Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from July 2004

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from July 2004

Clima-Tech Corp.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Clima-Tech Corp. (Boise, Idaho), a mechanical service and maintenance provider for commercial customers, recently received the 2004 Small Business of the Year Award from the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Clima-Tech serves southern Idaho,...

A combined PSI and AirTime 500 (St. Louis) Summit and Expo will be held in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 13-18.(Contractors)
July 5, 2004... A combined PSI and AirTime 500 (St. Louis) Summit and Expo will be held in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 13-18. For more information, call 800-505-8885 or visit www.contractorsservices.net.

Air Purchases Inc. (Burlington, Mass.), a wholesale-distributor of Trane equipment and HVACR parts and accessories, is now an authorized wholesaler.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Air Purchases Inc. (Burlington, Mass.), a wholesale-distributor of Trane equipment and HVACR parts and accessories, is now an authorized wholesaler of Tecumseh Cool Products,

The following wholesale-distributors now operate authorized Prostock[R] stores.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The following wholesale-distributors now operate authorized Prostock[R] stores: Shirley's J&B Supply (Oklahoma City), Noland Co. (Birmingham, Ala.), and Riback Supply Co. (Osage Beach, Mo.). All three companies distribute Ruud HVAC products.

Rheem Air Conditioning Division.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Rheem Air Conditioning Division (Fort Smith, Ark.) announced the appointment of Charles Perry Jr. to sales manager for its light commercial product line. The company also appointed Michelle Scroggins to package focus factory quality engineer.

Watts Water Technologies Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Watts Water Technologies Inc. (North Andover, Mass.) promoted Alan Squires to vice president of sales--Wholesale Plumbing & Heating Products.

The road to 13 SEER: manufacturers on track to meet 2006 deadline.(the News)(seasonal energy efficiency rating)(Editorial)
July 5, 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. In this series of articles, The News examines the...

Which hat do you wear on the job? There are good guys and bad guys when it comes to refrigerant use.(Refrigerants)
July 5, 2004... Consider two scenarios. In the first scenario, contractors wearing black hats have no interest in recovery, recycling, and reclamation procedures. In fact, they don't even have a recovery machine in the service van or at the shop. They are just...

Precise charging.
July 5, 2004... A new refrigerant charging device (patent pending) has been developed to supply a simplified method of providing more precise system charging. For details on the invention, see the technical article "Providing More Precise System Charging." Go...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 5, 2004... The incorrect Web address was listed for one of the manufacturers mentioned in the June 7 issue. In the article titled "Mycom Unveils Compressor Line," which detailed the company's compressor introduced at the International Institute of Ammonia...

The truth about strengths and weaknesses.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... After reading Charlie Greer's article ("Raw Truth About An Incredible Man," May 31) I felt compelled to write. Your honesty in recalling the jealousy and envy you sometimes felt when in his presence is certainly understandable. Like you, I...

Tom McCart--a winner.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... I just finished reading the two articles "Raw Truth About An Incredible Man" and "A Testament To A Million Dollar Salesman," May 31 in The News and I wanted to touch base with you. I started reading the first article and started to get choked...

Utilizing drives to meet ASHRAE standard 90.1.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Since motors consume a majority of the electrical energy produced, the control of motors, based on demands of loads, increases in importance as energy supplies become ever more strained. Additionally, end users of motors can realize 25 percent...

Bell & Gossett program celebrates 50th anniversary.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... MORTON GROVE, Ill. -- Bell & Gossett is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Little Red Schoolhouse[R] training center. Since it opened in 1954, the program has provided training for more than 50,000 students in Morton Grove and over 125,000...

Siemens helps complete Time Warner Center.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK -- Siemens Building Technologies Inc. teamed up with The Related Companies to complete The Time Warner Center. Located at 10 Columbus Circle, the new $2.5 billion center is a 2.8 million square foot, multiuse facility featuring...

Oakland County Schools' HVACR lab set to open its doors.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- For the last two years, The News has been working with Oakland County Schools to help create a new HVACR program for the school district. School officials and News staffers worked to establish a secondary training program to...

Luxaire and baseball: a winning combination.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Luxaire Heating and Air Conditioning is teaming up with Minor League Baseball as part of the company's 2004 co-marketing program, which offers Luxaire dealers and distributors game sponsorship packages that help support the company's three-year...

Sporlan valve honors its military veterans.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Sporlan Valve Honors Its Military Veterans: Sporlan Valve Co. honored its employees and retirees who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces with a special Flag Day commemoration ceremony June 14 at the company's world...

HVAC Excellence.(Schools)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... HVAC Excellence (Mount Prospect, Ill.) granted accreditation to the following programs: Advanced Technology Institute (Virginia Beach, Va.), Caddo Career Center (Shreveport, La.), Southeast Technical Institute (Sioux Falls, S.D.), E Donald...

Phoenix Aerotech Laboratories Inc. (Phoenix) and P&K Microbiology Services Inc. (Austin, Texas) opened a satellite IAQ lab in Tampa, Fla.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Phoenix Aerotech Laboratories Inc. (Phoenix) and P&K Microbiology Services Inc. (Austin, Texas) opened a satellite IAQ lab in Tampa, Fla. The facility, located at 6712 Benjamin Rd., Suite 100, will offer services including rush analyses for...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.(Codes And Standards)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Washington) recently released a "Radon Gas and Mold Notice and Release Agreement." This agreement is required for HUD home sales. For more information, visit...

The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA).(Associations)
July 5, 2004... The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) (Arlington Heights, Ill.) has revised Publication 511, "Certified Ratings Program for Air Control Devices." The publication explains the association's Certified Ratings Program and...

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute (ARTI).(Associations)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute (ARTI) (Arlington, Va.) has released a final report on a research project, "Variable Primary Flow Chilled Water Systems: Potential Benefits and Application Issues." It can be...

NATE finds support among wholesalers.(Industry News)(North American Technician Excellence)
July 5, 2004... GALLOWAY, N.J. -- North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is forging strong ties with the wholesaler sector of the HVACR industry, and that is proving to be of mutual benefit to both the tester of technicians and a sector that has daily...

CHP facility dedicated in Texas.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(cooling-heating-power )(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... AUSTIN, Texas -- The Department of Energy (DOE) recently held a dedication ceremony for a new cooling-heating-power (CHP) facility. CHP is a form of distributed energy that recycles waste heat produced in electrical generation. The dedication...

Thermostats.(what's New)(SmartWay Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The Talking Thermostat[TM] line has audio playback of indoor temperature and temperature setting, as well as step-by-step programming directions, These 5/2 programmable thermostats play the contractor's custom audio message when the Help button...

Heat pump.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The SmartComfort[TM] 2200 Series split system heat pumps now feature a new, thicker fin coil, which offers aesthetic improvement as well as helps prevent accidental damage in transporting and handling, the company says. The heat pumps provide...

Business management software.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Logistics, the total business process management software, is a bundle of integrated, trade-specific applications, which can be purchased separately or together, depending on the contractor's business needs. The Logistics HVAC estimating...

Light commercial thermostats.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Robertshaw[R] programmable thermostats, Model 9901i, Model 9915i, and Model 9920i, are for the light commercial sector and feature integrated air control that enables building operators to meet the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,...

U-tube heaters.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The line of LTU unitized, low-intensity, gas-fired radiant U-tube heaters has been expanded to 19 sizes, ranging in capacity from 40,000 to 250,000 Btuh. According to the manufacturer, these units are especially suited for lower mounting...

Heating system.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The Patriot AFX indirect-fired heating system is designed as a space heater for open-area buildings. According to the company, the heater attains uniform building temperature with maximum heating efficiency using the principle of low velocity,...

Web portal.(what's New)
July 5, 2004... The company's Business Portal is a Web-based tool designed to provide users with a multifaceted view of their data within a single screen. The portal is designed to leverage the power and functionality of the Microsoft[R] Business Portal, while...

Leak detector.(what's New)(Refco Manufacturing Ltd)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The Startek leak detector is a microprocessor-controlled unit. It is compatible with all halogenated refrigerants. A leak is indicated by both a variable-frequency audible alarm and visual indication. Two sensitivity levels can be selected:...

Ceiling diffuser.(what's New)
July 5, 2004... The RadiaFlo flush-face radial ceiling diffuser delivers a uniform 180-degree radial air pattern, the company says. According to the manufacturer, the high volume, low velocity isovel displaces contaminants and eliminates drafts that could...

Training videos.(what's News)(HVAC industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Four training videos cover the topics of no-heat calls, tuneups, heating oil delivery, and heating oil storage and handling. The titles, some of which are available on DVD, include "How to Respond to a No Heat Call," "The Proper Way to Tune Up...

VFD CDs.(what's News)(Variable frequency drive)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Two CD tools help people understand variable-frequency drive (VFD) technology and provide a method of calculating harmonic voltage and current distortion when using VFDs in building applications, the company states. The "A to Z"[TM] CD-ROM...

Wine cellar a/c units.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... WineMaster cellar air conditioning units provide a large number of features that favor the aging of wine in the best of conditions, including electronically controlled optimization of temperature and hygrometry and a motor fitted with an...

Flow control flange brochure.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... A bulletin illustrates how a new isolation flow control flange combines the features of a flow control valve, isolation valve, and companion flange in a single valve, says the manufacturer. Bulletin A-118 provides the Check Trol[TM] operating...

Warehouse software.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Knowledge Management Center 4.0 is the latest version of this executive information data warehouse solution, says the company. Among its capabilities, this software summarizes sales, inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and open...

Valve manifold.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The Yellow Jacket[R] Series 41 two-valve manifold for R-22, R-404A, and R-410A now has larger, easier to read, 3 1/8-inch color coded gauge dials with cases made of rugged steel and polycarbonate crystals. The refrigerant scales and pressure...

Thermometers.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The plastic pocket test thermometer, CT180-50, has a temperature range of -40[degrees] to 180[degrees]F, with [+ or -] 2[degrees] accuracy, while the plastic pocket test thermometer CT220-50 has a temperature of 0[degrees] to 220[degrees] with...

Fan.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... The four-in-one direct-drive Mancooler[R] has four mounting options that are shipped together. Included in the box are the chain hanging mount, the ceiling mount, the wall mount, and the portable barrel with wheels mounting, for creating the...

Job Cost software.(what's News)(Construction Management software)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... A new function for the Job Cost module in the Construction Management software allows HVACR, mechanical, and plumbing companies to store job cost history information on a CD for archival purposes as well as viewing at a remote location or...

Severe-duty louvers.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Wind-driven rain louvers have been subjected to rainfall rates up to 8 inches per hour with external wind speeds up to 50 miles per hour with impressive rain rejection results, states the manufacturer. They range in size from a narrow-profile...

Pressure transducer.(what's News)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Model 528 strain gauge industrial pressure transducer's modular design is offered with a variety of pressure fittings and electrical connections, enabling the unit to be custom configured. The unit's CVD stain gauge design is resistant to aging...

Saying thanks can bring in referrals.(Business Management in HVAC industry)
July 5, 2004... [Editor's note: At the 2004 Air Conditioning Contractors of America Conference, Chris Colditz, co-owner of Laco Mechanical Services, Palatine, Ill., presented a session titled "Under 15 Employees: Growing and Improving Effectiveness and Image."...

We have a winner: Dr. Gorrie.(refrigeration zone)(John Gorrie wins appreciation for his invention)
July 5, 2004... Back in the April 5 issue of the The News, I asked readers for opinions as to when mechanical refrigeration first began. The first three responders to the question all agreed on the founder and the technology, and they were in pretty close...

System checklists are indispensable.(refrigeration zone)
July 5, 2004... Systematic troubleshooting using a system checklist is the best method for the conscientious technician to pinpoint hard-to-find system problems. This article explores how evaporators can become oil-logged. Included are the symptoms of the...

Servicing, troubleshooting CPRs.(HVAC industry)(Crankcase pressure regulators)
July 5, 2004... Crankcase pressure regulators (CPRs) are designed to prevent a compressor motor from overloading when its crankcase pressure rises above its design working pressure. CPRs are common accessories added on to many low-temperature refrigeration...

Moisture detection.(the Hotline)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Question: By Ley Lobo Via E-mail Is there a device that will detect moisture in a refrigeration system, which would act as a relay to trip off the system if the moisture level rose above a specific set value? As refrigeration...

Superheat Settings.(the Hotline)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Question: >From Bill Blackwell Diboll, Texas I have a couple of questions about superheat settings on thermostatic expansion valves and subcooling in condensers. I can't seem to find out if the superheat setting on the valve is...

Blower Motor.(the Hotline)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Question: By Richard Hawkins Via E-mail A while ago I had a flood in my basement. I had it cleaned up, but now my blower motor is not working. It does put out heat, but not enough. The furnace does turn on, but also shuts off...

'Dirty Sock' Syndrome.(the Hotline)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Question: >From John Moorefield Via E-Mail I am looking for more information regarding the UVC solutions for the dreaded "Dirty Sock Syndrome." Specifically, how much does this cost? Can our local service dealer install the unit?...

Do-it-yourself installation.(the Hotline)(Letter to the Editor)
July 5, 2004... Question: Name Withheld by Request That does the law state about the do-it-yourselfer market and the installation of residential split systems? To be more specific: If a contractor sells an A coil, line set, and a condensing unit to a...

Remember--it's always about the water.(Focus: ice machines)(HVAC industry)(Total O Management)
July 5, 2004... Anybody who works on ice machines knows that concern No. 1 is the water. The purer the water, the better the machine will run. The better the water, the better the ice, and the happier the customer. Above all, safety is paramount. However,...

Refrigerant takes aim at ice machines.(Focus: ice machines from HVAC industry)
July 5, 2004... Ice machines have been affected by the revolution in refrigerants, as have many other HVACR products and components. For years, they ran on such CFCs as R-12 and -502. With the phaseout of those refrigerants, however, manufacturers moved to...

Keep it quiet, keep it clean: ice makers improve filtration, sanitation, and noise.(Focus: ice machines from HVAC industry)
July 5, 2004... CHICAGO -- Quiet machines and clean water were recurring themes in ice-making products shown at the recent National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant-Hotel-Motel Show and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Supermarket Industry Convention and...

Building a successful service business.(Service & Maintenance)(HVAC industry, managing customers)
July 5, 2004... Most of us believe that technical expertise is the most important factor in building a successful maintenance organization. However, we all know excellent technicians who fail in the service business. Why do they fail, or why do they fail to...

While at the site, provide some tips.(HVAC industry)(don't let your customers freeze seeing their electricity bills)
July 5, 2004... Now that Fourth of July celebrations have come and gone, the hot summer months are officially upon us. In certain regions of the country, of course, the humid weather started far earlier. In the big picture, many residential air conditioning...

Accidental death reminds us of dangers.(HVAC industry)
July 5, 2004... Recently came the tragic news of an A/C service technician who was electrocuted while inspecting a rooftop unit in an industrial complex on Long Island, N.Y. Initial reports said that the man accidentally touch a 440-volt circuit during the...

Baltimore Aircoil Co.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Baltimore Aircoil Co. (Baltimore) is increasing prices an average of 6 percent on all North American products and parts, effective immediately.

Trane Commercial Systems.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Trane Commercial Systems (Piscataway, N.J.) announced a price increase of 3 percent on several products within its chiller, air handler, commercial unitary, and terminal unit product groups. The increase is effective July 14.

Excellence Alliance Inc. (EAI).(Laurence Scharff appointed as vice president of sales )(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Excellence Alliance Inc. (EAI) (Cincinnati) announced that Laurence Scharff is the group's new vice president of sales and marketing. He has spent the last 10 years at ClimateMaster Inc. (Oklahoma City).

Berg Chilling Systems.(Marc Desbiens appointed to head Quebec branch)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Berg Chilling Systems (Scarborough, Ontario) appointed Marc Desbiens to head up a branch office in Longueuil, Quebec. The company designs chillers and cooling systems for general industrial process applications such as plastics, pulp and paper,...

Air Purchases Inc.(Tom Campbell appointed as territory manager )(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Air Purchases Inc. (Burlington, Mass.), a wholesale-distributor of Trane equipment and HVACR parts and accesssories, appointed Tom Campbell territory manager for central Massachusetts.

Riback Supply Co.(Distributors)(Prostock[R] store opened)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Riback Supply Co. (Columbia, Mo.), a Ruud wholesale-distributor, opened a Prostock[R] store located at 901 Highway 42, Osage Beach, Mo. Contractors from across the area attended an open house event.

Efficiency: are we there yet?
July 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Do we need to pursue greater energy efficiency in the United States? Or should we be looking for more energy sources? According to speakers at the 15th annual Energy Efficiency Forum, the answer is we should be doing both. ...

Danfoss and Turbocor form joint venture.
July 12, 2004... NORDBORG, Denmark -- Denmark-based Danfoss A/S and Dorval, Quebec-based Turbocor Inc. today announced the formation of a fifty-fifty joint venture to be named Danfoss Turbocor Compressors Inc., which will be based in Montreal. The new company...

Determining airflow.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Measuring airflow can be difficult and time consuming, but it can be useful to troubleshooters. An easy method of measuring airflow through a system that uses electric heaters is provided in the Service & Maintenance article "Determining...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 12, 2004... The June 14 article titled "Controlling Condenser Pressure" contained an error in the explanation of one of the formulas. The item in question should have read: "u is the heat transmission coefficient, in Btuh/[ft.sup.2] x [degree]F, determined...

ANSI upholds ventilation rate procedure.(industry News)(American National Standards Institute)
July 12, 2004... ATLANTA -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Board of Standards Review has denied an appeal for an addendum to American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) Standard 62-2001. The...

ECR receives DOE grant.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... UTICA, N.Y. -- U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., announced that a $500,000 Department of Energy grant has been awarded to ECR International to spur the development of new energy-saving technology. The grant will allow ECR International to...

Imaging helps find oil.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Successful tests with a new technology funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) have allowed geologists to "see" through thousands of feet of rock to find and tap pockets of oil, according to the department. Known as "cross-well...

WEEC 2004 to be held in Austin.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(Association of Energy Engineers)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) has joined forces with host Austin Energy to bring the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC) to Austin, Texas, Sept. 22-24. WEEC features a multi-track conference agenda, seminars, and a new...

Houston's largest convention hotel boosts efficiency.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... ANDOVER, Mass. -- Andover Controls Corp., a manufacturer of intelligent building systems for HVAC, security management, and digital video surveillance applications, recently completed a building management installation at the Hilton...

MSCA schedules educational conference.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) will hold its annual educational conference Oct. 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. The conference will focus on managing, owning, operating,...

York adds self-contained units.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... YORK, Pa. -- York International Corp. has acquired the Versecon[TM] line of indoor, vertical, self-contained airconditioning units from Des Champs Technologies, a manufacturer of energy-recovery systems, air conditioning systems, and process...

MCAA to hold chapter summit.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Inc. (MCAA) will hold its 2004 Student Chapter Summit Sept. 28-29 in La Crosse, Wis. The conference will provide two days of learning, networking, and career planning...

PowerCold awarded new national accounts.(industry News)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... LARGO, Fla. -- PowerCold Corp. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary PowerCold ComfortAir Solutions Inc. (PCS) has been awarded several new national retail store and restaurant chain contracts that the company said will generate more than...

Thermostat.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The Talking Thermostat's EZ Talk feature audibly guides homeowners through every step of programming their heating-cooling system. If service is needed, the thermostat tells homeowners the name and contact information of the dealer who...

Sales, service software.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The Group Matrix Adapter is a module for the Inventory/Sales Series within the Excellence Series[TM]. It is designed to present stock data in a grid format, allowing the user to enter and review stock information, such as sizes, colors, and...

Thermistor.(what's New)(Betatherm)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... The BetaCurve Series of interchangeable thermistors will match the published resistance-temperature characteristics and will be within the specified tolerance deviation, the company says. They offer tight tolerances from 0.05[degrees]C at a...

Scratch awl marker.(what's New)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... This scratch awl marker can be stored in the handle grips of the manufacturer's aviation snips. Storage in the aviation snips enables the awl to be at hand when it's needed for marking and inscribing metal and other materials to be cut with the...

Pipe thread sealant.(what's New)(RectorSeal)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... T plus 2[R] is a nonsetting, Teflon[R]-enriched pipe thread sealant suitable for use on PVC, CPVC, polyethylene, and ABS plastics, as well as galvanized steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, and aluminum threaded connections, the manufacturer...