Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from August 2004

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from August 2004

Illingworth Corp. (Milwaukee) was named Subcontractor of the Year by CG Schmidt (Milwaukee).(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Illingworth Corp. (Milwaukee) was named Subcontractor of the Year by CG Schmidt (Milwaukee). A subsidiary of Emcor Group Inc. (Norwalk, Conn.), Illingworth's recognition was based on such factors as teamwork, quality of work, leadership,...

Air Comfort Corp. (Broadview, Ill.) promoted Fred Litke to director of technical services.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Air Comfort Corp. (Broadview, Ill.) promoted Fred Litke to director of technical services. The company also recognized service technicians Bill Lockridge and Joe Kubiak with Quality Improvement Process awards for the first quarter of 2004. The...

One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating (Sarasota, Fla.) announced five contractors have become One Hour franchisees during the second quarter of 2004.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating (Sarasota, Fla.) announced five contractors have become One Hour franchisees during the second quarter of 2004. They are: Heartland Heating & Air Conditioning (Ozark, Mo.); Sutherlin Inc. (Greencastle,...

Gem Plumbing and Heating.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Gem Plumbing and Heating (Lincoln, R.I.) announced that the company has expanded its home services to include electrical contracting and septic tank systems. For additional information on the company, contact www.gemplumbing.com.

A. Epstein and Sons International Inc.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... A. Epstein and Sons International Inc. (Chicago) named Richard J. Kooy as vice president of business development.

ASHRAE addresses chemical weapons.(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
August 2, 2004... ASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ventilation is included in most indoor Nair quality (IAQ) solutions. In the case of terrorist activities aimed at underground facilities (i.e., parking garages and subways), it will not work as part of the solution. In fact,...

A street scene with serious competition: SkillsUSA Championship showcases high-tech training.
August 2, 2004... KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The SkillsUSA Championship is a combination of a party that spills onto the streets of downtown Kansas City, and some very intense competitions in more than 70 vocational areas, including one devoted to HVACR. Some...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 2, 2004... The June 7 story on the China Refrigeration Expo (CRE) contained two incorrect pieces of information regarding Heatcraft. The reference to the company's presence in Memphis, Tenn., was for its North American headquarters; Heatcraft Worldwide...

The importance of vocational education.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
August 2, 2004... [Editor's note: The following letter was originally sent to Rod Paige, secretary of the Department of Education, on July 12 on behalf of ARI, ACCA, AMCA, GAMA, HARDI, IIAR, NATE, and PHCC. These associations requested that The News publish this...

ACCA offers commercial load calculation course.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) added a new course for commercial contractors to its fall schedule. "The Fundamentals of Commercial Load Calculation and System Design" class will meet Oct. 11-13 in Detroit....

Computer-based training simulates HVAC operation.(industry News)
August 2, 2004... NEW BERLIN, Wis. -- Electrical and mechanical engineers, facility managers, and building operations personnel can take advantage of the new start up and diagnostic software and other benefits built into ABB's new ACH 550 series HVAC drive via...

HI to review slurry pump standard.(industry News)
August 2, 2004... PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- The Hydraulic Institute (HI) seeks qualified individuals to participate in the review process of a newly completed standard f the definition, selection, application, operation, and maintenance of centrifugal slurry pumps....

Charles Prudames.(Obituary)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
August 2, 2004... MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Charles N. Prudames, 64, died April 4 due to cancer. He had been vice president of Jay R. Smith Manufacturing Co., Montgomery, where he began working in 1984 as a regional manager. In 1989 Mr. Prudames was promoted to...

ACCA hails IRS ruling on depreciation.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finalized a rule allowing contractors to write off greater amounts of money spent on service vans and light trucks. The permanent change permits full expensing under Section 179 of the IRS tax...

Ferguson.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Ferguson (Newport News, Va.) opened a dedicated HVAC facility in Golden Valley, Minn. The 40,000-square-foot facility will be managed by Tim Foss as a satellite of the main branch in Plymouth, Minn.

Luxaire Heating and Air Conditioning.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Luxaire Heating and Air Conditioning (Norman, Okla.) launched a Web site to provide details on Acclimate central air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces. Visit www.luxaire.com/acclimate.

Dectron.(Manufacturers)
August 2, 2004... Dectron (Roswell, Ga.) increased its standard warranty to 25 months on all new Dry-O-Tron[R] energy-recycling dehumidifiers shipped after May 1, 2004. For more information on the warranty, call 888-332-8766 or visit www.dectron.com.

Filtration Group Technical Media (York, S.C.) acquired Filtrair B.V. of the Netherlands.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Filtration Group Technical Media (York, S.C.) acquired Filtrair B.V. of the Netherlands. The company will operate under the Filtrair name.

Goettl (Tempe, Ariz.) announced the appointment of Mavity Sales to represent the Goettl brand products in central and northern California.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Goettl (Tempe, Ariz.) announced the appointment of Mavity Sales to represent the Goettl brand products in central and northern California. David Mavity can be reached at 707-745-1518 or mavitysales@aol.com.

Stride Tool Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Stride Tool Inc. (Ellicottville, N.Y.) named Ron Ortiz as the new chief executive officer of the company. He replaces founder Lori Northrup, who will continue as chairman of the board.

Emerson Process Management.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Emerson Process Management (St. Louis) received the international Organization for Standardization's (ISO) 9001:2000 certification for its Rosemount Analytical plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Lochinvar Corp.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Lochinvar Corp. (Lebanon, Tenn.) opened a new distribution facility in Orlando, Fla. James Williams is the facility manager, and Rich Grimes is the company direct sales representative for the central Florida market. The new facility's address...

Amcast Industrial Corp. (Dayton, Ohio) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell most of its Flow Control division assets to a U.S. subsidiary of Aalberts Industries N.V.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Amcast Industrial Corp. (Dayton, Ohio) announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell most of its Flow Control division assets to a U.S. subsidiary of Aalberts Industries N.V. of Amsterdam.

Alfa Laval.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Alfa Laval (Richmond, Va.) launched a virtual showroom to present 16 new products in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling. Visitors can take a virtual tour of a futuristic building that uses animation and 3-D graphics to display the...

Thermo Pride.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Thermo Pride (North Judson, Ind.) announced Joseph D'Aprile as Salesman of the Year. D'Aprile, the Thermo Pride territory manager for eastern upstate New York, was awarded the honor at the company's recent annual sales meeting.

International Environmental Corp.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... International Environmental Corp. (Oklahoma City) announced the addition of Michael P. Panopoulos as field sales manager for the Eastern United States, Brad Henry as field sales manager for the Central United States, and Amal K. Humsi as...

WennSoft.(Software)
August 2, 2004... WennSoft (New Berlin, Wis.) announced its plans to integrate the WennSoft Service Management Series with Microsoft Business Solutions CRM. This integration will provide WennSoft customers the functionality of CRM along with the industry depth...

Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri.(Associations)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri (St. Louis) awarded four-year college scholarships to three Missouri high school students whose parents are in the pipefitting industry. The awards were given by the Mechanical Contractors...

AMCA seeks public comment on standards.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA) seeks public review and comment of two proposed American National Standards. The first proposed standard, AMCA 510-03, establishes methods used...

NAOHSM offers managers training.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... EAST PETERSBURG, Pa. -- The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM) will offer a two-day training class for service managers. Participants will work on gross profit planning, service agreements, business plans, customer...

Finalists prepare for competition.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- North American Technician Excellence (NATE) has selected seven technicians to compete in their 5th annual Certified Technician Competition. Contestants will compete in a series of timed, hands-on events in real-world...

Residential Load Calculation courses scheduled.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced new dates to the training schedule for its "Fundamentals of Residential Load Calculation and System Design" course. The three-day course teaches the concepts behind...

Cooling towers.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... THE AHF Series cooling towers have been designed to meet the requirements necessary for small tonnage applications, states the manufacturer. Models AHF-005 through AHF-095 have been tested and meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories...

Ventilation catalog.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... A 40-page catalog explains various aspects of ventilation. Covered in the catalog are topics such as the necessity of ventilation, improving indoor air quality, different types of ventilation (continuous versus intermittent ventilation),...

C[O.sub.2], Rh, temp tansmitter.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... The EE80 Series transmitter measures carbon dioxide, relative humidity (rh), and temperature. This transmitter uses infrared gas detection to measure carbon dioxide; it has a measuring range from 0 to 2,000 ppm. The company says the patented...

Furnace room smoke alarm.(what's New)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The Firex[R] 4580 photoelectric smoke alarm quickly detects slow, smoldering fires. Designed for use in kitchens and furnace rooms, this smoke alarm can reduce nuisance alarms caused by cooking fumes or high humidity, says the manufacturer....

Humidity switch.(what's New)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... The HS Series humidity switch, designed to control dehumidifying as well as humidifying, has a relative humidity (rh) range from 0 percent to 100 percent. The switch features nine user-defined parameters including set point, hysterisis, control...

Check valves.(what's New)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Apollo[R] check valves in the 61-600-A0 Series have 2-inch copper tubing at both ends to allow installation in seconds, using the Viega no-solder ProPress[TM] crimping system, states the manufacturer. They are available in 1/2- to 2-inch sizes....

Load calculation software.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... The Residential 5.0 software program allows users to calculate residential and light commercial HVAC load calculations. The Loadsoft 5.0 software program allows users to calculate commercial and industrial HVAC load calculations. The...

Air filter.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... The updated V-bank Durafil[R] air filter has an enclosing frame and media pack supports that are constructed of high-impact plastic, which reduces the weight of the filter and resists damage during shipping and installation, the company says....

Pool humidity controller.(what's New)
August 2, 2004... The HI-E Dry Vehere humidity controller handles moisture-related problems associated with indoor pools, whirlpools, hot tubs, and therapy/lap pools, says the manufacturer. The unit uses Focus[TM] heat transfer technology, which provides up to...

SkillsUSA shows where training is needed.(Training & Education)
August 2, 2004... KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Call it the final word At the end of the day-long HVACR competition at SkillsUSA, time was set aside for a debriefing. The 52 contestants had made their way around eight workstations, demonstrating their skills to the...

Electronic expansion valves: the basics.(refrigeration zone)
August 2, 2004... The function of the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV or TEV) is to hold a constant evaporator superheat. When set and operating properly, the TXV will keep the evaporator active throughout its entire length. The conventional TXV is...

Servicing glass door reach-ins.(refrigeration zone)
August 2, 2004... Glass door reach-in freezers typically used in supermarket applications are less prone to service problems than their open display counterparts. However, just like all refrigeration systems, they have their share of problems that a technician...

Looking beyond the rhetoric.(refrigeration zone)
August 2, 2004... An "alternative refrigerant" conference in Belgium earlier this summer included talks by representatives of Coca-Cola and McDonalds. (See "HFCs Are on Shaky Ground in Europe" July 26.) A statement sent to me by the environmental group...

ICOR's one-shot gets ASHRAE designation.(refrigeration zone)
August 2, 2004... The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 34 subcommittee has assigned a designation of R-422A to an HFC refrigerant that ICOR International has been marketing since the first of the year as...

Reach-ins, walk-ins cure condensation.(Freezers & Coolers)
August 2, 2004... CHICAGO -- As many refrigeration contractors know, one of the surest ways to end up with a service call at any hour, day or night, is to have a customer who owns a glass door refrigerator or freezer. Chances are, the main problem will be...

Ways to keep reach-ins running under stress.(Freezers & Coolers)
August 2, 2004... In these days of economic uncertainty, technicians face difficult challenges. When focusing on initial price considerations, it is common for customers to retain old equipment beyond its optimum life and efficiency. It is also common for...

Ensuring proper ventilation in schools.(School IAQ)
August 2, 2004... [Editor's note: This article is the second installment in a four-part series that examines poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and what the HVACR trade can do to help stem the crisis. In this installment, The News examines ventilation...

Ventilation solutions for school problems.(School IAQ)
August 2, 2004... Manufacturers are ready and willing to supply the products and expertise that can help contractors deal with institutional ventilation problems. Quietside (www.quietside.com) manufactures a complete range of ductless mini-splits, ranging in...

Laboratories pose special IAQ challenges.(Circul-Aire)
August 2, 2004... Arguably, formaldehyde can be considered to be one of the most prevalent contaminants present in laboratory air. Its use is widespread in most laboratories in North America, notwithstanding the fact that it is a confirmed carcinogen and...

Clearing up the certification jungle.(our Insights)
August 2, 2004... Kids may, indeed, say the darndest things. In my book, though, our readers tell the most interesting (and honest) things. For instance, take Michael Forino, who recently mailed the following letter to The News. It is, to say the least, thought...

Be the source for local stories.(our Insights)
August 2, 2004... Do you ever notice that TV reporters trip all over each other to broadcast weather-related stories when your local community is in the throes of a heat wave or if the wind chili is 30 below and snow is stacked up a few feet high in the...

Trane Global Aftermarket.(Price Increase)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... * Trane Global Aftermarket (LaCrosse, Wis.) announced a weighted 3-percent increase on OEM replacement parts, effective July 13. With the exception of certain motors, all wholesale and commodity products were unaffected by the increase.

Fluidics.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... * Fluidics (Philadelphia) welcomed George Quinn as manager of the newly expanded electrical group. He is responsible for the electrical design installation and preventive maintenance services, as well as the energy management group.

A.O. Smith Water Products Co.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... * A.O. Smith Water Products Co. (Ashland City, Tenn.) named James D. Grasha to the newly created position of vice president and general manager of the company's water systems business. He is responsible for the company's water systems plants in...

Cliplight Manufacturing Co.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... * Cliplight Manufacturing Co. (Toronto) received its certificate of registration for ISO 9001:2000.

ABB.(Manufacturers)
August 9, 2004... * ABB (Norwalk, Conn.) expanded the course offerings of its ABB University training operation to include industrial IT Extended Automation System 800xA, and new ABB Drives. The schedule also includes information about gas chromatograph,...

Marketing 13 SEER: manufacturers shape training and marketing to support new standard.(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating)
August 9, 2004... [Editor's note: The Department of Energy's standard for air conditioners and heat pumps will be raised to a minimum of 13 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating), effective Jan. 23, 2006. The News will periodically examine the impact of the...

Warnings put focus on building security.
August 9, 2004... Concern for the safety of building HVAC systems is growing in the wake of the past week's terror alerts for sites of American and international financial institutions. The warnings came as U.S. Homeland Security officials revealed that Al...

GPS can pose benefits for techs.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
August 9, 2004... I enjoyed John R. Hall's frank discussion of GPS Fleet Management ("Trust, GPS: Explaining it to Techs," July 12). In addition to the excellent points made, technicians also embrace GPS fleet management as a means to a promotion or raise. ...

Adjusting thermostats in summer saves money.(reader Mail)(Column)
August 9, 2004... Summer savings from thermostat adjustments are even greater than most people realize. When an HVAC salesperson or service technician is in a customer's home, they are the expert. That is how most customers perceive a contractor with a...

Honeywell launches new distributor class.(industry News)
August 9, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Honeywell Commercial Air Products launched a new distributor class, Health and Critical Environments. This class has access to six categories of products for commercial indoor environments, as well as the ability to represent...

Plans announced for Parker, Sporlan agreement.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... CLEVELAND -- Parker Hannifin Corp. and Sporlan Valve Co. have confirmed that they have signed an agreement paving the way for a "strategic, complementary business combination, pending satisfaction of customary conditions, including regulatory...

Special delivery.(industry News)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Special Delivery: Nationwide Boiler Inc., a boiler rental firm, has taken delivery of two 82,500 pound-per-hour trailer-mounted boilers, which feature low N[O.sub.x] burners that limit emissions to below 25 ppm and EconoStak[TM] economizers...

BuilSpec 2004 schedule announced.(industry News)
August 9, 2004... IRVING, Texas -- Clasma Inc. announced the tour schedule for BuilSpec 2004, a road show designed to present the subject of building convergence to consulting/specifying engineers. The program caters to engineers who have recently seen a...

Radiant tube heater.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The STS-JZ commercial/industrial infrared radiant tube heater offers eight firing rates from 45,000 to 200,000 Btuh and lengths from 10 to 70 feet. It distributes heat uniformly due to the webbed hanger plates that promote free passage of...

Air conditioner.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The Acclimate[TM] 5T Series 15-SEER air conditioner contains the SilentDrive[TM] system and incorporates a forward swept-wing fan design. Air flows smoothly off the blade, reducing air turbulence and significantly reducing noise, the...

Wire hanging products CD.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... This CD-ROM contains information on the Clutcher and EZ-Lock wire-rope hanging products. The CD-ROM provides detailed directions on the installation processes for both the Clutcher and for the EZ-Lock systems, as well as engineering...

Radiant floor heating system.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The EasyFloor[TM] modular floor heating system has a design that eliminates hard-to-handle concrete or similar materials, says the manufacturer. It incorporates a plastic grid system, which snaps together to fit any room configuration....

Steam boilers.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The LX gas/low NOx Series of high- or low-pressure steam boilers maintain NOx levels at less than 220 parts per million at 3-percent [O.sub.2], states the company. The company offers a special low-NOx boiler designed for use in the Los Angeles...

Screw compressor brochure.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The company's line of VSM mini screw compressors is covered in a new 10-page brochure. Bulletin 0140 provides specifications for all 18 VSM models, in addition to dimensional drawings. A full-load power and capacity chart identifies...

Rental generator sets.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... With generator sets from 35 kW to 2 Mw, the company offers emergency, supplemental, or standby power solutions. The trailerized rental units feature PowerCommand[R] pre-integrated generator sets, which combine durable engines, switchgear, and...

Thermostatic expansion valve.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The compact Type RC thermostatic expansion valve (TEV) is an ideal replacement of original equipment valve types BI, BBI, CBI, and CBBI, says the company. The TEV contains internal check valves to allow reverse flow on heat pump applications,...

VAV, VVT controller.(what's New)
August 9, 2004... The VAV-4040 variable air volume (VAV)/variable volume and temperature (VVT) controller features an integrated damper actuator. It can be used on single-duct or dual-duct VAV boxes, boxes that have a reheat fan, or boxes that have built-in...

Business the way you like it.
August 9, 2004... It's a pleasure for me to represent Skuttle Indoor Air Quality Products. It's not that we're perfect; no company is. It's not even that we accept "pretty good" as "good enough"; there's always room for improvement. But I'm proud that our...

In-home moisture: a simple matter of balance.(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)
August 9, 2004... As Americans, we strive for balance. We heat our homes when they're cold, and cool them when they're hot. We crave sunshine in the dead of winter, and long for rain when our lawns turn crispy and brown. We elect democrats to counteract...

Give homeowners relief from wintertime woes.
August 9, 2004... With the heating season just around the corner, your residential customers will soon experience the damaging effects of dry indoor air--stuffy noses; sore throats; dry, itchy skin; static electricity; cracked and warped furniture and woodwork;...

Keeping homes cleaner, healthier, happier.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 9, 2004... The human body's respiratory defense mechanisms--nose, sinuses and windpipe--are designed to filter out airborne particles that are 3-to-5 microns in diameter. (By comparison, a dollar bill is approximately 100 microns thick). Smaller particles...

Skuttle: brain teaser.
August 9, 2004... Put On Your Thinking Cap... and Win this Skuttle Hat Be among the first 25 people to respond correctly to this Brain Teaser and win a Skuttle hat! Fax your answers to 740-373-9565. (Give up? Contact Skuttle for the answers.) RULES:...

Contractor consultants discuss humidifier sales.(The panel: the News' contractor consultants answer questions from our readers.)
August 9, 2004... Why do some contractors never offer their clients a humidifier? What are the concerns, fears, or misconceptions of humidifiers to the contractor? We asked our contractor consultants and here are their replies. Ann Kahn of Kahn Mechanical,...

Achieving balanced humidity.(Humidification / Dehumidification / Mold Remediation)
August 9, 2004... How can humidity be controlled to maximize comfort in homes and businesses? Is there a way to reach a common ground and provide indoor comfort levels that will satisfy both contractors and their customers? Too little humidity can create health...

Keeping retail customers comfortable all year long.(Humidification / Dehumidification / Mold Remediation)
August 9, 2004... DALLAS -- "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" is a common complaint that can be heard almost anywhere. But it can make or break a business when it comes to the world of retail. The positive impact attained by great products, superior...

From weepy walls and human hair: Aprilaire's first humidifier has come a long way.(Humidification / Dehumidification / Mold Remediation)(whole-house humidification)
August 9, 2004... MADISON, Wis. -- Carl Rowe's name is on the U.S. patent issued in 1954 for the first Aprilaire whole-house humidifier. He said he is one of the people involved in creating the breakthrough product; he was in engineering and development for...