Mechanical Business November/December 2024

BUY MORE, GET MORE.

Fall Into Savings — 2024 Rebate Promo

GPC’s rebate offer is your chance to get money back on your purchases from now through the end of the year. The more you buy, the more you get back!

REBATE REWARDS

Spend $1,500 – Get $150

Spend $3,000 – Get $400

Spend $5,000 – Get $600

Spend $7,500 – Get $750

Spend $10,000 – Get $1,000

*All amounts listed are in U.S. dollars

Buy as many times as you want within the promo window. Offer only good on purchases made October 15 to December 31, 2024. Claims must be submitted by January 31, 2025. May not be combined with any other rebate, discount or promotion. Excludes Hot-Shot and Typhoon.

To claim your rebate check, reference code HOLIDAY2024 and submit a copy of the wholesaler’s invoice showing the products purchased, serial number(s) and your completed warranty registration card. Same name must appear on all forms.

Email: promos@generalpipecleaners.com

Or, snail-mail to: General Pipe Cleaners, Attn: Greg Weidman, 1101 Thompson Avenue, McKees Rocks, PA 15136

General Pipe/GPC

29HEAT PUMP JOURNAL

Check out the second issue of the semiannual Heat Pump Journal. Learn about technology for multifamily applications, the proper process to clean a mini-split, the latest product offerings, and much more.

HEAT PUMP

72HUMAN RESOURCES

Are you spending more time managing your people than your business? It may be time to bring in some help.

Sue Sodek

The

64COVER STORY

Climatologist David Phillips has never lost his passion for sharing information about the climate. He brings us up-to-date on forecasts made 30 years ago.

Kerry Turner

82PLUMBING

How to avoid hazards while cleaning drains for fun and profit.

Dave Dunbar

24 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Building science: The foundation of energy contracting Michael Grochmal

Basic dos and don’ts when making HVAC improvements.

34 VERTICAL STACK HPs

Effective heating and cooling in multi-family buildings

Matthew Reid System has multiple checks and balances to ensure it meets demand.

42 HYDRONICS

Piping hydronic heat pumps

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Air to water heat pump systems require a bit more attention to piping to achieve the best results.

66 PLUMBING

Preventive measures take the pressure off water systems

Fred Bretzke

What if we could prevent water hammer before it happened?

84 MARKETING

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence

Paul Bies

Boost your business with instant lead response.

84 REFRIGERATION: Mike Squires returns next issue.

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November/December 2024 Issue

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WORTH A LOOK

By Carolyn Cooper

ECO Canada report shows need for qualified workers in energy efficiency sector

The energy efficiency sector is growing, and with it so is demand for skilled employees, according to a new report from The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada). The 2024 Energy Efficiency Employment in Canada report is an in-depth analysis of the 2023 energy efficiency sector. It is a follow up to ECO Canada’s 2018 study, which highlighted energy efficiency employment in six industries: construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, professional and business services, utilities, and other services.

The 2024 report was conducted through a survey of 2,694 establishments working in the energy efficiency sector during winter 2023/2024. It found that the energy efficiency sector continues to experience significant growth, generating $126.3 billion in estimated operating revenues in 2023, compared to $82.6 billion in the 2018 study.

The overall energy efficiency workforce is projected to grow eight per cent in 2024, creating an additional 37,000 new jobs. However, employers are already having trouble finding qualified workers, and cite hiring challenges such as high demand, a small applicant pool, and insufficient qualifications. In particular they are having difficulty recruiting installation workers or technicians, and managers or supervisors. Other highlights include:

• The sector employed 466,271 permanent workers in 2023, 65 per cent in construction.

• There were 55,146 establishments in the sector in 2023, 77 per cent of which were in construction. This is an 8.7-per cent increase in total establishments since 2018.

• The sector generated $21.9 billion in employment income last year.

• The workforce has increased by 6.9 per cent in the past five years.

• Only 18 per cent of workers in the sector are female, compared to the national average of 48 per cent.

• Indigenous people make up three per cent of the workforce, compared to the national average of four per cent.

ECO Canada is a not-for-profit organization that works with industry, academia and practitioners in the environmental sector to provide workforce insights and solutions. It delivers programs and services that support job creation, career resources, training, and certification.

The team at Mechanical Business wishes readers, advertisers, supporters and friends a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a prosperous 2025.

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New Building Material Exchange focuses on circular practices

Light House has launched the Building Material Exchange (BMEx) program on Vancouver Island, BC. The free program connects regional construction and manufacturing businesses which have surplus or salvaged building or design materials, with other businesses or organizations which need those resources for their own building projects. As well as reducing the materials bound for landfills, the program helps lower waste management costs for donor companies and the costs of construction materials for recipients. BMEx accepts materials such as wood, glass, flooring, fixtures and fittings, metal, and much more. To date the program has more than 700 businesses engaged. light-house.org/bmex

AVAQ launches registry revealing asbestos risks in public buildings

The Association of Asbestos Victims of Quebec has released an online registry showing the location of public buildings containing asbestos throughout the province. The registry lists more than 3,000 health, education, and government services buildings that contain asbestos. It was compiled through government reports, access-to-information requests and other sources. According to the association, construction workers are at high risk for asbestos exposure, which can cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer that can take decades to develop following exposure.

avaq.org/registredesbatiments

ATCC launches prompt payment website

The Alberta Trade Contractors Council (ATCC) has launched the Prompt Pay Alberta website as a resource hub for contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders. The website, developed by ATCC, offers information on the province’s Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act and how it impacts businesses, guidance on compliance, and advocacy and support information. The Act came into effect on August 29, 2022, when all contracts and subcontracts already in place were granted a two-year transition period to comply with the Act, which has now ended. atccouncil.ca

Fourth intake commissioned for more sustainable cooling

Enwave Energy Corporation’s Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) system recently celebrated the official commissioning of its fourth intake. The system opened in 2004, and uses chilled Lake Ontario water to provide cooled air to more than 100 downtown buildings. Enwave began construction of the system expansion in 2021, which included adding a three-km. pipe to draw in water from Lake Ontario at 4⁰C, and transport it to Enwave’s John Street Energy Centre through a new tunnel extending under the harbour. The expansion boosted the system’s cooling capacity by 60 per cent, while adding the capacity to provide service to 40 more buildings. Enwave’s DLWC shares infrastructure with Toronto’s water utility. The system operates under an Energy Transfer Agreement that allows Enwave to transfer cooling energy from the drinking water infrastructure into its District Energy Supply through heat exchangers. enwave.com

Celebrating the fourth intake of Enwave’s DLWC system were: (L-R) Toronto mayor Olivia Chow; William Fernandes, acting deputy general manager, Toronto Water; Lou Di Gironimo, general manager, Toronto Water; Hon. Sam Oosterhoff, associate minister, EnergyIntensive Industries; and Enwave CEO Carlyle Coutinho.

ASHRAE releases Winter Conference technical program

ASHRAE’s 2025 Winter Conference, taking place February 8 to 12, 2025 in Orlando, FL, will explore strategies and best practices for using emerging technology to address challenges in the built environment. The event will feature more than 100 technical sessions on eight conference tracks offering new approaches to building design, construction and operation. ASHRAE will also offer 20 courses during the conference and at AHR Expo February 10 to 12 in Orlando, FL. ashrae.org

Human resources will take centre stage says CIPH speaker

The Ontario Region of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) held the first of three Business Meetings on October 24, 2024 at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga, ON. Speaker Michael Guckes of ConstructConnect discussed influences in North America and internationally that will impact the Canadian economy. In a nod to Canada, Guckes said Canadians are prudent, with the government being responsible about spending. Labour issues figured prominently in his presentation, titled Building Beyond Today, particularly labour productivity issues. He suggested that attendees have to figure out how to bolt up their HR expertise. Guckes added the industry also needs to emphasize that it is continuing to change to dispel any negative perceptions of jobs in construction. He concluded with strategies to tackle macroeconomic conditions, finance and labour, and noted that many of the resources used in his presentation are available at canada.constructconnect.com.

ciph.com

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Michael Guckes is chief economist at ConstructConnect.

Webinar

series

focuses on employee recruitment and retention

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA) is presenting a webinar series on effective recruitment and retention best practices for businesses and organizations. The series will cover insights and recommendations from industry experts, employers, apprentices, associations and other apprenticeship stakeholders. Discussions focus on topics such as the challenges faced by employers in the trades, and strategies to build and maintain a diverse workforce. Attendees will learn actionable steps they can take to improve recruitment and retention efforts, and will receive a recruitment and retention guide based on research findings, interviews and focus groups. The webinar series, which started in November 2024, runs until November 2025. caf-fca.org

Virtual, in-person or hybrid?

Check out mechanicalbusiness.com for the latest information on industr y events

SaskEnergy introduces rebate for replacing old equipment

SaskEnergy now offers homeowners the Residential Equipment Replacement Rebate when they replace old heating equipment with newer, high-efficiency models that lower energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible equipment includes furnaces, boilers, combiboilers, tankless water heaters, tank water heaters, and heat recovery ventilators. Units must be installed by a SaskEnergy Network Member or Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan licensed contractor, and homeowners must be a SaskEnergy residential customer. Rebate submissions can be made after the equipment installation is complete.

saskenergy.com

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Feds invest $4.3 million in five deep energy retrofit projects

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has announced a $4.3-million investment in five deep energy retrofit projects. The projects are funded under the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program and the Energy Innovation Program. Funding recipients include: EnviroCentre’s Retrofit Accelerator project for retrofits to social housing in Eastern Ontario, including Gloucester Housing’s Carver Place neighbourhood in Ottawa, ON; the ReCover Initiative in Atlantic Canada; the First Nations Power Authority of Saskatchewan; Sustainable Buildings Canada; and the Retrofit Canada Society. Test cases from the Carver Place project show the planned retrofits will result in an average annual energy reduction of 42 per cent, and a reduction of 2.4 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

SAIT introduces skilled trades program for Grades 7 to 12 students

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has introduced Exploring Skilled Trades, a free online program introducing students and teachers to opportunities in the skilled trades. Designed for students in Grades 7 to 12, the program was developed by SAIT Youth Initiatives in collaboration with several local school boards, and funded by the Alberta at Work Apprenticeship Partnerships Program Grant and industry partners.

sait.ca

ASHRAE updates residential energy performance standard

The newest version of the ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.2, High Performance Energy Design of Residential Buildings features advancements in building design as well as ambitious goals for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and greenhouse gas reduction. The standard now covers multi-family residential buildings of any height. Significant changes include new performance standards for major energy-related renovations; updated guidelines for dwelling units versus common areas; lowered energy rating index thresholds and a new CO2e Rating Index; and strengthened regulations to minimize air leakage and maximize building efficiency. ashrae.org

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Explore the new NPF at Navieninc.com.

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BC Retrofit Accelerator aims to kick-start energy upgrades

The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) has launched the BC Retrofit Accelerator (BCRA), a program designed to kick-start climate and energy upgrades in commercial and residential buildings across BC. The $20-million, three-year program will deliver decarbonization plans for 500 large buildings that show a path to zero emissions by 2050. The program will help strata councils, building owners and operators navigate the retrofit process, including identifying technology, finding financing options, and procuring and implementing equipment. The BCRA will team up with 15 public, private and non-profit partners. It will help participants access rebates and financing, but does not provide direct capital funding. zeic.ca

Manitoba offers tax credit for green energy equipment

The province of Manitoba offers property owners in the province a tax credit when they install a geothermal heat pump system or solar thermal energy system. The Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit has been expanded to include biomass fuel energy equipment used in a business. Property owners can receive a tax credit on geothermal heat pumps, and a 15 per cent tax credit on the remainder of the capital costs excluding the heat pump if the installer is certified by the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance. Those who install specified solar heating equipment qualify for 10 per cent tax credit on the eligible capital costs. A list of recognized installers may be obtained from the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance.

gov.mb.ca mgea.ca

Alberta adds new STANDATA for National Building Code

Alberta has issued two new building STANDATA for smoke detectors and exhaust outlets under the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta edition. STANDATA variance 23-BCV-008(REV1), Residential exhaust outlet clearance from air intakes, provides an alternative solution to Sentence 9.32.3.13.(4) for the minimum clearance requirement for domestic exhaust outlets that discharge air containing moisture, such as kitchen, bathroom, and clothes dryer exhaust outlets, from air intakes. STANDATA interpretation 23-BCI-008, Smoke detectors in smoke or fire/smoke damper installation, clarifies whether the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition (NBC(AE)) requires a smoke detector as part of a smoke or fire/smoke damper operation to be connected to the fire alarm system (FAS).

alberta.ca

The panel discussion highlighted the role of hydronics in building energy efficiency and reaching net zero goals. (L-R) David Hughes, technical advisor, codes and standards, CIPH; Tom Gervais, director of specification and product development, Bradford White Corporation, and the 2024 winner of the Joseph K. Seidner Award; moderator Jerry Leyte of Viessmann; Jeremy Young, BC mechanical sales manager at Pro-West Sales Ltd.; Bob Rohr, Mechanical Business columnist and Caleffi trainer; and Jean-Claude Rémy, business development manager at Uponor.

Hydronic pros gather in Edmonton for CHC event

A must attend event for the hydronics industry, the two-day CIPH Canadian Hydronics Conference offered keynote presentations, a series of technical sessions/ workshops, and an exclusive group of hydronics exhibitors. The Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC) held the event September 25 and 26, 2024 at the River Cree Casino & Resort in Edmonton, AB. ciph.com

Nova Scotia launches heating assistance rebate

The province of Nova Scotia is offering eligible residents a $600 rebate on home heating bills for the 2024-2025 season through the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP). Under HARP, families with a net income of up to $75,000 or singleperson households with a net income of up to $55,000 are eligible to apply for a rebate. The program includes both homeowners and renters. Eligible seniors may also apply to the Seniors Care Grant to help cover the cost of home heating. Eligible home heating costs include oil, electricity, natural gas, wood, wood pellets, coal, and other heating sources. Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2025. beta.novascotia.ca

TSSA adopts CSA B52:2023, issues propane storage tank director’s order

Effective October 1, 2024, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has adopted CSA B52:2023, the Mechanical Refrigeration Code, regulating pressure equipment in Ontario. The Mechanical Refrigeration Code is an amendment to the Code Adoption Document (CAD). The code provides an exemption for refrigeration systems using A1 or A2L refrigerants up to 500 kW from requiring design registration if certified by a Standards Council of Canada-accredited body. In other TSSA news, a director’s order regarding propane storage tanks designed for 200 psig has been issued. Under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000, Ontario Regulation 211/01, Propane Storage and Handling, any tank with a maximum allowable working pressure of less than 250 psig (1.72 MPa) is to be taken out of service. All new installations will require 250 psig tanks. The requirements become effective in Ontario on October 1, 2025. tssa.org

24_001365_Shelving_BinOrgGrid_HalfHoriz_US Mod: October 11, 2024 1:12 PM Print: 10/11/24 page 1 v2.5

Movers & Shakers

Daikin commemorates 100th anniversary

Daikin Industries, Ltd. is celebrating 100 years of business this year. The company’s North American subsidiaries have more than 22,000 employees and 25 manufacturing facilities. “As we celebrate our centennial milestone, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a better future through open innovation,” says Yoshiyuki Uemura, president of Daikin U.S. Corporation. “We also look forward to our continued investments in the U.S. and Canada, where our workforce has been instrumental in driving technological advancements to accelerate decarbonization goals. Together, we work to advance the next generation of sustainable HVAC solutions while addressing global challenges like climate change.” Osaka, Japan-based Daikin Industries manufactures HVAC/R solutions. It has more than 98,000 employees worldwide. northamerica-daikin.com

Hybrid heat pump project receives additional funding

Stone Mountain Technologies, Inc. (SMTI) has received a $348,728 grant contribution from NGIF Accelerator to help manufacture hybrid gas-electric heat pumps. This is the third funding round NGIF has contributed to the SMTI project. The company is currently in Phase 2 of its development of the heat pumps, which will result in a single-box solution for residential heating and cooling. Other industry participants and project partners include the Canadian Gas Association, Enbridge, ATCO, FortisBC, SaskEnergy, Apex Utilities Inc., and Tourmaline. Piney Flats, TN-based SMTI produces high-temperature gas absorption heat pumps under the ANESI brand for residential and light commercial applications. NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital. stonemountaintechnologies.com ngif.ca/ngif-accelerator

NEXT Supply opens Whitby, ON location

Air Solutions opens Kingston, ON location

Cambridge, ON-based Air Solutions Inc. has opened a new office at 25 Terry Fox Drive in Kingston, ON. The office features a training lab and warehouse. The company recently held an open house for customers and vendors at the location. Air Solutions is a manufacturer’s representative for residential and commercial HVAC and energy efficient products. airsolutions.ca

Lennox presents HVAC donations in annual Feel the Love program

Lennox donated 413 HVAC systems, including 63 in Canada, to nominated homeowners during its Feel the Love Installation Week, October 5 to 12, 2024. The highefficiency systems were installed free by local Lennox dealers to recipients, who had been nominated for the program as “local heroes” who may be experiencing financial challenges, unexpected injury or illness, or other difficult circumstances. Canadian recipients were located in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba.

lennox.com

Enviroair now represents PoolPak

NEXT Plumbing and Hydronics Supply has opened a new branch at 1450 Victoria St. E Building A, Unit 1 in Whitby, ON. The branch manager is Matthew Brook.

nextsupply.ca

Montreal, QC-based Enviroair Industries Inc. has announced that it is now representing PoolPak in Ontario, Atlantic Canada and Quebec City, QC. Montreal, QC-based PoolPak, a Duhumidified Air Solutions brand, manufactures indoor pool dehumidification systems and equipment used in commercial, institutional and residential settings. Enviroair will continue to represent the Dectron brand of dehumidified air solutions.

enviroair.ca poolpak.com

Napoleon adds hydronic air handlers to its portfolio

Barrie, ON-based Napoleon has completed its acquisition of the Ecosmart lineup of products from NV Ecovision Sales Inc., expanding its HVAC portfolio. Woodbridge, ON-based Ecovision’s Ecosmart brand features high and low-velocity hydronic air handlers, including ducting, dampers and controls. napoleon.com

Rheem Canada partners with the Toronto Rock

Rheem Canada Ltd. has announced it will become an official sponsor of the Toronto Rock, a team in the National Lacrosse League. Rheem is the presenting partner for the lacrosse team during the 2024-2025 schedule, and for the Home Opener held December 7 at Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, ON.

rheem.ca torontorock.com

Copeland rebrands its product portfolio

Copeland, formerly Emerson Climate Technologies, has announced it is transitioning its product portfolio to align with the Copeland brand. The move is part of the company’s shift to being a stand-alone company. Brands transitioning to the Copeland name include: Dixell electronics, Emerson and Alco flow controls, valves and system components, Emerson rack system facility controls and case controllers, Emerson leak detection, Emerson cargo monitoring solutions, ProAct services and software, and ProAct Transport. Brands that are now part of the Copeland umbrella, and which will retain their existing branding but with an updated look, include: Sensl, Verdant, Vilter, White-Rodgers, and Cooper-Atkins. copeland.com/en-ca

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Movers & Shakers

Master Group unveils new Eastern distribution centre

The Master Group has opened a new LEED Gold-certified Eastern distribution centre at 1601, rue René-Descartes, Suite 101 in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC. The $12-million facility is part of the Écoparc Saint-Bruno multi-industry complex built by Montoni, and covers 300,000 sq. ft. The new distribution centre is automated, with more efficient picking methods and multiple picking zones for faster routing to the branches. Some of the facility’s LEED features include solar panels, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and a rainwater harvesting system. master.ca

Metalworks hosts annual event for staff and customers

Metalworks HVAC Superstores hosted its Annual BBQ at its Vaughan, ON location in September, drawing a crowd of more than 800 attendees. This year’s Electric ’80s themed event transformed the store into a vibrant celebration of neon and retro fun. Twenty-five vendors also participated in the event, showcasing their latest products and innovations. Metalworks has four Ontario locations in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Cambridge, and Bolton. metalworks.com

Noble adds HVAC branch in Ottawa

Noble opened a new HVAC branch in November at 1283 Algoma Rd. in Ottawa, ON. The branch is inside the company’s existing Ottawa location, and will offer HVAC products and services to customers in the region. noble.ca

Commitment to industry honoured

Bill Lowe and Rick Mayo were presented with the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating’s (CIPH) Lifetime Service Award. Lowe is applied products director of sales for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, for the Master Group, and has been in the HVAC/R industry for 47 years. Mayo is residential trainer, Western Region, for Taco Comfort Solutions. The Lifetime Service Award commemorates 40 years or more in the heating and plumbing industry.

ciph.com

Malco Tools acquired by UK-based Aspen Pumps

Aspen Pumps Group has purchased Annandale, MN-based Malco Tools, Inc. a manufacturer of tools for the HVAC and construction industries. Aspen Pumps Group is based in Hailsham, East Sussex, England, and produces HVAC/R solutions and products, including condensate removal pumps, tools, cleaning chemicals, support systems and accessories. Malco will continue to operate at its Annandale headquarters, which will also become the North American headquarters for Aspen Pumps. Under the agreement Malco Tools president and CEO Rich Benninghoff will become CEO of Aspen Pumps Group North America.

aspenpumps.com malcotools.com

(L-R) CIPH CEO Satinder Chera presents the Lifetime Service Award to Rick Mayo.

The Master Group recently held the grand opening of its new Eastern distribution centre in Saint-Bruno-deMontarville, located on the South Shore of Montreal, QC.

Bill Lowe with sons Brad (L) and Joel (R), and wife Cheryle Lowe.

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People in the news

Michael Squires, Mechanical Business refrigeration columnist, has joined Copeland in the newly-created position of manager, solution strategy and business success.

A. O. Smith Corporation has appointed Andres Castro as COO for Fergus, ON-based A. O. Smith Enterprises Ltd. in Canada. Castro will be responsible for Canada’s business operations, including sales, marketing, distribution and strategic projects.

Watts Water Technologies has hired Heather Ferris Mayo as inside sales manager.

SFA Saniflo Canada has named Justin Cooper commercial account manager for Western Canada. Cooper joined Saniflo Canada in December 2022 as Western Canada business development manager.

Viega LLC has announced a leadership change in Canada. The Viega Group has promoted Pragnesh Desai (1), general manager of Canada, to a larger role within the international organization. Peter Paulozza (2) will step into a larger role as director of Canada. Paulozza is currently the regional sales manager for East Canada and will succeed Desai in leading the entire Canada team. Paulozza and Desai will assume their new roles on January 1, 2025.

Jerry Leyte is retiring from his position as president and general manager of Viessmann Climate Solutions Canada at the end of December 2024.

Nikita Srivastava has joined Enviroair Industries Inc. as a member of its Toronto technical inside sales team.

Jagtar Taggar has been promoted to COO at dahl Valve Ltd.

Dave Shaw has joined Hydronic HVAC Sales in a sales position.

Carlos Ferreira has been named national sales manager – BibbySte.-Croix plumbing division. Ferreira will be responsible for leading all sales efforts, customer engagement, and relationship development for BibbySte.-Croix across Canada.

Carl Poirier has joined Rheem Canada Ltd. as national sales manager for Rheem Air, overseeing national air residential sales across Canada.

Napoleon has promoted Jeff Nelan to manufacturing engineering supervisor.

LOC International has hired Brittney Lamarche as business development manager –Manitoba, and HVAC solutions specialist.

Ron McElroy has joined the Delta Arndt team as technical sales and service advisor, working out of the Calgary, AB location.

Jeremy Young has been named BC mechanical sales manager at ProWest Sales Ltd.

Laval, QC-based ProKontrol has hired Angelo Tosto as inside sales specialist.

Burlington, ON-based Wolseley Canada Inc. has named Wally Quigg (1) president. Quigg has been with Ferguson, Wolseley’s parent company, since 2006, most recently as vice president of sales. Wolseley has also promoted Holly Adair (2) to marketing manager, field and production. Adair has been with Wolseley for nine years, most recently as manager, E-Commerce product content.

Danfoss Turbocor Compressors has announced that Rogerio Federici will take over as president from Ricardo Schneider, who is retiring, effective January 1, 2025. Federici is currently head of sales and marketing for Danfoss Turbocor.

Ritchie Engineering Company, Inc. has promoted Matt Ingold to national sales manager.

EMCO Corporation has announced that Sean Kelly will take over as president from Rick Fantham, who becomes chairman, effective January 1, 2025.

XNRGY Climate Solutions has announced that Sham Ahmed, co-founder and former president and general manager, will take on the role of president emeritus and chair of XNRGY’s newly created advisory board.

Philippe Hanna has joined Nu-Air Ventilation System Inc. as president and CEO. Hanna is based in Dorval, QC.

Chris Hann is the chair of the HRAI board of directors for the 2024/2025 term. He is director of HVACR, Ontario region, for Wolseley Canada.

Trevor Munro has joined M.A. Stewart & Sons Ltd. as outside sales representative for Atlantic Canada, located in Moncton, NB.

Masco Canada Ltd. has hired Rita Perepelitsky as vice president, human resources.

Hired someone lately?

To have your company’s personnel announcements included, free of charge, in an upcoming edition of Mechanical Business, simply send a note and a few details, to kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com.

INDUSTRY SUCCESS STORY

In November 2024, NIBCO celebrated 120 years as a company. Since 1904, five generations of family leadership have driven NIBCO to flourish as a leading manufacturer of flow control products. NIBCO has changed the industry with its innovative creations of flow control products and systems for the residential, commercial, industrial, marine, irrigation and waterworks markets.

To celebrate and honor these120 years of success, NIBCO has opened the Rex Martin NIBCO Interactive Museum. Offering a unique and enriching experience from a historical perspective, interactive learning, inspiration, community impact, and career opportunities, the museum is not just a place to learn about the past, it’s a place to get excited about the future of plumbing and the opportunities it holds.

During its 120 years, NIBCO has prided itself on its U.S.-based manufacturing and family ownership. Even through the toughest times, NIBCO has survived and thrived, a testament to the fact that it consistently provides the best quality products and employs the very best people. In addition, NIBCO adheres to its core values that have been instituted for over the past 120 years: integrity, safety, teamwork, continuous improvement and philanthropy. These values have helped shape and promote NIBCO’s culture to what it is today.

CELEBRATING NIBCO’S 120TH ANNIVERSARY

MILESTONES AT A GLANCE

Key milestones through the 120 years include:

1904 Casper Schweitzer founded Northern Indiana Brass Foundry Works in Elkhart, Indiana on November 12, 1904.

1922 The company entered the new indoor plumbing market with its copper plumbing products.

1924 Ross Martin first introduced the concept of employee ownership at NIBCO—a very revolutionary idea at the time that continues today.

1927 NIBCO introduced the first practical copper fitting for residential use.

1963 NIBCO entered the bronze and iron valve business.

1996 NIBCO doubled the size of its World Headquarters building to 100,000 square feet in Elkhart, Indiana.

2001 The Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation, a philanthropic organization, was established and has been instrumental in NIBCO-based communities.

2024 Ashley Martin, who joined the company in 2012, was named president and chief executive officer in 2024.

From starting out as Northern Indiana Brass Foundry Works in 1904 as a company manufacturing parts for musical instruments, to now being a household name in valves, fittings and flow control products, the NIBCO brand has much to celebrate – today and as we look to the next 120 years!

NIBCO

BUILDING SCIENCE: THE FOUNDATION OF ENERGY CONTRACTING

Inthe September/October 2024 issue of Mechanical Business, I introduced myself as an “energy contractor” and explained why this is a necessary business model for the future if we are to successfully accelerate the energy transition. The energy transition presents an enormous opportunity for contractors because of the retrofit work that will be required to address a warming planet and the housing crisis. Knowledge of building science is critical to achieving success in this new opportunity.

What exactly is building science? Unintended consequences

Building science is the field of study concerned with the performance of buildings. This includes the building envelope and its components such as windows, doors, walls and roof, the foundation, and the HVAC systems. The most important thing you learn in building science is the need to think of the home or building as a system.

The purpose of a home is to provide a safe, healthy, and comfortable indoor environment regardless of what is happening outdoors. The basic principles of building science are concerned with the flow of heat, water, air and vapour between the inside and outside. It leads to the understanding that the building envelope and mechanical systems in a home are interconnected, which is why you must think of the home as a system when diagnosing problems or making changes. There are professional service firms specializing in this field whom you call during the design phase of a project or when you run into serious issues. However, a basic understanding of building science is important for any contractor proposing anything more than a tweak to a home. Two-day courses in building science are available through associations such as EnerQuality and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA). A few months of study would give most people a decent chance of passing Natural Resources Canada’s foundation exam in building science. Some practical experience in home building and renovating would be an asset.

Tom Grochmal

The consequence of the home being an interconnected system is that good intentions sometimes lead to unintended consequences. This is particularly relevant as we try to make existing homes more energy efficient and climate friendly.

The CHBA publishes a handbook called the Renovators’ Manual. It is an excellent resource and is required reading for any contractor working as part of a renovation team. At the beginning, it introduces you to the “renovation hierarchy.” Here’s the punchline − safety, health, and durability come before energy efficiency in this pyramid.

In practice, when you take measures to improve the comfort and efficiency of a home, such as adding insulation, you need to ensure they don’t compromise safety, health and durability. For example, well-insulated homes that don’t properly manage and drain rain can become moisture traps. Trapped moisture can cause mould, creating worse problems than you were trying to solve in the first place.

This document from CHBA is an excellent reference for renovators.

Tom Grochmal is founder and CEO of Trim Tab Energy Retrofits (trimtabretrofits.com), an energy contractor with a mission to renew housing and inspire better living.

As another example, consider the consequence of improving the air tightness of a building envelope that has naturally vented combustion appliances. If you go to great effort to reduce drafts in the home, you increase the risk that certain appliances, such as a natural draft water heater, will backdraft and spill carbon monoxide into the home.

Distilling the science into a few dos and don’ts

When taking steps to improve the comfort, efficiency and carbon footprint of a home, here are some basic dos and don’ts, following the principles of building science:

Do focus first on health and safety. Ensure the home has structural integrity and is free of hazards such as lead, mould, asbestos, radon, and knob-and-tube wiring. Use every renovation opportunity to fully assess the condition of the unit.

Do eliminate any natural draft combustion appliances such as naturally vented gas-fired water heaters before any serious efforts at improving the building envelope. Not only are these often the most inefficient appliances in a home, they are a potential source of carbon monoxide when homes are made more airtight.

Do consider switching to a heat pump as you take steps to improve the building envelope. A better insulated and airtight envelope reduces heating load. A lower heating load means a heat pump will cover most heating needs with a very small backup heat requirement and without being oversized for the cooling season.

Don’t seal your building envelope without ventilating. The combination of an airtight home and balanced mechanical ventilation provides a controlled source of fresh air and a more comfortable space.

Don’t insulate walls without ensuring the home has proper water management and drainage. Existing problems can be made worse when you insulate because the building’s drying potential is reduced.

Renewing post-1980 townhomes

One of my current projects is to perform energy retrofits on a series of townhomes belonging to a non-profit housing provider in Chatham, ON. The retrofits have a goal to reduce operating costs, eliminate most GHG emissions, and improve the living conditions for tenants. To achieve such ambitious goals, you must think about the house as a whole, not through the lenses of any single trade.

After an assessment and testing, the retrofits consist of improvements to both the building envelope and mechanical systems. The envelope improvements consisted of foundation repair and spray foam insulation, air sealing to modern construction air tightness standards, and new LED lighting. The mechanical system improvements included a conversion to a hybrid heating system, which includes an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and an electric water heater with scheduling controls.

A new electric water heater and energy recovery ventilator are being installed.

The results are transformational. While the units will certainly operate more efficiently, it’s the non-energy benefits that are most memorable when you see the finished product. From warm, dim and stuffy to cool, bright and fresh – these are results that required a multi-trade team.

Envelope air sealing with Aerobarrier. Two seals were completed simultaneously to minimize disruption to the neighbours.

Mechanical overhaul: Bye, bye to the old water heater.

Water management system

PLUMBING Products

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Redesigned island tub drain

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Bathroom collection

The Aurena bathroom collection from Duravit is suited to high-end bath projects in luxury residential or hotel applications. The collection includes freestanding bathtubs, wall-mounted toilets, ceramic sinks, mirrors with integrated lighting, and furniture options. All ceramics are available in white high gloss, white satin matte and black matte, and are engineered with Duravit’s HygieneGlaze Plus technology to eliminate bacteria and ensure a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. ww.

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Nexa is an intelligent water management solution for facilities from Watts, designed to uncover hidden water system insights and risks, enhance building performance, and reduce water and energy consumption. The system offers real-time monitoring, customizable alerts, and detailed analytics. It can be used with Nexa compatible equipment such as water heaters, digital mixing valves or shutoff valves for greater insights into water system management, while allowing operators to remotely manage equipment operations.

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Digital Alert

Faucet collection

Bélanger’s new Solara Collection of faucet and shower systems under its Bélanger Pro category offers aesthetic appeal with durable performance. Featuring sleek lines and minimalist style, the collection is available in finishes such as polished chrome, matte black and stainless steel. Solara also includes rough-in solutions designed to simplify installation, focusing on the innovative rough-in and trim-out installation that follows the build process. ww.

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HEAT PUMP

Artic Heat Pump

HEAT PUMP

AIR SOURCE

HOW TO SERVICE MINI-SPLITS PROPERLY

Mini-split heat pumps are low maintenance, not maintenance-free, as some people tend to believe.

Dale Comeau

VERTICAL STACK EFFECTIVE HEATING AND COOLING IN MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS

For about half, if not more of the season, the VSHP operates as a self-sufficient water source heat pump that feeds and pulls from its own source. What makes it perform so well?

Matthew Reid

TO

Absorption heat pump technology, which has been available globally to end users for the past two decades, was introduced in Europe much earlier than in North America.

OTHER FEATURES

38PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

DOE updates residential heat pump challenge, launches commercial challenge.

Carolyn Cooper

42AIR TO WATER

While it is true of any hydronic system, HP systems require a bit more attention to achieve the best results.

Bob (“Hot Rod”) Rohr

46,48,50PRODUCTS

A showcase of heat pump technology.

58JOBSITE JARGON

Match the correct definition or meaning to the terminology you hear in the field and enter for your chance to win a Yeti cooler from NIBCO.

Cover Photo: Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography

AIR SOURCE

HOW TO SERVICE MINI-SPLITS PROPERLY

Mini-split heat pumps are low maintenance, not maintenance-free, as some people tend to believe.

Comeau Refrigeration has been in business in Bridgetown, NS since 2008, and it has always focused on heat pump technology.

In their service area of 140 km., heat pump systems are most often installed in a retrofit application to reduce or eliminate the need for fuel oil during the heating season. The added value of air conditioning is a secondary benefit. However, this is changing with summer highs seemingly increasing every year.

Nova Scotia is a Maritime province, meaning it typically has high humidity for much of the year. There are unique operational challenges when compared to similar systems in other parts of North America.

In an average year, Comeau Refrigeration will install 150 heat pump systems. The company has been installing Fujitsu heat pumps since 2008 and became an Elite dealer in 2015 to better serve its customer base.

MAINTENANCE IS CRITICAL

Like any piece of equipment, mini-splits operate most efficiently and effectively when properly maintained. We know that scheduled annual maintenance provides the greatest benefits for the customer, in the form of comfort, energy savings, and system longevity.

Comeau Refrigeration has one fulltime service technician on staff. Other technicians conduct service work regularly as well. From an accounting standpoint, service work is treated the same as installation work, meaning the profit margin for maintenance is similar to the company’s other work. Failing to be profitable on maintenance work is why many HVAC contractors don’t take it as seriously as they should.

Over the years, Comeau Refrigeration has developed a recipe for servicing heat pumps that’s kept clients happy, with word-of-mouth referrals as a steady benefit.

Technician removes the filter from a wall-mounted mini-split unit.

PRESSURE WASH INDOOR UNIT

As good as most mini-split indoor filters are, very fine dust can accumulate on the indoor coil and fan wheel over time. Accumulation occurs largely because the fan wheel is on the cool side of the system, so dust more readily adheres to the fan wheel. We’ve witnessed a reduction in airflow as a result of dirty components. Moisture on the fan can also initiate mould growth. The primary air filters are washed, and

the secondary electrostatic filters are also removed and washed with tap water. Some units have disposable carbon filters that can be replaced. With the covers off, a mini split bib kit is hung below the unit. The coil and fan are sprayed with a portable coil cleaning system to remove accumulated dirt. The bib kit catches all dirt and fluid, eliminating the need to remove the unit from the wall.

Dale Comeau (R) walks a customer through the maintenance process.

Spraying through the evaporator fins, technicians use a water and coil cleaner solution in the pressure washer to clean the coil and fan wheel. It’s not uncommon to flush the fan wheel two or three times, rinsing it until the solution runs out of the unit clean. When the solution entering the bib is clear, a final rinse is conducted with pure water.

Once rinsed, the unit is dried by running the system. Then a visual inspection is conducted to ensure all the small nooks and crannies have been reached.

TREAT INDOOR UNIT FOR MOULD AND MICROBIAL GROWTH

Once the indoor unit is clean and dry, apply an anti-microbial solution to the coil and fan wheel with a hand sprayer (we typically use Foster 4080 disinfectant). It is recommended to keep all surfaces of the fan and coil wet with the disinfectant for 10 minutes, after which the filters and covers can be re-installed.

ELECTRONIC REFRIGERANT LEAK TESTING

While the indoor unit is drying, technicians begin testing the indoor and outdoor units with a refrigerant sniffer. In the unlikely event a leak is discovered the customer is informed. If the unit is still under warranty, we confirm the warranty status and proceed with organizing a repair. If a leak exists refrigerant can’t be added until the leak is repaired.

If the unit isn’t working properly and we suspect a leak, we may ask permission to recover the refrigerant and conduct a high-pressure leak test to determine the source of the leak. As most units in the field are still using R410, it’s extremely important to avoid any refrigerant loss, considering its GWP (Global Warming Potential) number of 2,088.

Insect infestations can be more harmful to outdoor units than many realize.

HPJ

CARING FOR ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

Next, we move to the electrical system. All terminal screws are checked indoors and out. Outdoor unit electronic components are quite susceptible to water intrusion, insects (ladybugs/mud wasps), and the impact of freeze-thaw cycles in heating mode.

We’ve seen an infestation of ladybugs so severe that the main PCB, outdoor fan motor, four-way valve solenoid coil, and EEV solenoid coil needed to be replaced. This is an extreme example, but it illustrates the damage insects can cause if left unchecked.

FULL MECHANICAL INSPECTION

A full mechanical inspection is going on throughout the entire service process. Here, we’re actively looking for problems. A keenly observant technician can often find issues before they become a service call.

Is everything tight and straight? Is the insulation in good condition? Is the outdoor unit still sitting level?

We ensure the outdoor fan motor and blades are clean. While the outdoor fan and coil are less susceptible to dirt buildup, we still use the portable coil cleaning system as it was used inside. Sterilization is not necessary for outdoor components. The motor bearings are also checked for noise or wear.

By Dale Comeau

CHECKING REFRIGERANT PRESSURES AND TEMPERATURES

Now that the indoor and outdoor units are clean and a leak test has been done, we run the system. Depending on the time of the year, it could be in cooling or heating mode for this step.

Generally, we do not put gauges on the refrigerant piping because mini-splits are a critically charged system; we want to avoid losing any refrigerant by using testing gauges. Obtain the refrigerant pipe temperatures as well as the indoor supply and return air temperatures. The amperage draw is also checked. This data is compared to a pressure-temperature chart for the system refrigerant. Some quick calculations can help to confirm the system charge is good and the unit is working efficiently.

ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR

If no issues arise, everything outlined above should take an experienced service technician about 90 minutes. The process can take less time if the unit is new and quite clean. If it’s filthy, the process could take up to three hours. The application and service interval will dictate how long the process takes.

For example, indoor units installed at convenience stores are notorious for being dirty because the door is constantly swinging, introducing dirt and humid air.

On our way out, we remind owners to wash their primary and secondary filters with water every three months. We also inform them that if they want to replace the optional apple-catechin filters on their indoor unit, it should be done on the same quarterly interval.

Like any airside HVAC system, mini-split systems need to be maintained regularly for optimal performance, comfort and indoor air quality.

Dale Comeau is general manager of Comeau Refrigeration Ltd. in Bridgetown, NS. The company’s five technicians focus heavily on heat pump applications. His company is pursuing Net-Zero certification. With the assistance of Nova Scotia Community College and the Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology program, the company has completed Scope 1 direct and Scope 2 indirect analysis.

VERTICAL STACK

Vertical stack heat pumps come with an energy recovery ventilator to meet building codes all over this country.

How it works

By Matthew Reid

Matthew Reid is technical director – heating division at Enviroair’s Richmond Hill, ON office. He can be reached at mreid@enviroair.ca

Effective heating and cooling in multi-family buildings

The world of heat pumps is rapidly growing and expanding every day. I see new products coming into the mix with huge outputs capable of providing hundreds of thousands of BTUs to buildings. We are seeing geothermal fields that can be used in different ways to both heat and cool buildings becoming a common talking point at engineering firms. We also see an increasing demand for VRF systems.

Air source heat pumps are at the mercy of outdoor ambient conditions for the COP. Water source heat pumps perform better, but that is also dependent on what temperature we can keep water on the source side and how we do that.

With the surge of interest in heat pumps there is a need to understand these systems and their nuances, and we need to do that fast. That’s a massive undertaking we all must now dive into if we want to remain current and competitive in this “new market.”

A product I have been spending time on lately is the vertical stack heat pump (VSHP) for multi-family applications. The VSHP has been around since the 1970s so it is by no means a new technology. No heat pump really is when you look through the history. The vertical stack has been going into our condo towers and other multi-family buildings for decades and it remains an incredibly effective way of heating and cooling buildings for a few reasons. The VSHP is basically a single loop hydronic system but it has multiple checks and balances to ensure it always works to meet demand.

What makes the VSHP perform so well is for about half, if not more of the season, it operates as a selfsufficient water source heat pump that feeds and pulls from its own source. Let me explain.

In a good vertical stack design, you will always have a main loop temperature of around 80⁰F. This water temperature is not cool enough for cooling nor is it hot enough for heating and that’s where the heat pump comes in and does its thing of lifting the refrigerant temperature to approximately 120⁰F for heating and approximately 45⁰F for cooling. These are not absolute numbers, but it helps paint the picture of what’s happening. Deviations from the main loop temperature will affect COP. Higher temp will give higher COP for heating but lower for cooling. Lower loop temperature will have the reverse outcome.

A VSHP system is a culmination of dozens or hundreds of water-to-air heat pumps inside a building. There are usually one or two per suite. The main loop is always designed to stay at a relatively steady temperature and then it lets the heat pump do the work to get either the necessary heating refrigerant temperature or cooling refrigerant temperature, depending on the load.

When in a shoulder season it’s very common to find some units doing heating and some doing cooling.

The main loop is designed to stay at a relatively steady temperature.

During a cooling call, the VSHP will send water back into the loop at 100⁰F. During a heating call, the VSHP will send water back to the loop at 65⁰F. If it’s a 50/50 split of heating and cooling in the building the main stack temp is now 82⁰F. This is a fine temperature to feed into a heat pump both for heating or cooling to get the desired results so no additional mechanical supplements are required.

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Daikin ATMOSPHERA was the first single zone R-32 ductless system in North America, providing modern styling with ultra-high e ciency for extreme temperatures.

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Daikin

VERTICAL STACK

However, let’s say that all units are in heating mode. This means that all of the units are sending that 65°F or less back into the loop. If we want that main loop to stay at 80°F as stated previously we need to inject some heat. This is where the “trim equipment” comes in. A boiler for example or any heat source, at the start of a system will remain off until it sees the loop temp drop somewhere below that 80°F standard the engineer has designed for. Once the boiler sees the low temperature it will kick on and buff the main loop temp back to setpoint. Alternatively, during a hot summer day and all units have a cooling call, the temperature of the loop will climb to 100+°F. This will activate the cooling tower to turn on and bring the temperature back down to design setpoint.

The long and short of it is, the heat pumps will do the heavy lifting of moving heat around the building to those that need it for a good portion of the year and only activate the heat injection or rejection when required to bring down the loop temperature into design setpoint.

VSHPs are also getting better and smarter every day. Most of them come ready to attach to any standard smart thermostat you would like, they also come with an energy recovery ventilator to meet building codes all over this country.

Where’s the catch?

So, you have a single unit in a suite doing the heating, cooling and ventilation. As is the case with all equipment, something must give. For VSHPs it’s usually related to noise. They are not excessively loud by any means. Most top tier manufacturers have sound test labs to ensure the dB levels of these units stay as minimal as possible, but consider that these units house a compressor and a fan, both operating inside the suite.

It is common to find some units doing heating and some doing cooling in the shoulder season.

Unit in cooling mode.

Noise is unfortunately subjective and can’t really be quantified when speaking in terms of comfort. Some folks like the ambient white noise such as that of a refrigerator. It may annoy others to no end. Still, these units are effective, highly efficient and can save a ton of space and piping in comparison to other methods.

I’m not trying to infer this or any heat pump is a perfect source for heating and cooling. There isn’t a magic bullet, especially in the heat pump world. What there is, is a multitude of options and variations allowing you to prescribe the best fit possible for your client when you understand them all.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

By Carolyn Cooper

DOE updates residential heat pump challenge, launches commercial challenge

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced an update to its Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge, which is now in its final phase, and launched a similar commercial challenge. As of October 23, 2024, all eight HVAC manufacturers involved in the residential challenge – Bosch, Carrier, Daikin, Johnson Controls, Lennox International, Midea, Trane Technologies and Rheem – have successfully completed rigorous field testing of equipment to demonstrate the energy efficiency and performance in cold weather. According to the DOE, manufacturers which developed cold climate heat pumps (CCHP) for the challenge will begin production on the units as soon as this fall. The DOE has also developed a residential CCHP decision tool to help contractors select and properly install the appropriate heat pumps for homes. Now the DOE is working with nine manufacturers – AAON, Addison, Carrier, Daikin, Johnson Controls, Lennox, LG, Rheem,

and Trane Technologies – to advance rooftop units (RTUs) for commercial buildings, as part of its Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator. The goal of the challenge is to produce cost and energy efficient heat pump RTUs that will help organizations meet decarbonization goals. The companies will create prototypes and test product performance and durability at partner businesses such as Amazon, General Motors, IKEA, and others. These units are expected to be available by 2027.

The accelerator also provides building owners and operators with resources and guidance on heat pump technology as part of a campaign to encourage heat pump adoption. The accelerator is scheduled to run until December 2027.

betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/ accelerators/commercial-building-heat-pump

A new heat pump that will not only keep your home warm and comfortable this winter… but can also purify the air…

Suitable for cold climate

• -26°C (-15°F) cold climate heating operation

• Room Freeze Protection: Automatically turns on the compressor to help prevent plumbing damage if the room temperature falls below 7.8°C (46°F).

• Base Pan Heater: Helps prevent freezing condensate and allows very low ambient operation.

R32 Refrigerant

• Reduce energy cost

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Improved nanoe™ X air purification effectiveness

• 10x more hydroxyl radicals/ second compared to previous ClimaPure™ XE model

5 effects nanoe™ X air purification technology

Inhibits 3 types of pollutants

ROAD WARRIOR

Name: Jae Van Hierden

Company: Green Coast Heat Pumps

Job title: Lead technician

Born in: Vancouver, BC

Live in: Victoria, BC

Age: 35

Pet: Joey, a mini Australian Shepherd

Jae Van Hierden: Committed to learning on and off the job

When Jae Van Hierden graduated high school, his father, a chef, suggested he try his hand at becoming a refrigeration technician. Almost 18 years and several careers later, Van Hierden decided to take that advice, and today works as lead technician for Victoria, BC-based Green Coast Heat Pumps.

“When I was 18 I did a couple ride alongs with refrigeration technicians, and though I liked the work I thought this isn’t really what I’m choosing,” he recalls, noting that he has always enjoyed learning new skills and working with his hands. Instead, Van Hierden went to university to study psychology, and eventually began working in a research lab.

After deciding that wasn’t for him, Van Hierden trained as a sommelier, and happily worked at the Fairmont Empress hotel in Victoria until COVID shut down the prestigious property in 2020. “I thought, what am I going to do for the foreseeable future?” he says. “So I started live streaming video games, and I was a content creator for about four and a half years. It’s been a roller coaster. But everything I put my mind to I’ve been able to figure out and do well at.”

Remembering his father’s advice, and hoping for a career with more job security, Van Hierden began researching the HVAC industry, and was initially hired by Green Coast Heat Pumps owner Darcy Cross to provide social media support.

“He told me, could you do social media work for me and then maybe I’ll pull you in on a job or two when I need extra hands,” he says. “And then he started bringing me out on all the jobs, and I just started learning on my own. I found lots of professional resources online, because that’s kind of how I’ve always gone about things, and I’m very self-motivated. I try and study about an hour every day, whether it’s listening to a podcast or reading a chapter of a book.”

In January Van Hierden will begin the refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic level one program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC.

Green Coast Heat Pumps does mainly residential installations and servicing throughout the Southern Vancouver Island region, and is now looking into working with stratas.

“I would say 95 per cent of our work is heat pumps,”

says Van Hierden, who adds that educating consumers is a key part of installations. “At the end of our installs, we do a full walk through of how to use your heat pump, how to operate the thermostat, and the best ways to get your efficiency. Typically people turn their heat pump on and off and they think that’s the best for energy savings. But when your house is completely cold and you’re just turning your heat pump on it’s going to be operating at a very fast speed and working really hard to get your house up to temperature. And that’s going to take years off of your heat pump’s lifespan, as well as increasing your energy bill.”

The company is currently working on a luxury home new build featuring a heat pump and HRV system that Van Hierden says is “a really cool job. I’m really enjoying my time on the tools, and the biggest thing is that every single job is different, a new challenge, and we’re never installing the same system. And then everyone’s house is different, whether we’re retrofitting the house and needing to find a way to make it work, or going into a brand new build.”

In the mechanical industry since: February 2024

By Carolyn Cooper

The most useful tool in your toolbox: My Milwaukee M18 brushless drill and impact

Schools and programs: Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic level one at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC beginning January 2025

Favourite teacher: Craig Migliaccio, owner of AC Service Tech LLC, YouTube host and author of the book Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning

Best advice you’ve ever received: You’re never too old to learn something new

Advice for young people considering entering the trades: Look for quality professional resources and start studying now. There are so many great resources to learn from that will help you get a leg up in the field and prepare you for school. If you haven’t worked in the trade start calling every company in town and start working. All the information you learn will sink in quicker if you are studying and getting hands-on experience to reference to. Ask as many questions as you can to make sure you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it!

Favourite part of the job: Learning every single day. Every job is familiar but has its own unique challenges to overcome so I am constantly learning and my days fly by

Hobbies: Hockey, golf, skiing, hiking, video games

Your favourite tool in your toolbox: My Klein reversible nut drivers. I have them clipped on the side of my bag

Tool you wish you had: Navac electronic flaring tool

If you were granted one wish: Generational wealth

Favourite band/performer: Odesza

Best concert you ever attended: Arcade Fire

Favourite book: Lord of the Flies

Favourite TV show: One Piece

Favourite movie: Fight Club

Favourite sport: Hockey

Favourite car of all time: Porsche 911

Favourite video game and preferred gaming system:

Favourite season:

Favourite restaurant or local lunch hang out? Brasserie L’Ecole

Favourite outdoor activity: Golfing

Favourite place to be: In the woods

3 albums that you’d take with you to your desert island:

1.Odesza – A Moment Apart

2.Jamie XX – In Colour

3.Big Wild – Superdream

Biggest pet peeves: Stupidity

One place in the world you would like to visit: Japan

One thing most people don’t know about you: That I love anime

TO WATER SYSTEMS

Bob Rohr is a trainer with Caleffi, and was the recipient of the 2020-2022 Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of Excellence. He has 40+ years of experience as a plumbing, radiant heat and renewable energy contractor.

Piping hydronic heat pumps

Asair to water heat pumps (A2WHP) become more available and accepted, proper piping assures optimum results. While it is true of any hydronic system, HP systems require a bit more attention to achieve the best results.

For optimal operating results, I suggest you design to the highest Coefficient of Performance (COP) for the best efficiency. COP is simply defined as ratio of beneficial heat output divided by electrical power input. It is no secret that as we drive the HP to higher operating temperatures two things become noticeable. The COP drops. Also, the actual BTU output drops (see Figures 1 and 2).

So, a designer/installer should take the time to optimize the entire system with some quick design calculations. The bottom line is the lower the required supply water temperature (SWT), the better the performance and efficiency numbers will be.

The addition of some thermal storage will prevent short cycling.

Retrofitting an existing distribution system with a HP powered system? Find more design tips in Idronics 25 (idronics.caleffi.com).

CHOOSING A HEAT EMITTER

Those familiar with hydronic heat emitter choices generally agree radiant panels are the winner in the race to low temperature distribution. It is certainly possible to design a comfortable radiant slab system with a SWT of 90°F. That SWT puts us in a sweet spot to run an A2WHP system under the best conditions.

Other options in ascending temperature requirements may be radiant ceilings and walls, panel radiators, and light mass radiant over-pours. High output fin tube is another option to consider. Manufacturers are providing output data at lower SWT these days. This makes the number crunching fairly easy.

Another goal that may be worth chasing is the addition of some thermal storage. Some manufacturers insist on a percentage of storage volume to prevent short cycling of the components in the HP. More and more HP manufacturers are including a buffer tank in a packaged system. In some cases, the buffer and indirect tanks are stacked, and provide DHW in space saving packages.

Figure 1 BTU output at higher operating temperatures

Figure 2 Relationship between COP and SWT

By Bob (“Hot Rod”) Rohr

Photo:

Like a champion braving the cold, Fujitsu AIRSTAGE heat pumps deliver unwavering performance that won't quit, no matter what the temperature.

When facing off against extreme temps, our heat pumps deliver a power-play of innovation, performance and reliability. Thanks to advanced engineering, our systems consistently deliver best-in-class heating performance in subzero temperatures. Plus, no matter how cold it gets, they won't shut off. Unlike other heat pumps, our proprietary refrigerant system has no lockout temperature in heating mode, so your customers get all-star performance, year-round. For performance and reliability in subzero temps… the edge goes to AIRSTAGE.

Fujitsu

BUILT CANADA TOUGH

AIR TO WATER SYSTEMS

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOWER RATES

There are other reasons to consider larger thermal storage capacity. One reason is to allow the HP to operate at low or off-peak rates to decrease electric costs (see Figure 3). It is possible to size and design a buffer tank that allows you to run the HP only during these lowest rate times. It is all in the number crunching phase of the design.

You will need data from your utility to determine your options. There is a win in all of this for the utility also, as they look to optimize their power plant output. They prefer to sell power at reduced rates as opposed to stopping and starting the generation plants.

For those savvy in the ways of piping and pumping, adding a “vessel” to store the BTUs is not a big reach. Space and dollars will also be part of the tank size and type decision.

The next step in the process is piping all of these pieces into an efficient distribution package. While there are several ways to actually pipe a thermal storage/buffer tank, one method covers all the bases. The piping should cover the task of providing long run cycles for the HP, most importantly.

We can also add benefits like run or drawdown time and “direct to load” function. The drawdown time period is once again a simple formula based on the load or loads pulled from the tank. If you want to coast through those high energy cost periods, the tank should be sized to cover the full building load, under design conditions.

Figure 3 Time of use rates

the heat call is satisfied. When the load is satisfied, it will send all the HP output into the tank. The tank is a thermal battery, able to accept and store energy for the next heat call.

On the next heat call, energy from the tank goes directly to the load, and the HP does not need to fire until the tank’s energy is depleted.

Maximize this drawn capacity by pulling the tank down to the lowest possible, usable temperature. This again is leveraged by the lowest possible SWT. Heat emitters that can use a wide temperature difference (∆T) are a benefit, also. Consider that panel radiators are often designed around a wide 30 to 35° ∆T.

THE CHALLENGE OF RETROFITS

Certainly, all of these steps are easy if you are starting a project from scratch, and you have unlimited options for heat emitters and piping space. Retrofitting existing systems will put some limitations on what can be done to attain the most optimized system. Another option being implemented is a hybrid system where a HP has a backup such as a fuel or electric fired boiler for the high temperature needs. This also provides redundancy in the system should a repair take one of the heat sources offline.

“Direct to load” is basically messaging the piping to allow the HP output to go directly to the system without interfacing with the tank’s volume. Simply stated, if the HP output matches the system load, you may as well bypass the tank.

The tank will be charged as either the loads start dropping off, or

Several HP manufacturers are offering equipment capable of 175°F operating temperatures. This will open more doors for retrofitting the older boilerbased systems.

If the home or building has an operating boiler in good condition, let it stay as part of the hybrid option. Energy costs will always be somewhat unpredictable. It is wise to have options ready to go.

As the HP market continues to heat up, watch the industry provide more and more options for components and piping and control.

Watch the pages of Mechanical Business as it continues to lead with HP news and product options.

These are exciting days to be in the industry – stay up to date on the methods and trainings available to allow you to be an expert in the A2WHP field. It will not take too much additional effort to be outstanding in your field.

EDEN ENERGY

HEAT PUMP PRODUCTS

Adaptable heat pump

GeoSmart NetZero variable capacity water-to-water inverter heat pumps are now available with low GWP R454B refrigerant. The series is available in a wide range of power that covers from 1 kW to 22 kW. With a COP of over 5.0, these inverter-driven heat pumps are versatile and intelligent water-to water units for ground source, air source, or hybrid application. The GeoSmart NetZero adapts to the needs of the installation.

geosmartnetzero.com

High-efficiency heat pump

Available in 2 to 5 tons, Daikin’s DZ20VC heat pump offers up to 8.2 HSPF2 heating and 22.5 SEER2 cooling performance. The heat pumps are powered by Daikin’s proprietary inverter technology and highefficiency, variable-speed swing and scroll compressors. Daikin Inside Intelligence monitors performance, while a high-efficiency ECM indoor condenser fan motor moves air quickly and quietly. Highlights include coil and ambient temperature sensors; diagnostic indicator lights, seven-segment LED display, and fault code storage; and a heavy-gauge, galvanized steel cabinet with a removable sound-control top. www.

northamerica-daikin.com

Air to water system

Cold climate heat pumps

Arctic EVI air-to-water heat pumps are specifically designed for North American weather, with the ability to operate in as low as -22⁰F (-30⁰C) temperatures for hydronic heating and cooling. With a mono-block design and multi-heat pump staging, the Arctic EVI has a COP of 3.1/3.2, and is available in three models offering 29,000 BTU, 48,000 BTU and 60,000 BTU respectively. The unit is Wi-Fi enabled for full remote control, and offers ultra-quiet DC motor fans, intelligent defrost based on ambient temperature, and Blue Fin technology on evaporator and condenser fins for high corrosion resistance. www.

arcticheatpumps.com

Viessmann’s Vitocal 100-AW is a residential air-to-water heat pump system for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water that includes an outdoor unit, indoor unit and a 20-gal steel buffer tank. The kit is delivered on a single pallet. The heat pump is available in 1.5, 3, and 4.3 tons for cooling/20.5, 34, and 58 MBH for heating (nominal capacities), which allows for flexible application types. The buffer tank can be physically mounted on top of the domestic tank for additional space savings. www.

viessmann.ca

Universal heat pumps

Compatible with most existing HVAC systems, or as a universal replacement, the Sure Comfort Vantix Line RD17AZ heat pump features a compact footprint, and sound as low as 50dBA. The unit is Cold Climate Energy Star certified, with efficiency up to 9.5 HSPF2, 19 SEER2 and beyond. It offers premium performance even at -15⁰C, with Vantix Gas Furnace back-up performance listings. www.

surecomfort.ca

the Amana brand S-series and the smart thermostat is smart thinking inside and out.

The Amana brand S-series system wouldn’t be complete without a smart thermostat to support control and comfort. The new Amana brand smart thermostat does just that! The range of intuitive functions o ers homeowners control from almost anywhere via the Amana home app or voice control with compatible Amazon and Google smart devices (with Wi-Fi).

Amana

HEAT PUMP PRODUCTS

Monobloc design

Hitachi’s Yutaki M monobloc heat pumps for residential applications offer space heating, cooling and domestic hot water. The air-to-water heat pumps can maintain an output of up to 140⁰F by -4⁰F outdoors. An embedded electrical back-up automatically ensures heating continues on colder days. Units are available in 3 and 4 tons, and can be controlled through Hitachi’s Advanced Color Wired Remote Controller, with Wi-Fi capability.

www.

hitachiaircon.com

Inverter technology

The Conforto Maximum Heat Pump Series provides year-round comfort through heat pump inverter technology. Designed for single and multi-zone applications, the ductless mini split systems do not need ductwork. With top-tier energy efficiency ratings, these units are ENERGY STAR certified. Features include Auto Restart − if the system shuts down due to power failure, it will restart with previous function settings when power is restored. www.

confortohvac.com

Split system heat pumps

Amana’s S-series E ASZS6-E is an ENERGY STAR Certified Residential CCHP. With up to 8.6 HSPF2 and 17.5 SEER2 performance, the splitsystem heat pumps are engineered for traditional ducted applications with heat pump, gas furnace or dual fuel connectivity. Inverter-driven, they need just 4 in. of clearance. The units can use existing line sets, connecting up to 100 ft. of pipe for typical installations.

www.

amana-hac.com

-30°C

UNIX SERIES

HIGH-EFFICIENCY CENTRAL HEAT PUMPS WITH CASED COILS

Heat pump combination AHRI Certified for installation with ANY 3rd party furnace.

ROOFTOP

COLD CLIMATE DC INVERTER HEAT PUMP

Two-stage, two-cylinder compression and hot gas injection for unparalleled heating efficiency.

Eligible to financial incentives in certain provinces, contact us for more detail.

Gree

SPARE PARTS

TO FULLY SUPPORT OUR DEALER NETWORK

OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR IN CANADA

*GREE Canada is not responsible for warranty on units sold outside GREE Canada’s sales channel. For more detail, contact our team at proservice@gree.ca

HEAT PUMP PRODUCTS

Wastewater energy recovery

The Piranha self-contained wastewater heat pump from Sharc Energy uses a specifically designed direct expansion heat exchanger to recover thermal energy from a building’s wastewater to heat domestic hot water. Models have a heat output of 60, 120 and 180 MBH, and a cooling capacity of 48, 96 and 144 MBH respectively, and an average combined COP up to 7.0. The units are NSF-372 rated BPHE, with double-wall leak detection.

www.

sharcenergy.com

CONFORTO MAXIMUM HEAT PUMP

The perfect blend of comfort & convenience with heat pump inverter technology.

• Ductless systems use our sleek wall or ceiling mounted indoor air handlers, with a single or multi-zone R410A outdoor condenser to deliver precise temperature control of one or more rooms.

• Advanced heat pump variable speed technology provides year-round cooling and heating solutions in extreme weather conditions.

• Maximum energy efficiency ratings qualify for utility rebates. ENERGY STAR® Certified.

• Auto Restart - if system shuts down due to power failure, system will restart with previous function settings when power is restored.

Granby/Conforto

Smart heat pump

The Ultranixx Eco heat pump is priced similarly to an AC unit. It offers both heating and cooling for ducted homes and low-rise units up to 4,000 sq. ft., with efficient operation at a balance point of 0°C. Paired with the Kinghome Smart Thermostat, the Ultranixx Eco maximizes efficiency and savings. Leveraging cloud-based intelligence, it optimizes switching between the heat pump and gas furnace based on weather forecasts, equipment efficiency, and real-time energy prices. Users can control the thermostat remotely via the Kinghome+ App. www.

kinghomecanada.com

Rooftop system

Rebel Applied Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) is a 30- to 68-ton packaged rooftop system that provides up to 75 per cent more heating capacity at 0°F compared to current technologies with R-410A refrigerant. The ASHP has a heating-only boost compressor to enhance refrigerant mass flow at low-ambient temperatures, to increase heating capacity while maintaining energy efficiency. Supplemental heating options, including dual fuel, are also available if needed. The heat pump uses an alternating circuit defrost cycle. www. daikinapplied.com

Cintas

An introduction to GAHP technology

Heatpumps have been around for decades and are proven to support heating operations with very high efficiencies. Most common heat pump applications are powered by electricity. In contrast, thermally driven heat pumps can run on natural gas, hydrogen, or renewable and low-carbon fuels, such as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to make complex heating systems more efficient by replacing legacy boiler systems for space heating and hot water applications.

In particular, facilities located in electric grid-constrained areas that are dealing with electrical capacity issues and have access to gas supply networks may consider thermal heat pumps to lower operating costs and reduce emissions over conventional natural gas equipment.

Background and history

The absorption heat pump technology has been available globally to end users for the past two decades. It was introduced in Europe much earlier than in North America. The Asian market has also seen rapid growth of the technology in the last five years. Unlike traditional heat pumps that operate on a vapour compression cycle, gas absorption heat pump (GAHP) units work on an absorption cycle.

The working principle of ammonia-water based absorption was originally patented in 1859 and has since been widely used in refrigeration systems. One of the earliest pilot projects for GAHPs was run in Germany during the mid-1980s for residential applications.

More recently, California’s Energy Commission Natural Gas Research & Development Program also funded the demonstration and assessment of GAHP technologies between 2017 and 2021. GAHP units were installed at two full-service restaurants and residential sites in Los Angeles. This pilot confirmed the possibility of quick paybacks in less complicated retrofits, with gas savings up to 45 per cent.

In Canada, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) has run a technology review project in the last five years. The university collaborated with The Atmospheric Fund, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Enbridge Gas. The project tested Robur’s

GAHP units being commissioned at a facility for a FortisBC pilot project in Vancouver, BC.

Did you know?

Renewable Natural Gas is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste, and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create carbon-neutral RNG (also called biomethane).

36 kW GAHP units across different water and space heating configurations in cold ambient conditions and confirmed its viability in decarbonizing the conventional boiler-based systems. This project identified the best applications and locations for GAHP technology, which can be deployed in engineering design.

The study concluded that domestic hot water (DHW) applications have strong potential for notable operational cost and carbon reductions. Annual cost savings of $1,500 for residential DHW preheating were estimated.

In 2019, FortisBC started a pilot program to test Robur’s 36 kW GAHP-A units in MURBs and school facilities under live conditions in the Lower Mainland (Climate Zone 4). These projects helped FortisBC verify the manufacturer’s published performance data for GAHP units and apply it at a system level. The project has since expanded to test the GAHP application with different end-uses.

Other groups that have either successfully tested the technology or are contemplating the launch of GAHP pilots include National Energy Action (NEA) UK, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Gas Technology Institute (GTI Energy), Energy Solutions Center, Southern California Gas and SEMCO Energy Gas in Michigan.

Photo:

Designed for fresh air.

AAON Delta Class is breathing life into our indoor environments.

AAON is always innovating. Learn more about our dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS).

AAON

GAS ABSORPTION

Working principle of the technology

GAHPs operate on a heat-activated absorption cycle. The cycle relies on the absorption of refrigerant (ammonia) by a transport medium (water). GAHPs need three energy inputs to run the absorption cycle and transfer heat from the heat source to the heat sink.

1. Renewable heat source in the environment: All heat pumps require a source of heat to operate. This heat can be extracted from the surrounding air, a water source, or the ground.

2. Combustion heat: The generator carries the ammonia-water solution that is separated into water and ammonia by introducing thermal energy. Today, this energy is mainly provided through the combustion of natural gas or renewable and low-carbon gases, such as RNG.

A simplified schematic of a GAHP operating in heating mode

A complete heat pump solution for residential applications

The Vitocal 100-AW air to water heat pump is designed for heating, cooling and domestic hot water. Featuring an outdoor unit, an indoor unit and a steel buffer tank (20 gal). The optional domestic indirect tanks come in three sizes (53, 66 or 79 gal), and the buffer tank can be physically mounted on top of the domestic tank to save space.

Viessmann

According to some manufacturers, the units can also operate on a blend of natural gas with 20 per cent hydrogen. In addition to the available heat in the environment, GAHPs can capture supplemental heat from the combustion process. This improves the overall system efficiency and makes GAHPs operation effective in colder climates.

3. Electricity: The absorption cycle does not require work input of compressors like most vapour-compression refrigeration cycles. Instead of a compressor, the refrigerant is cycled between the evaporator and condenser using an absorber, a pump, and a generator. Since liquid is pumped instead of vapour, the electrical work required for pumping in the absorption systems is minimal. A condenser fan on the external unit also consumes electricity.

Application end uses

GAHP units perform at their peak when supporting systems that require continuous heating loads. GAHPs are best suited to support any hydronic hot water heating systems that are alternatively served by conventional or condensing boilers. Preferably, closed loop hydronic systems (non-potable water) with an operating set point between 40 to 60°C (104 to 140°F) are more compatible with GAHP technology. GAHPs have also demonstrated promising results when hot water coils are connected with make-up air units.

Moreover, GAHPs have also been deployed in hybrid configurations for high temperature (> 60°C/140°F) applications where GAHP units pre-heat the water and high-efficiency boilers provide the additional heating. Some manufacturers also offer hybrid systems where GAHPs and condensing boilers are built into a single package. Another example of hybrid configuration involves connecting GAHP units with solar water heaters.

Some GAHP manufacturers also offer units with dual capability of heating and cooling. In those cases, chilled water can also be used for space cooling applications.

Adapted with permission from the Gas Absorption Heat Pump Best Practices Guide developed by CLEAResult Canada Inc. in collaboration with Building Energy Solutions Inc. for FortisBC.

JOBSITE JARGON

Match the terminology you hear in the field to the correct definition or function by January 3, 2025 and enter for your chance to win a Yeti cooler from NIBCO. This contest is open to Mechanical Business subscribers in Canada. Send your answers to kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com or enter online at mechanicalbusiness.com.

JOBSITE JARGON

EXAMPLE: 5) Seasonal performance J) Depends on the climate in which the heat pump is working  Answer 5,J

A) Configuration that keeps all components within a single outdoor enclosure

B) Equals mean daily temperature minus 65°F

C) Fan and motor are under the top panel

D) Enable the quick connection of pressure and temperature measuring instruments

E) Uses an outside unit to extract low-temperature heat from the outside air. The heat generated is delivered to a hydronic distribution system in the building

F) Used to check the glycol percentage and freeze protection in a system

G) COP for a heat pump operating in cooling mode

H) Programmed with four data points

I) Decreases as water temperature leaving AWHP’s condenser increases

J) Depends on the climate in which the heat pump is working

K) Heat pumps use a closed system of underground pipes filled with

TIGHT SPACES. QUIET PLACES.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE

• Optimal Performance, compact design

• WIFI enabled, Cold Climate Energy Star certified

• Boasting efficiency up to 9.5 HSPF2, 19SEER2 & beyond

• Premium performance even at -15C, with Vantix Gas Furnace back-up performance listings.

• Eligible for the NRCan Greener Home Interest Free loan

• Sound as low as 50dBA

• 10 Year Conditional Parts Warranty (Registration Required)

UNLIKE BLENDS, R-32 IS A PURE, SINGLE-COMPONENT REFRIGERANT, MAKING IT EASY TO REUSE, RECYCLE, RECLAIM, AND SERVICE!

Daikin

Hydronic Products

Valve actuator

Belimo’s ZoneTight Zone Valves are made for efficiency in tight spaces and performance for pressure dependent and pressure independent zoning applications. With a zeroleakage, two-way or three-way ball valve and electronic rotary actuator, the unit has an installation height of 4.33 in., in NPT or Sweat. The rotary actuator is controlled by standard voltage for on/off control, a modulating signal, or a floating point control system. Other features include self-cleaning ball valve technology for clog resistance and bi-directional flow.

www. belimo.com

Hydronic boiler

Eco-King’s Supreme residential on-demand wallhung boilers and combi-boilers are 94 per cent AFUE rated and made in Canada. The boiler (H Model) provides space heating and hot water when combined with an indirect tank, while the combi-boiler (C Model) provides on-demand hot water with hydronic heating. The units are available in 99,000, 140,000 and 200,000 BTU/ hr sizes. New features include NPT connections, dedicated indirect return connection on H Models, and easier access to all parts. www.

kingheatingproducts.com

Manifold wall cabinets

GF Building Flow Solutions Americas introduces six new radiant manifold wall cabinets for residential and commercial radiant applications. As well as accommodating Uponor engineered polymer and stainless-steel manifolds, four of the six new cabinets accommodate Uponor commercial stainless-steel manifolds. Cabinets are available in both recessed and surface mount styles in various dimensions, complete with fastening hardware. Surface mounts feature a separate back plate for faster installation.

Hydronic Products

Natural gas boiler

NeoTherm XTR natural gas commercial boilers and water heaters from Laars offer AHRI certified 96 per cent-plus thermal efficiencies, a low pressure-drop stainless steel heat exchanger, and 10:1 combustion turndown. The unit is available as a condensing boiler or volume water heater, with venting up to 150 equivalent feet, top water and gas piping connections, and can be common vented. The NeoTherm XTR line is available in six sizes from 399 to 1,500 MBH for natural gas applications.

laars.com

Venting systems

IPEX expands its line of venting systems for gas-fired appliances with its System 636 Common Venting Solution. Designed for both negative- and positive-pressure gas-fired condensing appliances (provided the manufacturer has approved it for common venting), the system is available in PVC for exhaust temperatures up to 65°C, and in CPVC up to 90°C in diameters up to 12 in. The system includes an engineered backflow valve certified to ULC S636 and an inline cleanout condensate drain, and options such as reducing wyes and double reducing wyes. www.

ipexna.com

HRH Manifolds

The CB Supplies’ manifold is designed for hydronic calibration of radiant floor heating systems, and is available with one- or 1 ¼-in. headers. The unit comes complete in the box, assembled and mounted on brackets. Manifolds are equipped with supply and return isolator valves with two thermometers for supply and return temperature monitoring. The supply-header features flow gauges to simplify system calibration. Two automatic air flow vents allow for air purging. The forged body of the manifold is made of UNI EN 12165 brass and can withstand 145 PSI and 100°C. www.

cbsupplies.ca

RIDE THE LOCHINVAR WAVETM

As we celebrate the holiday season, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued trust and partnership.

Your support has been invaluable to us, and we’re truly honored to serve you.

Wishing you a joyous Christmas lled with warmth, and a New Year lled with prosperity and success.

We look forward to an exciting year ahead, and to growing our partnership in the years to come.

Thank you for being a cherished part of our journey!

www. ocor.ca

Pipe - Valves - Fittings - Hangers

Fire Protection - Mechanical - Waterworks

By Kerry Turner

The HVAC sector is going to be front and centre in all of this, particularly with air conditioning becoming a necessity, says Phillips.

Canada’s climate expert David Phillips:

Climatologist David Phillips has never lost his passion for sharing information about the climate. Since he joined Environment Canada (known then as the Meteorological Service of Canada) in 1967, Phillips has taken every opportunity to talk about what we can expect of the weather in the future.

“It’s about the weather. You don’t need to be a Ph.D. from M.I.T., you can just be a regular Canadian. Weather is something we’re focused on, more than any other country in the world. It’s almost as if you have a ready audience. They want to be educated about the weather. If you look at TV weather broadcasters and weather people on air, they have the longest longevity in broadcast,” says Phillips. “They put their reputation on the block every night. Why would they still be around? Canadians are very forgiving. They know how difficult it is to get the weather right in this country and they’re always willing to give you a chance.”

Despite that, Phillips does get complaints about forecasts or weather synopses, but people seem to recognize it’s not a perfect science. “Gigantic computer

models take the data to work it up and provide a forecast over two decades from now. We then say if we run that out further, what is the likely outcome for our climate? It’s just trying to guess what nature’s going to do. We do a pretty good job,” notes Phillips. “Our forecasts are much more accurate than people think. I mean they think we’re only right 50 per cent of the time but we think we get it right 90 per cent of the time. I think the stats are there to prove that.”

It is almost habit for Canadians to start their day by checking the forecast to plan their day and make it a little bit more comfortable. “People are making a multitude of decisions based on what you say is going to happen up there. My role is not so much a weather person but the media asks me to comment about weather events and what have you, but it is really climate change they are interested in. I get this other side of meteorology where people look at the long term, they look at the threat so I always say to people enjoy the weather, but be concerned about the problems with our climate because of what we’ve done.

Heat is the silent killer. “We see by 2050, a three-times increase in the

CLEARING THE AIR

The public doesn’t necessarily distinguish between climate and weather despite them being very different things. “We often blur the distinction between weather and climate as Canadians. Climate is really the statistics of weather. You get weather day after day after day. If you average all that and do the statistics of it, well, that’s really what climate is. Is Canada different now than it was 20 years ago, and what will it be like in 40 years from now? People say, well you know we can’t forecast the weather accurately for tomorrow. Could you tell us from 40 years or 50 years what it’s going to be like? It’s a good question. You’re not giving people the detail,” says Phillips.

“In 50 years from now you’re telling them what the flavour of the climate is going to be. You know, what the summers will be, but not on July 1st and 25th. It’s not a weather forecast, it’s more of an outlook as to what you see. We can do that. I was there 30 years ago when we forecasted what October would be like in 2024 with regards to our climate. We got it right. We’re living the prediction. We said what it would be like in terms of temperatures, the length of the season,” says Phillips.

LAND OF ICE AND SNOW

David Phillips chats with Jeff Anderson, P. Eng, of Environment and Climate Change Canada. In the foreground is a Stevenson Screen, used for accurate temperature measurements.

To get a sense of what the summers will be like in 2050 or 2060, he considers the warmest summer we have ever had, which was in 2023.

“We had the warmest summer on record but in 50 years, that will be the coldest. That’s the kind of thing we can say. The only thing we didn’t get right 30 years ago when we set up 2024 was the sea levels because nobody saw the snow melting in Antarctica and Greenland as much as it has in the last 30 years. The oceans are a little higher now than we expected 30 years ago.”

With temperatures rising people might assume we will no longer have our Canadian winters but that is not the case. “Even with climate change in the future, we’re still going to be a country of ice and snow. And people think we’ll just be Miami of the north. We’re not going to be Miami of the north – Canada will still be the second coldest country in the world. But the winters will be shorter and the summers will be much longer. The demand for air conditioning will be huge.

“That’s what climatologists can do; tell policy people, politicians, the general public, and people who are in the mechanical industry, for example, about what the future will bring and how we should prepare for it. HVAC is an obvious sector that’s going to be hugely contributing to saving the planet or making it worse,” says Phillips.

There are going to be some advantages to changing temperatures and he believes everyone has a stake in recognizing where they fit into the new climate reality while still working to mitigate climate change. “We have to recognize where our sector fits into that and begin to take action, begin to cut back on our fossil fuels use. But more than that, what is important is adapting, getting used to it, sucking it up and saying, okay, the future is going to be warmer. So how do we take advantage of that? Or how do we restructure our industry or our interests to accept what a changed world we will be in 2030?” says Phillips.

A life and death situation: Phillips looks at the numbers

Heat is the silent killer. In 2021, 620 British Columbians and 80 Albertans died from heat. In Montreal in 2018, we had about 69 people who died from heat. The number of days with temperatures of 30 ° C (defined as a hot day in Canada) is increasing. “What worries me are the tropical nights. These would be nights above 20 ° C,” notes Phillips. “We see by 2050, a three-times increase in the number of hot days; hot nights will also increase by three times. And by 2100, seven times that number. The very hot days are worrying to me but it is the hot nights that really frighten me.”

number of hot days; hot nights wi ll also increase by three times.”

By Fred Bretzke

PLUMBING

Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with Calgary’s SAIT Polytechnic and the recipient of the 2024 Cadmus Teaching Chair. Fred also received the 2020-2021 Innovation of The Year Award: SAIT for digitizing the project-based learning approach apprenticeship training is known for. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF WATER SYSTEMS

WhenI think of water hammer, I think of the crash test dummies the auto industry has been using for years. In 2022, 42,514 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) lost their lives in the U.S. from motor vehicle accidents. In Canada, there were 8,851 motor vehicle mortalities in 2022. The numbers are both tragic, but it is important to note that the auto industry has all sorts of new technology to attempt to prevent these accidents.

THERE IS THE FRONTAL CRASH TEST SCENARIO:

You are heading south on a twolane road, while another vehicle is driving north on that street. Suddenly, you are about to collide head-on with the northbound vehicle. They now have Forward Collision Warning systems that monitor the vehicle’s speed, the other vehicle’s speed in front and the distance between the vehicles. Some systems will just warn the person, while others will act with automatic emergency braking systems.

What if we could prevent water hammer before it happened?

After all, if the auto industry can do prevention, the plumbing industry can do it too. We do allow for some pressure surges within reason in the water distribution system. The current preventive devices are called water hammer arresters. They were not always around, previously, we had air chambers. I might be getting ahead of myself, let us define exactly what water hammer is and what affect it can have on a plumbing system.

2020 Code Requirements

The National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPCC) provides guidelines to protect water distribution systems from the adverse affects of water hammer. This includes recommendations for the installation of water hammer arresters where necessary.

This is what it says in the 2020 NPCC:

A-2.6.1.9. (1) Water Hammer Prevention. Water hammer is a buildup of pressure in a length of horizontal or vertical pipe that occurs when a valve or faucet is closed suddenly. The longer the pipe and the greater the water velocity, the greater the pressure exerted on the pipe, which can be many times the normal static water pressure and be sufficient to damage the piping system. Since air chambers made from a piece of vertical pipe do not provide acceptable protection, premanufactured water hammer arresters are required to address this potential problem. Water hammer arresters need not be installed at every valve or faucet, nor in every piping system.

Water hammer typically occurs when a valve is closed quickly, causing the water flow to stop abruptly, or when water pressure is affected by a sudden 90-degree

Figure 1 90 ° elbow on a commercial main riser into a building

PLUMBING

turn. As you can see, we put a lot of work into preventing thrust on a large water main going into a building. Way down below frost level at about 8- to 10-ft. depth, we install what we call a boot or 90⁰ coated cast iron fitting, which abruptly turns the water flow from horizontal to vertical into the building. In Figure 1 on pg. 66, number 2 is a thrust block. This block of concrete helps to withstand the extreme pressure from an 8- or 10-in. horizontal main.

HOW TO INSTALL A THRUST BLOCK

Number 1 in Figure 1 represents C900 plastic blue brute piping that comes in 20 ft. lengths. It is typically hub and spigot. The 90 or blue elbow at the bottom of the riser is a coated cast iron fitting, which is hub on the horizontal with a neoprene ring and flanged on the vertical part. We insert the horizontal C900 plastic pipe into the 90 with lubricant and manual force on the upstream side of the 20 ft. pipe with a long pry bar. If done correctly, the C900 can push in easily. If it is not aligned correctly, it will be a very stubborn insertion.

KEY POINTS TO COUNTER WATER HAMMER

Once inside the building we use water hammer arresters as air chambers were not as efficient. Water hammer can happen when a faucet is turned off suddenly or when appliances that use water (such as washing machines or dishwashers) shut off their water supply. Washing machines and dishwashers typically have solenoid valves that stop the water abruptly.

Pressure surges can lead to loud noises (the “hammering” sound) in the pipes. Over time, repeated water hammer can cause wear and tear on pipes, joints, and fixtures, potentially leading to leaks or failures.

Water hammer arresters typically consist of a sealed air chamber that compresses when the water flow stops, cushioning the impact.

Slow-closing valves: Installing valves that close slowly can reduce the sudden stop of water flow, thereby minimizing the risk of water hammer.

Proper pipe support: Ensuring that pipes are adequately supported can help minimize movement and noise. In 2.3.4.5. of the NPCC it states that:

Once installed, you must install four (minimum 1/2 in.) stainless-steel continuous rods from the 90 to the master control valve up above inside the building. The bottoms of the SS rods are then annealed with your torch and bent outwards at a 90° angle. You then build a 3/4-in. plywood cast to encase the concrete below and behind the elbow. You need to wrap the riser 90 with plastic to protect it from the concrete that will be poured around it. This riser is ductile iron (for fire code reasons as it must be steel penetrating the building) with a yellow PVC coating.

After pouring the concrete, you may have to wait up to five days for it to cure. In the winter it sometimes takes longer unless you put additives in the concrete. You must also heat the excavation to ensure proper curing. Of course, before this, you must encase the riser in a sleeve to protect it from the acidic earth.

After tying in the minimum 1/2-in. SS continuous rodding to the master control valve with nuts and bolts, you are then ready to chlorinate and flush the system. If any one of these steps is missed, you may experience a blowout from the thrust. I have witnessed the result of this when regular steel instead of stainless-steel rods were installed. This blew out the riser in the ground upwards, ripping out a 6-in. main and sprinkler tree, then turning over a commercial boiler and two commercial hot water tanks.

For pipes with a diameter greater than NPS 1, the maximum spacing between supports should be 3.0 metres. This means that for every 3 metres of horizontal run of the pipe, there should be a support to prevent sagging or movement.

• Diameter ≤ NPS 1:

For pipes with a diameter of NPS 1 or less, the maximum spacing between supports is 2.5 metres. This indicates that smaller diameter pipes require slightly closer support to maintain stability.

Water hammer arrester.

Chilled water pipes are hanging with clevis hanger support.

RWC/Sharkbite

PLUMBING

Copper pipe often doesn’t have enough support or hammer arresters in commercial buildings. Sometimes clevis hangers are dangling off the ready rod and the whole mechanical room is jingling as if it’s Christmas.

Water hammer arresters are installed at the end of long runs or turns in a piping system, as shown in Figure 2 (a long-insulated riser from the basement of the building).

While there are leak sensors, I’m not sure if anyone has produced sensors for detecting future pressure surges. After Calgary had its significant water main break, the city sent in drones or robots detecting weaknesses in the interior walls of the main. We have a whole new appreciation for good clean water; add to that water flow that is quiet and does not leak.

Hard work pays off.

A.O. Smith

Our exclusive X3™ Scale Prevention technology does the heavy lifting - eliminating descaling service and extending product life by up to three times.

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ALWAYS ON THE JOB

By Sue Sodek

Tips on hiring an HR professional

Admit it: there’s nothing quite like the deep, personal sense of satisfaction you feel when you take a step back and see how much you’ve done to grow your business. Maybe not so long ago it was just you and your truck. Look how far you’ve come; your business is a going concern and you have a whole team to manage. But it’s taking a long time to get through that stack of timecards these days. And ugh, are those two arguing over shift assignments again? And what do you mean I can’t ask for a doctor’s note when I think someone’s faking sickness? When did that change?

When you find yourself spending more time managing your people than your business, it may be time to bring in some help. Depending on the size of the staff and the areas you’d like covered, you might need a human resource (HR) person. Allow me to help you find the right one.

Determine your needs

First up, you need to determine if you need a generalist, a specialist, or a manager. An HR generalist typically wears a variety of hats. For a small- to mid-size operation this would be someone who can hire, run the payroll, and is ready and able to take on research and special projects. If you just want someone to hone in on one particular area, such as payroll, then you need an HR specialist. An HR manager or director typically manages all of the above, along with working closely with supervisors, managers and business owners to aid in decision making and planning for the future. There are a variety of professional designations some HR people choose to obtain, including the CHRP – Certified Human Resource Professional or the HRBP – Human Resource Business Partner. These letters on a

resume indicate your applicant is likely committed to their career path and has passed some stringent exams, which can come with a higher price tag. Whatever the designation, you should ensure you are hiring someone who is committed to lifelong learning. Business needs will fluctuate and the legal landscape is forever evolving, which means you need to hire someone committed to keeping up so you don’t have to.

If you are creating an HR department from scratch, you need to make a wish list. What do you want this person to do? The point of an HR hire should be to take things off your plate to leave more time to focus on growing the business. HR at its best is part strategic partner, part personal firefighter. What areas do you want help with? Many growing businesses start with their two most headache-inducing areas – hiring and payroll.

Staffing and recruitment

Staffing involves reallocation, promotion or all other movements of current staff across departments or positions, whereas recruitment is sourcing and all the pieces required to secure new talent. It would be rare that a small- to medium-sized business would require someone solely to recruit. If your turnover is so high you need a person dedicated to hiring, you may want to first research the reasons why people are leaving before you commit more money to bringing in new staff. It can also be more cost-effective to develop a relationship with an agency you trust to fill your existing positions instead of having that done in-house. However, if on reflection, you do truly need help with filling positions, look for someone who has already done hiring for a similar business to yours. Ask them how they find and attract good candidates. Notice if they build rapport easily with you, ask meaningful questions about your business and your plans, and if they have a plan to navigate the labour shortages we’re all facing.

Payroll and benefits

Payroll is often a stand-alone, specialist role, depending on the size of your team and the complexity of who you are paying and how often. If you are strictly looking for someone to manage your payroll, you’ll want to see resumes with a Payroll Specialist professional designation, ideally earned in the province where you are paying people. When interviewing, ensure candidates are experienced not only in the monthto-month administrative tasks but also with year end and tax processing. Payroll often works closely with finance, so if you have someone internally or externally who manages your books, that’s a good person to ask for referrals or to have sit in during the interview process. Implementing and managing a group benefit plan is rarely a full-time role at a small- or medium-sized organization, so it’s unlikely you will require a dedicated benefits specialist. An experienced HR generalist should be able to source quotes, compare plans and help choose a provider, along with implementing and managing a group plan.

It’s all about

the fit

When you’ve built the job description and started sourcing candidates, remember that as an owner you will be working closely on confidential, often sensitive material with this person. Make sure the candidate is someone who understands your challenges, and has a positive, solution-based approach to handling them.

Once you’ve established a great fit culture-wise, there’s one final piece you must not skip. While I’m not personally a fan of the standard reference check (rarely do you get valuable, candid feedback), please remember you are proposing granting someone access to the most sensitive areas of your business. Do a proper background check. There are a number of specialty firms that will confirm identification, credentials and run criminal and credit checks; these should always be done with the consent of the candidate (ideally before an offer is made or make your job offer conditional). It should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway: You absolutely should not let anyone near your payroll if they refuse to participate in or do not pass a proper background check.

A final piece of advice

Like many things in life, HR work can be simultaneously rewarding and exhausting. In my long and illustrious HR career (ahem), I have hired and fired people, trained people, paid people, told some people they were doing a bad job and to get better, and told others they were doing a good job and please don’t ever leave. I’ve bargained with unions, negotiated with lawyers, written and enforced policies and all manner of other actual “HR” tasks. But I have also planned and hosted events; mopped floors; been sworn at; been thrown up on; been nurse, therapist; good cop, bad cop and mom; been shouted at and been hugged – sometimes by the same person, sometimes on the same day. I’d like to think I’ve (almost) always managed to stay professional and supportive of the staff and management I serve. So, if nothing else, when you hire an HR person, give them your appreciation, because if they are doing their job right, they most certainly will have earned it. Happy hiring.

Sue Sodek has over 20 years of human resource and consulting experience across a variety of businesses and currently manages HR for UCEL Inc. in Uxbridge, ON. She can be reached at sue.sodek@gmail.com.

“Here you can lean into new technology and see how we can make buildings better – HVAC is 40% of a building so it’s important to stay in the know.”

Level up at the event for HVACR.

FEBRUARY 10-12, 2025

A2L compliant products

Zonefirst has launched products designed to meet A2L refrigerant regulations, including 24 Spring Return damper systems, and PlugIn and 3-Wire Power Open-Closed damper systems. For systems using 24V power closed, spring-open dampers with H32, MMZ3, or MZS4 panels, power is routed through an HVAC unit’s leak detection contact. If a leak is detected the circuit breaks and causes dampers to spring open and the fan to activate. For Plug-In and 24V 3-Wire dampers, an A2LR relay disconnects the R wire from each zone thermostat to the panel, stopping all zone calls and opening all dampers. If a leak is detected, the unit’s auxiliary leak detection circuit triggers this relay, deactivating heating/ cooling and activating the fan.

zonefirst.com

EB-Bus Ethernet Smart Display Panel from EBTRON is a single-point-of-access building management system for accessing, monitoring, configuring and validating up to 16 air handing measurement devices located at different points throughout the building. The SDX-1000 includes a tablet/phone-style interface with factory-installed applications that can be updated or added to; 7-in. diagonal capacitive touch full-colour display; and dedicated Ethernet network to prevent interface with BAS communications. www.

ebtron.com

The Lowest GWP R-22 Drop-in Replacement on Earth.

Radon venting system

THE PERFECT R-22 DROP-IN REFRIGERANT.

That’s what RSI customers call RS-70. And why wouldn’t they? RS-70 is non-flammable, features a zero ODP rating and boasts the lowest GWP of any R-22 drop-in replacement on earth. RS-70 was engineered with contractors in mind. It is specially formulated for use in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and is equally at home in both high and low temperature applications. It is compatible in systems with either fixed orifices or expansion devices and it works with both traditional and synthetic lubricants. When it comes to commercial/residential A/C and heat pumps, and most refrigeration applications, one replacement does it all. Get to know RS-70. You’ll be glad you did.

IPEX’s RadonX Soil Gas Venting System is Canada’s first PVC radon gas piping system. The system safely collects and vents soil gas before it enters the home, reducing indoor radon levels, humidity, and VOCs. RadonX is designed for low-rise construction and includes gas collectors, venting pipes, fittings, and accessories. The product line is an engineered system specifically designed, tested, and labelled to address the need to collect and vent soil gas from sub-slab areas.

www.

ipexna.com

Temperature control

tekmar introduces its Wi-Fi Setpoint Control 170, which offers consistent temperature control for single-stage heating or cooling systems, pools, hot tubs, heated patios and radiant floors in both residential and light commercial applications. The unit is Wi-Fi enabled for remote monitoring and control through the Watts Home app, and features a user-friendly interface and 3.5-in. colour touchscreen, email error and warning notifications, and energy savings mode. www.

tekmar.com

Limited-edition pliers

KNIPEX Tools North America introduces limited-edition 7 ¼-in. Bicolor Cobra Water Pump Pliers. The pliers are a collector’s item, and are half chrome plated and half dark phosphate, with nonslip black grips. They have all the same features and benefits of standard 7 ¼-in. Cobra pliers, including 18-push button adjustment positions, box-joint design, and pinch guard, and come packaged in a festive box. www. knipex-tools.com

Winter work jacket

Helly Hansen’s new FW24 workwear line includes the Manchester 2.0 Winter Jacket for men and women. The jacket is made with Helly Tech Protection main fabric to keep wearers dry and warm. It features an adjustable and detachable hood, with adjustable cuffs and hem, and a brushed fleece inner collar and extended back. Other details include reflective design, chest and hand pockets, and articulated sleeves for better mobility. Available in women’s sizes XS to 3XL, and men’s sizes XS to 5XL. www. hhworkwear.com

Waterproof boots

The 8-in. Waterproof CSA Safety Toe

Boot from Red Wing Shoes offers heavyduty performance and comfort, without added weight and bulk. Made with fullgrain waterproof leather and recycled mesh upper, the boots have heel and non-metallic safety toe protections against abrasion, punctures and electrical hazards. The rubber outsole offers slip, chemical and abrasion resistance, with a 90-degree heel for extra stability. Available in sizes up to 15, and wide EE and H widths. www. redwingshoes.com

• Provides super-smooth fitting clean out for tough-to-reach PVC, CPVC and ABS fittings.

• Reduce labor time and materials costs by reusing fittings.

QUATTRO’S CORNER

THE NEW PIPE ON THE BLOCK

Readers may be wondering why a plumbing guy is talking about radon when its requirements are found in Part 9 and not in Part 7 of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). At recent conferences and trade shows, building officials have shown a heightened interest in radon. I see some potential issues related to plumbing and the effectiveness of the actual test for radon. The opinion expressed here is exactly that, my opinion.

Radon is a colourless, odourless gas that occurs naturally from the decay of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in all soil and rock. As radon breaks down, it forms radioactive particles that could get lodged in our lungs as we breathe. The energy released by radon particles could damage lung cells creating lung cancer. Not everyone exposed to radon gas will develop lung cancer, and the time between exposure and the onset of the disease could take many years. Radon gas is known as a silent killer.

The OBC typically requires measures to prevent the entry of soil gases, including radon and other harmful gases, into buildings. This may involve the installation of gas barriers, vapour retarders, or soil gas collection systems, depending on the specific site conditions and risks (reference 9.13.4. Soil Gas Control, 9.13.4.1. Soil Gas Control, and 9.13.4.2. Required Soil Gas Control).

Currently there are no guidelines which address building site characterization for radon risk. This is due to the fact that the level of radon in an occupied home or building cannot be predicted prior to construction. The only way to know for sure is via testing after construction. Radon concentrations can vary significantly from hour to hour and day to day, therefore long-term measurements are recommended while determining radon levels.

To reduce radon levels in indoor air, you can impede the entry of soil gases by sealing all openings in the foundation and points where the home or building contacts the soil, and by minimizing the pressure difference between the soil and the interior.

However, solely sealing foundation openings is impractical and ineffective because radon can enter through tiny cracks that may develop over time.

Various mitigation methods exist, depending on factors such as foundation type and accessibility. The most effective and cost-efficient method is sub-slab depressurization, involving the

HOW RADON ENTERS A HOUSE

Radon can move freely through the soil enabling it to escape to the atmosphere or seep into buildings.

DID YOU KNOW?

Take Action on Radon works with community groups across Canada, including libraries, to loan radon monitors. See the list of participating organizations here: takeactiononradon.ca/resources/lending-programs/

insertion of a pipe beneath the foundation to vent soil gases. While sealing the foundation is a standard moisture reduction measure, it rarely lowers indoor radon levels sufficiently on its own due to the difficulty of sealing all access points for radon and other soil gases.

In new construction, there are three levels of sub-slab depressurization methods for radon mitigation. One method is to use a soil gas venting system with a perforated gas collector, and venting pipes and fittings, which satisfy the material and labelling requirements for the subslab depressurization methods outlined in MMAH Supplementary Standard SB-9, requirements for soil gas control.

Options for sub-slab depressurization:

ALevel-1 (Rough-in): This involves installing a capped roughin stub with access to the gas permeable layer. It serves as the foundation for either a Level-2 (passive) or Level-3 (active) radon mitigation system.

Andrew Quattrociocchi is chief building official, growth management services with King Township in Ontario.

Level-2 (Full Passive Stack): In this method, the capped rough-in pipe is replaced by a full vertical pipe stack that extends through the building and terminates above the roof. This is often sufficient to reduce radon levels to acceptable limits. If needed, a radon fan (Level-3) can be added for further reduction.

Level-3 (Active Stack): This system enhances a Level-2 passive stack by adding a radon fan. The fan creates a pressure difference that draws radon gas from beneath the foundation and vents it outside. Active systems are the most effective for reducing high radon levels. They can terminate above the roof or on a side wall, with the fan generating the necessary pressure difference. Level-3 systems are commonly used in retrofit applications.

Many municipalities are being proactive to reduce radon levels in homes and have dedicated radon programs for new construction. As a minimum, it is critical to install the sub-slab pipe and radon rough-in stub as per the OBC requirements in the event radon mitigation is required later.

This information is leaps and bounds ahead of where our industry stood on the topic of radon years ago, but there are areas for concern.

PIPE LABELLING ISSUES

In my opinion pipe labelling should be on multiple sides of the pipe and continuous through its length. I see potential issues for homeowners completing renovations. Your average homeowner or contractor may not know the difference between typical DWV (drains, wastes and vents) piping and may connect soil or waste pipes to a radon system. The piping may operate for a short period of time before problems ensue. Radon piping uses perforated pipe under the slab. Discharge of sewage would contaminate the soils on the underside of the basement slab causing the breaking and removal of concrete to resolve the damage done. I’m hoping some changes can be made to pipe labelling to ensure these mistakes don’t occur.

By Andrew Quattrociocchi

TESTING CONCERNS

Another area of concern is testing. I have heard of test vials being left with homeowners after occupancy. The homeowner is required to submit them to the authority having jurisdiction after testing. This testing occurs in winter months therefore that vial could be sitting for a while. There is a possibility the vial gets damaged, thrown out or simply ignored. This results in the municipality having to police both the test and the closing of the permit because the requirement for installation would fall under the approved building permit. It is difficult enough to gain compliance as it is, let alone to close older permits. Radon testing can be cheated as well; something as simple as opening a window could possibly void the test.

How does the authority having jurisdiction ensure a proper test is completed?

There are batterypowered indoor air quality monitors available that offer multiple sensors, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, CO2 and yes, radon along with an app that alerts owners. In my opinion such a device is a fantastic replacement to vial testing, offering long-term radon testing. These devices should be a mandatory requirement in all homes for reasons that could benefit building departments, and more importantly, the health and safety of occupants.

Devices are available that provide long-term radon testing and put the onus on homeowners.

The biggest bonus for building departments is the responsibility of the testing requirements is taken from the authority having jurisdiction and placed on the homeowner. It’s battery-powered, but with a bit of work to get these sensors hardwired, similar to smoke detectors, we would be in business.

Our industry is changing rapidly and I respect the testing and awareness we are provided with. Let’s not rush to implementation and tick the boxes that need to be ticked before proceeding. Radon is here to stay and with upgrades to technology we can ensure our children’s children live in radonfree homes. Until next time, Quattro out!

Photo Airthings

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MEP Innovation Conference

January 27 – 30

Los Angeles, CA mepconference.com

ASHRAE Winter Conference

February 8 – 12 Orlando, FL ashrae.org

AHR EXPO

February 10 – 12 Orlando, FL ahrexpo.com

KBIS

February 25 – 27 Las Vegas, NV kbis.com

Canadian Climate Institute Conference

March 5 Toronto, ON climateinstitute.ca

EIA National Conference & Expo

March 9 – 12 Jacksonville, FL eia-usa.org

World Plumbing Day March 11 Worldwide worldplumbing.org

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association Annual Conference March 11 – March 13 Champaign, IL igshpa.org

NADCA Annual Meeting & Expo March 17 – 19 Savannah, GA nadca.com

ISH

March 17 – 21 Frankfurt, Germany ish.messefrankfurt.com

ACCA Annual Conference

March 24 – 27 Austin, TX accaconference.com

MCEE

April 24 – 25 Montreal, QC mcee.ca

www.watts.ca

2025 CALENDAR OF EVENT S

BuildGreen Atlantic April 28 – 29 Halifax, NS buildgreenatlantic.ca

CxEnergy April 28 – May 1 Charlotte, NC cxenergy.com

Heat Pump Symposium May 6 Toronto, ON heatpumpsymposium.ca

ORAC 58th AGM May 8 – 11 Las Vegas, NV orac.ca

Supporting Equity in Trades Conference

May 24 – 26 Toronto, ON caf-fca.org

Retrofit Canada Conference

June 9 – 10 Toronto, ON energyconferencenetwork.com

FEAR OF SNAKES PLUMBING

How to avoid hazards while cleaning drains for fun and profit

Today’s cable-style drain cleaning equipment is light years ahead of previous generations in both safety and effectiveness. However, that does not mean the average drain cleaning job is a walk in the park. After all, the contractor is wrestling a snake down a sewer pipe where they know a problem exists. What could go wrong?

As you might guess, the short answer to the above is plenty. This article will explore the most likely hazards contractors encounter when using cable-style drain cleaning equipment and how to mitigate these dangers.

Drain cables, or snakes, are long springs that contractors insert down a sewer drain to dislodge a clog and mechanically open the drain. When used, they spin at a considerable RPM, powered by either a drum-style or sectional-style machine. The snakes are flexible enough to negotiate the twists and turns of a sewer pipe, yet strong enough to maintain adequate torque along the length of the cable. A cutting tool is usually attached to the front end of the snake that can cut or bore its way through the physical obstructions that may be clogging the pipe.

The main danger that plumbers and drain cleaners face when using a snakestyle device is when the cutting tool becomes stuck in an obstruction and stops rotating. When that happens, the drain cable, which is a long, hollow spring, can build torque to dangerous levels. Drum-style machines generally rotate between 150 and 250 RPM. Sectional-style machines can rotate from 500 to 700 RPMs. Regardless, if the back end of a big spring is spinning at the above speeds, and the front of the spring is stationary, the cable can build up so much torque it can kink, throw a loop, or break in a blink of an eye. Depending on the type of machine being used and the precautions taken, this can pose a severe danger to the operator.

We recommend four things to mitigate or prevent the problems outlined above.

1

Wear drain-cleaning gloves. ply leather gloves are designed to protect your hands in the case of a kink or loop. Whatever brand you use, it’s critically important to always wear gloves designed specifically for drain cleaning whenever you have your hands on a cable. Rubber or linen-style gloves will not protect you and may become caught in the cable as it flexes and turns, causing injury.

2

A kneel-beside machine in action. Note the gloves for hand protection and goggles for eye protection.

Do not force the cable down the drain. When training new operators, think of the cable being like a drill, not a hammer or a battering ram. For example, if I wanted to create a quarter-inch hole in a wall, I would put a quarter-inch drill bit in my cordless drill and lean into the wall with gentle pressure while rotating the bit. I would not run from across the room and try to ram the drill bit into the wall through brute force.

Although this analogy seems ridiculous, it helps people understand how these

cables are designed to work. The cutting tool at the far end of the cable must rotate to cut its way through the obstruction, and the faster it rotates, the better it will cut. When you feel the cable begin to stiffen up or torque due to the front end slowing down as it begins its work, you should pull back on the cable, letting the cutter return to maximum speed. Then apply a back-and-forth motion, using the rotation of the cable to cut through the clog. Remember, drill, not hammer.

3

Use a cable power feed when using a drum-style machine

Power cable feeds are designed to automatically feed the cable in and out of the drum through mechanical action, so the contractor does not need to physically touch the cable. Most power cable feeds have a guide

By Dave Dunbar

tube, which runs from the machine to the pipe or clean-out being accessed by the cable. If the front end of the guide tube is inserted securely in the pipe opening, then even if the cable throws a loop, kinks, or breaks while in use, the contractor will not be hurt.

Essentially, the combination of power cable feed and guide tube separates the contractor from the cable and makes it much safer to use the machine. In addition, the contractor using a power feed and guide tube can confidently push the functional limits of the machine, getting more out of their equipment and allowing them to be more effective on the job.

4

There are two types of sectional machines: kneelbeside and walkbehind (shown here).

Use a “walk-behind” sectional machine when the situation allows. There are two types of sectional machines: kneel-beside and walk-behind.

Examples of a kneel-beside machine would be the General Root 66 and the Ridgid K-50, K-60, and K-1500. Examples of a walk-behind machine would be the General Model-88 and the Electric Eel Model-C. When you are walking behind a machine that is driving a sectional cable into a drain, you are safely out of the way if it throws a loop, kinks, or breaks while in use. However, if you kneel beside a machine with one hand guiding the cable down the drain and the other on a control level, you are the first to know when something goes wrong.

When a torqued cable throws a loop or kinks, it happens so fast there is no time to get out of the way. The only thing you can hope for at that point is your drain-cleaning gloves will protect your hands. The kneel-beside sectional-style drain cleaning machines on the market all do a great job opening clogs but also carry this additional danger.

There is a machine available that can operate as both kneel beside and walk behind. When using it, you can put the brake on and kneel beside the unit in tight spaces or walk behind the machine if you have a 10-ft. runway to the hole.

The most important thing is always to apply common sense and situational awareness when using snake-style machines, keeping in mind that each style of cable and each brand of machine has unique strengths and weaknesses. I also recommend slowing down. Most accidents happen when you cut corners or rush. Drain-cleaning machines can be highly effective tools and great money-makers if you give them the respect they deserve, so get over your fear of snakes and join the fun.

The main danger that plumbers and drain cleaners face is when the cutting tool becomes stuck in an obstruction and stops rotating torque builds in the drain cable.

Dave Dunbar was a national sales manager with General Pipe Cleaners for nearly 30 years. He is currently a customer success specialist with General Pipe Cleaners (drainbrain.com).

HARNESSING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Boost your HVAC business with instant lead response

Let me share a story with you. During a massive heat wave this past August, I received an urgent call from a friend whose air conditioner had just quit. She was sweating buckets, her kids were cranky, and she was desperate for relief. She reached out to several HVAC companies, hoping someone –anyone − would respond quickly.

Guess who got her business? The HVAC company that replied first.

In this fast-paced world, speed and personal touch aren’t just perks − they’re game-changers. In fact, 78 per cent of customers buy from the business that responds first. Just by being quick to engage, you can outshine competitors and boost your sales.

But let’s be honest. How can you always be the first to respond when you’re already juggling service calls, paperwork, and maybe even trying to grab a quick lunch? The answer might surprise you: embrace AI technology to enhance customer interactions.

Paul Bies

Why speed matters

When someone’s air conditioner breaks down in sweltering heat, they’re not in the mood to wait around. They want answers and cool air, right away. Delayed responses can send them straight into the arms of your competition.

Imagine if you could:

• Respond to inquiries within 10 seconds.

• Engage with potential customers automatically, day or night.

• Provide instant answers to customers’ pressing questions.

Sounds ideal, right? By integrating AI-powered chatbots and messaging systems into your website and social media platforms, this ideal becomes reality. These tools greet visitors, answer FAQs, and even guide them to schedule a service call − all in the blink of an eye.

Paul Bies, co-founder and president of Mystique Brand Communications (mystique.ca) in Toronto, ON, brings a wealth of marketing expertise to his role as Mechanical Business marketing columnist. His mission is to empower businesses and to share insights that provide valuable perspectives for their success. As the son of an HVAC entrepreneur, he understands the business landscape and is committed to helping MB readers thrive.

From hello to let’s go

Here’s how AI can transform lead management:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Incoming leads: All inquiries from your website, Facebook, Instagram, you name it, flow into one central system.

Immediate engagement: The AI says “Hi there!” right away, gathering details about the issue.

Personalized nurturing: Through tailored messages, the AI shares info about your services, special offers, or customer success stories.

Qualifying the lead: By asking the right questions, the AI figures out how urgent the problem is and how you can best help.

Sealing the deal: Ready-to-go leads can book appointments or request quotes on the spot.

Friendly follow-up: For those not quite ready to commit, the AI sends gentle reminders, keeping your business fresh in their minds.

This way, you and your team focus energy where it counts: on leads that are making the most of your time and theirs.

Maximizing sales without breaking a sweat

Think about it: If you engaged all your leads immediately, how much more could you sell? By ensuring every potential customer feels heard and helped right away, you’re stacking the odds in your favour. AI doesn’t just speed things up; it makes the whole experience better by offering:

• Personal touches: The AI tailors conversations based on what the customer says, so it feels less like a robot and more like a helpful assistant.

• Consistent communication: No matter how swamped you are, every lead gets top-notch attention.

• Around-the-clock availability: Late-night inquiry? Early morning emergency? The AI has it covered, capturing leads whenever they come knocking.

Keeping it personal

You might be thinking, “Won’t using AI make my business seem cold or impersonal?” Actually, it’s quite the opposite. AI handles the initial legwork, so when you jump in, you’re fully informed and ready to deliver that exceptional human touch.

Here’s the upside:

• Save time: Let the AI tackle routine questions while you handle the nuanced stuff that really needs your expertise.

• Look professional: Quick, accurate responses show customers you’re on the ball.

• Grow smoothly: As your business picks up, AI helps manage the influx without needing to immediately hire more staff.

Thinking outside the box

There’s so much more you can do when you get creative with AI:

Automate scheduling: Let customers book their own appointments through interactive chats, cutting down on phone tag.

Get predictive: Use AI to spot trends from customer interactions so you can tailor services or promotions accordingly.

Personalize marketing: Send follow-up messages or special offers based on what your customers are interested in.

With a little imagination, AI can enhance every step of your customer journey, from that first “Hello” to a satisfied smile after a job well done.

Ready to dive in? Here’s how to start

Bringing AI into your business isn’t as sci-fi as it sounds. Here’s a simple game plan:

Pinpoint your needs: Figure out where automation could make the biggest impact. Is it answering initial inquiries? Scheduling? Follow-ups?

Pick your tools: There’s a whole world of AI platforms geared toward businesses such as yours. Find one that’s user-friendly and meshes well with what you’ve already got going on.

Make it yours: Customize the AI’s responses so they sound like you − your tone, your style.

Test the waters: Start small. Try it out, see how it works, and tweak it as needed.

Loop in your team: Make sure everyone knows how the AI fits into the picture so they can seamlessly take over when it’s time for that human touch.

Wrapping it up

So, as someone who’s passionate about helping HVAC businesses thrive, I can tell you this: in a world where being first can make all the difference, AI gives you that competitive edge. It’s an investment in your business’s future that could pay off big time. Here’s to embracing new ideas and watching your business thrive.

HOLIDAY SPENDING

972

Average dollar amount Canadians are expected to spend this year on holiday season purchases, eight per cent more than in 2023, according to a survey by the Retail Council of Canada and Leger.

34

Per cent of consumers who said the high cost of living was the number-one factor impacting their shopping decisions this year; 16 per cent cited budget constraints, and 14 per cent cited the cost of gifts.

HEAT WAVES IN CANADA

2

Degrees Celsius the annual average temperature increased in Canada from 1948 to 2023, says Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2 billion

Dollar amount insurers spent on catastrophic claims annually in Canada since 2009. That compares to an average of $400 million per year between 1983 and 2008.

CANADA’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY SECTOR

466,271

Number of permanent workers in the energy efficiency sector in 2023, says ECO Canada’s report 2024 Energy Efficiency Employment in Canada.

55,146

Businesses in the energy efficiency sector across the country last year.

126.3 billion

Dollars of operating revenue generated by the sector in 2023, compared to $82.6 billion in 2018.

GROWING GLOBAL HVAC MARKET

346.7 billion

Dollar amount the worldwide HVAC market is expected to reach by the end of 2028, according to BCC Research LLC, from $263.6 billion in 2023.

10 billion

Dollar amount U.S. consumers spend per year on HVAC repairs and maintenance. BCC Research says demand is expected to grow by 1.5 times by 2028.

7 million

Annual heat pump sales expected in the EU by 2030, compared to three million heat pumps in 2022.

REACHING CONSUMERS

70

Per cent of consumers who prefer home services companies that offer multiple contacts including phone, text messages and online chat options, according to digital marketing company Scorpion.

67

Per cent of consumers who check at least three different review sources on a home services company before making a decision.

66

Per cent of consumers who say they expect home services companies to respond to their message within 24 hours.

443 MILLION

Number of school days children around the world lose each year due to water-related illnesses, as highlighted by Global Handwashing Day on October 15.

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