. Dustin Cole Presents at High-Performance HVAC Summit 2024 This article is based on a presentation given by Dustin Cole at National Comfort Institute’s 2024 High-Performance HVAC Summit in Asheville, NC. This session is titled, “High-Performance HVAC Renovations from Start to Finish,” and covers why and how HVAC professionals blend testing and diagnostics with ACCA Manuals J, S, D, and T to deliver High-Performing HVAC systems for consumer customers. Cole also covers how such testing protects you from costly mistakes. If you cannot attend this year’s Summit, this article should give you the key highlights of what Dustin will share with those who are in attendance. Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2025 Sum- mit, from September 9-12, 2025 in Austin, TX. HVAC SUMMIT 2024 HIGH-PERFORMANCE 22 SEPTEMBER 2024HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYproach will open eyes and minds to many missed opportunities and may answer some longstanding questions. Remember, air is powerful, and our HVAC systems are arguably the most impactful on building envelope per- formance when it comes to induced leakage. Does there appear to be air seal- ing in critical areas such as top/bot- tom plates? Better yet, can you tell if air sealing was performed in other of- ten-overlooked places, such as framed corners, ceiling/light penetrations, and drywall/wall connections? WRAPPING IT UP Following the above process, you can confirm the heating/cooling ca- pacity delivered. You should also have a reasonable understanding of system airflow performance/defi- ciencies and determine if insulation deficiencies or room pressurization issues are causing unbalanced room temperatures. For many, understanding and im- plementing a Home-As-A-System ap- TECHNICAL report after using the Digital Tru- Flow® grid and Joblink® probes. However, you can also follow your ex- isting practices by collecting this data. That may mean measuring enthal- py changes, Delta T, refrigerant mea- surements, using manufacturer static pressure worksheets, etc. 6. Visually inspect the HVAC system. You want to thorough- ly walk through the duct system, not- ing duct materials, routing, sizes, insulation, etc. By the way, don’t for- get to take pictures. 7. Visually inspect the attic/ crawl spaces. Do these meet minimum insulation requirements in your market area? Is the installed insulation consistent to provide thermal balances? Dustin Cole owns Cole Air, Inc. , Lake Charles, LA. The company opened for business in 1985 and provides complete heating and cooling services. Cole is a strong proponent of High-Performance HVAC™ contracting and believes in continu- ous education, especially in HVACR & build- ing performance work. He can be reached at ncilink.com/ContactMe . SEPTEMBER 2024 23HVACTODAY.COM24 SEPTEMBER 2024HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYremediation, but more on identifying sources. That is the difference between now and then. As we’ve learned more about testing and measur- ing combustion and how CO spillage happens, we know that it is equally important to discover the actual sources of that spillage and then offer solu- tions that will keep customers safe. COMMON IGNORANCE PERVADES In the early days, Jim Davis encountered much pushback from gas appliance manufacturers, dis- tributors, and utilities. They didn’t like anyone talking about combustion appliances being un- safe. Though that attitude today has changed, a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation is still prevalent. Let me be clear: I fully support advancing technology. However I see one consequence of these advancements as contributing to taking away critical thinking skills required for proper diagnostics in the field. I see more people paying more attention to getting refrigeration levels and airflow correct. These are all essential things, but nobody will die from not having the correct CFM coming out of a six-inch round duct run. On the other hand, any combustion appliance touched by an HVAC contractor or plumber has all the ingredients for a significant catastrophe, including death. So, how do we counter this common level of ignorance? The answer is better training and better tools. M y journey toward understanding combustion efficiency and carbon monoxide (CO) safety began years ago when I first met Jim Davis before he joined the National Comfort Institute (NCI) team. In those early days, society developed a strong focus on the CO issue because of some headline news stories about homeowners and their chil- dren who died from it. It seems to me that over the years, that emphasis has faded. The issue has NOT gone away. It may be worse than ever. As an industry, we must press the importance of CO testing — not so much Carbon Monoxide Safety: Tales from the Basement By Mark Hunt LEADERSHIP This vintage poster (to the left), courtesy of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Massachussets website , says it all. Shouldn’t the HVAC trades also be considered a protector of the nation’s health? SEPTEMBER 2024 25HVACTODAY.COMFor example, I met a 19-year-old technician who was fresh out of high school and might have done some tech trade school. He paid his own way to my class. The company he works for wouldn’t cover the costs. He took per- sonal vacation time to attend. Think about that. What do you sup- pose the chances are that this tech’s company was open to support and use what this young man just learned? What are the chances that he will either leave that company or the industry altogether? As HVAC contractors, we must change our outlook. Otherwise, the current technician shortage will only grow, and the industry will lose the better, more motivated technicians we already have. So we must provide the best training possible to technicians and then sup- port them. We must be open to new ideas and embrace their desire to be craftsmen. TALES FROM THE BASEMENT Here are some of the consequenc- es of garbage in, garbage out informa- tion that I think is dumbing down the trade. They stem from what I discov- ered when I was an HVAC contractor. I call these my “Tales from the Base- ment” stories, highlighting situations I found left behind by the contractors who worked at a house before me. For instance, during a clean-and- check service call on an oil-fired fur- nace, I noticed a light inside the com- bustion chamber when I pulled the burner gun out. When I opened up the supply plenum on top of the furnace and looked down, I saw that the heat exchanger had rot- ted through. But the company I worked for had techs patch the heat exchanger with furnace retort cement. CHANGING OUR OUTLOOK In the combustion training classes I teach, it always amazes me how at- tendees become slack-jawed at how much they don’t know or how much of what they thought they knew was wrong. They often leave class fired up and ready to better the world, only to return to their companies, where the owners are more focused on selling boxes and don’t support the techs in their bid to implement what they learned. LEADERSHIP Mark Hunt Presents at High-Performance HVAC Summit 2024 This article is based on a presentation by Mark Hunt at National Comfort Institute’s 2024 High-Performance HVAC Summit in Asheville, NC. This session is titled, “How to Take Combustion Testing to the Next Level ,” and covers strategies for different situations, and what you can do to improve consistency among your team. Mark plans to set the stage so you’ll have a solid understanding of how to handle ambient CO (carbon monoxide) testing and red tagging to present the right combustion solutions to your customers. If you cannot attend this year’s Summit, this article should give you the key highlights of what Mark Hunt will share with those who are in attendance. Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2025 Summit, from September 9-12, 2025 in Austin, TX. HVAC SUMMIT 2024 HIGH-PERFORMANCE 26 SEPTEMBER 2024HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYcarbon monoxide in the title, you’ll receive a link to that story. You will be surprised how many alerts you’ll re- ceive. If that doesn’t convince you and your team of just how important your work is, then nothing will. One thing you’ll see in common with these stories is that the media often re- ports a furnace or water heater caused the issue. However, through training and experience, you will learn this is not always the case. Carbon monoxide is not confined to only furnaces, boilers, and water heat- ers. ANY gas-fired appliance, includ- ing stoves, gas fireplaces, power gen- erators, cars in garages, and others can cause it. Power generators are becoming one of the biggest causes of CO issues, doing things right the first time. When any HVAC tech or plumber walks into a customer’s home, they’re the most critical contractors who will ever walk through those doors. HVAC CONTRACTORS SAVE LIVES Every contractor who adjusts and services combustion appliances is re- sponsible for keeping customers safe and enabling them to have a high quality of life. This statement is true for EVERY home they interact with. As High-Performance HVAC™ con- tractors, you and your team must un- derstand and believe that. One way to help your team believe that is to set up Google News Alerts for carbon monoxide poisoning. Ev- ery time a story hits the Internet with This cement usually seals a breach around a flue pipe going into a ma- sonry chimney. The techs before me were caking this cement at the top of the customer’s heat exchanger to plug the hole. Furnace retort cement is not meant for that kind of heat. Ex- cessive heat causes the cement to be- come brittle and flake off. The result: this furnace vented directly into the customer’s home. I refused to do the cleaning. The homeowner got upset and called my boss, who waved me off the job. He sent out someone else to put another bandage on the heat exchanger. I didn’t work for that company much longer because that practice endan- gers people. I wanted no part of that. Stories like this drive my passion for LEADERSHIP SEPTEMBER 2024 27HVACTODAY.COMLEADERSHIP of the Nation.” It was because their job was to pre- vent illness from sewer gas and other nasty things impacting water systems. I think that the HVAC industry needs to pick up that model. Plumbers and HVAC contractors are the first line of defense. I don’t care if you’re just there to change the air filter on the furnace. You need to look around to see what’s happening in the house. I would rather HVAC guys be the ounce of pre- vention rather than the pound of cure. The fact is, once anyone from your company touches any HVAC equip- ment, you own it. You are responsible for it. You can make all the difference. These are my tales from the base- ment. They are a sample of the state of our industry today. I think that High-Performance HVAC™ contrac- tors can lead the charge to change things. This fact is the key reason why it’s so important technicians understand the equipment, how it works ALONG WITH how the duct system and house interact with it. They must also understand their vi- tal importance for the well-being of their customers. Again, as HVAC and plumbing contractors, we are the most essential contractors who walk into a person’s house. Our industries’ mis- sion is indeed to protect the health of the nation. more dangerous concentrations in the home. They don’t know it’s better to buy low-level CO monitors. And they don’t know what to do when those monitors go off. For example, last year I met a con- tractor who told a story about one of his customers who owned an NSI 6000 low-level CO monitor. One day, that monitor went off, and the customer called the contractor. But they called the fire department first. When the contractor arrived at the house, the fire department had al- ready been there, telling the contrac- tor that the furnace was the source of the carbon monoxide. Here’s the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey was so fond of saying. At the time of the alarm, it was August, and the outdoor temperature was 95°F. The furnace wasn’t running. After visually investigating the scene and conducting tests, the contractor discovered the homeowner was can- ning vegetables all morning. She was boiling water on her stove, and enough carbon monoxide had built up to set off the low-level CO monitor. The point is that by putting on their Sherlock Holmes hat, investigating visually, interviewing the customer, and properly testing, the contractor discovered the real source of the prob- lem and could offer the homeowners advice on how to stay safe. PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF THE NATION There was a time in this country when plumbers were viewed as equal- ly important as lawyers or doctors. The motto of the plumbing industry was and still is “Protecting the Health especially after a significant weather event that knocks out power to homes. Consumers will buy gas-fired genera- tors from the local big box store and ignore reading the safety instructions for that equipment. They often set up the generator in the basement or the garage. Then, people start to get sick. Worst case scenario, people die. As HVAC contractors, this is why getting the proper training, like the Combustion Performance and CO Safety training that NCI pro- vides, is essential. Such training will help you and your team understand all the different sources of CO. Think about this: whether you like it or not, homeowners and the public consider you and your company to be the experts. With that in mind, your technicians must become like Sherlock Holmes. Detective work requires both physical and visual investigation. Here is the key: When you find unsafe conditions, tell the customer and explain why. FIRST RESPONDERS MOSTLY ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED Homeowners who install CO de- tectors and monitors have no idea what to do when the alarm goes off. Typically, their first impulse is to call the fire department. In most cases, fire departments are NOT CO experts. They have little training to recognize that CO may be the problem. Their first action is to condemn the usual suspects: furnaces, water heat- ers, and boilers. Then there is the issue of what kind of CO alarm a homeowner should have. Most buy CO alarms from a big box or other hardware stores. But these alarms only detect CO at higher, Mark Hunt began working in the PHVAC industry in 1983 as an installation tech- nician in residential new construction. Eventually, he worked with several man- ufacturers, training con- tractors, and engineers. Hunt joined National Comfort Institute in 2023 as an instructor. He can be reached at ncilink.com/ContactMe with any questions or comments. 28 SEPTEMBER 2024HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYSEPTEMBER 2024 29HVACTODAY.COMNext >