Mechanical Business July/August 2022 by Mechanical Business

JULY/AUGUST 2022 $6.95

Randy Spracklin:

Restoring and creating on The Rock

New players enter service and supply realm Creating tighter duct systems How to improve booster system performance Plumbing technology takes on leaks New opportunity in connected and smart tech projects Commercial van roundup Also in this issue: A P P L I C A T I O N S

T E C H N O L O G I E S AUGUST 2022

TERENCE CHAN:

BORN ENTREPRENEUR • • • • ALL ABOUT HEAT EXCHANGERS • FOUR TIPS TO SPEED UP PIPING INSTALLS •

PM #41536047

HOW TO MANAGE BOILER TDS

HYDRONIC PRODUCT SHOWCASE

CASE STUDY: BOILER SWAP OUT

ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL AC FOR NON-DUCTED HOMES

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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CONTENTS O F

Supply and service sector faces new competition 6 EDITORIAL

Utility partners with sellers of residential HVAC and plumbing products and services.

37 WET HEAT SUPPLEMENT

From an array of hydronic products, to the latest in alternative cooling systems, heat exchangers, troubleshooting, system design, and more, check out the second of our semi-annual Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplements in 2022. Turn to page 37. A P P L I C A T I O N S

Randy Spracklin: R E S T O R I N G A N D C R E AT I N G ON THE ROCK

T E C H N O L O G I E S

AUGUST 2022

TERENCE CHAN:

BORN ENTREPRENEUR • • • ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL AC FOR NON-DUCTED HOMES • ALL ABOUT HEAT EXCHANGERS • FOUR TIPS TO SPEED UP PIPING INSTALLS • HOW TO MANAGE BOILER TDS

HYDRONIC PRODUCT SHOWCASE

CASE STUDY: BOILER SWAP OUT

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

34 COVER STORY

Randy Spracklin, co-owner of Newfound Builders and crew boss on HGTV Canada’s Rock Solid Builds, embraces the opportunity to showcase his province. Kerry Turner

On the cover: While Randy Spracklin’s passion is restoring historic homes, new builds offer a clean slate and the opportunity to design systems that suit him. Cover photo: HGTV Canada

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TA B L E F E A T U R E S

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CONTENTS O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

44 ROAD WARRIOR: Terence Chan

Born Entrepreneur Carolyn Cooper

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Creating tighter duct systems: An efficient strategy Gord Cooke There is a better solution to solving comfort issues rather than increasing fan speeds and heating and cooling capacity. REFRIGERATION Using ejectors to improve booster system performance Phil J. Boudreau Although ejectors are not a new technology, their application in R744 systems has enabled further reduction of energy costs.

40 HYDRONICS A fair exchange Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr A look at types of heat exchangers and their roles in hydronic systems.

66 COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP

E-vans expand reach with viability in the commercial sector Recent changes to their propulsion bring these vehicles some attention from new markets. Howard J. Elmer

76 PLUMBING Water is our friend: If it is contained and channeled properly Fred Bretzke Technologies have improved, particularly for interior leaks, while underground occurrences continue to challenge plumbers.

74 PLUMBING

Understanding toilet technology Make the best choice for your customer and the application. Holly Shadel

84 MARKETING Add videos to your marketing strategy Doug MacMillan Over the past 20 years reliance on visual communications has grown making video content an essential part of your brand.

79 TECHNOLOGY

It’s not smart leaving money on the table New certification could open doors to connected and smart tech projects. Carolyn Cooper

D E PA R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

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46,48,50Hydronics

16Movers & Shakers

70Stuff You Need

20,22,24People

72,73Plumbing

82The Info Page

80HVAC/R

86By the Numbers

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BIG JETTER POWER AT A BARGAIN PRICE JM-2900

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Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 www.mechanicalbusiness.com July/August 2022 Issue Published 6 times per year. For All Subscription Inquiries Shila Naik Circulation Director 905-272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Editor: Kerry Turner, C 416-435-1193 kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Kyle Badder, C 416-735-1375 kyle.badder@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield, C 647-217-2076 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: Fourteen Orange Graphic Design Inc. davem@fourteenorange.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, C 416-457-9563 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) Proudly created and printed in Canada. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication. Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy). © Copyright 2022. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher. Proud members of:

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EDITORIAL

Supply and service sector faces new competition Mechanical Business has uncovered information regarding Hydro One that will impact mechanical contractors and their suppliers. Our interest was prompted by a flyer an MB staffer received in the mail concerning a British-based company named HomeServe that sells a range of emergency home repair programs. Subsequently, we learned that Hydro One, an electrical utility in Ontario, is endorsing three exclusive partners, one of which is HomeServe, in the sale of residential HVAC and plumbing products, and services. The other partners are Home Depot and 1Click Heating and Cooling, which bills itself as Canada’s first fully ecommerce-based HVAC company. When you visit My Energy Marketplace on the Hydro One website a variety of products are highlighted including home repair plans along with brand name air conditioning units, heat pumps and water heaters among other products. These web pages have general notes about these products but when you scroll down to “Featured Products” actual pricing is listed along with rebates, which you can only access if you purchase from that vendor. A button is provided to let the reader learn more or as the site says “explore” about each product. These buttons take the reader to the HomeServe or Home Depot or 1Click websites. Similar to industry challenges in the 1980s with Ontario gas utilities, Hydro One is taking a different but somewhat similar route into the HVAC and plumbing marketplace. Mechanical Business sent questions to Hydro One to better understand the relationships and intention of the parties involved. Responses from Hydro One stressed their commitment “to meeting our customers’ evolving energy needs by providing choice and flexibility. As a trusted energy advisor, we have made it easy for customers to learn about energy-efficient appliances that suit their lifestyle through My Energy Marketplace.” While HomeServe refers to Hydro One as a partner and displays its logo on its website, there are no partnership agreements between Hydro One and the three providers. In fact, Hydro One has no direct relationship with vendors on My Energy Marketplace. The utility has instead entered into a contract with a California website vendor named Bidgely who services utilities throughout North America. This website acts as a referral service for customers who want to pursue products and services listed on the site. Vendors are authorized by Hydro One to be listed on the site, which is seamlessly integrated in the Hydro One website. Interestingly, Bidgely has the following statement on its website “Bidgely smart shop experience empowers utilities to become center of customers’ universe for smart home and appliance shopping.” Hydro One’s response goes on to confirm its customer databases are not available to approved vendors. However, the Hydro One logo is being made available to vendors if requested. What will other Canadian electrical utilities do when they look at Hydro One’s strategy? Electrical utilities can certainly promote electrification in a generic sense but featuring specific vendors outside of the traditional service and supply chain seems problematic. This promotion would be less concerning if it simply informed consumers on how to engage reputable and qualified electrical, HVAC or plumbing contractors for access to product and services. Visit mechanicalbusiness.com (News) for updates.

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Mandatory air conditioning for new Vancouver buildings

Enbridge to end Open Bill Access program

Vancouver, BC city council has approved a measure that will make it mandatory for new homes and residential buildings in the city to have built-in air conditioning. The cooling requirement applies to residential units in buildings which are taller than three storeys or more than 600 sq. metres (6,458 sq. ft.) in area. Buildings will need mechanical cooling systems capable of maintaining 26°C or cooler with the windows closed. The policy comes into effect in January 2025. The requirement is part of an omnibus climate emergency building report recently approved by the city, which included other changes to Vancouver building bylaws such as reductions in energy and carbon emissions in residential and commercial buildings. The city says that many new residential buildings are already installing some kind of air conditioning. vancouver.ca

Enbridge Gas Inc. has announced it will end its Open Bill Access program as of December 31, 2023. The program allows companies offering energy-related products and services to include their charges on customers’ gas bills. “The decision was made as the program doesn’t align with our long-term strategic priorities, and there are now other third-party billing programs available to billers,” explains Krista Luxton, communications advisor for Enbridge. “Billers will need to find a new billing method and notify customers of that billing method, and in order to help facilitate an orderly transition we provided 19 months advance notice to billers enrolled in the program. In terms of customer impact, they will no longer see ‘charges from other companies’ on their bill.” On its site Enbridge lists 128 companies currently participating in the program.

Ammonia leak at Kamloops, BC ice facility results in one death One person has died due to an ammonia leak in late May at Arctic Glacier’s ice manufacturing facility in Kamloops, BC. According to reports in Kamloops This Week, Kamloops Fire Rescue responded to reports of smoke in the area, which turned out to be ammonia being released. Deputy fire chief Ryan Cail says the release of ammonia from a storage tank was the result of malfunctions during refrigeration repairs and decommissioning of equipment. Some staff were still in the building at the time, and were treated for minor injuries. One employee who had been trapped in the building was rescued and immediately taken to hospital but died. The CBC reports that at least five agencies are involved in investigations into the ammonia leak. According to an RCMP spokesperson, the Tk’emlúps Rural RCMP, which has jurisdiction in the area where the death occurred, is leading the police investigation with assistance from the BC RCMP Southeast division. WorkSafeBC, Technical Safety BC and the BC Coroners Service are also running parallel investigations. bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

enbridgegas.com

Feds invest in SaskPower retrofit program The federal government has announced a $2.2 billion investment in SaskPower to support its Northern First Nations Home Retrofit Program, which recently launched its next application window. The investment comes through the Low Carbon Economy Fund. SaskPower will also contribute more than $1 million to support the project. The Northern First Nations Home Retrofit Program is designed to lower energy costs and pollution in Northern First Nations through retrofits. canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change

ASPE Convention registration now open Registration is open for the 2022 ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers) Convention & Expo, taking place September 16 to 21, 2022 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. The event includes educational and training sessions, networking opportunities, and an expo with more than 250 exhibitors showcasing plumbing design products and solutions.

Virtual, in-person or hybrid? Check out mechanicalbusiness.com for the latest information on industry events.

expo.aspe.org

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The Daikin Fit System — Revolutionizing the Future of Condensing Units for Residential Applications AVAILABLE FOR AIR CONDITIONER, HEAT PUMP, AND DUAL FUEL APPLICATIONS!

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For more info visit daikinfit.com

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Alberta to open Clean Hydrogen Centre of Excellence The government of Alberta has announced it is investing $50 million to create a Clean Hydrogen Centre of Excellence to support energy solutions and grow the hydrogen sector in Alberta. Part of the province’s Hydrogen Roadmap, the centre will drive innovation in producing, deploying and using hydrogen in Alberta. Alberta is Canada’s largest hydrogen producer. The market for hydrogen is expected to reach between $2.5 and $11 trillion worldwide by 2050. The centre is funded through Alberta’s Technology, Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program. alberta.ca

New industry association for women in HVAC/R Key organizations in the heating and cooling industry have come together to create an initiative to help advance career opportunities for women. The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) is a new organization to advance engagement, promote opportunities and increase participation of women in the industry. INWIC was launched by the World Refrigeration Day (WRD) Secretariat and the United Nations Environmental Programme OzonAction, together with international industry organizations including ASHRAE and Women in HVAC&R.

New Ontario beverage facility to be carbon neutral Beverage alcohol company Diageo has announced it will build a carbon neutral, $245-million distillery in St. Clair Township, ON that will operate with 100-per cent renewable energy and zero waste. The distillery, which will cover 400 acres, will have the capacity to produce up to 20 million litres of Diageo’s Crown Royal Canadian Whisky annually. Construction is scheduled to start this year, and the distillery should be operational in 2025. The company has also committed to making its Valleyfield, QC facility carbon neutral by 2025. diageo.com

worldrefrigerationday.org

Home energy retrofit program announced for Durham Region, ON The federal government is investing $3.4 million to launch a home energy retrofit financing program in Regional Municipality of Durham in Ontario. Funding comes through the Community Efficiency Financing initiative, and will go toward implementing the new Durham Greener Homes Program. The program will act as a energy retrofit guide for homeowners, offering them access to financial services, a home energy coach, and an interactive online portal with personalized renovation roadmaps and rebates. It targets single-family homes built between 1970 and 2000 (46 per cent of single-family homes in the region), and will support upgrades such as high-efficiency HVAC equipment, as well as the installation of heat pumps, renewable energy and energy storage systems, and water conservation and indoor air quality measures. nrcan.gc.ca

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Feds introduce framework for Existing Building Commissioning The federal government has launched Tuning Up: A Framework for Existing Building Commissioning to increase awareness and uptake of Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx), a process to help builders meet current facility requirements. The Framework focuses on how to improve the performance of existing equipment and systems, while identifying low-cost or no-cost operational improvements during recommissioning, retro-commissioning and ongoing commissioning. nrcan.gc.ca

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IAQ in schools report released

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Control (USGBC) has released a report outlining how different U.S. school districts have managed indoor air quality (IAQ) over the past year. ASHRAE provided technical support for the report, Managing Air Quality in the Pandemic: How K-12 Schools Addressed Air Quality in the Second Year of Covid-19, which is the second report released by USGBC looking at IAQ improvements at U.S. schools during the pandemic. The report highlights the urgent need to implement airborne infection control strategies to control current and future pandemics, seasonal epidemics and improve IAQ overall. centerforgreenschools.org For a Canadian perspective, check out Back to School, a special section focusing on IAQ in schools, in the May/June 2022 issue at mechanicalbusiness.com.

1. CIPH 2021/2022 chair Bill Hooper (L) and president and general manager Ralph Suppa (R) recognize Debbie Tucker’s efforts as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter for the past two years. 2. Hooper (L) and Suppa (R) present the YES Award to Sam Strange.

CIPH recognizes Newfoundland members The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) recently recognized two members of the association’s Newfoundland and Labrador regional chapter. Debbie Tucker, purchasing manager at Emco, was recognized for her work as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter from 2020 to 2022, and Sam Strange, branch manager for Wolseley Canada in Mount Pearl, NL received CIPH’s Young Executive Society (YES) Award. The YES Award recognizes members who are 40 years old and under, with at least seven years in the industry with a CIPH member company and at least three years of volunteer service. ciph.com

Retrofit financing program launched for Leduc, AB A $4.1-million investment in a home energy retrofit financing program for Leduc, AB is funded by the federal government through the Community Efficiency Financing initiative. The program is available to residential home owners and owners of multi-unit residential buildings no more than three storeys. Eligible upgrades include solar photovoltaic systems and solar water heating, air-source heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces, boilers and lighting fixtures, home insulation, and air sealing. nrcan.gc.ca

District Energy System in Yellowknife to decrease fossil fuel use

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Yellowknife, NT’s Woolgar District Heating System will help decrease fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. The $1.1-million district energy system was installed over the past two years and is operated by Yellowknife-based contractor J&R Mechanical. The system features a pellet boiler, and is being used to heat a government of NWT warehouse and three private businesses. Heat is transferred to each building through the space heating system via underground pipes. So far, the system has cut oil use by the NWT government warehouse by 92 per cent, and greenhouse gas emissions by 145 tonnes of carbon equivalent. gov.nt.ca

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Daikin to expand manufacturing capacity in Mexico Caleffi marks 20 years in North America Fontaneto d’Agogna, Italy-based Caleffi Hydronic Solutions is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its North American operations, which serve the plumbing and hydronic markets in Canada and the U.S. Caleffi North America is based in a 43,300-sq. ft. facility in Milwaukee, WI that includes offices, a technical laboratory, warehousing and assembly operations. caleffi.com/usa

Initiative aims to create more than 25,000 apprenticeship positions The federal government has launched an Apprenticeship Service program with an investment of almost $247 million in 13 projects expected to help employers offer more apprenticeship training opportunities. The organizations being funded under the Apprenticeship Service over the next two years will distribute financial incentives and provide support to small- to mediumsized employers (SMEs) to help them navigate the apprenticeship systems, onboard apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades, and create inclusive workplaces. Incentives will be doubled for SMEs hiring apprentices from equity-deserving groups, including women, people with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized people. More than $45 million will go to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) for a project providing funding for SMEs to hire 4,000 first year Red Seal apprentices in construction and manufacturing trades. canada.ca

Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. has announced it will build a $230-million, 761,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Mexico that will be fully operational in 2024. The new facility is a response to demand for Daikin products in North America and Latin America, and will produce the company’s mini-split and Daikin FIT residential inverter products currently imported from its plants in Asia.The company has already moved production of some modular blower product lines to a 200,000-sq. ft. facility in Mexico, with five additional product lines expected to be fully operational in 2023. northamerica-daikin.com

RWC marks two anniversaries in 2022 Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its acquisition of Cash Acme, a volume temperature and pressure valve manufacturer. The purchase marked RWC’s transition from a private Australian company into a publicly-traded company offering water control systems and plumbing solutions. In other RWC news, the HoldRite brand is celebrating 40 years of business. HoldRite offers solutions for the plumbing and construction industries, including pipe supports, DWV solutions, firestop systems and water heater accessories. rwc.com holdrite.com/ca

SaskEnergy offers free furnace tune-ups for eligible customers Homeowners in Saskatchewan can now apply for SaskEnergy’s Tune-up Assistance Program (TAP), which offers income-qualified customers free home heating tune-ups. Customers with a household income of less than $68,000 can apply for up to $400 worth of products and services, including furnace maintenance, up to $200 in repairs if necessary, two free furnace filters, and a free carbon monoxide alarm. Starting July 1, 2022, every residence in Saskatchewan must have a carbon monoxide alarm. Homeowners must also be located within a 25-km radius of a community served by a SaskEnergy Network Member, which will provide the heating tune-up service. The deadline to apply to TAP is November 15, 2022. saskenergy.com

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Newfoundland offers rebates on rooftop heat pumps Eligible businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador can receive a rebate when they invest in a rooftop air source heat pump under the takeCharge program, a joint initiative from Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Through the takeCHARGE initiative, businesses can receive a rebate of $300 per ton on a rooftop heat pump, which are five tons on average. To be eligible businesses must have an active commercial electricity account and reside in an existing building. takechargenl.ca

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Vancouver water quality results now available online Vancouver residents who live or work in a building with an operating permit for water systems can now review the latest water quality results online. The listings include water quality reports and system status for cooling towers, decorative water features, building water treatment systems, and rainwater harvesting systems/non-potable water systems. Reports on once through cooling operating permits are not included in the listings. vancouver.ca

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The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is launching a pandemic bonus that doubles the rebates eligible businesses with fewer than 99 employees can earn for each topic they complete in the WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program. The WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program connects Ontario businesses with providers in their industry or community who will help them design a plan based on 36 health and safety topics. wsib.ca

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Aeroseal merges with AeroBarrier Canada and Construction Evolution Systems Miamisburg, OH-based Aeroseal, LLC has reached an agreement with AeroBarrier Canada, Inc. and Construction Evolution Systems, Inc. (CES) to add resources, marketing, application engineering, and operations to support the Canadian team. AeroBarrier Canada and CES have been Aeroseal agents in Canada for several years. The companies promote the adoption of AeroBarrier air sealing and Aeroseal duct sealing technologies. aeroseal.com

Deschênes Group acquires Crane Supply

deschenesgroup.com cranesupply.com

Daikin Comfort and XOi collaboration offers software solution for techs

northamerica-daikin.com xoi.io

Palser now reps Stern-Williams in the GTA Concord, ON-Palser Enterprises Ltd. expanded its Stern-Williams products coverage to the Greater Toronto Area as of May 1, 2022. Stern-Williams manufactures terrazzo service sinks, shower floors and cabinet packages, and drinking fountains. palserent.com

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Nidec begins HVAC/R expansion Nidec Motors is expanding its HVAC/R aftermarket division and will increase its focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) initiatives this year. The company is increasing production of U.S. Motors (including the SelecTech, PerfectSpeed and EcoTech lines) and Rescue brand’s highefficiency variable speed motors, and adding its Embraco brand commercial refrigeration compressors and condensing units to the aftermarket sales lineup. In the IAQ category, Nidec’s electronically commutated motors allow for an increase in air filtration, while offering energy efficiency. nidec.com

Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. and XOi Technologies are collaborating to offer HVAC contractors and technicians a curb-to-curb field services software solution to automate workflow. The solution is driven by augmented reality and AI, and combines Daikin’s HVAC products and XOi software.

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The New Flat Rate has announced an integration with ServiceTitan. The New Flat Rate is a price generating software for home service contractors. By integrating with ServiceTitan, an all-in-one business solution designed to help home service professionals streamline their operations, users no longer need to manually enter data. thenewflatrate.com servicetitan.com

Montreal, QC-based Deschênes Group Inc. (DGI) has entered into an agreement to purchase Crane Supply, a division of Crane Canada Co. Vaughan, ON’s Crane Supply distributes quality pipe, valves, fittings and piping accessories (PVF) to industrial and commercial contractors, and has 27 branches across Canada. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022. Crane Supply is the sixteenth business unit within the Deschênes Group.

The New Flat Rate integrates with ServiceTitan

BuildOps partners with Sage’s cloud solutions BuildOps has announced a partnership with Sage to streamline and integrate core financial management activities for contractors. BuildOps offers cloud-based software solutions for commercial HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical contractors to manage operations and field service on a single platform. The company will integrate with Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Construction, Sage’s cloud financial management solutions. buildops.com marketplace.intacct.com

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Johnson Controls to roll out network self-defence system Johnson Controls has acquired Seattle, WA-based Tempered Networks. Tempered Networks produces a self-defence system for buildings that allows secure network access from cloud platforms, endpoint devices, edge gateways and service technicians. The acquisition allows Johnson Controls to use this technology to secure buildings data from edge to cloud. Denny Dragozetic, general manager of DRM Repair Centre.

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NAVAC appoints repairs partner for Canada

Groupe Stelpro purchases Métal BF Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC-based Groupe Stelpro has acquired Terrebonne, QC’s Métal BF, a custom metal parts manufacturer. Métal BF will continue to operate independently, and process steel, stainless steel, aluminum and copper at its 35,000-sq. ft. facility in Terrebonne. Groupe Stelpro says it plans to increase the company’s production capacity in coming years. stelpro.com

NAVAC has partnered with Toronto-based DRM Repair Centre to provide Canadian customers with out-of-warranty repairs for its vacuum pumps, recovery units, and other HVAC/R tools. DRM Repair Centre specializes in repairs and service of recovery machines and vacuum pumps for air conditioning and refrigeration. navacglobal.com drmrepaircentre.com

West Penetone acquires AccuChem Montreal, QC-based West Penetone has bought Edmonton, AB’s AccuChem Industrial Cleaning Chemicals, a provider of cleaning, water treatment and HVAC products and programs for commercial buildings. West Penetone offers environmentally-friendly cleaning and sanitation products for a range of industries, with manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Edmonton. westpenetone.com accuchem.ab.ca

Viessmann Group invests in green solutions Allendorf, Germany-based Viessman Group has announced it will invest EUR 1 billion over the next three years to extend manufacturing footprint, R&D and green climate solutions, notably heat pumps. Viessmann also renewed its commitment to sustainability, and has received approval from the Science Based Targets Initiative for its goals of reducing the carbon footprint for its operations and supply chain. viessmann.ca

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08.22

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com Eric Bodanis has joined Blainville, QC-based Calefactio Solutions Inc. as Ontario sales manager.

1 Mississauga, ON-based H.E. Rieckelman Inc. has promoted three employees to partner status: Sean Rubenstein (1), Adam Werthmiller (2) and James Patriquin (3).

RW Beckett Corporation has promoted Seth Vandever to manager of business development and sales – North America.

Centrotherm Eco Systems has hired TJ Culliton (1) as director of operations, and Austin Rivera (2) as product manager. Eric Wiens has been promoted to commercial sales manager for Western Canada with Goodman Company Canada.

Akshaya Shetty has joined the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA) as manager – membership, government and stakeholder relations.

Ty Visser has been promoted to North American business development manager for IloT (Industrial Internet of Things) and Linux for Germantown, WI-based WAGO Corporation.

Blake Kostyk has joined Coquitlam, BC-based Equipco Ltd. as outside sales representative for Saskatchewan.

Julie Storey, president of Boshart Industries, has joined the Water Systems Council board of directors.

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Glen Mellis has been promoted to regional manager – Western Canada for Viessmann Canada. He will be responsible for leading the Langley, BC team, while managing the growth of Viessmann’s Western Canada operations. Mellis has been with Viessmann for 11 years as territory manager in the Greater Vancouver Area. Mellis replaces Randy Stuart, who retired at the end of June.

Cambridge, ON-based Cello Products has hired Andrew Clark as vice president of sales and marketing.

Vaughan, ON-based NEXT Plumbing and Hydronics Supply Inc. has made three employee appointments: Daniel Vigna (1) has been promoted to project manager; and Nash Stamenkovic (2) returns to the company as head of information technology. Cassandra Taylor (3) has been promoted to project manager. Taylor has been with NEXT since March 2021.

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com EMCO Corporation has hired Gerry Best as inside sales specialist, plumbing, based in Kitchener, ON.

Kern Industries Calgary has named Joe Shaw outside sales representative.

Duravit USA has hired Sharon Sauli as the brand’s international specification manager.

Lindsay Barber has been promoted to vice president of product and innovation at Masco Canada Limited. Barber has been with Masco for more than 18 years, most recently as director of product management.

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The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating has hired Wally Rahman (1) and Cassie Ramlakhan (2) as administrative coordinators. They will be responsible for helping managers facilitate programs and events, while performing supporting administrative duties.

Boucherville, QC-based The Master Group has made numerous staff promotions and appointments for its Ontario branches. Doug Hines (1) has been promoted to director of branches; Essam (Sam) El Tawil (2) has been promoted to branch director – Burlington branch; John Lafontaine (3) has been promoted to branch director – Markham; Mahadeo Raja Autar (4) has been promoted to branch director – Vaughan; Denis Cazabon (5) has been promoted to outside sales representative – refrigeration, based in Hamilton; Chris Bartolotta (6) has been appointed branch director – Hamilton branch; and Lauren Cassa (7) has been appointed branch representative/outside sales in Burlington. In other news from The Master Group Glenn Heavens (8) has been named as a territory manager, based in Calgary, AB.

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Bob Bettles has joined Powrmatic Canada Ltd. as senior technical advisor. He will be responsible for training sales teams and clients at the company’s six branches in Eastern Canada.

Oliver Szulc has joined Mississauga, ON-based Smith Energy as technical sales representative for the Greater Toronto Area.

Visit mechanicalbusiness.com for the most up-to-date People coverage.

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com Tracy Legare has joined Mississauga, ON-based Air Heat Supplies as sales and marketing coordinator.

Noble Corporation has named Jeff Tarrington as outside sales representative based in Brantford, ON.

Kitchener, ON-based Marks Supply Inc. has hired David Weedon as director of operations.

Wolseley Canada has promoted Jeremy Baldwin (1) to HVAC outside sales representative.

1 Aneet Singh Bawa (2) has joined Wolseley Canada as inside sales representative based in Abbotsford, BC.

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Kelsey Murray has joined Points West Marketing Inc. as builder specialist/business development based in Calgary, AB.

Jeff MacGregor has joined Ottawa, ON-based Controls Depot as business development manager.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

CREATING TIGHTER DUCT SYSTEMS: An efficient strategy

hile preparing for a training program on the compelling history of energy efficiency improvements in Canadian homes over the last 30 years, I was reminded of a Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) initiative from back in 2004 to optimize the energy used specifically for the distribution of air in new and existing homes. It was recognized at the time that the electrical consumption of furnace fan motors was by no means as significant as the space heating or cooling energy consumption in homes. None the less, I was asked to facilitate an industry forum that established some long-term objectives to optimize electrical use of fans in HVAC systems. There were several initiatives proposed from the forum. The first was to reduce the overall capacity of heating and cooling systems by ensuring more accurate sizing of equipment. The outcome was the re-write of the CAN/CSA F280-12 Standard (Determining the Required Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances). This was completed in 2012 and systems designed to the new standard are 30 to 40 per cent smaller on average than under the old standard. The second initiative was to improve fan motor efficiency. This has been accomplished as of 2019 with a very specific Fan Efficiency Rating (FER) regulation in North America that ensures either electronically commutated or constant torque fan motors are used in residential air handling equipment. The third initiative was to reduce overall air delivery needs by generally promoting energy efficiency in homes but also by reducing duct leakage. As far back as the early 1990s, duct leakage studies, primarily in the U.S., showed that as much as 20 per cent of the total system airflow was lost through duct work leaks before reaching supply outlet grilles, and as much as 50 per cent of return airflow was drawn through duct leaks rather than from the return grilles. It is important to acknowledge that the focus of U.S. studies was on duct systems installed in unconditioned spaces such as attics and crawlspaces whereby duct leakage resulted in a significant direct energy loss. By contrast, a 2002 study I completed for a large gas utility in southern Ontario on 60 homes (30 new construction and 30 older homes), found that supply duct leakage on typical sheet

Gord Cooke

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A powered flow hood is used to accurately measure airflow from each supply register in a home. metal duct systems was never less than 20 per cent and averaged 25 to 35 per cent. It shouldn’t be a surprise, given that it is most common in Canada to use joist or stud-lined cavities for much of the return duct system. Return duct leakage was so high, over 50 per cent, it hardly made sense to even try and measure or seal it. Unlike the U.S., most of the duct work in Canadian homes is located in conditioned space and thus there is an assumption that the duct leakage isn’t a direct energy loss to outside. However, in the 2002 study, in half of the houses studied, as much as five per cent of the duct leakage was found to be to the outside. In some cases, this was because there were ducts in unconditioned spaces such as ceilings over garages or in boxed in cavities adjacent to outside walls. In other cases, it was simply that the stud-lined cavities used for return air pathways, such as for high wall returns in upper floor bedrooms, were not thoroughly air sealed at the top plate of the wall to the attic. Even without direct duct leakage to outside, there are energy penalties connected to duct leakage in Canadian homes. The additional fan motor power to deliver the additional 25 per cent of air needed to compensate for duct leakage was estimated by

Gord is a professional engineer who has spent 35 years helping builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies into high-performance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at gordc@buildingknowledge.ca.

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the NRCan initiative to be between two and 12 per cent of the electrical consumption of air distribution systems. The more compelling issue in my mind is the extra energy wasted to compensate for duct leakage to meet the comfort expectations of today’s homeowners. When the room over the garage is too cold in winter and too hot in summer due in part to the duct leakage resulting in inadequate flows to those types of rooms, homeowners and their HVAC contractors compensate by increasing fan speeds and heating and cooling capacity. Creating tighter duct systems is a more efficient strategy for solving these comfort issues.

Much of the ductwork used in U.S. applications was insulated flexible duct with a much lower air leakage potential than the sheet metal systems more commonly used in Canada.

Quantifying DUCT LEAKAGE

Typically, a pressure of 0.1 in. of water column or 25 Pascal is used as this is a common average pressure residential duct systems operate at. The flow needed to maintain that pressure is reported to be the duct leakage. This rate can be expressed as a ratio or percentage of the total flow of the system, if it is known. For example, it is common to assume a twoton air conditioning system operates at a flow of 800 cubic feet per minute (400 CFM per ton). If the calibrated fan used to maintain a pressure in the duct to 0.1-in. w.c. has a flow of 100 CFM, then the duct leakage would be expressed as 100/800 or 12.5 per cent duct leakage. In the U.S., approximately 30 states have building codes requiring duct leakage verification. The testing is typically done, not by HVAC contractors, but by specialized contractors known as Energy Raters and the testing is often done at the rough-in stage. Since the Energy Rater wouldn’t necessarily have knowledge of the capacity of the heating and cooling system and its design airflow, a different metric is used. The flow required to create the 0.1-in. w.c. pressure in the duct is expressed as the leakage airflow per 100 sq. ft. of the conditioned floor area of the house. For example, in a 2,000-sq. ft. house the duct leakage rate would be 100 CFM of leakage divided by 20 (the 20 is derived from taking the 2,000 sq. ft. of floor area and dividing it by 100) to arrive at 5 CFM per 100 sq. ft. of conditioned floor area. In the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code the maximum duct leakage rate allowed is 3 CFM/100SF at the rough-in stage.

There are two common methods used to quantify duct leakage. The first is to measure or calculate the total airflow at the furnace or air handler and compare it to the sum of the delivered airflow to each supply grille. The comparison can be expressed as a percentage of the presumed duct leakage to the total flow. Knowing or estimating the flow at the furnace can be done by taking total static pressure readings across the furnace, including the filter and the air conditioning coil in the measurements. Then refer to the technical data specifications for the appliance and use the fan curves or tables to determine the flow. With electronically commutated fan motors, I have found this method to be reasonably reliable. However, in my opinion, it is quicker and even more reliable to use one of the proprietary duct flow measurement devices now available to take direct airflow readings right at the appliance. There are flow grids which can be inserted into the filter slot or a calibrated fan assembly mounted in place of the blower cabinet door that provide very accurate total flow measurements within a few minutes. Getting results of the accumulated flows at individual supply grilles requires a flow capture hood, such as a balometer capture hood, for meaningful duct leakage results. Estimating flows by taking velocity readings with an anemometer at each supply grille, in my experience, offers too many opportunities for accumulated errors to be reliable for duct leakage determination specifically. The second method, commonly used in the U.S., is to Technology available today can provide a simple and accurate temporarily seal each supply grille and then pressurize the measurement of airflow through residential air handlers. duct system with a calibrated fan to a known fixed pressure. M e c h a n i c a l

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Cont’d from pg. 27

Assessing THE SITUATION It has been a building code requirement in Ontario since 2014 for all supply ducts to be sealed to a Class C level as defined by the SMACNA HVAC Duct Construction Standards. Class C calls for all the transverse joints of supply ducts to be sealed with mastic or approved tapes. Our measurements have shown that as a result of this sealing, new homes now have supply duct leakage rates averaging 10 to 15 per cent. Certainly, a nice improvement. However, if a room is receiving 15 per cent less air than design, logically the room might be 15 per cent warmer on a hot summer day than intended. In my warranty investigation work, I still find it very difficult to explain to uncomfortable new home buyers that one of the reasons their master bedroom is 2ºC warmer than the main floor on a hot summer day is due to this “average” duct leakage. Fortunately, all professional HVAC contractors can assess duct leakage with the right equipment in as little as 45 minutes. While the 2004 NRCan initiatives noted addressing duct leakage in new construction would be “realistic,” the report suggested it would be “difficult to implement in existing homes.” This is no longer the case in 2022. There is wide acceptance and availability of the proprietary aerosolized duct sealing technology that can be applied to almost any house in Canada. In my own home, which was built in 1993, I had been successful in taping and sealing joints to get down to 19 per cent duct leakage, as a percentage of total system flow. More recently, after 28 minutes of application of the aerosolized duct sealing technology, the leakage rate was reduced to three per cent. Most importantly the flow to critical rooms at the “end of the line” was improved by over 20 per cent. I was able to rebalance airflow to all rooms with precision. I was also able to select a lower fan speed setting on the variable flow air handler and the power draw from the fan motor was reduced by 25 per cent − just as the 2004 NRCan initiative imagined. In my mind this is another compelling example of the day-to-day opportunities HVAC contractors have in applying Canadian research and the resulting technological improvements to simultaneously improve comfort and energy efficiency for clients.

A duct blaster is used to directly pressure test the duct system for air leaks.

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REFRIGERATION

USING EJECTORS TO IMPROVE BOOSTER SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

n the May/June 2022 issue of Mechanical Business, we discussed how parallel compression increases the efficiency of an R744 (CO2) booster system by taking the flash gas load off the medium temperature (MT) compressors during transcritical mode. The primary reason for the energy savings is the parallel compressors operate at a suction pressure that is basically at the flash tank or receiver pressure instead of operating at the MT group suction pressure. Ejectors can further improve the performance of the booster system by diverting a portion of the medium temperature flow to the parallel

compressors. In this case, the parallel compressors handle some of the medium temp mass flow in addition to the flash gas that is separated from the liquid inside the receiver tank. Again, since the receiver pressure is higher than the suction pressure of the medium temp group, the parallel compressors will provide a higher mass flow rate and efficiency for a given compressor displacement. Although ejectors are not a new technology, their application in R744 systems has enabled further reduction of energy costs, particularly during periods when the system must operate in transcritical mode.

An ejector has three main sections: the nozzle, the mixing section, and the diffuser. The driving force in an ejector is the incoming motive flow, provided by a high-pressure source. Since the ejector is a passive device which does not rely on any mechanical moving parts for the

compression process, it can accommodate both vapour and liquid. Having the ability to accommodate liquid also permits the ejector to be used in other applications, which we will discuss later.

Graphic courtesy Danfoss

In an application where medium temp flow is diverted to the parallel compressors, the motive flow is supplied by the highpressure R744 leaving the gas cooler. Ejectors are designed for a range of motive flow rates. The motive flow is then directed to the inlet of the nozzle of the ejector, where its pressure is reduced. As the pressure decreases, the velocity of the R744 increases. What is happening here is a conversion of potential or stored energy to kinetic energy or energy in motion. If we think of a garden hose that is open to the water supply, but with the spray nozzle closed, the higher-pressure water contained within the hose contains potential energy. It is referred to as potential energy because its stored energy has the potential to do work. If we were

Phil Boudreau

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Graphic courtesy Carel

THE OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF AN EJECTOR

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Phil leads special projects and provides national technical support for Bitzer Canada Inc. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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REFRIGERATION

Cont’d from pg. 30

to open the nozzle to allow the water to leave the hose, water will be released, converting the potential energy to kinetic energy. When the pressure drops and the velocity of the motive flow increases, a lowpressure area around the pressurereducing nozzle forms. It is the availability of this lower pressure that allows for the connection to a source of lower pressure such as the suction of the MT compressors. Again, the MT suction pressure is lower than the suction pressure of the parallel or flash-gas compressors.

COMMON EJECTOR TERMS The ratio of ejector outlet pressure to ejector suction pressure is referred to as the pressure ratio of the ejector.

Once the mixture of motive flow and ejector suction flow leave the nozzle section, they enter the mixing section of the ejector. In the mixing section, the high velocity of the motive flow decreases as it mixes with the suction flow. In some cases, the velocity of the motive flow was accelerated inside the nozzle section to a point where it exceeds the speed of sound. When this is the case, it is normal for a shock wave to take place inside the ejector as the flow decelerates past the speed of sound. At the time that this shock wave occurs, the pressure also suddenly increases. This is a phenomenon that occurs in many applications that use ejectors.

THE

Once the R744 leaves the mixing section, it enters the diffuser section of the ejector where its pressure continues to increase. Note that the pressure leaving the ejector will never reach the high-pressure level of the motive flow entering the ejector. Instead, the pressure will be somewhere between the ejector suction pressure and the gas cooler outlet pressure.

The difference between the outlet (receiver pressure) and the ejector suction pressure is referred to as the pressure lift of the ejector. The ratio of ejector suction mass flow to the mass flow of the motive flow is referred to as the mass entrainment ratio. The higher the mass entrainment ratio is, the higher the mass flow rate entering the suction port of the ejector will be for a given motive flow rate. The ejector efficiency, ej, is defined as the ratio of the recovered compression energy to the available theoretical energy in the motive fluid.1 This definition needs more explanation. Generally, when refrigerant passes through a throttling valve such as a HP valve at the outlet of the gas cooler, its enthalpy remains constant. Simply

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EJECTOR IN A CIRCUIT throttling the refrigerant pressure at constant enthalpy results in lost work. This lost work is the portion of work that a compressor does to increase the pressure from a point that equals the receiver pressure to the pressure in the gas cooler. The ejector allows us to recover work lost during expansion since the process of reducing the pressure through the ejector is one of constant entropy and not constant enthalpy. The difference in enthalpy leaving an ejector versus an HP valve operating at the same inlet and outlet pressures represents the theoretical energy that is typically lost in a regular expansion process. The recovered compression energy is determined by subtracting the enthalpy of the lower-pressure suction of the ejector from the enthalpy of the R744 leaving the ejector at the same entropy value as the suction.

LIQUID-PUMPING APPLICATIONS As mentioned earlier, ejectors can accommodate liquid at their low-pressure suction port. This allows the ejector to lift the pressure from evaporating pressure to a higher-pressure level. The benefit here is the refrigerant can leave an evaporator as a mixture of liquid and vapour. An increase in system efficiency is available in this case because no superheating is necessary in the evaporator and because the suction pressure of the refrigeration compressor will be higher than the evaporator pressure. The wet refrigerant is returned to the receiver in this case. However, it is always important to ensure the refrigerant enters the compressor with enough superheat.

Graphic courtesy Danfoss

References: 1. Ejector Refrigeration/Heat Pump Systems, Milan N. Šarevski PhD, Vasko N. Šarevski PhD, in Water (R718) Turbo Compressor and Ejector Refrigeration/Heat Pump Technology, 2016

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COVER STORY

By Kerry Turner

“I like to do something unique. And even on new builds, still keeping that little bit of old flare, along with something new and different is what I enjoy.”

Randy Spracklin:

Photos HGTV Canada

R E S T O R I N G A N D C R E AT I N G O N T H E R O C K

Randy Spracklin, co-owner of Newfound Builders and crew boss on HGTV Canada’s Rock Solid Builds, embraces the opportunity to proudly showcase his province and his work. About to enter its third season, the series features Newfoundland’s unique housing styles and stunning rugged terrain as Spracklin and his team complete historic renovations and new builds. Pride in creating was always in his blood and the opportunity to join Newfound Builders, the family business, was available to him but Spracklin did what many young people do. He struck out on his own before returning home to work in the third-generation company. “I did a lot of work with my father and grandfather over the years, but it was one of those things. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I went to Alberta like a lot of Newfoundlanders do and tried that out. I went to school for something totally different and found myself coming back around in 2008, jumping in with two feet and giving it all I had,” recalls Spracklin. That decision turned out to be the right one for him. “I love being creative. What I was trying to do with other stuff was because I paint a fair bit. I was trying to get into automotive doing custom paint jobs, but didn’t really like it. Because I like building stuff, combining carpentry work and building and renovating homes worked. I definitely love every morning to come around to go at it.” While there are some large developments happening on the east side of the island, Spracklin has never gravitated toward that type of building. “I like to do something unique. And even on new builds, still keeping that little bit of old flare, along with something new and different is what I enjoy.”

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UP FOR THE CHALLENGE Thanks to the temperate marine climate, Newfoundlanders typically didn’t have to contend with extreme temperatures. Despite that, the construction style and recent unpredictable weather events present challenges for the Newfound Build team. “In the older homes what you’ll find there’s no insulation into them, there’s probably a double layer of board. So, trying to keep the integrity of the home plus get a good heating system is a challenge. A lot of them are built on the ground,” says Spracklin. “Coming up with a clever way to heat these older homes, it’s a challenge for sure, especially here in Newfoundland. There’s so much wind and cold weather. It can be really cold, but the wind I find is even more impacting here, especially on older homes, because it can get in every little crevice, which will drop the temperature into the minuses if you got into bitter cold.” In recent years relentless wind has become more of a factor. “Wind is the thing that we’re starting to see a lot more of and I don’t know if it’s due to climate change, but it’s really windy. A lot of older people say our winters weren’t as harsh before. The Snowmageddon was a shocking thing that happened in 2020. This winter, we had no snow, but it was pretty much windy every day. And high, high winds were normal at 80 and 90 km, but recently the wind has been up to 160 km/hour − very, very bad on the heating bill,” says Spracklin. All of this means heating systems tend to be hybrid, calling on all forms of technology to try to maintain indoor comfort, notes Spracklin. “My house here now in Brigus is 140 years old. When I renovated, I ripped up the floor, did a concrete slab and did electric infloor heat. I am also running mini splits and baseboard heaters. Plus, I have a wood stove and a propane stove. Basically, I have all sorts of heat in one residence and many more homes have the same thing. He says that “heat pumps are definitely a winner here” and adds selling customers on heat pumps has involved familiarizing them with the technology, explaining the energy savings versus the capital outlay, and finally having them get used to a different heat. “I used to use my own house as an example. We had a heat pump and our heat bill was really low and I was heating 3,000 sq. ft. People have to understand the heat pump produces a different kind of heat. When you’re going from the intense heat of wood stove to any other source it is a little bit different, but once they know the savings that come with it, and plus you have air in the summertime. You don’t have to use it too many times but it’s good when you need it. A lot of people jump on board. I don’t find it a hard sell at all.”

CLEAN SLATES AND OPPORTUNITIES While his passion is restoring historic homes, new builds offer a clean slate and the opportunity to design systems that suit him. “When you have a clean slate it’s definitely a lot easier to design a system. You’re not working with something that’s already there and trying to change footprints. You’re making the footprint adjust to the system because that’s the heart of the home − you can’t have a home without heat. It’s definitely advantageous going new.” At times though, clients may want to take advantage of views or position their home in a particularly harsh setting. He has come up with strategies to counter the realities of living on the Atlantic such as window positioning and the landscaping. “But if you’re in the wide open, you know, we’re on the edge of the Atlantic. If you’re building on the side of the cliff, you’ve got no break from it, but you do clever stuff such as going with the triple pane windows. We recommend having the insulation on the outside, that is definitely a big damper from all that wind trying to get through. “You can point the house in a direction where you don’t need big windows with a beautiful view because the view is the other way. So, there are things you can move, but sometimes people really want to be on the edge of the cliff. You just have to try to adapt, and hope the place is not going to blow away,” jokes Spracklin.

The Newfound Builds team, left to right, Scott Spracklin, Randy Spracklin, Nikki Spracklin (who is no relation to Randy) and Paul Earle. M e c h a n i c a l

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A P P L I C A T I O N S

T E C H N O L O G I E S AUGUST 2022

TERENCE CHAN:

BORN ENTREPRENEUR • HYDRONIC PRODUCT SHOWCASE • CASE STUDY: BOILER SWAP OUT • ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL AC FOR NON-DUCTED HOMES • ALL ABOUT HEAT EXCHANGERS • FOUR TIPS TO SPEED UP PIPING INSTALLS • HOW TO MANAGE BOILER TDS

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business Wetheat Cover0822v1.indd 1

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

2022-07-06 6:09 PM

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CONTENTS A P P L I C A T I O N S

su p p l e me n t

T E C H N O L O G I E S

HEAT TRANSFER: A FAIR EXCHANGE As we look to move energy via a fluid, we need to transfer energy from one form to another and to do that we need heat exchangers. Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

ROAD WARRIOR: BORN ENTREPRENEUR Terence Chan wasn’t enjoying the engineering program he was enrolled in, so he took his parents’ advice and switched to plumbing at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and found his future career path. Carolyn Cooper

COOLING: ALTERNATIVE RESIDENTIAL AC FOR NON-DUCTED HOMES Cooling technology has come a long way and today contractors have several effective options to offer customers. Jonathon Harp

WATER QUALITY: HOW TO MANAGE BOILER TDS Total dissolved solids can cause problems such as bouncing water levels, nuisance trips of the low water cutoff, or carryover and scale formation, which can impede the heat transfer, lowering the boiler efficiency. Ray Wohlfarth

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62 44 OTHER

FEATURES

53CASE STUDY Top efficiency in one package Craig Demaray

54CONFERENCE PREVIEW Pros head to Saskatoon for hydronics conference and trade show Kerry Turner

60PIPING Four tips to speed up piping installs Kim Bliss

DE PAR TME NTS

46,48,50PRODUCTS A showcase of hydronic technology.

64JOBSITE JARGON Match the correct definition or meaning to the terminology you hear in the field and enter for your chance to win a $150 Visa gift card.

Cover Photo: Peter Holst Photography

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HEAT TRANSFER

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

A fair exchange H

ydronics is all about heat exchange and heat exchangers. As we look to move energy via a fluid, we need to transfer energy from one form to another. Consider a fossil-fuelled boiler. We combust the fuel and turn the chemical energy into thermal energy. Water is typically the medium we use to accept, store and transfer the thermal energy. So, the very first step in a hydronic heating system would be a heat exchanger to warm the water or other fluid, possibly glycol. Simply, a boiler is a vessel that holds the fluid as the fire warms it, and a heat exchange takes place between the fluid and the walls of the vessel.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. A long-time columnist and trainer, he is manager of training and education with Caleffi North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@caleffi.com.

Caleffi rep Frank Sterzinar (now retired) stands next to a DHW heat exchanger in a resort in Nevada, which created hot water with energy from a deep geothermal well.

There are many types of boilers available today. One of the simplest boiler examples might be an outdoor wood-fired boiler or furnace. It is basically a fire under or within a steel drum, which acts to exchange the heat to the water inside. Conventional cast iron or copper boilers are still popular, and modulating/ condensing boilers are also available. With today’s efficient mod-con type heat exchangers, more energy is squeezed from the fuel via the “vapours of combustion,” using a secondary heat exchanger that scrubs additional energy from the flue gasses as they exit the boiler. So, there are actually two heat exchanges happening inside the assembly. After the fluid is heated in the boiler, we are ready to move this thermal energy to the location where the heat is needed. Now the heat exchange is from the warmed fluid to the actual heat emitter. The heat emitter is also considered a heat exchanger. Common heat exchangers used for transferring

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the energy to the space include: radiant panels, either cast or panel type radiators, and fin tube, steel or copper tube convectors. Variations of these emitters have been used for centuries. A fan coil or air handler adds some forced air movement across a finned surface, called forced convection, and this is another example of a commonly-used Common heat exchanger types heat exchanger. We use various types of heat exchangers to warm domestic water for use in buildings. In some cases, a copper coil is located inside a boiler, surrounded by the boiler water to generate domestic hot water (DHW). We refer to these as tankless coils. We could also put a coil into a separate tank, known as an indirect

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HEAT TRANSFER

Cont’d from pg. 40

style water heater. A coil that circulates boiler water into the tank is most common. A tank within a tank is another style of indirect. Reverse indirect tanks have the boiler water circulated in the tank and the potable water in the copper coil inside. Properly-sized and applied, they all do an excellent job of heating and storing water. The coil-in-tank style indirect tanks are available with multiple coils. This allows for two separate inputs; perhaps a boiler and solar thermal system. The upper coil could also be used to pull heat out of the tank to supply a small radiant zone, as an example. Stand-alone heat exchangers include tube and shell, shell and coil, and flat plate. These are available in a wide range of sizes. I think of the tube and shell type as mini-indirect tanks and the same concept applies with the transfer between the two fluids. My favourite heat exchanger is the plate, a.k.a. flat plate heat exchanger. You may see them with the abbreviation FPHX. These can be scaled to the specified requirements, and be as small as the palm of your hand or as large as a truck. They are most commonly manufactured with stainless steel plates. The key to their design and high performance has to do with a lot of surface area. The shape of the plates also provides turbulent flow conditions for excellent heat transfer. With a FPHX, you have two moving flows involved for the transfer, referred to as the A and B side, whereas an indirect tank has the coil positioned in still water. While plate heat exchangers look simple, sometimes referred to as a “brick,” there is a bit of engineering involved in their design, sizing and application. Smaller versions of plate exchangers are typically brazed together. Larger sizes are called “plate and frame” or bolted types. The bolted design allows them to be assembled with the number of plates required for the application. They are able to be disassembled for service, cleaning, or plate replacement. Foam jackets or blankets can be added to limit heat loss to the space. The transfer of heat is grounded in science and elevated by art, based on the understanding that energy is neither gained or lost. It is transformed and moved around.

Some common applications of plate heat exchangers include: snow and ice melt (SIM) systems; combi boilers, which use plate heat exchangers to generate DHW; solar thermal; and pool heating. Waste heat recovery from refrigeration is another excellent use for exchangers. 42

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CALCULATING HEAT TRANSFER The rate of heat transfer is based on the temperature difference between the two fluids. As the fluids transfer energy their deltas (temperature differences) drop, so the calculations look at the average temperature for sizing. The long hand math for calculating the heat exchanger can get fairly complicated. Most manufacturers have online simulation calculators to offer a selection of sizes for an application. You will need to input accurate data such as fluid type, temperatures, and flow rates. I would take a class or watch a manufacturer’s online video to understand all the inputs required. Or contact a representative or manufacturer’s tech support for help in determining the best heat exchanger for your applications.

Figure 1

THINK AHEAD Here are a few installation tips to consider. The exchanger will require service someday. When used in potable water applications, the quality and amount of fresh water circulating through it will determine service intervals. Adding a few isolating valves will simplify the descaling task. Better yet, use an isolation valve that has a purge or flush port (as shown in Figuire 1). This will allow you to circulate a cleaner across the plates without removing the exchanger. A serviceable Y strainer will protect the exchanger on the boiler side. Including some temperature gauges at the ports will confirm the operation and aid troubleshooting. Pipe FPHX in a counterflow pattern for the best heat transfer. Aggressive water will take a toll on heat exchangers. If this cannot be addressed or mitigated, installing the heat exchanger with unions will help simplify the replacement. Hot springs water is an example of aggressive water conditions that may require occasional exchanger replacements.

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ROAD WARRIOR Terence Chan

Name: Terence Chan Nicknames: T$, T dawg, T, Eagle Eye Terence Company: Impetus Plumbing and Heating Job title: President Born in: Vancouver, BC Lives in: Vancouver, BC Age: 30 Pet: A Pomeranian named Knuckles In the mechanical industry since: 2011 Schools and programs: BCIT Plumbing 2014

Terence Chan: Born entrepreneur

Photo by Peter Holst, Peter Holst Photography

Terence Chan wasn’t enjoying the engineering program he was enrolled in, so he took his parents’ advice and switched to plumbing at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and found his future career path. “I ended up really liking it. And when I started doing other projects, I really enjoyed the process,” he recalls, adding that even then, “I had the thought in my head that I was always going to do my own thing. I planned to have my own business and learn everything about the trade.”

Having worked in his parents’ arcade business from an early age, Chan had a love for both mechanics and entrepreneurship. So, after gaining work experience in everything from commercial and residential new construction, to sales, commercial and residential servicing and hydronics, Chan established Richmond, BC’s Impetus Plumbing and Heating in 2015. The company services Lower Mainland BC, and currently has six technicians and an apprentice. Hydronics is a big part of the business, and Chan especially enjoys planning out the systems in his shop. “I like these kinds of systems because they’re very intricate, and they’re very interesting. And the deeper you dive into it, the more these hydronic systems become like computers other than just moving the medium of water. It’s kind of like a game sometimes. And I like to go all out and do these artwork boards where I do epoxy coating, I’ll wrap my boilers, I’ll put lights behind the installs, and make it really nice W E T

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and clean. It’s a great satisfaction being able to show people that there is good work being done, to do good work myself, and to give [customers] a great system that can work for many years.” Chan says the hardest part of hydronics work can often be explaining the benefits of the systems to consumers. “We try to put a lot of things in laymen terms of what this actually does for you and why this company might do this or that,” he notes. “We’re also more expensive than other companies, just because of the way we do things. But it’s a branding thing. So when customers come to us, they know that this is what they’re looking for specifically.” Both the company and Chan have a strong social media presence, something he believes is important to highlight the range of work done in the industry, as well as to encourage more people to enter the trades. “More people have to understand our trade for our trade to grow. My goal is bringing more younger people into the trades, while trying to push the trades forward.” To that end, Chan hopes to launch an initiative over the next year to help inspire youth to enter the industry. “It will focus on letting people know what there is within the trade and what this trade is about, not just the hands-on side but the wholesale side, the manufacturer side, to give people a bigger picture of what this industry really is.”

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By Carolyn Cooper

Best advice you’ve ever received: Be happy with whatever you do. If it doesn’t make you happy, don’t do it. Advice for young people considering entering the trades: Try it. Know that it is really important to be able to work with your hands, not everything can be replaced by machines. Give things a chance – there is more to plumbing than you think. The current work ride: Ford Transit Mid Roof Service area: Lower mainland BC Favourite part of the job? Being able to fix the problem and help my clients. Having a challenge and being able to overcome these challenges. The most useful tool in your toolbox: My phone If you were granted one wish: Stay young forever Favourite band/performer: The Weeknd Best concert you ever attended? The Weeknd Favourite book: Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk Favourite TV show: Demon Slayer Favourite movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Favourite video game and preferred gaming system: Counter Strike GO - PC Favourite season: Summer Favourite place to be: Japan Last book you read: The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It Three albums that you’d take with you to your desert island: 1. Starboy - The Weeknd 2. Anything by Drake 3. Anything by Bruno Mars Finish these sentences: My rule of thumb is ... to play by my own rules. If I had a million dollars ... I would invest in another house. If I had a super power it would be ... to stop time. Biggest pet peeve: People who say “can’t” One place in the world you would like to visit: Singapore One thing most people don’t know about you: I used to B-boy (breakdance).

Last movie you saw: Morbius

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Gary Vaynerchuk

Do you play an instrument? Piano

Favourite sport: Golf

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS PEX Panel The Ampex insulated radiant PEX panel from Amvic is a hydronic radiant floor heating system for slab-on-grade and below grade applications. The panel is easy to handle and install, with film on the panel along the nubs allowing the PEX tubing to be walked in and locked in place.

www. amvicsystem.com

Condensate pump Little Giant has expanded its condensate pump product line with the HT-VCL Series high-temperature condensate pump, plenum rated for commercial applications. The pump is available in 1/8 and 1/3 hp models with flows up to 575 gph, at five ft. with a maximum of 62 ft. of head. The units include 14-ft. lead wires to connect to a power supply with separate leads for the overflow detection switch. Each pump is constructed with an external switch test lever to ensure it is functioning without the requirement of filling the pump

Ball valves HeatLink has added PEX ball valves for both the F1960 expansion and F1807 press connection systems. Made of no lead brass, the ball valves are approved for use in potable and hydronic systems and are available in 1/2-, 3/4-, one-, 1 1/4-, 1 1/2-, and two-in. sizes. Also available are 3/4-in. PEX x 3/4-in. MNPT for the expansion and press systems.

www. heatlink.com

www. littlegiant.com

Videoscope series Teledyne FLIR introduces the VS80 high-performance videoscope series for industrial and commercial inspection, designed for techs who need to inspect objects in tight spaces. The unit has a high-resolution (HD) seven-in. touchscreen display, and is available with seven waterproof probe options, including articulating probes and a general-purpose thermal camera probe. It is compatible with FLIR Tools' mobile app.

www. teledyneflir.com

Condensing boiler Viessmann's Vitocrossal 200 CI2 is a compact floor standing gas condensing boiler designed for large residential and commercial applications. With six sizes ranging from 399 MBH to 2,000 MBH, the boiler offers 97.5-per cent thermal efficiency, up to a 30:1 turndown ratio, and advanced active self-calibrating O2 Trim Technology. The small footprint allows easy access through standard doorways and side-byside installation of up to 16 cascaded boilers. The seven-in. colour touchscreen control panel connects to the Viessmann One Base platform.

www. viessmann.ca 46

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Heating and DHW King Heating offers the 94 per cent AFUE efficient Eco-King hot water boilers and combi boilers, both of which are suited to retrofit or new construction hot water heating systems such as baseboard, in-floor or air handlers. The combi boilers also provide up to seven gpm of on demand hot water, are simple to install, and offer easy access to internal parts. King Heating boilers are made in Canada.

www. kingheatingproducts.com

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Combi furnace The Gradient syncFurnace combi furnace is a stainless steel, condensing, dual-pass boiler and burner in one unit for in-floor, furnace, and hot water heating. With 150,000 BTUH max burner input, the unit comes with a direct vent, modulating, natural gas or propane burner, with two or three-in. CPVC, polyproplyne, and stainless steel venting options. Other features include an internal Caleffi auto-air vent, 30 psig pressure relief valve, and condensation trap.

www. edenenergy.com

Heat element Ontor Limited offers the Fin Clamp Element by Fab Tek Logic, a multi-fin hinged hydronic heat element that fits around the existing hot water heating pipe to replace damaged fins and fix cold spaces. It requires no cutting, soldering or draining and is available in 1/2-, 3/4-, one- and 1 1/4-in. sizes.

www. finclampelement.com ontor.ca

Electric boiler

Balancing valves The iDROSET CSD calibrated flow measuring and balancing valves feature patented integrated flow measurement technology, a large dial for direct reading of flow, a lockable hand wheel for setting flow rate without the need for tools, and a positive shut-off ball valve. The unit is factory tested and calibrated to +/- 10-per cent accuracy, and the gauge reads flow directly without the need of external instruments, calculations or guesswork. A balancing turn-down ratio of up to 25:1 covers broad range design flow requirements. Models are available in 1/2- to two-in. sizes.

Laars’ commercial electric boiler delivers 100 per cent efficiency with zero emissions. Its compact design provides up to 300 kW in a small footprint, making it suited to tight boiler rooms. No venting is required. The unit features quiet operation and advanced controls with built-in digital temperature control for automatic turndown as loads decrease, and includes an outdoor reset control and multi-boiler staging capability.

www. laars.com

www. watts.ca

Wet rotor circulator The Taco 0015e3 is a variable speed, high-efficiency, wet rotor circulator with an ECM permanent magnet motor. Available in cast iron for closed loop hydronic heating, or stainless steel for open loop or domestic water applications, the circulator has three settings to deliver performance, reliability and ease of installation. The unit offers a flow range of zero to 16 GPM, head range of zero to 18 ft., and a maximum operating pressure of 125 psi (8.6 bar) for cast iron, and 150 psi (10 bar) for stainless steel.

www. tacocomfortsolutions.com 48

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Boiler filter The magnetic boiler filter XL from Nibco is designed to protect larger residential boilers from iron sludge. Commonly installed on the system run, it captures ferrous and non-ferrous debris before it can reach the boiler using a 12,000 Gauss magnet and plastic filter. The drain simplifies removal of accumulation, with a strapped cap that can be used to actuate the drain valve and a large filter body to increase time between service. A service tool is included to help install and maintain the filter. G-threads allow swap out of press, MIP, FIP, or sweat G-union end connections in 1 1/4- or 1 1/2-in. sizes. The MBF XL can withstand 250°F and 145 PSI CWP.

www. nibco.com

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Targeted combustion Lochinvar’s Crest condensing boiler’s Hellcat combustion technology and RealTimeO2 Trim deliver a targeted combustion O2 range. Commissioning trim allows the user to program the optimal O2 setting, while patent pending learned trim delivers performance based on past environmental data. The units have a 10-in. LCD capacitive touchscreen display. Eight models are available from 999,000 to six million BTUH, with up to 96.2 per cent thermal efficiency and up to 25:1 turndown ratio.

www. lochinvar.com

Tubing cutters Reed’s Quick Release tubing cutters cut clean with very little burr, and can be used for a variety of plastic pipe, including PEX, for small, medium and large diameter work. All models feature quick release, quick advance and manual advance, along with the ball detent wheel pin, and sliding bars with magnesium for added strength. The cutters cover capacity O.D.s up to 10 in. (254 mm).

www. reedmfgco.com

Anti-freeze Available in 20-L and 55-gal drums, Oatey Canada’s ready to use Cryo-Tek antifreeze is a blend of not recycled propylene glycol and Triple Protection additives formulated for use in closed loop hydronic heating and cooling systems regardless of the make-up of heat exchangers and tubing. These components work together to eliminate system deposits, improve heat transfer and minimize wear to moving parts and seals.

www. oatey.ca

Energy efficient pump In addition to optimized energy-saving features, the Wilo-Stratos MAXO has a maximum flow rate of 280 GPM, and maximum head space of 52 ft. It is suited to hot water heating systems, air conditioning systems, closed cooling circuits, and industrial circulation systems. Other features include EC motor technology, Bluetooth connection, and control functions such as Dynamic Adapt plus.

www. wilo.com

Press boiler trim kit Resideo’s TK Series combination boiler trim kit is an all-accessories-in-one boiler trim kit with one-in. to 1 1/4-in. press SuperVent fittings designed to save time, labour and parts during new installations and maintenance. Each kit also includes a welded expansion tank, boiler feed combination valve, checkvalves, and SuperVent air eliminator or air purger/ vent.

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Wall mount mini-split Johnson Controls-Hitachi’s high-efficiency, single-zone commercial wall mount indoor mini-split unit is designed to meet the needs of small- to mid-size spaces such as shops, restaurants and classrooms. Part of the Primairy line, the systems come in a variety of styles, and have a wide temperature range, performing in low-ambient temperatures down to -13°F (-25°C) for the 24K model, and down to -4°F (-20°C) in heating mode for all other models.

www. hitachiaircon.com H E A T

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When Your Commercial Project Needs a Heating Powerhouse,

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MagnaTherm® FT Fire Tube Condensing Boiler MagnaTherm® FT is built to deliver optimal boiler performance for your commercial customers. • Up to 20:1 Turndown • Outstanding 95% Thermal Efficiency • CF-Tech™ Contoured-Flue Fire-Tube Heat Exchanger design for long life. • 4 Sizes: 1000-3000 MBH

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CASE STUDY By: Craig Demaray

Craig Demaray is national sales manager with Weil-McLain Canada.

Top efficiency in one package INSTALLATION OVERVIEW: Multi-storey office building in Ontario CONTRACTOR: Triple Tech Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Needs: • Upgrade one two-stage boiler (1,700 MBH input and 1,445 MBH output) delivering 85 per cent efficiency; address short cycling and improve efficiency • Replace direct-fired water heater and improve efficiency • Provide heating redundancy

Solutions: 1. Four high efficiency condensing boilers delivering: a. Reduced input of 1,596 MBH and matched output of 1,532 MBH b. 96.5 per cent AFUE c. Turndown 10 to 1 (for each boiler) 2. Stainless steel indirect-fired water heaters to generate domestic hot water (DHW)

Results: • The total system turn-down of 40 to 1 allows the boilers to better match the heating load, increasing efficiency up to 20 per cent and eliminating short cycling. • Using the high efficiency condensing boiler with the indirect tank is expected to provide a gas reduction of 25 per cent over the previous directfired water heater. • The four boilers provide heating redundancy. • Placing the new equipment along a wall freed up usable space. The original boiler was massive and sat in the middle of the room.

Contractor Snapshot: “The previous boiler, at two million BTUs, could only be serviced by a G1 tech, which are not easily found,” says Darrell Gillespie, owner and president, of Triple Tech. “The new boilers can be serviced by a G2 tech. Also, with only one boiler, if the boiler went down the building would be without heat. With four boilers, if one needs to be serviced you still have three more boilers running. That’s redundancy and back-up.” Gillespie says the ability to install smaller, fully modulating condensing boilers is key to energy savings and improved comfort level. That’s because modulating means less on/off cycling and consistent building temperature. “They perform according to the building heat loss in combination with outdoor temperatures,” notes Gillespie. “One of the features my installers like is that all sizes of these boiler can be either floor or wall mounted. Some boilers in this size range are only wallmount design, which can create installation challenges. Since the new boiler can be floor mounted, I can send one tech with a two-wheel dolly to get the boiler into the mechanical room and start installing the boiler without having to send a second or third tech to mount the boiler on the wall. This helps to save on manpower and labour costs,” says Gillespie. The boilers feature a control with a built-in lead-lag rotate sequencer that can be used to control up to eight boilers in a multi-boiler system. The control allows the minimum and maximum firing rate to be adjusted for all priorities if needed which allows contractors to customize the boiler for each installation. For this installation, the DHW maximum firing rate was reduced to match the maximum input of the indirect tank at 190,000 BTUH. “Combining the boilers and tanks like we did here, optimized the efficiency,” says Gillespie. “With the boiler and indirect tank, we’re getting top efficiency in one package.”

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CONFERENCE PREVIEW

World Trade Center at Prairieland Park

lated for September 27-28, 2022 the Canadian Hydronics Conference provides an opportunity for hydronics professionals to have one-on-one conversations with peers, and to share knowledge and business building ideas. In addition to two full days of education sessions, more than 30 exhibitors will be on hand at the trade show. Presented by the Canadian Hydronics Council (a council of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating), the event is being held at the World Trade Center in Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK.

SEPTEMBER 27

SEPTEMBER 28

TRADE SHOW HOURS

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m

CONFERENCE HOURS 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

CONFERENCE HOURS 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mechanical Business will be there – be sure to stop by to say hello!

ciph.com/chc

CONFERENCE PROGRAM September 27

September 28

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Opening keynote

9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Concurrent Sessions: Group Four

Electrification and Net-Zero

Snowmelt Systems Presenter Jean-Claude Rémy, Uponor Ltd.

Presenter Robert Bean, Indoor Climate Consultants

Solar thermal and hydronics Presenter Scott Boutilier, Viessmann Manufacturing

11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Concurrent Sessions: Group One Air to water heat pumps Presenter Mike Miller, Taco Comfort Solutions

Variable speed circulators Presenter TBA 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.

Chemical and non-chemical water treatment options Presenter Kirk Nagus, Axiom Industries

Keep it simple for hydronics Presenter Dave Hughes, CIPH

Current risks and rewards for the industry and its business owners Presenter Robert Bean, Indoor Climate Consultants

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Concurrent Sessions: Group Two

Customized mechanical rooms Presenter Jean-Claude Rémy, Uponor Ltd.

Snowmelt systems Presenter Jean-Claude Rémy, Uponor Ltd.

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

Keep it simple for hydronics Presenter Dave Hughes, CIPH

1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Concurrent Sessions: Group Five

Managing homeowner expectations Presenter Gord Cooke, Building Knowledge Canada and Mechanical Business columnist 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.Concurrent Sessions: Group Three

Air to water heat pumps Presenter Mike Miller, Taco Comfort Solutions CSA B214 update Presenter Tom Gervais, Bradford White Canada Inc. Promoting building hygiene with hydronic heating and cooling systems Presenter Robert Bean, Indoor Climate Consultants

Solar Thermal for Hydronics Presenter Scott Boutilier, Viessmann Manufacturing Smart technologies in hydronics Presenter Watts Water Technologies

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closing keynote Government Official Panel Presentation

Variable speed circulators Presenter TBA 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Industry networking event

To see extensive coverage of the 2022 Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Annual Business Conference visit mechanicalbusiness.com and search Shift to Celebrate – CIPH returns to in-person ABC. Watch for our print wrap up in the September/October 2022 issue. 54

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2022-06-28 1:05 PM

COOLING By Jonathon Harp

Alternative residential AC for non-ducted homes MEETING CUSTOMER AC NEEDS BEYOND CENTRAL DUCTED SYSTEMS How does your company handle a customer’s air conditioning needs when a ducted central AC system cannot be used in their home? Do you offer AC alternatives in these situations? With the wide range of housing designs, age of homes and differing HVAC systems in Canada, contractors servicing non-ducted homes need to know what AC alternatives are available and which ones should be offered in their service area to meet customers’ needs.

Ductless AC

We reviewed a number of current residential AC alternatives and came up with three systems which are popular with contractors for non ducted homes:

Ductless AC was first introduced in the 1970s as a step up from window units. Also called mini splits, they were used to provide spot cooling in non-ducted homes. Since then, mini splits have made many technological advances including increasing system capacity, providing more fan coil distance from the condenser, and offering customer friendly intelligent controls.

1. Ductless AC 2. Hydronic AC (air to water heat pumps) 3. High velocity AC

AC technology has come a long way and today contractors have several effective options to offer customers.

The mini split has also progressed from single indoor/outdoor units to more complex systems with multiple indoor units that provide control of different zones in the home. Called multi split systems, they typically use variable refrigerant volume (VRV) technology and serve an entire home with multiple zones. Compressor inverter technology has also been introduced that allows systems to respond to the changing temperatures in each zone and to reduce energy use. Today’s systems provide the homeowner with controls to choose between cooling, heating, and ventilation as well as IAQ options that remove air contaminants including viruses. Other technology available includes occupancy sensors, rapid cooling and/or heating modes and similar to other HVAC systems, system control by mobile apps connected to the internet through a Smart phone or tablet.

Let’s take a look at each of these.

From a service standpoint, contractors have learned that mini splits are reliable and are considered maintenance friendly, typically only needing filter and condenser cleaning on a regular basis. Ductless systems also offer self clean options. Contractors find mini splits easier to install than most other AC options because of the simplicity of the components. In practical terms, the mini split installation involves mounting of the interior fan coil(s) and placement of the exterior condenser and electrical and refrigerant connections between them.

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Hydronic Cooling (ATW heat pump)

Credit: Arctic Heat Pumps

Hydronic cooling is a less common alternative today but becoming more popular. Similar to hydronic heating, hydronic cooling involves chilled (versus hot) water circulating through the home. A popular technology available for this type of cooling is air-to-water heat pump systems (ATW).

Most HVAC contractors find the installation of ATW systems to be similar to heat pump and hydronic system installations. ATW have been used in the ICI sector for decades (ATW heat Properly designed AC involves both heat removal pumps and chillers). Residential ATW have become more popular in the and humidity control. For ATW systems, humidity is last few years because of improvements in this technology. They are now controlled through condensate drain pans below the a good option for hydronic heating and cooling systems with the ATW’s chilled coils that are connected to a floor drain or to the ability to switch between cooling and heating modes. outside similar to central ducted AC systems. A key component of an ATW is the buffer tank. Depending on the Most HVAC contractors find the installation of ATW season, the ATW keeps water in the tank at a specified heating or cooling systems to be similar to heat pump and hydronic temperature. When a temperature change is required in the house, hot system installations. Manufacturers recommend a or chilled water from the tank is directed to the applicable space. heat loss/heat gain calculation be done for each The home is cooled by hydronic air handlers or fan coils. Air handlers may zone to ensure proper sizing. For easier installations, be central or individually located in each room or zone similar to experts recommend complete package systems from the mini split approach. Chilled water moves through the coil, cool air one manufacturer be used. Though buffer tanks are is introduced from the air handler and heat is removed in the water somewhat specialized, most components, such as returning to the heat pump condenser. pumps, valves and hydronic coils, are similar to those used in hydronic heating systems.

High-velocity AC A high velocity HVAC system (HV) is used to supply heating and cooling through flexible small diameter ducts at higher air velocities compared to standard ducted systems. A key advantage of these systems is the two-in. duct diameter that can be used to retrofit systems in non-ducted homes. The small duct size typically fits into stud cavities of existing walls with minimal wall alterations needed. Another retrofit plus is the flexibility of the ducts and the ability to fit them into challenging spaces. Because of the high velocity air, typical flexible duct air flow losses are minimized. HV systems can use a fan coil unit with a blower, cooling (and heating if desired) coil (hydronic or heat pump) and a return air module. The unit connects to a plenum with flexible duct supply runs and a return duct. The fan coil unit and plenum can be located in attic and crawl spaces or in basements.

High velocity AC systems have a two-in. duct diameter that can be used to retrofit systems in non-ducted homes.

Other benefits listed for HV systems include reduction in air leakage from the HV ductwork (five per cent versus 20 to 30 per cent for standard ductwork) and better air mixing resulting in more even temperatures in the home. One initial issue that arose with HV systems was noise created by the high velocity air moving through the small ducts. Manufacturers of HV systems indicate that corrective measures such as the use of mufflers and lining in the interior of the ducts have been implemented to correct this concern.

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COOLING

Cont’d from pg. 57

The bottom line When looking at AC alternatives to offer your non-ducted customers, there are a number of factors to consider. Two important ones are determining your service area housing stock and preparing a business case for each alternative. Concerning housing stock, do your homework. For example, if there are very few ductless homes in your service area, offering a number of ductless alternatives may not make sense. On the other hand, if hydronic heating is more dominant in your area, a number of ductless alternatives could be a good approach. Once you have determined the opportunities presented by the housing stock, you need to look at the business case for each alternative. A number of potential costs are associated with each alternative including technician training on installation and service, and potential inventory costs for systems and parts. One approach for your business case may be to partner with an allied contractor who specializes in installation and service of one or more alternatives. Take a good look at the business case for each alternative and make choices accordingly. Keep in mind; we have only looked at three AC alternatives for non-ducted homes. There are other options out there such as

Do your homework around housing stock in your service area before selecting which AC alternatives to offer customers. radiant cooling and geothermal heat pumps that should be included in your review. Talk to your wholesaler or manufacturer about the alternatives you are considering and get the full technical picture on each option. The bottom line is that you need to decide whether these alternatives make sense for your business and how they could provide a growth opportunity in the future.

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CANADIAN HYDRONICS CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 27 & 28, 2022 | SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN | www.ciph.com/chc | #CHC2022Saskatoon

Healthy Efficient Profitable 2 DAYS – 20 EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS How can Hydronics become your Healthy, Efficient and Profitable Solution? Learn more at the 2022 Canadian Hydronics Conference!

The Canadian Hydronics Conference has everything you need to grow your business in one place. Attend to see where the hydronics industry is going and learn about the future of hydronics. PLUS A HYDRONICS EXCLUSIVE TRADE SHOW See new products and technologies from an exclusive line-up of leading hydronics manufacturers

CANADIAN HYDRONICS CONFERENCE

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REGISTER TODAY at ciph.com/chc The Canadian Hydronics Conference is presented by the Canadian Hydronics Council For more information about the conference visit www.ciph.com/chc or email us at info@ciph.com

2022-06-24 12:45 PM

PIPING

Kim Bliss is the technical and marketing content manager at Uponor. She can be reached at kim.bliss@uponor.com.

By Kim Bliss

Four tips to speed up installs W

e all know time is money. With project budgets and schedules tightening, contractor profitability depends on fast, accurate installations. Here are four tips to help improve installation efficiencies, accuracy, and, most importantly, profitability potential for plumbing and mechanical piping projects. Whether it’s in the design phase, in a prefabrication shop, or out on the job site, there are several opportunities to add greater efficiencies and productivity. Incorporating even one of the following concepts can help make the difference between a thriving, successful business and a struggling one.

Flexible PEX pipe with bend supports

Expansion Connections

Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is a flexible, durable, plastic piping material that has been installed in residential plumbing and radiant floor heating systems for more than three decades. With its success in residential applications, PEX is now being specified and designed into commercial domestic water and mechanical piping applications as well.

When a connection is necessary, the type of connection used for PEX pipe makes a big difference. Because there are three different manufacturing methods that create PEX to varying crosslinking degrees, there are different connection systems that go with each pipe type.

The flexible, corrosion-resistant, non-scale-buildup characteristics of PEX have made it a popular piping material. One of the biggest benefits of PEX is its flexibility. This allows faster installs because the pipe can bend with each change in direction. Not having to stop and make a fitting in these instances reduces the install time on a project. For tight bends, there are bend supports available for 3/8 in., 1/2 in., 5/8 in., 3/4 in., or one in. PEX pipe. They hold the bend in place at the proper angle and take less time to snap onto the pipe.

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PEX-a pipe, which has the highest degree of crosslinking for the greatest flexibility and durability, uses ASTM F1960 expansion connections. These connections use an expansion tool that expands the pipe and an expansion ring before a fitting is inserted. As the pipe and ring shrink back down around the fitting, it creates a solid, strong seal that can withstand up to 1,000 pounds of radial force. It’s quick and easy to do and simple to learn, so it’s beneficial with the skilled labour shortage that’s challenging the trades. Note that PEX-b or PEX-c pipes require a different fitting type. This is because their lower crosslinking may result in microcracking when expanded. Typical connection methods for PEX-b or PEX-c pipes are insert fittings with crimp or clamp rings.

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Prefabrication

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Prefabrication is becoming a big trend in construction. By prefabricating certain sections of a project, it can shave days, weeks, or even months off a timeline, depending on the size of the project.

BIM is also an emerging trend in construction that is bringing greater efficiencies and productivity to projects. BIM is a process started at the very beginning of a project. It allows creation of highly accurate 3D models that can reveal issues on a project before ever stepping foot on the job site.

Prefabricating piping assemblies in a controlled factory environment not only adds efficiencies, it also provides greater accuracy. Plus, having rows and rows of prefabricated piping assemblies in a shop environment makes it much easier to perform quality checks. Instead of walking for miles on a job site, a supervisor can save significant time simply walking a shop floor. This is another area where PEX provides benefits as well. Because of its flexibility, a prefabricated PEX piping assembly can withstand the rigors of transportation to a job site.

Larger construction firms can often have their own in-house BIM department, while smaller companies typically outsource the work to a BIM services provider. Some BIM providers offer staff training or a “partnership” solution to augment resources when tackling a large construction project. Many contractors already using BIM have reported significant labour, material, and cost savings by simply getting the plan right in the virtual world before making it happen in reality.

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WATER QUALITY

Ray Wohlfarth is the author of Lessons Learned in a Boiler Room: A common-sense approach to servicing and installing commercial boilers. He is president of Fire & Ice. He can be reached at ray@fireiceheat.com.

By Ray Wohlfarth

How to manage boiler TDS I

f you have ever left a pot of boiling water on a stove and returned after the water was gone, you would see white powder in the empty pot. The white powder is the hardness in the water. It is mostly calcium or magnesium but could be other elements, depending on the water. Inside a boiler, these are called total dissolved solids or TDS. Excessive TDS can cause problems such as bouncing water levels, nuisance trips of the low water cutoff, or carryover. Another danger of elevated TDS is they will adhere to the metal surfaces and form scale. Scale impedes the heat transfer, lowering the boiler efficiency. If the scale is severe, it could cause irreparable damage to the boiler. Scale has an affinity to form on the hottest surfaces, and since the burner is typically at the bottom of the boiler, the scale will form there. To imagine the effect of scale on heat transfer, consider two boilers. One boiler has a scale buildup of 0.001 inches or 0.025 millimeters, and the other has no scale. The boiler with no scale has the steam pressure set at 11 psig. The scaled boiler will have to operate at 42 psig, almost four times higher, to generate the same amount of heat as the unscaled boiler at 11 psig.

Effect of Scale

Large scale formed in a pot from boiling water. The steam will leave the boiler on a properly installed and operating steam boiler, and the solids will be left behind. As the boiler operates, the TDS in the boiler will increase and cause the issues mentioned above. Boiler TDS is measured in parts per million or PPM. To consider how small that is, one PPM is one day in 2,739 years, one minute in 16,666 hockey games, or one inch in 16 miles. Most steam boilers are designed to operate at about 3,500 PPM TDS, but this should always be verified with the boiler manufacturer. To manage the boiler TDS, the chemical treatment expert might recommend chemicals to be pumped into the feedwater to bind and precipitate (sink) impurities or solids in the boiler water. These solids mix with the rust and dirt from the system to form sludge in the bottom of the boiler.

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Getting to the bottom of it The boiler TDS control is accomplished by removing some of the boiler water (blowing down the boiler) and adding fresh feedwater, which has a much lower reading of dissolved solids. A bottom blowdown is used to remove the sludge on the bottom of the boiler. The bottom blowdown usually has two valves, a knife or quick opening valve, and a gate valve. The quick opening valve is closest to the boiler. The bottom blowdown should be performed when the boiler is under a light load. During a heavy or fluctuating load, the sludge gets mixed in with the boiler water. When the demand stabilizes, the sludge falls to the bottom of the boiler making it easier to remove. To perform a bottom blowdown, I use the following steps:

Many water treatment consultants recommend using a surface or skim blowdown in addition to the bottom blowdown. When you skim the boiler, it removes the most solids with the least amount of water lost. Most of the boiler TDS are located six to eight inches or 152 to 203 millimeters below the boiler water line. The blowdown water cannot be piped directly to the floor drain. The National Plumbing Code requires temperatures no higher than 167ºF or 75ºC to be introduced into the drain. The hot boiler water could melt the PVC drainpipes and turn them into cooked spaghetti. A blowdown separator is installed to ensure the blowdown water is cool enough for the drain. Blowdown separators are designed so the incoming hot water flashes into steam at a safe pressure, usually vented to the atmospheric pressure (0 PSIG). These tanks collect about three blowdowns worth of water. Since the boiler blowdowns only occur every eight hours or longer, the water inside the blowdown separator is allowed to cool, and the cooler water is displaced with the new hot water on the next blowdown.

• Open the quick opening valve. • Open the gate valve all the way, and then close it. • Repeat this process three times. This will rock the water and push the sludge buildup toward the drain. The boiler steam pressure will help push the sludge. • Close the gate valve. • Close the quick opening valve.

Blowdown cooler A blowdown cooler is required if the boiler has a continuous blowdown, or more than one boiler is piped into the blowdown separator. The blowdown cooler is a self-regulated valve that introduces cool city water into the condensate to cool the water below the 167ºF or 75ºC threshold. Some systems with available space dump blowdown water into a cooling basin, which eliminates the need for a blowdown separator.

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JOBSITE JARGON

WIN!

Match the terminology you hear in the field to the correct definition or function by August 31, 2022 and enter for your chance to win a $150 Visa gift card. Send your answers to kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com or enter online at mechanicalbusiness.com. NEW: To make it a little more challenging there will be one answer left over. In the event of a tie, the first entry in will be given the win, so don’t delay! This contest is open to Canadian mechanical contractors. EXAMPLE: 5) Flow: G) A measure of the liquid volume capacity of a pump  Answer 5,G

A) Liquid flows to pump inlet from an elevated source by means of gravity B) Allows liquid to flow in one direction only

JOBSITE JARGON 1)

NPSH

C) Maximum vertical distance (in metres) from pump to point of discharge with no flow

Check Valve

D) Sum of discharge head, suction lift, and friction loss

Cavitation

E) Process in which small bubbles are formed and implode violently

Flooded Suction

Flow

Suction Lift

Head

Static Discharge Head

Total Head

F) The inlet pressure of a pump when above atmospheric pressure G) A measure of the liquid volume capacity of a pump H) The inlet pressure of a pump when below atmospheric pressure I) Pressure expressed in lbs., required to overcome the resistance to the flow in the pipe system

K) Indicates the height of a column of water being moved by the pump (without friction losses)

10) Suction Head

L) Total head at pump suction branch over and above the vapour pressure of the liquid being pumped

11) Bypass Valve

Congratulations!

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J) Internal to many pump heads that allow fluid to be recirculated if a given pressure limit is exceeded

The winner of the Jobsite Jargon in the May/June 2022 issue is Derek Huscroft of Southern Mechanical Services In. in Penticton, BC. He is the winner of a Kane wireless carbon monoxide detector.

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Water Conditioning

Webinar Training Series

New Series Starting the week of September 12th! 10 Sessions:

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A FREE webinar series to help you build your water conditioning business and improve your bottom line.

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2022 COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP

B y Ho wa rd J . Elmer

E-VANS EXPAND REACH WITH VIABILITY IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR

n the world of commercial vans not that much changes year to year – mainly because the jobs they do don’t change that much. However, propulsion, as in what drives those vans, is changing. First off Ford has brought its E-transit to market. This all-electric van looks just like its gas-powered cousin – but what drives it are electrons. This innovation follows General Motors introduction last year of the larger livery van – the BrightDrop. GM’s Ingersoll, ON, plant has been retooled to deliver these fleet vehicles to the likes of FedEx and Merchants Fleet (see Newsworthy sidebar). In other news, Nissan is now fully out of the commercial van business.

Cab Style:

2022 FORD TRANSIT For 2022 the Transit is a carry-over – emphasis this year is on the E-Transit.

Van

Wheelbases:

129.9 in., 147.6 in.

Engine Size:

3.5L PFDI gas, 3.5L EcoBoost V6

Power (hp/torque):

275/262, 310/400

Max. Payload:

4,460 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

5,500 lb.

Van Interior: Door Openings:

487.3 cu.ft. (max.) 74.3 in. Rear Height: max 81.5 in.

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 81.5 in. max.

Width: 69.8 in. Length: 171.5 in. Dimensions:

2022 FORD E-TRANSIT

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Van

Wheelbases:

129.9 in., 147.6 in.

Motor Size:

Single motor drive – 68KW

Power (hp/torque):

266/317

Max. Payload:

3,880 lb. (4,428 lb on the cutaway version)

Van Interior Capacity: Door Openings:

The Ford E-Transit offers the same interior cargo dimensions and most of the same mounting points as Ford Transit. The E-Transit can be ordered with accessories such as bulkheads and shelving, so the van is ready to work upon delivery. Customers can also work with any of the Ford approved upfitters. E-Transit offers the optional Pro Power Onboard, which provides up to 2.4 KW of power. This transforms the vehicle into a mobile generator for power tools and equipment on job sites. That’s enough power to run everything from belt sanders to circular saws. Ford says the average daily range for commercial vans in the U.S. is 74 miles (75 km). With a usable battery capacity of 68 KWs, E-Transit has an available targeted range of 126 miles (200 km) in the low-roof cargo van configuration. E-Transit battery is located underneath the vehicle body, allowing for up to 487.3 cubic feet of cargo space inside the high-roof, extended-wheelbase configuration. E-Transit comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile (160,000-km) electric vehicle component warranty.

Length: 263.9 in. max. Width: 82 in.

Cab Style:

487.3 cu.ft. (max.)

74.3 in. Rear Height: max 81.5 in.

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 81.5 in. max.

Width: 69.8 in. Length: 171.5 in. Dimensions:

Length: 263.9 in. max. Width: 82 in.

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continued from page 48

er 2022 FORD E-SERIES 350-450 CUTAWAY

For 2022 the E-series has added a few new features such as a rear-view video camera kit. Flex Fuel Capability has been added. A speed limitation feature is now available and the economy version of the 7.3L V8 is now available in the E450 chassis. The E-series is only available as a cutaway and or stripped chassis. Single and dual-rear wheel chassis have GCWRs ranging from 13,000 lb. to 22,000 lb.

Cab Style:

2022 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

2022 is a carry-over year for Transit Connect. It continues to be offered as cargo or passenger equipped wagon.

2022 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS

Van

Wheelbases:

104.8, 120.6 in.

Engine Size:

2.5L I-4 (fleet only) 2L I-4 169/171 162/144

Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload:

1,610 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

2,000 lb.

Van Interior:

145 cu.ft. 52.1 in.

Rear Door Height: Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 59.1 in.

Width: 48.1 in. Length: 72.6 in. Dimensions:

Max Length: 189.7 in. Width: 72.2 in.

Cab Style:

A new generation of Metris arrived late last year. Highlights include enhanced driver assistance systems, the 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission, a tire pressure loss detection system and a refreshed design. The Metris also offers optional assistance systems, such as Active Parking Assist, Blind Spot Assist, and Lane Keeping Assist.

Van

Wheelbases:

126 in., 135 in.

Engine Size:

2 L I-4 turbo-gas

Power (hp/torque):

208/258

Max. Payload:

2,502 lb. or 2,447 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

5,000 lb.

Van Interior:

183 cu.ft. or 199.2 cu.ft. Side Height: 49 in.

Door Openings:

Rear Height: 48.2 in. Cargo Space Dimensions:

2022 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 1500 TO 3500

Length: 111.5 in. or 120.5 in.

2022 is also a carry-over year for all versions of the Sprinter.

Cab Style:

Dimensions :

Length: 202.4 in. or 211.4 in. Width: 74.4 in.

Van

Wheelbases:

144 in., 170 in.

Engine Size:

3L V6 turbodiesel, 2.1L I-4 turbodiesel

Power (hp/torque):

188/325, 161/266

Max. Payload:

5,375 lb

Max. Towing Capacity:

7,500 lb.

Van Interior:

547 cu.ft.

Door Openings:

Height: 53.8 in.

(Std.) Side Sliding Door: 59.8 in. Rear Height 60.6 in. (Hi-roof) Side Sliding Door: 71.7in. Rear Height: 72.4 in.

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 65 in. (Std. roof), 77.8 in. (Hi-roof)

Width: 53.1 (between wheel arches) Length:137.4 in. Dimensions:

Length: 289 in. Width: 79.3 in. M e c h a n i c a l

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COMMERCIAL SERVICE VEHICLES

Cont’d from pg. 67

Cab Style:

2022 RAM PROMASTER CITY

For 2022 the City includes a body-colour front fascia, daytime running lights, backup sensors, driver seat manual height and lumbar adjustments and cruise control.

Van

Wheelbases:

122.4 in.

Engine Size:

2.4L I-4 MultiAir2

Power (hp/torque):

178/174

Max. Payload:

1,890 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

2,000 lb. (w/tow package)

Van Interior:

2022 RAM PROMASTER 1500 TO 3500

Door Opening:

For 2022 the ProMaster is a carry over. However, the 2023 model has already been shown (expected late this year). It will carry a host of updates and upgrades. ProMaster is available as a cargo van, window van, chassis cab and cutaway model. It is a front-wheel-drive platform.

131.7 cu.ft. (max.) 26 in. (side) Rear Height: 49 in.

Cargo Space Dimensions: Cab Style:

Width: 60.4 in. Length: 87.2 in.

Van

Wheelbases:

118 in., 136 in., 159 in.

Engine Size:

3.6L Pentastar V6 (base)

Power (hp/torque):

280/260

Max. Payload:

4,680 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

6,800 lb.

Van Interior:

Length: 187.5 in. Width: 72.1 in.

ProMaster is available as a cargo van, window van, chassis cab and cutaway model. It is a front-wheel-drive platform.

Rear Height: 49 in.

Cargo Space Height: Dimensions:

Dimensions:`

530 cu.ft. (max.)

Door Openings: 26 in. (side)

Height: 51.8 in.

51 in. Length: 195 in. to 250 in. Width: 82.7 in.

Turn-key vehicles, ready when you need them. With 10 locations across Canada, our dedicated team of fleet management professionals can help you find the right trucks and vans for your business needs, wherever and whenever you need them. Take advantage of our full suite of vehicle management tools and services to help lower your overall vehicle expenses while maintaining a safe and efficient fleet.

www.jimpattisonlease.com

victoria

vancouver

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kelowna

calgary

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edmonton

winnipeg

toronto

laval

montreal

halifax

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NEWSWORTHY Cab Style:

GM Canada’s CAMI Assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario has been retooled for the production of the BrightDrop. This is a fully electric commercial delivery van. When BrightDrop’s Zevo 600 production begins in Q4 2022, CAMI will become Canada’s first full-scale EV plant. The BrightDrop Zevo 400, a smaller version of the electric Zevo 600, will also be built at CAMI beginning in 2023. BrightDrop currently has more than 25,000 production reservations for its electric delivery vans. The Zevo 600 promises 350 km of range and the all-wheel drive motor makes 300hp and 390 lb.ft. of torque. It’s GVWR is 10,000 lb.

Van

Wheelbases:

135 in., 155 in.

Engine Sizes:

4.3L V6, 6.6L V8, 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

276/298, 401/464, 181/369

Max. Payload:

4,503 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

10,000 lb.

Van Interior:

284.4 cu.ft.

Door Opening:

20.8 in.

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 53.4 in.

Width: 52.7 in. Length: 155 in. Dimensions: Length: 224 in. to 244 in. Width: 79.2 in.

2022 CHEVY EXPRESS 2500 AND 3500 2022 Chevy Express 2500 and 3500.

2022 CHEVY EXPRESS CUT-AWAY 3500-4500 Cab Styles:

Van, Cutaway

Wheelbases:

139 in., 159 in., 177 in. (single or dual rear wheels)

Engine Sizes:

Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out the test drives of these trucks on the Truck King YouTube channel.

4.3L V6, 6.6L V8, 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

For 2022 this veteran chassis-cab carries over.

Max. Payload:

276/298, 401/464, 181/369 9,147 lb.

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STUFF YOU NEED Cordless ratchets DeWalt has introduced the 12V Max Xtreme and 20V Max Atomic cordless brushless ratchets, which allow users to fasten and remove nuts, bolts and more in hard-to-reach places. The Max Xtreme ratchets are available with 1/4in., 3/8-in. and 3/8-in. extended reach square drive configurations, and feature a 40 ft-lb. max torque brushless motor, and 60 ft-lb. max torque brushless motor respectively. The Max Atomic ratchets with 1/2-in. and 3/8-in. square drive configurations provide 70 ft-lbs. of max torque. All models are equipped with an LED light, a variable speed trigger, and a trigger lock.

www. dewalt.com

Tool tray Milwaukee Tools has expanded its Packout modular storage system with the addition of a tool tray featuring stack or store functionality. The tray connects to any Packout storage solution, has a customizable internal layout with quickadjust dividers to create up to six separate compartments, and features a metal reinforced handle and a 25-lb weight capacity.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Summer work boots Keen Utility Roswell work boots combine wearability with durability for a boot offering all-day comfort. Designed for warm weather conditions, the boots are made of breathable canvas material, and fold down at the ankles to allow for more airflow. Other features include left- and right-specific carbon fibre toes that are about 15 per cent lighter than steel; oil and slip resistant soles; moisture-wicking textile lining and removable footbed. The boots are available in green or tan.

www. keenfootwear.com/en-ca

Vacuum accessory kit Goodway Technologies introduces the anti-static carbon fibre vacuum accessory kit, a lightweight way to clean overhead pipes, HVAC systems, walls and other hard-to-reach surfaces. The kit’s construction makes the job less labourintensive as it eliminates the need for ladders or other platforms. The unit, which comes in two versions to fit specific Goodway vacuums, includes extension wands, cleaning heads, hoses and other tools.

Tool chest The lockable mobile tool chest from Gray Tools is made of injection moulded copolymer polypropylene, making it durable and impact and water resistant. The chest is 22.8-in. wide, 15-in. deep and 18-in. high, and comes with a removable tray, five small component boxes, storage for a laptop computer or tablet, and a main compartment with a removable drop front door. With two side handles and a telescoping rear handle, the unit weighs 29 lbs when empty.

Digital Alert

www. goodway.com

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Why Read Mechanical Business?

Heaters are ASME stamped for 150 psi working pressure.

• More to read. We cover more topics & have more content than anyone else in the business.

• Useful, relevant editorial. Industry pros share tips and tricks that save you time & money.

• Stay up-to-date. Find the new products and technologies you need to know about.

• Great projects from great people. From coast to coast, see what systems your peers are installing.

Renew your Subscription Today!

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

025 MB HOUSE READER AD magsize.indd 1

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PLUMBING

Products

Valve systems Pressure balance rough-in valve systems from American Standard, GROHE or DXV installed behind the shower wall are crafted from cast brass for corrosion resistance, and to ensure longevity. Designed to be interchangeable with all pressure balance shower trims from LIXIL Canada collections, the system makes design and functional changes easier. The collections include the American Standard Flash Valves, GROHE GrohSafe 3.0 Valves, and DXV Flash Valves.

www. lixil.com

Press tool The one-inch IPS-P Press Jaw for M12 Force Logic press tool from Milwaukee Tool is optimized for use in gas and water installations to allow for greater productivity. When paired with the M12 Force Logic press tool, the jaw offers a compact solution that allows contractors access to tight spaces. The jaw is compatible with all major manufacturers’ carbon steel fitting systems.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Water jet The JM-2900 Jet Set Water Jet from General Pipe Cleaners is a lightweight, lower-priced alternative to larger jetters. The gas-powered unit is powerful enough to remove clear grease, sand, ice and other soft stoppages from fourto eight-in. drain lines, while remaining manoeuvrable and stable. It features a 200-ft. capacity hose reel, drag brake, and swivel mount on a heavy frame, as well as 10-in. flat-free foam core tires and a 13-HP engine connected directly to a 3,000-psi, four-gpm triplex pump.

www. drainbrain.com

PERFORMANCE UNDER

PRESSURE

HYDROSTATIC TEST PUMPS • Pressure test water systems, both residential and commercial

EHTP500 ELECTRIC

2 gpm and 500 psi max

DPHTP500 DRILL-POWERED

1.3 gpm and 500 psi max

Reed Manufacturing • Erie, PA USA 800-666-3691 • reedsales@reedmfgco.com www.reedmfgco.com

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Dual flush toilet The Essence Elongated Dual Flush Toilet from Grohe’s Essence Collection has a smooth, skirted design concealing the trapway that makes the fixture easier to clean while offering a minimalist aesthetic. Features include a dual-flush system for a water-saving yet powerful flush, using 1.28 gallons of water for a full flush or one gallon for a half flush, and a soft closing seat and cover to prevent slamming. The Essence Collection also includes kitchen and bathroom faucets and sinks.

www. grohe.ca

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PLUMBING

Products

Mixing valve The Navigator digital mixing valve from Bradley Corp. delivers precise temperature control and programmable features to keep domestic hot water systems operating safely and efficiently. Designed to maintain water temperatures within a +/-3°F range, the unit can be scheduled for periodic thermal disinfection cycles. The S595000 series valve is available in five models ranging from ¾-in. to two-in. sizes, and comes with an actuator, mixed and return sensors, mixed temperature gauge and controller.

www. bradleycorp.com

Digital Alert

Pipe saw

The RIDGID pipe saw is able to cut one- to 12-in. pipes up to a ½-in. wall thickness, and is fully transportable for greater versatility. The saw is configured to cut steel and stainless steel, and with different blades can cut plastic and cast steel. The unit secures to the pipe with a three-point roller system. An LED interface allows users to monitor feed rate speed and control rotation.

Tub drain Oatey has added the freestanding tub drain to its lineup of drains. The super-compact drain body features an asymmetrical coated stainless steel flange. It is available in ABS, PVC or cast iron, and comes with a pre-installed, 1.4 test cap and protective tiling cover. The gasketed drain receptor can be installed to the 1.5 or two-in. DWV system at rough-in.

www. oatey.ca

www. ridgid.com

Antibacterial products Copper Defense Technology with CuVerro Shield Alloys from Delta Commercial is a line of commercial plumbing products featuring an advanced copper alloy finish with antimicrobial features. The products are designed to reduce bacteria contamination and growth within two hours of exposure between cleaning and sanitizing, making them ideal for public spaces. The line includes retrofit handles and buttons, manual lavatory faucets, manual deck mount faucets, and manual and electric flush valves.

Still specifying Oversized, Inefficient Commercial Water Softeners? Our multi-tank systems (MTS) will take your project to a higher level of treated water quality and efficiency.

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Canature WaterGroup™ is one of North America’s leading manufacturers and distributors of residential and commercial water treatment solutions.

See how our multitank softeners work

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www. deltafaucet.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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� Proven performance in the field

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Holly Shadel is the channel marketing manager for Niagara Conservation Corporation.

Hol l y Sh a d e l

UNDERSTANDING TOILET TECHNOLOGY

MAKE THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOUR CUSTOMER AND THE APPLICATION “It’s 2022 and it seems there is some new technology every time a millennial takes a sip of coffee. Thankfully, things move a little bit slower in the plumbing industry…”

very plumber wants to be sure that they complete each project to their client’s satisfaction. When it comes to toilets, callbacks, service calls for maintenance, and poor flush performance are among the many factors that can hurt a plumbing business’ bottom line and your reputation.

There are three different types of toilet technology, and each can provide their installation challenges.

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TRADITIONAL GRAVITY-FED TECHNOLOGY When opening the lid of a toilet tank, you will probably find a gravity-fed technology system. The flush happens when a rubber flapper is lifted with a chain connected to the handle, allowing gravity to force fresh water from the tank into the bowl, pushing waste down the toilet trap and into the drain system. A fill valve then refills the tank for the next use. Plumbers tend to choose flapper toilets because they are the most familiar to them and can be installed quickly, but a gravity-fed toilet isn’t always the best choice for the job. For example, commercial and medical facilities need something with a little more force than gravity alone to get the job done. Heavy, frequent use requires improved flush power that ensures a clean bowl every time. A pressure-assist toilet is suited to these applications.

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COMMON INSTALLATION CHALLENGES

PRESSURE-ASSIST TECHNOLOGY As the name implies, pressureassist toilets use highly pressurized air to evacuate the bowl and push waste through the trap. These toilets use a specialized chamber within the tank that is used to create the air pressure. Toilets equipped with pressure assist technology are efficient at clearing away waste and preventing clogs, but they are quite a bit louder than the typical gravity-fed model. This technology also tends to use a higher volume of water, which can be effective but wasteful.

Like every fixture, toilets come in all different kinds of styles, models, and materials which can have their own various installation best practices. You wouldn’t install a one-piece the same way you would install a two-piece, or a floormounted toilet the same way you’d install a wall-mounted model. To help prepare you and your employees, we’ve collected a few of the more common challenges that arise when installing a toilet. You’re using new technology It’s 2022 and it seems there is some new technology every time a millennial takes a sip of coffee. Thankfully, things move a little bit slower in the plumbing industry, but that doesn’t mean that you or your employees won’t stumble upon something unfamiliar. The best way to avoid an installation mishap is to have the FAQs available and read the installation manual before being on site. Most manufacturers have both of these readily available on their website, so be sure to have them downloaded to your phones or save the manufacturer’s website for reference if needed. Tank part assembly

To not have to compromise a client’s ear drums for a good flush, there’s a third technology on the market that balances power and water conservation. Vacuumassist technology can provide both.

Some toilets come like IKEA furniture, and you have to put all of the components together as they come out of the box. The best way to avoid this challenge is to purchase a model with a preassembled tank so that you and your team just have to bolt it down and run a few tests before collecting your fee. However, if a preassembled tank isn’t an option, it doesn’t hurt to keep a few extra tank components on hand to use in a pinch or if the manufacturer forgets to include them in the packaging. Faulty tank parts

VACUUM-ASSIST TECHNOLOGY

Developed in early 2009, vacuum-assisted toilets are a newer technology on the market. Upon flushing, the water exiting a specialized chamber within the tank creates a vacuum, depressurizing the trap way, allowing waste to be sucked through the trap. This allows vacuum-assist toilets to use less water. After the flush, a fill valve replenishes the water in the tank and when water fills the tank chamber, the air is pushed back into the air transfer tube. This pressurizes the trap way and primes the toilet for another flush. With absolutely no change in how a traditional toilet is used, a powerful flush is achieved while reducing the amount of water used, creating cost savings for home and property owners through the life of the toilet.

Continuing on that theme – even pre-assembled tanks can be hazardous if they have a flapper. Nothing is worse than getting a full install done and running a test only to find that there’s a faulty flapper or fill valve. Always keep extra tank parts on hand and purchase a product with a warranty for free replacements. Flooring damage A common challenge, especially in older homes, can be layers of flooring to cut through. This can cause the flange to sit much farther down than expected. A second flange or extra-long closet bolts can help close the gap if the existing flange sits lower than the finished flooring. Additionally, look for models with the same or a larger footprint than the toilet you’re replacing to cover any exposed layers or discoloured flooring. Placing the new toilet Getting the bolts to line up with the floor bolt holes at the foot of the toilet can be any plumber’s nightmare. If you hold off from installing the seat until after you bolt the toilet down, you can look through the holes where you’d secure the toilet seat and lid to line up the toilet and place it more easily and quickly. Parting gift A final tip: be sure that you check the toilet’s warranty. A toilet has an average lifespan of 20 years. Most toilets have warranties of at least a year, but like many warranties, they come with restrictions. Be sure that you find a toilet with a warranty of at least 10 years and that they cover most, if not all, of the functional pieces of the toilet. M e c h a n i c a l

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Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

PLUMBING

By Fred Bretzke

WATER IS OUR FRIEND: IF IT IS CONTAINED AND CHANNELED PROPERLY

ver the years as the general manager of a plumbing and heating company I came across many water damage insurance restoration job sites. There are many ways a structure can sustain water damage. In the case of a fire, you would think the fire itself would cause the most extensive damage, but in my experience water damage and fire go hand in hand. When a fire is at full burn in a house, firemen tend to go to the top floor and douse the fire with 2 ½-in. fire hoses thereby extinguishing the fire with thousands of gallons of water. There may be partial fire damage, but it is the water damage which spreads everywhere. It’s effect on wood and drywall is devastating. Water causes the wood floors to roll up like waves, resulting in most or all the floors requiring replacement. Once water gets into the drywall and in between the insulation and vapour barrier, mould will take over. While not all mould is dangerous, there are certain kinds of black mould which can cause sickness amongst vulnerable age groups. Water damage from broken pipes or flooding can cause great damage to mechanical systems. If water floods into the furnace, it’s not just the

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controls that could be rendered useless, it’s also the heat exchanger. When a heat exchanger gets wet it will eventually rust and possibly perforate creating a hazardous situation. It should be replaced if this is the case. Residential hot water tanks have insulation and epoxy coatings to prevent corrosion and heat loss. If the insulation gets wet it can create mould in the linings of the tank, so it should be replaced if in a flood. Pretty much any electrical controls also would have to be replaced after water damage. Are rain water or storm floods covered by insurance? No or maybe yes. Normally storm water is not covered by insurance, meaning if the weeping

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tile or subsoil drainage surrounding the lower foundation wall backs up into a basement it is typically not covered. However, in large catastrophic flood cases such as the Calgary June 19, 2013 floods, things changed for that predicament. For instance, the storm and sanitary sewers typically are separate sewers, and sanitary floods are typically covered by insurance claims. The only way a storm backup would be covered is if the sanitary had somehow crossed over into the storm and contaminated it. In the Calgary flood cases, the flooding was severe enough that the streets’ sanitary and storm manholes were submerged in flooded waters thereby cross connecting

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the storm water making most, if not all, the claims insurable. If water service bursts, is it insured? Typically, if the water service within the building foundation bursts it should be covered. However, if the leak occurs outside the foundation of the building from the property line to the house, it will probably not be covered by insurance. The reason being that insurance typically covers the house itself, not the underground outside of the house. Unfortunately, most water service breaks happen at the corporation coupling just inside property lines by or several feet before the side

walk. Quite often the leak happens under the house’s front driveway and this is usually not covered. When I say it’s sometimes or typically not covered, almost anything can be insured if you pay higher premiums. Exterior sanitary sewer backups are nasty but usually cause less damage than water main breaks, as pressurized water spreads quickly throughout the underground, causing extensive damage. All of that saturated and contaminated earth must be removed from the site and replaced.

TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN TO THE RESCUE Of course, new plumbing technology can help prevent some of these accidental water leaks from causing a lot of water damage. There are several digital devices on the market which monitor and shut off water in case of a leak.

Bathtub assembly preventing overflow

Other than that, most plumbing fixtures have some sort of basic overflow protection.

A bathtub has a waste and overflow built into its drain to prevent the tub from overflowing.

A sink typically has a concealed overflow just below the faucet (#170) on the sink.

A residential kitchen sink typically has a spillway between the two bowls.

If the toilet reservoir tank cracks your only protection is the shutoff below and to the left of the tank.

5) 6) 7)

Sink overflow blow tap

Residential sink with spillway

It is best to purchase a one-piece fiberglass shower enclosure as there is less of a chance of leaking in comparison to two- or three-piece shower enclosures. In commercial restaurants, the food prep sinks must have nonconcealed overflows to prevent overflowing and for health reasons. The three stainless steel overflow tubes are situated in each sink cubicle by #166. Back in the day if there was a city sewer back up it would tend to back up into basements. This was not pleasant for the property owner, plus the city would have to pay insurance companies to restore the basement. A gate valve on the basement floor drain would have to be manually shut off, as sewage was flying up and out of it like a geyser. We now install a normally open back water valve to prevent this from happening. If clients don’t have one on the main building drain and the city sewer backs up into the basement, the insurance company will warn the property owner that they need one if they wish further back up coverage.

Toilet shutoff bottom of tank

One-piece shower

Food prep sinks with non-concealed overflows

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Cont’d from pg. 77

LESSON LEARNED

CASE IN POINT To protect the innocent, I will not divulge the hotel name or plumbers involved except for me, as I was a rookie depending on the mentoring of two journeymen.

I showed up to my afternoon shift as a plumbing apprentice for the maintenance of a nice old hotel. When I arrived in the basement two plumbers were trying to fix a sewer backup, which was backing up in the main floor kitchen. There were about eight to nine floors above them and they were in the basement off the hallway for all the employees’ lockers. They had a 48 in. pipe wrench complete with a snipe on it, trying to open a four in. brass cleanout on an eight in. horizontal cast iron wye. It was old and did not want to come off. I joined in the fun and three of us were holding and prying on the end of this huge wrench trying to turn out the cleanout counter clockwise. We were in a 10 ft. x 10 ft. room that was more like a cupboard. When we idiots finally unleashed the wrath of the 150 ft. stack, the brass round cleanout flew through the air and stuck in the wall, followed by several truckloads of sanitary poop. We were like three sailors trying to shut a submarine hatch, but the pressure was too great and the liquid sanitation pushed open the door and filled up the hallway and the employees’ lockers with two to three ft. of this lovely brown liquid. I must have been quite a sight running up into the beautiful foyer covered in poop. I ran outside and looked for a manhole, thinking maybe that was the problem. Sure enough, when I opened it, it was full to the top of sanitary waste. Now as it turned out we didn’t have to open that cleanout, all we had to do is call the city, and they would vacuum out the manhole. Needless to say, I learned my lesson on manhole locations and cleanouts. There was even a main cleanout about 10 feet higher in the kitchen on the main floor, which would not have been as disastrous to open. The applicable plumbing code is found in the 2015 and 2020 editions under 2.4.7.1. (7b). It basically states that you can install a cleanout three metres above the base of the stack (in case there are accessibility problems). I say if all else fails check your code book.

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TECHNOLOGY By Ca r ol y n C o o p e r

IT’S NOT SMART LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE New certification could open doors to connected and smart tech projects “Building a CIT-certified workforce now is a great step toward leading in your field”

The new ISO-Accredited Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) certification from CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association) has the potential to open up additional business opportunities for Canadian HVAC/R techs, plumbers and mechanical contractors.

David Whitney, senior director of certification for CEDIA.

The globally-recognized certification is a foundational credential, explains David Whitney, senior director of certification for CEDIA, the international trade association for companies designing, manufacturing and integrating technology in the home. “It verifies that an individual is ready to send to job sites to work under supervision to complete initial low-voltage infrastructure installation/first fix activities.” Whitney says that to compete for luxury business across categories “mechanical contractors either need to partner with or become experts in the installation of low-voltage infrastructure. Getting your own technicians certified will help prepare your business to take on more projects involving connected or smart components. Mastering the exam domains will also help you assess potential technology integration partners for more complex projects.” Because of the technology involved in these projects, “many contractors express reluctance to take on smart projects or integrate connected products into their portfolios because they don’t fully understand or trust them,” he says. “They are leaving money on the table.” However, at the same time, “Mechanical contractors shouldn’t walk into connected projects blind – there is a whole new knowledge domain to master here – but neither should they pass on a burgeoning opportunity.” With CIT accreditation, contractors will be able to work on low-voltage systems such as smart thermostats, smart appliances, water and air quality monitors, and smart bathroom fixtures. “Homes are getting smarter,” notes Whitney. “Especially in the luxury and upscale markets, but increasingly in luxury multi-dwelling unit and commercial real estate properties as well, customers expect mechanical systems to come equipped with smart features and to integrate with broader building-wide technology systems for data collection, automation, and control.” In its new Integrated Home Market Analysis report, conducted in partnership with Ancrage Consulting LLC, CEDIA estimates that the home

technology market is now worth $20.1 billion. While categories such as lighting and whole home controls are seeing the most increase, demand for security systems, energy/climate management, and HVAC controls are growing. Another category just emerging is irrigation controls.

The CIT certification is recognized worldwide under the ISO/IEC 17024 certification program requirements standard, and since launching in January 2021, 181 people have earned their CIT certification, including two Canadians. According to CEDIA, five per cent of CIT applicants work in a field outside of custom technology integration, such as mechanical contracting, electrical contracting, or construction. “The larger design-build community is only now beginning to recognize the potential of connected systems to transform their industries,” adds Whitney, “so building a CIT-certified workforce now is a great step toward leading in your field.”

cedia.net/certification

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HVAC/R Products P Gas monitors Belimo’s commercial grade gas monitoring devices are factory calibrated and can measure two different gases at the same time. The monitors have CAN bus communication allowing for daisy-chain installation of up to 32 devices, and can be assigned to sites for ventilation zoning on the same network. They also offer expanded system integration and BMS control with the BACnet MS/TP on select models.

www.

belimo.com/ca

Wireless sensors Air-Fi Wireless Sensors for Trane/Mitsubishi Electric CITY MULTI variable refrigerant flow systems are communicating and sensing technology that provide building owners with data to improve efficiency standards and meet decarbonization goals. Built on BACnet/ZigBee to seamlessly coexist with other wireless systems in the building, the sensors detect and monitor temperature, humidity, occupancy and carbon dioxide, and offer a lifetime battery, reduced wiring for fast and easy installation, and maximized network reliability.

www.

trane.com

Permanent magnet pump Armstrong introduces a medium range line of design envelope permanent magnet pumps engineered to deliver 20-per cent lower operating costs than variable speed pumps with standard induction motors. The pump motors range from 15 to 50 hp, and feature adjustable design points and setpoint based on onsite conditions, a quadratic pressure control curve, and a constant-flow function for maintaining a desired flow rate in recirculation applications.

Air curtain The geometrically shaped Architectural Elite air curtain cabinet from Berner International combines energy savings and thermal comfort with a modern design and quiet operation. It is suited to applications in restaurants, hotels and retail outlets. Available to cover eight- and 10-ft. high doorways, the air curtains can be used with a wireless controller, and include a clock, time delay, built-in thermostat, 10-speed fan control, and other integrated customizable features.

www.

armstrongfluidtechnology.com

www.

berner.com

Smart thermostat Energy analyzers The compact EM530 and EM540 three phase energy analyzers from Carlo Gavazzi are suitable for building and industrial automation applications, including cost sharing, energy analysis for energy efficiency, power metering for PV energy storage, and indoor or temperature-controlled EV charging. The EM530 is a Class 0.5S (kWh) analyzer which measures currents up to 10,000A via 5A current transformers, while the EM540 is a Class 1 (kWh) analyzer which measures current up to 65A via direct connection, eliminating the need for current transformers. Both units can be used for two- and three-phase systems, as well as wild-leg systems.

www.

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The SunStat ConnectPlus thermostat from SunTouch, a Watts brand, allows customers to remotely access and control their electric floor warming systems using voice control with Alexa or Hey Google. The thermostat can also be connected to the home’s Wi-Fi system for automatic clock setting, outdoor temperature reading, warm weather compensation and warm weather shut down. Other features include a voltage level detector and ammeter with diagnostic screen and wireless technology of 915MHz for connecting accessories.

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Two great brands. One smart system. Introducing the Google Nest Thermostat E + Goodman, the complete branded system that brings together the helpfulness of Google with the year-round comfort of Goodman. Why Google + Goodman? Stay connected to customers when they need you most. With HVAC monitoring on the Nest Thermostat E, the homeowner receives emailed alerts that include their Goodman Nest Pro contact information so they can easily book an appointment.1

Offer a better customer experience. The Nest Thermostat E + Goodman delivers energysaving features, remote control, and beautiful design.2 Plus, it comes with a special five-year limited warranty.*

The power of Goodman. The helpfulness of Google. The Nest Thermostat E pairs effortlessly with new Goodman equipment, so it’s easy to install. And it helps customers stay in the know with proactive alerts and monthly updates.1

Build your smart home business. With an entire suite of products designed to work together, Google Nest helps you expand your smart home portfolio and grow your business all year round.

Visit www.goodmanmfg.com/products/controls/goodman-nest to learn more about the Nest Thermostat E + Goodman. Don’t miss all the benefits of being a Nest Pro.

Get VIP support, earn amazing rewards, and build customer relationships with HVAC monitoring.3 Sign up today at g.co/nestpro. 1Alerts can notify you of a potential issue with eligible HVAC systems. They’re meant to provide helpful information, not an endorsement, representation, or warranty of any kind about the health of your HVAC system. Alerts aren’t intended to replace a diagnosis by a qualified HVAC professional. 2Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming, and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi. 3Nest Pro Rewards available to Nest Pros in the US only. See http://bit.ly/pro-rewards-terms for terms and conditions.

* The full text of Goodman limited warranty on this product may be viewed at www.goodmanmfg.com/products/controls, or may be requested in paper by contacting us at 19001 Kermier Road, Waller, TX 77484.

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Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, ON. To reach him, email doug@letterm.ca.

Add videos to your marketing strategy Whether you’re learning how to make the best paella, or how to install a dishwasher, the chances are good you’re watching a video online.

umans have always been visual creatures. Our earliest communication was with pictures, long before we learned language and writing emerged to be the predominant form of communication for 5,000 years. Over the past two decades as internet access, speed, and capacity grew rapidly, our reliance on visual communications such as photography, infographics, illustrations, schematics and videos has grown. In fact, I’ve heard that for the first time in modern human history, we use visual tools more than written methods to communicate. Canadians, according to some research, consume more video content per capita than in any other country.

THE EYES HAVE IT You probably don’t realize it, but when you watch videos of any kind, you’re actually triggering all types of chemical reactions in your brain and body. From when those animations first hit your retina to the animated call-to-action at the end, you’re experiencing the content in a way that text cannot compare. In fact, not only do visuals last longer in the brain, but they’re also processed a lot faster on the front end – 60,000 times faster than text. This is a big reason why it’s estimated that over 65 per cent of people consider themselves “visual learners.” These figures alone speak to why videos must be a cornerstone in your marketing strategy.

THAT PHONE IN YOUR POCKET

While shooting video may be daunting at first, remember that you don’t need to be an experienced videographer to capture meaningful content. In 2022, the highest resolution smartphone camera has a 108MP sensor and 100x zoom, comparable to some of the high-end digital cameras on the market. In other words, you’re a videographer if you have a phone in your pocket. It’s a powerful marketing weapon. Simply point and shoot. Getting that footage to your customers is perhaps the biggest leap. After these photos and videos are taken, they’re not doing you much good sitting in your camera roll. Video production companies are worth their hefty price tag for polished corporate videos, but a lot of content doesn’t need a pro. Instead of googling “video editors near me” or considering taking out a second mortgage to cover that video editing software’s hefty price tag, do your research. Consider video editing apps made for iPhone, Canva, or other editing platforms for an inexpensive way to make your videos look visually appealing. What’s great is that these platforms have loads of blogs, and videos showing users how to get the most out of their content creation. They’re drag-and-drop level user friendly and the results Today’s average cellphone has camera settings and video capabilities are surprisingly good. that we couldn’t even dream of 20 years ago.

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Now I hear you saying, “Great Doug, I’ve got a video camera and an editing studio in my back pocket, but what the heck are these videos going to be about?” A better question with a shorter answer is, what aren’t they about? Here are some suggestions: • behind-the-scenes footage showcasing the dirty work behind the “after” photo • short clips to show how thorough your “white glove and red carpet” approach is when you’re in a customer’s home • quick pro tips such as how to clean a dryer vent or properly rinse a furnace filter (these are easy to shoot and drop on your social media channels) • do a “meet the team” video (or series) introducing the world to your talented lineup • bust some myths, answer some FAQs, celebrate a local charity, show off a new truck, introduce a new employee. The list goes on, and so does the content. Connect with your customers, clients, and potential viewers in a way that matters to them.

Photo: Reliance Home Comfort

ABOUT THE CONTENT

Quick pro tips are easy to shoot and drop on your social media channels. Don’t worry if you’re not exactly an actor. If you’re not comfortable speaking or narrating on camera, these apps have unlimited capabilities for captions, banners, and text functions to articulate your most important takeaways and calls-to-action. Keep it concise, keep it honest, and keep it on brand. The beauty of self-made videos is their ability to showcase authenticity and people want to see the real thing.

Tomorrow’s refrigeration, today. Sustainability is not about off-grid or huge solar/wind fields that apply to the few. It’s about reducing the impact of every component used by the many. Make Oxford Energy’s OLPP™ solar kit the next step in your customer’s corporate stewardship journey. With plug-and-play simplicity, it can be added to any system easily and efficiently. The solar option ties into the main power supply of each unit and automatically ‘sheds’ power as it harnesses free energy from the sun. OLPP solar is ready as an off-the-shelf option for any system, or to enhance the efficiency of any Oxford Refrigeration system already in the field. Call us today to find out more.

519-532-6373 • oxfordenergy.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

HOME RENOVATIONS ON THE RISE 98

SUMMERTIME FOOD FAVOURITES 62 Percentage of Canadians who say they barbecue one to three times a week during the summer. Seven per cent say they use their barbecue for every meal in the summer.

21 Percentage of food being prepared by Canadians on the barbecue that are considered side dishes, including potatoes and vegetables.

1999 The year Tim Horton’s Iced Cap was introduced.

Percentage of homeowners who say they read reviews before making any purchasing decisions on renovations and when working with a professional.

81 Percentage of homeowners who had cash on hand to fund their renovations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

35 Percentage of consumers who say they have postponed home renovations due to the cost of materials.

69 Percentage of Canadian homeowners who have hired a professional to do their home renovations over the past two years.

77 Percentage of consumers who are planning interior home renovations within the next year, while 51 per cent say they plan to do exterior upgrades.

HANDWASHING HABITS 5 Number of times men wash their hands each day, compared to 10 times per day in 2020 during the pandemic.

COOLING OFF

61 Percentage of Canadian homes with any kind of air conditioning (AC) unit, says Statistics Canada.

68 Percentage of all homes with AC that have a central air conditioner.

72 Recommended temperature in Fahrenheit (22.2°C) for air conditioners during the summer.

Number of times women wash their hands each day, compared to 11 times per day in 2020.

49 Percentage of men who say they don’t use soap when washing their hands. That compares to 36 per cent in 2020.

32 Percentage of women who say they don’t use soap when washing their hands, compared to 18 per cent in 2020.

Percentage of Canadians living in cities who say they intend to buy a recreational property within the next two years, according to a Leger/REMAX Canada survey.

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Mechanical Business July/August 2022

Articles inside

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Creating tighter duct systems: An efficient strategy

MARKETING Add videos to your marketing strategy