Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from March 2005

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from March 2005

Health care costs continue to rise: newest ACCA report reveals another significant increase in premiums.(ACCA Convention)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)
March 7, 2005... During the course of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) convention, to be held this week in Austin, Texas, it's a good bet that when attendees have a chance to catch up with each other during a session break or an evening...

Ventilation mandates are added to ASHRAE standard.(Meeting Update)
March 7, 2005... BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Mechanical system code requirements are often based on standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) systems are no...

Furnace maintenance.(Extra Edition)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Homeowners should be urged to have a professional service contractor check the performance and operation of their furnace every year. For recommended gas furnace maintenance procedures, read the Service & Maintenace article "Gas Furnace...

News staffer to chair ASHRAE subcommittee.(industry News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Barb Checket-Hanks, whose name has long been familiar to readers of The News, has gained recognition within the prestigious American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The News'...

AireCom Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration.(Contractors)(AireCom Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... John Hickel has opened AireCom Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration (Columbus, Ohio).

Love Heating & Air Conditioning.(Contractors)(Love Heating & Air Conditioning)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Love Heating & Air Conditioning (Indianapolis) is celebrating its 85th anniversary.

Rheem Air Conditioning Division (Fort Smith, Ark.) and Wisconsin distributor Design Air recognized Brewer Heating Inc.(Contractors)(Tom's Dependable Heating & Cooling)(Wisconsin distributor Design Air)(Brewer Heating Inc)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Rheem Air Conditioning Division (Fort Smith, Ark.) and Wisconsin distributor Design Air recognized Brewer Heating Inc. as the 2004 Northern Wisconsin Rheem Team Dealer of the Year, and Tom's Dependable Heating & Cooling as the 2004 Southern...

The United Group.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Kelly J. O'Brien, service manager of Guardian Environmental, Livonia, Mich., has been appointed to a two-year term on the board of advisors of The Unified Group.

Hays Fluid Controls.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Hays Fluid Controls (Dallas, N.C.) has named Nicholas Zupp engineering director.

Flowserve Corp.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Flowserve Corp.'s (Dallas) PMV D3 digital valve positioner has added Foundation[TM] Fieldbus support and gained ATEX EXX approval as an explosion-proof device.

ICOR International Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ICOR International Inc. (Indianapolis) now lists its training dates and locations on the company's Web site at www.icorinternational.com.

Danfoss Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Division.(Manufacturers)
March 7, 2005... Danfoss Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Division (Baltimore) announced the winner of the Scratch 'n Match promotion is Roger Willsey of Artic Air in Lancaster, Calif.

Lennox Industries Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Lennox Industries Inc. (Dallas) has been selected as an Energy Star[R] Manufacturing Partner of the Year by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

Alabama Power Co., (Verbana, Ala.) Autry Technology Center, (Enid, Okla.) and Pitt Community College (Greenville, N.C.) have received national accreditation.(Schools)
March 7, 2005... Alabama Power Co., (Verbana, Ala.) Autry Technology Center, (Enid, Okla.) and Pitt Community College (Greenville, N.C.) have received national accreditation through the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation...

Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington (MCAMW).(Associations)(Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Chris Kelly was installed as the 2005 president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington (MCAMW).

Refrigeration demand to exceed $25.8 billion.(industry News)(World Commercial Refrigeration)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... CLEVELAND -- According to World Commercial Refrigeration, a new study from The Freedonia Group, world demand for commercial refrigeration equipment is projected to rise 5.3 percent per year (including price increases) through 2008 to $25.8...

Lawmakers to speak at PHCC Conference.(industry News)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- National lawmakers will be the featured speakers at the 9th annual Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) Legislative Conference April 13-14. During an April 14 breakfast, Sen. Jon Kyl,...

LonMark to host education seminars.(industry News)(LonMark International)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ORLANDO, Fla.-- LonMark International announced it would host a series of seminars on building open systems. The series began in February with stops in 20 North American cities. Circon Systems, Distech Controls, Echelon, Engenuity Systems,...

NAIMA publishes fact sheet on duct liner performance.(industry News)(North American Insulation Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has published a new fact sheet revealing the results of performance testing conducted on cotton duct liner materials. The publication outlines the results of...

Honeywell introduces 2005 distributor program.(industry News)(2005 Diamond Distributor program)(Authorized Systems Distributors)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... MINNEAPOLIS -- Honeywell introduced its 2005 Diamond Distributor program for the company's Authorized Systems Distributors (ASDs). The program is designed for ASDs that achieve exceptional business results and positively position Honeywell in...

PowerCold provides Green Lodging certification.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(PowerCold Corp)(Energy Conservation Assistance Program)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... LARGO, Fla. -- PowerCold Corp. is working in partnership with Florida's Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) to conduct energy audits for the hospitality industry and provide assistance for owners and developers seeking certification...

NAESCO comments on GAO report.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(National Association of Energy Service Companies)(General Accounting Office report)(Energy Savings Performance Contracts)(public/private partnership arrangements)
March 7, 2005... WASHINGTON D.C. -- The recently issued General Accounting Office (GAO) report on Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and public/private partnership arrangements is a misleading presentation of the federal government's experience with...

Conference on Building Commissioning set for May.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(National Conference on Building Commissioning)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... PORTLAND, Ore. -- Building green has become the answer for many in the commercial building industry as a means to improve the quality, performance, and energy efficiency of their buildings and their bottom line. A key component to all green...

A new look.(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Lennox Industries has changed its logo design. Company officials noted changes to brand logos are common for long-established brands. "Introduced over 60 years ago, the Lennox logo originally communicated quality and innovation to the...

Remote monitor.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... Skymetry is a wireless remote monitoring device designed to ensure continued uptime performance of air conditioning, refrigeration, and cooling systems. According to the manufacturer, it monitors timers, power failure, etc.; reports chiller...

Unit heaters.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The hydronic unit heaters, HUH Series, are heat exchanger unit heaters designed for rugged industrial applications in steam, hot water, glycol, or other fluid-circulating heating systems. According to the company, the unit heaters can withstand...

Antifreeze.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... Fire Safe[TM] glycerin-based antifreeze can be used with all types of pipe, including CPVC. A system using this antifreeze is ensured of a flow protection of -15[degrees]F and burst protection of -50[degrees], states the manufacturer. Fire Safe...

Work vehicle.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The Ready Van II is the new generation of the Ready Van product line. The Ready Van II measures 132 inches in length and is manufactured for use on dual-wheel cutaway chassis, the company says. Standard on the van is the Latch-Matic locking...

Adjustable-speed controls.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... Ease of use of the H2 industrial adjustable-speed controls family is enhanced beyond the Harmonized drives, the company says. A larger graphical display has been added to the standard keypad to increase the functionality of the operator...

Health, safety product catalog.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The 2005 environmental health and safety catalog contains products for creating a safer, more productive work environment, states the company. The 96-page catalog has a broad selection of new safety instrumentation as well as facility safety...

Grease duct.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The AMPCO[R] brand grease duct provides zero clearance to combustibles by integrating the traditional fire-rated shaft and site-built grease duct into a compact, factory-built duct system, the manufacturer says. Model IVSI-4ZC grease duct is...

Compressors.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The X Range commercial refrigeration compressor is designed for heavy-duty operation conditions. The company says that the compressor can work with HFC refrigerant gases such as R-134a, R-404A, and R-507, thus protecting the ozone layer. The...

Air conditioner.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The Prestige Series[R] RASL air conditioner has an efficiency rating of 18 SEER. Each unit is equipped with a two-stage Copeland Scroll UltraTech[TM] compressor. The air conditioner is equipped with Emerson Comfort Alert[TM] diagnostics, which...

BAS sales software.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The BAS Project Generator software is controls pricing estimating software. It can make the building automation system (BAS) sales process fast, easy, and accurate, the company states. This project generating system figures out pricing for...

Gas furnaces.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The SmartComfort[TM] IIS 80 gas furnaces offer energy-efficient features with an easy-to-install design, states the manufacturer. The furnaces have a rotatable sound-enhanced inducer motor. For horizontal applications, the rotatable inducer...

Reversible chiller.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The EW Series 360 reversible chiller is available in a 30-ton capacity. This water-to-water unit is designed to be used for chilled-water or industrial process water applications, or to provide heated or cooled water for fan coils, commercial...

Furnace.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The CMPEV is an upflow/horizontal left, two-stage, variable-speed condensing gas furnace. The company says the continuous fan mode works well with indoor air quality products, such as filters, because it operates at a slower speed, allowing...

Test tools product catalog.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... Volume I of the company's HVACR product catalog contains items for use by building maintenance and HVACR engineers, technicians, and installers. The PM55 digital multimeter (DMM) is showcased in the literature. In addition to a wide range of...

Relays.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... A series of low-voltage, low-current relays provide opto-isolated security for sensitive low-voltage and digital circuit protection and include 10-A contacts for high-power switching applications, says the company. According to the...

Ventilation fans.(what's New)
March 7, 2005... The WhisperCeiling[TM] ceiling-mounted fans have two-storied, double-tapered dolphin-shaped blades designed for quiet operation, says the company. They have a new baffle plate with double-orifice technology, which reduces the transmission of...

Here is a story about a man named Jed.(Business Management)(Black Gold Heating & Cooling)
March 7, 2005... Today we are going to visit Jed. Jed grew up in the medium-sized town where he started his HVAC business, Black Gold Heating & Cooling, 11 years ago. Just two years ago, Jed broke through the $1 million revenue mark and had a companywide...

Getting comfortable with R-410A, POEs.(Refrigerants)(POE lubricants)
March 7, 2005... R-410A has been chosen by major OEMs in the United States as the long-term replacement of choice for R-22 in new residential and light commercial air conditioning equipment. Also, R-410A is rapidly becoming the HFC alternative of choice for...

Contractors, ad campaign are key in '05: Mitsubishi Electric holds distributor conference.(Conference Update / Mitsubishi Electric)(Ductless split systems )
March 7, 2005... WAILEA, Hawaii -- Maintaining close relations with distributors and contractors and a major national advertising campaign were focuses of the 2005 Distributors Conference of the Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division. The...

Catlett to go another round at ACCA.(ACCA Convention)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Indoor Air Expo )
March 7, 2005... AUSTIN, Texas -- Ready for Round Two? The 2005 Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference and Indoor Air Expo, to be held at the Renaissance Austin Hotel March 9-12, once again will feature futurist and economist Dr. Lowell...

Traps.(the Hotline)(discharge line trap )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Question: My question involves traps that must be installed for proper oil return when the condenser is much higher than the AHU [air-handling unit]. I have been taught in school to trap every 20 feet of height--I have also been instructed...

Fan cycling.(the Hotline)(thermostatic expansion valves )(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Question: I have many systems used in classrooms with thermostatic expansion valves (TEVs) and low ambient controls. How will a low charge affect the valve? The condenser fan cycling will cause the head pressure to rise and fall; it is...

Motor troubles.(the Hotline)(Brief Article)
March 7, 2005... Question: My question involves an air handler motor and premature failure. The motor is an A.O. Smith 7-850008-OJ used on a Carrier unit. We are having to replace this motor each year, which is very time-consuming and costly. We have a...

Good things come in small packages.(our Insights)(Column)
March 7, 2005... It's a good thing that Matt Michel did clarify himself. Otherwise, I was going to have to take him to task. Michel, CEO and president of The Service Roundtable (www.serviceroundtable.com), went in search of finding an elusive fact in this...

Avoiding lawyers and avoiding taxation.(our Insights)(Quality Service Contractors (QSC) Power Meeting XXII in Savannah)(The Latest Cutting Edge Strategies on Tax Reduction, Lawsuit Protection and Estate Planning)
March 7, 2005... I knew that headline would get you. We all know that nothing is certain in life except death, taxes, and greedy lawyers (OK, I made the last one up). We also know that each factor has a definite impact on our businesses--some positive but many...

Wake up call--13 SEER is coming; the HVAC landscape is changing, are you ready?(The Changing HVAC Landscape)
March 7, 2005... When Paul Revere made his dramatic horseback ride on the night of April 18, 1775, Boston-area residents had no prior warning that the British were coming. HVACR contractors cannot say the same regarding the coming of 13-SEER air conditioners...

Cooling isn't a commodity: it is time to retire good-better-best.
March 7, 2005... Good-better-best is a sales process used to sell basic products by placing them into three measurable categories. Batteries with 24, 36, or 48 months of expected life and tires guaranteed for 30,000, 40,000, or 50,000 miles are basic products...

Carrier Corp.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Carrier Corp. (Indianapolis) announced price increases of 5 percent to 8 percent on most residential heating and cooling equipment. The price increase is applicable to Carrier, Bryant, and Payne brands and will be effective April 1.

Evapco Inc.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Evapco Inc. (Taneytown, Md.) has announced a price increase of 4 percent to 6 percent on all refrigeration products effective as of last month.

Air Comfort Corp.(Contractor)(awards)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Fred Voelkner is the recipient of Air Comfort Corp.'s (Broadview, Ill.) Quality Improvement Process award for the fourth quarter of 2004.

System Sensor.(Manufacturers)(corporate communications leader appointments)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * System Sensor (St. Charles, Ill.) appointed David George as leader of corporate communications.

York.(Manufacturers)(Aaron York's Quality Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. special offers)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Consumers who purchase eligible York (Norman, Okla.) residential heating and cooling products between April 15 and June 30 will enjoy a choice of cash rebates, special financing, or an extended warranty plan as part of the company's 2005...

R.W. Beckett Corp.(Manufacturers)(sales engineer appointments)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * R.W. Beckett Corp. (Elyria, Ohio) appointed John Manning sales engineer.

Ultraviolet Devices Inc.(Manufacturers)(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Ultraviolet Devices Inc. (Valencia, Calif.) hired Stephen Pegg as chief financial officer.

Rheem Manufacturing, Air Conditioning Division.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Rheem Manufacturing, Air Conditioning Division (Fort Smith, Ark.) appointed Art Berg to marketing manager of its replacement parts department.

Bry-Air Inc. (Sunbury, Ohio) awarded Dry-Air Machine (Austintown, Ohio) with the gold award.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Bry-Air Inc. (Sunbury, Ohio) awarded Dry-Air Machine (Austintown, Ohio) with the gold award for booking the highest dollar amount of orders.

EPA amends leak rate calculations.(Refrigeration Tools, Test Instruments & Recovery Products)
March 14, 2005... A new Clean Air Act amendment will likely cause owners and operators of equipment that contains ozone-depleting refrigerant charges in excess of 50 pounds to review and re-evaluate their leak rate calculation methods. The actual impact of...

Revitalized contractor opens new company.(Business Management)(Perfect Air of Abingdon company management)
March 14, 2005... ABINGDON, Va. -- Last November, The News published a story about Terry Boone, the owner of T&T Sales & Service Inc. in St. Paul, Va. Boone was struggling to lessen his workload in the field and concentrate more on his residential...

ACCA to hold commercial contracting roundtable.(Industry News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has announced the dates and location for its Second Annual Commercial Contracting Roundtable. The first roundtable held last October was met with such success that the new...

York schedules 2005 success week boot camps.(Industry News)(Aaron York's Quality Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. workshops)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... NORMAN, Okla. -- York Heating and Air Conditioning announced its 2005 schedule of contractor boot camps for dealers. Offered through York Business Training University, the success week boot camps are a series of intensive workshops conducted by...

Emerson sponsors Liebert Business Continuity Seminars.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With more of its customers developing business continuity plans and dealing with regulatory compliance challenges, Emerson Network Power and its local Liebert representatives are sponsoring a series of Liebert Business...

Guy Charles Green.(Obituary)(Obituary)
March 14, 2005... TULSA, Okla. -- Guy Charles Green, 40, died from an apparent heart attack on Jan. 24, 2005. He was born in Tulsa Sept. 14, 1964. Mr. Green was a National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) Certified Air Filter Specialist with Red Bud Air...

Modine Manufacturing achieves EMS goal.(Industry News)(environmental management system)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... RACINE, Wis. -- Modine Manufacturing Co. has reached its goal of implementing a global environmental management system (EMS) at 26 of its manufacturing locations. "This marks a significant achievement for Modine in meeting the goal first...

Goodman's donation helps Humane Society.(Industry News)(Goodman Manufacturing Co)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... HOUSTON -- Only a few months after receiving a donation of an air purification system from Goodman Manufacturing Co., the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, Fla., has seen a remarkable decrease in upper respiratory infections (URIs) in the...

Ivonics Wireless Corp.(Manufacturers)(acquisition of Roper Industries Inc)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Inovonics Wireless Corp. (Louisville, Colo.) has been acquired by Roper Industries Inc. (Duluth, Ga.).

Lochinvar Corp.(Manufacturers)(contest winner)(Peterson Engineering)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Lochinvar Corp. (Lebanon, Tenn.) announced the fourth winner of its Hot Water Solutions Tour promotional contest was Leonard Shanes of Peterson Engineering.

Burnham Hydronics.(Manufacturers)(employee honored)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Burnham Hydronics (Lancaster, Pa.) announced Rick Link was named 2005 Salesperson of the Year and Mechanical Sales was named Sales Representative of the Year.

United Rentals Inc.(Distributor)(customer service, contractor supplies, general rental facilitites)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * United Rentals Inc. (Greenwich, Conn.) opened a new national accounts customer service center in Shelton, Conn., a contractor supplies distribution center in Aurora, Ill., and a general rentals branch in Casper, Wyo.

Frost & Sullivan.(Technology Development)(appointments)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * Frost & Sullivan selected Anto Budiardjo, president and chief executive officer of Clasma Inc., as the 2005 Building Technologies CEO of the Year.

The Mechanical Contractor Association of America's (MCAA) Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tom Mikulina, vice president of industry relations for The Trane Co., in recognition for contributions to the association and the industry at the utmost level.(Associations)
March 14, 2005... * The Mechanical Contractor Association of America's (MCAA) Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tom Mikulina, vice president of industry relations for The Trane Co., in recognition for contributions to the association and the industry...

The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA International) announced Chemposite Inc. (Delta, British Columbia) has two dampers.(Associations)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * The Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA International) announced Chemposite Inc. (Delta, British Columbia) has two dampers (Model AC510 fiberglass air seal dampers and Model AC511 volume-control dampers) licensed through...

The M2M Expo and Conference.(Associations)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * The M2M Expo and Conference is scheduled for March 23-24 in Dallas. For more information and to register, visit www.m2mexpo.com.

The Heat Exchange Institute (HEI).(Associations)(Closed Feedwater Heaters standards)(Brief Article)
March 14, 2005... * The Heat Exchange Institute (HEI) released the 7th edition of Standards for Closed Feedwater Heaters and the 4th edition of Standards for Power Plant Heat Exchangers.

Danfoss unveils products at expo.(Industry News)
March 14, 2005... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Contractor feedback, an expanding distribution network, and a broad range of new products and technologies combined to mark the Danfoss (www.acr.danfoss.com) annual press breakfast at the 2005 Air-Conditioning, Heating,...

Compact, versatile, and easy to use.(Refrigeration Tools, Test Instruments & Recovery Products)(Expo details)
March 14, 2005... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Compact sizes and increased capabilities were the recurring themes among a wide range of tools and test instruments shown for the first time at the 2005 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR...

Smart tools can help solve HVACR problems.(Refrigeration Tools, Test Instruments & Recovery Products)
March 14, 2005... As technicians, our lives get more complicated every day. We have to deal with legal requirements, customers, management, and even weather. On top of that, sometimes we have to follow up on iffy work from the previous service calls. There...

Restricted condenser airflow.(refrigeration zone)(checklist for low temperature refrigeration system)
March 14, 2005... What can you say about dirty condenser coils or restricted airflow over the condenser? It's not good, and it doesn't lead to good things for the rest of the system. Let's take a look at a system checklist for a low-temperature...

A few thoughts on simplicity.(refrigeration zone)
March 14, 2005... This issue of the The News has quite a bit of information about the latest high-tech tools and test instruments based on the most recent International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in Orlando, Fla. At about...

The best yield from commercial ice makers.(refrigeration zone)
March 14, 2005... The most common customer complaint associated with commercial ice machines is that the machine isn't making enough ice. Each day the customer runs short of ice. This can be the result of several different problems--not all necessarily related...

13 SEER affects new construction.(our Insights)(13 seasonal energy efficiency rating)
March 14, 2005... You've already heard about the not-so-subtle changes you might expect from the move to the minimum residential air conditioning efficiency standard of 13 SEER. Condensing coils will likely become more complicated to clean. (Ever separate a...