Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from November 2004

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from November 2004

American Standard.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... American Standard (Tyler, Texas) will increase prices up to 5 percent on all models of its residential and light commercial products, effective Dec. 1.

Carrier Corp.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Carrier Corp. (Farmington, Conn.) announced price increases across its North American HVAC commercial and residential product lines, including Carrier, Bryant, and Payne brands. Increases are in the 3-percent to 9-percent range, depending on...

Frymire Engineering.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Frymire Engineering (Dallas) is the first HVAC contractor in Texas to be certified through National Association of Home Builders Research Center's National Housing Quality Certified Trade Contractor program.

Boss Facility Services Inc.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Boss Facility Services Inc. (Smithtown, N.Y.) has been selected as the sole HVAC maintenance and emergency service provider for Vitamin World Inc.

Doucette Industries Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Doucette Industries Inc. (York, Pa.) received its ISO 9000:2001 certification for quality management systems.

Environmental Dynamics Group.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Environmental Dynamics Group (Princeton, N.J.) announced the appointment of Rob Goodfellow as director of sales and marketing for the company's residential product line.

McQuay.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... McQuay (Minneapolis) announced that all of the company's MicroTech II and MicroTech 2000 unit controllers have received LonMark 3.3 certification.

A-1 Components Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A-1 Components Inc. (Hialeah, Fla.) announced the appointment of Shane Mummery to vice president of marketing and sales.

Help for business challenges; contractors plight typifies that of many small business owners.
November 1, 2004... ST. PAUL, Va. -- Many business owners face the same dilemma at one time or another deciding when to stop working in the business and start working on the business. Terry Boone is no exception. In many ways, the owner of T&T Sales & Service in...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... The story in the Industry News section titled "Maytag Taps Into Agentek" (Oct. 11, page 4) referred to the application of Agentek's wireless mobile field services to Maytag's appliance repair drivers. This service does not pertain to Maytag's...

Home heating bills expected to rise.(industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Higher fuel prices and a colder winter are expected to drive up residential heating bills from 15 percent to 28 percent this winter, according to a report released by the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Energy Information...

Nexstar rolls out new service provider tools.(industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ATLANTA -- Nexstar recently held its 24th Super Meeting in Atlanta. The event opened with a presentation from Brian Beaulieu, the executive director of the Institute for Trend Research. Beaulieu gave his economic predictions extending out to...

PHCC installs new officers at convention.(industry News)(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BOSTON -- The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) installed new officers and board members at their 122nd annual PHCC convention and ISH North American Trade Show in Boston. Officers installed included:...

RSES introduces heat pump training course.(industry News)(Refrigeration Service Engineers Society)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DES PLAINES, Ill. -- The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) unveiled its new heat pump training course at the RSES Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta. The heat pump training course has been completely rewritten and includes more...

National Board Inspection Code set for delivery.(industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... COLUMBUS, OHIO -- The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors announced it will begin shipping orders for the 2004 National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) on Dec. 20. An American National Standard providing rules and...

NATE reaches a milestone as it certifies 20,000th technician.(industry News)(North American Technician Excellence)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- In September, Brandon Lincoln of D&G Heating and Cooling in Livonia, Mich., became the 20,000th HVAC technician to earn North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification. In addition to passing the core exam, Lincoln...

Lab program helps building managers.(industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BERKELEY, Calif. -- A team of researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed an interactive computer program designed to help building managers and owners assess their vulnerability to--and to...

Munters system captures water from air.(industry News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SELMA, Texas -- Munters offers a new solution for capturing moisture from outside air and turning it into pure drinking water. The company's humidity control [H.sub.2.]O LiquidAire system captures water during the dehumidification process and...

It's business as usual for Sporlan, Parker. .(Industry News)(Parker Hannifin Corp.)(mergers, acquisitions and divestments)
November 1, 2004... WASHINGTON, Mo. -- Parker Hannifin Corp.'s recent acquisition of Sporlan Valve Co. made some big news in the trade press, but officials at both companies were quick to assure contractors, wholesalers, and dealers that it will be "business as...

Infrared thermometers.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... Three ST Model noncontact, portable infrared thermometers have been enhanced with the Extra Bright single-point laser sighting system, which is designed to provide more visibility in all conditions, especially outdoors, says the company. This...

Cutting system brochure.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... A new brochure is available on the Cut-Master 101[TM] air plasma cutting system for non-HF (high-frequency) start automation applications. The literature includes an illustrated description of the technology behind the 1Torch[TM] plasma torch...

Field supervisor interface.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The field supervisor module for WorkTrack uses the RIM Blackberry personal digital assistant (PDA) to provide an administrative interface for field supervisors Supervisors and foremen can log job and time information on behalf of field...

Fan.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The Powerfoil fan is a high volume, low speed fan. According to the company, this fan provides 35 percent more cubic feet per minute of air than even the company's Wickerbill Airfoil fan. Maximized to operate at lower revolutions per minute,...

Humidifier.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The GTS gas-to-steam humidifier has been redesigned. The company states that the GTS now is streamlined with all components contained inside the cabinet, making it easier to install and maintain. The humidifier requires only two-sided access,...

Zone register.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The AZR Automatic Zone Register [TM] is designed to improve temperature control and lower operating costs. It can be used as a standalone register to control bonus rooms, room additions, seldom-used rooms, and basements, the company states. The...

Furnace.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The SmartComfort[TM] VS 90 variable-speed, two-stage gas furnace can be installed in an upflow, downflow, horizontal left, or horizontal right configuration. The furnace offers an AFUE rating of 92 percent. The unit features dual certification...

Air-handling units.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... Solution [TM] air handling units (AHUs) offer custom performance and flex more quickly than other custom to AHUs, claims the company. Due to specialized design engineering software, unprecedented flexibility in AHU dimensions, materials, and...

Duct insulation CSI sheet.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... FlameChek[TM] Plus2 duct insulation is a nonceramic high-temperature insulation blanket that gives a two hour fire rating in a single-layer application, says the company. It meets the requirements defined by the National Fire Protection...

Duct liner information folder.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... A new product information package on the Spiracoustic Plus[TM] round duct liner products is available. The folder includes product information, data sheets on the 1-, 1 1/2- and 2-inch-size items, and a comprehensive installation guide....

Modular chiller.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The Flex Series water-cooled modular chiller works well as one unit or can be field coupled to meet tonnage requirements, allowing for a wide range of application flexibility, states the company. For more accurate sizing, 30-ton and 50-ton...

A/C condensers.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The 10-SEER and 13-SEER outdoor air conditioning condensers have been upgraded. The 10-SEER air conditioner now gull-wing, fiberglass reinforced fan blade and premium air mover to provide quiet operation, the company says. The refrigerant...

Spot cooler.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The PC7, a unit in the company's line of portable spot coolers, offers a solution for cooling individuals in any small business or office, the company says. The manufacturer says the unit can help cool individual people in hot spots in...

Web specifications tool.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... CtrlSpecBuilder is a free Web site tool that prepares nonproprietary custom specifications and follows the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guideline 13-2000, "Specifying Direct Digital Control...

Temperature probes.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The TPP temperature pocket probes can be used for quick temperature checks of liquids and surfaces. The TPP1 is a probe-style immersion thermometer. The TPP2 is a flat-surface probe thermometer. According to the manufacturer, these small and...

Stick meter.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The HS36 stick meter measures true RMS and is designed specifically for use by field technicians, says the company. The device includes an autoranging feature. The stick meter can test microamps for flame rectifier diode tests and has the...

Direct-vent chimney.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The Direct-Temp[R] direct-vent chimney system contains a proprietary woven fiber-glass seal, which makes a secure connection, ensuring that combustible products will not leak out of the chimney system, the company says. The chamfered edges...

Dehumidifier.(what's New)
November 1, 2004... The Ultra-Aire UA-135H air purifying dehumidifier is a ventilating dehumidifier that is capable of removing over 17 gallons of water per day, the company says. The company states that this unit maintains indoor humidity levels below 50 percent....

The issue of cooling the keg.(refrigeration zone)
November 1, 2004... Innovations in refrigeration often result from noble intentions to better preserve and deliver vital food supplies. Then again, the Next Great Idea may simply come from the desire to keep the beer cold. In the latter category, consider Adam...

Make sure your vacuum pump measures up.(refrigeration zone)
November 1, 2004... Service technicians need to completely evacuate a refrigeration system any time they open the system to the atmosphere. Vacuum pumps and micron gauges are the tools you need to use for this. Are yours in good working order? System...

Fundamentals of head pressure control.(refrigeration zone)
November 1, 2004... It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. As energy prices soared in the 1970s, supermarket owners sought ways to reduce their enormous utility bills. Unlike comfort cooling equipment, which may operate only in warmer months, a...

A cooler kind of defrost.(refrigeration zone)
November 1, 2004... Many ice machine manufacturers use hot gas defrost to release an ice sheet from an evaporator. Once the ice machine initiates its harvest mode, the compressor continues to operate. Electric solenoid valves open hot gas lines coming from the...

Industrial refrigeration control valve lightens up.(Ammonia/Industrial Refrigeration)
November 1, 2004... Industrial refrigeration technicians face a four-horned challenge when it comes to control valves. First, traditional beefed-up industrial valves are big. And the darn things can be downright heavy since they are typically made of cast iron....

Keeping ammonia free of contaminants.(Ammonia/Industrial Refrigeration)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Anhydrous ammonia is a highly efficient refrigerant, provided it remains contaminant free. Contamination reduces the effectiveness of ammonia and can result in higher energy costs, increased wear and tear on expensive refrigeration equipment,...

Changes lead back to the basics; European trade association revisits ammonia refrigeration.(Ammonia/Industrial Refrigeration)
November 1, 2004... With a flurry of conversations involving a seemingly endless array of refrigerants, a European trade association is urging a back to the basics consideration. Frankfurt, Germany-based Eurammon wants ammonia to stay oil the list--and at a...

RSES spotlights apprenticeship training.(Conference Update / RSES)(Refrigeration Service Engineers Society)
November 1, 2004... CALGARY, Alberta -- Four- and five-year apprentice programs that could meet licensing requirements of local municipalities are on the educational docket of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES). "This is going to be quite a...

AHS members lead active panel discussion.(Conference Update / AHS)
November 1, 2004... DALLAS -- it was labeled the "AHS/Contractor Summit" and it turned into an interesting Q&A session between audience members and a panel of American Home Shield (AHS) executives. The event took place during the AHS National Contractor Conference...

Contractors get update on refrigerants.(Conference Update / AHS)
November 1, 2004... DALLAS -- During the American Home Shield "Be the AHS Brand" National Contractor Conference, several breakout sessions were held for members of the HVAC, electrical, appliance, plumbing, and pool/spa trades. The HVAC panel members chose an...

CO poisoning topic of ISH-NA discussion.(Show Update / ISH-NA)(carbon monoxide)
November 1, 2004... BOSTON -- A gathering of experts oil carbon monoxide (CO) testing and measurement spoke with attendees of the ISH-NA trade show in mid-October. The group included Jim Davis, senior instructor/technical development, National Comfort...

Contractor meetings break new ground.(our Insights)
November 1, 2004... I'm not sure why this is the case, but more and more contracting group meetings and conventions are exploring territory beyond the usual topics, which include business management-related seminars, sales tactics lessons, and equipment technical...

A struggling business we can identify with.(our Insights)
November 1, 2004... Among the small towns of southeast Virginia names like Boody, Gravel Lick, Mew, Open Fork, and Crabs Orchard--is the small town of St. Paul, population 1,000. It is home to T&T Sales & Service Inc., the HVACR residential service and replacement...

Taking HVACR education to the next level: the News and ARI honor top instructors.(Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration)(News and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... It isn't just the textbooks and rows of lab equipment that make a successful HVACR educational program. While theory and hands-on lab experience are both integral components of a well-planned curriculum, the impact of the educational experience...

Efficiency pays.
November 8, 2004... Most energy-efficient homes have dozens of little improvements that individually add little to construction costs, yet together yield big savings. For details on the various items that add to home energy efficiency, read the technical article,...

RSES presents HVACR industry awards.(Refrigeration Service Engineers Society)(Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration )(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... DES PLAINES, Ill. -- The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) honored the following individuals and organizations at its annual awards luncheon during the 67th RSES Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta. The Paul B. Reed Award,...

MCAA announces 2004 Student Competition.(Mechanical Contractors Association of America)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Mechanical Contractors Association of America Inc. (MCAA) announced project details, rules, and guidelines for its 2004 Student Chapter Competition during the Student Chapter Summit in La Crosse, Wis. Jack Wilhelmi of...

ANSI rejects appeal to ventilation rate procedure.(American National Standards Institute)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... ATLANTA -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Appeals Board has rejected a final appeal of an addendum to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE's) ventilation standard. ...

ASHRAE to develop strategic research plan.(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... ATLANTA -- Over the years, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) research program has been successful in providing new information for the HVAC industry. ASHRAE is now developing a strategic...

Certification in customer service.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. -- The first of approximately 3,000 service technicians within the Nexstar Network of members has become fully certified in customer service. Jeffrey Vicknair, an electrical technician employed by Stuart Services of New...

Study links office temperature to keyboard performance.(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... BOURNE, Mass. -- If your office is too cold, chances are that you might not be typing as accurately, or as much, as you could be. In a landmark study evaluating the impact of indoor environmental conditions on worker productivity, Cornell...

Lennox Industries.(Price Increase)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Lennox Industries (Dallas) announced a price increase for its North American residential and commercial HVAC products, effective Dec. 1. The increase will be in the 4-percent to 9-percent range, depending on product category.

Air Comfort Corp.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Air Comfort Corp. (Broadview, III.) has opened a second northwest Indiana location in Merrillville.

Boss Facility Services.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Boss Facility Services (Smithtown, N.Y.) announced Kevin Keingstein has been promoted to national account contract administrator.

Toromont Industries Ltd.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Toromont Industries Ltd. (Toronto) has been awarded two recreational refrigeration orders. The first order is to supply snow-making technology for China's first indoor ski and snowboarding facility, while the second is a contract for the first...

Johnson Controls Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... Johnson Controls Inc. (Milwaukee) is extending its limited product warranty to five years on all M9000 actuators, VG1000 ball valves, and assemblies. The extended warranty applies to all M9000 actuators, VG1000 ball valves, and assemblies sold...

The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc.(Associations)(Industrial Air Technology Corp)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... The Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. (AMCA International) announced Industrial Air Technology Corp. (Gaylord, Mich.) has two centrifugal fans licensed through AMCA International's Certified Ratings Program.

The Oil Heat Institute of Long Island (Hauppauge, N.Y.) received national industry certification of its training programs.(Associations)(National Oilheat Research Alliance)(Brief Article)
November 8, 2004... The Oil Heat Institute of Long Island (Hauppauge, N.Y.) received national industry certification of its training programs for HVACR technicians from the National Oilheat Research Alliance.

Keys to proper system design.
November 8, 2004... Ask anyone who has owned a contracting company for a long time to share his or her worst nightmare and, inevitably, it finishes with how much profit was eaten up fixing this system or that product. Maybe it was the time and materials to make...

Air purifier.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The UV-Aire[TM] UV-1500 portable air purifier is designed to purify the air in up to a 1,500-square-foot space. It is a 24- by 18-inch freestanding model, which has optional side panels for transforming the unit into a 24- by 24-inch unit that...

Leak sealant.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... Super Seal ACR[TM] leak sealant is designed to seal leaks in condensers, evaporators, and lines often caused by formicary and internal acid corrosion, vibration, and temperature variation. It seals leaks at their source, from the inside out,...

Refrigerant recovery systems.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The Powermax refrigerant recovery system is a 22-pound unit that has a 1-hp Wizard compressor. Thermaflo's OZ-4000 is an automatic refrigerant recovery system that sub-cools, self-evacuates, and recharges, says the company. The Cyclepak is...

Furnace.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The Conquest 90 Max is a high-efficiency, two-stage gas furnace. The GTUA Series features five models with input rates from 75,000 to 120,000 Btuh, all with AFUE ratings of 92 percent. The ComfortMax control adjusts the flow of gas to the...

Insulation tape.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... VentureClad[TM] 1577CW[R] is a UV-resistant five-ply laminate made with three layers of aluminum foil, including the outer layer, and two layers of tough polyester film. This product has a zero permeability absolute barrier for insulation...

Thermal, acoustical insulation.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... Valulite[TM] fiberglass insulation is a lightweight blanket-type thermal and acoustical insulation. The insulation is ideal for HVAC and OEM applications and is unaffected by oil, grease, and most acids, states the company. The glass fibers in...

Zone control panel.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... New zone control panels are available for residential applications. Model ED3 has a three-zone design, and Model ED4 has a four-zone design. The microprocessor-based panels alternate heating and cooling modes during conflicting equipment calls....

Gas appliance blower.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The Premix blower is designed for large commercial gas appliances. The company says the blower is an excellent choice for commercial boiler and water heater applications that require a blower to provide a constant air and gas mixture with input...

Refrigerant management.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The ProAct[R] refrigerant management is an Internet-enabled service that records and manages the documentation supermarkets need to maintain compliant with Section 608 of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act. It can help...

Tech Certification book.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... Technician Certification for Refrigerants is a textbook and workbook for technicians preparing for the EPA Core, Type I, Type II, and Type III technician certification tests. All aspects of refrigerants are discussed and illustrated, states the...

Icemaker replacement pump.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The RIM-U universal replacement ice machine pump, item number 545600, is designed to perform reliably in ice machines as a replacement unit for original equipment. The pump has a 1-25-hp motor with upper and lower sealed ball bearings. The pump...

Diameter measuring tape.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... Pi Tape diameter measuring tape is an instrument that allows measuring of round and out-of-round forms to find out the true diameters, the company states. The unit is low-tech and uncomplicated, yet extremely accurate and cost effective, says...

Process, temp controller.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The pCon with OPC is a Windows[R] software-based multiloop autotune gain-scheduled temperature/process PID controller with integrated configurable HMI operator interface touch screens. It uses Excel files as its database. It can be integrated...

Venting system.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... Corr/Guard[TM] is a venting system for use as a condensing appliance vent. It is designed to resist highly corrosive condensate that forms in high-efficiency appliance vents. The Corr/Guard system is manufactured using superferritic stainless...

Boiler/water heater.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The Rheos boiler/water heater combines 87-percent combustion efficiency with boiler modulation circuits that sense the heating demand and automatically adjust the boiler with the range of 1.2 to 2.4 MBtu. The high-density heat exchanger uses a...

Filter.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The 4 inch PerfectPleat[R] pleat ed filter places a DuraFlex[R] media pack inside a two-piece frame. Straps are added to the air-entering side of the filter to help maintain pleat spacing, while the pleat spacers are inserted in multiple rows...

Self-sealing filter system.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The J Track[TM] self-sealing filter system is incorporated into the company's horizontal airflow systems to prevent air bypass. A horizontal airflow sys tem using this self-sealing filter system functions with higher filtration efficiency than...

Ceiling fan, heat units.(what's New)
November 8, 2004... The WhisperWarm[TM] line combines a ventilation fan and a heater in one product. The 110-cfm heaters feature an adjustable directional louver. Both Model FV 11VH1 and Model FV-11VHL1 have a totally enclosed condenser motor, rustproof paint...