First, attack the distribution system. Second, replace equipment.

A challenge that many companies face is getting technicians to consistently measure static pressure.

Let’s look at some helpful “static” pressure tests you can use on the building side of the duct system to diagnose common problems.

New skills and test instruments may look like a predator to employees if they don’t understand why they’re important.

What if there were a quick and simple way to anticipate what would happen to static pressures if you increased or decreased airflow?

The good news is that once you measure static pressure, you can estimate fan airflow in less than 30 seconds with the right information. Once technicians understand that static pressure testing gets them to fan airflow, they will see why it is important to measure it on every call.

You might wonder, “Why can’t I just use a duct calculator and tape measure to identify duct repairs?” You could, but that means making a lot of assumptions and wasting valuable time.

Many of the calls I receive about goofy static pressure readings typically tie into one of five issues. Let’s look at these issues and how you can be sure they don’t affect your measurements.

The first reason not to measure static pressure is because hooking up a refrigeration manifold to the system tells you everything you need to know. Don’t worry about the fact that this practice often leads to leaks, can introduce non-condensables, and can cause potential refrigerant contamination.

How good are you at hunting airflow restrictions? Do you have a game plan or is it just guesswork? Let’s take a look at some ways you can more effectively hunt down pesky airflow restrictions that could be plaguing your customers’ HVAC systems.