Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from October 2003

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from October 2003

AirTime 500 (St. Louis) welcomed new contractor members.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * AirTime 500 (St. Louis) welcomed new contractor members. They are Big Sky Refrigeration and Heating Inc. (Billings, Mont.), Stanley Heating and Cooling Inc. (Sterling Heights, Mich.), and Hiller Plumbing Co. Inc. (Nashville, Tenn.).

Building Services Institute Inc. (BSI).(Contractors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Building Services Institute Inc. (BSI) (Nashua, N.H.) has expanded its Commercial Thrust and Residential Thrust programs to include turnkey marketing, selling, and business operating systems for its member contractors.

Danfoss Inc. (Baltimore) has been awarded a multi-year contract.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Danfoss Inc. (Baltimore) has been awarded a multi-year contract to supply control and monitoring systems to supermarket operator Albertsons Inc.

Ruskin Manufacturing Company.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Ruskin Manufacturing Company (Kansas City, Mo.) has updated its certification to IS0-9001:2000.

Rheem Manufacturing Company.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Rheem Manufacturing Company (Fort Smith, Ark.) introduced two new Rheem and Ruud Premium B-Series commercial packaged units. The units, the RKNB gas/electric packaged unit and the RLNB packaged air conditioner, both have been Energy Star...

Manitowoc Ice (Manitowoc, Wis.) recently scored a 95-percent customer satisfaction rating based on an independent study by Advantage Research Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Manitowoc Ice (Manitowoc, Wis.) recently scored a 95-percent customer satisfaction rating based on an independent study by Advantage Research Inc. The study looked at such categories as reliability, service support, appearance, ease of...

Unico Inc. (St. Louis) was recently honored with six awards in the 2003 Quality Comfort Awards competition.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Unico Inc. (St. Louis) was recently honored with six awards in the 2003 Quality Comfort Awards competition. The Unico System was used in each of the six winning construction projects.

Building automation systems arrive in the 21st century.(Focus: building automation systems)
October 6, 2003... Depending on how you account for time, we are either two or three years into the 21st century of the common era, and it may seem strange to be writing an article about anyone or anything arriving there. But, working with building systems is a...

Removing vapors.(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... To totally "clean" indoor air, gases and vapors must be removed. For HVAC applications, activated carbon is commonly used. Learn why and how it is applied in the Service & Maintenance article "Activated Carbon For HVAC Applicants." Go to...

Tests confirm value of biofuel blend.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. -- Recent tests underwritten by the Massachusetts 0ilheat Council (M0C) and the National 0ilheat Research Alliance (NORA) confirm that emissions from oil-fired heating systems are dramatically lowered when the heating...

SkillTech announces training partnership.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... MISSISSAUGA, Ontario -- The Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has announced that its SkillTech Academy has established a partnership with Alabama Power for the delivery of residential mechanical ventilation...

ABB and Premier Inc. sign agreement.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... NEW BERLIN, Wis. -- ABB Inc. has signed a vendor agreement with the group purchasing division of the health care alliance Premier Inc. ABB, as part of both Premier's retrofit and new construction services program, will provide adjustable-speed...

ClimateMaster wins award.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... OKLAHOMA CITY -- Representatives from Carrier Corp. presented the United Technologies Q-Plus Level III award to ClimateMaster in a ceremony held recently at the company's Oklahoma City headquarters. ClimateMaster manufactures water-source heat...

ABC testifies on U.S. House Bill.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Anita Drummond, director of legal and regulatory affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), testified on Sept. 17 before the House Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections to...

Happy 50th.(industry News)(Honeywell Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Happy 50th: Last month Honeywell celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Round[R] thermostat. The company has invited consumers to share stories about "the little things that make a comfortable home." Honeywell will reward four winning...

TSI Inc.(Manufacturers)(Practical Guide to Performance Measurements in Mechanical Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Systems)
October 6, 2003... * TSI Inc. (Shoreview, Minn.) has released the HVAC Assessment Handbook, A Practical Guide to Performance Measurements in Mechanical Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Systems.

Luxaire[R] Heating and Air Conditioning.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Luxaire[R] Heating and Air Conditioning (Norman, Okla.) announced its fall 2003 promotion, "Box Full of Savings." The program gives customers the choice of a cash-back rebate up to $400, special 12-month, no payment/same-as-cash financing, or...

Air Purchases Inc.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Air Purchases Inc. (Burlington, Mass.) appointed Mike Generelli as commercial pricing specialist.

Hughes Supply Inc.(Distributors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Walter Grice is the branch manager of Hughes Supply Inc.'s (Orlando, Fla.) Marietta Plumbing branch, Marietta, Ga.

Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing (CCW).(Distributors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing (CCW) (Wylie, Texas) has promoted Thomas Cloud to brand manager.

TAC.(Services)(United States. Army. Corps of Engineers)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * TAC (Dallas) was awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the Utility Monitoring and Control Systems (UMCS) Center of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Huntsville, Ala.).

NuTemp/Longville (Chicago) has joined forces with Rink Management Services.(Services)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... * NuTemp/Longville (Chicago) has joined forces with Rink Management Services (North Palm Beach, Fla.) to provide comprehensive temporary ice rink setup and management services through the United States and abroad.

Commercial boiler.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... The Mach[TM] Series commercial boiler combines cast aluminum metallurgy with advanced burner and control technologies to create the quietest, most durable condensing hot water boiler today, states the manufacturer. It is 92-percent efficient,...

Infrared heater brochure.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... A new brochure describes the Suntube IV Series of gas-fired infrared heaters for commercial, industrial, recreational, and agricultural buildings. Containing complete application data and updated specifications, the brochure covers the...

Compressor brochure.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... A new tri-fold brochure compares the maintenance costs and energy-savings costs of a typical singles-crew compressor versus a twin-screw compressor. The comparison chart explains how, over a 15-year period, the reduced number of components in...

Switching relays.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... Series ZC9034 two-pole switching relays are intended for many refrigeration, heating, and air conditioning applications. The relays available in 24, 110/ 120, and 208/240 AC coil voltages with various combinations of power and pilot-rated...

Filtration media.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... Intrepid[R] filtration media is for use in commercial, industrial, and residential HVAC filters. The media is designed to offer better filtration performance than traditional cotton/poly filter media, for cleaner air, higher energy efficiency,...

PTAC, PTHP data sheet.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... An informational sheet on the STW Series packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs) and packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHPs) is available. The two-page sheet features the through-the-wall units, which are ideal for hotel and motel new...

Smoke damper brochure.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... A 16-page brochure describes specifications and performance data for the manufacturer's line of smoke and combination fire-smoke dampers. In the brochure is information about AMCA licensed pressure drops and updated UL listings. The brochure...

Refrigerant purger.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... Redi-Purge[TM] Model PRG-11/123-C3 and PRG-113-C3 microprocessor-controlled ultra high efficiency purge unit is made for low-pressure centrifugal chillers (R-11, R-123, and R-113). It obtains a 0.59 pounds of CFC/pound of air emission while the...

Electric unit heaters.(what's New)
October 6, 2003... Electric unit heaters in the UHI Series can be mounted on the wall or ceiling and range in size from 3 to 10 kW. Standard volt ages include 208, 240, 277, and 480, in single and three phase. They come with built-in controls. The louvers can be...

Control systems answer energy efficiency issues.(Focus: building automation systems)
October 6, 2003... Question: What does Deltagen Inc., a biotech company located in Redwood City, Calif., have in common with Callaway Resort, a 14,000 acre garden retreat nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Pine Mountain, Ga.?...

Service automation can be a valuable asset.(Focus: building automation systems)
October 6, 2003... HVAC contractors today are realizing that one of the most effective ways to differentiate themselves is to provide customers with greater value at a lower cost. Adopting the right technology is one effective means to accomplish both goals....

C[O.sub.2] in refrigeration applications.(refrigeration zone)
October 6, 2003... [Editor's note: This first installment of a two-part series looks at the characteristics of C[O.sub.2.] Carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) is not new to refrigeration systems. Mexander Twining proposed using C[O.sub.2] as a refrigerant in a...

Giving 'em the old razzle-dazzle.(refrigeration zone)
October 6, 2003... We in the trade press go to numerous manufacturer press conferences in the course of a year. Most are held in hotel conference rooms and include a PowerPoint presentation from several key persons in the company. After a few questions and...

Working with compressor service valves.(refrigeration zone)
October 6, 2003... Many refrigeration compressors incorporate a suction service valve and a discharge service valve. These are used to allow refrigeration gauges to be attached to the system; and, if needed, they are used to isolate the compressor from the rest...

Restricted liquid lines: symptoms can reveal restrictions before the receiver.(refrigeration zone)
October 6, 2003... Service technicians must be able to distinguish between a restricted liquid line and a system overcharge. Adding refrigerant to a system that has a restriction before the receiver can lead to a dangerous high-pressure situation, especially if...

Crankcase heaters.(the Hotline)
October 6, 2003... If you have a technical question, fax it to 847-622-7266 or visit www.achrnews.com and click on The Hotline. Crankcase Heaters QUESTION, By T.C. Mann Sterling, Va. My understanding is that crankcase heaters in compressors are...

24/7 service is needed, readers say.(our Insights)
October 6, 2003... Guest columnist Charlie Greer sure did strike a nerve when he questioned if providing 24-hour service helps a contractor keep customers ("Do You Really Want 24-Hour Service?" July 14). He concluded that contractors might be shooting themselves...

Contractor makes a life-saving service call.(our Insights)
October 6, 2003... Cold weather is coming, and furnaces are powering Lip all over the United States. With the familiar hum of blower motors come the familiar warnings about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. A friend of mine from the Waco, Texas,...

Kevin Gill, president of McCusker-Gill Inc. (Hingham, Mass.), received the Contractor of the Year award.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Kevin Gill, president of McCusker-Gill Inc. (Hingham, Mass.), received the Contractor of the Year award from the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) during the organization's 60th annual convention.

Lennox International Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * Lennox International Inc. (Dallas) has appointed Doug Young as vice president and general manager of Lennox North American Residential Products.

Bradford White Corporation.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * Bradford White Corporation (Ambler, Pa.) promoted Nicholas J. Guiffre to the position of executive vice president.

Sealed Units Parts Co. Inc. (SUPCO) (Allenwood, N.J.) has entered into a master distributor agreement with General Electric Co. (New York).(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * Sealed Unit Parts Co. Inc. (SUPCO) (Allenwood, N.J.) has entered into a master distributor agreement with General Electric Co. (New York). Under the agreement, SUPCO will market and sell GE's Definite Purpose Contactors.

DuPont Fluoroproducts (Wilmington, Del.) and DuPont China Holding Co. Ltd. have signed a land reservation agreement.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * DuPont Fluoroproducts (Wilmington, Del.) and DuPont China Holding Co. Ltd. have signed a land reservation agreement which supports the intent by both companies to establish a fluorochemical and fluoropolymer manufacturing center in China over...

Emerson (St. Louis) introduced its Emerson Climate Technologies business to Latin America.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * Emerson (St. Louis) introduced its Emerson Climate Technologies business to Latin America. The introduction was made in Sao Paulo during Febrava 2003, a refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation, heating, and air treatment trade show in...

Bry-Air Inc.(Manufacturer)(William J. Clinton presidential Center)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... * The VFB Series desiccant dehumidifiers by Bry-Air Inc. (Sunbury, Ohio) were chosen for installation at the William J. Clinton presidential Center.

ACCA launches campaign to save energy.(Industry News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)
October 13, 2003... ARLINGTON, Va.--According to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), the annual cost of the electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and liquefied gas used to meet the total energy needs of America's homes is $136 billion. Heating and...

Nothing but business at AirTime 500 Expo.(Meeting Update)
October 13, 2003... ST. LOUIS -- What? No planned golf outing? No planned city tours for spouses? Come to think of it, where are all the spouses at this AirTime 500 Expo? "We're here for business," assured member Bob Gersden, owner of Switzerland Air--Air...

Control concepts.(Extra Edition)
October 13, 2003... Digital controls have been with us for years, yet those of us who do not regularly work with them are not always aware of their full capabilities. Review those capabilities in the Extra Edition technical article "DDC Concepts And Strategies: An...

Honoring the best.(Contest)
October 13, 2003... The News wants to honor those companies that go above and beyond to provide a secure, friendly work environment for employee, offering them continuing education and opportunities for career advancement. If this sounds like your company, you can...

Training track.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 13, 2003... November 11-12 Refrigeration Training Hansen Technologies Burr Ridge, III. | 800-426-7368 November 17-18 Maintenance Process Management New Standard Institute Los Angeles | 888-783-1582 November 18 Beacon II Training...

A lot of hot air.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
October 13, 2003... [Editor's note: This letter is in response to the article "Seeking A More Secure Energy Future," July 7.] Efficiency programs certainly work, but when the discussion moves to fuel cells and a hydrogen economy, it's plain old bogus hype for...

Energy efficiency and you.(reader Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
October 13, 2003... [Editor's note: This letter is in response to the article "Higher Gas Prices in Forecast," Sept. 15.] Ready or not, you are the energy expert known to your customer. What is going to happen to the price of gas? Don't we have an almost...

Carrier to close Syracuse manufacturing.(industry News)(Syracuse, New York)
October 13, 2003... SYRACUSE, N.Y.--Carrier Corporation has announced plans to close its Syracuse-based container refrigeration and compressor manufacturing operations, while maintaining and potentially expanding research, development, and new technology...

A/C shipments up in August.(industry News)(air conditioners)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... ARLINGTON, Va.--Combined U.S. factory shipments of 619,974 air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for August 2003 were up 3 percent compared to shipments from the same month last year, according to statistics from the Air-Conditioning and...

Of Course: Mark Kilmer, president of Republic Mechanical Wholesalers, Davenport, Iowa, completed his second year as chairman of the John Deere Classic.(industry News)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Of Course: Mark Kilmer, president of Republic Mechanical Wholesalers, Davenport, Iowa, completed his second year as chairman of the John Deere Classic. The PGA Tour event was played in Silvis, III., Sept. 11-15. For the second consecutive year,...

ACCA elects new officers.(industry News)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... ARLINGTON, Va.--The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) board of directors met on Oct. 1 to review the association's ongoing operations and elect officers for the 2004-2005 year. During the recently closed 2003 fiscal year, the...

August housing starts down slightly.(industry News)
October 13, 2003... WASHINGTON--Housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.82 million units in August, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported. This marked a 3.8 percent decrease from July's up-wardly revised number, which was the highest in 17...

ABC pushes for AHP legislation.(industry News)(Associated Builders and Contractors)(Association Health Plan)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... WASHINGTON--The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is continuing its push for Association Health Plan (AHP) legislation. To bolster its argument for AHPs, ABC cited recent figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau stating that the...

NFPA, USFA provide alarms.(industry News)(National Fire Protection Association)(United States Fire Administration)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... TCHULA, Miss.--One year after a deadly house fire killed six children in Holmes County, Miss., the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), and the Mississippi High-Risk Fire Safety Task Force have...

DOE awards clean energy projects.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information)(United States Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $12.3 million to 21 broad-based, cost-shared research projects that will help to advance energy efficiency and fossil energy technologies. According to the DOE, the projects promote crosscutting systems in...

New study confirms supermarket energy savings.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Supermarket refrigeration systems have the potential to save a significant amount of energy, according to a new study that has come about through a collaboration of five countries in the International Energy Agency (lEA). The Department of...

Siemens, Emcor form alliance.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information)(Siemens Building Technologies Inc.)(Emcor Facilities Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... BUFFALO GROVE, III.--Siemens Building Technologies Inc. and Emcor Facilities Services Inc. have entered into an alliance which both parties believe will be mutually beneficial for the customers of each company. As part of the agreement,...

Zone valves.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The 599 Series zone valve and actuator line has zone valves with all-metal seating surfaces and stroke action for a tight, secure, long-life seal, states the company. The zone valves feature a direct-coupled design that requires no tools for...

Valve, pipe marking system.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... MaxiSoft [R] Pipe Marker, version 2, is a Windows [R] based safety software for marking piping systems, valves, tags, conduit, hoses, and cable. It is a system for designing and printing safety-compliant markers, signs, labels, and tags...

Stairway radiator.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The SC radiator can function as a balustrade, as well as a piece of heating equipment. It has a transparent appearance, a wooden handrail, and robust design, states the manufacturer. Its heat output is enough to heat up the whole room or...

Indirect water heater.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The Alliance[TM] G is an indirect water heater available in four sizes: 40, 50, 79, and 100 gallons. The porcelain-enameled tank and coil are designed for corrosion resistance and low pressure drop. Each tank is surrounded by CFC-free foam...

Tool belt.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The Deluxe Tool Belt is ergonomically designed to reduce back strain. The lining on the inside of the belt wicks away moisture and perspiration from the body. The inside belt has a Velcro [R] outer area for attaching pockets, pouches, and other...

A/C training software.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The HVAC Simulator is an interactive computer simulation of an air conditioning system. The system can be configured different ways by changing the sort of compressor or metering device or the system tonnage. Ambient conditions and system...

Refrigerant meter.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The 9055 Programmable Charging/Recovery Meter automatically dispenses programmed refrigerant charges and controls programmed recovery amounts. The compact, portable unit offers three display modes: pounds/ounce, decimal pounds, and kilograms....

Actuated control valves.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... The SpaceSaver and XL sizes have been added to the Automizer actuated control valve line. Features of these valves include l00-percent stainless steel flow control cartridge, multiactuator compatibility, and close-off pressure with a 35...

Duct sealants.(what's New)
October 13, 2003... Iron Grip [TM] 601 and Flex-Grip [TM] 550 waterbased duct sealants can be used on all types of metal duct, glass fiber duct board, and flex duct, as well as duct fabric and flexible tubing runouts. For indoor and outdoor use, the duct sealants...

Radiant Panel Association bolsters Action Groups.(Meeting Update)
October 13, 2003... LAS VEGAS--The Radiant Panel Association (RPA) turned the spotlight on its Action Groups during RPA meetings at the recent ISH North America International Trade Show. Larry Drake, RPA executive director, welcomed Action Groups to the...

System enhances comfort at yoga retreat: site is a haven for cancer patients and their families.(Radiant Heating)(Sadh Desha)
October 13, 2003... When Dee Hein was 28, her mother died six weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. In those six weeks, Hein and her brother were her fulltime caregivers, doing all they could to make their mother's final days a little more comfortable. They...

Snow melting system a sure bet for casino.(Radiant Heating)(Niagara Falls Casino/Gateway Project)(Sayers and Associates)
October 13, 2003... NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario--The mist from the world-famous Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls is a beautiful sight to behold. But during the winter months in this Ontario city, the mist can spell danger, too. That's because sometimes the mist...

Radiant heating, Michigan style.(focus: Radiant Heating)(Golden Rule Heating)(Phillips & Norgan Plumbing & Heating)
October 13, 2003... Ask contractors if they would like to show off some of their best work, and the answer is usually yes. That is especially true when the work involves radiant heating. The News recently visited with two Michigan contractors to view some examples...

Callahan/Roach & Garofalo added to the VenVest team.(Mike Callahan)(Al Roach)(John Garofalo)
October 13, 2003... ST. LOUIS--At the Airtime 500 Expo, VenVest president Jim Abrams announced that well-known industry trainers and consultants Mike Callahan and AI Roach have joined the executive staff at the company. Roach is now president of operations and...

How to kill sales without knowing it.(Our insights: views and opinions from the editorial staff and guest columnist.)
October 13, 2003... Do you really want your techs to make more sales? Most contractors say they do, but their actions often tell an entirely different story. Here is a list of the six most common ways contractors kill sales, often without even knowing it. ...

Truck signage: the best advertising medium.(Our insights: views and opinions from the editorial staff and guest columnist.)(Column)
October 13, 2003... Do you know what advertising is your most constant and visible? It is your trucks--definitely. Therefore, it is important to put the same amount of thought into the color, lettering, and design of your trucks as you would any other advertising....

Evapco Inc.(Price Increase)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... Evapco Inc. (Taneytown, Md.) has announced a 2 percent to 3 percent increase in North America, effective immediately, on all cooling towers and closed circuit coolers.

CertainTeed Corp.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... CertainTeed Corp. (Valley Forge, Pa.) will proceed with plans to install a new, state-of-the-art facility to manufacture HVAC textile duct liner at a new site in Sherman, Texas.

Reflectix Inc.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... Reflectix Inc. (Markleville, Ind.) has gained certification from ETL SEMKO for the company's line of insulation products.

Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing (CCW).(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
October 20, 2003... Carlisle Coatings and Waterproofing (CCW) (Wylie, Texas) has promoted Thomas Cloud to the position of brand manager.