Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from March 2008

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from March 2008

Albuquerque energy code is challenged.(legislation update)
March 3, 2008... Albuquerque is not the easiest word to spell. Apparently, city officials in the largest city in the state of New Mexico are not easy to deal with, either. More than a few industry associations are challenging the city's new Energy...

Worthington Cylinders.(Price Increases)
March 3, 2008... * Worthington Cylinders (Columbus, Ohio) increased prices 5.5 percent on all steel DOT 39, nonrefillable refrigerant cylinders, effective on all orders shipped on or after Feb. 15.

Tri-City Mechanical.(Contractors)
March 3, 2008... * Tri-City Mechanical (Chandler, Ariz.) was voted as one of the "Best Places to Work" in the valley for the second consecutive year, by the Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ.

Emerson Climate Technologies.(Manufacturers)
March 3, 2008... * Emerson Climate Technologies (St. Louis) appointed John Ward as vice president of product planning for the Air Conditioning Division. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

ABB Inc.(Manufacturers)
March 3, 2008... * ABB Inc. (New Berlin, Wis.) named Aaron Aleithe as vice president and general manager of low-voltage drives.

Follett Corp.(Manufacturers)
March 3, 2008... * Follett Corp. (Easton, Pa.) appointed Ed Hughes as western regional sales manager.

BIM designed to improve process: technology takes CAD to next level.(FOCUS: LEAN & GREEN BUILDING DESIGNS)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] BIM. If you are not acclimated with the term or technology, now is the time--especially if your firm is up to creating lean and green buildings. (In truth, BIM is used for all construction.) BIM stands for...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 3, 2008... An article which appeared in the Feb. 18 issue of The NEWS incorrectly identified the Website for the complete line of Robertshaw[R] thermostats by Invensys Controls. The correct address is www.robertshawtstats.com.

Four associations unite for Congressional blitz.
March 3, 2008... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four national trade associations representing distributors and contractors of HVACR industries are convening in Washington, D.C., for a two-day lobbying blitz of Capitol Hill. According to the Heating, Airconditioning, and...

MCAA plans legislative conference.(newsline)(Conference news)
March 3, 2008... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Contractors Association of America's (MCAA's) annual conference, slated for May 19-20 at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C., is being held in conjunction with the annual legislative conference of the...

Climate change.(newsline)(Cartoon)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Let me get this straight. I spent $3500 to sent you to the AHR Expo and THIS is the competitive data you brought back?

Uponor joins GreenMech.(newsline)
March 3, 2008... NEENAH, Wis. -- Uponor, formerly Wirsbo, has joined the Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech) as a founding member. The company joins several other organizations as a leading member of GreenMech, including Carrier, NIBCO, International...

Rheem named top choice.(newsline)(Rheem Ruud and Richmond Water Heaters)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Rheem finished first in a recent reader survey conducted by Home Builder Executive (HBE) magazine this past fall. The research sought to assess builders' partnership levels with key vendors in various major product...

Totaline offers IAQ promotions.(newsline)
March 3, 2008... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Marking a new emphasis on IAQ, contractors who purchase a CG1000 electronic air cleaner from any local Totaline distributor can receive a free pair of left- or right-cutting sheet metal snips. "The free sheet metal...

N.B. Handy Awards Dealers.(newsline)
March 3, 2008... LYNCHBURG, Va. -- N.B. Handy Co. announced the 2007 Dealers of the Year for its Westinghouse-and Kelvinator-brand product lines for heating and air conditioning equipment. Classic Air of Waldorf, Md., was recognized as the 2007 Dealer of...

Addendum may lower cost.(newsline)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... ATLANTA -- Advances related to the BACnet standard, including recommending public review for an addendum that would tunnel BACnet over ZigBee wireless networks, were made during the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and...

Arkema joins GreenChill.(newsline)
March 3, 2008... NEW YORK -- In conjunction with the 2008 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Exposition, Arkema announced that it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, which includes...

Refrigerant retrofits.(newsline)
March 3, 2008... COLLEGE POINT, N.Y. -- ComStar International announced that its refrigerant HFC/HC-424A (marketed by the company as RS-44) has been retrofitted into 25- to 30-ton split systems used for process cooling at a manufacturing facility in...

High-output UVC fixtures.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CC Series UVC germicidal fixtures feature a moisture-proof design and can be installed in commercial and residential applications. It easily mounts in various configurations for pass-by air decontamination and/or to...

Nonprogrammable thermostats.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Robertshaw[R] RS4000 Value Series nonprogrammable thermostats are designed with Pop-Up Wizards to customize thermostat settings with an instant startup menu. According to the company, the units significantly...

Tankless water heater.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The T-M50 tankless water heater uses two heavy-duty heat exchangers to produce up to 380,000 Btuh. Features include 80 percent thermal efficiency for both natural gas and liquid propane. The water heater starts...

Refrigerant gauge set.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... A refrigerant gauge set that measures some common retrofit refrigerants is available. The set of large, 31/8-inch, red and blue dry manifold gauges is specifically calibrated for monitoring R-417A, R-422A, and R-422D. These Class 1 gauges, with...

Packaged units.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The XL16c packaged heat pump, packaged gas/electric heating and cooling system, and packaged dual-fuel heating and cooling system are Energy Star-qualified units rated up to 16.6 SEER. They have sound levels as low...

Air curtain.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The JetStream[TM] air curtain provides precise, continual, and uniform air distribution with adjustable air velocity through a directional plenum. It reduces infiltration of outside air into heated or air conditioned...

Condenser fan replacement motors.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The JuggerNaut[TM] line of condenser fan replacement motors is designed for commercial air conditioning and refrigeration markets. These inverter-duty motors are corona-free with conductive bearing grease for...

Boiler inspection software.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Versentia[TM], by Insparisk, is a suite of software for the safety inspection industry. Versentia for boiler inspection manages inspections and client data in the boiler industry and combines customized routing...

Swimming pool infrared heaters.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... The Series LTU75 U-tube low-intensity infrared heaters are well-suited for heating indoor swimming pools to help create an efficient and comfortable swim environment in athletic and recreation facilities, spas, hotels, and homes, says the...

Water heater connection kit.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A family of tankless water heater water and gas connection kits provides installers with all of the components needed to easily and economically install gas or electric tankless water heaters, said the company. Each...

R-22 retrofit refrigerant.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... Forane[R] 427A is a 100 percent HFC blend. According to the manufacturer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified the company that it intends to grant the company's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) petition to the...

Thermo-hygrometer.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The HT-3000 thermo-hygrometer version 4.0 has enhanced absolute humidity calculation across the range of possible values. TechCheck offers features such as backlit display, user adjustable alarm, and a hold feature...

HVAC product coatings.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Specially formulated coatings are designed to make it easy and cost-effective to implement antimicrobial, highly attractive, and easy-to-clean coatings into HVAC products with metal surfaces, says the company. The...

Boiler/volume water heater.(what's new)
March 3, 2008... The Mighty Therm2[R] boiler/volume water heater offers seven models applicable for hydronic systems, volume water heat applications, and as commercial-sized pool heaters. The fan-assisted, low-NOx unit is ideal for either new construction or...

Ten questions regarding green building: NEWS seeks guidance for contractors from MCA Chicago officials.(FOCUS: LEAN & GREEN BUILDING DESIGNS)(Mechanical Contractors Association)
March 3, 2008... When it comes to the topic of green building, The NEWS turned to a couple of experts from the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Chicago for guidance, Dan Bulley and Stephen Lamb. Bulley is senior vice president of MCA Chicago,...

Pushing green into the Black.(FOCUS: LEAN & GREEN BUILDING DESIGNS)
March 3, 2008... Energy inefficiencies in buildings are easy to spot. Less evident, however, are cost-effective means that can remedy the pervasive wastes of energy. A building owner can easily document a building's faults and then ask the contractor to...

How much do you know about green building?(FOCUS: LEAN & GREEN BUILDING DESIGNS)
March 3, 2008... CHICAGO -- Once considered a passing fad, green building has driven its roots deep into the American landscape. City halls in Chicago and Atlanta have green rooftops, and green building initiatives are thriving in Seattle, Denver, Dallas, and...

Air advice touts higher closing rates.(meeting update)
March 3, 2008... Of The NEWS Staff LAKE TAHOE, Nev. -With the economy going south and home sales taking a beating, homeowners are determined to reinvest in their homes and make them healthier and more livable. That's according to Ben Middleton of Air Advice,...

Ruth King discusses financial benchmarking.(meeting update)
March 3, 2008... LAKE TAHOE, Nev. -- Are there really business owners who are afraid to look at their financial statement each month in fear of what they might learn? Yes, according to Ruth King, channel manager for HVAC-Channel.tv and president of Business...

HVAC businesses talk industry issues.(industry news)
March 3, 2008... AUSTIN, Texas -- Two local distributors and a contractor from the Austin area recently sat down with The NEWS to talk about local issues involving the HVAC trade. A lot of what they talked about reflected issues facing the HVAC trade throughout...

Performing a combustion analysis: be aware of the variations in appliance types when checking combustion.(service & maintenance)
March 3, 2008... Safety of the appliance should be the primary goal of all technicians. The production of carbon monoxide (CO) in the flue gases should be kept below 100-ppm air-free, even though the allowable limit in the stack is 400-ppm air-free. Any...

NADCA looking to help members grow at annual meeting.(service and maintenance)
March 3, 2008... When the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) was formed in 1989, current president Bill Lundquist said the organization represented a small group of individuals "focused on promoting source removal as the only legitimate approach to...

Contractor, start your engine! HVAC business owner by day, Kaminsky aiming to make Indy 500 field this year.(contractor profile)(heating, ventilating, and air conditioning)(Bob Kaminsky)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOMER GLEN, Ill. -- One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning? Bob Kaminsky can do far better than that. The owner of Air Tigers Inc. could be at a customer's house in seconds flat. Only problem is he is not allowed...

Performance contracts reduce cost.(field solutions)
March 3, 2008... In light of new reports and a Congressional push for energy independence, performance contracts are rising to the top of many commercial building owners' lists of things to investigate. Across the country, concerned citizens are calling for a...

Even the media can't cover carbon monoxide story right.(opinions: VIEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE EDITORIAL STAFF AND GUEST COLUMNISTS)
March 3, 2008... I can talk until I am blue in the face about carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In fact, there are times when I have looked in the mirror and there is a bluish tint to my skin. Maybe I need to get more oxygen, or a few more rays of sun. The point...

Gargaro's world: does God grade on a curve?(editor's blogs: MORE ONLINE AT ACHRNEWS.COM)(Brief article)(Column)
March 3, 2008... I will be the first to admit that I am not a perfect Catholic. I am not even a good one, for that matter. I gladly enjoy a hamburger on Fridays during Lent, choose the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show over mass, and only call out to Jesus when I...

Murphy's Law: solar power: recession or growth?(editor's blogs: MORE ONLINE AT ACHRNEWS.COM)
March 3, 2008... Solar power companies from the 1970s are getting back in the picture and some have even resurrected old manufacturing facilities. As oil prices are hovering around the $100/bbl mark, investment in solar power is surging. There is some more...

Buckeye Ventures Inc. (San Diego) changed its name to Energy King Inc.(Contractors)
March 10, 2008... Buckeye Ventures Inc. (San Diego) changed its name to Energy King Inc., effective immediately.

Midstate Mechanical Inc.(Contractors)
March 10, 2008... Midstate Mechanical Inc. (Phoenix) moved to a new 56,000-square-foot corporate office and fabrication facility in Phoenix.

TDIndustries (Dallas) promoted Gary Barr to production manager.(Contractors)
March 10, 2008... TDIndustries (Dallas) promoted Gary Barr to production manager of its Fort Worth operations.

Rheem Manufacturing Co.(Manufacturers)
March 10, 2008... Rheem Manufacturing Co. (Atlanta) appointed Peter Reynolds to vice president and general manager of its Water Heating Division.

ECR International.(Manufacturers)
March 10, 2008... ECR International (Utica, N.Y.) named Michael Paparone as CEO, president, and board member.

Payne Heating and Cooling Systems.(Manufacturers)
March 10, 2008... Payne Heating and Cooling Systems (Indianapolis) is now offering a 10-year parts limited warranty to the original, registered purchaser.

Bernard Welding Equipment.(Manufacturers)
March 10, 2008... Bernard Welding Equipment (Beecher, Ill.) translated all of its welding product spec sheets into Spanish.

Coburn's Supply.(Distributors)
March 10, 2008... Coburn's Supply (Beaumont, Texas) appointed Wes Swank as its Louisiana territory manager for the Maytag Heating and Cooling Division.

International Franchise Association.(Organizations)
March 10, 2008... The International Franchise Association (IFA) named Dina Dwyer-Owens, chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group (Waco, Texas), as the first vice chairwoman.

National Environmental Balancing Bureau.(Organizations)
March 10, 2008... The National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) is seeking speaking proposals for its 2008 annual meeting and educational conference, Oct. 30-Nov. 1, in Tucson, Ariz.

Refrigerant costs, shortfalls to spur more R-22 reclaim.(Organizations)
March 10, 2008... The most important tool for today's HVACR contractor is not being used all that much. It is a complex tool and is not carried on a technician's tool belt. To use it, the technician needs to get recovered refrigerant from the jobsite to a...

NATE enters into key agreement with UA: certification program recognizes effort to give students advanced status.(Organizations)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Having just celebrated its 10th anniversary, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certainly started 2008 on the right foot. At this year's Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in...

Act like a professional and don't moonlight.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 10, 2008... John Hall's Jan. 28 article ["Why Techs Work 'Off the Clock'"] interviewing moonlighting technicians is sure to raise a lot of debate. But let's not be too quick to condemn; contractors and techs alike could learn a few things from this...

Project files: system modification.(the NEWS)(Company overview)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... COMPANY: Comprehensive Energy Services Inc., Longwood, Fla. INSTALLATION: 10 Trane packaged rooftop units, 1 Mitsubishi ductless split system COMPLETION: Completed "The BB King project was challenging because it was located on the...

Revised Manual N rewrites procedure.(newsline)
March 10, 2008... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) released a completely revised version of Manual N, the industry standard for calculating heat gain and heat loss for light commercial buildings. According to ACCA, the...

New ASHRAE certification available.(newsline)
March 10, 2008... ATLANTA -- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is offering a new high-performance building design professional certification program, and registration is now open. According to ASHRAE, this...

ASTM International announces competition.(newsline)(American Society for Testing and Materials)(Public notice)
March 10, 2008... WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. -- ASTM International is accepting papers for the 2008 ASTM Advantage Award, a paper competition with prizes up to $15,000. The award is an opportunity for the users of ASTM International standards worldwide to convey the...

Luvata to restructure.(newsline)(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... LONDON, United Kingdom -- As a part of a restructuring following the acquisition of ECO Group in 2007, Luvata has announced the planned closure of its Astro Air facilities in Jacksonville, Texas, by Aug. 1, 2008. According to the company, the...

APC combats code violations.(newsline)(Air Products and Controls )(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... PONTIAC, Mich. -- Air Products and Controls (APC) has launched an educational campaign to raise awareness of code-driven requirements for air sampling tube length for in-duct smoke detectors. According to the "Size Does Matter" campaign,...

Franchises win awards.(newsline)
March 10, 2008... WACO, Texas -- Mr. Rooter[R], Mr. Electric[R], and Rainbow International[R], franchise concepts of The Dwyer Group, have been ranked among the 2008 FBR 50--Franchisee Satisfaction Awards[TM] by Franchise Business Review, a market research firm....

Testo introduces thermal imager.(newsline)
March 10, 2008... NEW YORK -- Marko Bruinsma, president of Testo, provided information regarding his company's newest piece of equipment, the Testo 880 Thermal Imager, at a press conference during the 2008 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition. ...

Programmable thermostats.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Robertshaw[R] RS5000 Series of digital, fully programmable thermostats, offers four event set point options per day, and 5-2 programming. They include the vacation set point override feature, which helps further...

Data loggers.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... The S Version of the TR-5 data loggers feature portability, waterproof construction, and battery operation. With a temperature range of -76[degrees] to 302[degrees]F (-60[degrees] to 150[degrees]C), they are ideal for measuring and recording...

Split-system heat pump.(EDITOR'S CHOICE)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The York[R] Affinity[TM] YZH Series 18 SEER split-system heat pump offers exclusive hot heat pump technology that generates discharge air temperatures similar to those of a gas furnace, reducing the feeling of "cold...

Bird spike.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] E-Spike is an all-stainless steel economy bird spike designed to be a deterrent for pigeons and seagulls. Model 6405 is 6 inches wide, 4 inches high, and has 48 points per foot. Model 3405 is 3 inches wide, 4 inches...

Energy management thermostat.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Enhancements have been made to the SS5000 energy management thermostat. The new design, Version 4.5 model, increases the overall flexibility of the new thermostat, particularly its compatibility with a far wider...

Duct-free split system.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EEZ[TM] duct-free high wall split system offers an aesthetic, affordable solution for unique heating and cooling environments such as sunrooms, home theaters, and historic renovations, says the company. The...

Heat pump air conditioner.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... The Inverter Series mini-split heat pump air conditioner is part of the Art Cool product line of design-oriented air conditioners. Instead of shutting off once the desired temperature is reached, the inverter compressor continues to operate at...

Duct liner.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GreenGuard[R]-certified ToughGard[TM] R-EP duct liner with enhanced surface provides acoustical and thermal control and antimicrobial protection in duct systems. Composed of rotary-type glass fibers firmly bonded...

Ceiling diffusers.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The stainless steel laminar flow diffuser and the stainless steel laminar flow HEPA filter diffuser are both designed to offer durable, dependable, and low maintenance performance for clean air systems in a wide...

Venting system adapter.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The flex-ready Insul-Wye[TM] adapter allows for easy installation of Insulvent[TM] flexible venting systems with Category I gas-fired appliances. This component universally adapts to any manufacturers' B-vent with...

Heat transfer fluids brochure.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The downloadable PDF brochure "Heat Transfer Fluids for HVAC and Refrigeration Systems" discusses the importance of heat transfer fluid. HVAC applications for the company's glycol-based fluids are listed. The...

Duct cleaning tool literature.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The piece of literature "Selecting the right cleaning tools for the job" examines various types of cleaning tools: air washing tools, air whip systems, manual brushing systems, flexible cable brushing systems, solid...

HVAC bypass.(what's new)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The E-Clipse bypass communicates directly with building automation systems (BAS), keeping facility managers in control of every HVAC requirement, even in conditions where electrical challenges may trip out the...

The new road to recovery: path is paved with variety of refrigerant recovery machines.(FOCUS: REFRIGERATION & RECOVERY PRODUCTS)
March 10, 2008... Refrigerant recovery machines have been a part of an HVACR service arsenal for more than 20 years, when regulations against venting went into effect. At one time, more than 50 companies were producing such machines. Today, that has...

Reclaim options include methods, incentives.(FOCUS: REFRIGERATION & RECOVERY PRODUCTS)
March 10, 2008... Once contractors step up their efforts in submitting refrigerants for reclamation services, they will find the reclaim sector of the HVACR industry more than ready for them. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified close...

Theater gets cool just in time for start of new season.(field solutions)
March 10, 2008... EPHRATA, Pa. -- Located in the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish Country, the Ephrata Playhouse in the Park is the remodeled historic barn (circa 1915) of the Daniel Eicher family who settled there in 1734. The 300-seat playhouse is home to the...

Same name, new meaning.(REFRIGERATION ZONE)
March 10, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] AURORA, Ill. -- What's in a name? Companies oft en undergo name changes to better reflect a shift in direction or corporate structure. But every once in a while, the name doesn't change but the meaning of the name...

Restricted metering device.(REFRIGERATION ZONE: the professor)(Thermostatic expansion valves)
March 10, 2008... This column explores how a restricted metering device will affect system performance and efficiency. The system is a commercial refrigeration system employing a receiver and a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV as the metering device. The...