Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from June 2006

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from June 2006

Carrier Corp.(Price Increase)
June 5, 2006... Carrier Corp. (Indianapolis) increased prices 5-10 percent on most residential and small package HVAC equipment for the Carrier, Bryant, and Payne brands, effective July 1.

Siemens Building Technologies Inc.(Price Decrease)
June 5, 2006... Siemens Building Technologies Inc. (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) decreased list prices on electronic room thermostats by up to 57 percent.

Albert Kahn Associates Inc.(Contractors)
June 5, 2006... Albert Kahn Associates Inc.'s (Detroit) recent project, the Acheson Venture LLC Harborside Office Center (Port Huron, Mich.), received LEED[R] core and shell Silver Level Certification.

Weil-McLain.(Manufacturers)
June 5, 2006... Weil-McLain (Michigan City, Ind.) named Richard Millar president.

The ZigBee Alliance.(Technology)
June 5, 2006... The ZigBee Alliance (San Ramon, Calif.) is collaborating with BACnet protocol to establish interoperability between the two technologies.

The Ethernet Alliance.(Technology)
June 5, 2006... The Ethernet Alliance (Mountain View, Calif.) added eight new members, tripling its membership to over 50 companies since January.

The International Code Council (ICC) honored Sen. Ted Stevens, Rep. Jo Ann Davis, Dr. Omaima Salah El-Din, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Home Depot.(Associations)
June 5, 2006... The International Code Council (ICC) honored Sen. Ted Stevens, Rep. Jo Ann Davis, Dr. Omaima Salah El-Din, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Home Depot with its Silent Defender Award.

The National Environmental Balancing Bureau.(Associations)
June 5, 2006... The National Environmental Balancing Bureau's (NEBB) Design Phase Commissioning Handbook is now available on CD-ROM.

Protect your business against mold litigation: insurance claims growing, but ACCA is fighting back with risk management program.(mold update)
June 5, 2006... It may not be splashed all over in trade publications, sensationalized in daily newspapers, or the main topic nowadays on TV news. That does not mean mold has died. In truth, it never left the building. Or, to be more precise, it never left...

Daikin Industries acquires O.Y.L., McQuay.(mold update)
June 5, 2006... Daikin AC (Americas) Inc., which stepped into this country just over a year ago, received a shot in the arm. Daikin Industries Ltd., the parent company of Daikin AC (Americas), announced that it is acquiring O.Y.L. Industries Bhd, the...

Correction.(Correction notice)
June 5, 2006... In the May 15 issue, the contact information for GE ECM was incorrect in the What's New section. It should have read: GE ECM by Regal Beloit, 1946 Crook Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46818; 260416-5489; ecm.marketing @regalbeloit. com. The NEWS regrets...

ERV article doesn't reflect HVI's views.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... In the April 24, 2006 issue, The NEWS published an article titled, "Should ERVs be Installed in Northern Climates?" It was written by an individual who was identified as the chair of the HRV and ERV Committee of the Home Ventilating Institute...

Some facts on ERVs and HRVs.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... In his front-page article in the April 24 edition of The NEWS, "Should ERVs be Installed in Northern Climates?" Peter Grinsberg contends that this question is the subject of a serious debate. The article's one-sided sales pitch is not a debate....

Spreading the word on matching components.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... ARI is grateful to The NEWS for helping us spread the word on the importance of properly matching high-efficiency components ("If You Are Doubted, Send Them to ARI's Website," May 15). With the advent of the 13 SEER minimum, helping contractors...

HomeStar Services acquires N.J. firm.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. -- HomeStar Services LLC, a consolidator of heating, cooling, and plumbing services companies, recently completed its purchase of Air -0-Smith Inc., Randolph, N.J. As a result of this acquisition, HomeStar said it...

Bogus R-134a raises concerns.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... MIDDLE EAST -- Reputable refrigerant manufacturers and distributors continually caution contractors to check and be sure of the purity and legality of the refrigerants they purchase. They suggest two ways to do so: Stay with brand names...

Safe contractors win awards.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced the winners of its annual Safety Masters Club competition. The Safety Award of Merit is awarded to ACCA contractor member companies with the best lost0time incident...

Users Group grows together.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... NEW BERLIN, Wis. -- More than 120 attendees learned about future product direction, provided feedback on product functionality, and networked with other businesses at WennSoft's Annual Users Group meeting. The three-day event included general...

Traffic: look out for yourself ... and everyone else.(EXTRA EDITION)
June 5, 2006... Traffic: Look Out for Yourself... and Everyone Else: Accidents are often caused by the other driver. When it comes to vehicle safety, here are some tips on how contractors and techs can avoid being the cause of an accident as well as look out...

CFD solves cooling challenge in plastics plant.(MANUFACTURERS REPORTS)
June 5, 2006... CFD Solves Cooling Challenge in Plastics Plant: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to solve a cooling problem that threatened to damage equipment and materials.

Linc Group highlighted.(newsline)(Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... IRVINE, Calif. -- Recognizing The Linc Group (TLG) in the facility performance services market, Microsoft featured Greg Lush, the company's CIO, in a special Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 video with Bill Gates, and as a key customer speaker at all...

Farwell rejoins Rheem's team.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... NEW YORK -- Ian Stewart Farwell has accepted the position of president and CEO of Rheem Manufacturing Co. He succeeds Scott Martin, who recently left Rheem to pursue other business opportunities. A veteran of nearly 30 years with Rheem,...

Expanding metro markets strategy.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... MILWAUKEE -- Johnson Controls Inc. participated in the Gulf Coast Business Investment Mission to Louisiana and Mississippi in early May, joining a mix of companies from across different industries exploring investment opportunities in the Gulf...

Star Supply day declared.(opened a new facility)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... NEW HAVEN, CT -- The Star Supply Co. celebrated the grand opening of its new facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In recognition of the newspace, the ribbon cutting commenced with a welcome speech by Larry Cohen, president, accompanied by...

Choice awards.(newsline)
June 5, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: CHOICE AWARDS: ACR Supply Co.'s second annual "Vendor of Choice" awards banquet honored the top five vendors for 2005: Koch Filter Co.; James M. Pleasants Co.; Gates Rubber Co.; Armacell; and NuCalgon. L.C....

Blower hose.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Sto-Sack[R] is a blower hose that is designed to move large volumes of air using any blower. It features a flexible, single-ply, PVC-laminated, polyester fabric blower hose supported by helical steel wire that compresses at a 10:1 ratio....

Fans and fan-light-nightlights.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Ultra SilentTM humidity sensing fans and fan-light-nightlights--QTXE110S, QTX110SL, and QTXE110SFLT--have Sensaire[R] technology, which detects rapid increases in moisture levels at the ceiling. The fans turn on and off automatically to...

Refrigeration defrost kit.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Smart Defrost Kit[TM] is designed to discern when a refrigeration system needs to be defrosted. It evaluates the refrigeration system and determines how much frost accumulation is on the evaporator coil. If there is not significant...

Product catalog.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The 52-page catalog contains information on handheld HVAC installation, maintenance, and repair instruments. Products in the catalog include meters and field packs, standalone instruments and pocket tools, cases, accessory heads and adapters,...

Sport air conditioner.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Hydro-Star spot cooling system is a chilled-water air conditioning system that provides a high stream of cool, dry air to each employee's workstation. The new Superflex outlets allow employees to direct the air wherever it is comfortable...

Water heaters.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Copper Brute and Copper Brute II are copper finned tube water heaters designed to fit the needs of commercial applications that require high input and high volumes of hot water. The water heaters feature flow switches, aquastats, and...

Handheld thermo-hygrometer.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The DM-535 handheld thermo-hygrometer provides simultaneous display of relative humidity, temperature, dew point, and absolute humidity readings. It is equipped with a high-accuracy humidity and temperature transmitter that provides an RS-232...

Modulating condensing boiler.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Quantum 95M-200 is a 95 percent AFUE modulating condensing boiler that can utilize either natural gas or propane. It is fully modulating from 80 to 200 MBtuh and has easily accessible front-mounted controls. The boiler features a one-piece...

Residential package units.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... Three 13 SEER residential package units--URNA gas/electric package unit, UQNA package heat pump, and USNA package air conditioner--are available in 2- to 4-ton models. Features include high- and low-pressure control for refrigerant cycle...

Electronic air cleaners.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The AccuClean[TM] electronic air cleaner (EAC) removes up to 99.98 percent of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns. The field charger has a lattice of large holes through which all system air and airborne particles pass. Centered in each...

PEX tubing installation tool.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The QickClamp[TM], a PEX tubing installation tool, allows installers to make tube-to-fitting connections of multiple sizes with one crimping tool; one tool fits all four sizes of the fitting (3/8, 1/2. 3/4 and 1 inch). It can be used for both...

Business ownership training kit.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Power!Plan[TM] sets of business improvement tools are designed for use by contracting business owners. They provide information, systems, and forms that an owner can use to master the challenges of that particular aspect of the business....

Band saw docking system.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Ultimate Cutting Station is a portable docking system that converts the manufacturer's handheld X-Band STX250[TM] Series cordless band saw into a compact, bench top, stationary saw. It allows users to cut materials up to 2 1/2 inches in...

Dehumidification system.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The Humidity Control Unit (HCU) combines cooling and desiccant dehumidification technologies in one energy-efficient system to control dew point temperatures in hot, humid climates. It is capable of delivering dew points below 45[degrees]F and...

Online quote program.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES)
June 5, 2006... The company has launched an online quote program for HVAC contractors for the purpose of obtaining zone control and direct digital control (DDC) system quotes. A description, line drawings, optional items, and model numbers are included on a...

Preventing injuries with lockout/tagout.(workplace safety)
June 5, 2006... Picture yourself working inside a huge machine, tending to its maintenance. Suddenly the machine springs to life, powerful metal gears grinding around you, placing you in mortal danger. That is exactly the sort of terrifying scenario that...

A solution for heat exchanger failures.(FOCUS: COILS AND CONDENSING UNITS)
June 5, 2006... Heat exchanger systems are designed with practically no risk of failure when they are new. In fact, some components have such nominal exposure that they are not apt to fail for years, if ever. After all, they have no moving parts. Is it a...

Channeling the latest coil technology products.(FOCUS: COILS AND CONDENSING UNITS)(Column)
June 5, 2006... Coil materials can include copper, aluminum, and steel. But in some cases, choosing one of the three can still lead to more decisions. One recent development involves aluminum microchannel coils. They debuted three years ago at the AHR Expo...

Dealing with the risks of deferred maintenance.(FOCUS: COILS AND CONDENSING UNITS)
June 5, 2006... Proper maintenance on chiller and condensing units is critical to efficient, trouble free operation. When combining the fact that most chillers and condensing units are situated in low traffic locations and out of sight (i.e., behind buildings,...

ICOR introduces R-22 replacement.(REFRIGERATION ZONE)
June 5, 2006... ICOR International has introduced the HFC refrigerant NU-22B[TM] (R-422B). It is safety classified Al, nontoxic, nonflammable, and compatible with mineral oil, alkylbenzene, and polyolester oils. Company officials said that the refrigerant...

Troubleshooting defrost problems.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: ice breaker)(Column)
June 5, 2006... When troubleshooting walk-in freezers, technicians often find a frozen evaporator coil. Although there are several possible causes, one common cause involves the defrost system. For some reason, the system is not properly defrosting the...

A name that ranges wide.(business names)(Republic Refrigeration)(Column)
June 5, 2006... What's in a name? Back in 1983 when Hank Saye and his wife Jane were planning to open their own refrigeration contracting company, they were looking for a name that connoted the nationwide scope they hoped the business would have. ...

Performing systematic troubleshooting.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)
June 5, 2006... The problem: a restricted liquid line after the receiver. Table 1 shows a service checklist for such a situation. Assume that the refrigeration system is a TXV/receiver system, employing a filter-drier and sight glass. The system has R-134a as...

The high cost of oil contamination.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: oil contamination)
June 5, 2006... The most common and most costly of all the refrigerant contaminants is also the most benign--oil. While moisture, acids, and particulates do physical damage to the refrigerant side of chillers, oil merely reduces efficiency and ramps up energy...

Airflow: the next horizon.(service & maintenance of air ducts)
June 5, 2006... Why does airflow continue to be a problem with residential and commercial installations? Getting the system to deliver something close to the design airflow (measured in CFM) continues to be a challenge with many residential and commercial...

How to survive consolidation attempts: distributors band together to carve out market share.(distributor corner)
June 5, 2006... The Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, hosted 150 participants during the newly formed Blue Hawk Distribution Cooperative's first ever spring member meeting. The two-day gathering began with a member and vendor face-to-face session. During this...

An industry's great divide.(HVAC industry)(Editorial)
June 5, 2006... Throughout history there have been walls that separate, imaginary curtains that isolate, and our own industry has occasionally fallen victim to its own divisions. After World+ War II the city of Berlin was divided in four sectors. The American,...

The every-other-year trend.(Editorial)
June 5, 2006... Each September, the first issue of The NEWS is usually devoted to the latest developments in supermarket refrigeration. Part of that information comes from the annual spring expo of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in Chicago and is published...

International Environmental Corp.(Price Increases)
June 12, 2006... International Environmental Corp. (Oklahoma City) increased prices 7.5 percent on all units and accessories, effective immediately.

Carrier Corp.(Price Increases)
June 12, 2006... Carrier Corp. (Farmington, Conn.) increased prices up to 8 percent on commercial unitary and applied equipment for the Carrier and Bryant brands, effective immediately.

NIBCO Inc. (Elkhart, Ind.) acquired Consolidated Plumbing Industries.(Manufacturers)
June 12, 2006... NIBCO Inc. (Elkhart, Ind.) acquired Consolidated Plumbing Industries (Knoxville, Tenn).

Johnson Controls Inc. (Milwaukee) selected DHL (Plantation, Fla.).(Manufacturers)
June 12, 2006... Johnson Controls Inc. (Milwaukee) selected DHL (Plantation, Fla.) as its U.S. express service provider.

Sid Harvey's.(Distributors)
June 12, 2006... Sid Harvey's (Garden City, N.Y.) appointed Chris LaPlante and Bob Moody as territory managers.

Grainger.(Distributors)
June 12, 2006... Grainger (Chicago) named James Ryan as its president.

The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) recently licensed products.(Associations)
June 12, 2006... The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) recently licensed products from Winfan Technology Co. Ltd., Air King Ventilation Products, and Horus Air Moving Co. Ltd.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).(Associations)
June 12, 2006... The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that West Virginia has adopted its NFPA 1[R] and NFPA 101[R] 2003 codes.

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA).(Associations)
June 12, 2006... The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA) Health and Safety Partnership Program (HSPP) is celebrating its seventh anniversary.

UNICCO Service Co.(Services)
June 12, 2006... UNICCO Service Co. (Newton, Mass.) received the 2006 Customer Service Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan.

Fear of residential load calcs: why do some contractors steer clear of things they should be doing?(industry news)
June 12, 2006... Apparently, contractors who do not perform residential load calculations would prefer to be anonymous. Whether they think they really should be doing load calcs, or whether they simply don't want to hear from people who think they should be,...

Pandemics and HVAC: discussions begin at ASHRAE.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... ATLANTA--Speculation about an influenza pandemic and the current avian flu outbreak has created growing interest in the need to control indoor environmental factors that affect transmission of infectious diseases. "Viruses in emerging...

System earns anti-terrorism label.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... WASHINGTON--The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated the Vigilair[R] Biodefense System as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT), in accordance with the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies...

National Conference is successful.(newsline)(14th National Conference on Building Commissioning)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO--The 14th National Conference on Building Commissioning featured keynote speeches from Duane Larson of PG&E and Jeanne Clinton of the California Public Utility Commission. In her address, Clinton presented a look at the...

Stop blowing hot air.(EXTRA EDITION)
June 12, 2006... Stop Blowing Hot Air: To keep equipment operating in peak condition, make sure you select the proper replacement fan blade when replacing a worn or damaged one. Proper fan blade selection can sometimes get overlooked.

Keeping cool with outdoor air--airside economizers.(EXTRA EDITION)
June 12, 2006... Keeping Cool With Outdoor Air--Airside Economizers: This article reviews ASHRAE Standard 90.1's requirements for airside economizers and discusses the underlying design decisions and benefits of effective airside economizer systems.

Siemens awards top contractors.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- The annual Siemens Building Technologies (SBT) High Roller Club event brought Siemens HVAC Components Group (headed by Mark Halbur, director, National Components Sales) together with its top contractor customers to explore ways to...

Expo takes industry's pulse.(newsline)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... WESTPORT, Conn. -- According to an online survey recently conducted by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), HVACR professionals are most interested in learning more about improving energy efficiency, building...

Greenheck recognized.(Greenheck Fan Corp. awarded)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... SCHOFIELD, Wis. -- Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle honored Greenheck and nine other Wisconsin companies and institutions with Export Achievement Awards for achieving extraordinary results in international sales and for contributing to Wisconsin's...

Reducing emissions.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... TOKYO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a 2006 Climate Protection Award to Denso Corp. for developing Ejector Cycle[R], a new technology that reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of refrigeration units and...

PHCC announces programs and educational efforts.(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... PRINCETON, N.J. -- American Standard hosted the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association's Educational Foundation's board of governors for an update on foundation projects and educational efforts. Highlights of the meeting...

2006 fall load calc training.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) have set dates for this fall's Fundamentals of Load Calculation course. In three-and-a-half days, participants will learn the fundamentals of load calculation, equipment...

Certification launched.(newsline)
June 12, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS-- Jackson Systems LLC has launched Jackson Systems University--a platform for zone control certification for individuals and companies. Certification is offered on the Comfort System[TM] product line: Z-300, Z-1600 and Zone...

Grocery store dehumidifiers.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... The TotalAire[TM] MSP[R] dehumidifiers are designed for installation in grocery stores. The refrigeration-based dehumidifiers incorporate MSP Technology's heat exchanger modules, creating a hybrid unit that delivers air between 44[degrees] and...

Condensing gas boiler.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... The Ultra with PhD (precision hydronic data) Technology[R] is a condensing high-efficiency gas boiler available in five sizes. With ratings ranging from 80 to 310 MBtuh, the boilers have 20-100 percent modulation. The Ultra control module...

Packaged air conditioning UVC kit.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... A packaged terminal air conditioning (PTAC) UVC kit that provides energy savings, mold and IAQ control, and reduced maintenance is now available. Each kit contains one UVAC Emitter[TM] and power supply and all necessary hardware components to...

CFD software and service.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... Aire-Tech-Chek[TM], a proprietary computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis service, diagnoses potential natatorium airflow problems in the design phase. The CFD analysis services department can help design new natatorium air distribution...

Manufactured housing A/C, HP.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... The Comfortmaker PAM3 air conditioning unit and PHM3 heat pump are designed for manufactured housing applications. Both units use R-22 and offer 13 SEER efficiency. In addition, the PHM3 has a heating efficiency of 7.7 HSPE Features include...

Boiler/burner units brochure.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... An eight-page color brochure features the Mills family of sectional water tube boiler/burner units. The publication provides a detailed explanation, schematic illustrations, and photographs of the boilers, which come in three basic models...

Infrared thermometers.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... The 7620, 7612, and 7610 professional infrared (IR) thermometers feature SoC (System-on-a-Chip) technology, which allows the complete IR design to be incorporated inside a single chip, creating compact, lightweight units. Features include an...

Ultrasonic diagnostic kit.(what's new: PRODUCTS AVAILABLE TO HELP CONTRACTORS IN THEIR BUSINESSES.)
June 12, 2006... The Spectroline[R] Marksman[TM] ultrasonic diagnostic tool converts and amplifies ultrasonic sound to sound audible to humans. It allows service techs to easily hear sounds that signify problems, such as compressed air leaks; electrical...