Rob "Doc" Falke
The Best of Rob 'Doc' Falke
Sometimes the best way to learn something is to dive in and get your hands dirty. Rob ‘Doc’ Falke has been sharing his industry knowledge and expertise through his technical articles in the Hotmail newsletter for several years. His articles give contractors a ‘hands on’ approach to solving issues like balancing a zoned system to exhaust fan pressure measurement. Click below to get access to some of the best of Rob’s past articles. ...
Effective Use of Air Balancing Test Instruments
Air balancing is being called out in HVAC specifications more than ever before. It’s specified in the new Energy Star Standards, it’s called for in the quality assurance section of ACCA’s Quality installation....
How to Retire From the HVAC Industry
Last week my Dad, Walt Falke, finally retired from the HVAC industry. In his mid-eighties he has made the decision to move on to the next chapter in his life. He was completely prepared and the business was perfectly organized for it. ...
Duct Renovators - A New Entry Level Position
A new job description is evolving across the HVAC industry that’s becoming critical to contractors looking to offer more than just box replacement. ...
Commercial Room Pressurization Testing
More designers are becoming aware of the effects of using room pressures to control air flows in buildings, control odors and contain contaminants. When balancing these buildings, testing and reporting must include room pressurization measurements. Let’s take a look at what required to effectively measure room pressures....
A New Dimension in Service Agreements
Traditional service agreements are focused on the performance of the equipment part of an HVAC system as though the equipment was the single component that controlled efficiency and comfort. ...
First, Meet Manufacturer’s Specifications
In a recent public forum, system performance testing was criticized by a manufacturer as being unnecessary because the equipment would always work just fine as it was shipped. ...
Why a Three Ton System is Really a Two Ton on a Hot Day
It's that time of year when we get calls on a hot afternoon and hear our customers complain, "Our unit isn’t keeping up, and we need a service call." ...
How to Balance a Variable Speed HVAC System
Balancing a variable speed fan poses a significant challenge because the fan speed and airflow may constantly change as the balancing hood is placed on each grille. Let’s take a closer look at how to accurately test and balance these systems....
The Five-Fifteen Report
Normally “Doc” articles would refer to a technical style of report. However the Five-Fifteen is a long-standing goal setting and time management tool used by managers and team members to touch base each Friday. It takes 15 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to read, and can revolutionize office productivity and relationships. ...
How to Prepare an Air Balance Report
Before entering the field to balance an HVAC system, assure your success by preparing your balancing report in the office, well before setting foot on the job. ...
Fan Speed Measurement Basics
Your customer is suffering from low airflow. Your job is to identify the problem and prescribe a solution. A quick, but effective test to get you started with your diagnostics is to measure the amp draw of the blower motor....
Quality HVAC Maintenance Testing
Maintaining HVAC systems is a routine service offered by a majority of HVAC contractors for decades, and new movements are afoot to expand the basic HVAC service agreement. ...
Why HVAC Systems are Less Efficient than You May Think
I recently presented some test data to a government energy official that portrayed very low operating efficiency of systems in their current HVAC efficiency program. Although he acknowledged their current programs were saving little or no energy, he was struggling to understand why high efficiency equipment and tight duct systems we’re not doing the job. Let’s take a look at what we found. ...
Why Many HVAC Efficiency Programs Aren’t Working — Part Two
The last Hotmail Newsletter article generated lots of discussion about the apparent lack of success of government and utility HVAC efficiency programs, but also generated some optimism for what they could be someday. ...
Why Many HVAC Efficiency Programs Aren’t Working-Part 1
More and more successful HVAC contractors are choosing not to participate in government and utility HVAC efficiency programs across the country. ...
How to Determine Required Return Grille Airflow
When designing or redesigning an HVAC system, many contractors have asked how to determine the amount of airflow a return grille should pull from the conditioned space. Supply airflow is determined by ACCA Manual J or by some other accepted method depending on the heat loss or heat gain of each room. Here’s a quick and simple method to establish return grille required airflow that works every time....
Who’s Writing New HVAC Testing Standards?
There’s been a recent flood of home performance efficiency testing standards out for public opinion that include HVAC testing methods. It appears these groups are in need of feedback from the HVAC industry. Public feedback means they are inviting us to comment, so, let’s comment. Let’s take a look at what’s being proposed and how it affects our future....
A Shift in Nameplate Static Pressure Ratings
A new step has been added to effectively interpret manufacturer’s rated total external static pressure. Listed static pressure on the nameplate used to be quite close to the fan capacity found in the fan tables. Not so much anymore. Let’s take a look at the change in fan pressure ratings and why you should be checking the manufacturer’s fan tables....
Diagnose the System Before You Suggest
Successful salespeople across the HVAC industry are learning to include system efficiency testing as a vital component of their customers buying experience. Let’s take a look at what spells success or failure during the early steps of this sales process....
An Uncomfortable House with a Perfect HVAC System
I entered a home recently that I’d been to before. The complaint was super high energy bills. Years ago, I had renovated the HVAC system and rated the system at an operating efficiency of 100%. It was one of the best systems in the country. The duct system was perfect, less than a degree different upstairs to downstairs. But the Utility bills in this 1900-sq.-ft. home exceeded $400 per month this winter. Something was up. It was my job to find the problem....
How to Explain Government Energy Programs
During the month of November I was traveling the country meeting with contractors, raters, industry leaders, utilities and government officials. It was a long and difficult journey. All that traveling lead me to a revelation I’ve been seeking for over 20 years. I finally am able to explain the difference between the minimum standards of government energy programs, and the higher level of energy efficiency delivered by top performing HVAC contractors. ...
Volunteers
Over 30 volunteers arrived at NCI’s new training center in Cypress, CA, early last Saturday morning. In addition to their willingness to give of their time, skills and professionalism, they brought a spirit of commitment, enthusiasm and contribution that was rare but typical of the HVAC industry. This delightful event begged the question what caused these guys and gals give up their Saturday?...
Delta What?
“Delta t” is the most common use of the word delta in the HVAC industry. Delta t means temperature difference. If the temperature in a supply duct is 100F and the temperature in the attic around the duct is 60F; subtract 60F from a 100F to find a delta t of 40F. Let’s take a look a few other “deltas” that we include in our day-to-day HVAC industry terms....
Air Balancing and Energy Star
The proposed Energy Star for qualified homes, Version 3.0, has recently been released and is drawing a combination of praise and fire from the HVAC, rater and building professions. My inbox is buzzing with comments about the proposed standard and what effect it may have on the future of our industry....
