Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from July 2006

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from July 2006

Trane.(Price Increases)
July 3, 2006... Trane (Piscataway, N.J.) increased prices on large commercial unitary and most applied product lines 4-5 percent, effective immediately.

Rheem Manufacturing Co., Air Conditioning Division.(Price Increases)
July 3, 2006... Rheem Manufacturing Co., Air Conditioning Division, (Fort Smith, Ark.) increased prices up to 8 percent on all residential and commercial products and accessories under the Rheem, Ruud, and WeatherKing brands, effective July 17.

Baltimore Aircoil Co.(Manufacturers)
July 3, 2006... Baltimore Aircoil Co. (Baltimore) appointed Kaye Flamm (right) as director of manufacturing systems; Kenneth Dow as chief of quality control; and Bruce Schehlein as director of materials, North America.

Burgaflex North America.(Manufacturers)
July 3, 2006... Burgaflex North America (Fenton, Mich.) appointed Jerry Arivett as vice president of sales.

DESA IP LLC (Miami) entered into a license agreement with Kronos Air Technologies Inc.(Manufacturers)
July 3, 2006... DESA IP LLC (Miami) entered into a license agreement with Kronos Air Technologies Inc. (Belmont, Mass.).

Emerson Climate Technologies.(Manufacturers)
July 3, 2006... Emerson Climate Technologies (St. Louis) made available a toll-free technical service number for its Comfort Alert Diagnostics.[TM] Call 888-923-2323.

Ember Corp.(Financial Reports)
July 3, 2006... Ember Corp. (Boston) closed an additional $12 million in funding from its primary venture capital investors and strategic partners.

Grand Rapids Community College's (Grand Rapids, Mich.) HVACR program received national accreditation.(Schools)
July 3, 2006... Grand Rapids Community College's (Grand Rapids, Mich.) HVACR program received national accreditation from Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation [PAHRA).

Commercial business: making a comeback.(industry news)
July 3, 2006... Nonresidential construction, residential construction, and builder confidence all have one thing in common--they're changing. Recent reports from McGraw-Hill Construction show that nonresidential construction increased 5 percent to $171.9...

Are you ready to weather the storm? Contractors question readiness for natural disasters.(preparing for natural disasters)
July 3, 2006... The recent flurry of news about the arrival of hurricane season in the Southeastern United States is a reminder that a contractor's business can often be at the whims of a natural disaster. But contractors in other parts of the country know...

Supreme Court denies petition to hear case.(newsline)(energy efficiency regulation )
July 3, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by the AirConditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) to hear its appeal of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that the California Energy Commission's (CEC) Title 20...

Clockwork branches into electrical services.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... SARASOTA, Fla. -- Clockwork Home Services Inc., formerly VenVest Inc., recently acquired Atlanta-based Mister Sparky Inc. With 2006-projected revenue of $10 million, Mister Sparky is considered the largest residential electrical service and...

Burned transformer due to shorted coil in relay.(EXTRA EDITION)
July 3, 2006... Burned Transformer Due to Shorted Coil in Relay: In this edition of the Btu Buddy series, Bob goes on a service call and finds a failed transformer in an electric furnace. He discovers the system has a shorted coil.

Kronos joins Airline Cabin Air Quality Research Team.(EXTRA EDITION)
July 3, 2006... Kronos Joins Airline Cabin Air Quality Research Team: Kronos Advanced Technologies will assist the Federal Aviation Administration in its airliner cabin environment research program.

Copper thefts from A/Cs rise.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Skyrocketing copper prices have led to a rash of thefts of copper tubing in residential and commercial air conditioning units across the United States. Copper prices have nearly tripled in the last year as demand for a variety...

Ethernet program established.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- The Ethernet Alliance has formed the Ethernet Alliance University Program (EAUP). The EAUP is a global initiative that will serve as a forum for universities and educational organizations within the Ethernet Alliance to...

California law goes Eurocentric.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... CALIFORNIA -- The California legislature is moving forward with legislation that would subject its citizens to the laws of the European Union with regard to electronic waste. California Senate Bill 2202, which passed the Senate by the...

Honeywell helps schools cut costs.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- Honeywell has been awarded $8.8 million in contracts to upgrade building systems and reduce energy costs in four Illinois school districts: Schuyler-Industry School District, Rushville; Paw Paw School District, Paw Paw; Butler...

Members convene midyear meeting.(newsline)
July 3, 2006... CHICAGO -- The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA) convened for its midyear meeting hosted by Pete Neitzel of Greenheck Fan Corp., current AMCA president, and Lee Buddrus of Acme Engineering and Manufacturing Corp.,...

Duct system takeoffs and connectors.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... A 7-inch ductwork trunk line takeoff features the new Clip and Zip[TM] fastening system, which secures the takeoff tightly and quickly. This plastic ducting can be used in residential and light commercial installations for both new and retrofit...

Commercial split systems.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... The T-Class[TM] TS/TPA line of air conditioners and heat pumps has added the R-410A model, joining the R-22 model. Rated up to 13.5 SEER and 8.0 HSPF, the energy-efficient design features high-efficiency scroll compressors and outdoor coils....

Ventilation fan.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... WhisperCeiling[TM] ceiling-mounted ventilation fans are designed for low energy consumption for longer run times or continuous use to maintain a healthy indoor environment, while reducing building maintenance due to moisture damage. These...

Ladder safety device.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... LadderPort is a permanent building-mounted ladder receiver. The receivers mount to almost any commercial or industrial building, holding an extension ladder safely in place. The hooks grab the rungs of the ladder, preventing them from slipping...

Service vehicle body.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... The 2007 Classic II enhanced service body features heavy-duty hidden door hinges with overlapping door construction. The galvannealed pressed diamond floor plate and tailgate inner panel has a rugged diamond panel surface, providing better...

Wet rotor circulators.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... Model NRF-36 and NRF-45 axial-flanged, in-line, cast iron wet rotor circulation pumps are designed for residential and light commercial hydronic heating systems. The three-speed motors allow the pumps to cover a wide range of hydraulic...

Control damper brochure.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
July 3, 2006... A new brochure details the manufacturer's low-leakage insulated control damper (Model ICD). Designed to withstand temperatures as low as -70[degrees]F, the control damper's thermally broken frame provides an insulating barrier in the ductwork....

President has words for small businesses.(FOCUS: ICE MACHINES, FREEZERS & COOLERS)
July 3, 2006... CHICAGO -- Among the 75,000 persons in attendance at the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) 87th annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show was a person who admitted he and his wife "don't eat out as much as we used to." But President George Bush...

Servicing ice machine refrigeration components.(FOCUS: ICE MACHINES, FREEZERS & COOLERS)
July 3, 2006... About 200,000 commercial ice machines go into service every year. A lot is demanded of them during their lifetime. They must deliver cubes in quantity to meet the demands of the business they serve, and the cubes must be uniform and crystal...

Trends off in many directions.(FOCUS: ICE MACHINES, FREEZERS & COOLERS)
July 3, 2006... CHICAGO -- Contractors who do commercial refrigeration work in restaurants, hotels, and motels know that trends in ice making, cooling, and freezing as well as servicing are ever changing. An especially large number of those newest trends...

Walk-in coolers part of c-store savings.(FOCUS: ICE MACHINES, FREEZERS & COOLERS)
July 3, 2006... Convenience-store retailers nationwide are feeling the pinch of higher energy prices and Connecticut-based XtraMart is no exception. The 400-plus-store chain saw double-digit increases over the past few years in energy costs. Fortunately...

Volkswagen dealership flaunts waste oil-fired radiant heat system.(field solutions)(Company overview)
July 3, 2006... Remember Volkswagen's Fahrvergnugen campaign? Translated, it means "driving with zeal." Today, the automaker insists that the same sense of excitement happen in the showroom, and has invested with zeal to make it happen. "We want our new...

Handbook concentrates on C[O.sub.2].(REFRIGERATION ZONE)
July 3, 2006... ATLANTA -- Guidance on the use of carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) has been added to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) 2006 Handbook, Refrigeration. Because of its good environmental properties...

Eurammon board newly elected.(REFRIGERATION ZONE)
July 3, 2006... FRANKFURT, Prague -- The members of eurammon elected Monika Witt as chair of the executive board at their general meeting in Prague. Witt studied mechanical engineering and finished with a diploma in the field of process engineering. Later she...

Potential starting relays.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
July 3, 2006... This month's article will cover theory and operation of potential starting relays. The article that will appear in the Aug. 7 issue will cover potential relay ratings and specifications along with systematic troubleshooting. Potential or...

Possible defrost problems and solutions.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)
July 3, 2006... In my column in the June 6 issue of The NEWS, I discussed the problem of frozen evaporator coils in walk-in freezers and specifically focused on defrost cycle termination. In this column, I want to review a couple of problems you can encounter...

Stacking, carryover in chiller condensers.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: maintenance)
July 3, 2006... Stacking is the abnormal accumulation of refrigerant in the condenser of a chiller. It is commonly caused by a decrease in the difference in pressure or lift between the condenser and the evaporator. This reduced pressure drop prevents the...

Happy 4th of July: Groundhog Day for HVAC is coming!(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
July 3, 2006... Wouldn't you know it--one of those weird holiday weekends again. The Fourth falls on a Tuesday, so what is a person supposed to do with the Monday? Only four American holidays are still celebrated on their proper calendar days: Halloween,...

Time for a bit of backpedaling.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
July 3, 2006... OK, so I was wrong. Well, let's just say I wasn't 100 percent correct. I'm referring to my June 5 column in which I noted the trend for many expos is to go to an every other year format; the primary reason being the cost of exhibiting and/or...

Danfoss Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Division.(Price Increases)
July 10, 2006... Danfoss Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Division (Baltimore) increased prices 310 percent on controls and compressors, effective immediately.

Lennox Industries.(Price Increases)
July 10, 2006... Lennox Industries (Dallas) increased prices 6-10 percent on residential products, effective Aug. 1.

Rheem Air Conditioning Division.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Rheem Air Conditioning Division (Fort Smith, Ark.) promoted Angela Rinke to Internet marketing supervisor.

Daikin AC (Americas) Inc.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Daikin AC (Americas) Inc. (Carrollton, Texas) named Tomonori Tomikawa as vice president of administration, reporting directly to Yoshinobu Inoue, president.

Dynamic Air Quality Solutions.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Dynamic Air Quality Solutions (Princeton, N.J.) appointed Wayne Mayer as Southern region manager for commercial IAQ products.

Taco Inc.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Taco Inc. (Cranston, R.I.) hired Robert Coons as senior vice president of residential sales.

Midco International Inc.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Midco International Inc. (Chicago) named Keith Malek CEO, Stan Beinarauskas COO, and the retiring Joseph Hrabovecky to the board of directors.

Quietflex Manufacturing Co. LP.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Quietflex Manufacturing Co. LP (Houston) expanded its operation with a new 65,100-square-foot manufacturing facility in Groveland, Fla.

Carrier Corp. (Farmington, Conn.) won Managing Automation Magazine's (New York) Progressive Manufacturing Award.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Carrier Corp. (Farmington, Conn.) won Managing Automation Magazine's (New York) Progressive Manufacturing Award in the Innovation Mastery category.

Ritchie Engineering Co. Inc.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Ritchie Engineering Co. Inc. (Bloomington, Minn.) hired Tom Simon as vice president of engineering.

Bradford White Corp.(Manufacturers)
July 10, 2006... Bradford White Corp. (Ambler, Pa.) promoted Robert Mikus to the position of parts team leader.

Talking energy, security, and the environment.
July 10, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Energy was not the only thing on the minds of speakers at the 17th annual Energy Efficiency Forum, co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the United States Energy Association (USEA). National security and global warming were also...

World HVAC demand to be $65 billion+ in 2010: China expected to be fastest growing consumer of HVAC equipment.
July 10, 2006... CLEVELAND -- A new study from The Freedonia Group Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm, shows that world demand for HVAC equipment is projected to rise over 5 percent per year through 2010, exceeding $65 billion. Demand in the...

Professional trades people launch new Website.(newsline)
July 10, 2006... A new Website for HVAC professionals recently took flight. It was designed by HVAC trades people for HVAC trades people. The HVAC-PROTech[R] concept is a "simple one" according to Tony Berlin, who developed the site. "This is a site built,...

Ferguson purchases Supply North Central Group.(newsline)
July 10, 2006... NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Ferguson, part of Wolseley plc, purchased Supply North Central Group (SNCG) and its divisions: E&J Plumbing & Heating Supply Inc., Wagner Plumbing & Heating Supply Co., and D&C Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. SNCG is...

BAS install controls properties.(newsline)
July 10, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- Digital Realty Trust Inc. is implementing a next-generation building automation system (BAS) across its portfolio of properties to provide tenants with enhanced building management capabilities. TAC is overseeing the deployment...

Fahnestock named education chair.(newsline)(Kansas Technical College and Vocational School Commission)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita businessman George Fahnestock, owner and CEO of Fahnestock Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric Co., has been named by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to chair the Kansas Technical College and Vocational School Commission. ...

SMWIA opens training center.(newsline)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The residents of San Juan just celebrated the grand opening of its first Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) training...

Expanding services in Gulf South.(newsline)
July 10, 2006... MILWAUKEE -- Johnson Controls Inc. acquired Berg Inc., a mechanical services company headquartered in Shreveport, La. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Berg provides HVAC and plumbing services for commercial and...

New service company formed.(newsline)
July 10, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- McQuay International acquired the John A. Trubee Co., Scottsville, N.Y., a service company for HVAC equipment, changing the company's name to Trubee-MeQuay Factory Service. "McQuay is proud to acquire a company that puts a...

ICC records first 2006 code adoptions.(newsline)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The International Code Council recorded more than 650 new code adoptions in more than 100 jurisdictions so far this year. The International Building Code is used by nearly 20,000 jurisdictions; the International Residential...

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC).(Associations)
July 10, 2006... Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) members now have access to a $500 General Motors incentive.

National Ground Water Association (NGWA).(Associations)
July 10, 2006... The National Ground Water Association (NGWA] is offering a geothermal heat pump conference and workshops Aug. 21-22.

The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA) recently licensed products.(Associations)
July 10, 2006... The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA) recently licensed products for Windy City Manufacturing (Chicago) and Nadi Airtechnics PL (Chennai, India).

Air Conditioning Contractors of America.(Associations)
July 10, 2006... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has created a customizable, downloadable ComforTool[R] flier, 13/s Your Lucky Number.

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) accepted GD Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co. Ltd. (Shunde District of China); Smardt Inc. (Montreal); EWC Controls (English Town, N.J.); and Haier America (New York).(Associations)
July 10, 2006... The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) accepted GD Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co. Ltd. (Shunde District of China); Smardf Inc. (Montreal); EWC Controls (English Town, N.J.); and Haler America (New York) as new members.

Quality Service Contractors.(Associations)
July 10, 2006... Quality Service Contractors (QSC) hired Lawrence Snow as its business management coach.

Nexstar Network[R].(Services)
July 10, 2006... Nexstar Network[R] (White Bear Lake, Minn.) appointed Elizabeth Cavanaugh as director of finance.

The DaCo Corp.(Services)
July 10, 2006... The DaCo Corp. (Comstock Park, Mich.) announced a 14-city tour of the Top Gun Survival School for Distributor Salespeople.

MANCOMM.(Services)
July 10, 2006... MANCOMM (Davenport, Iowa) hired Corwyn Sperry as its product development manager.

Siemens Building Technologies Inc.(Services)
July 10, 2006... Siemens Building Technologies Inc. (Buffalo Grove, III.) appointed Jennifer Olmstead as vice president of human resources.

The Linc Group (Pittsburgh) acquired Seaboard Mechanical Services.(Services)
July 10, 2006... The Linc Group (Pittsburgh) acquired Seaboard Mechanical Services (Chesapeake, Va.).

DENSO Corp.(Supplier)
July 10, 2006... DENSO Corp. (Southfield, Mich.) is a third time winner of General Motor's (Detroit) Corporation of the Year award.

Training programs offered for members.(training & education)
July 10, 2006... The Nexstar[R] network is a group comprised of independent HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. It is member owned and member governed. The group, based in White Bear Lake, Minn., strives to give its members the most up-to-date training...

Refrigerant recovery machine.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The RecoverXLT provides fast recovery of Class II, III, IV, and V refrigerants including R-410A. It features a patented single valve control for easy changeover from liquid to vapor to purge, easing the job for the technician. Other features...

Noncontact infrared thermometer.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... Heat Spy[R] DHS215XEL, a compact, handheld, noncontact infrared thermometer, measures surface temperatures in a variety of applications such as HVACR, electrical troubleshooting, and plant/facilities maintenance. The instrument features an...

Media air cleaner filter.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The PopUP[TM] media replacement filter for media air cleaner systems requires no assembly and pops up ready to use. The collapsible design allows for compact storage and eliminates the need for extra combs, pleat spacers, and end caps. It...

Backward curved centrifugal fan.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The DHK molded backward curved centrifugal fan is available in 12-60 inch sizes, with corrosion-resistant fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) construction. For use in such applications as fume exhaust and odor control systems, the standard and...

Commissioning Handbook CD.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The 560-page Design Phase Commissioning Handbook is now available on CO. The CD is identical in content to the bound version and provides user-friendly access to all sections, tables, and appendices. Running the CO requires Adobe[R] Reader[R]...

Gas leak detector.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The Bolo[R] gas leak detector is a portable, battery-operated solid-state instrument that is designed for use by professional technicians in applications requiring detection of combustible gas leaks. It utilizes advanced microprocessor control....

Laser range meter.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The PD 38 laser range meter provides quick and accurate measurements. In addition, the meter has the ability to superimpose those measurements on a picture, store them in Pocket Excel[R] or draw scaled line drawings. One-person operation...

Underfloor air distribution system.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... Improvements have been made to the FlexSys[TM] underfloor air distribution system (UFAD). Enhancements to the systems' advanced terminal, Modular Integrated Terminal (MIT), ensure maximum flexibility and performance for improved comfort levels....

Mechanical hangers, supports catalog.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The 286-page Caddy[R] Mechanical Hangers and Supports for Plumbing, HVAC, and Fire Protection catalog contains a technical reference section, which includes specific pipe hanger and support recommendations for a variety of applications. It also...

Condition monitoring sensors, transducer.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... Ultraprobe[R] instrument accessories designed for condition monitoring in difficult to access areas are available. Remote Access Sensor (RAS) includes a sensing transducer, which is permanently mounted on a test subject such as a pump, motor,...

Building automation interface module.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... The SlotServer ControlLogix/BACnet IP interface module enables the user to interface third-party devices utilizing BACnet IP to the ControlLogix 1756 platform. Features include BBMD-supported 10BaseT IP connection, user-friendly text display...

Gas detector.(what's new)
July 10, 2006... This gas monitor continuously measures carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, and combustibles in ambient air. Features include AutoCal[R] automatic calibration; 103 dB buzzer; and bright, 360-degree rotating, flashing alarms. Depending on...