If you would like the ability to enter PTCS jobs for all certified technicians at your company from a single account, contact us at
[email protected] to get Company Administrative permissions. This eliminates the need to log into individual tech accounts for each job completed by a different technician.
Existing Heating System Type
Did you know that the most common correction made to PTCS measures is the Existing Heating System Being Replaced? To reduce measure corrections confirm that you selected the appropriate existing heating system type for the project before submitting your PTCS form.
Employee Status Changes
Please contact
[email protected] if a PTCS certified technician leaves your company and we will update the registry to ensure only current employees are listed for your company.
Installation Talk
Reduce Heat Loss or Increase Heat Pump Capacity?
Consider the following example; An existing home needs a new heat pump. The system being replaced was too small to meet the PTCS sizing specification of a balance point of 30 degrees or less. At first glance this may seem like a barrier to participation in the PTCS program, however exploring a few options can lead to successful participation in the PTCS program and a more comfortable home.
Modifying duct size and restrictive fittings and installing a larger heat pump can be one option to resolve the issue, but there is another alternative: Consider reducing the heat load of the home by adding insulation to the shell, air sealing the envelope leaks, and/or sealing and insulating the ducts that are outside the condition space.
Improving the building shell can reduce the ACCA Manual J calculated heat load that potentially results in a smaller unit being able to meet the home's heating load and still meet the 30-degree balance point sizing specification. This also may eliminate the need to modify the duct system to meet the air flow and static pressure specifications and could reduce installation and operation costs for the homeowner.
Check Ducts When You Install New Equipment
The program would ideally have every home receiving a PTCS certified heat pump to also have its duct system PTCS certified. But we get it, duct sealing is nobody's favorite job. If the job is not going to include PTCS duct sealing, we highly recommend conducting what has been dubbed "the Homer Simpson" duct leakage test. It is not the most rigorous test, but it is a sure-fire way to find disconnected ducts. The test is simple. Turn the heat pump to heat or cool and check to see if conditioned air is coming out of each register. If you find a register that does not have conditioned air coming out, it is either a disconnected duct or a closed damper. In any case its worth investigating.
Tips on Determining if a House Needs a
Ducted or Ductless Heat Pump
Deciding on which type of updated HVAC system for a home that has had baseboard, wall heater, or ceiling cable heat can depend on several factors. Can ducts be added to the home in a way that meets the heating needs? Adding ducts to a home can be expensive but they can be installed to help heat and cool the entire home. If the home has an open floor plan with a main living area that is large, a single head ductless heat
pump (DHP) might be a better option than a ducted air source heat pump (ASHP).
Both an ASHP and a DHP can provide cooling. A single-head DHP can heat and cool the main living area, whereas an ASHP can deliver heated or cooled air to all the rooms (including bedrooms). The installation of multi-head DHP's can be as expensive as installing ASHP's with ducts depending on how many heads are installed. Cost and the availability of space for ducts are the two driving factors that can help homeowners decide whether to install a DHP or an ASHP.
Basements - Conditioned Space or Unconditioned Space
Knowing if spaces are conditioned or unconditioned is necessary when sizing a heat pump or performing effective duct sealing. Omitting a conditioned space when sizing a heat pump will likely cause the system to be undersized and increase heating bills. Sealing ducts inside conditioned spaces might make some parts of the house more comfortable, but will not save significant amounts of energy.
According to PTCS specifications, most basements are considered inside conditioned space. Typically, unless a basement can only be entered from outside and no heating vents are in the space, a basement will be considered as conditioned. However, if a crawlspace is open to a basement, even if the crawlspace is vented and the floor above is insulated, it is still inside conditioned space. Until insulation is installed between those spaces, saying that the crawlspace is unconditioned does not stop unimpeded heat transfer between the two spaces and then out the foundation walls.
If you are working on a house and have questions about whether a space should be considered conditioned or unconditioned, please check with our newest PTCS technical staff team member, Kyle Chase at
[email protected]
Your commercial customers rely on you to recommend cost-effective energy-efficient HVAC solutions to save energy and lower overhead expenses. Make yourself more competitive by learning about the latest HVAC technologies and utility program incentives at an upcoming workshop sponsored by Trade Ally Network NW. The 2020 workshops feature:
Incentive program information from local utilities to help your customers find energy-saving solutions
The latest trends in connected buildings, with practical tips for selling whole building systems and controls to your customers
A 90-minute, hands-on session featuring Advanced Rooftop Controls
We offer a free hearty breakfast (eggs and bacon), and the opportunity to network directly with vendors and manufacturers' reps. Visit our website at tradeallynetworknw.com and register now for the location most convenient for you.
Trade Ally Network NW is sponsored by the Bonneville Power Administration and its Northwest utilities.
Questions
Do you have questions about the registry, testing, upcoming trainings or the program in general? We're here to help. Reach out to 1.800.941.3867 or [email protected]. For more information, consult ourProgram Homepage.
