Taco After Dark

Part 1: Heat Loss for Hydronics

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

In the midst of lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing, Taco Comfort Solutions would like to help you use this time to sharpen your skills. Together we are offering Taco’s full-day field training class to you one hour at a time.

In Part 1, join Taco’s John Barba, Rick Mayo, and Dave Holdorf as they discuss the importance of a heat loss analysis, what information you’ll need, and the very simple math behind it all. A heat loss is important for everything from a simple boiler replacement to a major remodel or new construction. This fast-paced, hour-long overview will give you the basics for simple heat loss as well as resources to conduct your own heat loss calculations. Topics will include:

• Calculating infiltration
• Heat loss through windows and doors
• R-value vs. U-value
• Ceiling and floor loads
• What the totals mean

We’re looking forward to seeing you in Part 1 of Taco After Dark.

Part 2: Heat Emitters

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Join Taco Comfort Solutions for Part 2 of Taco After Dark as we discuss Heat Emitters. In Part 1 we learned about simple heat loss calculations. In Part 2 we’ll now use that information to size various heat emitters, including fin-tube baseboard, cast iron radiators, and radiant floor heating. We’ll also look at boiler selection and learn the difference between a boiler’s DOE output and its net I-B-R/AHRI output.

You won’t want to miss this fast-paced, fact-filled hour of non-stop hydronics.

Part 3: Pipe Sizing, Air Control & Pumping Away

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Join Taco Comfort Solutions for Part 3 of Taco After Dark. Join us as we build on lessons learned in Parts 1 and 2 and discuss how to size boiler piping based on load, how and why different kinds of air separators work, and just what all the fuss is about circulator location and pumping away.

You’ll also learn one of the cornerstones of our shared business: the Universal Hydronics Formula. You’ll learn how to use this formula to size pipe, size circulators and troubleshoot. It’s kind of handy.

You won’t want to miss this fast-paced, fact-filled hour of non-stop hydronics.

Part 4: Figuring Flow & Head, and the Finer Points of Circulator Selection

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Join Taco Comfort Solutions for Part 4 of our ongoing series, Taco After Dark. In our first three segments, we’ve learned about heat loss, heat emitters, and boiler selection, all building blocks for the next phase of the program. In Part 4, we’ll use all that knowledge to take the next step, which is to actually determine flow and head loss and then use that information to make the best circulator selection possible.

You’ll also learn where pump performance curves come from, as well as the importance of system curves and how those two little items will determine the overall performance of your hydronics systems.

Make sure to sign up! You won’t want to miss this fast-paced, fact-filled hour of wall-to-wall hydronics.

Part 5: Zone Pumps, Zone Valves & The Great Debate

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime, this debate has been raging: Which is better, zone valves or zone pumps?

In Part 5 of Taco After Dark, we’ll examine that question by looking at the pros and cons of each. Whichever way you choose, you’ll learn how to make sure you have the right circulator (or circulators) for the job, and we’ll start taking a look at the wild and wonderful world of variable speed circulators.

You won’t want to miss this fast-paced, fact-filled hour of wall-to-wall hydronics!

Part 6: The Truth About Variable Speed Circulators; What They Do and Don’t Do

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Variable speed circulators are not “magic,” and they certainly don’t “do the thinking for you.” The industry is rife with misconceptions and misinformation about residential variable speed circulators, and it’s important for the plumbing and heating professional to know what he’s using and why.

In Part 6 of Taco After Dark, presented by Taco Comfort Solutions, Taco’s John Barba, Rick Mayo, and Dave Holdorf will dissect today’s variable speed ECM circulators, tell you what they do and – more importantly – what they don’t do. These little devices have the potential to greatly enhance the overall efficiency of any residential hydronic heating system, but they do need to be installed and programmed properly. In this session, you’ll learn what’s real, and what isn’t.

Part 7: The REAL Value of Variable Speed Circulators

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

Variable speed circulators aren’t magic, they don’t size themselves and they don’t “do the thinking for you.” We learned all that in Taco After Dark, Part 6. But if all that’s true – and it is – what is the real value of these little devices?

In Part 7 of Taco After Dark – presented by Taco Comfort Solutions, Taco’s Rick Mayo, Dave Holdorf, and John Barba will continue the discussion on ECM and variable speed technology, and show you how variable-speed can benefit your residential hydronic systems…if applied and programmed properly. We’ll discuss the different types of variable speed circulators and show you which operating modes make the most sense for which applications, and how the right pump can enhance the overall efficiency of any hydronic system.

You won’t want to miss the fast-paced, fact-filled event!

Part 8: Mod-Con Boilers, Buffer Tanks and Zoning

Presented by John Barba, Dave Holdorf & Rick Mayo

The right approach to piping a multi-zone system with a mod-con boiler can make all the difference. Do it effectively and you have a system that purrs like a kitten and provides your customer with years of optimal efficiency, performance, and comfort. Do it wrong, however, and you may have just planted a time bomb in your customers’ basement — and an inefficient one at that.

In Part 8 of Taco After Dark, presented by Taco Comfort Solutions, you’ll learn the finer points of piping a mod-con boiler, including when to use a primary-secondary “moose-antler” piping arrangement, when to use a hydraulic separator and when to use a buffer tank (you’ll also learn how to size one!).

Join us Wednesday or Tuesday night for another fast-paced, fact-filled episode of Taco After Dark.

John Barba

Director of Training, Taco Comfort Solutions

John is Director of Training for Taco Comfort Solutions, the leading manufacturer of commercial and residential circulators, controls and accessories for plumbing and heating systems. He is the 2012-2014 recipient of the Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of Excellence, and was recently named the industry’s Best Trainer for 2015 by AHRI News Magazine.

David Holdorf

Residential Trainer, Eastern Region, Taco Comfort Solutions

Mr. Holdorf has been in the hydronic industry for 25 years, specifically in the radiant heating side of the business for the better part of his career. Starting out in the technical support/design role and then took over as Engineering Manager overseeing the Technical Support and Design Department. Later he took a position as a Field Technician; supporting training, designing, installing and troubleshooting.

Rick Mayo

Western Product and Application Instructor, Taco Comfort Solutions

Richard Medairos

Director of Engineered Products and Systems Training

Mr. Medairos is a Senior Systems Engineer and Director of Commercial Training at Taco Comfort Solutions. He has over forty years of experience with demonstrated expertise in engineering, project management and planning. Throughout his career, he has worked on projects with major clients such as NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, Boston University, Rhode Island School of Design, First Data Corporation, and Taco’s Innovation & Development Center.

Brett Zerba

Applications Engineer, Taco Comfort Solutions

Mr. Zerba is an Application Engineer at Taco Comfort Solutions with over twenty years of experience at the company. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1981, and in 2003 he earned his Master of Business Administration from Johnson & Wales. Mr. Zerba has demonstrated his skill and expertise in the field of hydronic systems as an ASHRAE and Hydraulic Institute member.