Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from March 2007

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from March 2007

Worthington Cylinders.(Price Increase)
March 5, 2007... Worthington Cylinders (Columbus, Ohio) increased prices 6 percent on all steel refillable refrigerant and refrigerant recovery cylinders.

Duro Dyne Corp.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Duro Dyne Corp. (Bay Shore, N.Y.) promoted Patrick Rossetto as vice president of sales.

U.S. Copper and Brass Fabricators Council.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Luvata's (Buffalo, N.Y.) Warren Bartel, senior vice-president and senior advisor to the company, was named chairman of the U.S. Copper and Brass Fabricators Council.

Arzel Zoning Technology Inc.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Arzel Zoning Technology Inc. (Cleveland) promoted Joseph Ramunni Jr. to the position of vice president of technical services.

Uponor North America.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Uponor North America (Apple Valley, Minn.) hired Jeffrey R. Davis as vice president of sales and as a member of the senior management committee. It also hired Mary Beth Manninen as training manager.

Standard Refrigeration.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Standard Refrigeration (Melrose Park, Ill.) released its 2007-2008 product catalog.

Weil-McLain.(Manufacturers)
March 5, 2007... Weil-McLain (Michigan City, Ind.) was granted a Good Housekeeping Seal.

HVAC Excellence.(Associations)
March 5, 2007... HVAC Excellence (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) promoted Randy Petit of Ama, La., to director of program development.

Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation.(Associations)
March 5, 2007... The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation (PHCC) hired Marilyn Humm as director of communications and marketing.

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW).(Associations)
March 5, 2007... The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) elected Raymon York as chairman of the NAW board of directors, C.S. "Chip" Hornsby as chairman-elect, Randy Lindberg as first vice chairman, Robert Taylor as second vice chairman, and...

ACCA imaginations run free.(FOCUS: ACCA CONVENTION & INDOOR AIR EXPO)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America )(Conference notes)
March 5, 2007... ORLANDO -- In the magical and mystical world of Disney, children are encouraged to use their imaginations and dream of what it would be like to fl y with Peter Pan or cross swords with Pirates of the Caribbean. Th ese dreams are played out...

The tax man cometh with good news.(legislation update)
March 5, 2007... As the owner or manager of an HVACR contracting firm, if you have not already done so, you may want to miss the deadlines for filing your annual income tax returns. The reason? The passage of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, late in...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 5, 2007... In the Feb. 19 article titled "Drives & Motors Rev Up at the AHR Expo," the incorrect Website was given for GE ECM by Regal-Beloit. It should have read www.thedealertoolbox.com. The NEWS regrets this error.

Lower unitary shipments evidence of industry shift.(newsline)(Brief article)
March 5, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Combined unitary totals, which haven't dropped since 2001's brief 6.2 million-unit relapse, were down 18 percent in 2006, totaling 7,069,296. The recordbreaking totals of 2005 dwarfed last year's numbers as a settling of the...

Danfoss integrates organizations.(newsline)(Danfoss A/S merged with Scroll Technologies)(Brief article)
March 5, 2007... BALTIMORE -- Danfoss is combining its commercial compressors factories in Lawrenceville, Ga., and scroll technologies in Arkadelphia, Ark., into a single organization, effective immediately. Dr. Carlos Zamudio, who is based in Arkadelphia,...

ASCR changes name and renews focus.(newsline)(Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration change name as Restoration Industry Association)(Brief article)
March 5, 2007... COLUMBIA, Md. -- The Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) rebranded itself. The trade group will now be known as the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). The name change is effective immediately. "The new name,...

Things the motor nameplate does not tell you.(EXTRA EDITION)
March 5, 2007... Things the Motor Nameplate Does Not Tell You: When choosing a replacement motor, you can often use the nameplate to help you, but a nameplate doesn't always provide you with everything you need to know.

CO alarms, effects of CO poisoning, and technician certification.(EXTRA EDITION)
March 5, 2007... CO Alarms, Effects of CO Poisoning, and Technician Certification: To become certified in carbon monoxide (CO) testing, you not only need an understanding of combustion, but also low-level CO poisoning and what CO alarms do and don't do.

BACnet addenda to be reviewed.(newsline)
March 5, 2007... ATLANTA -- Six proposed addenda to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE's) BACnet standards have been recommended for public review. The addenda are expected to be released for public...

Turning back the clock.(newsline)(taking into consideration Daylight savings time in maintenance task schedules )(Brief article)
March 5, 2007... SEVEN MILE, Ohio -- Most of the United States has observed daylight-saving time from 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April to 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October since 1966. Beginning in 2007, however, most of the U.S. will begin...

Foster McCarl Jr.(OBITUARY)
March 5, 2007... CHIPPEWA, Pa. -- Foster McCarl Jr., chairman emeritus of McCarl's Inc. and past president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), died of natural causes on Jan. 24, 2007. He was 83. McCarl's Plumbing and Heating Co. in...

Information brings opportunities to the HVAC industry.(industry news)
March 5, 2007... Manufacturing, distributing, installing, and servicing equipment aren't the only responsibilities of the HVAC industry. As the political, environmental, and socio-economic arenas rapidly change, the need for information and the understanding of...

Tankless water heater.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The T-K3 is the smallest, most versatile, and powerful of the company's residential tankless water heaters. It is 13.8 inches wide and weighs 40 pounds. The water heater is compact enough to be mounted on the wall, including recessed between...

Drain and backflow adapter.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The company has designed a new drain-backflow adapter for Takagi on-demand water heaters. Previously, installation of the Takagi system included the use of a backflow preventer to keep cold air during the winter months from coming back through...

Combustion check accessory head.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The AOX2 oxygen ([O.sub.2]) and carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) combustion check accessory head is designed for combustion testing and displays flue gas temperature, percent C[O.sub.2], and percent [O.sub.2] for both gas and oil. It has a working...

Web-based firm mgmt tool.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... RealTime Data is a Web-based company management system that provides a way to manage information needed by service and light construction contractors. Full work order and dispatch management enables users to record detailed information about...

Air handler.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... Now available with high-efficiency, five-speed motors, the F,P Series of air handlers matches a wide range of heat pumps and air conditioners. The units range in height from 3 to 4 feet. An ETL-certified, airtight cabinet design decreases air...

Hot-water recirculation pump.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The UltraCirc[R] 909 instant hot-water recirculation pump is designed specifically for tankless water heaters. A strap-on temperature sensor regulates the system temperature and limits the length of time the tankless heater will be operating...

Light comml zone temperature sensor.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The Comfort Sensor combines multiple sensing and zone damper control options into a single device. Designed for light commercial use, the unit's primary function is a zone temperature sensor for use with the L Connection[R] Network building...

Cooling tower filter system.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The Turbo-Disc Filter is a self-cleaning, side-stream cooling tower disc filter system. The filter system is designed to remove particulate and other contaminants from cooling water, complementing the water treatment program by keeping heat...

Building system Web server.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... An embedded Web server has been added into the Q3BMS[TM] building management system (BMS). The Web server enables a user to quickly and easily access a BMS over a network connection using a standard Web browser. By using a Web browser such as...

Radial fans.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... A family of compact radial fans with free-running impellers and variable speeds is available. The units combine electronically commutated external rotor motors with newly developed integrated power electronics. The fans' long-life,...

Voltage monitor and diagnostic display.(what's new )
March 5, 2007... The MotorSaver[R] 455 three-phase voltage monitor is equipped with infrared technology to communicate with the Informer-MS handheld diagnostic tool, both by SymCom, to display MotorSaver data to assist in monitoring and troubleshooting...

Interface module.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The Allen Bradley programmable logic controller ControlLogix is a modular, high-performance control platform used for sequential, process, drive, and motion control applications. The Johnson Controls Metasys N2, a protocol, is used in the...

Indirect water heater.(what's new)
March 5, 2007... The Combi2[TM]is a combination water and space heating unit, providing home space heat and potable hot water from a single source. It is power-vented and features a Vitraglas[R]-coated, doublewall, carbon steel heat exchanger coil. The units...

Get the most out of the national meeting.(FOCUS: ACCA CONVENTION & INDOOR AIR EXPO)
March 5, 2007... ORLANDO -- There are a lot of positives for holding an annual meeting in a warm climate that caters to tourists of all ages and interests. That's why places like Orlando and Las Vegas are so popular as host cities. The 2007 Air Conditioning...

Exhibitors speak highly of ACCA meeting.(FOCUS: ACCA CONVENTION & INDOOR AIR EXPO)
March 5, 2007... ORLANDO -- Exhibitors at the 2007 Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference & Indoor Air Expo know the value of lasting relationships and rubbing shoulders with the best of the best. Maybe that's why so many see the value of...

2007 award finalists.(FOCUS: ACCA CONVENTION & INDOOR AIR EXPO)
March 5, 2007... The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced the finalists for the 2007 ACCA Awards for Excellence. "These are the most prestigious contractor awards in the industry," said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. "Each...

Talking facial hair, tattoos, and more: "Best Contractors" discuss ways to find--and keep--employees.(business management)
March 5, 2007... DALLAS -- Q: What do you get when you gather together a former Marine, human resources director, a self-proclaimed "old schooler," a general manager of a contracting firm, and a one-time registered nurse? A: Plenty of strong suggestions,...

Understanding employees is a generational thing.(association update)(Nita Brooks of International Service Leadership, on Human resource management)(Conference news)
March 5, 2007... NASHVILLE -- Back in the old days, if a young person didn't see eye-to-eye with an older person, the differences were blamed on the prevailing generation gap. It is hard for people to understand each other when they come from such different...

Hire tough and manage easy: International Service Leadership (ISL) members learn about "A" players.(association update)
March 5, 2007... NASHVILLE -- Mel Kleiman, president of Humetrics, had some questions for International Service Leadership (ISL) members attending the association's most recent meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. "How many of you set targets every day?"...

John and Charlie learn the hard way: there is more to fixing a duct system than maybe you know.(service & maintenance)
March 5, 2007... "Hey, Charlie!" called out John, the lead installer. "Grab a bucket of mastic and a brush and start sealing the duct leaks up in the attic while I pump this sucker down!" John's new helper had lots of potential. Charlie was always on time,...

Condemned furnaces spark safety issues.(service & maintenance)
March 5, 2007... Roman mythology speaks of twin brothers, Romulus and Remus. Both got along well with each other until a dispute arose over how high the walls surrounding their city should be built. Remus jeered his brother and mockingly leapt over them to...

Leveraging techs' customer relationships.(business management)
March 5, 2007... In a market that is becoming increasingly competitive and undifferentiated, service firms are looking for new ways to add customer value and increase their revenues with out adding to their overhead. There is a tremendous opportunity to do this...

The definition of win.(business management)(Column)
March 5, 2007... We've all seen winners in our personal and professional lives. They are the determined ones with a strong resolve and unwavering sense of purpose in everything they do. Always able to face challenges and adapt to change, winners see adversity...

Contractors continue to fight for fairness.(association update)
March 5, 2007... MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--A coalition of South Carolina HVAC contractors, members of the South Carolina Association of Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors (SCAHACC), saw their efforts to limit the sale of HVAC equipment to licensed contractors...

Global warming: it's not the weather.(MURPHY'S LAW)
March 5, 2007... About two weeks ago, I noticed myself doubting the validity of global warming. So what if scientists from 113 nations had just come out with a report stating that global climate change is a reality. I spent hours flailing away at a snow drift...

Time to add a 25th hour to the day.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
March 5, 2007... In this age of miracle medical procedures and missions to Mars, why should it be absurd to think that mankind isn't capable of adding a 25th hour to the day? I have the perfect formula that balances out the other days so that by the end of the...

HVAC presence felt at the big show.
March 12, 2007... ORLANDO, Fla. -- The 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS) was billed as a "show of enormous opportunities." For the 100,000-plus people who ventured through the doors of the Orlando Orange County Convention Center, it certainly lived up to...

HFCs are target of global warming.
March 12, 2007... Al Gore is not the only one talking tough on the issue of global warming. DuPont Fluoroproducts made bold statements recognizing many current HFCs as contributors to the global warming situation during a Feb. 28 Webcast event. The Webcast also...

HARDI brings employee rights fight to Capitol Hill.(newsline)(National Labor Relations Act)(Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International)
March 12, 2007... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) joined the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace. It has become one of nearly 30 other national trade associations and multiple regional and...

New refrigerants enter market.(newsline)
March 12, 2007... COLLEGE POINT, N.Y. -- Three new HFC refrigerants that work with mineral oil and, according to published reports, have A-1 safety ratings, are entering the U.S. market from ComStar International Inc. The safety rating documentation clarifies...

Ring the cowbell.(newsline)(Brief article)
March 12, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RING THE COWBELL: Siemens Building Technologies celebrated another million sales of Openair" damper actuators in North America. The milestone was celebrated recently when Rick Leblanc, U.S. senior vice president,...

Service roundtable members share files.(newsline)(Document management software)(Brief article)
March 12, 2007... GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Service Roundtable introduced the Service Roundtable File Share Center. 13 This tool allows Service Roundtable members to share digital business content with each other to enhance collaboration and improve business...

ACCA begins live online training.(newsline)
March 12, 2007... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) launched a new series of live online training for the HVACR industry. These 90-minute online seminars, requiring access to the Internet and a phone, are taught by contractors...

Dectron voluntarily leaves NASDAQ.(newsline)
March 12, 2007... MONTREAL -- Dectron Internationale Inc. voluntarily delisted its Common Stock from the NASDAQ Stock Exchange (NASDAQ) with trading in the stock to be terminated as of the close of trading on March 14. The company cited the increasingly high...

IEA conference seeks papers.(newsline)
March 12, 2007... ZURICH, Switzerland -- The 9th International Energy Agency Heat Pump Conference, May 20-22, 2008, is calling for papers. Abstract submissions should be 200-300 words and must be turned in to the appropriate regional coordinator by April 30,...

Fast moving sponsorship.(newsline)
March 12, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: FAST MOVING SPONSORSHIP: (Front row, left to right) Richard Childress, owner, Richard Childress Racing; Olivia Hull, assistant account executive, Spaulding Communications; Ed Raniszeski, director of market...

Ritchie Engineering Co.(Manufacturers)
March 12, 2007... Ritchie Engineering Co. (Bloomington, Minn.) promoted Brian Flynn (pictured right) to executive vice president and hired Jim Wilson as vice president of HVACR sales.

Skuttle Manufacturing Co.(Manufacturers)
March 12, 2007... Skuttle Manufacturing Co. (Marietta, Ohio) is celebrating its 90-year anniversary.

Noland Co.(Distributors)
March 12, 2007... Noland Co. (Newport News, Va.) opened a distribution branch in Laurel, Miss. The facility will provide counter sales, pick up, and delivery services.

Air Mac Distributing Corp.(Distributors)
March 12, 2007... Air Mac Distributing Corp. (Westchester County, N.Y.) moved to a new 50,000-square-foot facility in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Source 1[TM].(Distributors)
March 12, 2007... Source 1[TM] (Norman, Okla.) is now offering IAQ products for all of Johnson Controls' unitary product brands.

ABB.(Financials)
March 12, 2007... ABB's (Zurich, Switzerland) 2006 net income rose 89 percent to $1.39 billion. Revenues reached $24.412 million.

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA).(Associations)
March 12, 2007... The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) released the third edition of the HVAC Duct Systems Inspection Guide.

The Hampton Roads Air Conditioning Contractors of America Chapter (Hampton Roads ACCA).(Associations)
March 12, 2007... The Hampton Roads Air Conditioning Contractors of America Chapter (Hampton Roads ACCA) is hosting a half-day HVAC Customer Service Educational Workshop presented by Steve Coscia on April 23. Call 757-620-3202 to register.

The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB).(Associations)
March 12, 2007... The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) appointed Neil Marshall, Patrick Reilly, and Michael Wieder to its 2007 board of directors.

The Arizona Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA-Arizona).(Associations)
March 12, 2007... The Arizona Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA-Arizona) elected Kathy Kingsland of Kinetics as president of its 2007 board of trustees.

Clockwork Home Services Inc.(Services)
March 12, 2007... Clockwork Home Services Inc. (Sarasota, Fla.) promoted Tab Hunter to president of franchise operations, and Denise Swafford as vice president of franchise operations.

Floor-warming system.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The floor-warming system [degrees]FahrenHeat[TM] has an exclusive self-adhesive mesh and wire backing, allowing for faster and easier installation. The system allows for much easier thin-set installation compared to traditional mats because...

Product catalog.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The manufacturer's 400-page 2007 product catalog is available. It showcases the comprehensive residential and commercial Comfort System[TM] zone control line, complete with technical data sheets, installation guides, wiring diagrams, sales...

HVACR recruitment video.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... "ASHRAE: Licensed to Chill" is a rap video designed to promote engineering and HVACR as career options. It features a hot soundtrack accompanied by interviews with young members, highlighting the importance of the HVACR industry to the world,...

Copper joinery systems.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The company has expanded its offerings of press-to-connect copper fittings, valves, and associated tools. Designed for potable water, mechanical HVAC, and process water applications, the Press System[TM] offers an alternative to traditional...

Airflow meter.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The 922 airflow meter combines the ability to take differential pressure and air velocity and flow measurements in one device. It is compatible with most pitot tubes and allows technicians to enter duct shape and dimensions to maximize...

Duct smoke detector.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The TDD (true duct smoke detector) is able to detect smoke early on in a ventilation duct without giving false alarms. It checks for optical obscuration. The sensing part of the detector covers as much as possible of the duct. An infrared beam...

Product catalog: the manufacturer's 2007-2008 product catalog is available.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The manufacturer's 2007-2008 product catalog is available. It features the new TXG ultra-compact shell-and-tube chiller barrel (evaporator). Other product categories in the literature are water-cooled condensers, liquid receivers, suction...

Duck liner.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The K-Flex Gray[TM] elastomeric insulation duct liner has been improved. It now has an R-value of 4.2, which meets the Energy Conservation Code requirements of states that require a 4.2 R-value in commercial building ductwork. The product is...

Web-based accounting system.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... NetServiceBooks is a Web-based accounting system that is designed for HVAC companies. Any device that supports a Web browser can run the online program. Field technicians have the ability to invoice customers and track equipment live....

Indirect-fired water heaters.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The Alliance SL indirect-fired water heaters are available in five sizes ranging from 27 to 119 gallons. The water heaters have a seamless Hydrastone-lined tank, designed specifically for a wide range of water quality applications, and works...

Differential pressure transducer.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... Model 260, a one-size-fits-all-type low differential pressure transducer, offers user-selectable pressure ranges and analog outputs, a standard LCD, and AC/DC excitation on voltage output operation. It provides fixed range performance for all...

Fractional hp condensing units.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The Value-Add SystemPro[TM] condensing units are an addition to the company's fractional horsepower (hp) condensing unit product line. It includes 26 models, ranging from 1/4 to 1/2 hp. With factory-installed EK filter driers and tricolor...

15-plus SEER heat pump.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The Echelon[TM] 5T 15-plus SEER heat pump is available with HSPF ratings of 8.0-8.6. The scroll compressor technology ensures the simultaneous operation of a high-pressure relief valve and temperature sensors that protect each compressor...

Adjustable flow controller.(what's new)
March 12, 2007... The adjustable flow controller is pressure-independent and can be applied wherever flow control is important. While it is controlling flow, the device also equalizes the differential pressure to smooth out the operation of the system and ensure...

Equipment ready to fill service vans.(FOCUS: REFRIGERATION TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS)
March 12, 2007... Consider the back of a service tech's truck or van. There are enough tools, test instruments, components, spare parts, and refrigerant canisters to troubleshoot and resolve most any job; except for--more often than not--the current one, in...