The High-Performance HVAC Podcast

Ty Branaman dives into the hidden pitfalls of pulling a deep vacuum and more importantly, how to avoid them. From moisture behavior to evacuation strategy, this episode gets into the details that separate the guesswork from actual results.

The properties of air can be confusing, but it is important to have a basic understanding when working in the HVAC field. Learn how a clothes dryer works and how it relates to HVAC and psychrometrics. Ty made this conversation fun and educational by breaking complex topics down into relatable bite size pieces.

If you’ve ever st...

Casey Contreras and Adam Mufich are joined by Jason Esteves of Seitron Americas to discuss combustion analyzers, personal CO monitors, and the latest refrigerant tools. The conversation centers on real-world applications, safety, and accuracy in the field.

Featuring:

Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute

Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute

Jason Esteves - Seitron Americas

#caseycontreras #adammufch #jasonesteves #Seitron #Seitronamericas #Combustion #combustionsafety #CO #HVAC

Adam Mufich and Casey Contreras talk with Jeff Sturgeon about economizers, digging into installation challenges, the health and cognitive benefits of proper ventilation, and how saved data reveals real system performance.

Featuring:

Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute

Adam Mufich - National Comfort Institute

Jeff Sturgeon - National Comfort Institute

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 Institute

Jim Davis - National Comfort Institute

David 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 Institute

Steve 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 Institute

Tony...

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.

Fe...

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 Institute

Eric Palmer - National Comfort Institute

Anthony 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 Institute

Casey Contreras - National Comfort Institute

Vince 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 Institute

David Richardson - Na...

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 Institute

David 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 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 202

Featuring:

Adam 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 deepe...

Featuring:

Today’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 ca...

Featuring:

Chuck Worley from Worley Home Services tells his story of successes and failures in building HVAC companies over nearly 3 decades. Chuck shares his experiences on the path to High-Performance HVAC and his NCI training. He then delves into how being noticed and remembered through great branding can put your business on the top of new and existing customers’ minds.

This podcast was recorded live at AHR 2025.

Featuring:

Adam and Craig discuss the challenges and opportunities with A2L refrigerants, and how contractors can stay on top of this rapidly changing area. Craig also shares numerous insights published in his new book, “2nd Edition Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air."

This podcast was recorded live at the AHR Expo 2025.