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Me chanical

T A B L E

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for Contractors

27PLUMBING Combatting chemicals with carbon John Cardiff

50COVER FEATURE Lavalife co-founder Bruce Croxon describes himself as a life-long entrepreneur and, through his new firm, Round 13 Capital, he is helping guide growing companies with a social media edge.

Adam Freill

56ROAD WARRIOR: Morgane Tallman 58FIND THE FIX 74REFRIGERATION

WHAT www.mechanicalbusiness.com

78VEHICLE UPFITTING

02 . 1 5

CONTENTS

F E A T U R E S

CO2 as a Refrigerant Andre Patenaude

Busine ss

WET HEAT APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

February 2015

Options abound for customization Denise Deveau

33Calling all Wet Heads! We’re kicking off another year of the most popular hydronic supplement in the country, Wet Heat Applications & Technology (WHAT for short). Check out new products, trends and installation and design advice from our list of esteemed contributors, all starting on page 33.

A SOPPING WET SUPPLEMENT OF MECHANICAL BUSINESS

MB SPECIALISTS 18REFRIGERATION 82SHOWERS Going with the flow Andrew Snook

86HVAC/R Diagnosing problems with infrared Paul Frisk

Parallel refrigeration Phil Boudreau

22HVAC ECMs and HRVs Gord Cooke

30MARKETING Exerting some leverage Doug MacMillan

40HYDRONICS Tanks a lot!

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

60TROUBLESHOOTING 95TOOL TIP: A walk on the lighter side

A steamy situation Dan Holohan

69ASK ROGER Price increases and challenges Roger Grochmal

70PLUMBING Big job; big drainage Fred Bretzke

PRODUCTS 62-66Hydronics 80Stuff you need 88,90-91HVAC/R 92-93Plumbing DEPARTMENTS 06From the editor’s desk 08News 16Profile: Kevin Ernst 95Crossword 96The Info Page 97Calendar 98By the Numbers CHECK US OUT ONLINE

mechanicalbusiness.com

On the cover: Lavalife founder and former Dragon on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, Bruce Croxon continues to invest in and advise entrepreneurial companies through his firm Round 13 Capital. Photo: David Chidley

FROM Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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Back on the roller coaster again Anyone who may have been hoping that 2015 would be the year that the incessant discussions about economic uncertainty would finally subside has definitely had those hopes dashed.

Jan/Feb 2015 Issue Published 6 times per year.

Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Andrew Snook, ext. 225 andrew.snook@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Business Intern: Brooke Klintworth brooke.klintworth@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

Postmaster – Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

Between the downturn of oil that started last year and has continued to gain steam into the first couple of months this year, to the change in the overnight lending rate announced in January, to downward pressure on the value of the Canadian dollar, there’s a lot for the financial prognosticators to debate.

Here in the mechanical sector, the effects of the dropping Canadian dollar have arrived in the various price increases that have hit supplies for the sector. For a business take on rising costs, and how to navigate price increases with your customers, be sure to check out Roger Grochmal’s column on page 69.

Want to keep up with the industry?

Check out the Mechanical Business website, www.mechanicalbusiness.com for the latest news affecting the Canadian market, and be sure to sign up for our newsletters and twitter feed @MechBusiness, while you are there.

While the dropping price of crude has not done any favours for the province of Alberta and has the federal government scrambling, the resulting lower price of fuel for vehicles, and for home heating oil, mixed with the trickle down reduction in mortgage rates, has some hoping that Canadians might spend that new found money on renovations or upgrades.

Although local conditions will be more challenging in areas with strong ties to oil production, there are financial analysts who see reductions in the costs of shipping goods, along with lower mortgage rates, resulting in other areas of the country helping to stabilize the national picture, and growth is still expected.

That being said, I think it’s safe to say that any plans based on economic predictions laid out even six months ago should be evaluated, however. And remember, even in challenging of economies there are customers who still the most challengi systems that mechanical contracting and engineering need the system service and replace. firms build, serv

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights.

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paraphrase Bill Murray from Caddyshack, “We’ve got that So to paraphras which is nice.” going for us, wh And if you y are looking for a bit of help to find those customers, make sure you check out our cover feature custom on page 50 as former Dragons’ Den investor Bruce Croxon offers some great advice about the use of social media to find consumers for your company’s services.

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher. © Copyright 2015. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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02.15

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Taco names new president

CMPX names show committee

Taco has hired Wil VandeWiel as the company’s new president and chief operations officer. VandeWiel will oversee the daily operations of Taco and work with White, Jr. and the board of directors in planning the company’s growth. White, Jr., the third generation of the White family to lead Taco, will remain as CEO but will focus his duties on building new Taco’s CEO John Hazen White Jr. partnerships and strategic acquisitions (right) introduces Wil VandeWiel as the to grow and diversify the company. The company’s new president changes to the corporate structure will not impact the reporting structure of the company’s Canadian operations.

The show committee has been appointed for the 2016 Canadian Mechanical & Plumbing Exposition (CMPX), Canada’s largest trade show and learning forum for the mechanical industry. The show is scheduled to take place from March 16 to 18, 2016 in Toronto. The committee is comprised of show chairman Gerry Cellucci of Yorkland Controls; and committee members John Bonus (Wolseley Canada), Brent Cornelisen (OS&B), Dennis Kozina (Emerson Climate Technologies), Bruce Passmore (EMCO Corporation), Ron Robinson (AtlasCare), Joe Senese (Groupe Deschenes), Ken Webster (Viessmann Manufacturing), David Weishuhn (Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning) and John Williams (Deflecto).

taco-hvac.com

cmpxshow.com

Martino Contractors wins big

Apprentice loan program open for business

The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) named Martino Contractors Trade Contractor of the Year during its Associate Awards ceremony. This is the third time the company has won the award, previously taking home the prize in 2010 and 2011. The company specializes in heating and air conditioning systems, as well as indoor air quality products.

The Canada Apprentice Loan initiative is now accepting applications. The initiative is designed to assist apprentices in Red Seal trades in completing their training through access to interest-free loans. Apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade apprenticeship can apply for loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training. The loans are interest-free until the apprentices either complete their program or leave their apprenticeship training program, up to a maximum of six years.

bildawards.com

canada.ca/apprentice

Follow Us on Twitter! It’s MB’s Twitter Roundup Caught the twitter bug? We’ve got you covered with tweets about everything that matters to the mechanical trades in Canada. Follow us @mechbusiness.

CIPH news

Eco Plumbers

Caleffi US

Toronto Hydro

@CIPHnews

@TheEcoPlumbers

@Caleffius

@TorontoHydro

#WorldPlumbingDay – March 11, every year, everywhere. Tweet your plans to @WplumbingDay.

When #freezing temps hit, An understanding of make sure your pipes are #circulators is crucial to good #hydronic system ready. design. #idronics January 15, 2015 January 15, 2015

January 14, 2015

January 16, 2015

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During the winter months, as much as 3% of the energy used by your furnace can be saved by lowering your thermostat by 1 degree.

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Insight into Pan Am Games

Novo and NAIT team up Novo Water Conditioning Products has partnered with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to develop a (Left to right) NAIT’s Bryan Brewer and Nick training facility for the Doyon pose with Emco’s Phillip Spicer and Novo’s Steve Jackson during the opening of the trade trade college’s plumbing school’s latest training facility in Edmonton. apprentices. The facility has the ability to train up to 2,000 apprentices annually and is outfitted with Novo equipment.

In addition to a new look, OS&B’s website now features product spotlights on the home page, a fully searchable product catalogue and a product image magnification tool. Users can also download specification and product sheets. osb.ca

ciph.com

MARCH 2014 $6.95 01 2 201 T 2014 CT OCT /OCT T/O T/OCT PT/O PT/ PT EP EPT SEPT/OCT SE S 6 95 $695 $ $6.95 $6

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OR HVAC HORR Mega Stage the Rain in

C M P X .com ness busi ical chan .me www

PM #41536047

OS&B redesigns website

PM #41536047

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“The first reason we bid on this was on behalf of the athletes.

Young athletes that never get a chance to compete in front of Canadians,” former Mayor of Toronto David Miller told a full house while discussing the reasons for the city’s bid for the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games during CIPH Ontario Region’s January meeting in Mississauga. “The reason we bid was to show that Toronto is socially, environmentally and economically successful.”

He added that landing a sporting event of this size would also bring significant improvements to the city’s infrastructure and an increase in employment.

Furthermore, Miller said that the legacy of the games could help Toronto secure an Olympic Games in the future.

The next CIPH Ontario Region meeting will take place on March 5 in Mississauga and will feature Hardcore Renos’ Manny Neves.

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S h o w

G u i d e

E d i t i o n

T H E

H I G H

P E R F O R M A N C E

E D I T I O N

Awards and updates for HRAI HRAI’s Greater Toronto Area Chapter got a pat on the back for a job well done at a recent chapter meeting in Vaughan, Ont. Chair Victor Hyman was presented an award by Skills Competition Committee co-chair Dick Thomas in recognition of support of the HRAI Skills Competition’s heating systems technician competition, which took place last March at the CMPX trade show in Toronto.

Also on the agenda was a presentation by Enbridge Gas Distribution’s Jeremy Salazar, who discussed several updates to section B149.1-10 in Ontario, covering natural gas and propane Dick Thomas (right) presents HRAI installation. One update of particular interest was the addition of press-connect fittings to GTA Chapter chair Victor Hyman with an award for the chapter’s Section 6 of the code, piping and tubing systems, gas hose and fittings. In Section 6.9, joints and assistance with the CMPX skills connections, clause 6.9.9 has been revised, adding press-connect fittings as an option for joining competition. seamless copper, brass or steel tubing. In Section 6.15, underground piping and tubing, clauses 6.15.2 and 6.15.3 have been substituted to allow for the addition of press-connect fittings for the joining of underground piping and tubing systems. Press-connect fittings became approved for use in Ontario this past October. Salazar also discussed changes to Section 4.25, which covers mandatory safety checks for 300,000 BTUs (or smaller) residential natural draft boilers equipped with draft hoods. Clause 4.25.1 has been revised to add that boilers tested between May 1 and Oct. 15 (the off season) of a given year will be considered a valid test for the following year until May 1. hrai.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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APP ALERT Test your know-how CoolGame 2 from Danfoss allows users to test their knowledge of refrigeration systems against colleagues around the world. In the game, users build a specific refrigeration circuit as fast as possible by placing the components correctly. Players have the option of creating their own leagues to compete against local colleagues or classmates. It is compatible with Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. danfoss.com

Helping clients connect The Who’s On Now? app is designed to function as a mobile search engine and social media tool that allows users to instantly connect with people and businesses closest to them. Users can create a profile of their business or service, add pictures, videos and their credentials, and switch their availability to “on now” to be ready to be found by customers. The app is free to download on iPhones. whosonnow.com

Ontario defers changes to water heaters The Ontario Ministry of Energy has deferred proposed changes under amendment O. Reg. 404/12 to Ontario’s Energy Efficiency regulation under the Green Energy Act, 2009, for residential gas storage water heaters, which would have gone into effect on Jan. 1.

The proposed amendment would harmonize the efficiency requirements for residential storage gas water heaters with a capacity of more than 208 litres with the requirements that will come into force under the existing U.S. DOE regulation on April 16, 2015. The proposed compliance date is September 1, 2017.

The document was published on Service Ontario’s e-laws as O. Reg. 298/14, and can be downloaded by visiting search.e-laws.gov.on.ca. search.e-laws.gov.on.ca

Compact wall hung and utility electric water heaters from Bradford White save valuable floor space and offer installation flexibility when your options are limited. Perfect for point-of-use or intermittent draw applications; both models feature the quality components you expect in a Bradford White water heater.

•Available in eight sizes from 2 – 30 U.S.G. •Vitraglas® – An exclusive enamel lining provides unsurpassed tank protection.

•Wall Mounting Bracket – Factory installed bracket for easier installation allows for secure worry-free fastening to the wall

•Immersed Elements – Copper heating elements transfer heat directly and efficiently to water

•Alternate Connections – Six and 12 gallon utility models have alternate connection tappings on top

•Heat Traps – Reduce potential noise and save energy •Dielectric Waterway Fittings – Factory-installed fittings are plastic lined to prevent corrosion

866.690.0961 | www.bradfordwhite.com ©2013, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Built to be the Best ™

Tech talk Mainflo Air Systems’ Mike Mainolfi discusses the latest industry offerings from Regal Beloit with Brian Crane, the company’s HVAC/R application specialist, during the grand opening of WWG Totaline’s Markham, Ont., branch in December. The event featured a vendor trade show, door prizes, giveaways and lunch. The new facility is located at 91-93 Steelcase Road East.

RSES Canada changes dates The 2015 RSES Canada Conference has been rescheduled to take place from May 21 to 23 at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. All training sessions will be held at SAIT with the exception of industry tour training sessions.

Watch for announcements in the near future outlining the location for these sessions. The conference will be hosted by the Calgary Chapter of RSES Canada. rsescanada.com

wwgtotaline.ca

Watco Flex900

Bye, bye offsets.

Aqua-Tech launches new website Aqua-Tech recently gave its website a new look and website address. The company’s website is now located at aquatech-canada.com. Features for the site include case studies, frequently asked questions, news, videos and events and more.

In addition, company emails have changed to reflect the new URL. To connect with your usual contact, use the address format of their first name and first initial of the person’s last name @aquatech-canada.com. aquatech-canada.com

No.

Yes.

J i the Join th green scenee andd mak make k misalignmen time-consuming misalignment issues a thing of the past.

A cutting edge presentation Freud Tools’ national accounts manager Luciano Iaboni cuts through stainless steel pipe with the help of Hector Turner during the company’s product demonstration day, which took place in Mississauga last December. The demonstrations showcased the company’s latest carbide-tipped reciprocating saw blades for wood and metal cutting applications.

Useful. Innovation.

816.796.3900 Q watcomfg.com

freud.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Daikin to expand Goodman operations Daikin Industries plans to expand its Goodman operations in the U.S. The company plans to build a $417-million business campus near Houston, Texas that will consolidate current manufacturing and logistics operations. The facility will allow Daikin to manufacture its full range of ducted residential and light commercial products, as well as its various ductless products in one location, which are currently imported from outside North America, improving efficiencies and the company’s ability to serve its customers in Canada and the U.S. The campus is expected to become operational in 2016. daikincomfort.com goodmanmfg.com

Trane r teams up with Kampmann Trane Canada has entered into an agreement with Kampmann UK to become the official distributor of the company’s HVAC products in the Canadian market. This will include the KathermNK, QK and HK product lines, which feature hydronic natural convection trench heating and baseboard heating, as well as fan-assisted trench/ baseboard heating and cooling.

Elkay and Halsey Taylor name Dobbin master distributor for Canada Dobbin Sales will become the exclusive Canadian distributor of all Elkay and Halsey Taylor branded products as of March 21, 2015.

Elkay and Halsey Taylor plumbing products include sinks, faucets, foodservice products, water coolers, drinking fountains and bottle filling stations. dobbinsales.com

Danfoss names new hydronic sales representative Thomas Industrial Sales has been named the master distributor for Danfoss’ hydronic comfort controls for the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Thomas Industrial’s main office is located in Fredericton, N.B. To contact them call 800-663-6919, or email info@thomasindustrial.ca. na.heating.danfoss.com thomasindustrial.ca

trane.com kampmann.co.uk

EffectiV f HVAC launches brand EffectiV f HVAC recently launched its brand of air distribution products for commercial applications.

The Montreal-based company manufactures and supplies air distribution products, as well as other HVAC products, and is the exclusive distributor for Madel products in North America.

The Goodman Industrial team in Esterhazy, Sask.

Wolseley acquires PVF business

effectiv-hvac.com f

Giant Factories turns 70 Giant Factories is celebrating its 70th year in business in 2015.

The Montreal-based water heater manufacturer was founded by brothers Lucien and Jean Lesage as an electronic repair shop in the basement of their home in 1944. The company was officially named the Giant Electric Manufacturing Co. in 1945, and began assembling water heaters in 1950. It was rebranded Giant Factories in 1984. giantinc.com

Wolseley Industrial Canada has purchased all assets of the pipe, valve and fitting (PVF) supply business of Goodman Industrial, a wholesale distributor in Esterhazy, Sask.

Goodman Industrial will immediately transition its operations to the Wolseley Industrial name, and the team will report to Jason Santha, Saskatchewan branch area manager for Wolseley Industrial. Goodman Industrial president and CEO Darrell Tochor has retired from the business, and Michelle Shire will continue on as the sales manager. wolseleycanada.ca

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Navien innovation.

Now available in a boiler.

Introducing the Navien NHB condensing boilers As the leader in condensing technology, Navien has already reinvented the water heating industry with the award-winning NPE tankless water heaters and the NCB combi-boilers. The new NHB boiler series is the next in line of innovations from Navien. All NHB boilers have Navien’s advanced burner system, an AFUE of 95% and turn down ratios up to 15:1. Now available in four sizes: NHB-55, NHB-80, NHB-110 and NHB-150.

Reinvent your thinking about boilers at BoilersMadeSmart.com or Navien.com.

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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Wolseley Canada has named MATTHEW NYKAMP the branch supervisor for the company’s express plumbing branch in Burlington, Ont. Matthew was hired last September and has several years of experience in warehouse management. The company has also hired CAROLINA BERGLES for the position of counter salesperson at the branch.

KEVIN FREIDT has been promoted to director of product management and technical support for Caleffi. Kevin joined the company in 2013, serving as its application engineering manager and has more than 30 years of experience in the commercial HVAC industry including field application engineering, product development, engineering research and development, project management and sales and distribution.

Knipex Tools has promoted TODD SHUMATE (top) to executive vice-president.

He will be responsible for all field operations in Canada and the U.S. Todd was previously the company’s vicepresident of sales for North America and has worked for the company since 2008.

The company has also promoted RANDY BOOTH (bottom) to channel sales manager, distribution. He has worked with the company since 2010 as a sales manager.

GreenSaver has appointed a new management team to serve its energy conservation clients.

JAY BULGER (1) has been named the company’s vice-president of operations. He was previously the company’s acting vicepresident of operations. JOHN ROUSE (2) has been named operations manager. John’s main responsibilities will include internal processes, field delivery and quality control.

CAITLYN RYAN (3) is the company’s manager of energy program delivery. She will oversee all local distribution company (LDC) and utility program delivery and outreach activities. TOM WYNN (4) has been named its new business development manager. He will focus on managing key accounts with LDCs and utilities.

SANDRA BARNAUD has been promoted to marketing coordinator for Saniflo’s Canadian operations. Sandra joined Saniflo in 2010 as a project manager focusing on events and exhibitions.

Navien has appointed SCOTT LEE as its new CEO. Scott has worked for KD Navien for four years as an overseas team leader. Prior to 2011, he spent nine years as the chief operations officer for a global electronics company.

Goodman has named WILLIAM STUART (top) branch manager for its Saskatoon location. He has been with the company for two years, working as a customer service representative.

The company has also hired JARRID TEABO (bottom) as its key account manager for GTA, Central Ontario. He has experience as a dealer manager and sales manager in the HVAC/R industry.

Danfoss has hired JOSEPH RICH as its senior director of sales and marketing for North America.

His primary focus will be growing the company’s VLT drives business. Joseph has held several sales director positions with companies that specialize in variable frequency drives and motion control technologies.

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WWG Totaline has promoted GORD BURROWS (1) to branch manager for its Markham, Ont., location. The company has also named KELVIN CHIU (2) and BIN XU (3) as parts counter associates at that branch.

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02.15

Profile Kevin Ernst: Giving back, again and again and again

It’s often been said if you want to get something done, give the task to a busy person, which brings us to one of the busiest people we’ve run into in a while, Kevin Ernst.

In addition to keeping busy with his day job as general manager of OS&B, Ernst is also a minister at his church, chairs the Plumbing Industry Advisory Council, is the chair of both the CSA B125 and CSA B1800 standards technical committees, is active on a long list of additional industry

Q A

Q A

Q A

Photo

: David Chidley

Q A

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How did you get started in the mechanical sector?

I was a young IBMer and I wanted a new challenge. I had a friend who worked for OS&B. I asked him to introduce me to Bob Dobson. Also, my father was a master tradesman in many disciplines, of course, one of them being plumbing.

Tell us a little about what you do at OS&B. I manage all functions within OS&B. We have an excellent team. My job is to enable our team to provide our customers with quality service and products. We accomplish this by having a clear vision and mission. I love solving problems and designing processes. Along the way I get to work in product development for fun!

What’s been the biggest change in the industry over your career?

The globalization of the supply chain.

Products and parts are coming from all over the world. When I started, almost everything was made in the U.S. or Canada.

How has the regulatory environment changed?

Back in the old days, the codes and standards were left alone. In recent years the regulatory environment has become more politicized due to governments wrestling with energy efficiency, water efficiency, and infrastructure demands. CIPH has been an untiring liaison to bring government, industry, and the codes and standards developers together.

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Q A

committees, councils and associations, including the Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing. Oh, and did we mention that he and his a capella group have recorded a pair of albums?

We figured that didn’t make him too busy to corner him for a few minutes to see what Ernst, the recipient of a 2014 CIPH Outstanding Service Award, does in his spare time.

What’s the B125 Technical Committee currently focused on?

The B125 TC’s primary focus is working on harmonization efforts with ASME, ASSE and IAPMO Standards, so that there is uniformity across North America.

Q

What advice can you offer to readers who want to keep up-to-date with the changes affecting the industry?

A

Become involved. Join an association. In addition, we can use tradespeople as representatives on the B125 TC so the user community is better represented.

Q A

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Q

A

I thought you’d never ask. First, my family! Second, my faith. Third, my a cappella group, Four Over Forty.

I enjoy all three very much. My a cappella group will be celebrating our 10th year in 2015 and we hope to do our third album. We have a lot of fun performing and we use our talents to help raise funds for various causes.

The opportunity for innovation. That can be in products and business.

When you are not working on plumbing products, what occupies your free time?

BIO Name: Kevin Ernst Title: General Manager Company: OS&B (OAKVILLE STAMPING & BENDING) Age: 54 Resides in: Waterdown, Ont. Family: Wife Jackie, sons, Nick and Jamie, and daughter Daina Joined the industry: 1989 Hobbies: Music – Vocals

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DID YOU KNOW? • Kevin Ernst invented the OS&B Clicker.

• The Ernst family has been in Canada since 1754, and is from Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

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REFRIGERATION

B y P h il J. B o u d r eau

Servicing Parallel Paral llel Refrigeration Systems Part 1

A GOOD START It is important to understand how the system should perform before opening the toolbox. For example, a system may operate at -25°F SST and 110°F SDT. The big question here is whether these values coincide with the design of the system. If the system is designed to operate at -15°F SST but it operates at -25°F SST, then this should raise a red flag.

Having the original startup data on hand can be very helpful. An even better resource would be a system data protocol, which list the various pressures and temperatures that should be present throughout the system.

I

n this issue, we will take a look aat a number of points to con consider while servicing a parallel refrigeration system.

Let’s start our journey with the oil management circuit. Compressors that are connected in tandem or parallel can potentially pump slightly varying amounts of oil, depending on such things as slight variations in piping, pressure drop across filters, per cent unloading, along with a number of other dynamics. Some form of oil management system is necessary in order to ensure equal compressor oil levels.

There are three general categories for oil management circuits: oil and crankcase gas equalization; high pressure; and low pressure. In all three methods, the end result must be that a sufficient oil level is maintained in all compressors.

During service, all crankcase oil levels should be checked. Oil levels below ¼ sight glass indicate a problem.

If the sight glass is not full, then the oil separator or reservoir oil level should be checked. However, we must not simply add oil to the system before identifying the cause. Generally speaking, oil should not have to be added to a system after it has

been commissioned and operational for quite some time.

For example, a blown coalescing element/ filter will permit the oil to simply carry over to the condenser. Check the oil separator manufacturer’s data to verify the allowable range for pressure drop. As another possibility, check to see if there may be a filter in the oil return line that needs to be replaced.

Remember, the only way that oil can enter the crankcase when the oil level regulator opens is if there is a pressure drop across it.

If a pressure reducing regulator in the oil return line is not operating correctly, or was installed incorrectly, the compressors may not receive the oil that they need.

continues on page 20

Changing the oil Cha Generally, the oil charge should be replaced after General approximately 100 hours of initial operation, and then approxim every 10 10,000 to 12,000 hours or three-year period. Be sure to rremove any compressor oil strainers and magnetic n ne tic me metal pick up plugs for cleaning. This should be do ev done every time the oil is changed.

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top performer

Industry-leading Genetron® Performax™ LT refrigerant is the clear leader in its field.

If your bottom line is a better bottom line, no other supermarket refrigerant comes close. From keeping fresh food fresher longer to energy savings to eco-friendly performance, the list of reasons to choose Genetron ® Performax™ LT over R-438A or R-407A refrigerants goes on and on. Genetron Performax LT offers industry-leading capacity, industry-leading efficiency and low GWP values versus other popular supermarket refrigerants. This saves money in new installations and in R-22 retrofit projects. Plus, a mass flow that identically matches R-22, eliminates expensive expansion valve changes and adjustments in retrofit applications while maintaining superheat performance which protects costly compressors. So go with the gold standard. Go with Genetron Performax LT.

Maximize Performance with Performax LT.

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REFRIGERATION Compressor temperature limits and superheats The best approach for analyzing the operating pressures and temperatures that a compressor is exposed to is to take a number of readings through all modes of operation.

A compressor that appears to be operating within limits most of the time may be subject to adverse conditions during some other mode of operation, such as during heat reclaim or defrost.

Observe the limits for discharge temperature. High discharge temperatures are destructive to the oil. Carbonized or cracked oil can deposit itself onto the valve plates, the discharge line, and other areas of the system. More importantly, this burned oil is no longer available for lubrication and tends to quickly plug up oil filters and coalescing elements.

Additionally, high discharge temperatures increase crankcase oil temperatures and reduce lubrication for bearings and piston rings.

Meeting the minimum discharge superheat requirement should be considered just as important as meeting minimum suction superheat. Low discharge superheats effectively reduce lubrication as the oil is diluted with refrigerant.

Additionally, low discharge superheat tends to increase

Pressure control settings Always check to ensure that the pressure controls are at their correct settings, just in case someone has set them incorrectly. At the very least, the low and high pressure controls must never allow the compressor to operate outside the envelope established by the compressor manufacturer.

Remember, compressor operating envelopes are specific to specific compressor models, and for each particular refrigerant.

oil carry-over. The minimum discharge superheat limit must be obtained during all modes of operation.

Crankcase temperature is a function of the compression ratio, discharge temperature and quantity of refrigerant in the oil. Ensuring that minimum crankcase temperatures are met is another effective way to reduce the amount of refrigerant present in the oil. Oil temperatures should be kept above 100°F.

Refrigerant filter and drier swaps Refrigerant-side filter-driers are a typical maintenance item that should be replaced from time to time, and especially when the system is opened up for service.

This includes both liquid line and suction filters.

Large parallel systems usually contain some debris from the original manufacturing of components, the installation of piping, and so forth, and these contaminants may also take quite some time to start travelling through the system. As such, filters are important components that extend the life of the equipment, and they should be replaced at the intervals recommended by the original equipment manufacturer.

NEXT ISSUE: Be sure to look for your March/April 2015 edition of Mechanical Business where we will take a look at regulator settings, electrical issues, and more.

Phil Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. Phil is also a refrigeration instructor at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke

The move to

ECM motors in HRVs and ERVs and their role in net-zero I

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent 20 years helping builders and HVAC contractors implement innovative technologies into high-performance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and air flow management in houses, and can be contacted at gcooke@airsolutions.ca.

suspect that the professional HVAC contractors that read this type of article long ago recognized the benefits of the electronically commutated, direct current, or constant torque furnace fan motors that have become common in residential heating and cooling systems. They’ve become so common that they are now a code requirement for forced air furnaces installed in new homes in Ontario as of this January, and a requirement in many energy efficiency programs across the country.

In addition to their lower power consumption, these types of motors allow for better control of airflow over coils and filters, provide for a wider range of speed selection and typically run much quieter.

Overall, these furnace fan motor technologies offer great benefits to both contractors and homeowners. So should this same fan motor technology be embraced in ventilation systems – specifically, in heat or energy recovery ventilation systems and in bathroom fans? Let’s discuss.

Testing Technologies

Always moving Furnace fan motors don’t typically operate continuously, while HRVs, ERVs and bathroom fans used as the principal ventilation system in many new homes across Canada are designed to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Most HRVs and ERVs have at least two speed settings and they are typically designed for continuous operation at their low speed setting, when the lower power consumption of an ECM type motor is most advantageous. When comparing motors, the difference in power consumption of a regular PSC motor and an ECM type motor is greatest when looking at low speed settings than at high speed settings.

To see the annual energy impact of better fan technologies, I ran a few energy simulations using the Natural Resources Canada HOT 2000 energy simulation software. I used a base continuous ventilation rate of 75 cfm (typical for a four-bedroom house) and a Central Canada climate zone. I compared the power consumption of three different HRVs that, from my experience, cover the range of HRV and ERV fan technologies that are commonly sold in Canada today: • An older fan technology used in some traditional, economy level HRVs with a power consumption of 110 watts at 75 cfm.

• An Energy Star rated HRV with a power consumption of 1.2 cfm/watt or 62 watts at 75 cfm.

• An HRV with an ECM fan motor at 2.2 cfm/watt or 34 watts at 75 cfm. This is the range that commonly available HRVs with ECM motors are able to achieve. Some are even better.

I also ran the simulations with different HRV sensible recovery efficiencies to see the relative continues on page 24

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC continued from page 22

impact of energy recovery versus fan power consumption. The table below shows the annual energy savings. These savings are expressed in kilowatt-hours per year and include the interaction between heating and ventilation appliance consumption.

The energy simulation tools assume that a more efficient fan motor means less heat energy into the supply air stream, and therefore slightly more heat and slightly less whole house cooling energy is needed.

Annual Energy Savings, kWh, compared to the base HRV 65%, 110 watt ---205 322 234 440 557 469 674 762 703 909 996

HRV Tested 65% SRE HRV, 110 watts 65% SRE HRV, 62 watts 65% SRE HRV, 34 watts 70% SRE HRV, 110 watts 70% SRE HRV, 62 watts 70% SRE HRV, 34 watts 75% SRE HRV, 110 watts 75% SRE HRV, 62 watts 75% SRE HRV, 34 watts 80% SRE HRV, 110 watts 80% SRE HRV, 62 watts 80% SRE HRV, 34 watts

SRE = Sensible recovery efficiency as defined in the HVI listings for HRVs/ERVs

p Beyond the simple energy consumption nding is that improvements, one interesting finding hows a choosing an ECM type fan motor sshows better energy improvement than by choosing an HRV with a five per cent betterr SRE. E HRV For example, the 65 per cent SRE ts with an ECM fan motor at 34 watts shows a 322 kWh reduction from the base, while choosing a 70 per cent SRE HRV with a conventional 110 watt fan motor shows a savings of 234 kWh per year.

Given that in nearly all markets in Canada the price of electricity is higher than that of common heating fuels like natural gas and oil, the dollar savings for clients is even better with ECM motors than improved core efficiencies.

Of course, we should all be helping our clients choose the best of both worlds: better fan motors and better core efficiencies.

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Approaching zero I thought I would play around with energy simulations in a near zero energy home, where ventilation becomes a bigger portion of the total energy use picture and designers are looking for opportunities to reduce the need for additional solar generation to accomplish zero-energy bills.

It is my opinion that in near zero energy homes, the proper approach will be to independently duct HRVs and ERVs from the heating and cooling system. This means the electrical consumption of the ventilation no longer depends on the operation of the larger air handler fan (even if it is an ECM fan).

For this simulation, I considered just the change from a 75 per cent SRE HRV, with a fan power of 62 watts (Energy Star qualified levels) to a 75 per cent SRE HRV with an ECM that is independently ducted.

In this case, the savings were in the order of 875 kWh, or nine per cent savings of the annual energy use of the whole house – a near zero energy house. That’s equal to the power generation expected from a 700 watt solar panel in most regions of Canada. At current installed prices of approximately $3.00 to $3.50 per watt for solar panels, the ECM fan motor ends up having an equivalent value of over $2,000.

ADVANTAGES OF ECM MOTORS The economic benefits of ECM motors are impressive, but don’t forget that the same advantages that ECM fan motors bring to furnaces, apply to ventilation systems as well.

Cooler running leading to longer life and lower sound levels are vitally important in the continuous run application of ventilation and the possibility of greater speed ranges.

Penalty avoidance W an ECM fan motor it should be possible to provide With customers with a high, high speed and a low, low speed without cu an eenergy penalty. This should mean a switch to fully ducted HRVs d ERVs. ER and In the same way that professional HVAC contractors have embraced ECM fan motor technology in air heating and cooling systems, ventilation system recommendations should also include this significant technology improvement.

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Higher energy-efficiency ratings and lower cabinet heights

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For a closer look at the new line of Goodman high-efficiency gas furnaces, simply visit www.goodmanmfg.com or contact your local Goodman brand distributor.

SETTING THE

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WATER TREATMENT

B y Jo h n C ar d iff John Cardiff is the senior vice-president of sales, North America, for Novo Water Conditioning Products. He can be reached at john.cardiff@novowater.com.

Chemicals ombatting

with carbon

ithout disinfecting the water, water-borne disease would run rampant. Chlorine and chloramines are two of the most common water disinfectants used by municipalities in North America.

W

It often has to do with a home’s location relative to the municipal water treatment facility where these chemicalss are added to the water.

These chemicals help keep our municipal water safe for consumption as it travels through the distribution pipes that deliver it to our homes and businesses.

The closer to the pumping station, the higher the levels of disinfection chemicals that are often found when testing the water.

Although these disinfectants are necessary, they hold some potential to cause problems in a home’s plumbing system. The flappers in toilets can degrade and not seal properly, leaking hundreds, if not thousands, of litres of water down the drain annually without anyone even knowing it.

Seals and o-rings in faucets can deteriorate, causing them to leak.

Pinholes in copper piping can occur with high levels of chloramines.

Resin beds in water softeners may degrade prematurely if exposed to high levels of chlorine.

In fact, many of the plastic, rubber or copper components of a plumbing system can be affected by these chemicals, depending on the concentration.

So why is it that some homes and businesses never experience issues like this, but others do?

Chemical byproducts can also be produced when chlorine combines with organics in certain water supplies. Although these chemical byproducts are monitored by municipal treatment facilities, they can still exist and could be potentially harmful to a home’s plumbing system.

Once water enters a home, the chemical disinfectants have served their purpose by keeping the water safe during the journey through the distribution system.

To prevent these chemicals from causing problems with components in the plumbing system, one option some plumbers are exploring is the installation of an activated carbon filter on the incoming water supply to the house.

COMBATTING G CHLORAMINES NES Standard activated carbon reduces chlorine hlorine e levels in water supplies very effectively, ly, but the reduction of chloramines is much more difficult and requires a longer contactt time.

In cases where chloramines are being g used to disinfect a water supply it is recommended to use a catalytic carbon, bon, which will adsorb the chloramines much uch faster than regular carbon.

DID YOU KNOW?

Activated carbon can be made from a variety of materials. Charcoal and coconut shell are the most common source materials.

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continued from continued from page 32 page 27 WATER TREATMENT

FIND THE SOURCE

GETTING ACTIVE

Plumbing contractors who are servicing their customers’ plumbing systems should always pay close attention to the damage chlorines and chloramines can cause in the home.

Simply repairing the leaky toilet, faucet, water heater, water softener and the many other components that can be affected, is not necessarily fixing the root problem.

Offering customers a whole-home carbon filtration system in conjunction with repairing the leak will provide a complete solution to their problems.

Activated carbon is generally derived from charcoal. It is processed to have small, low volume pores that increase surface area.

These micro-pores increase the charcoal’s adsorption capabilities, giving it a huge surface area. One gram of activated carbon will have roughly 500 square metres of surface area. One teaspoon has the surface area of a football field.

As water flows through the bed of activated carbon, chlorines and chloramines are adsorbed onto the surface of the carbon pores. The molecules actually adhere to the surface of the carbon pores.

TALK TO YOUR CUSTOMERS Since most municipal water systems in Canada are treated with chlorines and chloramines, there are millions of homes that may benefit from treatment systems that remove these chemicals.

Talk to your customer. Ask if they have experienced the failure of a plumbing component that can be traced to chlorine or chloramine exposure, and then educate them about their treatment options.

Fix the water that broke the system and your customer will thank you for it.

SIZE IT RIGHT Carbon filters come in many different sizes, from small inline cartridges to large backwashing filters. When choosing a filter, pay close attention to the flow rate you want to treat. Carbon needs contact time to reduce or totally remove chlorines and chloramines.

Granular activated carbon filters should be sized to handle flow rates at three to five gallons per minute per cubic foot of media.

Catalytic carbon for the reduction of chloramines should be sized at a flow rate of two to three gallons per minute per cubic foot of media.

Most cartridge-type carbon filters are meant for point-of-use applications, treating single faucets or lower flow rates. Larger whole house backwashing filters are meant for treating all of the water used in a home.

DID YOU KNOW? Approximately 18 per cent of the human body is comprised of carbon.

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Just remember, the faster the water is run through the carbon, the less contact time it has, so fewer chemical molecules will be removed.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

Exerting some leverage, at the marketing DELI

W

elcome back to the Marketing D.E.L.I. .E.L.I. If this is your first visit, you’ve walked right past the “Differentiate” cooler and the “Engage” counter. Both offer some delicious insights, so please visit the past two issues of MB, available at www.mechanicalbusiness.com, to

Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, Ont. To reach him, email doug@thelettermmarketing.com.

catch up.

This issue, join us at the “Leverage” bar. It’s far back in the quieter area where, like our marketing, we may not visit as often as we should.

Effective leverage is one of our most powerful resources, and nearly all businesses have built up a natural store of opportunities which, thoughtfully explored and (dare I say) exploited, can lead to more business.

Cultivate Cu Cul l relationships, not sales How can satisfied customers generate more business? It starts with exploring the upsell. What do you currently have that they may need? Help customers build a upse longer-term home comfort plan that identifies these needs – for both of you. Offer lo a price or other advantage to them as preferred customers.

Perhaps the trust you’ve cultivated means you expand into new areas such as Pe protection pr plans (now an industry mainstay but a prime example of leverage for HVAC contractors about 15 years ago), home security systems, or various other HV home services offered through a business co-operative. A step this big takes proper research resear and business planning, but the rewards are there, too.

Motive matters Now, I know we don’t volunteer, sponsor or donate to charities in our communities for “leverage.” If that’s the motivation for helping others, I guarantee there won’t be much return for the business.

If the motivation is to build a strong and resilient community, give staff members a sense of greater purpose as a member of your team, or simply do what’s right, then the fringe benefit will be the leverage: your reputation as a caring community business.

Relationships with customers can be leveraged without selling them anything else, of Relatio course. course Does your business have a solid referral program that encourages customers to suggest sug you to friends and family? Beware the kickback promise: research shows people don’t give referrals for freebies and prizes. Canadians refer because we genuinely want to help lp someone. The best referral marketing program may be simply mply to regularly ask customers to refer you if they like you, and to say thank you when they do.

And, don’t forget to ask happy customers ers for a quick testimonial or quote that you can n share on your website, social media and other marketing.

One client of ours recently started snapping pping “satisfied selfies” for their Facebook page. age.

Smart.

A business’s relationships don’t end with th the customer, either. Successful businesses sses leverage their relationship with employees ees (hint: it starts with being a good employer), yer), suppliers and vendors. continued on page 32

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© 2011 Masco Canada Limited.

THIS IS 0NE VERY RESPONSIVE FAUCET.

Proximity® Sensing Technology is the next generation in responsive hands-free functionality that contributes to water efficiency.* This revolutionary technology transforms the entire faucet into a sensor, automatically responding when approached. There are no optics or infrared to maintain. All backed by the industry’s best 5-year limited warranty. Another way that Delta is more than just a faucet. deltafaucet.ca/commercial/proximity

*Water Efficient Product - Flow Rate of 1.5 gpm (5.7 L/min) versus Industry Standard ASME.A112.18.1/CSA.B125.1 of 2.2 gpm (8.3 L/min)

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Marketing

continued from page 30

with DOUG MACMILLAN

A little information goes a long way Leveraging our experience and knowledge is an area that I often find is underexploited or discarded into the “I don’t give anything away for free” trashcan. In fact, there is considerable opportunity to build a strong brand by sharing just enough of your expertise. Done properly, it positions your business as being the experts, so that when people need HVAC support you will come to mind.

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This “content marketing” can take many forms.

Social media is ideal for deploying a steady stream of quick tips and reminders; informative radio ads work well and are pretty easy to pull together with a local station; and some contractors have even successfully hosted weekend call-in shows.

This very column is as fine an example as any – in the eight years I’ve written for Mechanical Business (I haven’t missed an issue!) I’ve received dozens of solid leads and some sweet new work... never mind the overall reputation it helps build when business leads come from other sources and start checking us out.

INNO

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X

Y

Lather, rinse, repeat Content marketing is the buzz these days and will continue to be popular in 2015, but doing it well can take time – there’s research, coordinating interviews, writing, perhaps some video clips.

So the goal is to leverage what you’ve created – to repurpose it as much as possible in your marketing. A while after this series is published I’ll rework it into a series of shorter blog posts. Those will be shared via social media channels with

Contact your sales representative for more information or visit www.franke-commercial.com/EZ

still shorter “snips” of information. All this, from the same content.

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WHAT www.mechanicalbusiness.com

WET HEAT APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

February 2015

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Forward Thinking.

WHAT F E A T U R E S 38GUEST COLUMN Putting our best foot forward Leo Vaillancourt

great C O N T E N T S supple m e nt

RADIANT READY

02 . 1 5

46PROJECT PROFILE Jerry Leyte

FOR TAKE-OFF IN CALGARY

40SYSTEM DESIGN Tanks a lot!

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

50CELEBRITY FEATURE Adam Freill

42TROUBLESHOOTING Getting to the root of insufficient air Eric Riml

52HYDRONIC I.Q. Are you a Hydronic All-Star?

Ron Dotzko, Warren Hyde and Dave Hughes

A

STEAMY SITUATION S

60TROUB TROUBLESHOOTING Dan Ho Holohan

56ROAD WARRIOR: Morgane Tallman Andrew Snook

D E P A R T M E N T S 36From the editor’s desk 58Find the Fix 62-66Products

On the cover: Ivan Hearty, mechanical project manager with Trotter and Morton Building Technologies on the build site of the new terminal at Calgary International Airport. Photo: Adam Freill

WHAT

Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com February 2015 Issue Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com

Associate Editor/Web Editor: Andrew Snook, ext. 225 andrew.snook@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Business Intern: Brooke Klintworth brooke.klintworth@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com

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Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

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FROM

Online stores such as Google Play, iTunes and BlackBerry World offer users a variety of apps for hydronic applications, including hydronic calculators, dirt and air separator pressure drop calculations, valve sizing and pre-setting, radiator power estimation, pipe sizing, unit conversion, run-times, and more.

Still can’t find an app? Touch base with your favourite manufacturers. One of them may have already created exactly what you’re looking for.

Looking for an app that educates you about products while offering you a little entertainment? There are apps that combine the features of playing a video game while showing off the functions of products for hydronic heating applications.

Need a pump for a hydronic heating or cooling application? Several manufacturers have created apps that allow users to view their collections of pumps, including each unit’s performance characteristics for a specified flow and head condition.

What can be really useful are the apps that are dynamic and automatically adjust a theoretical system as you adjust design settings.

And don’t think that apps are only for the design department.

Apps to help with marketing, pricing and billing are all out there as well.

There’s an abundance of downloadable tools at your fingertips. So next time you’re looking for a way to save a little time on a jobsite, why not go online for a minute.

Who knows, there might be an app for that.

Until next time,

Andrew Snook

S u p p l e m e n t

DESK

No matter what your job, be it a hydronic heating installer, mechanical specifying engineer, building inspector or a member of the trade press (see how I worked that in), we all like to find ways to make our jobs simpler. One of the ways people are finding simple solutions to everyday problems these days is through the use of apps for smartphones, tablets and desktops, and there are plenty of these available to Still Looking? people immersed in the world of wet heat.

Proud members of:

W H A T

EDITOR’S

The advantage of apps

© Copyright 2015. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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THE

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Leo is the technical services manager at Watts Water Technologies (Canada). He can be reached at Leo.Vaillancout@wattswater.com

Putting our best foot forward O ne of the keys to the growth and strength of the hydronic industry is ensuring that we have highly trained, highly skilled professionals designing, installing and maintaining heating systems that will meet and exceed the expectations of Canadian consumers.

As president of the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA), and a member of the board of the Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC), I am encouraged by the development of a number of training programs that have come to the fore over the past few years.

For those entering the ďŹ eld, CHC offers two basic level technical programs that introduce individuals to the design and installation of hydronic systems. These programs can be used as a foundation for further training and skills development in the industry. Furthermore, hydronic professionals now have the ability to pursue advanced designations, becoming a CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Designer, a CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Installer or a Registered Hydronic Designer.

CertiďŹ cation is currently only mandatory in some parts of Canada, but even in areas where it is not mandated holding an industry recognized certiďŹ cation can be of beneďŹ t. Not only does it help show customers that you take your work seriously, but it shows them that you have the training and skills to handle their heating system in a professional manner. With membership in CHC and certiďŹ cation, homeowners are able to search for certiďŹ ed contractors in their DID YOU KNOW? area.

7KH WZR SURYLQFHV WKDW KDYH In fact, most designers and installers PDQGDWRU\ FHUWLILFDWLRQ UHTXLUHPHQWV who decide to become certiďŹ ed base DUH % & DQG $OEHUWD ,Q % & \RX the decision on their desire to build QHHG WR EH D UHJLVWHUHG GHVLJQHU WR credibility with customers, and to SHUIRUP GHVLJQ ZRUN DQG LQ $OEHUWD LW ensure they are designing and installing LV QHFHVVDU\ WR EH D FHUWLILHG GHVLJQHU hot water heating systems to industry standards.

WR SHUIRUP GHVLJQ ZRUN So I encourage you, our country’s hydronics professionals, to consider becoming a CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Designer, a CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Installer or, in B.C., a Registered Hydronic Designer. Doing so is a positive step forward for you, for your customers, and for our industry.

Finding training The course programs leading to CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Designer, CertiďŹ ed Hydronic Installer and Registered Hydronic Designer designations are currently being offered by two training institutes, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The plans are to roll these programs out to more training facilities across the country, and the courses are currently available via a web-based portal or through a paper-based correspondence program, making it possible to earn the credentials without having to travel to B.C. or Alberta. There are also provisions available for those wishing to challenge the exams.

Photo: Jimmy Jeong

In addition, CHC is currently making plans to put on more training seminars based on the CHT curriculum in areas around the country to make it even easier to achieve a certiďŹ ed designer/installer designation.

Keeping in good standing &+& FHUWLILFDWLRQ UHPDLQV YDOLG IRU D ILYH \HDU SHULRG DQG SURIHVVLRQDOV FDQ NHHS WKHLU GHVLJQDWLRQV FXUUHQW WKURXJK D UHFHUWLILFDWLRQ SURFHVV EDVHG RQ HDUQLQJ FRQWLQXLQJ HGXFDWLRQ FUHGLWV GXULQJ WKH ILYH \HDU SHULRG SULRU WR WKH H[SLU\ RI WKHLU FHUWLILFDWLRQ

38

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Suppl emen t

02. 15

On the national front, there is an initiative to implement standardized training across Canada with CIPH, CMMTQ, HRAI and TECA all taking part in the process.

For more information about industry training, visit the Canadian Hydronics Council pages at ciph.com, or visit teca.ca.

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System Design

TANKS A LOT! B

uffer tanks are becoming more popular in hydronic installations. Many of the newer mod con type boilers have a very small water content, often just a few litres, so adding a buffer tank can put some “capacitance” in the system and can lessen the on/off cycles.

In addition to the buffer function, a properly configured and piped tank becomes a super-sized hydro separator. Look for tanks with an assortment of tappings for multi-tasking applications.

Opposed side taps, mid-point taps for temperature wells, top taps for air vents, and a drain cock at the bottom provide multiple functionality. Large port sizes allow for high GPM flow rates, for instance, when combined with a heat pump.

Tanks are generally constructed from stainless steel, or carbon steel with a glass coating. A few manufacturers still offer steel tanks with a cement lining. The cement lining provides corrosion protection and adds some additional energy storage mass. Tanks used in closed loop hydronic, non-potable applications may be constructed from carbon steel without an inner lining.

And tanks with metal outer jackets provide a nice mounting platform for controls or small solar pump stations. Be sure to use short sheetmetal screws to ensure you do not penetrate the inner tank, of course.

A REVERSE ON INDIRECT THEORY

Consider the whole project and system. Then, let your imagination loose.

Your customers will tank you.

While many hydronic heating systems include the use of an indirectfired DWH tank, a twist on this is using the tank

KEEPING HOT STUFF HOT, AND COLD STUFF COLD

to store the hydronic fluid and generating DHW with a heat exchanger.

This method is a means of providing nearinstantaneous production of DHW. Think of it as a tanklessstyle DHW heater, with the energy being provided by the stored capacity of the tank.

Available in many sizes and configurations, I like to think of tanks as Thermos bottles for storing energy, in liquid form. Tanks are used to store domestic hot water, heated water for hydronics, chilled water for cooling, and energy from the sun. Most commonly we see tanks used as water heaters and storage vessels.

More often than not – and especially if they will be storing fluids above or below ambient temperatures – tanks are insulated.

Traditionally, fibreglass was one of the most commonly used insulation materials for jacketed tanks. In the quest for better heat retention various other insulation products are being tested and used, and foam-lined tanks are becoming quite common.

Usually, these tanks are steel jacketed and the foam is injected around the entire inner tank. Having a

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

ADD-ONS AND PROTECTION

If a tank is going to be used for domestic stic water, consider the use of

HANDLING MICRO LOADS

he top ports. Electronic anode one, and perhaps two anode rods in the

Even boilers with low turndown rates can benefit

protection could also be used.

from a small buffer, especially when micro loads

The top of the tank is also an

are applied.

excellent place to do some air

A heated towel bar in a bathroom is a good

removal. As a fluid enters a tank, or

example of a very small load that can be seen in a

“wide spot” in the piping, the flow

hydronic system. The buffer tank acts as a

velocity decreases. This allows air to

“battery” storing energy for small loads, without

rise up to the high point in the tank.

the need to fire the boiler at every heat call.

Install a float type air vent at that centre top port of the tank for air elimination. Most tanks have a domed top, so this provides an excellent spot to trap and remove air

DIGITAL SIMULATIONS

away from the flow stream.

Several software packages have modules for calculating buffer

If you have a spare port or two, electric elements could also be

tank sizes. The one I use helps determine cycle times as I toggle

inserted. This could allow for a dual fuel option with boiler or solar

the various zones on and off. With a few clicks, I can see how the

input to the tank, and the elements as additional inputs. The electric

tank buffers the boiler from short cycling.

elements might allow you to leverage some off-peak rates.

Also available in many sizes and configurations are tanks with internal heat exchanger coils. With a coil inside the tank, you could store DHW and also have the tank serve as a buffer for the boiler.

Tanks are also available with multiple heat exchanger coils. This allows for energy input and output simultaneously.

One common use of multi coil tanks is to have DHW storage in the tank, solar input to the lower coil, and boiler backup via the upper coil. Yet another common option is to put energy into the tank via the lower coil, and use the upper to pull heat energy for a small radiant zone, for example.

continuous foam “cocoon” is ideal for tanks that store chilled water since any exposed metal on a chilled water tank opens the possibility of condensation.

Some tank manufacturers are using a soft foam wrap method of insulation. After the tank is installed and piped, these soft foam insulation jackets zip around the tank.

A number of solar tank manufacturers offer this type of insulation package. One feature that I like with the jackets is that it allows the tank to be shipped with less concern for damage to the jacketing. You can simply box and ship a plain steel or stainless tank, and the jacket will ship separately.

Polyfibre is another newer insulation material being used. It is a material similar to the fleece used for clothing. There seems to be a movement in Europe towards thicker insulation layers, perhaps dictated by energy standards or code requirements.

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41

troubleshooting Eric Riml Eric Riml is a certified hydronic designer working in Calgary, Calg Alta.

He can be reached at feedback@ f hotwaterheating.info. hotwaterhe

GETTING

TO THE ROOT OF INSUFFICIENT AIR

Top 3 causes of insufficient air 1. Fan failure or damage 2. Intake blockages 3. Faulty sensor readings

I

recently had to run the fulll gamut of agnose troubleshooting steps to diagnose an insufficient air error message age on oiler. a high-efficiency mod-con boiler.

The interesting thing about insufficient air messages is that hat the boiler can’t always tell what’s going on to generate as the situation where the air/gas mixture is off – all it can tell you is that it’s not right. et, the more The more complex boilers get, efficient they can be, but it also seems that duced makes the complexity that is introduced ore difficult, troubleshooting more and more rror messages. even with the assistance of error The obvious causes include fan failures or damage, intake blockages and problematic sensors, and they are the first things you should check, but there are some not so obvious possible issues as well.

Incorrect settings It’s rare for an air problem tto be setting related, simply because many boilers self-adbe some of the just so basic combustion settings by changing the operation of a modulating gas valve to suit combustion requirements. However, settings such as altitude (something the boiler cannot determine for itself) can cause improper operation or errors, especially if you’re in an area above the normal operating range of the boiler (usually above 4,000 feet, but some boilers have more restrictive ranges).

42

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Damaged or sticking air flow components 7 >Ì i> LÞ º> À y Ü c components” are the simple « iV « iViÃ Ì >Ì ÌiÀ>VÌ Ü Ì > À y Ü] but might not even be moving parts that you might think would fail. These ÌÞ«ià v «>ÀÌà V Õ ` V Õ`i y>«Ã] tubes, air movement guides or vanes, or even small things like springs related to those parts.

What generally happens is that slight wear or very small amounts of dirt cause these parts to become pitted, rough, or stiff, and suddenly under either very low or very high wÀi] Ì iÃi «>ÀÌÃ }iÀ work reliably.

Because these condiÌ Ã >Ài à ` vwVÕ Ì Ì Ã >Ài à ` vwVÕ Ì Ì diagnose, and boiler manufacturers tend to be hesitant to suggest these problems, lems, I’d recommend asking factory ory technical support directly whether ether they’ve had any of these types pes of isÃÕið i >à ëiV wV à ëiV wV as possible, e, and continues on pagee 44

0 2 . 1 5

Troubleshooting tests and logs Fortunately, added complexity is often accompanied by better data logs and displays that show real-time operating characteristics about the operation of the boiler.

Many manufacturers now have baseline numbers available for you to run a test against, and once this test is performed, it becomes easier to localize the problem.

For example, fan tests are ÕÃÕ> Þ ÀÕ >Ì > wÝi`] > ` often at maximum, fan speed. If the fan cannot sustain its maximum speed, there is usually a blockage or a defect. The factory representative might have a procedure or method to get the boiler to generate the baseline «iÀ>Ì ] ÃÕV >Ã ºwÀi Ì i boiler at 100,000 BTUH for a period of time.” Comparing against the “standard” numbers will yield clues to further diagnosis.

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continues from page 42

you may actually get a straight answer.

In two cases that I remember, I’ve even found that manufacturers have “only upon asking” bulletins that they will divulge, which deal directly with the problem at hand.

Gas pressure I mention this possibility because gas pressure tests are g easy to do if you have a manometer, but the need to test is often overlooked, especially when the boiler or other appliances have been functioning in the past. However, since electronic controls often “see” an air-and-gas problem as an air problem, this test is worth doing, and the fix is usually easy (such as a dirty filter or other small component).

Incompatible replacement parts It’s possible, although unlikely, that someone has installed a similar but not quite compatible rreplacement part on the boiler (usually from a similar but different sized model of the same boiler).

I’ve seen this only a few times, but it’s very difficult to notice, especially when you don’t have another identical boiler next to the one you are working on to check against.

It’s also possible, especially if you’re working on an old version of a specific model of boiler, that the manufacturer has “upgraded” a part or two, and will, of course, swear up and down that the new version is fully compatible in all situations... but it’s not.

Sometimes once you replace the old, worn-out part you face a new error message that looks like something else. The eventual fix for this problem is usually to replace other older parts, such that the different components work together again, properly.

Power problems Especially in the case of the 24V fan, it’s possible that a bad (but not yet failed) transformer is causing a decrease in performance of the fan.

While it’s often the case that the boiler’s control board Whi has its own transformer, it may also be a separate, standalone transformer within the boiler case. Test the transformer with a multimeter, and replace if necessary.

The problem of “dirty power” can also occur in some remote or rural areas, where frequently brown-outs cause wear on electrical components and may trip error messages simply because of a temporary condition.

Even if you suspect this issue is only a slight possibility, I would recommend getting an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which usually also acts as a battery backup for a period of time, for the boiler system.

UPSs are often used with computer servers, so they can power-down gracefully in a power outage, but you can use them on boilers to ensure a constant flow of “good” power. They usually cost less than $100, are available at a local electronics store, and can serve to protect a much more expensive boiler control board from power surges and brown-outs.

Shortening the odds I recognize that a lot of these issues are long shots, but I wrote this article because I have experienced the frustration where “I’ve-triedeverything-I-can-think-of-now-what-do-I-do,” and I could have benefited from a few more ideas.

While it’s often possible to simply do everything the factory rep suggests, there are also unique situations where if the correct question is asked, then a diagnosis can follow that much more quickly... but you have to know what else you could ask.

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Project Profile

by Jerry Leyte

RADIANT READY

Jerry Leyte, P.Eng., MASc., is the sales manager for Central Canada at Uponor. He can be reached at jerry.leyte@uponor.com.

FOR TAKE-OFF AT YYC

YYC TERMINAL FACTS:

ARCHITECT: DIALOG MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR: TROTTER AND MORTON BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES LTD MECHANICAL ENGINEER: AECOM GENERAL CONTRACTOR TERMINAL: ELLIS DON CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

T

he success of a mechanical construction project, regardless of the size or scale, is largely dependent on the planning process between all of the parties involved.

Proper execution is key in ensuring a timely completion that meets all of the technical specifications and requirements, and results in a profitable project for all of the firms involved in providing their individual services.

Large scale projects obviously have many more components and parties involved in the planning process, so good communication and cooperation between the various participants goes a long way in making everyone’s job easier. Radiant heating and cooling projects are no exception, and a good example of well executed planning is the new Calgary International Airport (YYC) Terminal.

The YYC terminal expansion is scheduled to be completed in 2015 and officially fully opened in 2016. The radiant tubing portion of this project is about 95 per cent completed to date and has stayed on schedule and gone very smoothly.

This four-level, 183,500 m2 (2 million sq. ft.) complex will have 22 gates, U.S. and Canada customs facilities, a state-of-the-art baggage handling system and a compact transit system (CTS) to ferry passengers from concourse to concourse.

BY THE NUMBERS

The airport’s $2 billion development program also included the construction of a new 4.2 kilometre runway (the longest in the country) which opened on schedule in June of 2014, and the city also built a six-lane, $294.8 million tunnel underneath the runway.

The radiant components of this project included a large snow melting system installed at underpass J – this underpass is used by animals and for transportation of goods – and 78,000 m2 (840,000 sq. ft.) of radiant heating and cooling within the new terminal addition.

• 185,800 M2 (2 MILLION SQ. FT.) OF SPACE, EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT 34 FOOTBALL FIELDS. • 620 KM (385 MILES) OF RADIANT TUBING, COVERING APPROX. 78,000 M2 (840,000 SQ. FT.) OF RADIANT FLOOR SPACE. • MORE THAN 300 BRASS MANIFOLDS. • 20,320 M2 (218,727 SQ. FT.) OF GRANITE FLOORING. • 6.9 MILLION PERSON-HOURS SPENT ON THE PROJECT TO-DATE.

Radiant areas within the terminal include most of the passenger traffic areas, such as concourses, hallways, gate areas, check-in kiosks, and other large open spaces.

“The radiant design includes over 620 km of 5/8” oxygen-barrier tubing using nineinch spacing,” explained Ivan Hearty, the mechanical project manager with Trotter & Morton, the mechanical contracting firm on the project, during a recent site visit. “With over 300 individual brass manifolds located throughout the terminal to control the heating and cooling in the various zones, a great deal of collaboration and planning was required between the radiant design team, the architects, the mechanical engineering firm, the mechanical contractors, and even the general contractor’s concrete team.” continues on page 48

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continues from page 46

TESTING AND PROTECTING In order to properly pressure test the radiant loops in a given zone before and during the concrete overpours, each set of tubes for that manifold location was temporarily looped together to create one continuous section of pipe.

That was plugged at one end and connected to a pressure gauge and valve at the other (see photo). Each loop installation was pressure tested to 550 kPa (80 psi) and monitored prior to the concrete overpour, as well as during.

Additional protection was provided for the manifold locations by installing plywood boxes over any loops that protruded up through the floors in open spaces (see photo). This minimized any UV exposure on the tubing, as well as protected it from direct contact with other materials or sharp objects that could damage the tubing.

TIMING IT RIGHT W the considerable period of With ttime needed for the construction of the terminal, and the other o trades needing time to build their parts of the project, many of the actual manifolds were not installed until the walls or partitions surrounding u the manifolds were installed.

“This helped minimize any damage to manifolds and it was also easier to install the surrounding walls and structures without the manifolds present,” says Hearty.

DID YOU KNOW? The Calgary airport is the third busiest in Canada, with 14.3 million passengers using it last year.

Devising a plan

As one can imagine, where the architects wanted to locate the manifolds (for aesthetics purposes mostly) and what worked best from a radiant design and installation perspective didn’t always match up, and required significant discussion around possible alternative solutions.

For this particular project, the parties involved agreed to have their key people included in extensive meetings to lock in locations for all of the manifolds for this project.

This was no light task. It involved numerous face-to-face meetings at the architect’s office in Calgary over a six-month period, allowing each party to voice concerns about possible manifold locations, and to get a final consensus. In the end, each participant signed off on the final locations.

This was a significant investment in time and resources for all parties involved, but it proved to be highly valuable during the radiant installation process.

Fine-tuning the designs As manifold locations were agreed upon, the sizing of each radiant zone often had to be adjusted to maximize the capacity of each.

Some manifold locations were limited in size, and that determined how many loops that it could have. That, in turn, determined the maximum size of that given zone.

In some situations manifold locations were added, while in other zones we were able to maximize the size of the manifold to match the zone requirements.

Another key factor in the radiant planning process was the pour schedule and pattern of the concrete team. The drawings showed where each concrete pour would start and stop, and that had to match the zone pattern.

“We could not split zones between concrete pours since a lot of the pours were linked to expansion joints, and we also wanted to minimize any exposure of newly installed radiant tubing,” says Hearty.

Coordinating with the concrete team greatly reduced the

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number of possible conflicts and delays that would have been encountered if this pour schedule had not been shared with the radiant design team.

This cooperation and collaboration made for a very peaceful relationship between the radiant supplier, the mechanical contractor installing the tubing, and the concrete team.

That being said, there were times where radiant sections had to be re-looped and designed by the radiant team due to last minute changes that had to be made, and for items that somehow got missed during the original planning stages.

However, the amount of “re-work” required was minimal when considering the scale of this project.

For anyone who works in radiant design, reducing the amount of drawings that require re-looping is a key factor in minimizing frustration amongst the design team. No one wants to repeat detailed work that they have already done, and when relooping work is required, it is often needed ASAP, which only adds pressure and stress to everyone involved.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER By Adam Freill To DIY or not to DIY When it comes to measuring digital response, Croxon says the tools are fairly easy to navigate. “If you are at all tech savvy, the tools are good, and they are getting better by the month,” he says. “Google isn’t one of the most valuable companies on the planet for no reason.”

Gaining an understanding of Google Analytics is the first step, but if that sounds too daunting it is easy to find outside help.

“If it is not in the budget right now, I would suggest putting some money aside over the next number of months to retain somebody for even just a quarter,” he says. “You should know after three months whether the person is delivering or not.”

Interactive voice response (IVR) is a

Photos courtesy of Round 13 Capital, CBC

technology that allows a computer to interact with humans through the use of voice and touch tones.

In telecommunications, IVR allows customers to interact with a company’s host system via a telephone keypad or by speech recognition, after which they can service their own inquiries by following the IVR dialogue.

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F

rom delivering newspapers to creating dating services, spending time in television’s Dragons’ Den, and beyond, Lavalife co-founder Bruce Croxon describes himself as a life-long entrepreneur, and through his new firm Round 13 Capital he continues to offer his experience and advice to help guide companies on growth patterns that lean heavily on his experience with social media.

Long before Facebook, MySpace, ICQ, or even online bulletin boards, Croxon was into social media.

“It was the late ’80s. I had an advertising concept called The Best of Toronto,” recalls the entrepreneur.

Through the use of interactive voice response technology (IVR) and a standard phone number that the advertisers shared through the use of two-digit codes, print ads could be turned into “talking ads.”

“This was before voicemail,” he adds. While the concept of “a talking Yellow Pages” didn’t quite materialize, and voicemail turned out to be where IVR really found its

The name Round 13 comes from the thirteenth round of of boxing people think that round was the toughest

Making the rounds Positive reflections Bruce Croxon claims that his first recognition of how working habits could influence earnings was when he was 12 and delivering The Globe and Mail newspaper.

“If you could deliver good customer service, it paid off in the tips,” he reflected during his exclusive chat with Mechanical Business. “That was my first experience of having to get up on those cold February mornings, when you would rather not, for the purpose of getting a paycheque.”

Whether selling newspapers, water heaters, boilers or furnaces, those basic lessons on business can be applied to all sectors of the economy, including in the mechanical trades.

“The basic business principles that were in place 50 years ago are still in place in the new age,” says Croxon. “The best way to get a job is to get a positive referral from somebody that they’ve done work for.”

Of course, in today’s internet age, it’s easier than ever for a customer to share a positive (or a negative) review or referral.

Measure to get the return The ability of a company to add digital elements to its marketing plan is easier than ever, but that can be a double-edged sword, says Croxon.

“The cost has come down to be very reasonable, but it is a double-edged sword because now everybody has the capability of doing it, which means that it is no longer a competitive edge to be good at it,” he says. “It’s a necessity.”

The fact that digital response can be measured is a big plus in Croxon’s eyes, but it takes discipline to identify where customers are coming from, and how much customer acquisition is costing.

“You do anything digital and the tools are there.”

It also allows a company to analyze which digital marketing avenues are most cost effective.

“I would urge readers, if they are not good at this, to get good at measuring where their leads are coming from, and how much they are spending to get those leads.”

Armed with this information, a business owner or manager can determine which channels work, and which ones don’t. “They can get highly disciplined about where they are getting their customers from.”

niche, telephone dating in the ’90s was the next largest use of the technology.

“People had voicemail boxes, and we provided them with the capability of changing their message, and to pick up their messages, and while they were ‘online’ they could send messages back and forth to others who were online at the same time,” said Croxon. “Arguably, Telepersonals – which was branded in 1987 – was the first social network in the world, using technology to put random people together to talk about whatever they wanted.”

Of course, that evolved into something that we take for granted today, using the internet to do the same thing. “Everywhere you turn there are different forms of social networking, but I would argue that the origins of that were in the dating space,” he says.

The growth and development of the internet and the World Wide Web definitely changed how easy it is to connect and share with others, but the goals remain the same. “It’s about matching people up based on interest, whether that’s for dating or for business, or keeping up with whatever someone is following.”

Since leaving the Dragons’ Den, Bruce has been focused on his investment company Round 13 Capital.

“It’s basically a pool of money that we invest into early-to-growth stage companies in Canada,” he explains.

The companies he looks for have crunched the numbers and have a good idea of what it costs to acquire a user, as well as what that customer might be worth to them. “They need money to grow quickly once they have started to prove something.”

Among the companies he’s invested in are a data analytics company, a warranty claims firm, and a social marketing company called Knexx Local.

“I look for companies that have a clear understanding of what it costs to get a customer, and know that the cost is X number of per cent less than what that customer ends up spending with them, over the year, and over their lifetime. If that gap is large enough, and there is the potential to go get a pile more of them, then I am interested,” he says.

“Aside from that I am looking for people that I trust.”

He also looks for people who can weather a storm or two in business.

“It sounds glamorous to own your own business and be your own boss, but as the readers of your magazine no doubt know, it ain’t all pretty, and how you scrap and claw when things are not going your way, I think is what separates the true small business entrepreneurs from the pretenders.”

the Thrilla in Manilla between Ali and Fraser. A lot round of fighting ever in the history of the sport.

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hydronic iq Are You a Hydronic All-Star?

With this year’s NHL All-Star game just wrapped up in Columbus, Ohio, and hockey season heading into the stretch drive to the playoffs, we thought we’d bring you our version of a hockey game to test your knowledge of wet heat.

Each period in our game consists of three questions, with an overtime question to round out the quiz. So pick an opponent from your friends and colleagues, strap on your skates and helmet, and let’s hit the ice!

Answers can be found on page 64.

A mechanical connection First Period

The Columbus Blue Jackets played host for this

1. Air within a heating system can cause the following problems:

year’s NHL All-Star game. The team’s original owner, John Henderson McConnell was also the founder of

a) b) c) d)

System component corrosion Both (a) and (c) System air lock Failure of the relief valve

Worthington Industries, a company that manufactures pressure cylinders, including those used in the refrigeration and industrial gas markets.

2. The key factor in designing an efficient hydronic heating system is: a) b) c) d)

Proper heat loss calculations for each room Knowing R-values of construction materials Proper boiler sizing Knowing the average seasonal outdoor temperature

3. A hydronic heating system may be used for: a) b) c) d)

Domestic heating of a house or building.

Snow melting in driveways and sidewalks.

Hot water supply to swimming pools and hot tubs.

All of the above.

Second Period 4. Radiant baseboard heat emitters transfer heat into a room in what manner? a) b) c) d)

Convection Conduction Radiation Forced-convection

5. Many heating systems are made up of multiple zones. If some zones are farther than others what type of valve may be used to restrict the flow to the closer zones? a) A globe valve b) A check valve c) A throttling/balancing valve d) A ball valve

DID YOU KNOW? It is estimated that Nationwide Arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has 44 miles of pipe installed in the building as part of its HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration systems.

continues on page 54

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continued d from from page pagge 52 52

6. The term “delta T” represents:

9 a) The difference in temperature between the desired room temperature and the outside temperature. b) The difference in temperature between the supply water and the return water manifolds. c) The difference in temperature between the overall average house temperature and the ambient seasonal temperature. d) None of the above.

Third Period 7. The type of tubing arrangement best suited for a room where the heat loss is evenly distributed around the room would be: a) Single wall serpentine b) Double wall serpentine c) Triple wall serpentine d) Counter flow

Coming Soon!

8. A panel radiator operating at a high temperature spaced eight inches off the wall tends to transfer heat into a room in what manner? a) b) c) d)

Convection Conduction Radiation Forced-convection

9. What must be done to ensure proper and efficient heating system operation before the system is put into full operation: a) b) c) d)

Maximum VITALITY

with fire tube heat exchanger

Maximum VALUE

Make sure that the boiler is properly installed.

Ensure that all air is purged from the system.

Test that the circulation pump is properly installed for directional flow.

Both (a) and (c).

Overtime 10. A “thermostatic control” is used to: a) Increase the flow of supply water to zones b) Shut off the boiler c) Reduce the flow of supply water to zones d) Both (a) and (c)

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nythermal.com 54

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So, did you need overtime to settle the score?

10 out of 10 correct – Nice job with the overtime victory. You’re an all-star for sure!

8 or 9 correct – You had a solid game out there. Be ready for the post-game press conference.

6 or 7 correct – That was a gritty performance. Not quite on the first team all-stars, but you showed some character out there.

5 or below – Time to drop the gloves… and pick up the books.

With thanks to Ron Dotzko, the program coordinator for plumbing apprenticeship at Humber College in Toronto, Warren Hyde, a plumbing and hydronics professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont., and Dave Hughes, associate chair - (Special Projects) Pipe Trades Programs, School of Trades at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. www.humber.ca www.mohawkcollege.ca www.nait.ca

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Coming Soon!

ROAD WARRIOR

B y A nd n d r eew w Sno ook ok

DID YOU KNOW? Name: Morgane Tallman Company: Plomberie Chauffage Normand Job: Heating installer Age: 29 Born and lives in: Montreal, Que.

• Morgane speaks fluent Spanish.

• She makes a point of hitting Festival Western de St-Tite, the third biggest rodeo in North America, as often as she can.

• She might be the most fashionable plumber in the entire industry. “I once went to do an emergency call on Christmas Eve in a cocktail dress at 3 a.m.”

Industry tenure: 8 years

Favourite tool: My plumbing Channellocks.

F

Photos: Francois LeClair

or Morgane Tallman, troubleshooting has always been a passion. Before finding her love for hydronics systems she was a pre-med student at CJEP in Quebec – another profession built upon fact finding and problem solving – but she found it just wasn’t quite the right fit. Unsure of the career she wanted to pursue, Morgane travelled to Central America and lived there for a year. After coming home she enrolled in the plumbing and heating

56

program at École des métiers de la construction de Montréal and never looked back.

“I think my favourite thing about working on hydronics jobs is troubleshooting something I’ve read about in books. It’s always fascinating to see theory in practice,” she says.

We took advantage of Morgane’s day off to learn more about her passion for wet heat…

What’s your favourite memory on the job? The best site I ever did was an old church from the 1800s. They had made it bigger, built around it, and I was on a search for a pipe. I spent eight hours looking for it.

Favourite place to hang out: Mechanical rooms. It’s kind of fun when you get those late night calls.

If I had $100,000 dollars to invest in the company I work for, I would... develop radiant cooling and combo systems.

Favourite food: Gallo Pinto, it’s a Nicaraguan dish.

What’s your latest jobsite?

Right now we’re doing a lot of emergency boiler swap-outs.

Biggest pet peeve: People who don’t wipe their pipe joints.

If I had tomorrow off work, I would spend the day... working on my own house. I’m preparing the slab in the basement so I can put in the underslab tubing.

My rule of thumb is... figure out what you want to do and do it, instead of sitting around doing nothing.

The best advice somebody has given you is: Don’t pack up your tools until you’ve tested your system.

What radio station do you listen to during the day?

89.3, C’est Yves LaMarche.

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Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer. He handles the sales territory from the Niagara region to the Greater Toronto Area for Jess-Don Dunford, a manufacturers’ rep in Ontario. He can be reached at jhouse@jessdondunford.com.

High rise horror What a great way to start art off the New Year. You have successfully landed a six-storey x-storey condo high rise job. As a specialist in high rise airr side heating and cooling systems, this is right up your alley.

After roughing in all the e suites with the ductwork and air handlers, andlers, the site superintendent has you install the low temperature ture hydronic system. You normally don’t do hot water but the extra work will help out the bottom line. e.

Besides it is all engineered red and laid out, you just have ave to put it together. How hard can it be?

and Circle Win!

You call for a boiler start rt up, and the technician and boiler rep look at the install stall and walk off the job. What’ss up?

Circle the possible and easily visible installation errors/code infractions, take a picture of your page with your smartphone, e, and email your photo to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com, m, or fax the page, with your contact details, to 905-465-2913.

The most correct answers will win this month’s prize.

Bonus Question: What is the approximate percentage decrease in head loss and velocity if the boiler piping was sized zed to proper ASHRAE standards of 4 feet per second or less?

A) 18% B) 29% C) 41%

Running with the (back)pack!

Our Milwaukee Milwauke Jobsite Backpack loaded with Milwauke Milwaukee Tools was so popular last issue that we’ we’ve decided to do it again. So send us you your fix, just like Matt Gagor of MBN Mech Mechanical did, and you too could great goodie bag to take to your have a gre jobsite. Send your solution by next jobs March 5 for your chance to win. And be sure to pick up the next edition of Me Mechanical Business for the next installment of Find the Fix! install

D) Over 70%

FAX YOUR ANSWER TO 905-465-2913

Looking for answers?

According to quizmaster Jeff House, the best thing anyone could have answered last issue was draw a giant circle around the entire puzzle. Some of the problems identified in the winning entry were misplaced mixing valves, the unnecessary pressure differential bypass and the need of closely spaced tees in the piping. And there were problems with the pump placement, the expansion tank, and more. If you want to have a look at the quiz to see one of the most problematic system diagrams we’ve ever seen, check it out in our issue archive, available at www.mechanicalbusiness.com. *Note: Prize may not match photo.

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STEAMY SITUATION The steam seminar was to be in North Carolina, which was strange enough, that being the state where most folks only know how to say, “Heat pump, please.” It was also to be in a nasty, windowless, brick-walled basement room in what used to be a hospital, but was now an office building. I immediately looked around for Jack Nicholson and Nurse Ratched. Welcome to the cuckoo’s nest.

“We’re doing it here because the people who own the building are our clients,” the contractor explained. “Not many people in this state want to work on steam heat. We’re hoping you’ll walk around with us after the seminar and look at some of the problems they’re having.”

He nodded. “Yep, that’s the problem.”

I asked the contractor about the steam pressure and he told me they were running the boilers at about eight psi.

“Did you know they run the Empire State Building at one-and-a-half psi?” I asked.

“Nothing works if we go under eight pounds,” he said.

“And it works at eight pounds?”

“Well, yes, but then parts of the building get too hot, so they open the windows.”

“Is there water hammer?” I asked.

“Do peaches have pits?”

I looked up at the radiator that was mounted on the ceiling. “Love to,” I said.

The class went well. The contractor had invited his own people, as well as several of the area’s inspectors. They admitted they knew absolutely nothing about steam heat but that they inspected it anyway. “How do you do that?” I asked.

Whipping a system back into shape

“We look for what the manufacturers tell us is right,” one drawled.

When facing a system that’s not acting

“Which manufacturers?”

as originally designed, it’s time to do

“Usually the boiler (pronounced “bowler”) manufacturer,” he said.

some thinking, and some walking, and some investigating, and perhaps a bit

“But there’s a system attached to the bowler,” I said.

more thinking. Here’s how to begin:

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“This building is an annuity for you, isn’t it?”

“No one else will touch it,” he smiled.

“Nice.”

You see that’s a good situation, especially for a contractor willing to learn about older systems that, when neglected, start behaving like Mike Tyson at a beauty pageant. If you can work that system back into the shape it was in when new (that being fast, quiet and efficient), your customer will never go anywhere else, and he will tell everyone he knows that you are the best there is. And that’s a good thing.

LOOK AT THE NEAR-BOILER PIPING If water is leaving the boiler with the steam, you’ll never be able to heat the building. The near-boiler piping’s job is to separate the steam from the water and put the water back into the boiler.

Get the boiler manufacturer’s specs for that near-boiler piping and compare it to what you see. If the piping is wrong, redo it. That system will never work properly if the piping allows the water up into the building.

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2

by Dan Holohan

WATCH THE PRESSURE

Dan Holohan is an author, speaker, steam heating expert, and founder of heatinghelp. com, a highly regarded industry site that shares information about heating systems old and new. He can be reached at dan@heatinghelp.com.

With steam heat, especially in institutional buildings, it’s not normal to be running at high pressure unless they’re using the steam for some sort of process, such as cooking food or sterilizing instruments.

The highest pressure you will ever need for space heating is two psi. That’s been the rule since 1899 when heating engineers agreed to use steam-pipe-sizing charts that kept the pressure drop very low. This is how the Empire State Building gets by on such low pressure. It’s not the pressure that heats the people; it’s the latent heat of the steam, and that’s there at zero psi.

The only pressure you need is enough to overcome the pressure drop as the steam races through the pipes, and that’s only about one ounce of loss for every 100 feet of travel.

4

3

GET OUT OF THE BOILER ROOM

½Ì Li > y> i i>`° / iÀi½Ã a big, beautiful system out there. Go wander. Know that Ì i ÃÞÃÌi à w i` with air at the start of every steaming cycle. The steam has to push that air out, so start at the boiler and ask yourself the key question, “If I were air, could I get out?”

Follow the pipes Spirax Sarco and keep asking that question. Look for the main vents, or the vent line on the condensate- or boiler-feed pump receiver. When steam traps start to fail, steam will come out of those receiver vents. Some knucklehead will plug the vent and raise the pressure, and that’s when the place turns into the cuckoo’s nest.

5

THINK LIKE AIR If you can’t heat the place on low pressure, there’s probably air trapped in the pipes that can’t escape because the air vents are either broken or missing. Steam is lighter than air and the two will not mix. ÛiÀÞ ÃÌi> ÃÞÃÌi ÃÌ>ÀÌÃ ÕÌ w i` Ü Ì > À° 7 i Ì i water turns to steam, it expands 1,700 times, and that’s at zero psi. The steam pushes the air ahead of itself like a plunger. If the air can’t get out, the steam stops moving and gives up its heat.

A contractor who doesn’t understand this will crank up the pressure. That gives the steam more power to compress the air.

The pipes will get hot a bit further out into the system, and many a contractor thinks this is good, so he raises the pressure again. There’s still no heat in much of the building, and the burner is running all the time, people are opening windows, and the contractor thinks this is normal.

That’s your competitor. He’s a knucklehead.

KNOW THE COMPONENTS If you see something you can’t identify, take a picture of it and post it on our website, HeatingHelp.com. If it’s old and strange, someone on our site will know what it is and probably have the original literature for it. Trust me; we live for questions like that. We have no lives.

At Nurse Ratched’s former hospital, the contractor pointed at an iron shape that had more coats of paint than the Brooklyn Bridge. “What’s that?” he asked and I told him it was a Series 19T heavy-duty steam trap, made by the Webster Company in the 1920s. It was able to handle unusually large amounts of condensate. It wasn’t working, and that was one of the reasons why the system was making more noise than the Blue Man Group. I know this because I have no life.

There’s more, of course, but that short list is a grand place to begin. Not every building is going to have a heat pump, and that’s especially true of older institutional buildings. Get to know those systems and you’ll do better than the guy who sells only plain-vanilla heat pumps or furnaces. Some knucklehead will always beat that guy’s price.

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HYDRONIC

Products Wall-hung boiler

Condensing boiler Fulton’s Endura condensing boiler is designed for primary and variable flow hydronic system applications. It is available in four sizes ranging from 750,000 to 2,000,000 BTUH and offers thermal efficiencies up to 97.1%.

The boiler has a duplex stainless steel heat exchanger and comes with a colour touchscreen display.

www. fulton.com

The Mascot LX fully-modulating, wallhung boiler from Laars is available in seven sizes ranging from 50,000 to 220,000 BTUH and offers efficiencies up to 95% AFUE. The units feature a variable speed blower, direct spark ignition and a sealed condensate trap.

It is built with top or bottom gas and heating connections, operates on natural gas or propane and can be direct vented up to 150’.

laars.com

Snow melting control Snow melting control 654 from tekmar is designed to operate hydronic or electric equipment to melt snow or ice from any surface. It features storm pre-warming, zone priority and tracking, and tandem snow and ice detection. The system can be started automatically when snow is detected through the use of in-slab or aerial-mounted sensors.

tekmarcontrols.com

Combination boiler The Trinity Lx is designed to function as a boiler or a potable instantaneous hot water heater for commercial applications. It has a maximum heating input range of 150,000 to 800,000 BTUH and thermal efficiencies up to 98% and 93.7% AFUE. The unit features a stainless steel heat exchanger, a factory-installed condensate trap and spark ignition.

nythermal.com

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Viega MegaPress® System for Black Iron Pipe

With Viega MegaPress, installers can make secure black iron pipe connections in less than seven seconds with no heavy equipment or cutting oils. The Viega Smart Connect® feature helps installers identify unpressed connections easily during pressure testing.

The first carbon steel press fitting approved for both water and gas applications, Viega MegaPress helps save time and labor on the job site.

Viega MegaPress • Approved for more applications than any other black iron press systems • Flameless press technology reduces installation time up to 60% • Provides consistent connections with no manual tightening • Patented Viega Smart Connect feature helps installers identify unpressed connections

www.viega.ca | 1-800-976-9819

Viega MegaPress system The only carbon steel press fitting for water and gas The global leader in plumbing, heating and pipe joining systems

HYDRONIC

Products

PEX tubing ViegaPEX barrier tubing is designed for hydronic heating, cooling and snow melting applications. It features four layers including an oxygen barrier and can be installed in concrete, gypsum-based lightweight concrete, sand and asphalt, or under wood flooring or behind wallboard and plaster. It is available in sizes ranging from 5/16” to 2”.

www. viega.com

Piping kits

Air separator

Webstone’s Hydro-Core Complete Near Boiler Piping Kits are designed to provide spacing for hydraulic separation. They accommodate circulator pumps and come with a choice of IPS or SWT manifolds. They also feature insulated supply and return lines and plugged FIP ports for connection to other equipment.

The Spirovent Quad Steel from Spirotherm is designed to flush dirt while the system is in full operation. It is available for pipe sizes ranging from 2" to 12" and is offered with male threads in 2" to 4" sizes. The unit has a recommended flow rate of 45 to 1,400 gpm. All models are designed as standard for 150 psig and 270°F. Larger sizes are available upon request.

www. webstonevalves.com

www. spirotherm.com

Balancing valve The Terminator G fixed orifice, multi-turn, balancing valve from Jomar Hydronics is built with a dezincification-resistant bronze and epoxy-coated cast iron body. Additional features include a lockable memory stop handle and hand wheel. It is offered in sizes ranging from 1/2” to 2” female NPT and 2-1/2” to 8” ANSI Class 150 flange. The valve has a pressure rating of 230 WOG.

A 1°C increase in water temperature can result in an increase in pipe heat loss of three per cent.

www. jomarhydronics.com

Boiler panels HeatLink’s electric boiler panels come with an 11kW or 18kW electric boiler, automatic air vent, pressure relief valve and primary pump. They have connections for expansion tanks and electrical boxes for 240V connection, and are available with a 3-, 5- or 7-loop multiport manifold.

www. heatlink.com

The M-8300P manifold from Legend Hydronics is built from stainless steel and comes pre-assembled. It features built-in visual flow gauges and thermometers, as well as an automatic air vent, and fill and purge valve assembly on the supply and return headers.

They are available with 2 to 12 stations.

Hydronic IQ (from page 52,54) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-C, 6-B, 7-D, 8-A, 9-B, 10-D

xx 64

M eHc Ah T a n iSc ua pl pB l ues m i n ee ns s W t

Pre-assembled Pre assembled manifold

1 0 02 . . 1105

www. legendhydronics.com

HYDRONIC Products Combination Boiler Press fitting The Presscon tailpiece with union nut from Caleffi is a press fitting designed to create a leak-proof seal with union-threaded components. It is available in 3/4” press x 1” female union nut. The tailpiece is compatible within a working temperature range of 0°F to 250°F for up to 50% glycol mixtures, and is pressure rated to 200 psi.

www. caleffi.us

Commercial boilers Harsco Industrial Patterson-Kelley’s P-K Sonic boilers are offered with maximum heating input ranges from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 BTUH with combustion efficiencies up to 96%. They have a stainless steel design for condensing applications and feature a 5:1 turndown and touchscreen control.

www. harscopk.com

Fire tube boilers Camus Hydronics’ Advantus two-pass counter flow fire tube boilers are available with heating inputs ranging from 450,000 to 4,000,000 BTUH. They offer thermal efficiencies up to 99%.

Additional features include stainless steel fibre burners and 25:1 turndown. The units can be cascaded with up to eight appliances.

The Planet Dewy 30/50 BF fully modulating and condensing boiler from Sime has a maximum heating input of 110,000 BTUH and offers peak thermal efficiencies of 97%. It comes with a built-in 50-litre storage tank for DHW needs and includes a built-in circulator and expansion tank.

www. simenorthamerica.com

Looking for the missing link between HIÀFLHQF\ SURÀWDELOLW\" HeatLink is a leading supplier of potable water and radiant hydronic heating/cooling and snow melt systems.

For over 20 years we’ve led the industry in creating efficient heating, cooling and plumbing systems for residential and commercial construction.

All our systems are easy to install and backed by a full warranty. Our innovative products are engineered to set the highest standard in energy efficiency and increase installation and system operating effectiveness. You can’t beat the HeatLink systems for efficiency, quality and price.

Whether you are installing a residential plumbing or heating system, or designing a large commercial installation HeatLink has the products, systems, and design capabilities to meet your needs.

6\VWHPV IRU OLIH www.heatlink.com

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65

HYDRONIC

Products

Three-speed pumps Taco’s 0015 3-speed pumps are offered in cast iron or in stainless steel. They feature a maximum flow of 18 gpm and a maximum head of 17 feet. The pumps have a fluid temperature range of 40˚F to 230˚F and a working pressure up to 125 psi. They are available with connection sizes of 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” flanged.

www. taco-hvac.com

Hydronic radiator The Runtal NEO combines a radiant panel with 24V fans and a heat exchanger, offering outputs up to 13,850 BTUH. The unit is offered in heights of 17.5” and 23.3”, and lengths of 31.5”, 39.4”, 47.2” and 59”. It comes standard in white, with optional colours available.

Features include a control panel for controlling the three speeds of the fans, and an alert for filter cleaning and sensor defects.

runtalnorthamerica.com

Russian businessman Franz San Galli is often cited as the inventor of the radiator, having received a patent in the U.S. and Germany for the “Hot Box” in the 1850s.

CHEMICAL SINCE 1981

Commercial boiler Lochinvar’s FTXL fire tube boiler is available in five models ranging from 399,999 to 850,000 BTUH, with thermal efficiencies up to 98%.

It is built with a fire tube, stainless steel heat exchanger, and the boiler’s operating system can be directly integrated into a building automation system. The unit can be cascaded with up to eight units.

www. lochinvar.com

Established in 1981, Hood Chemical supplies Dow Chemical glycol (propylene and ethylene) with inhibitors. We offer free analysis and supply a written report advising the freezing point, pH, concentration of inhibitors, and appearance.

Who’s Your Glycol Expert ?

Contact Us for our Full List of Products and Services

1-800-567-9791

www.HOODchemical.com

Wall-hung boilers NHB-Series boilers from Navien are offered in four sizes, with inputs ranging from 55,000 to 150,000 BTUH and efficiencies of 95% AFUE. Other features include 15:1 turndown, adjustable Delta T ranges, freeze protection, and primary and secondary stainless steel heat exchangers.

www. navien.com

HiTech Dispensing Inc.

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N OW AVA I L A B L E W I T H PR E S S C O N N E C T I O N S

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FEATURES • Choice of Press, SWT or IPS Manifold • Insulated Manifold & Supply/Return Lines • Outfitted w connections for your specific boiler • Plugged FIP ports for connection to other equipment • Compatible with popular press tools

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((800)) 225-9529 * All manufacturer names are trademarked or registered trademark property of their respective owners.

Webstone products are not manufactured, sponsored, authorized, or endorsed by any party unless otherwise noted.

The Fine Art of Radiators Where Innovative Technology is Wedded to Unique Design N PA

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Hot Water (Hydronic)

Steam

For more information or a dealer near you, please call 1-888-829-4901 or visit us online at: www.runtalnorthamerica.com.

Electric

21-2861 Sherwood Heights Dr. Oakville, ON L6J 7K1 1-888-829-4901

RS

with Roger Grochmal

Price increases and challenging times Roger, my costs seem to be continually on the rise! I want to stay competitive, but I don’t think I can hold off on passing on a price increase to my customers. How do you handle the everchanging economy and what advice do you have for managing increases with customers?

Frank B., Vancouver, B.C. Roger Grochmal is the CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, Ont. To submit a question about your company, business practices, or the industry in general, send an e-mail to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

The labour factor While price increases are happening, keep in mind there is a good chance your labour costs will not go up at that same rate, so you may be able to hold your overall price increase to the five to six per cent range. That said, don’t make the mistake of trying to keep your price increase down by a point or two by not awarding legitimate increase to the people in your business. They will resent you for it and it will show up in other ways.

W

e’ve been lucky. The past few years have been very stable for prices. The Canadian dollar was close to par with the U.S. dollar and oil prices were relatively high. The U.S. economy had been in a lengthy slump and their housing sector was deeply depressed. The result was an extended period with few price fluctuations.

Last January I wrote a heads up column about price increases that were just starting to appear. The increases were small and had little impact on most of us.

What a difference a year makes.

Today, the Canadian dollar is in the 80 cent range, the U.S. economy is roaring back, the price of oil is down by more than half, and the U.S. housing sector is making a good comeback. The net result of all this is that prices are going up. Significantly!

The consensus price increase being levied today averages about nine per cent. The problem is that this is likely only the first shoe to drop. I am hearing talk of additional price increases, especially if the dollar stays low for a while.

Paying attention to parts prices is important as these can get away from you. The dollars may look small, but collectively they can have a big impact on your bottom line, so be sure to update your flat rate price book this spring if you have one.

The good news is that price increases are industry wide and everyone will be affected. I have yet to hear of a single supplier holding the line on prices. The question that we all have to answer is what to do about it.

I look at the pricing in our company every year. In this economic environment we will look at it quarterly to make sure we are keeping pace.

Whatever you do, don’t bite the bullet and swallow the price increase as a cost of doing business. This is the fastest route to the unemployment line. You may be busy as a result, but as one old timer once told me, every contractor he ever saw go bankrupt was in their busiest year in business.

KEEPING CUSTOMERS HAPPY K One subject we feel strongly about is that our customers, while they don’t like O pri increases, will swallow one price increase, even if it’s big, but multiple price price increases will put them off. They really resist the idea of continually reaching into increa their wallets and “nickel and diming” them with multiple increases.

The message to customers is the value you bring to the equation. The equipment we sell only represents half the selling price. The balance is the value we and our people bring. This is a message you must deliver to your customers every day not just when you have a price increase to pass on. They need to be reminded of your value proposition.

P.S. In my last column I talked about acquiring a building as a way to save and fund your retirement.

Well I took my own advice and finally purchased a building… RG M e c h a n i c a l

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69

PLUMBING

B y Fr ed B retzke

Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary and the general manager of A&B Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

Big job; Big drainage “G

o big or go home.” That’s what my supervisor used to tell me when I was a young apprentice in Edmonton.

He loved large commercial jobs and that’s exactly what we were doing, putting in underground commercial drainage systems by the West Edmonton Mall.

The time was 1981, and the mall was in its first stage of construction. We were installing the underground drainage for some apartment complexes beside the massive shopping and tourist venue.

I was a first-year apprentice with most of my work experience consisting of residential rough-in projects in Ontario. Since I had no experience in commercial underground drainage, my daily job was concreting the sleeves of the manholes. This was not a fun job and I didn’t use gloves, so my hands were raw and covered with concrete and calluses.

I was in awe of all the equipment that was used for installing underground drainage. Bulldozers, skid steer loaders, backhoes and large trackhoes were in constant motion plowing the roads and earth in order to install the 36-inch and 48-inch

storm and sanitary sewers.

The largest pipe I had installed up until that point was four-inch ABS piping.

This is where I realized I should’ve stayed in Boy Scouts and learned how to tie knots and ropes. It would have made it easier for rigging pipe while working with the backhoes.

I also discovered it is harder to install storm and sanitary piping than it is to install water mains. Water main piping is easy to install, as it is under pressure and does not need to be graded downwards. This saves a lot of time while laying the pipe.

On the other hand, storm and sanitary sewer piping must be graded at least one-eighth of an inch per foot (NPC Table 2.4.10.6. C for sanitary, and NPC Table 2.4.10.9. for storm), which is just slightly to the left of the centre on a bubble-styled level. This may seem easy, but when you are in the bottom of the trench digging and laying pipe it’s a lot harder than it appears.

Combined Drainage Systems Even though the National Plumbing Code states that combined sewers are no longer used, we may still install them under special circumstances.

There are certain rules that have to be applied when mixing storm and sanitary sewers. When sizing a combined sewer, use leaders as opposed to fixture units in the tables in the code book.

Sanitary fixture units that are over 260 fixture units must be transformed into litres by multiplying them by 9.1 and every 260 sanitary fixture units, or less, are worth 2,360 litres (Clause 2.4.10.5.)

All semi-continuous fixtures, such as sump pumps or air conditioning units, are converted to litres by multiplying every litre per second by 900 to derive their total litre production (Clause 2.4.10.3) as per the National Plumbing Code.

After arriving at the true total litre load, we go to the tables and select a proper grade to size the combined drain. In most cases, if a storm drain is connected to a building drain we must install a running trap in order to prevent sewer gases from entering the roof, which may have some occupancy.

continued on page 72

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MORE The IPEX Advantage.

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PLUMBING

continued from page 70 continued from page 32

Sewer Sizing In the 2010 National Plumbing Code, the sizing of storm sewers is found in Table 2.4.10.9., and sanitary sewer sizing is found in Table 2.4.10. 6.c.

Sanitary sewers are sized by the total hydraulic fixture unit loads (which are a unit of pre-designed measure) from each sanitary fixture from each building.

Storm sewers are sized by the total hydraulic load in litres of rain water which are accumulated from each roof, based on average rainfall intensity over a period of 15 minutes for that particular geographical area.

There are several options for pipe materials for storm and sanitary sewers, with SDR 35 and similar plastic piping often being specified. Proper pea gravel or suitable compactable bedding should be used around, under and above the piping for at least 12 inches or 300 millimeters.

A THING OF THE PAST? w ` Ì >Ì ÌiÀ À V iÀV > > ` ÃÌ ÌÕÌ > `À> >}i à ÕV i>à iÀ Ì > À Õ} } > VÕÃÌ LÕ Ì i] >à i >Ã Ì Li Ài VÀi>Ì Ûi >Þ } ÕÌ « «i Ì Û>À Õà wÝÌÕÀià > L } i Ì > > >À}i LÕ ` }° / i ÃÌ> >Ì v iÝÌiÀ À V iÀV > > ` Õ `iÀ}À Õ `

For cleanout distances, follow National Plumbing Code Table 2.4.7.4.

We can use four-inch cleanouts for interior building drains up to eight inches in size. However manholes are used for building sewers using eight-inch pipe or for exterior sewer piping.

Each manhole cover must weigh at least 65 pounds, and each manhole section must be tapered no less than 24 inches for accessibility. The manhole trough, which is the invert sewer located on the bottom of the manhole section, must be tapered to a smooth concrete finish in order to allow proper drainage. Each manhole section must be properly grouted with sufficient concrete to prevent exterior leakage.

Ã> Ì>ÀÞ > ` ÃÌ À `À> >}i à ÕV i>à iÀ Ü >à Üi >Ûi >ÃiÀ iÛi Ã Ì > i vi i>ÃÞ v À Ì i « «i >ÞiÀð Ì i «>ÃÌ] « Õ LiÀà ÕÃi` Ì vÀiµÕi Ì Þ «iÀv À Ì Ã ÌÞ«i v Ü À ] LÕÌ Ài > ` Ài L>V i V «> ià >Ài ÌÀ> } Ì i À i « ÞiiÃ Ì «ÕÌ Ì i Õ `iÀ}À Õ ` `À> >}i ÃÞÃÌi ð ÕÌ v Þ Õ >Ài > V iÀV > « Õ LiÀ > ` Ì Ã ÌÞ«i v L V ià ի] i V ÕÀ>}i Þ Õ Ì ] º L } À } it»

Heavy H eavy vy D Duty uty ty S Soli Solids Solid olids ds Handling Pumps

Building Bu B u uil ildi din ng IInformation nformat f ti tion M Modeling od delin li g

AVA I L A B L E

www.zoeller.com ler.com er com

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1 1-877-710-7867 -877-710-7867 877 710 7867 B u s i n e s s

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Your Peace of Mind is Our Top Priority®

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Contributing Factors

FIX BURST PIPES FAST!

The soil and weather conditions highly affect the speed and quality of an underground commercial drainage installation.

An absolute must is that you have a good surveyor, who has correctly marked the benchmark elevations so that proper grade can be correctly adhered to. Unfortunately, this did not happen on my Edmonton jobsite (outlined on p.70). Our backhoe operator and our surveyor were both relatively inexperienced.

These factors definitely lead to disastrous results on this jobsite. City inspectors tend to be very particular with underground drainage. The sewers and manholes ended up being installed at the incorrect invert elevations, which caused the pipe to be back graded. I remember them digging up manholes and pipe for days.

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Steps for successful installs

take the

EDGE OFF DRILL-POWERED CHAMFER TOOLS Deburr and create a smooth, 15˚ chamfer in seconds.

Reed’s PB series chamfer tools are one of a kind. Simply attach an electric or cordless drill to chamfer inner and outer pipe edges of PVC, CPVC, ABS and PE pipe.

In order to prevent installation errors on base piping, always hire professionals and follow strict municipal codes. The keys to successfully installing underground commercial drainage are: 1) Hire a professional surveyor; 2) Have an experienced backhoe operator; 3) Adhere to municipal storm and sanitary codes; 4) Hire an experienced pipe laying crew; 5) Adhere to the plumbing code; and 6) Get good weather (not that we can do much about this one).

PB4 in use on PVC

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www.reedmfgco.com 1014

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73

REFRIGERATION

B y A n d r e P at en aude Andre Patenaude is the director of CO2 business development for Emerson. He can be reached at andre.patenaude@emerson.com.

CO2 as a Refrigerant Basics and Considerations, Part 1

Choosing a refrigerant Multiple factors need to be carefully considered when selecting any refrigerant, including its cooling capacity, safety, environmental impact, ease of use, cost, and availability of components and expertise. Table 1 summarizes these and other key criteria, showing how R744 meets them.

In general, the table shows that R744 offers more cooling capacity than conventional refrigerants, and has a low global warming impact rating, but presents challenges in its application, system costs and handling.

T

he environmental profile and performance aspects of R744 (CO2) have put the gas into a high profile position as a refrigerant option for future refrigeration systems. It has demonstrated favourable results in different system configurations over many years, particularly in Canada, Europe and Australia.

Initially high investment costs are now on a downward trend, while innovations in component technology and application methods continue to reveal potential performance gains. These results have enabled CO2 to be a long-term option in refrigeration.

Properties of R744 Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring substance; the atmosphere is comprised of approximately 0.04 per cent CO2 (370 ppm).

The triple point of carbon dioxide is high and the critical point is low compared to other refrigerants. The chart in Figure 1 shows the triple point and the critical point on a phase diagram.

Table 1: How R744 meets different conditions and criteria

Criteria

How well does R744 meet the criteria?

Cooling capacity

Higher volumetric capacity than conventional refrigerants

Efficiency

Higher volumetric capacity than conventional refrigerants

Operating conditions

Operating and standstill pressures higher than for other common refrigerants

Environmental impact

Global Warming Potential (GWP) = 1

Availability of refrigerant

Varies globally, but generally available

Availability of system components

Many components differ from those used in HFC retail systems, but all are now generally available

Availability of competent service technicians

Varies globally, but generally low; service technicians must have a good understanding of refrigeration best practices and will require training for R744

Cost

Refrigerant cost lower than for HFCs, but system costs are generally higher

Safety

Low toxicity and nonflammable; high pressures and associated hazards present challenges

Ease of use

High pressure and low critical point drive the need for more complex systems

Availability of appropriate standards

U.S. standards: ASME B31.5; ASHRAE 15; UL 1995/CSA 22.2 No. 236-11; UL 60335-1; UL 60335-2-40; 60335-2-34

Composition

Single molecule, no temperature glide in subcritical operations

Suitability as a retrofit refrigerant

Not suitable because of higher pressures

74

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The triple point occurs at 4.2 bar (60.9 psi) and -56.6°C (-69.8°F). Below this point there is no liquid phase.

At atmospheric pressure (0 bar/0 psi), solid R744 sublimes directly to a gas.

Figure 1: R744 / CO2 phase diagram

Solid R744, also known as dry ice, has a surface temperature of -78.5°C (-109.3°F). If R744 is at a pressure higher than the triple point and the pressure is reduced to below the triple point (e.g., to atmospheric pressure), it will deposit directly to solid. This can occur when charging an evacuated refrigeration system with liquid R744.

The critical point occurs at 31°C (88°F), which is below typical system condensing temperatures for part or all of the year, depending on the climate. Above the critical point, the refrigerant is a transcritical fluid. There is no phase change when heat is removed from a transcritical fluid while it is above the critical pressure and temperature.

0 2 . 1 5

Properties of R744 • Choosing a Refrigerant • Hard to Compare

The pressure-temperature relationship Figure 2

In a refrigeration system, transcritical R744 will not condense until the pressure has dropped below the critical pressure.

No other commonly used refrigerant has such a low critical temperature. As a result, other refrigerants always condense as heat is removed on the high side of the system.

The boundaries of the transcritical fluid region are: • The critical temperature (31°C /87.8°F) to the sub-cooled liquid region • The critical pressure (72.8 barg /1,055.9 psig) to the superheated gas region Table 2: Basic properties of refrigerants

Refrigerant Temperature at atmospheric pressure

R744

R404A

-109.3°F -50.8°F (-78.5°C) (-46°C) Temp. of dry ice Saturation

R134a

R407A

14.8°F (-26°C) Saturation

-41.8°F (-41°C ) Mid-point saturation

-45.5°F (-43°C ) Mid-point saturation

179.6°F (82°C)

181.4°F (83°C)

Critical temperature

87.8°F (31°C)

161.6°F (72°C)

213.8°F (101°C)

Critical pressure

1,056 psig (72.8 barg)

503 psig (34.7 barg)

590 psig (40.7 barg)

Triple point pressure

60.6 psig (4.2 bar abs)

0.44 psig (0.03 bar abs)

Pressure at a saturated temperature of 20 °C (68 °F)

815 psig (56.2 barg)

144 psig (9.9 barg)

Global warming potential

1

3922

R407F

641 psig (44.2 barg)

674 psig (46.5 barg)

0.0734 psig (0.005 bar abs)

0.19 psig (0.013 bar abs)

----

68 psig (4.7 barg)

133 psig (9.2 barg)

1430

1990

The saturation curve for R744 does not extend beyond 31°C (88°F) because this is the critical point. Above this condition there is no distinction between liquid and gas. Operation above this pressure is current practice in transcritical systems.

139 psig (9.6 barg) 1824

continues on page 76

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REFRIGERATION

continued from page 75

An introduction to TRANSCRITICAL OPERATION Many R744 systems operate above the critical point some or all of the time. This is not a problem; the system merely works differently and is designed with these needs in mind.

• R744 systems work subcritical when the condensing temperature is below 31°C (88°F).

• R744 systems work transcritical when the gas cooler exit temperature is above 31°C (88°F).

• HFC systems always work subcritical because the condensing temperature never exceeds the critical temperature (e.g., 101°C/214°F in the case of R134a).

Figure 3: R744 pressure enthalpy chart showing subcritical and transcritical systems

The pressure enthalpy chart in Figure 3 shows an example of a simple R744 system operating subcritically at a low ambient temperature and transcritically at a higher ambient temperature. The chart shows that the cooling capacity at the evaporator is significantly less for transcritical operation.

An efficiency drop also occurs with HFC systems when the ambient temperature increases, but the change is not as great as it is with R744 when the change is from sub- to transcritical.

It is important that appropriate control of the high side (gas cooler) pressure is used to optimize the cooling capacity and efficiency when transcritical. For example, increasing the high side pressure will increase the cooling capacity when operating above the critical point.

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In Part 2, we’ll cover the potential hazards of R744, and weigh its advantages and disadvantages as a refrigerant.

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VEHICLE UPFITTING

B y Den ise De veau

Options abound in the customization W game alk into an upfitter’s showroom and contractors will find no end of shelves, ladder racks and other bells and whistles to turn their van or truck into a fully-kitted-out business on wheels.

But with the newer larger format vans that are taking over the market, and all the extra space they offer, decisions about how to upfit your vehicle can get a bit more complicated.

“The Ford Transit Connect, Ram ProMaster, Chevrolet City and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter are all global style vans with increased capacity and higher roofs,” says Daniel Hadcock, director of sales for Canada for Werner Access Products Canada in Mississauga, Ont. “The move to a more global design on the part of all manufacturers is bringing in a lot of different configurations in terms of length and roof height,” says Andy Maynard, regional sales manager for Farmbro Inc. in Mississauga.

So when it comes to ordering your add-ons, where do you start?

Putting safety first TAKING CARE OF YOUR TOOLS Safety isn’t only about the workers, Hadcock says, it also extends to keeping tools from being damaged or stolen.

Safety screens for windows and specialty locks are a good way to protect equipment or merchandise left in vans.

Safety always comes first, so it’s important to install systems that are secure, rugged and can stay put in transit.

“When purchasing upgrades for a new van it’s important to be specific in terms of your work and your needs,” says Sergiy Semenets, president of True Racks Inc. in Concord, Ont. One important and essential safety feature is a thick-metal wall partition to separate drivers and passengers from the cargo area, he says. “A sudden stop could cause objects to fly into the front compartment.”

Not surprisingly, shelving is pretty much a staple for many vans. Quality and configuration can vary so be sure to ask the right questions, he advises. “When choosing shelving, consider the structure of the van and if you are putting in anything heavy like machinery or tools.”

For items in pickup trucks, one of the latest security features is a keyless entry system for toolboxes. “These can use either proximity sensors using a radio frequency controller or unlocked by a fob in your pocket. If your hands are full, you can just tap on the box to open it,” Hadcock explains.

Shelving should be reinforced steel versus regular galvanized metal, and every tray reinforced to hold around 100 lb.

Contractors should also ensure that any shelving they buy meets Canadian motor vehicle safety standards.

Another popular item these days is the a steel pull-out drawer cabinet for pickup trucks that can be used to secure up to 600 lb. of trim kits and tools, he adds.

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When transporting tanks or welding equipment, a tank holder is also a wise investment, Semenets says. “This can be very heavy stuff – sometimes more than 300 lb. You need to make sure they are safe and secure inside the van and eliminate any chance they will fall down.”

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EXTENDING G YOUR LADDER INVESTMENT NT Given the increased ed heights of many new ew van models, drop-down wn ladder racks are becoming a must have. “Being able to lower ladders to a standing height is a mandatory need on a higher van,” Hadcock cock says. h the different sizes Maynard says with and shapes of vehicles, i l contractors t t can expect to pay more for racks. “Roof heights are a lot taller in the new European-style vans, so you have to have a ladder rack that can articulate down so you can get at them. This has become very important going forward, especially from a health and safety standpoint.”

Semenets says a base model is sufficient for carrying two extension ladders. “If you are carrying one stepladder and one extension ladder you might have to get into an A-frame arrangement with specific rails that allows one to slide inside the other.”

He strongly recommends investing in aluminum racks because they weigh less, don’t rust and won’t scratch the roof. “With regular steel bars, once you put a ladder on the rack, your roof could rust within a few months.”

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Cab boxes are an area that can present challenges when it comes to storage. That’s because new seating features have reduced the storage box capacity, and contractors are using more technology than ever before.

“New armrests and emergency brakes can impede the ability to store items between the seats,” Maynard says. “Some new vehicles even have bench seats in front. There are some reduced size storage boxes, but they don’t have a big enough surface to write on.”

And with the rising use of technology, he says there is growing demand for brackets that are device specific. “Workers are using a lot of handheld devices and laptops. However, it can be hard to install mounts in vehicles safely because of the air bags and the fact that mounts are made out of metal which could be a problem if there’s an accident.”

Where there is space, Semenets says there is a wide selection of storage systems with such features as hinged openings, and inside separators for papers and laptops.

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STUFF YOU NEED Wireless charging Bosch Tools’ Power Ready wireless charging system comes with a charger, docking frame and a wireless-compatible 2.0 Ah 18V lithium-ion battery pack. The charger uses inductive technology to recharge batteries and is built with foreign object detection (FOD) that is designed to prevent other objects from heating up if they are left on the charging pad.

www. boschtools.com

Area lights DeWalt’s LED area lights supply 1,500 lumens of light at 6,100K colour temperature. They are available in two power options: DC and AC/DC. Both options come with a multi-port interface, which allows for the use of the company’s 18V lithium ion and niCad batteries, or its 20V lithium ion batteries.

www. dewalt.com

Impact Series Nutsetter Irwin Tools’ Lobular Nutsetters are magnetic and have a corrosion-resistant black oxide finish. They feature a 1/4” hex shank and are offered in fractional sizes ranging from 1/4” to 3/8”. The overall lengths of the nutsetters range from 1-7/8” to 12”.

www. irwin.com

Leak detector Spectronics Corporation’s Pro-Chek CG combustible gas leak detector is designed for finding leaks in natural gas systems, propane tanks, pipelines, regulators, valves and heat exchangers. It features an adjustable sensitivity control, as well as a variable-intensity audible alarm with flashing LEDs.

www. spectroline.com

Hole saws Leak alarm The Flood Buzz Pro is designed to detect water and sounds a 110dB alarm upon contact. It can be placed near any potential water leak or flood source, such as a sump pump or hot water tank. A 1.5” x 1” label with contact information can be attached to the unit. The alarms are built with an internal battery and require no programming.

www. floodbuzz.ca

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Milwaukee Tool’s Shockwave thin wall hole saws have 1/4” hex shanks and are available in seven models ranging from 3/4” to 1-1/2” in diameter.

They are designed for applications in thin gauge metal up to 1/8” thick. The saws have a stop shoulder design and are built with an ejection spring.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

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PLUMBING

A WaterSense-able program One of the biggest initiatives taken in North America to conserve water is the WaterSense labelling program, which was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and adopted in Canada.

The program is designed to promote the value of water efficiency by acting as an educational resource for homeowners and providing consumers with ways

GOING

with the flow

to save water through product labelling on appliances and fixtures that use water.

One of the places in the home that the WaterSense program focuses is in the bathroom, and the shower is big part of that.

A standard showerhead in a residential household uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute. To obtain a WaterSense label, a showerhead must operate at a maximum of 2.0 gpm. For lavatory faucets and fauc faucet accessories, the maximum flow rate c cannot surpass 1.5 gpm tested at a flowing pressure of 60 pounds per square

Delta

Water savings and design trends for shower systems

A

lthough most consumers are happy to embrace low-flow showerheads for water savings, these fixtures still need to meet consumers’ expectations in regards to performance. A typical showerhead uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute, e, while a WaterSense-labelled showerhead operates at 2 gallons per minute.

“While it’s using less water, it has to have the same feel as the 2.5 gallon per minute standard,” says Gary Scott, Moen Canada’s o the trick vice-president of wholesale marketing and branding. “So hich is is to try and balance what consumers are looking for, which great coverage and feel in the shower, but be mindful off the environment at the same time.”

Scott says using WaterSense-labelled fixtures can equatee to pical big water savings for homeowners, especially since a typical ower and family uses about 80 gallons of water per day in the shower bathroom. ption just “That’s about 37 per cent of their overall water consumption s. from showers and baths – mostly from showers,” he says.

There are a variety of technologies companies are using to find this balance, including manipulating the speed, movement and droplet size of water through the use of air pressures and nozzle patterns.

“Water enriched with air makes the water droplets plumper, lighter and softer, and that means that the water can be used more effectively,” says Kathryn Holman, showroom supervisor at Desco’s The Water Closet in Kitchener, Ont.

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inch (psi).

Design and finishing trends A more modern look continues to be po popular among Canadian consumers when it comes com to the bathroom, and showerheads exc are no exception.

“The look, sh shape and design of the showerhead impor are as important as the spray pattern,” says Moen’s Scott. “Cons “Consumers are spending more time and thought on this.” t “Designers h have always loved to take risks with faucet styles and finishes but we’re now seeing the shower space,” adds Masco’s this move into i Krystin Lee, who says her company has experienced an increase in demand for showerheads with such finishes finish as matte black and bronze. She says those finish finishing options stand out against versatile backdrops, such as white subway tile.

Both Scott and an Wolseley Canada’s Bruce Mole say chrome is another extremely popular choice among an Canadian consumers. co “Chrome is very popular because you can then “ h change the décor in the room without having to redo the whole bathroom again,” says Mole.

Steam shower units and custom built, walk-in showers with such fixtures as overhead rainshowers have also been increasing in popularity, adds The Water Closet’s Holman. continues on page 84

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PLUMBING

continues from page 82

Tips for plumbers Moen

“Placement of body sprays or the showerhead height can often vary from one family to the next,” she says.

Delta

Masco Canada’s Lee recommends that plumbers sit down with their clients and review how they intend to use the shower space prior to installation of any fixtures or shower systems.

Another reason to find out a family’s water consumption habits is to ensure they have a hot water delivery system in place that can keep up with any additional demand being created through the installation of new shower systems. This sometimes means going back to basics and educating the homeowner, says Wolseley Canada’s Bruce Mole, branch manager for the company’s Milton, Ont. location.

“When it comes to designing showers and wet rooms for customers, we need to make sure the system that they have is going to cope with what they want,” says Mole. “It’s not good having a wet room with a 25-gallon per minute showerhead with body sprays when they’ve only got a 40-gallon water tank. It’s just not going to work… you’re only going to get out what you put in.”

DID YOU KNOW? Since WaterSense’s inception in 2006, it has helped consumers save 757 billion gallons of water and more than $14.2 billion in water and energy bills.

Garry Scott adds that homeowners should seek out a plumber that’s familiar with the type of shower system they are interested in, and work with them to design a system that fits their needs.

WASHING AWAY

A STRESSFUL DAY Moen Canada regularly conducts surveys asking consumers a wide variety of questions regarding their fixture choices for the kitchen and bathroom. One common response from customers that were asked about their shower experiences was that their showers are a place for relaxation at either the beginning or end of their day.

“Sixty-seven per cent of respondents told us they like to dream or think in the shower, and 40 per cent of those people imagine where they could travel,” says Garry Scott. “We found it interesting that the shower was a place of refuge.”

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Moen

HVAC/R

B y P au l Fr isk

Picture Perfect

Diagnosing T

hermal imagers are used for a variety of diagnosing and monitoring applications in the HVAC world.

From locating leaky ductwork in homes to monitoring airflow efficiencies in server rooms, in-floor heating systems, ice rinks and much more, they’re being used in a wide variety of commercial and residential applications.

So why are many contractors seeing the light in regards to the value of thermal imaging cameras?

Let’s have a look.

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A FULL PICTURE

Visual Value

Although temperature guns are based on infrared technology, there is a considerable difference between a temperature gun and a thermal imaging camera.

A temperature gun only produces one spot temperature, and, although this is changing, most of them still don’t give the user a visual infrared representation of the target they’re looking for, so the user doesn’t necessarily know whether they’ve found the appropriate location when determining a reading.

For example, if the user is looking at the side of an air conditioning unit they will need to move the thermometer gun up and down across the unit.

In that process they may bypass a temperature indication that is showing a critical issue. With a thermal imager, the user gets to see a full image, including the hot spots. Sometimes a technician needs to stand back and look at how the rest of the components are working with the rest of the readings they’ve taken.

Thermal imagers can quickly offer users numerous images with each containing several thousand points of measurement, which can save technicians time when diagnosing equipment; especially when compared to having to check one spot at a time.

The additional images are also helpful for assisting an HVAC consultant in talking to their clients about what is happening in their HVAC systems. Simply put, sometimes it’s easier to explain things with a picture. If the old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true, then in this case, a picture is worth a thousand spot radiometers.

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Know your ratios Often times, contractors are too far away from the equipment they are diagnosing to obtain a proper reading.

Typical distance to spot ratios for less expensive temperature guns and spot radiometers can range from as low as 6:1 to as high as 24:1. This ratio means for a one inch by one inch target, the user can only be that number of inches away. So if the temperature gun has a ratio of 24:1,

then the contractor can be no more than two feet away from a target that is one inch in size. Many users are unaware of their gun’s ratio and will take readings from too far away, resulting in potentially inaccurate readings.

THE CASE OF THE CYCLING FURNACE One interesting case where a thermal imager came in handy was on a residential jobsite when a homeowner was complaining about their furnace constantly turning on and shutting off in the winter time. The furnace would only fire on for a couple of minutes then shut back down, and was repeating this cycle every couple of minutes so none of the rooms in the house were getting warm enough.

When the technician came in to inspect the equipment, they found that the furnace was producing the correct heat and the thermostat was working properly. They couldn’t figure out why it was shutting off. All the equipment checked out okay.

It wasn’t until they turned on the infrared camera that the technician discovered that the thermostat was inadvertently installed on a wall directly behind one of the heating vents to the second floor. So whenever the thermostat called for heat, the heat was supplied to the second floor, the wall got warm and the thermostat reacted by shutting down the furnace.

Mystery solved!

Training is vital Understanding how to properly operate HVAC diagnosing equipment is of extreme importance, whether that product is a thermal imaging camera or a spot radiometer.

This includes knowing when to use it, and when not to operate it. Every device has its limitations and contractors need to understand those limitations to avoid acquiring data that could lead to them making inappropriate conclusions. As the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out.

Paul Frisk, P. Eng., is the manager for Flir’s Infrared Training Center in Canada.

He can be reached at paul.frisk@flir.com.

One box. Unlimited solutions

Hi-Velocity’s small diameter duct zoning systems provide quiet comfort and superior energy TIVJSVQERGI JSV EPP ]SYV VIXVS½X ERH RI[ GSRWXVYGXMSR ,:%' RIIHW 'SQQIVGMEP SV VIWMHIRXMEP IEGL W]WXIQ GSQIW GSQTPIXI [MXL IRIVK] IJ½GMIRX JER GSMP ERH IUYMTTIH [MXL ]SYV WTIGM½GEXMSRW [MXL YRPMQMXIH STXMSRW 'EPP YW XSHE] JSV QSVI MRJSVQEXMSR

1-888-652-2219 www.hi-velocity.com M e c h a n i c a l

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HVAC/R Products P Residential furnace Dettson’s Chinook furnaces are available with heating input sizes from 15,000 to 120,000 BTUH and offer efficiencies over 95% AFUE. The product line is offered on four platforms: single-stage, dual-stage PSC, dual-stage ECM, or modulating, and are designed to operate on propane or natural gas.

dettson.ca

Flue gas venting System 636 from Ipex is rated for flue gas temperatures up to 65˚C in PVC and up to 90˚C in CPVC. The pipe is offered in sizes ranging from 1-1/2” to 4” for PVC and 1-1/2” to 8” for CPVC. The PVC version is coloured white, while the CPVC version is coloured grey. It is certified to ULC 636.

ipexinc.com

Combustion analyzer Testo’s 330 combustion efficiency analyzer allows users to define fuels and features graphic processing of data and a logger function for long-term measurements. It measures O2, CO (to 30,000 ppm), temperature, pressure and other required combustion efficiency parameters. An optional field upgradeable NOx sensor is available.

testo.com

Rooftop system

Duct support Malco’s FDS1 flexible duct support is built for installation on new or existing flexible duct. It uses either 36” or 48” nylon cable or zip ties to accommodate 4” to 16” diameters of flexible fibreglass wool duct, as well as un-insulated flexible duct.

Sterling’s Xcelon make-up air system has heating capacities ranging from 800,000 to 1,200,000 BTUH with thermal efficiencies upwards of 98% when used with a high efficiency hydronic condensing boiler. It features a factory-charged, closed-loop 35% glycol mix with no separate water supply required. The unit offers airflows from 4,501 to 10,000 cfm.

xcelonhvac.com

malcotools.com

Scroll chillers Daikin’s Trailblazer brand of air cooled scroll chillers feature an aluminum microchannel heat exchanger, hot gas bypass and VFD fan control.

The chiller is available in sizes ranging from 30 to 180 tons with full load efficiencies up to 11.4 EER and part load IPLV up to 16.5 EER. It has ice storage capability and can operate at sound pressure ratings of 60 dBA.

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

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HVAC/R Products P Modulating furnace

Through-wall heating and cooling

The GMVM97 gas-fired furnace from Goodman is built with an aluminized-steel tubular heat exchanger and a stainless-steel secondary heat exchanger. It offers efficiencies up to 97% AFUE and has a heating input range of 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH. Additional features include a silicon nitride igniter and a variable-speed induced draft blower motor.

Napoleon’s Condo Pack for condominium buildings offers heating efficiencies of 95% AFUE and cooling efficiencies up to 10.8 EER. The units have a heating input range of 30,000 to 50,000 BTUH and 1 to 2.5 tons of cooling.

They feature primary and secondary stainless steel heat exchangers and come prewired and pre-charged. They are direct vented and operate on natural gas or LP.

goodmanmfg.com

Blowers CPB Cast Aluminium Blowers from Continental Fan are available in 8” to 15” diameters with capacities up to 3,410 cfm. They feature cast aluminum radial bladed wheels, cast aluminum housings and are available with single- or three-phase TEFC motors. They are designed to be spark-resistant and are suitable in temperatures ranging from 0˚F to 160˚F.

www. napoleonheatingandcooling.com

Two-stage furnaces Rheem’s Prestige Series two-stage furnaces offer efficiencies up to 96% AFUE and are available with heating inputs ranging from 40,000 to 115,000 BTUH. They feature a variable-speed blower motor, an aluminized steel primary heat exchanger and stainless steel secondary heat exchanger. The units have a 34” cabinet height.

www. continentalfan.com

www. rheem.com

In the movie, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Bofur describes Smaug the dragon with the phrase, “Think furnace, with wings.”

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Infrared Electric Heater

HVAC/R Products P Replacement refrigerant RS-44 (R-424A) from Refrigerant Services is designed for air conditioning and medium temperature refrigeration systems. It features zero ozone depletion potential and is compatible with all lubricants. No retrofitting is required. The refrigerant can replace R-22, R417A, R-422A, R422B and R-438A.

Electronic gauge Hilmor’s electronic gauge with vacuum sensor features a display that shows system pressure and LSAT/VSAT temperatures in the digital display. The LCD offers analogue and digital readouts of pressures, temperatures and calculates superheat and subcooling. It features pressure/temperature data for 39 refrigerants, a micron-gauge and self-calibrates when the gauge is turned on.

www. rscool.com

www. hilmor.com

Retrofit refrigerant R-22 retrofits refrigerant

Arkema’s 427A is designed to offer similar performance to R-22 and does not require equipment changes for retrofits. It will work with residual mineral oil or alkylbenzene oil (AB), and the refrigerant can be used for low, medium or high temperature applications.

Honeywell’s Genetron Performax LT (R-407F) for supermarket R-22 retrofits is designed to match the performance of R-22 without any valve changes or adjustments. It has a low GWP (1674), will maintain positive superheat, and has a lower discharge temperature than R-22. It is sold in refillable canisters for the Canadian market.

www. forane-us.com

www. genetron.com

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Proof that Great Things Come in Small Packages

Waterr Savor™ Wate Savor™ Controll Cont roller er GFI #708 #7081WSC 1WSC

The Water Savor™ Controller Welcome to The Water Savor ™ Controller from GeneralAire, the industry’s new standard for water savings, environmental responsibility and consumer comfort.

Designed and engineered in North America, the Water Savor ™ provides your customers with:

50% to 96% water savings

Six consumer-friendly settings

1042WSC 1042WSC 1042W SC 900WSC 570WSC

NO impact on humidifier output

The Water Savor™ is included with all new GeneralAire 570WSC, 900WSC and 1042WSC models.

Available at a quality wholesaler near you.

Ask for it by name – The Water Savor™.

Toll Free: 888-216-9184 www.cgfproducts.com M e c h a n i c a l

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PLUMBING

Products

Solar water heating package The Vitosol DHW Solar Pack from Viessmann features two Vitosol 200-F flat plate collectors with total absorber area of 4.02 m2, and a Vitocell 100-W, 250-litre solar tank with dual coils and a pre-mounted and pre-wired pump-control station. w

Fastening system Franke Kindred Canada’s EZ Torque fastener is pre-installed on Franke brand top-mounted sinks. It is designed to secure the rim of the sink ledge to the countertop to assist with sink installation.

ww. franke.com

ww. viessmann.ca

Grab bar Delta’s traditional grab bar is rated to support up to 500 lb. of weight. Designed to complement several of the company’s plumbing suites, it is 18” in length with 1-1/4” diameter and 3” diameter flanges. It extends 2-3/4” from the wall and offers 1-1/2” of wall clearance. Offered in five finishes, the package includes the mounting hardware and grab bar wall anchor.

Water softening Novo’s 485 High-Efficiency Dual Pass (HEDP) Softening System is a two-tank system designed to work with hard water supplies greater than 75 gpg. The unit features reverse flow regeneration, a backwash frequency preset and soft water brine refill. It has a 48-hour, self-charging battery backup.

www. deltafaucet.com

www. novowater.com

Video inspection system The Gen-Eye SDW video inspection and location system from General Pipe Cleaners features a Wi-Fi transmitter that sends video to the user’s smartphone or tablet. A free app allows the user to view and record video inspections at up to 500 feet. It is built with a 10.4” LCD screen, built-in waterproof keyboard and integrated SD recorder.

www. drainbrain.com

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Point drains Z1800 stainless steel, corrosion-resistant point drains from Zurn are designed with a sloped surface for the elimination of stagnant water build-up. The drains are available in 12” and 8” square-shaped or round models, as well as in a 6” round model.

Side evacuation models are also available in several sizes.

www. zurn.com

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PLUMBING

Products

Press kit Ridgid’s MegaPress Kit is a flameless pipe joining system with press connections that can be used on a wet system. The full 1/2” to 2” kit comes with a press tool, 1/2” to 1” jaws and 1-1/4” to 2” rings for the company’s standard press tools. All jaws, rings and prep tools were jointly developed and tested with Viega.

Pressure balancing valve The GS-315 series pressure balance valve from Gerber Plumbing Fixtures features a washerless cartridge and brass maintenance stops. It has an approximate flow rate of 6.7 gpm at 80 psi and is available with IPS/Sweat, PEX-B, PEXC, CPVC, or PEX-a connections. A thin wall installation bracket is included. Optional kits are available for an additional 1” extension.

www. ridgid.com

www. gerberonline.com

Bath waste

Roof hydrant

Watco’s Flex924 bath waste features flexible PVC tubing that connects the overflow to the sanitary tee of the bathtub. It comes with a test membrane at the overflow and test plug for the drain that is testable for up to five floors. The product’s snap-on overflow plate can be assembled by hand and requires no screws for installation.

Woodford’s RHY2 commercial roof hydrant is designed to automatically drain when shut-off, even with a hose attached. The hydrant is built with a field-testable ASSE 1052 double-check backflow preventer. All repairs can be made from the top of the unit without removing the hydrant, and it features a cast iron mounting system that can be installed by a roofer, so that the hydrant can be installed at a later date.

www. watcomfg.com

woodfordmfg.com

Forty-eight per cent of homeowners wish they could make their showers bigger.

Kitchen faucet The Etch kitchen faucet from Moen features an integrated pulldown, self-retracting, two-function spray wand. It is available in single-handle kitchen and bar/prep models. The faucet has a flow rate of 1.5 gpm at 60 psi, and is available in chrome and spot-resistant stainless finishes.

moen.ca

Butterfly valves Bonomi’s L700E Series grooved-end butterfly valves are built with an ISO mounting pad and stem designed for automation with electric or pneumatic actuators. They are built with an epoxy-coated ductile iron body and a stainless steel ISO square stem.

The valves have a maximum working pressure of 200 psi and are offered in 2” to 12” sizes.

bonominorthamerica.com

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SPOTLIGHT PROFILES

TOTO’S FIRST CLASS SEATING Toto’s Entrada close coupled toilet features the high efficiency E-Max flushing system, which features a flush rate of 1.28 gpf (4.8 lpf). You can find the Toto Entrada economically priced to meet your needs at Bardon Supplies Limited. We offer a wide range of toilet models to accommodate any bathroom size or style, all while keeping water efficiency in mind.

www.bardonsupplies.com MAKE INSTALLING BALL VALVES AN EASY ADD-ON! SharkBite’s slip ball valves are designed to make adding a full port ball valve to copper or CTS CPVC pipe a quick and easy install. These push-fit valves require no soldering, clamps, unions or glue, and feature single lever control. They are available in 1/2”, 3 /4” and 1” sizes.

www.sharkbite.com FAST AND ACCURATE BEVELLING Introducing the Ridgid B-500 Transportable Beveller.

Produce high-quality bevels in less than two minutes without flames or sparks. The compact design quickly mounts to pipes 4” and up with a maximum wall thickness of 1/2”. It creates consistent bevels in a single pass.

See how it works or request a free onsite demo at ridgid.com/beveller.

www.ridgid.com GET NOTICED WITH MECHANICAL BUSINESS NOV/DEC 2014 $6.95

On the job with

Brent Bren B Bre reent nt Bu B But utttt utt

Reaching over 19,500 qualified subscribers – including over 15,100 mechanical contractors – Mechanical Business is Canada’s largest print magazine serving the HVAC/R and plumbing market. With an average of 5.6 readers per issue, your advertising message reaches more than 109,000 targeted industry professionals every issue. Let this market share leading publication, and its fast-growing digital complements, help your company grow sales in this ever-more competitive market. For more advertising information call Jeff Superle, National Accounts Manager, at 905-465-2919.

PM #41536047

Marketplace Ads www. m e c h an i c a lb u sin e ss. c o m

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Break Time

For this puzzle’s solution, visit mechanicalbusiness.com

Across 4. A mineral that can wreak havoc in hot water systems.

7. Designed to remove air from water in a hydronic system.

10. The newly formed education council of MCA Canada.

11. The type of heat absorbed or released by a material while it is in a single phase.

14. He’s our high-performance HVAC expert.

17. A program created by the U.S. EPA designed to help consumers identify water-efficient products, homes and services. It’s also used in Canada.

18. Term used for when oil gets diluted by refrigerant in a compressor.

19. Type of water heater designed to save space.

Down 1. The host country for ISH 2015 this March.

2. Lights the gas for the pilot light or main burners of a furnace.

3. Ammonia (R-717), CO2 (R-744) and water (R-718) are all examples of this type of refrigerant.

5. Type of solder used in a potable water line.

6. Finishing process used to remove burrs.

8. Bonuses for purchasing high-efficiency equipment.

9. National refrigeration association for service engineers.

12. Hands-free technology for kitchen faucets.

13. Used to change a substance from a gaseous state into its liquid form.

15. Directs fluid in hydronic heating systems.

16. Montreal-based trade show.

What’s a lumen?

TOOL TIPS

A walk on the lighter side de

A

nyone who has spent time in a mechanical room, or under a kitchen sink, can attest to the value of a decent light source. Whether it’s trying to avoid scraping knuckles to swap out a faucet or finding a bolt to remove a motor or pump, being able to see what you are doing is important.

Thankfully, there’s a whole new crop of lights that have been hitting the market over the past few years, and the LEDs in many of them are helping to avoid the smell of singed hair that those old halogen jobsite lights can cause when used in tight quarters.

And since these newer lights are using LED technology running on battery power, they can be bright, lightweight, and very portable.

There are a few key features to consider, beyond price, if you are looking to swap out your

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wired lamp forr a batterypowered unit, however.

One of the biggest ggest pains is the need to swap out a battery if a lamp mp goes out, so look into thee runtime of the lights you ou are considering, and nd don’t k the forget to check battery’s power level from time to time. Some lights on the market allow a user to select the level of intensity, which will affect the runtime of the lights.

To maximize usefulness, a light should be adjustable, and offer flexibility on mounting or hanging.

And don’t overlook durability. Lights need to withstand a few bumps.

M e c h a n i c a l

L Lumens are a measure of the total ar “amount” of visible light emitted by a source. Th This may also be measured in temperature of the light, or how “white” temperatu it is, using the Kelvin (K) temperature scale. The higher the Kelvin, the whiter the light is, although it may not mean that it is bri brighter. White light is important for electrical electrica work and HVAC work in furnaces, since si it is important to match colour to colour co on connectors in panels and on boa boards. A light temperature of 5,000 K is comparable to daylight.

Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com.

Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and merchandise!

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OXFORD ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.

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C A L E N D A R

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EVENTS GE PA #

2 0 1 5 CIPH Ontario Meeting March 5, 2015 Mississauga, Ont. www.ciph.com

RSES Canada AGM May 21-23, 2015 Calgary, Alta. www.rsescanada.com

CIPH ABC June 14-16, 2015 Quebec City, Que. www.ciph.com

HRAI AGM August 26-29, 2015 Windsor, Ont. www.hrai.ca

ISH 2015 March 10-14, 2015 Frankfurt am Main, Germany www.ish.messefrankfurt.com

CIPH Ontario Conference May 22-24, 2015 Niagara Falls, Ont. www.ciph.com

OPIA Annual Seminar June 14-16, 2015 Barrie, Ont. www.opia.info

MCEE 2015 April 22-23, 2015 Montreal, Que. www.mcee.ca

HPBAC Symposium June 6-7, 2015 Toronto, Ont. www.hpbacontario.ca

Cleaner Heat 2015 June 17-18, 2015 Halifax, N.S. www.cleanerheat.ca

CIPHEX Roadshow October 15, 2015 Burnaby, B.C. October 20, 2015 Edmonton, Alta.

October 22, 2015 Regina, Sask.

October 28, 2015 Brandon, Man.

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bythenumbers

Compiled by Mechanical Business

THE NEW PAY PHONE of Canadians that 29% Percentage said they have used their mobile phones to make an online purchase while on-the-go.

PEOPLE-PEEPING

57%

BUILDING THE ECONOMY

Percentage of Metro Vancouver commuters who admit to peoplewatching to pass time while in traffic, so be careful what you do.

17% The percentage of Canada’s economy attributed to housing through construction, purchase, resale, renovation and related spending on goods and services.

INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT

$12.5 BILLION ON The combined investment of Canada’s top 100 corporate research and development spenders.

CANADA’S KILLER

percentage spending on R&D increased in fiscal 2013, 4.1% The when compared to 2012.

368 Death claims stemming from asbestos exposure in Canada in 2013, making it the country’s top cause of workplace deaths.

TOP-NOTCH SERVICE

69% The percentage of Canadians that received outstanding service from a field service provider, such as a heating or plumbing firm, over the past year.

Paying more than quoted (72%) and longer wait times than expected (64%) were the top two complaints among consumers surveyed.

CO SECURE

79% Alberta homeowners that have at least one carbon monoxide detector in their homes.

BREAKING OUT ON YOUR OWN

42

The average age at which Canadian entrepreneurs start their own small businesses.

PM# 41536047 Postmaster: Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

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TECH SPEC Flood Buzz™ Pro Water Leak Alarm Warns you of a leak before it becomes a flood...

Flood Buzz™ Pro is designed to detect water and sounds a 110dB alarm upon contact.

Place near any potential water leak or flood source, such as a sump pump, hot water tank, washing machine or dishwasher connectors and faucet/toilet tank connectors. t t t t t t

No buttons to push No programming to worry about No batteries to buy or replace Flood Buzz™ alarms have an internal battery and are good for a minimum of two years Reusable and simple to test by dipping the two bottom prongs in a small amount of water Turn Flood Buzz™ Pro into a silent Ad by affixing a 1.5” x 1” label with your contact info

Just place it and hope it never goes off!* * For best protection, Flood Buzz™ Pro should be replaced by the “Replace by” date as indicated on the unit.

Available from OS&B™ in Eastern Canada.

In Western Canada (including Thunder Bay), please contact Stringer Sales at www.stringersales.com

Replace By: 12/2016

floodbuzz.ca

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