For Homeowners

Make sure your heating system delivers

Heating and cooling systems consume nearly half of the energy used in the home. By upgrading to a high efficiency heat pump system and addressing any leaks in the duct system, you can minimize this. Yet not all technicians are equal when it comes to HVAC efficiency. When a heat pump is commissioned by a Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) certified technician, it is guaranteed to be installed for the highest level of performance for home comfort and energy savings. A PTCS certified technician is trained to properly size your system and recommend the best equipment for your home, install heat pumps and seal ducts to standards way above code, and voluntarily submit to third party inspections of work completed.

Along with the benefits of a quality installation, PTCS certified work also gives you access to financial benefits such as utilities incentive programs, energy star rebates and tax credits.

QA Information

All PTCS certified technicians agree to have a percentage of their jobs reviewed by third party inspectors. PTCS “Service Providers,” such as Ecos Consulting conduct these site inspections and provide feedback to technicians and utilities in order to continue to improve the quality of the installations. Quality assurance site visits include a visual inspection of equipment and airflow tests to insure that the equipment is saving as much energy as possible. There is no additional charge to the customer for these visits, and the benefit is a thorough system check that could cost as much as $400 otherwise. If your job has been PTCS certified, you may receive a letter or a phone call 1-4 months after your installation inviting you to participate in the third-party quality assurance inspections. To volunteer your system for third-party inspection, please send a message to info@PTCSNW.com.

About our Program

PTCS is a certification program for residential heat pumps and duct systems. It is sponsored by the Bonneville Power Administration based on recommendations made by the Regional Technical Forum regarding the best practices for high performing HVAC systems. Through the PTCS program, contractors are trained in the specifications and must submit paperwork for each job to a registry maintained by Ecos consulting. Jobs are reviewed by Ecos Consulting and given statuses based on their completeness and payment eligibility. Ecos also performs site inspections on a percentage of jobs to ensure PTCS standards are being consistently upheld.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of systems does PTCS certify?
  PTCS certifies air and ground source heat pumps, duct sealing, and duct testing.
• How do I know if my contractor is PTCS certified?
  PTCS certified contractors are listed on a Web registry that can be found here. This registry can also be used to find a certified contractor in your area.
• How do I receive financial benefits from a PTCS installation?
  Many utilities offer incentive programs for upgrades to PTCS work. Information for these benefits can be found on each utility’s Web site. In Oregon, Department of Energy tax credit forms will be mailed to customers whose jobs meets heat pump and duct sealing standards.
• How do I become a PTCS certified technician?
  Successful completion of the PTCS heat pump or duct sealing class is required to become a certified contractor. Check the side of the main page or the contractor section for upcoming dates and locations.
• Why do I need to have so many inspections performed on my system
  Contractors and many utility programs offering incentives return to inspect a recently installed job to make sure it was completed correctly. Ecos performs its own third party inspections on a percentage of jobs to make sure that the quality of the work is upheld, and that each system is saving the customer as much energy as possible.
• Request More Information
  For more information about our program, please write us at info@PTCSNW.com

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