Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from April 2007

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from April 2007

SPX Cooling Technologies.(Price Increase)
April 16, 2007... SPX Cooling Technologies (Overland Park, Kan.) increased prices 6 percent globally on all Marley and Recold branded factory-assembled products and options, effective immediately.

DeBra-Kuempel.(Contractors)
April 16, 2007... DeBra-Kuempel, an Emcor company (Cincinnati) is hosting the Chiller Systems Group Spring Meeting at the Cincinnati Marriott at River Center, May 4-5.

Rheem Manufacturing, Heating & Cooling Division.(Manufacturers)
April 16, 2007... Rheem Manufacturing, Heating & Cooling Division, (Fort Smith, Ark.) appointed Mark King as residential outdoor product manager.

Green Mechanical Council.(Manufacturers)
April 16, 2007... Carrier (Farmington, Conn.) joined the Green Mechanical Council (Nennah, Wis.).

Reliable Controls (Victoria, British Columbia) partnered with Functional Devices Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 16, 2007... Reliable Controls (Victoria, British Columbia) partnered with Functional Devices Inc. (Russiaville, Ind.).

Automated Logic Corp. (Kennesaw, Ga.) acquired Marietta Automated Systems Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 16, 2007... Automated Logic Corp. (Kennesaw, Ga.) acquired Marietta Automated Systems Inc. (Marietta, Ga.).

Metal Industries Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 16, 2007... Metal Industries Inc. (Clearwater, Fla.) appointed Chuck Justice as national sales manager for Prefco.

Boiler Supply Co. Inc.(Supplier)
April 16, 2007... Boiler Supply Co. Inc. (Nashville, Tenn.) named Eddie Lunn III, grandson of company founder Eddie Lunn Sr., and son of current president, Eddie Lunn Jr., as president.

Ivy Tech State College's (Evansville, Ind.) HVACR program was granted national accreditation.(Schools)
April 16, 2007... Ivy Tech State College's (Evansville, Ind.) HVACR program was granted national accreditation by HVAC Excellence (Mount Prospect, Ill.).

2007's coolest products for the residential market.
April 16, 2007... It's time again for the annual Cooling Showcase. Every year The NEWS introduces the latest air conditioning units available for the upcoming summer season. The intent is to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research...

Nordyne forms partnership with Nexstar.
April 16, 2007... WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. -- In the hopes of demonstrating its commitment to providing dealers with the professional tools required to remain competitive in the HVAC industry, Nordyne has formed a strategic partnership with member-owned Nexstar[R]...

Don't leave the combustion analyzers in the truck.(letters)
April 16, 2007... Thanks for the story "Condemned Furnaces Spark Safety Issues" [March 5]. The information I use to condemn heat exchangers came from your magazine. I posted it on a dealer user forum. An additional note: I did a "no heat" service call on a...

We should be on the same page.(letters)
April 16, 2007... I very much enjoyed Angela Harris' article "Condemned Furnaces Spark Safety Issues." I am a retired home inspector that spends his time writing, speaking, and instructing home inspectors on plumbing, HVAC, and real estate issues. I became...

The defective heat exchanger detective.(letters)
April 16, 2007... The piece by Angela Harris "Condemned Furnaces Spark Safety Issues" in the March 5, 2007, issue was great. I especially loved how you started the piece. This is not new and has a long history, mostly negative, I'm sorry to say. I could tell you...

A guide to understanding HVAC filter selection.(EXTRA EDITION)
April 16, 2007... A Guide to Understanding HVAC Filter Selection: Effective air filtration provides the primary defense for building occupants and HVAC equipment against pollutants. That's why selecting the right HVAC filter is so critical.

General Refrigeration Adds Site in N.C.(REGIONAL REPORT--SOUTH)
April 16, 2007... General Refrigeration Adds Site in N.C.: General Refrigeration Co. of Delmar, Del., has opened an office in central North Carolina.

Rheem reorganizes corporate and divisional management.(newsline)
April 16, 2007... ATLANTA -- Ian Stewart Farwell, president and CEO of the Rheem Manufacturing Co., announced a large reorganization of the company's management team at the corporate level and at two of its three operating divisions, Water Heater and Air...

Emerson names Liebert president.(newsline)
April 16, 2007... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Emerson Network Power announced that Charles (Chuck) Spears has been named president of Liebert North America. Spears, who reports to Bob Bauer, Emerson group vice president and Liebert Worldwide president, has relocated from...

School credits become flexible.(newsline)
April 16, 2007... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Service Contractors Association (MSCA) is endeavoring to provide employment opportunities to students from the top HVACR programs in the country. The MSCA and their partners, the United Association (UA) and the...

Dealer wins truck from American Standard.(newsline)
April 16, 2007... TYLER, Texas -- Dave Patterson, a comfort consultant with Academy Air, O'Fallon, Mo., won a 2007 Ford F-150 King Ranch truck and $1,000 in cash in the annual Stars & Stripes incentive program from American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning....

Top NATE techs to compete.(newsline)
April 16, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is sponsoring the eighth annual Certified Technician Competition at Comfortech 2007, St. Louis, Sept. 27-28. Seven HVAC technicians will compete for the title of Top Tech 2007 as...

AAON.(cooling showcase: NEW PRODUCTS TO KEEP THIS SUMMER COOL)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: CG condensing unit (optional heat pump) FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 31 by 36 to 37 by 37 Serviceability: Color-coded wiring and corresponding fixed, laminated wiring diagrams; efficient enhanced-fin, single-row coil improves...

Advanced Distributor Products (ADP).(2007 residential products)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: F, P Series air handler FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 330-569 square inches, depending on model size SERVICEABILITY: Three independent panels allows access to blower and coil assembly. All door panels are flanged, allowing for less than 2...

AirEase.(cooling showcase: RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTS FOR 2007)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: 4SCU18LT split system FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 38 by 36 by 44 SERVICEABILITY: Designed with two-screw service and coil panel access. Double and single concentric knockouts facilitate electrical connections. Ground lugs standard on...

Amana Heating and Cooling.(cooling showcase: RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTS FOR 2007)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: APG154811541AA packaged gas-electric unit FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 47 by 51 SERVICEABILITY: Single-panel access to controls, a large-diameter control panel, and access to the service valve ports via a large, easy-to-remove side...

American Standard.(cooling showcase: RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTS FOR 2007)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: Allegiance 18 split system FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 41 (h) by 37 (w) by 34 (d) SERVICEABILITY: Easy-Sess service access panels facilitate installation, service, and maintenance, including coil cleaning. TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Contact...

Arcoaire.(cooling showcase: RESIDENTIAL PRODUCTS FOR 2007)
April 16, 2007... MODEL: DXT+ split system FOOTPRINT (INCHES): 35 (w) by 37 (d) SERVICEABILITY: Innovative control box with easy-to-remove panel for access to troubleshooting components (plug and play), control accessories prepunched for attachment....

M&M Welding and Fabricators Inc.'s (Gaithersburg, Md.) Carey Dove, president.(Contractors)
April 30, 2007... M&M Welding and Fabricators Inc.'s (Gaithersburg, Md.) Carey Dove, president, is the first woman to be named chair of Mechanical Contractors and Unions Seal of Excellence (CAUSE).

Emcor Group Inc.(Contractors)
April 30, 2007... Emcor Group Inc. (Norwalk, Conn.) was ranked within Fortune magazine's "America's Most Admired Companies." It was also named to the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals' (IAOP's) "Global Outsourcing 100" list.

Johnson Controls Inc.(Manufacturers)
April 30, 2007... Johnson Controls Inc. (Milwaukee) is offering HVAC Equipment and Systems and HVAC Controls and Strategies courses for consulting engineers at the Johnson Controls Institute (Phoenix).

American Air Distributing Inc.(Distributors)
April 30, 2007... American Air Distributing Inc. (West Chester, Pa.), Phoenix Wholesale Inc. (Phoenix), and Trane-Heartland Dealer Sales Offices (St. Louis) partnered with Air Advice Inc. (Portland, Ore.).

The Standards Engineering Society.(Codes and Standards)
April 30, 2007... The Standards Engineering Society (Miami) will host its annual conference Aug. 20-21 at the Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.

Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association's (GAMA's).(Organizations)
April 30, 2007... The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association's (GAMA's) 72nd annual meeting is May 5-8 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributor's (NAW's).(Organizations)
April 30, 2007... The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributor's (NAW's) Institute for Distribution Excellence released its revised and updated "2007 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports."

SMACNA projects troubled future.(association update)
April 30, 2007... Change or die. That was the often-repeated message in a recent study commissioned by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA). The 312-page...

History lesson: ductless has come a long way.(FOCUS: DUCTLESS A/C SYSTEMS)
April 30, 2007... The concept of a ductless DX air conditioning system that is familiar in the world today has gradually evolved since being introduced en mass in the 1970s. Pioneered by Asian--predominantly Japanese--manufacturers, it was developed as a step up...

Survey.
April 30, 2007... The NEWS has a new online survey at www.achrnews.com. Visitors are encouraged to click on "Survey" in the upper left corner of the home page and answer questions regarding vehicle purchasing versus leasing. The survey runs through May 21.

Correction.(Correction notice)
April 30, 2007... In the April 16 Residential Cooling Showcase issue, The NEWS was provided the incorrect photo to run with the Maytag PSA4BE split system product. Pictured here is the correct picture. The NEWS regrets this error.

To moonlight on side jobs can be a felony in some states.(Letter to the editor)
April 30, 2007... I was really disturbed by an article ["When Your Tech Is off the Clock"] written by John R. Hall in the April 9 edition, about side jobs. The article seemed to glorify the practice as if there is nothing wrong with it. I wanted to comment about...

Contractors and inspectors working together.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 30, 2007... I applaud John R. Hall's column on contractor-inspector relationships ["Contractor-Inspector Relationships," April 16.] I currently am the HVAC inspector for two towns. In both of those towns, all of our inspectors are, or have been, in their...

Rooftop units reach new heights in performance, efficiency, and flexibility.(EXTRA EDITION)
April 30, 2007... Rooftop Units Reach New Heights in Performance, Efficiency, and Flexibility: When rooftop units first came on the scene, they were a rather basic solution for controlling temperature in one-story commercial buildings. Now that has all changed.

NYSERDA offers ways schools can save.(EXTRA EDITION)
April 30, 2007... NYSERDA Offers Ways Schools Can Save: Typically the largest controllable budget category in a school is energy-related. Did you know that 5-25 percent of these utility costs can be cut?

DOE declines to adopt amended standards.(newsline)
April 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- In a final rule published in the March 2007 Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) decided not to adopt the amended standards for commercial packaged boilers and gas-fired instantaneous water heaters contained in...

GAMA receives congressional briefing.(newsline)(Brief article)
April 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association's (GAMA's) Government Affairs Committee met at the Reserve Officers Association headquarters on Capitol Hill and received a briefing on prospects for Congressional passage of an energy...

Mark Dumuhosky.(OBITUARIES)(Obituary)
April 30, 2007... BATAVIA, N.Y. -- Mark Dumuhosky, 54, passed away on March 29 after a long battle with cancer. "He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, as well as a friend to many who had the good fortune to know him," said Alan Mercurio, oil heat...

Solomon Holtzin.(OBITUARIES)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 30, 2007... Solomon Holtzin, CMS, Past International President of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) International, died Feb. 21. He was 86. Mr. Holtzin was active in the Delaware Valley Chapter, Middle Atlantic Regional Association (MARA),...

Approved ANSI standard protects hearing.(newsline)
April 30, 2007... OCONOMOWOC, Wis. -- To assist in the prevention of hearing loss, the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) has approved ANSI A10.46-2007, Hearing Loss Prevention in Construction and Demolition Workers. This standard specifically...

SkillsUSA competition challenges students.(newsline)
April 30, 2007... LEESBURG, Va. -- SkillsUSA will be holding its 43rd National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City, Mo., June 25-29. The opening ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 26; leadership contests are on...

New report shows wage increase.(newsline)(Brief article)
April 30, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The findings of a new report issued by the Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) indicates that average wage and fringe increases rose slightly to 4.2 percent in 2006, up from 3.9 percent in 2005. According to the report,...

GreenMech sponsors Ecobuild pavilion.(newsline)
April 30, 2007... NEENAH, Wis. -- Attendees to Ecobuild America[R] 2007 can explore a new Green Mechanical Pavilion sponsored by The Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech). The Ecobuild America conference and exhibit, focusing on sustainable, green, and...

NEFI focuses on business and training.(newsline)
April 30, 2007... BOSTON -- The 32nd North American Heating and Energy Expo and the New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) Business Conference, June 12-13 in Boston, will offer visitors an in-depth look into the future of oil heat and liquid fuels with a tradeshow...

Data center cooling unit.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The InfraStruXure[R] InRow[TM] RP is a cooling unit for data centers and small computer rooms. It places cooling next to the heat source, providing predictable, dynamic heat removal for medium, high, and ultra-high density deployments. A...

HFC refrigerants.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The Isceon[R] 9 Series refrigerants are HFC refrigerant blends with zero ozone depletion potential. They can be used as retrofit options for existing equipment and in accelerating the phaseout of ozone-depleting substances, such as R-22, in...

Rigid coupling.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... Style W89 AGS rigid coupling provides a rigid joint for use exclusively with stainless steel pipe Schedule S10 or higher. The coupling greatly reduces linear and angular movement through the use of wedge-shaped coupling housing keys that fully...

Maintenance schedule board.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The Maintenance-Master Board displays and schedules a full year of preventive maintenance actions for each machine, vehicle, and equipment item in a facility. Color-coded magnets identify the week's job assignments, giving managers and...

Dispersion tubes.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The new insulated steam dispersion tubes, offered as a humidification system option, reduce wasted energy by up to 85 percent while significantly reducing airstream heat gain and dispersion-generated condensate production, states the company....

Duct sizing software.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... Manual D Ductsize (MDD) is a fast and simple program designed for sizing and analyzing HVAC duct systems based on the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's (ACCA's) Manual D procedures. It analyzes both supply and return duct systems. A...

Energy economizer.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The second generation of IntelliCon energy economizers features an LCD display that gives consumers and end users an immediate readout on the percentage of fuel that the device is saving. Now standard on the IntelliCon HW+, IntelliCon CHW, and...

Standby power generator.(what's new)
April 30, 2007... The Ruud-branded standby power generator is designed to provide home builders with an attractive feature that defines their homes in the eyes of home buyers who wish to avoid power outages that may result in unsafe, unhealthy, and uncomfortable...

More profitable business model: contractor goes completely ductless and happy with outcome.(FOCUS: DUCTLESS A/C SYSTEMS)(Company overview)
April 30, 2007... Michael Cappuccio has grown accustomed to being one of New England's largest and most successful air conditioning and refrigeration dealers. President of N.E.T.R. Inc. Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Woburn, Mass., Cappuccio enjoys...

Bryant.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.bryant.com Bryant said its high-wall, duct-free split system heat pump, with either Puron[R] or R-22 refrigerant, is designed to provide heating and cooling for those applications where ductwork is not available or practical. It said...

Carrier.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.carrier.com Carrier said it combines heating, cooling, and quiet operation with a multitude of features in its highwall systems. The manufacturer said it is the only manufacturer that offers 9K through 36K sizes in both Puron[R]...

ComfortStar USA.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.comfortstarusa.com The new ComfortStar Plus mini-split heat pump systems use inverter technology and R-410A refrigerant "to give the customer more than 30 percent, and up to 40 percent, savings in energy usage over older models," said...

Daikin AC (Americas) Inc.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.daikinac.com Daikin said its original variable refrigerant volume (VRV) systems allow the use of ductless and/or concealed ducted-style fan coils. The VRV system's inverter-driven compressor technology is designed to enable the output...

EMI.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.enviromaster.com EMI said its America series line offers both single- and multi-zones in both straight cool and heat pump. Features of this 13 SEER line include electric strip heat, R-22 refrigerant, and wall thermostat control. The...

Fujitsu General America.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.fujitsugeneral.com Fujitsu General America recently introduced three new ductless split systems, enlarging its Halcyon line of R-410A inverter wall-mounted air conditioners and heat pumps. The company said its new equipment offers...

Heat controller.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.comfort-aire.com Comfort-Aire's DMC/DMH line of ductless mini-splits come in ratings as high as 16.1 SEER, said the company. All models come in both cooling and heat pump platforms. Highest rated are the trizone 36,000 Btuh models at...

LG Electronics USA.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.lgusa.com The manufacturer said its Art Cool "Picture Model" mini-split system utilizes a 100 percent customizable indoor evaporator unit. An easy open clear frame allows any picture or artwork to be inserted into the face of the unit....

Mitsubishi Electric.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.mehvac.com Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division recently unveiled its new Mr. Slim[R] M-Series line of inverter-driven, cooling-only, and heat pump products. Pictured is the MSZ-A09NA indoor model, which the manufacturer...

Modine Manufacturing Co.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.airedaleusa.com The Airedale cassette units are designed to "effectively make each area served an independent controlled-temperature zone," said the company. To properly match units to job requirements, cassette units are available in...

Samsung/quietside.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.quietside.com Samsung said its AQB Series inverter-drive heat pump high wall ductless mini-splits "are extremely energy efficient and user friendly." Four units, with nominal capacities from 9,000 to 24,000 Btuh (cooling and heating),...

Sanyo.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.sanyohvac.com Sanyo said its ductless mini-split Flexi-Multi heating and cooling products provide individual cooling or heating and improved air quality to residential and light commercial buildings. The ductless split air...

Soleus International.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.soleusair.com The company said the indoor units of its Soleus Air industrial mini-split air conditioners feature "very elegant design to suit any decoration." The electronic system is designed to provide three minutes of anti-short...

Turbo Air.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.turboair.com The company said its new TAS-09SVH mini-split heat pump system uses an inverter compressor with R-410A. It saves 20 percent or more on electricity compared to the company's older 10 SEER model, it said. For better air...

United CoolAir.(PRODUCT SNAPSHOTS: PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THE DUCTLESS A/C MARKET)
April 30, 2007... www.unitedcoolair.com United CoolAir Corp. said its MiniCool ductless system operates much like other ductless systems, using wall-or ceiling-mounted evaporators. But unlike most other condensing sections that require an outdoor location,...

An answer for retrofit applications.(FOCUS: DUCTLESS A/C SYSTEMS)
April 30, 2007... Now that the residential and light commercial new construction boom has lost some of its charge, many U.S. home and business owners will invariably turn their attention to remodeling. It's statistically proven, seen after every surge in new...

President discusses issues facing members.(association update)
April 30, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- Jo Wagner isn't just the president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors (PHCC) National Association. She is also a business owner facing the same challenges as other HVAC and plumbing contractors. She spoke about her...

We'll work for fuel.(money talks)(Boyd Mechanical resurfaces after Katrina)
April 30, 2007... Believing in yourself and your abilities can be tough sometimes. However, having that belief and faith in your abilities is often the first step at succeeding in the face of a challenge. This train of thought was prompted for me when I...

Fleet leasing can help grow your business.(business management)
April 30, 2007... SAN ANTONIO -- All HVAC contractors have similar goals, including increasing revenues, reducing expenses, improving cash flow to fund growth, and improving employee retention and recruitment. According to some, all of these goals can be...

Divide and conquer.(MURPHY'S LAW)
April 30, 2007... If you find something useful on this page, do not tell anyone. And, be sure not to send this to any of your competitors that may be undercutting your prices. Years ago, as a fledgling territory manager at Lennox Industries, I knew absolutely...

Your peers are waiting to help you.(opinions)(contractors networking)(Column)
April 30, 2007... Despite the overall optimistic tone which usually exists at winter industry meetings, speaking with contractor attendees reminds us that we still have a number of very serious issues facing our future. Increasing fuel and other costs, shortage...