Successful Thermostat Installation Advice | HVAC Installation Advice

by | Thermostats | 0 comments

Successful Thermostat Installation Advice

Best Advice for Thermostat Installation - Read the Guides

Successful Thermostat Installation Advice – High Performance HVAC wants you to be successful at the installation of your new thermostat so we ask that you read the pages here at High Performance HVAC carefully before you attempt to install your new thermostat. If necessary study the installation guides before trying to install your new thermostat to make sure you can install the new thermostat without any hitches.

Again we sincerely care about the success you have at installing your new thermostat so please read carefully and follow all instructions. We are confident that if you follow all the instructions, including the manufacturers and our thermostat installation pages here you can join the thousands of other people who have used High Performance HVAC Guides to correctly install a new device and enjoy the savings a new programmable thermostat can save you on energy use. (more…)

Ductwork and High Ceilings | HVAC Duct Work Systems

by | Duct Work | 2 comments

DuctWork and High CeilingsDuctwork and High Ceilings - I did not see any reference to my question and would appreciate a response as soon as possible, as due to a medical situation, have to make a decision soon. We own an OLD house with 13′ ceilings in a large part of the home and 11″ ceilings in the LV/DR and BR. We are oscillating on where to place the ducts…Floor or ceiling. It appears to be counterproductive to me to put the ductwork in the ceiling since it will have so far to go.

We are looking for the most cost-effective, not upfront cost but operating cost, solution. In addition, we are considering DF heat pumps. The house will need 2 or 3 to be zoned correctly. Please let me know about the duct placement and thank you for your help? (more…)

Closing Off Part of the House To Save Energy on HVAC | HVAC Efficiency

by | Energy Efficiency | 0 comments

Closing Off Part of the House and HVACClosing Off Part of the House To Save Energy on HVAC - I have a Heil gas/electric package unit in my home. I, particularly, want to know, if I can close off a section to save on heating. Heating dealers have not been helpful as they hedge on whether and how this can be done with the system still running at its most efficiency.

I have closed doors to seal off the area. Then closed floor registers. Should I also close air return in that area? I just read this should not be done at all as it decreases unit efficiency? Will you please advise. I am thinking of closing off part of the house to save energy on HVAC. Thank you. (more…)

How DDC Status Works – Methods and Types | HVAC Control

by | Direct Digital Controls | 0 comments

How DDC Status Works – DDC and Status – Is the Device On or Off

How DDC Status Works? DDC Status Methods and Types

This is a current switch sometimes referred to as a CT switch.

The basics of DDC include learning about the status of a fan or a compressor or pump. How does a DDC controller read the status of the device it is monitoring? There are several ways to prove a device is running and some pros and cons of each type of device used to monitor on or off status.

This is a basic DDC guide or reference to help a person understand the basics of DDC status and how it works. When one learns how DDC status works they can improve their troubleshooting skills.

Too many maintenance technicians and others including HVAC technicians don’t understand DDC systems or building automation systems and are therefore crippled when it comes to troubleshooting DDC systems.

High Performance HVAC hopes to change that and help HVAC techs and HVAC maintenance staff learn the basics of DDC systems including how DDC status works. Once someone understands the basics about DDC a light will turn on and they will see that DDC is not really rocket science.

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Boiler Efficiency Options | Buyers Advice

by | Buyers Advice | 0 comments

Boiler Efficiency Options
Boiler Efficiency Options - High Performance HVAC wants to help you understand your next boiler purchase better. To do this we want to break down all the different types of boilers and components, and various options and features that you may find when making a purchase.

Typically, you want to find a like replacement for the boiler you currently have installed, or if you are buying a new boiler, you want a system that will handle the load and is durable. The most important feature of the new purchase is usually the fuel efficiency simply because the cost of running the new system will give you pay back over time for the new purchase.
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Hot Water Boiler Reset Control | Heating and Cooling

by | Boilers | 0 comments

Hot Water Boiler Reset Control
Hot Water Boiler Reset Control - Richard, We are looking at replacing our boiler with a new hot water boiler. The HVAC contractor, I suppose he is the salesman for the HVAC contractor, is trying to sell us what he refers to as a reset control for our boiler. He tells us it will save us more money by making our boiler more efficient. I think I understand how it works but my wife is not entirely sure about it. Can you tell us what you think about a boiler reset control and how it works?

Thanks, and we have learned so much from High Performance HVAC. And keep up the good work.

Brent (more…)

Thermostat Wiring Colors Code | HVAC Control

by | Thermostats | 108 comments

Thermostat Wiring Colors Code Page Navigation

    1. Essential Thermostat Wiring Color Guide Including Manufacturers Instructions
    2. Thermostat Terminal Designations Quick Guide - Detail Wiring Color Guide Below
      • Red-Wire - connects to the R terminal with the red wire
      • RC-Wire - connects to the RC terminal RC red
      • RH-Wire - connects to RH terminal RH heat
      • Y-Wire - connects to the Y terminal and is for cooling stage 1 with the yellow wire
      • Y2-Wire - connects to Y2 terminal and is for cooling stage 2
      • W-Wire - connects to W terminal and for heat stage 1 with the white wire
      • W2-Wire - connects to W2 terminal and for heat stage 2
      • G-Wire - connects to G terminal and for fan operation with the green wire
      • C-Wire - connects to C terminal (common 24v power) with the C wire
      • O or B-Wire - connects to O or B terminal and is for reversing valve operation
      • E-Wire - connects to E terminal and is for Emergency heat
      • X or Aux-Wire - connects to X terminal and is for auxiliary
      • S1 and S2 Wires - connects to S1/S2 terminals and is for outdoor temperature sensor
    3. Thermostat Wire Color Code Chart
    4. Tracing the Wire to the Source
    5. Additional Resources

    What you will learn in the Thermostat Wiring Colors Code article:

    1. First, what thermostat wire colors is likely to go to which terminal on the thermostat in your heating and cooling system
    2. Secondly, the function of each wire terminal on the average thermostat highlighting some of the differences in those HVAC system functions from manufacturer to manufacturer as recommended for thermostat wire color
Sometimes, the thermostat is not the problem. Please check this article for a checklist of things to check before calling a heating and cooling repair service.

Thermostat Wiring Colors Code | HVAC Control


Thermostat Wiring Colors CodeAlways follow the thermostat manufacturer’s instructions whenever changing the thermostat. Always turn the power off at the air handler and the condenser and make sure there is no voltage at the transformer before proceeding.

  • Furthermore, the thermostat wire colors below are the most likely colors used for most installations; however, your thermostat wire colors may be different than what the indication is here. There is no official standard for thermostat wire colors. Additionally, thermostat wiring colors are not standardized. However, these are the most wiring methods used based on my years of experience in the HVAC field, where I successfully wired a lot of thermostats and as recommended by manufacturers and common sense for thermostat wiring colors code.

    For instructions on how to wire a thermostat, please see how to wire a thermostat page. Refer back to this page for thermostat wire colors.

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    • Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off

    by | Refrigeration | 1 comment

    Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off - What you can expect to learn from Condensing Unit Frozen won’t Turn Off article: this article is an answer to a question taken from our email by a visitor to High Performance HVAC. We often use the questions we get in the email as a guide to writing articles. The topic is a condensing unit that will not turn off, and it is freezing up. From my experience in the field and using my HVAC knowledge, I offer the readers a list of what could cause this problem. We hope it helps you.
    What’s the possible problem with a frozen air conditioner condenser that won’t turn off except with the breaker? (more…)