Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from December 2007

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from December 2007

Housing continues downhill slide: overall U.S. economy continues to move forward at decent pace.(conference update)
December 3, 2007... WASHINGTON -- After rising to an exhilarating high, the housing market now remains on a downward slope. Despite earlier forecasts that it would reach bottom this year, it appears the bottom is still months down the road. At the latest National...

Old and new refrigerants under scrutiny.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 3, 2007... Old familiar refrigerants: being phased-out. New refrigerants: We don't know much about them. And, figuring out the life span of refrigerants both old and new. These are issues facing technicians as the result of another tumultuous year...

There is a carbon crisis.(Carbon's Global Warming Role Debate Continues)(Letter to the editor)
December 3, 2007... I am upset to read Joanna Turpin's comments questioning the carbon crisis-global warming issue. She references Danish scientist, Henrik Svensmark, who questioned the consensus scientific wisdom that there is a carbon crisis, and then admits...

The great money grab.(Carbon's Global Warming Role Debate Continues)(Letter to the editor)
December 3, 2007... Hats off to Joanna Turpin for taking a controversial position on global warming. She should be applauded for her candor. It was refreshing to read her piece in The NEWS. I believe that a significant amount of momentum behind this latest...

Riding bikes and wearing bearskins.(Carbon's Global Warming Role Debate Continues)(Letter to the editor)
December 3, 2007... It is great to see that somebody at The ACHR NEWS has some common sense about the global warming scare. There was a similar editorial in the Investor's Business Daily on Nov. 5, stating that the goal all along has been for alarmists to be able...

Climate change.(Cartoon)
December 3, 2007... Our market demographic studies revealed that the new company name resonated well with a test group of next-generation buyers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Translation: His daughter's 3rd grade class liked it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Enertech changes Geo source.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... GREENVILLE, Ill. -- Enertech Inc. and Northern Geothermal Corp. announced that they plan to cease sourcing product from WaterFurnace International Industries (WFI) of Fort Wayne, Ind. Enertech and Northern Geothermal make up one of the nation's...

New leadership announced.(newsline)(Syska Hennessy Group Inc. appointed Gary Brennen and Cyrus Izzo as co-chief executive officers)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Syska Hennessy Group Inc. announced the appointment of Gary Brennen and Cyrus Izzo as co-chief executive officers. Each will also assume the titles of co-chief operating officers as well. In restructuring the firm's...

Trane expands parts line.(newsline)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Trane is expanding its line of non-Trane parts available through its network of 200 Parts retail locations around the Americas. All 200 Trane Parts Centers will have access to Anixter wire and cable products, making it...

Lochinvar begins heating program.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... LEBANON, Tenn. -- To kick off the 2007-08 heating season, Lochinvar Corp. is adding new incentives and resources to its VIP Contractor Program. Now in its third year, the VIP Contractor Program rewards enrolled contractors for purchases of the...

Emcor Group Inc.(Contractor)
December 3, 2007... Emcor Group Inc. (Norwalk, Conn.) acquired Performance Mechanical Inc. (Pittsburg, Calif.).

WaterFurnace International Inc.(Manufacturers)
December 3, 2007... WaterFurnace International Inc. (Fort Wayne, Ind.) hired Michael Albertson as vice president of commercial marketing and sales.

Sherwood.(Manufacturers)
December 3, 2007... Sherwood, a business unit of Harsco (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) promoted David Parise to refrigeration product manager for the Superior Refrigeration Products component of the company.

International Environmental Corp.(Manufacturers)
December 3, 2007... International Environmental Corp. (Oklahoma City) appointed Dennis Kloster as executive vice president and general manager.

Industrial Controls Distributors LLC.(Distributors)
December 3, 2007... Industrial Controls Distributors LLC (Wanamassa, N.J.) recognized The RGBS Group (Staten Island, N.Y.) with its Platinum Award for 2007.

Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).(Organizations)
December 3, 2007... The Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) opened its first international office on the campus of Tec Milenio University (Monterrey, Mexico).

Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA).(Organizations)
December 3, 2007... Barbara Dolim, executive director of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) was awarded the 2007 D.S. O'Brien Award of Excellence.

North American Technician Excellence (NATE).(Organizations)
December 3, 2007... North American Technician Excellence (NATE) presented the Golden Toolbox Award to Warren Lupson and awarded Ken Delcore first place in its Certified Technician Competition.

Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA).(Organizations)
December 3, 2007... The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) appointed the following new officers: Russ Borst, chairman; Jeff McCoy, vice chair; and Dave Bavisotto, treasurer.

Anniversary celebration.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Chairman of North American Technician Excellence (NATE) and President of Service Experts in Richardson, Texas, Scott Boxer (far left) was recently joined by former chairmen and CEO of APR...

Winning sails.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WINNING SAILS: Chris Wolfe (center) of Wolfe's Gas in Appleton, N.Y., won the ECR Sail Away Escape giveaway promotion. His name was pulled in a random drawing of all entrants for a five-day four-night cruise,...

Emcor recognizes company safety.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... NORWALK, Conn. -- Emcor Group Inc. recognized a number of its subsidiaries for their achievement of safety and service excellence with its 60 Safety and Craftsman awards presented at the company's 2007 Management Conference in Dallas. ...

Coscia named as select vendor.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... INDIANAPOLIS -- Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems announced Coscia Communications, a customer service consultancy that assists HVAC companies in achieving business growth and world-class service status, as its newest Bryant Select Vendor for...

Johnson controls acquires Skymark.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... MILWAUKEE -- Johnson Controls Inc. acquired Skymark International Inc., an indoor packaged HVAC products manufacturer headquartered in Ontario, Canada. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Skymark designs and manufactures...

Lennox appoints VP.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... DALLAS -- Lennox International appointed John Hurst to the position of vice president of residential product management. He reports directly to Doug Young, president and COO, LII Residential Heating and Cooling, and will be based in Dallas. ...

Teaming up with GE money, EGIA.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... OKLAHOMA CITY -- LSB Industries Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, ClimateMaster Inc., has joined forces with the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) and GE Money to help consumers finance the purchase of a geothermal heating, cooling,...

Record-breaking numbers.(newsline)(Conference news)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RECORD-BREAKING NUMBERS: The Chiller Systems Group experienced record attendance at its Sept. 20-22 fall meeting at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The meeting was hosted by Emcor Services Northeast of Stoughton, Mass.,...

HI looking for participants.(newsline)(Hydraulic Institute)(Brief article)
December 3, 2007... PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- The Hydraulic Institute (HI), under the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is seeking qualified individuals in North America to participate in the review process for the draft of updated standard...

ASHRAE studies swine for heat and moisture research.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... ATLANTA -- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is funding research to update heat and moisture production rates from pigs and their housing facilities. The information from this research is...

Homerun hitters.(newsline)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOMERUN HITTERS: Daikin AC (Americas) Inc. and McQuay Americas held their baseball-themed North American Sales Meeting (NASM) at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. The 4-day event was...

Temperature management system.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Flowzone[TM] allows each employee to tailor the temperature of their work environment to meet specific needs. The system provides up to 35 custom, user-defined zones, each with a register that uses infrared...

Filtered Diffuser.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Comfort First Filtered Diffuser[TM] is designed to address two complaints in today's offices: drafts from overhead diffusers and illness and allergic reactions from polluted ductwork. According to the...

Temperature transmitter.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The analog temperature transmitter family T91 is an enhanced product portfolio for industrial and HVAC applications. The temperature transmitters are available with voltage or current output and in rail- or...

High-efficiency gas furnace.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The redesigned Latitude[TM] GY9F high-efficiency gas furnace has a 95 AFUE rating. It is Energy Star-qualified and is eligible for a federal tax credit. The newly designed heat exchanger simplifies the gas flow path...

Handheld hygrometer.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Psyclone hygrometer offers a wide range of psychometric calculations with additional facilities for surface temperature measurement. It enables users to measure facility atmospheres for verification of commercial...

Business mgmt software.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... Version 10.0 of the company's software product lines is in step with the recent release of Microsoft[R] Dynamics[TM] GP version 10, allowing customers to take advantage of updates in solution functionality. All the company's products contain a...

Building automation system.(what's new)
December 3, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Incorporating one or more intelligent processing units (iPUs) and a Microsoft Windows[R]-compatible PC, the Intelligent Manager III is engineered to seamlessly integrate with the company's product lineup of a/c...

EPA and sears track refrigerant issues: freezer disposal is totally RAD.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 3, 2007... Over on the domestic refrigeration side, there has been much ado about old refrigerators. For many years, the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society Auxiliary promoted a Take Off The Door (TOD) campaign, encouraging homeowners to contact...

Convincing customers to use R-410A refrigerant.(FOCUS: REFRIGERANT UPDATE)
December 3, 2007... The demise of HCFC-22 as a refrigerant in new air conditioning equipment and the rise of HFC-410A as a long-term alternative have been talked about for years now. But in general, contractors are still slow to make the switch according to many...

Handbooks should rock your world.(meeting update)
December 3, 2007... PITTSBURGH -- Elizabeth Fletcher was curious as to why people would attend her seminar on creating good and useable employee handbooks. The operations manager for F.H. Furr, a plumbing and HVAC contractor from Manassas, Va., and Nexstar member,...

Stores show new trends in refrigeration.(REFRIGERATION zone)
December 3, 2007... Contractors and technicians who work on supermarket refrigeration equipment will want to take note of the opening of potentially more than 50 Tesco Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets in California, Arizona and Nevada. For they could well...

A 'fluid' supermarket.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: field solutions)
December 3, 2007... At the 26,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Super-Center in Aurora, Colo., a propylene glycol-based heat transfer fluid is being used in a secondary-loop refrigeration system. The system, which cools the store's meat, dairy, produce and other...

More systematic troubleshooting.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)(Column)
December 3, 2007... As you might recall, my Nov. 5 column focused on a restricted liquid line after the receiver. That column looked at eight possible symptoms: Higher than normal discharge temperature, high superheats, low evaporator pressures, low condensing...

Unified brands closes facility.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
December 3, 2007... JACKSON, Miss. -- Unified Brands, which makes refrigeration equipment for the food service sector under the CapKold brand name, announced that it will be closing its Arizona manufacturing operations over the next four months for a permanent...

Examining recovery cylinder capabilities.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
December 3, 2007... Working with refrigerant recovery cylinders is a basic part of servicing refrigeration systems. Technicians need to work safely when handling these cylinders. Overfilling these cylinders can create a potential hazard. To prevent...

Intermatic acquires Grasslin brand.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
December 3, 2007... SPRING GROVE, Ill. -- Intermatic has added the Grasslin brand of defrost and energy controls for the HVACR industry into its family of products. Intermatic's Grasslin brand of products, including Frost King, is found on much of the world's...

It's all business at owners' conference: International Service Leadership supplies members with details and more.(conference update)
December 3, 2007... ST. LOUIS -- It was rather appropriate that International Service Leadership (ISL) held its 2007 Owners' Conference in the Show Me State. ISL brass certainly had plenty to show, tell, and introduce--including many exclusive program...

SEER testing needs an overhaul.(MURPHY'S LAW)
December 3, 2007... It is time to take a serious look at the testing methodology for determining Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). If the automotive industry is any indication, HVAC test procedures are probably overdue for some changes. The automotive...

Who not to blame for the Technician Shortage.(opinions)
December 3, 2007... At most any industry conference, there is bound to be a breakout session on the topic "The Technician Shortage." And frequently one of the targets in which to aim blame for the shortage is high school guidance counselors. Instead of...

Nordyne partners with WinWholesale, Noland.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 10, 2007... Nordyne and WinWholesale Co. announced a new partnership on Dec. 7. WinWholesale's HVAC distribution groups will begin selling NuTone heating and cooling products, a new brand of air-conditioning, heat pumps, and furnaces. WinWholesale[R]...

Service Experts Inc.(Contractors)
December 10, 2007... Service Experts Inc. (Richardson, Texas) selected Strategic America (SA, Des Moines, Iowa) for its field marketing services.

Sunset Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning.(Contractors)
December 10, 2007... Sunset Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning, a division of 24/7 Service Corp. (Las Vegas), was named one of Home Depot's Top 25 HVAC Program Dealers for 2007.

Diversified Mechanical Services.(Contractors)
December 10, 2007... Diversified Mechanical Services (DMS, Highlands, Texas) and Houston Plating & Coatings (Houston) formed joint venture Gulf Coast Mechanical & Coatings (Houston). Paul Brown, owner of DMS, will assume the role of president for the new company.

Omni Technologies Corp.(Manufacturer)
December 10, 2007... Omni Technologies Corp. (Brentwood, N.H.) was acquired by Lucas-Milhaupt Inc. (Milwaukee).

HVAC Excellence.(Education)
December 10, 2007... HVAC Excellence (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) is hosting the 2008 National Educators and Trainers Conference (Las Vegas), March 16-19.

Nexstar.(Organization)
December 10, 2007... Nexstar moved its headquarters from White Bear Lake, Minn., to Little Canada, Minn.

Contractors choose new business paths.(FOCUS: CONSUMER TRENDS IN HVAC)
December 10, 2007... Market shifts, technology, economic changes, legislation, and evolving customer service requirements are compelling the HVACR industry to face new challenges. Although multiple supply chain participants are affected by these evolutions and...

Carrier settles lawsuit, extends warranty coverage.(newsline)
December 10, 2007... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., is enhancing the warranties on its 90-percent-plus-efficient gas furnaces. The company will provide a 20-year parts-and-labor warranty for the secondary heat exchanger....

WinWholesale names vice president.(newsline)
December 10, 2007... DAYTON, Ohio -- WinWholesale Inc. appointed Michael Souders vice president of its Central region. He will oversee sales and operations in 14 states from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The central region includes 146 of WinWholesale's 460 locally...

GAMA names consultant.(newsline)
December 10, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Vent-Free Gas Products Alliance, a coalition of members of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, appointed Don Denton as its technical consultant. Mary Carson, the alliance's program director, will continue to...

Multistack expands facility size.(newsline)(Brief article)
December 10, 2007... SPARTA, Wis. -- Multistack LLC broke ground to expand its current manufacturing facility by 50,000 additional square feet. The new expansion nearly doubles the company's current manufacturing assembly area in Sparta, Wis. "Our new addition...

Economic census cited as crucial.(newsline)
December 10, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The 2007 Economic Census forms will be received by more than 4 million American businesses this December. According to the Census Bureau, it is highly important that businesses participate in order to gain a comprehensive...

AMCA elects new president at annual meeting in Phoenix.(newsline)
December 10, 2007... ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Gary Benson, president of Mechanovent Corp., a New York Blower Co. located in Willowbrook, was elected as the president of the Air Movement and Control Association Inc. (AMCA International) at the association's Annual...

Side wheel manifolds.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New models have been added to the manufacturer's line of two-way standard side wheel manifolds. The models feature gauges that measure various combinations of the most common refrigerants used in the HVACR industry....

Modulating gas furnace.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Infinity[TM] IdealComfort[TM] System modulating gas furnace provides up to 3.5 times tighter temperature control than most standard furnaces, claims the company. This two-stage furnace maintains the temperature...

Web-based sensor system.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... The new zSeries sensor system provides monitoring and recording of temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure in critical applications with no special software, just a Web browser. The compact wireless end devices mount discretely on the...

Enclosure air conditioners.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Both thermoelectric and compressor-based enclosure air conditioner units are available. Thermoelectric air conditioners have no air exchange between the ambient environment and the enclosure, resulting in complete...

Power generation Rental unit.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 1000 kW Rental Power unit is an addition to the Rental Power systems, which are designed specifically for the rental power market. It is packaged in an easy-to-operate customer interface to maximize flexibility....

Vehicle Toolboxes.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... DiamondBack Side Toolboxes are open tool bins that mount to the underside of the DiamondBack HD truck cover, providing convenient and accessible tool storage. The toolbox allows the user to store tools at the edges of the truck, keeping...

Air-cooled scroll compressor chiller.(what's new)
December 10, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now available from 30 to 180 tons with R-410A, the company's air-cooled scroll compressor chiller provides efficient, quiet, and affordable cooling, while meeting the latest environmental standards. Ideal for...

Manufacturers meet the needs of customers: top of the supply chain deploys strategic actions.(FOCUS: CONSUMER TRENDS IN HVAC)
December 10, 2007... Manufacturers have many different customers. Some deal strictly with distributors while others deal with distributors, contractors, and even end users. The manufacturers' customer load brings great trial and triumph to the daily choices made in...

Distributors stay busy with changing trends: customers demand maximum accessibility.(FOCUS: CONSUMER TRENDS IN HVAC)
December 10, 2007... A distributor's customer is the HVACR contractor. Everyday the distributor brings in new supplies and then sends them out the door via pick up or delivery. Their job, however, is more than just slinging parts. According to the Heating,...

Labor shortage puts unions and associations into action.(industry news)
December 10, 2007... Unions are certainly working hard in an effort to bring more qualified workers into the HVACR field. In a recent survey of chapters belonging to the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), manpower...

R-22 shortfall as early as 2010?(industry news)
December 10, 2007... When will the crunch come? When will the demand for R-22 surpass the supply? For a number of years the best guess was around 2015 when the phase down in the production of R-22 would no longer be off set by an adequate reclamation effort on the...

Midwest wholesaler exemplifies market center distribution.(distributors corner)
December 10, 2007... HVACR wholesalers who look to gain an edge on their competitors are oft en utilizing a business model without even knowing its name or purpose. Market Center Distribution (MCD) is a business model--or philosophy--developed by the Heating,...

Restrictive covenants--powerful tool.(ask the lawyer)
December 10, 2007... QUESTION: Are restrictive covenants enforceable and if so, what critical elements must be satisfied in order for these provisions to be legally binding? REPLY: Restrictive covenants and nonsolicitation clauses are genuinely...

Lessons from the junkyard dog.(money talks )(business competitions)
December 10, 2007... When Jim Croce sang his tale about Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, he dropped in that line about Leroy being meaner than a junkyard dog. But what if you could learn a few things from an old junkyard dog? The Junkyard Dog is an affectionate nickname I...

Association members want to know value.(business management)
December 10, 2007... Has attendance dropped at your association meetings? Has your membership numbers contracted? If you honestly answer either of the above questions in the affirmative, you are not alone. Both association executives and their boards of directors...

Guerilla marketing: the humorous side.
December 10, 2007... Ah, to be a fly on the wall in the marketing meeting at the Cartoon Network that day. It must have been like watching train-wreck about to happen. "Ok, so we have this cartoon show we want to advertise. What do you think is the best way to...

Why would I want to work for you?(business management)(Viewpoint essay)
December 10, 2007... I hear it over and over again; "I can't find any good people to work for my company." For owners who have repeatedly worked the employment-ad routine and come up empty-handed each time they tried, they may no longer believe talented people...

Adding holiday decorating to your profit center.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)(Editorial)
December 10, 2007... Why don't you help your customers with those Christmas decorations? Don't laugh. When you are rummaging through your lists of potential services to add to your market mix, putting up Christmas trees might not be such a bad idea. Better yet,...

I've got a new furnace.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
December 10, 2007... Christmas came early to my house. Early in November, my husband and I had our regular HVAC contractor, Jerry, install a new furnace and air conditioner. It all started with the air conditioner, which died a timely death (it was about 20...

Trane.(Price increase)
December 17, 2007... Trane (Piscataway, N.J.) increased prices 3 percent on all water- and air-cooled chillers, effective immediately.

Vilter Manufacturing LLC.(Price increase)
December 17, 2007... Vilter Manufacturing LLC (Cudahy, Wis.) increased prices 3-7 percent across all product lines, including reciprocating and screw compressors, condensers, vessels, air units, and packaged refrigeration systems, effective immediately.