BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

“ Flexi-Rooter’s ClogChopper rips open a hole for the chain knocker to work. It’s a great product.”

Flexi-Rooter ®

Flexi-Rooter

® featuring ClogChopper ® Cutters

Flexi-Rooter uses ClogChopper six-bladed cutters along with carbide-tipped chain cutters to break through the toughest clogs, scale and roots. The cutters then grind up the stubborn stoppages and scour the pipe walls clean.

The rotating shaft is 10 times faster than traditional shafts, yet easy to handle. It’s extremely exible for clearing 2" lines, yet strong enough to cut roots in 4" lines up to 75 feet long. Plus, the foot pedal leaves both hands free to guide it into the drain.

To learn more, visit www.drainbrain.com/Flexi-Rooter, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200.

40READER PROFILE

Finding a niche in the HVAC market

Andy Jourdain happily found his true calling

Kerry Turner

56 ROAD WARRIOR BRANDON PACHECO: Troubleshooter

Carolyn Cooper

68 JOBSITE JARGON

Test your knowledge of hydronic terminology for a chance to win

78PLUMBING

The art of sink selection

How to choose the most appropriate bathroom sink for the space and use

Parniian Frozan

22 PLUMBING

The glass pipe project

Fred Bretzke

Lab demonstrates the use of vents and traps in a plumbing drainage system.

26 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Selling the benefits of new technology

Gord Cooke

As campaigns get the phones to ring, consider some modest adjustments to your sales process to help your customers avoid the “it’s too complicated, I’ll do it next time” cop-out.

54 HYDRONICS

Trends: Influences, disruptions and the inevitable Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

While it can be a good move to jump in early with new technology, some will be a flash in the pan, becoming a liability in the future.

70 REFRIGERATION

How to diagnose reciprocating compressor problems and failures − Part II

Phil Boudreau

More on how to evaluate the evidence inside the compressor, an important step to finding the ultimate cause for the issue.

82 MARKETING

Social media in 2023: The Dos and Don’ts

Doug MacMillan

As long as you’re providing value, feeding engagement, and being mindful, your social media game will remain strong, and so will your revenue.

18 BRANCHES AND FOUR LUXURY RETAIL SHOWROOMS

FLEXIBLE DELIVERY OPTIONS! JOBSITE DROPOFF CURBSIDE PICKUP AND MORE

SKILLED HEATING DEPARTMENT

PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND DESIGN SERVICES

FRIENDLY AND EXPERIENCED STAFF

EXPERT COMMERCIAL QUOTATIONS TEAM, START-FINISH PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Content Media Group Inc.

2 Campbell Dr., Suite 807

Uxbridge, ON L9P 0A3

Tel: 905.465.2919 www.mechanicalbusiness.com

July/August 2023 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

Contributing Editor Carolyn Cooper editorial@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)

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 Canthe U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy).

© Copyright 2023. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

Proud members of:

The bigger picture

The array of plans, programs and policies aimed at electrification is dizzying in Canada but what is happening elsewhere in the world? We are in the middle of a global initiative, which means there are lessons to be learned in terms of the most effective way to continue the momentum. With the power of the fossil fuel industry and a general reluctance to make the switch to electric, governments have started to play hardball.

In Europe, the German cabinet approved a bill to ban new oil and gas heating systems as of 2024 in a move to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and move the country to become climate neutral by 2045. Under the Building Energy Act, almost all newly-installed heating systems in both new and existing buildings should run on 65 per cent renewable energy.

The government is offering homeowners rebates to switch to climate-friendly heating systems. More than 40 per cent of gas consumption in Germany is for heating, with approximately half of Germany’s households using natural gas and 25 per cent using oil.

Closer to home, New York lawmakers passed the nation’s first statewide ban on fossil-fuel use in new construction in May 2023. Starting in 2026, stoves, furnaces or water heaters that burn gas and other fossil fuels will be banned from new buildings under seven storeys. Larger buildings are required to comply starting in 2029. It doesn’t stretch to retrofits, and allows some commercial and industrial exemptions. Buildings account for nearly a third of New York state’s greenhouse gas emissions. How successful the ban will be remains to be seen. In a hotly politicized environment, the law may be challenged. In April 2023, federal appeals court tossed out Berkeley, CA’s leading edge 2019 legislation to ban fossil-gas hookups in new buildings. The lawsuit was funded in part by SoCalGas, the nation’s largest gas utility.

If we look even farther afield, Australia’s Climate Council notes that renewable energy now makes up more than 35 per cent of electricity in the National Electricity Market, while gas generation dropped below five per cent in the first quarter of 2023. Even so, research by the Grattan Institute reveals that tens of thousands of new homes in Australia are still hooked up to fossil fuels yearly, putting the country at risk of breaking its legally binding climate goals. The institute has recommended that “each state and territory government should set a date for the end of gas.”

We can learn some valuable lessons from other countries but what is clear is that a dipping your toe in the water approach isn’t going to cut it. It’s time to dive right in.

AEA offers rebates for energy efficiency improvements

The Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) in the Northwest Territories is supporting businesses, non-profit organizations and community governments with rebates and energy experts. The organization offers rebates of up to $50,000 for energy upgrades, with customers receiving either 50 per cent of the total cost of their project, or a calculation based on the amount of money and greenhouses gases that the project will save, whichever is less. Rebates are offered after the upgrades have been completed, and are available on a first-come, firstserved basis. All projects must be completed by March 10, 2024. aea.nt.ca

Brandi Ferenc recognized with Building Diversity Award

Brandi Ferenc, an HVAC mechanic at Newmarket, ON’s Southlake Regional Health Centre, has won the Nexgen Builders Award – Mentor category in the 3rd Annual Building Diversity Awards. Ferenc was recognized for her work as a mentor for women in skilled trades and HVAC apprentices at Support Ontario Youth, and as an HVAC teacher at Georgian College. The awards are presented by the Toronto Community Benefits Network communitylabour coalition made up of trade unions, trades training centres, workforce development agencies, grassroots groups and community organizations.

buildingdiversity.ca

Clean Home Heating Initiative expands in Ontario

The Clean Home Heating Initiative, a collaboration between Enbridge Gas and the Government of Ontario, has expanded to include homeowners in Ajax, Barrie, Pickering and Whitby, ON. The initiative was successfully rolled out last year in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines, Peterborough, and London, ON. Under the program, homeowners in these municipalities can receive up to $4,500 towards installation of an electric heat pump to create a hybrid heating system when paired with a condensing natural gas furnace.

enbridgegas.com

SBC offers commercial air tightness testing training workshops

Sustainable Buildings Canada (SBC) is offering a free workshop in September for commercial and multifamily new construction buildings air tightness testing on behalf of Enbridge Gas. The session will include classroom training on Code and green standard requirements, testing methodologies and approaches, and how to test large multi-zone buildings, and a half day of hands-on training using blower doors to demonstrate set up and installation, calibration of multiple blower doors, communications, air sealing requirement procedures and potential mitigation strategies. sbcanada.org

Gerry Price receives Order of Manitoba

Gerry Price, chair and CEO of Winnipeg, MB-based Price Industries Ltd., is one of 12 people recognized this year with the Order of Manitoba. The award, which was scheduled to be presented during a formal investiture ceremony on July 20, 2023, honours Manitobans who have demonstrated excellence and achievement that has enriched the social, cultural or economic well-being of the province and its residents. Price and his family support charities and capital campaigns, including those for children and families, youth mentorships, education and scholarships, healthcare and other community-led initiatives. Price Industries manufactures commercial HVAC equipment and is one of Manitoba’s largest private employers.

manitobalg.ca/awards/order-of-manitoba

Free NECB training courses announced

CSA Group, Natural Resources Canada and the National Research Council of Canada have developed free online National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) training courses for contractors, designers and building managers. The courses are designed to improve the construction community's ability to effectively implement the NECB, and help boost the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. csagroup.org

National Backflow Prevention Day 2023

National Backflow Prevention Day is celebrated annually on August 16 to recognize backflow prevention and cross-connection control and the people who install, maintain and test backflow preventers. The day also educates the public about backflow prevention, which prevents people from consuming water with toxins, chemicals, waste and other contaminants. To celebrate the occasion Watts is hosting a new CEU webinar called New Tech in Backflow Prevention: The Future is Now on August 16 at 12 p.m. EST, and will be livestreaming on social media at 2 p.m. about smart and connected solutions, new innovations in backflow and more. Watts is also offering two Watts Works online learning promotions throughout August. Click here to find out more. watts.com

Plumbing STANDATA updates for Alberta

The Government of Alberta now has several plumbing STANDATA available on its website. As well as the National Plumbing Code of Canada, listed STANDATA includes: Drainage systems with municipal requirements; Requirements for combination heating systems; Expansion and contraction − for drainage, venting and water distribution systems (including water hammer); Single wall heat exchangers; Floor drains and trap seal replenishment; Drainage and venting requirements for floor sinks; Requirements for solar domestic hot water systems; Interceptors; Reclaimed water systems within a single property; Radon/soil gas pipe labelling; Hydronic heating systems; and Drainage of water from elevator pits. alberta.ca