Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from December 2006

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from December 2006

TAC, Field Device Division.(Price Increase)
December 4, 2006... TAC, Field Device Division (Rockford, Ill.) will increase prices 3-16 percent on Erie valves, actuators, and zone valve assemblies, effective Jan. 15, 2007.

Eclipse Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 4, 2006... Eclipse Inc. (Rockford, Ill.) named John Searle as vice president of strategic marketing.

Hart & Cooley Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 4, 2006... Hart & Cooley Inc. (Holland, Mich.) appointed Bernard Roy as president. He will be responsible for the operations, engineering, sales, and marketing of all brands for the company's American Metal Products Group and Commercial Products Group.

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.(Manufacturers)
December 4, 2006... Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. (Brookfield, Wis.) appointed Steven Richman as president.

ICOR International Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 4, 2006... ICOR International Inc. (Indianapolis) appointed Joseph McCallister as regional business director for its Midwest region.

Parker Hannifin Corp.(Manufacturers)
December 4, 2006... Parker Hannifin Corp. (Cleveland) named Thomas Healy as president of its Climate and Industrial Controls business. He is replacing Lynn Cortright who will retire in June 2007.

Industrial Controls Distributors LLC (Wanamassa, N.J.) added Warren Controls.(Distributor)
December 4, 2006... Industrial Controls Distributors LLC (Wanamassa, N.J.) added Warren Controls' (Bethlehem, Pa.) complete line of globe and rotary control valves to its offerings.

Home Depot Supply.(Financial Reports)
December 4, 2006... Home Depot Supply's (Atlanta) sales increased 159 percent to $3.5 billion in the third quarter.

Northward ho! Heat pump popularity increases in colder climates.(industry trends)
December 4, 2006... An interesting trend has been developing in the unitary HVAC market. Heat pump growth is outpacing that of central air conditioners and is expected to continue to do so, according to reports from the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute...

European requirements foretell U.S. future.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 4, 2006... NUREMBURG, Germany -- This coming July 4 marks the celebration of independence in the United States. But for contractors and technicians in Europe, it will mark the beginning of a process that will probably lead to strict training and...

Europe has new trade show: Chillventa comes to Germany.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... Nuremburg, Germany -- A new industry trade show in Europe, called Chillventa, has been announced, and will follow an every other year format. The Chillventa Nuremburg Exhibitors Group's first exposition will take place Oct. 15-17, 2008, and...

ASHRAE, CaGBC partner to advance sustainability.(newsline)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Canada Green Building Council )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... ATLANTA -- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) have signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to a new partnership. The two organizations plan...

ACCA board of directors seat nominations now open.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) board of directors is accepting nominations for its seats that are up for election. The seats represent members in the following states: Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois,...

Applying sales management best practices.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 4, 2006... Applying Sales Management Best Practices: Today's homeowners and building owners are highly sophisticated and very demanding, which is why contractors need professional standards to provide customer-driven solutions.

YMCA to benefit from energy efficiency.(REGIONAL REPORT--EAST)
December 4, 2006... YMCA to Benefit From Energy Efficiency: Energy-efficient measures at the YMCA of Greater Rochester (N.Y.) is expected to save over $79,000 annually.

Excellent service.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: EXCELLENT SERVICE: Nexstar recently recognized 52 of their nearly 400 independent business members as the best contractors in the industry. These 52 companies were bestowed with the Nexstar Select Service[R]...

Intac International Inc.(Software)
December 4, 2006... Intac International Inc. (Boston) released Wintac Pro 2007, an all-in-one software program. A free demonstration is available at www. wintacpro.com.

UV Resources.(Technology Development)
December 4, 2006... UV Resources (Valencia, Calif.) appointed Daniel Jones as vice president of marketing and operations.

The American National Standards Institute.(Codes & Standards)
December 4, 2006... The American National Standards Institute's (Washington) board of standards review approved the revision of ANSI/AMCA 610-2006, Laboratory Methods of Testing Airflow Measurement Stations for Performance Rating.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE).(Associations)
December 4, 2006... North American Technician Excellence (NATE) increased the price of its Core Installation and Service Tests, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA's).(Associations)
December 4, 2006... The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA's) brochure, Sand, a Renewable and Virtually Inexhaustible Resource, and a fact sheet on the role fiberglass and rock and slag wool insulation play in the LEED program, are now...

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association's (PHCC's).(Associations)
December 4, 2006... Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association's (PHCC's) Quality Service Contractors' (QSC's) power meeting, Feb. 22-24, 2007, is offering a variety of topics focusing on business management processes and analyses.

Conferences.(fyi: INDUSTRY BRIEFS)
December 4, 2006... * The Momentum Conference (Phoenix), Honeywell's commercial HVAC contractor and distributor conference, will be held Feb. 4-7, 2007. * The Industrial Ventilation Conference (East Lansing, Mich.) will be held Feb. 12-15, 2007. Visit,...

Hudson Technologies Inc.(Services)
December 4, 2006... Hudson Technologies Inc. (Pearl River, N.Y.) opened a second telesales office servicing the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.

Boiler recall cites CO hazard.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- Weil-McLain, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced a voluntary recall of approximately 16,000 units of Ultra Series gas boilers. Consumers were advised to stop using recalled...

Manufacturers China-certified.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... SHANGHAI, China -- Honeywell has announced a certification program for Chinese air conditioner manufacturers that identifies them as users of HFC-410A refrigerant purchased from licensed suppliers. The new program supports Honeywell's continued...

Contract secured.(newsline)
December 4, 2006... MILWAUKEE -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) awarded Johnson Controls Inc. a $55 million contract to serve as the technology contractor for the construction of its $575 million, multibuilding Children's Hospital of...

New organization handles association chapters down under.(newsline)(National Environmental Balancing Bureau Australia)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, Md. -- The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) and the three Australian NEBB chapters have created a new organization to handle the administration of chapters in the country. NEBB Australia will operate the three...

Refrigerant leak instrument.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... The Bold[R] Blu, a portable, battery-operated, solid-state gas detection instrument, is designed for use in applications requiring detection of refrigerant leaks in compressor rack, field piping, and valves. With its folding sensor wand and...

Rooftop units.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... The T-Class[TM] rooftop units are available in 3- to 25-ton sizes. Standard-efficiency models meet ASHRAE 90.1-2004 regulations, while many high-efficiency models qualify for the Energy Star[R] designation. All units feature multiple...

Programmable thermostat.(what's new)(Rheem Air Conditioning Div. introduces Rheem Prestige Series, Ruud Ultra Series)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The Modulating 90 programmable thermostat is designed for complete integration with the Rheem Prestige Series[R] and Ruud Ultra Series[R] 90 Plus Modulating Gas Furnace with Contour Comfort Control[TM]. The thermostat works with modulating...

Mold, moisture book.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... Mold and Moisture Prevention addresses the key issues to help owners, designers, and contractors work together to improve decision making. The first chapter covers the key issues related to mold and moisture intrusion. Other chapters cover...

Air conditioner cover.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... Custom-made covers are available to shield central air conditioning units in the off-season. For use in the out-of-doors, the cover material is made of quality vinyl with a fuzzy/fleece backing. The covers are manufactured to fit the...

Mechanical tee.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... Style 622 copper mechanical-T[R] for 2 1/2 to 4-inch ASTM B-88 hard-drawn copper tubing accommodates 3/4-, 1-, and 1 1/2-inch branch sizes. It features a two-piece bolted design, locating collar, and EPDM gasket seal. It supports multiple pipe...

Wall-hung condensing boiler.(what's new)
December 4, 2006... The Munchkin Contender wall-hung, ultra-high-efficiency condensing boiler is designed for residential space heating applications. The Energy Star[R]-rated unit has an efficiency of 93 percent AFUE. The direct-vent, sealed-combustion unit offers...

Innovations range small to super-sized.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: show report)
December 4, 2006... NUREMBURG, Germany -- Technological innovations, ranging from ice machines to large chillers, were in evidence throughout the floor of the 27th International Trade Fair for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation (IKK). ON ICE ...

Techs need to look at the big picture.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: show report)
December 4, 2006... LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. -- If a technician working in the mechanical room of a supermarket does not sense the person in charge watching over his or her shoulder, it may be that the boss has other matters to consider. Those matters could well...

Cooling--but not cold enough.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)(methods of air-conditioning equipment)
December 4, 2006... Let's say one of your customers has been complaining for three weeks of warm products in a low temperature, glass door, reach-in freezer. The store owner inspects the thermometers in the case and notices that the temperature will not pull down...

Methods for compressor cooling.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
December 4, 2006... To prevent overheating of a hermetic compressor's internal motor, some type of cooling method must be employed. Compressor manufacturers will use one of three methods to provide the necessary cooling for their motors. One method is to use the...

Time to move away from R-22: supermarket speakers warn against the refrigerant's use.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 4, 2006... LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. -- The message regarding HCFC-22 from those involved in supermarket refrigeration systems was a pretty basic, straightforward one at the recent 27th Annual Food Marketing Institute Energy & Technical Services Conference....

C[O.sub.2], HFCs share strong presence.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 4, 2006... NUREMBURG, Germany -- The most recent International Trade Fair for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Ventilation (IKK) gave the industry an updated message on the battle between upstart refrigerant C[O.sub.2] and the now long-established...

A key performance indicator--sold hours.(meeting update)(Berry Brasington speaks on sold hours, company needs to meet its goals)
December 4, 2006... DENVER -- Contractors have a number of key performance indicators (KPI) that drive their businesses. But perhaps the most important is sold hours. That's one of the KPIs that was addressed in a seminar hosted by Berry Brasington, member of...

Managing inventory on and off the truck.(meeting update)
December 4, 2006... DENVER -- Some of the best reasons for having a properly managed inventory control system includes increased profits and having money in the bank. How so? David Rosenthal, a trainer with the Nexstar Service System and third generation plumbing...

AireServ[R] reaching out to franchisees.(meeting update)
December 4, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Doyle James wanted to know what "drove the business" for AireServ Heating & Air Conditioning franchisees. The president of AireServ recently asked that question of attendees of the company's fall meeting in Jacksonville....

Capturing and keeping customers.(meeting update)(Steve Truett speaks on marketing in Hvac industry)
December 4, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- "Marketing is everything you do to sell something." Those were the words of Steve Truett, vice president of marketing for AireServ[R] Heating & Air Conditioning, as he spoke with franchisees during the company's fall...

Franchisees need to fuel their businesses.(meeting update)
December 4, 2006... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If automobiles need fuel to run, then businesses need cash to run. That's the equation drawn by Tom Buckley, whose seminar at the fall meeting of AireServ Heating & Air Conditioning franchisees was titled "Fueling Your...

Cash flow is king? You betcha.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)(forecasts and practices of contractors)
December 4, 2006... What is the lifeblood of HVAC service and replacement contractors? Good customer base? Experienced field and office staff? Yeah, a contractor needs those two elements to be successful. But what does a contractor need to stay in business?...

One becomes two--but why?(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)(trade shows of Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating systems)
December 4, 2006... What happens when the HVACR industry sets out to have a major trade show only once every two years and ends up possibly having two such events within a week of each other? That's what contractors and manufacturers in Europe are trying to...

ARI and GAMA react to lawsuit settlement on phase-in of new energy standards.(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association)
December 11, 2006... A court settlement involving a lawsuit filed last year by environmental groups, 15 states, and the city of New York because of delays in improving federal appliance efficiency requirements was recently settled, paving the way for new standards...

Hansen Technologies.(Price Increase)
December 11, 2006... * Hansen Technologies (Burr Ridge, III.) is increasing prices 4.5 percent on all products, effective Jan. 1, 2007.

Uponor Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 11, 2006... * Uponor Inc. (Apple Valley, Minn.) hired Brad Beckman as rice president of finance and member of the senior management committee.

Coolerado Corp. (Arvada, Cole.) was selected as one of the "2006 Top 10 Green Building Products".(Manufacturers)
December 11, 2006... * Coolerado Corp. (Arvada, Cole.) was selected as one of the "2006 Top 10 Green Building Products" by Environmental Building News and GreenSpec[R].

Thermo King Corp.(Manufacturers)
December 11, 2006... * Thermo King Corp. (Minneapolis) named Craig Fisher as its marketing director.

NIBCO Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 11, 2006... * NIBCO Inc. (Elkhart, Ind.) elected Steven Malm as its president and COO, effective immediately. It also promoted Tom Eisele to senior rice president and chief legal counsel; Alice Martin to rice chairman and chief people officer; Jerry...

ABB.(Manufacturers)
December 11, 2006... * ABB's (New Berlin, Wis.) Ultra-low Harmonic Drive earned double gold in a "Product of the Year" poll of Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine subscribers.

HVAC Excellence.(Conferences)
December 11, 2006... * HVAC Excellence's (Mt. Prospect, III.) Educators and Trainers Conference, March 26-27, 2007, will feature speaker Steven Allen, administrator of HVACR education and recruitment for the UA.

Hudson Technologies Inc.(Services)
December 11, 2006... * Hudson Technologies Inc. (Pearl River, N.Y.) opened a second telesales office servicing the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.

Steve Forbes discusses issues facing businesses.(business management)
December 11, 2006... There are many issues facing business owners--including HVAC contractors--that often require a different perspective. The NEWS decided to step outside of the normal HVAC business world to seek advice from a person who is no stranger to business...

PHCC election yields second female president in Wagner.(newsline)
December 11, 2006... ALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Jo Wagner, president of CTO, Harlingen, Texas, was recently elected as president of National Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) for 2006-2007. Wagner is the second woman to hold this position since the...

Acquisitions firm brings in heavy hitters.(newsline)
December 11, 2006... SAN DIEGO--National HVAC and plumbing acquisitions firm Buckeye Ventures has named Ronald Smith to the company's board of directors, and Alfred Roach Jr. as chairman of the board. Buckeye Ventures was founded to acquire top-performing HVAC and...

SMACNA awards members for outstanding safety.(newsline)(Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association's Safety Excellence Award Program )(Awards list)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... PHOENIX -- The Safety Excellence Award Program winners were announced at the 2006 annual convention for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA). These awards are given to track the safety history and...

A guide to understanding HVAC filter maintenance.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 11, 2006... * A Guide to Understanding HVAC Filter Maintenance: Proper HVAC filtration is at the heart of IAQ. Filters will only do their job and perform as specified, however, when they are maintained correctly.

Contractors: Pay Attention to Headlines When Creating Print Ads.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 11, 2006... * Contractors: Pay Attention to Headlines When Creating Print Ads: Talk to any advertising guru and each will be on the same page when it comes to print ads--the headline is key.

How-to-corner.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 11, 2006... This section provides generic how-to articles from manufacturers, designed to help contractors and technicians in installing, servicing, and maintaining equipment.

Career center.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 11, 2006... In collaboration with HVAC Agent, this online resource for HVACR job seekers and employers provides job listings for employers at a cost-effective price and searches for job seekers for free.

Product of the week.(EXTRA EDITION)
December 11, 2006... Want information on the latest featured new product in The NEWS? Product of the Week highlights that item on our home page every week.

NATE recognizes HARDI members.(newsline)(Mingledorffs Inc. and Gensco Inc. win North American Technician Excellence Award)(Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... PALM DESERT, Calif. -- At the 2006 Annual Fall Conference of the Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), North American Technician Excellence (NATE) awarded Mingledorff's Inc. the 2006 Top HARDI Testing...

Series starts out green.(newsline)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers introduces Green-Guide)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ATLANTA -- ASHRAE Green-Guide: The Design, Construction, and Operation of Sustainable Buildings is the first book in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE's) Professional Series. The series is...

Contractors join star program.(newsline)
December 11, 2006... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) announced that 11 new contractors have qualified for MSCA STAR status. MSCA STAR is a national qualification program that honors companies who meet or exceed operating and...

Bathroom ventilation fan.(what's new)
December 11, 2006... The In-Line bath ventilation fan series offers three styles. The series is engineered to overcome any airflow resistance from long duct runs and multiple intake vents, the company says. The series generates 100470 cfm. Rated for continuous or...

13 SEER air conditioner.(what's new)
December 11, 2006... The redesigned Coleman[R] [[mc].sup.2] MicroChannel Mini-Cube 13 SEER air conditioner features a microchannel coil with enhanced heat transfer characteristics and a piston metering device. The air conditioner uses ah aluminum coil with...

Condensing boiler.(what's new)
December 11, 2006... The Benchmark 3.0 law-NOx condensing full modulation boiler, BMK 3.0LN, is an addition to the Benchmark family. It employs the same fuel-saving technologies, design principles, and key camponents that are part of the Benchmark 2.0 boiler line....

Check valves.(what's new)
December 11, 2006... The Stop-Silent[R] check valve series features a cone design that ensures tight shutoff to prevent backflow of liquid or gaseous media. According to the manufacturer, the design also eliminates water hammer and associated problems of noise and...

The message is crystal clear: news' top ads prove that incorporating eye-grabbing titles draw in readers.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)
December 11, 2006... Print advertising is an important part of every advertising campaign. The NEWS" Top Ads of 2006 were prime examples of how different types of good advertising works for each company. Every year the common denominator of the winning ads varies....

Making a clean sweep.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Trane Co. advertises CleanEffects, new air filtration system )(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: TRANE "Does Your Air Conditioning System Circulate It? Or Remove It?" In the eyes of Trane brand director Lauri Morrow Crawford, the ad for the manufacturer's CleanEffects[TM] new air filtration system caught the eye of...

It's all about you.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Rheem Heating and Cooling advertises )
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: RUUD Ruud Supports Contractors In Very Special Ways Because... Our Focus Is YOU! ADVERTISER: RHEEM Rheem Heating and Cooling Product Guide Ed Raniszeski, director of market development and communications for...

Hero grabs attention.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems campaigns)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: BRYANT The enemies of comfort no longer stand a chance Visually, this ad stands out due, in part, to the dramatic nature of the treatment. As one survey reader put it, "There is an air of mystery that the ad possesses." "It...

Chilling results.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(DuPont Refrigerants advertises DuPont ISCEON refrigerants)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: DUPONT REFRIGERANTS Moving away from R-22 just got easier One NEWS reader said of this ad, "I was attracted to everything about it... the headline, the pictures... everything." Of course, such a remark brings a smile to Kevin...

Simple facts triumph.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: HONEYWELL "proven reliability" When it comes to ads, simple can work. This ad's minimal words--along with one well-lit product image--helped keep the ad short, sweet, and to the point. Accord to Pam Enstad, director of marketing...

Pack a punch.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Fieldpiece Instruments Inc. advertises ASX14 for air conditioning, and the ASX24 for refrigeration)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: FIELDPIECE Combo Heads... Superheat + Subcooling Nothing like getting straight to the point in the headline. Mike Moriarty, marketing, Field Instruments, wouldn't have it any other way. In his own words, the ad states:...

Why hide beauty?(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: JOHNSON CONTROLS--YORK The New Affinity Air Handler. Seems A Waste To Hide It In A Closet. Nothing fancy here, really. Then again, as noted, the simpler, the better, The proof is in the pudding, too: 71 percent of NEWS...

Less is more.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Lennox Industries Inc. advertises L Series rooftop unit)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: LENNOX INDUSTRIES You Could Do More If You Had To Do Less. Denise Ernst, director of commercial product management for Lennox, is not only pleased with the way readers reacted to the company's ad, but also to the way they...

Tool brings the heat.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)(Fluke Corp. advertises Fluke 561 HVACPro)(Brief article)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: FLUKE The two-in-one thermometer for HVAC professionals. The headline says it all, doesn't it? It's one reason why one NEWS respondent stated, "That headline certainly grabbed my attention. I was in the market for a thermometer...

Seeing colors.(FOCUS: TOP ADS OF 2006)
December 11, 2006... ADVERTISER: HEAT CONTROLLER The Source... for residential and light commercial heating and A/C equipment Size, placement, and color certainly contributed to the effectiveness of this ad from Heat Controller Inc. "We have been...