The High-Performance HVAC Podcast

In this episode, Adam Mufich and Casey Contreras interview Chris Hughes (The Energy Conservatory) and Roman Baugh (HVAC School) about cold-climate heat pumps and VRV systems. From charging to system-specific service tips, we break down what contractors need to get right in the field. Featuring: Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute Chris Hughes - The Energy Conservatory Roman Baugh - HVAC School

David Richardson and Adam Mufich sit down with Todd Titus from HARDI to break down ultra-low GWP refrigerants, upcoming regulations, and the real-world trickle-down effects on contractors and consumers. We also dig into how HARDI is pushing back and advocating for the HVAC industry. Featuring: Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute David Richardson - National Comfort Institute Todd Titus, JD - HARDI#DavidRichardson #AdamMufich #ToddTitus #AHR2026 #AHREXPO #Hardi #Ultralowgwp #refrigerants #Hvacregulations

Jim Davis takes us through the real-world experiences that led him to uncover what actually affects combustion efficiency. Along the way, he challenges common trade myths and simplifies the basics of heat transfer, showing how they play a critical role in combustion.Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteJim Davis - National Comfort InstituteDavid Richardson - National Comfort Institute

Not all duct leakage is created equal. Steve Rogers from The Energy Conservatory explains the critical differences between leakage inside and outside the thermal envelope and how each affects comfort, efficiency, and performance. He also dives into diagnostic testing strategies that help uncover the real sources of airflow and comfort issues. Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteSteve Rogers - The Energy Conservatory

Tony Amadio is the President of First Dimension Software and the developer of TrueLoads, a residential HVAC system design application. He brings more than 18 years of engineering experience in the HVACR industry, along with a strong background in HVAC education. Tony holds a Master of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Central Florida. In this episode, Tony compares different methods of load calculations. He also talks about the importance of accuracy and what makes heat balance different. Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteTony Amadio - First Dimension Software

This week, Adam sits down with Scott Fielder from Evergreen Telemetry for a conversation about commercial air balancing, field measurement, and the stories behind Evergreen’s innovative tools. If you’ve ever thought about getting into commercial air balancing, this episode is for you. Featuring: Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute Scott Fielder - Evergreen Telemetry

In this episode, we sit down with Ed Janowiak to explore his journey of measuring heat pump performance. Ed shares how he first began exploring airflow and BTU calculations, and how the same challenges contractors face today were already present decades ago. We also cover practical ways to measure coefficient of performance and quick diagnostic tests that can give valuable insights into system health. Whether you’re a veteran or just getting started, Ed’s perspective shows why mastering the fundamentals of measurement is the key to solving comfort issues that never seem to go away.Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteEd Janowiak - ACCA

At the NCI Summit, we sat down with Brian Wright and Axel Romero to learn how they’ve used advanced diagnostics to set their company apart. From solving tough comfort problems to tackling serious health concerns, they share their journey in becoming the go-to choice in their market. This conversation is packed with real-world lessons for contractors who want to grow their reputation, deliver measurable results, and raise the bar for high-performance HVAC.

At the NCI Summit, we sat down with Anthony Woo to hear his powerful story of discovery and growth. Anthony shares how he first connected with NCI, the impact it’s had on his professional journey, and the lessons he’s learned over the past year. From new skills to real-world successes, this conversation highlights how training and education can transform not just a career, but an entire approach to residential HVAC.Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteEric Palmer - National Comfort InstituteAnthony Woo - Climatisation ACG Inc.

In this episode, we unpack the difference between pushy, outdated sales tactics and data-driven conversations that build trust. Al D’Ambola shares highlights from his Summit presentation, including how to make measurements relatable for homeowners and a creative approach to following up with customers. Whether you’re a contractor aiming to boost credibility or a homeowner tired of sales gimmicks, you’ll see why high-performance sales isn’t about high pressure, it’s about delivering real solutions. Featuring: Adam Mufich, Casey Contreras, and Al D'Ambola from National Comfort Institute

In this episode, Vince Lopez shares a real-world situation where another contractor claimed a furnace was safe, but testing revealed a dangerous situation. Vince walks us through how he identified the issue and provided a solution, and why education and proper testing are critical to protecting our customers.Featuring:Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteCasey Contreras - National Comfort InstituteVince Lopez - Comfort Solution Technologies

In this episode, Jim Ball shares practical strategies for making your service department not only stand out but thrive as a profitable part of your business. From setting your team apart in a crowded market to implementing systems that boost efficiency and customer satisfaction. Whether you’re an owner, manager, or technician looking for fresh ideas, you’ll leave with actionable insights you can start using right away. Featuring: David Richardson - National Comfort Institute Jim Ball - Dewberry

Adam, Casey, and John break down the often-overlooked side of indoor air quality—how some IAQ devices can actually create harmful byproducts in your home. They explore the pros and cons of different filtration types, when to use each, and why not all “clean air” products are created equal. If you care about what you’re customers are breathing, this episode will help you make more thoughtful recommendations. Featuring: Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute John Ellis - Dynamic Air Consulting

Adam, Casey, and Mark swap some wild (and a little scary) stories about the surprising places carbon monoxide can show up. They chat about the risks of not testing, what the Wanton Act means for liability, and why ignoring it isn’t worth it. Technician safety should always be a concern, so they share simple, real-world tips on how to start protecting yourself and your customers from this silent danger. Featuring: Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute Mark Hunt - National Comfort Institute

Adam and David discuss field conditions and factors that affect comfort and performance. They examine why design doesn’t always equal reality and the risks of ignoring proper sizing and selection. The dangers of oversized equipment and how it affects both the duct system and comfort are also discussed. They share simple tips to estimate field delivered equipment and system capacity to troubleshoot problem jobs and three steps you can use to identify the real source of comfort and performance complaints.Featuring Adam Mufich - National Comfort InstituteDavid Richardson - National Comfort Institute

Adam and David share their recent field experiences testing NCI’s ComfortMaxx powered by measureQuick. They discuss testing challenges, like fan airflow measurement, zoned systems, the importance of processes and checklist, and why you should label your smart probes. Their discoveries highlight the differences between the HVAC equipment and system and how the oversized equipment performed like it was the right size.Featuring: Adam Mufich - Content Developer and Instructor, National Comfort InstituteDavid Richardson - VP of Training, National Comfort Institute

Join NCI's Dominick Guarino and David Richardson as they explore the origins of Summit, some of the most memorable moments, and the spirit of Summit that makes this event so different from most industry events.

Featuring:Adam Mufich – National Comfort InstituteDominick Guarino – National Comfort InstituteBryan Orr – HVAC School/Kalos Services/GRIT FoundationLeilani Orr – Kalos Services/GRIT FoundationAdam and Dominick talk with Bryan and Leilani Orr to get the inside scoop on GRIT Foundation, a new non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about careers in skilled trades including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and carpentry. By creating hands-on learning camps across the US GRIT’s goal is to increase the percentage of young people in secondary education who choose to pursue a career in the trades.This podcast was recorded live at AHR 2025

Featuring:Adam Mufich – National comfort InstituteDominick Guarino – National Comfort InstituteSteve Rogers – The Energy ConservatoryChris Hughes – The Energy ConservatoryAdam Mufich and Dominick Guarino of National Comfort Institute talk with Steve Rogers and Chris Hughes of The Energy Conservatory about the Air Upgrade™ process and how that has changed the path of airflow testing. Testing is at the center of it.The group shares how the three most common problems are Airflow Airflow Airflow. According to Chris Hughes, a long-time student of NCI, “airflow is the least taught subject in trade school, and it all starts with a deeper understanding of static pressure.” Chris and Steve Rogers share how TEC’s Trueflow app dovetails with NCI training, and how each of the three NCI tests work TEC’s tools and software.This podcast was recorded live at AHR 2025

Featuring:David Richardson – National Comfort InstituteTy Branaman – GRIT Foundation/Love2HVACBen Lipscomb P.E. – National Comfort InstituteAdam Mufich – National Comfort InstituteToday’s Heat Pumps are not your grandad’s Oldsmobile. David Richardson brings together some champions of heat pump retrofits to talk about their experiences with them – including a teaser for a new upcoming NCI class! The key to good heat pump installations, whether a replacement or converting to electric heating from fossil fuels is understanding how the whole system works together, especially air distribution.It starts with understanding the true building load, using a good load calc software. Next you select the right equipment to match the existing conditions, and updating the duct system to allow the equipment to deliver the performance it was designed to. The key is to understand a heat pump is not a system – it’s a component of a system.Equipment selection is more important than ever especially in cooling mode when you need to balance latent and sensible heat removal. Selecting the right inverter equipment is even more critical in latent removal.This podcast was recorded live at AHR 2025.