Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from January 2009

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from January 2009

Manufacturers capture Innovation Awards.(FOCUS: AHR EXPO PRE-SHOW ISSUE)(International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition Innovation Awards)(Awards list)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHICAGO -- Nine companies have been named as the winners of the seventh annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) Innovation Awards. All nine companies will be recognized at...

Correction.(Correction notice)
January 12, 2009... In the Dec. 15 issue, The Unified Group was reported to be located in Broadville, Ill. It is actually located in Broadview, Ill. The NEWS regrets this error.

Contractors can help others be stewards of equipment.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 12, 2009... I enjoyed the bad guy-good guy (negative viewpoint-positive viewpoint) approach to the green movement articles ("Some Would Call It Green Greed," by Mike Murphy and "Making Fence-Sitting an Art Form" by John R. Hall) which appeared in the Nov....

Sealing the system permanently.(letters)
January 12, 2009... I find it ironic to see the lead articles "Stricter Installation Standards" and "Duct Tape Improvements Help HVAC Contractors" juxtaposed on the cover of the Oct. 13 issue. Regardless of the rating given to duct tape, it will be used as a...

EPA proposes tighter R-22, charging regs.(newsline)
January 12, 2009... Washington, D.C. -- The HVACR industry remains on track to deal with a significant reduction in the production of HCFC-22 starting in 2010. But that 75 percent reduction from 1996 levels may be even greater based on refrigerant-related rules...

Sodexo Inc.'s (Gaithersburg. Md.) Jack Thompson, assistant director of facilities maintenance and energy manager, received the Energy Manager of the Year Award.(Contractors)
January 12, 2009... Sodexo Inc.'s (Gaithersburg. Md.) Jack Thompson, assistant director of facilities maintenance and energy manager, received the Energy Manager of the Year Award from the Association of South Carolina Energy Managers (ASCEM).

Douglas Electrical Components.(Manufacturers)
January 12, 2009... Douglas Electrical Components (Rockaway, N.J.) moved all of its manufacturing and support functions to a new, expanded facility in Randolph, N.J.

Aprilaire's (Madison, Wis.) Nikki Krueger, indoor air environmental specialist, was accredited by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center.(Manufacturers)
January 12, 2009... Aprilaire's (Madison, Wis.) Nikki Krueger, indoor air environmental specialist, was accredited by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center as a verifier with National Green Building Certification.

Munters AB.(Manufacturers)
January 12, 2009... Munters AB (Stockholm, Sweden) named Russ Brown as global business development manager-temporary humidity control for Moisture Control Services (Glendale Heights, Ill.).

The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM).(Organizations)
January 12, 2009... The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM) is hosting its 56th Annual Convention & Trade Show, May 17-21 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pa.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE's).(Contractors)
January 12, 2009... The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE's) college of fellows is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).(Contractors)
January 12, 2009... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) partnered with OfficeMax Advantage, to provide its members with exclusive discounts on office supplies, printing services, and other products.

Ineos wins patent dispute.(newsline)
January 12, 2009... ST. GABRIEL, La. -- Ineos Fluor Americas LLC announced that Chief Administrative Law Judge Paul Luckern of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), issued an initial determination finding that Sinochem's R-134a infringes on Ineos Fluor's...

LG opens training facility.(newsline)
January 12, 2009... ROSWELL, Ga. -- LG Electronics USA celebrated the grand opening of the LG Training Academy in Roswell, Ga., to support LG's fast-growing commercial air conditioner business. At 16,000 square feet, this facility has the capability to train...

Trades in U.S. currency.(newsline)(WaterFurnace Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Beginning the opening of trading on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, WaterFurnace shares are quoted and traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange in both U.S. and Canadian currency. Currently the company reports results in U.S. dollars and...

Pleated panel filter.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Puro-green 13[TM] is an extended-surface pleated panel filter. It is classified UL Class 2 per UL Standard 900. The filter has a heavy-duty moisture-resistant beverage board frame and is made of 100 percent...

Gas-fired unit heaters.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The separated combustion, tubular heat exchanger, gas-fired unit heater line is built on the successful residential Hot Dawg[R] platform. It offers seven sizes rated from 150,000 to 400,000 Btuh and is designed to...

A/C, refrigeration moisture remover.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The DRY-R[TM] is a moisture-removing additive that eliminates [H.sub.2]O in commercial, industrial, and residential air conditioning and refrigeration systems by changing its chemical composition rather than masking...

Outdoor filter fans.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... The Advantage Sentry Series outdoor filter fans are a cost-effective cooling solution where filtered, ambient air can be used to cool components that can tolerate temperatures slightly higher than ambient. The series is suitable for outdoor...

Wet rotor circulators.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Models NRF-25 and NBF-25 circulators are equipped with three-speed motors, which allow the pumps to cover a wide range of hydraulic capabilities. These products are part of the Bell & Gossett line of three-speed NRF...

Pump selection software.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... Pump Flo Version 10, aka Pump-Flo X, is the latest version of this pump selection software for the fluid-handling industry. The software suite is used by pump manufacturers, pump distributors, and pump users/specifiers in the sizing and...

Modulating gas furnaces.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Coleman modulating gas furnaces that achieve 98 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), such as the Echelon[TM] 33-inch, variable-speed modulating gas furnaces with electronically commutated motors...

Saws and drills.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A line of corded tools includes 1/2-inch drills (DWD215G and DWD210G), a deep-cut band saw (DWM120), and 1/2-inch stud and joist drill (DWD460). They were built from the ground up and designed with new innovations...

Wire sealing system.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The AirArrest[TM] is a through-the-wall wire sealing solution for data centers, office buildings, and other structures that feature raised access floors with underfloor air distribution (UFAD). Designed to seal cable...

System performance software.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... The OptimumHVAC are software applications that allow building engineers to analyze HVAC system performance and remotely troubleshoot, in real time, over the Internet. It is based on patented Hartman Technologies residing in a...

Programmable thermostat.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Smart Thermostat is a programmable thermostat that allows homeowners to program it easily and in seconds by using its touch screen or over the Internet. It has an easy-to-read, full-color LCD screen, featuring...

24.5 SEER A/C unit.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Westinghouse iQ Drive[R] split-system air conditioner, paired with an air handler, now has Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) ratings of 24.5 SEER. All Westinghouse 2-, 3-,and 4-ton...

Environmental conditions meter.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Enviro-Meter[TM] provides in a single handheld package an anemometer, humidity meter, light meter, and two thermometers. The lightweight and compact case permits one-handed operation. The anemometer displays air...

Heating manifold.(what's new)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Engineered Plastic (EP) heating manifold for radiant applications is available in two through eight loops and accommodates 15.4 gallons per minute (gpm). Single loops are also available for purchase to extend the...

Unified Group shows strength in numbers; commercial contractor group celebrates 10th anniversary.(meeting update)
January 12, 2009... BROADVIEW, Ill. -- Contractors who work together in a noncompetitive atmosphere know there is a lot to be gained from the experience. This was proved again when the Unified Group held its 10th Annual Owners' Forum in Puerto Rico. More than 55...

Windy City welcomes AHR Expo.(FOCUS: AHR EXPO PRE-SHOW ISSUE)
January 12, 2009... CHICAGO -- The 61st Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) will return to the Windy City, historically the site of its largest shows, with new educational sessions and countless new products for the growing green...

Urban sustainability is theme of ASHRAE's winter meeting.(FOCUS: AHR EXPO PRE-SHOW ISSUE)(Conference news)
January 12, 2009... CHICAGO -- The focus at the 2009 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) Winter Conference will be on "Sustainable Urban Design: Engineering Tomorrow... Today," which is an appropriate topic when...

Recovery and consolidation: safety issue for contractors?(REFRIGERATION Zone)
January 12, 2009... In light of the pending HCFC phaseout, contractors are faced with many challenges. The call for increased recovery efforts has never been greater. Therefore, finding a viable and beneficial reclamation program is a concern of increasing...

Replacing cap tubes.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)(Technical report)
January 12, 2009... A popular metering device used on many fractional horsepower refrigeration systems is the cap tube. But one field problem encountered with this type of metering device is that it can become plugged with system debris, causing a restriction....

The untypical refrigeration system.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: field solutions)
January 12, 2009... While it might be fair to say that there is no such thing as a typical supermarket refrigeration system, there are commonalities between all systems that employ multiplex compressor racks. It is typical for the evaporator circuits in each...

Condenser efficiency affects the system.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
January 12, 2009... One of the main components of any refrigeration or air conditioning system is the condenser. As its name implies, one of the main functions of the condenser is to condense the refrigerant sent to it from the compressor. However, the condenser...

Making furnaces fit in a 13 SEER world: counter flow box allows installations in low-ceiling areas.(field solutions)
January 12, 2009... How do you fit in not only an upflow furnace, but also the larger 13 SEER or higher A coils and other equipment in an installation? That was the dilemma that Karl Skog, owner, Crosslake Sheetmetal, Crosslake, Minn., and others at the company...

Economic crisis into opportunity.(business management)
January 12, 2009... Yes, the world is changing all around us. Yes, people are spending less this year. Yes, we are all tightening our belts in one way or another, but is the sky falling? Some of you are angry about what has happened over the last few months with...

Keeping the rumor mill at bay.(my two cents)(downsize)(Column)
January 12, 2009... I recently had a very shocking experience. A foreman of ours, who has been with us for 44 years and not one to foster or spread gossip, came in and said he had heard on a jobsite that we were going out of business or were selling to another...

Watching the bottom line with simple concepts.(distributor corner)
January 12, 2009... There is only one reason to be in business and that is to make money. Now don't think I'm cold and insensitive by this comment, but there is nothing "gross" about gross margin. It takes profit to run a business, it takes profit to maintain...

Johnstone supply holds meeting.(distributor corner)
January 12, 2009... PORTLAND, Ore. -- Johnstone Supply Inc.'s annual meeting--themed "Full Steam Ahead" and held in Atlanta--in part reflected the cooperative's strong moves forward in implementing strategic initiatives to achieve its goal of reaching $2 billion...

Racers enjoy show.(distributor corner)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: RACERS ENJOY SHOW: Carrier Southern California Sales and Distribution exhibited and hosted dealers at the 29th annual Institute of Heating & Air Conditioning Industries Inc. (IHACI) Heating Ventilation Air...

MCERF receives $10,000 contribution.(hvac charity work)
January 12, 2009... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation (MCERF) received a contribution of $10,000 from Anvil International Inc., raising its total cash donations to $530,000. When Anvil's cash contributions are combined...

Grainger aids state programs.(hvac charity work)
January 12, 2009... LANSING, Mich. -- The Grainger Foundation donated $100,000 to the state of Michigan's No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) initiative and Michigan Technical Education Centers (M-TEC) near Grainger facilities. The donation was made based upon the...

Emerson matches auction bid.(hvac charity work)(Emerson Electric Co.)(Operation Homefront)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... ST. LOUIS -- The proceeds from an Emerson silent auction are going to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale boosters to U.S. troops and the families they leave behind. Operation Homefront...

Hobaica launches campaign.(hvac charity work)(Hobaica Services Inc.)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... PHOENIX -- Hobaica Services Inc. launched the Business Entities Getting Involved in our Neighborhood (BEGIN) Campaign. The company took its remaining advertising budget for October-December 2008 and used it to give away free home comfort...

Home assistance delivered.(hvac charity work)(Aladdin Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.)(Habitat for Humanity)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOME ASSISTANCE DELIVERED: Aladdin Air Conditioning & Heating Inc., a local Carrier Southern California Sales and Distribution (CSD Southern California) dealer, sponsored its local Habitat for Humanity chapter in...

Systems donated.(hvac charity work)
January 12, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: SYSTEMS DONATED: Frederick-based Tri-State Home Services, a Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems dealer, provided the HVAC system and installation to a Poolesville, Md., family featured on ABC's Extreme...

Murphy's law: gosh darn it.(editors' blogs: MORE ONLINE AT ACHRNEWS.COM)(Brief article)
January 12, 2009... Former "Saturday Night Live" satirist and comedian, Al Franken, appears to have the U.S. Senate seat wrapped up in Minnesota. Maybe. His opponent is still fighting the results of the extremely narrow margin of victory, about 200 votes. ...

Taking care of business: economy bringing out the $19 guys?
January 12, 2009... It was bad enough fighting off these guys when the economy was good. Now that the economy has gone south in many parts of the country, the $19 guys may start coming out of the woodwork. I'm talking about the HVACR contractors (a term I am...

Tweet/Garot Mechanical Inc.(Contractors)
January 19, 2009... Tweet/Garot Mechanical Inc. (Green Bay, Wis.) and Interstate Mechanical Corp. (Phoenix) became members of The Unified Group (Broadview, Ill.).

Johnson Controls.(Manufacturers)
January 19, 2009... Johnson Controls (Norman, Okla.) now offers York [R] Liberties [TM] dealers online access to the entire library of ProficienTECH training materials.

Home Comfort Zones Inc.(Manufacturers)
January 19, 2009... Home Comfort Zones Inc. (Portland, Ore.) appointed RST Inc. (Westwood, Mass.) as its manufacturer's representative in New England.

Clarcor Air Filtration Products.(Manufacturers)
January 19, 2009... Clarcor Air Filtration Products (Louisville, Ky.) relocated to 100 River Ridge Circle, Jeffersonville, IN 47130.

Champion Cooler Corp.(Manufacturers)
January 19, 2009... Champion Cooler Corp., a subsidiary of Essick Air Products Inc. (Little Rock, Ark.), purchased all assets of Adobe Air Inc. (Phoenix), excluding the equity of IMPCO, whose principal facilities are located in Mexico.

Anco Products Inc.(Manufacturers)
January 19, 2009... Anco Products Inc. (Elkhart, Ind.) has not had a recordable accident since May 5, 2007--over 215,483 hours worked.

Tencarva Machinery Co.(Distributors)
January 19, 2009... Tencarva Machinery Co. (Greensboro, N.C.) expanded its Charleston, N.C., branch office to 7,260 square feet.

Wit & Co. Ltd.(Organizations)
January 19, 2009... Wit & Co. Ltd. (Decatur, Ill.) relocated its headquarters to 8600 Freeport Parkway, Suite 240, Irving, TX 75063.

Red-tagging a furnace: who is responsible?
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many consumers live with dangerous furnaces and attachments --cracked heat exchangers, blocked flue vents, patchwork duct systems, etc. As a result, people are killed or injured every year from dangerously high...

Reasons for choosing HVAC names.(heating ventilation and air conditioning)
January 19, 2009... What is in a name? In particular, what is in an HVACR contractor's name? It is common to see a lot of businesses with the word "air" in the name, and there are many with "heating & cooling," too. It is also common to name a business that will...

Try to get the public into expo.(Letter to the editor)
January 19, 2009... Your proposal to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) under the conditions stated in your article was appropriate, but I surmise unexpected. As a follow-up to reintroduce your proposal, please allow me to suggest a...

13 SEER mandate is causing an increase in energy use.(letters)
January 19, 2009... Here in North Texas, far too many HVAC systems are being repaired and not replaced, mainly due to the 13 SEER baseline change. Thirteen SEER and above is perceived as too expensive by the consumer. Many 10 and 12 SEER systems, whose...

DOE establishes national standard.(newsline: MORE ONLINE AT ACHRNEWS.COM)
January 19, 2009... ATLANTA--Under a ruling issued by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), states must now certify that their building codes meet the requirements in ASHRAE/IESNA's 2004 energy efficiency standard. ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 Energy...

Rewarding service.(newsline: MORE ONLINE AT ACHRNEWS.COM)(Rotobrush International LLC.)(Brief article)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In front of the full Rotobrush staff, Leon Tribble (right), an ambassador for the National Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presented Rotobrush CEO and President Steven Bock with a...

Compressor energy-usage reducer.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Energy Saving Module (ESM [TM]) reduces the electricity consumption and maximum demand of air conditioning and refrigeration compressors through enhanced system performance. It works with the existing controls to...

Spanish-language thermostat.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Blue [TM] Selecto thermostat line is the first-ever Spanish-only line of programmable thermostats, says the company. According to the manufacturer, the Blue thermostat platform has been adapted to address the key...

Vehicle cargo shelving.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ADseries van shelving features adjustable shelves that can be easily moved to wherever they're needed, increasing the available space for trade-specific equipment. The rail system allows shelving to be...

Variable-speed gas furnace.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... The Luxaire [R] Acclimate [TM] 33-inch, variable-speed modulating gas furnace with electronically commutated motors can achieve up to 98 percent AFUE. In redesigning the furnace line, the height of the unit was reduced by 7 inches. Multiple...

A/C unit, heat pump water evaporator.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Water Dissipater is designed to eliminate water produced by air conditioning and heat pump equipment. It is a container made of fireproofing plastic and protected with ultraviolet light protection against...

Fleet management system.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... OnTrack vehicle tracking system, version 6.1, provides real-time access to onboard diagnostics of individual vehicles, giving fleet managers immediate access to mpg data, fuel tank levels, and other data that supports companies' fuel efficiency...

Ductwork coating system.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Super Spray Ball system is designed to maneuver and apply sanitizers and coatings in ductwork ranging in size from 4-14 inches (10.2 to 35.6 cm) high. The system includes three 360-degree spray nozzles, a fluid...

Variable-frequency inverters.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new generation of CFW11 variable-frequency inverters feature Vectrue technology, which combines V/F, Sensorless Vector, VVW, and vector (with encoder) control techniques all in one product. The OptimalFlux(tm)...

Commercial A/C unit.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Signature Series' Precision Comfort Control (PCC) is a self-contained, LEED[R]-qualifying-design air conditioner for precision air comfort in office buildings, hospitals, hotels, museums, schools, and other...

Firestop sealant.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The high-performance, single-component, water-based, firestop sealant TREMstop IA+ will expand to fill voids left when combustible materials burn and deteriorate in a fire. The improved formula for TREMstop IA...

Takeoff and estimating software.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... PlanSwift is a construction takeoff and estimating software program. It uses the original electronic plans to generate precise materials for estimates. It can be used to calculate distances, areas, and volume as well as create a customizable...

Temperature-humidity indicator.
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HygroPalm2-series is a new generation of portable humidity-temperature instruments utilizing the latest AirChip3000 technology. According to the manufacturer, this technology achieves superior accuracy. The...

Temp-humidity data loggers.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The multifeature digital display temperature and humidity data loggers have both push-to-start and push-to-stop functions. The easy-to-read digital display allows the user to keep track of temperature and humidity...

Condensing units, air-handling units.(what's new)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A complete line of R-410A large tonnage condensing units (50 to 140 tons) and split system air-handling units is available. The condensing units feature an average EER of 10.6, which exceeds ASHRAE 90.1-2010...

The need to become a green verifier: aprilaire media relations manager earns national green building certification.(FOCUS: BUILDERS GOING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... MADISON, Wis.--Nikki Krueger felt it was time to learn more about the green building industry. Rather than reading from a book or browsing the Internet, the media relations manager of Aprilaire decided to get a real feel for green building...

Idaho contractor takes green philosophy very seriously.(FOCUS: BUILDERS GOING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... BOISE, Idaho--Bob Barnes, vice-president of Western Heating & Air of Boise, Idaho, takes energy efficiency and green technology very seriously. So seriously that his business has been given significant awards for its work in promoting clean and...

Going green wirelessly leads to increased sales.(FOCUS: BUILDERS GOING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... There are many different products in the HVAC equipment world that cater to the green building tidal wave. Efficiency is a key green element that builders are using to market residential and commercial new construction. And what better way to...

Green technologies impresses onlookers.(FOCUS: BUILDERS GOING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... LANSING, Mich.--The Mobile Classroom of Sustainable Technologies, sometimes called the "big green trailer," made its way through the capital of Michigan and surrounding areas as it continued its mission to educate consumers and HVACR...

Selling green in a changing economy.(FOCUS: BUILDERS GOING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... As the price of fuel and copper goes up, the heating and air conditioning industry is being hit from all sides. It cost you more to drive to your customer. Some of you have even reduced your market area to save fuel. Manufacturers are seeing...

MCAA student summit: Omaha goes ape.(meeting update)
January 19, 2009... They came from all over the United States--more than 200 members of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) student chapters, their faculty advisors, executives and staff of local affiliated associations, contractors, and...