Mechanical Business November/December 2017

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T A B L E

Looking g back, and forward,

with RICHARD TRETHEWEY

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CONTENTS O F

THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF

magnetite

44CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER A decade ago, Mechanical Businesss turned to Richard Trethewey to help examine some of the topics that were pertinent in the mechanical trade back in 2007. Today, we return to the resident plumbing and heating expert from This Old House to see what has changed in 10 years. Adam Freill

58HYDRONICS Approximately 95 per cent of all system debris is made up of magnetite, which can be as tiny as a sub micron. As a result, magnetic particles readily travel, dispersing into heating system water, impacting all the internal components that they come into contact with. Here’s how to deal with them. Neil Watson

UPSELL IDEAS FOR KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS 72PLUMBING A renovation or new build project ect can be the perfect time to point nt out some extra features that customers mers may be willing to consider – once they hey hear about them.

Denise Deveau

VANCITY goes green with HVAC

38PROJECT PROFILE When Vancouver City Savings Credit Union sought to replace the 70 per cent efficient HVAC system at its head office, it turned to SES Consulting and a team of industry suppliers. Ted Barker

On the cover: Arguably the most famous plumber in North America, Richard Trethewey is a resident expert on This Old House as well as its spin-off shows and publications. Before there were thoughts of specialty networks dedicated to home renovations, This Old House was sharing information from professional tradespeople. Photo: carltremblay.com

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T A B L E F E A T U R E S 30PLUMBING

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O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

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HYDRONICS Fluid in motion Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr The circulator, or pump, needs to be sized, selected and installed properly to achieve the most efficient performance.

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ASK ROGER Creating consistent customer experiences Roger Grochmal In a busy marketplace, simply being different from our competitor is not the only piece of the puzzle.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Zoning has never been easier Gord Cooke The expectations of our customers for near-instant response to any comfort discrepancy should have us all rethinking the opportunities for the zoned control of HVAC systems in Canada.

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PLUMBING Tales of the Code 2005: You Don’t Know Code!

Fred Bretzke Post-secondary students learn better through gaming, so Fred changed the game with his teaching approach.

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REFRIGERATION Optimizing compressor life through proper commissioning Phil Boudreau The commissioning process is a critical time for a compressor.

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MARKETING The good, the bad or even the downright mean Doug MacMillan Online reviews have become integral tools in marketing.

50QUATTRO’S CORNER Variations in circuit vented branches Andrew Quattrociocchi

52HVAC Vent it right Doug Purdy

56ROAD WARRIOR: MURRAY APPLEBY Adam Freill

Reciprocating, the right way

79HVAC Optimizing furnace installs Michael Wilkinson, Ryan Coleman and Dan Bradley

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CONTENTS

Toilets are not garbage cans!

Barry Orr

67TOOL TIP

B u s i n e s s

D E P A R T M E N T S 6From the Editor’s Desk 8News 16Profile: Sidney Manning 62Find the FIx 84The Info Page 85Calendar 86By the Numbers M e c h a n i c a l

P R O D U C T S 36,74Plumbing 42,68,69HVAC/R 61,76,77Hydronics 78Stuff You Need

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Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Jonathan Lee, ext. 225 jonathan.lee@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Office Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 caroline.bexfield@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)

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Be safe out there As I sat down to write my opening column for this issue, word came of the ammonia refrigeration tragedy in Fernie, B.C., and it got me thinking about the dangers that are faced every day – many that are hardly given any thought except for on the rare occasion when something goes tragically wrong.

Having played hockey since about the age of 10, and now coaching for the past 25 years, I can attest to the fact that, prior to joining the mechanical sector, I was completely blind to the dangers that exist at many rink facilities. And I don’t think I was alone in my ignorance.

Even with a leak alarm warning system in Fernie, three people succumbed when they were overcome by ammonia gas. Full details have yet to emerge, but it is safe to say that these three individuals went to the rink with the noble goal of making the system safe again for the general public.

Merry Christmas from our team to yours With this being the final issue of 2017, the Mechanical Business team would like to wish all of our fantastic readers, advertisers and supporters a Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Happy New Year. Enjoy the holidays and spending time with your families.

We look forward to catching up with you again in 2018.

Beyond the rink, every winter we hear stories of carbon monoxide deaths, often due to homeowners operating outdoor heaters inside, or in homes that have not been equipped with CO detectors – or worse, with non-functioning or disabled detectors.

One of the functions of a magazine, such as ours, is to aid in education, so I don’t raise these stories to sensationalize them. But they do serve as reminders that there are dangers present where mechanical systems are in play. And that’s a reminder that we pp y and duty, y to educate the general public about the dangers to all have the opportunity, which they may be blissfully ignorant. ign norant.

O r th Ou houghts and prayers p Our thoughts go out to the families affected by the Fernie and to those affected by other such jobsite tragedy in Fernie, accidents.

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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E eryone deser Ev Everyone deserves to be able to go home after a day of w your crew. Share safety advice and work. So talk with concerns. And don’t stop there. Speak with your customers, your friends, and the general public. And above all, stay safe out there.

Unt next time, Until

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12.17

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Industry descends on Edmonton “It’s much easier to get something into the code than to get something removed from a code,” advised hydronic industry veteran and pastexecutive director of the Radiant Professionals Alliance, Mark Eatherton (pictured). Eatherton was a panelist during a Canadian Hydronic Council Hydronics Symposium session in Edmonton discussing industry topics, including the enforcement of insulation provisions in Alberta and how a number of regulations are negatively affecting business in the hydronic sector. The symposium was held in conjunction with the Edmonton stop of the CIPHEX Roadshow, as well as a regional industry dinner where business specialist Ellen Rohr shared such straightforward advice as, “You need to charge more than it costs.” ciph.com

Aqua-Tech launches Noble boiler at the Hall In October, Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing, Lochinvar’s master distributor for Canada (with the exception of Quebec) formally introduced the manufacturer’s Noble fire tube combi boiler to distributors, contractors and engineers at a special launch event held at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. During the launch, keynote speaker, and former Team Canada goaltender, Kendra Fisher, shared a message of how support and teamwork are the keys to success, whether that’s in business or when handling any of life’s challenges. Pictured: Aqua-Tech president and CEO Bill Palamar welcomes guests to the Hockey Hall of Fame. aquatech-canada.com

CMPX announces Learning Forum themes

Nutemp golfs fore charity Through the generosity, support and participation of its clients and vendors, mechanical contracting firm Nutemp raised more than $15,000 for Habitat for Humanity with its inaugural charity golf tournament, held at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton, Ont., in September. Pictured from left to right: Nutemp president David McMichael, Emily Delaney of Habitat, and Matt Soyka of Nutemp. nutemp.ca

Aiming to directly address the interests of specific attendee groups, the CMPX 2018 Show Committee has announced new daily themes for the show’s Learning Forum sessions for next year’s trade show. The first day’s sessions will target business owners and managers; Day 2 will look at “Engineering the Future of Mechanicals,” with planned sessions addressing the interests of both engineers and a wide range of senior professionals; and Friday sessions are geared toward technicians. All three days of Learning Forum sessions are included in the show admission cost. CMPX 2018 will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, March 21 through 23. cmpxshow.ca

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.

RSES

CIPH news

WomanthologyUK

Watts

@RSESHQ

@CIPHnews

@WomanthologyUK

@wattsbrand

#RSES announces it will co-locate its 2018 Annual Conference with @PHCCFoundation CONNECT. More info to come. #HVAC #education #RSES #PHCC

Thank you to all our exhibitors for another great #CIPHEX Roadshow.

I was tired of gender stereotypes in careers so I set up a publishing company to change perceptions. #Plumbing

We’re partnering w/ @PlanetWaterLive to build 2 AquaTowers to get clean drinking water to Puerto Rico.

Oct 21, 2017

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Co-op Refinery wins Water Wise award Wolseley to deliver by drone?

In an effort to expand its distribution capabilities, Burlington, Ontario-based Wolseley Canada Inc. has signed an agreement to collaborate with Vaughan, Ontario-based Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) on the potential implementation of a drone delivery solution. Using DDC’s logistics platform, the development, prototyping and testing will be focused on a customized depot-to-depot solution as well as a depot-to-customer solution in Wolseley Canada’s supply chain. If the testing and development are successful to the satisfaction of both parties, negotiations will proceed to form a definitive agreement once applicable government legislation is enacted, which is estimated to take place between Q4 2017 and Q1 2018. wolseleyinc.ca

CIPH recently presented its National Water Wise Award to the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina, Sask., in recognition of the refinery’s wastewater improvement project. “The co-op’s foresight, scope of work and cutting-edge practices surrounding its wastewater improvement project make it more than worthy of this acknowledgement,” said CIPH chairman Joe Senese in presenting the award. The refinery complex has invested $200 million in the project.

When fully commissioned, the system will recycle 100 per cent of wastewater on-site, the equivalent to 2 million gallons every day. ciph.com

Lochinvar renews VIP program Hydronic product manufacturer Lochinvar kicked off it’s 2017-2018 VIP Contractor program in October. The program provides contractors the opportunity to register purchases for rewards and enter their installations for multiple chances to earn top prizes, including grand prizes featuring Lochinvar’s famous “Nashville Experience.”

From now, through April 30, 2018, approved VIPs can upload photos or video of any high-efficiency Knight, Noble, Cadet, Solution residential heating boiler or Squire indirect water heater installation to the showcase found on Lochinvar’s Facebook page. Sixteen winning contractors and their guests will enjoy four days in Music City in June 2018. lochinvarvip.com

rheem.com

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In October, Rheem Canada announced the winners of its 2016 Premier Performers awards, presented to distributors who are setting a standard of excellence in their markets. Victoria, B.C.-based Andrew Sheret was named the Platinum level winner, while B&B Trade Distribution Centre (pictured), based in London, Ont., was recognized at the Gold level.

“These Premier Performer winners are the most outstanding amongst their communities and across the country, providing superior customer service and support,” said Adam Wills, Rheem’s Canadian general sales manager, HVAC & customer support.

“On average, a new homeowner is spending approximately $20,000 on renovations,” stated Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board’s (TREB) director of market analysis and service channels, and keynote speaker at the CIPH Ontario Region’s October business meeting. Those in attendance at the Mississauga, Ont., event heard that despite TREB data indicating that the total number of listings has experienced a 20 per cent decline in early 2017, a rebound seems to have started, which Mercer suggests will bode well for mechanical contractors.

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

NTCCC applauds government prioritization

Delivering safer sanitation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given the Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, instruction to prioritize prompt payment for contractors and sub-contractors who do business with her department. According to a recent news release from the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada (NTCCC), this federal move supports calls from the vast majority of the construction industry to address the problem of payment delays which, the organization explains, reduce cash ow, decrease efďŹ ciency and hurt small businesses and their employees. “Our members are excited and energized by the government’s commitment to tackle the issue,â€? said NTCCC chair John Galt. “We know that the government understands it can reduce costs to taxpayers and improve operations by taking action on payment delays.â€? ntccc.ca

Lixil Corporation, the parent company of such brands as American Standard and Grohe, has announced that it is working toward its goal of bringing safe sanitation to 100 million people by the end of 2020 with funding in place for its Sato products.

Lixil’s Sato is a line of affordable toilet and sanitation products speciďŹ cally tailored for rural and peri-urban communities with difďŹ culties accessing safe sanitation.

The ďŹ rst Sato toilet was developed in 2012 by the American Standard brand. There are now 1.2 million units in use, improving sanitation for 6 million people around the world. sato.lixil.com

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DIGITAL ALERT General Pipe Cleaners launches new site

Peck recognized by industry In October, the Canadian Hydronics Council recognized Richard Peck, vice-president of Slant/Fin, with the CHC Award of Merit. The award recognizes an individual for a significant body of work over a lifetime in the Canadian hydronics industry. “This award is intended to be the highest honour one can achieve within the hydronics industry in Canada,” stated CIPH president & GM Ralph Suppa as he congratulated Peck. ciph.com

General Pipe Cleaners recently unveiled a more comprehensive and mobilefriendly website. In addition to showcasing its product lines, improvements to the site include a “where to buy” section; a video library; a blog; and a tool selection guide.

The website will be available in English, French and Spanish. drainbrain.com

Goodway online fouling calculator Have you ever wondered how much mineral and scale fouling in chiller tubes is costing? Goodway Technologies recently launched a free online Chiller Fouling Calculator that considers annual operating hours, average load, energy cost and rated chiller efficiency to analyze potential savings from removing scale deposits in tubes. goodway.com

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Movers & Shakers APP ALERT www.mechanicalbusiness.com

OS&B picks up Centon Distribution Plumbing product manufacturer and distributor, OS&B, has acquired the assets and inventory of Centon Distribution.

The acquisition, which became effective on October 23rd, will see OS&B continue to serve the Ontario market as the exclusive stocking distributor of Oasis water coolers, Thermasol steam units and Waste Pro disposers. osb.ca

Deschenes acquiring Corix Deschenes Group Inc. has entered into an agreement to buy Corix Water Products (CWP), a division of Corix Infrastructure Inc. The transaction, subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, is expected to be completed by January 2018.

CWP distributes products through 43 Canadian locations and 12 American offices under the CWP brand and the Corix Control Solutions name. deschenesgroup.com

Integrity adds lines Watts Water Technologies (Canada) has announced that Integrity Sales of North Bay, Ont., is now handling all Watts product lines. The agency had been handling the company’s Powers, drainage and water filtration lines. Integrity Sales founder Sean Clifford has more than 20 years of technical sales experience, and can be reached at sean@integritysales.ca. onewattswater.com integritysales.ca

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Ontor Limited increases lines Ontor was recently appointed distributor for two new product lines, Intermatic Inc., a global manufacturer of control and energy-management solutions for electrical, HVAC/R, pool & spa, and OEM markets; and Packard Corp., an HVAC/R parts and components company. ontor.com

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Oatey gains drain products Building product manufacturer and distributor Oatey has completed its acquisition of certain assets of QuickDrain USA. Based in Denver, Col., QuickDrain USA manufactures lowprofile linear drain and shower pan systems for showers and wet areas. Both companies anticipate that the integration of the two will be nearly seamless for their customers and partners, while business will continue as usual until integration plans are announced. oatey.com

Carrier, Midea launch joint venture In late September, Carrier and Midea America, a subsidiary of Midea Group Co., Ltd., the world’s largest producer of major appliances, announced the launch of Carrier Midea North America. The joint venture aims to leverage Carrier’s extensive distribution network and Midea’s ductless expertise to meet growing demand in North America for residential ductless HVAC systems. carrier.com

Wolseley buys Tackaberry

Independent opens third location

Wolseley Canada has bought Tackaberry Heating Supplies, an HVAC/R distributor and sheet metal fabricator with four locations in Eastern Ontario. Headquartered in Kingston, with additional branches in Belleville, Brockville and Cornwall, Tackaberry has a 50-year history in the HVAC/R sector.

Approximately 50 Tackaberry employees have joined Wolseley as a result of the acquisition. Branches will continue to operate under the Tackaberry brand for the immediate future. wolseleyinc.ca

In November, Independent Mechanical Supply (IMS) opened its third location. The new 23,000 square-foot location at 2190 Winston Park Drive in Oakville, Ont. will service the GTA West. The facility, which will be overseen by IMS branch manager, Ron Yamin, offers the same full service and inventory as the company’s other branches. The company can be reached at (416) 679-1048 or 1 (844) 440-1048. imechsupply.com

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

OS&B has named ROLF FISCHER its new commercial sales manager. Fischer will be responsible for the company’s commercial business across Canada as well as Oasis Water Coolers and Fountains (Ontario only) and Thermasol Commercial Steam Products (Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada). He brings more than a decade of experience in the plumbing industry to his new position.

1

2

3 Equipco Ltd. has hired KELLY MURPHY as account manager for the company’s Atlantic Canada Region. Murphy is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience and brings extensive showroom sales knowledge to the position.

The North American Water Heating business unit of A. O. Smith Corporation has named GREGORY A. REYNOLDS vice-president of engineering. In his new role, Reynolds will be responsible for leading the residential and commercial water heater product engineering functions for North America.

JOHN KOPF has been named Navien’s new boiler product manager.

He will be responsible for leading efforts to identify future product needs, and assisting in development of new offerings. Kopf brings over 20 years of experience managing HVAC products to the position.

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Canature WaterGroup has named MATTHEW WIRTH (1) director of training for North America. Wirth, an experienced trainer at all levels of water treatment, has 37 years of experience as a water professional.

Also joining the company is JILL CLARK, (2) who was recently named the company’s marketing manager. In its Commercial Industrial Engineering division, TYLER GAMBLE (3) has been named commercial engineering manager; TAYLOR ARMSTRONG (4) is the new sales and applications engineer; and DAYO (STEPHEN) OGUNYALE (5) has been named commercial applications engineer.

5 MARK WILLIAMSON has joined Bradford White Canada, to serve as the national sales manager for the company’s boiler products division.

A seasoned hydronic industry veteran, he has been active in the mechanical sector for the past three decades.

Mestek recently announced the addition of JOHN WROBEL to its team, as director of training and development. He has over 33 years of experience in the HVAC industry, including 14 years working hands-on as a technical and applications trainer.

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HRAI has hired MARK RIPPON as its new technical advisor. An industry veteran with a strong technical background and considerable first-hand experience in the field, Mark is a licensed sheet metal mechanic and gas technician.

MARK PARLIAMENT has joined Lennox Learning Solutions as a senior training consultant. Based out of Westport, Ont., Mark has 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry and will lead Lennox’s technical, business and sales training efforts across Canada.

HAMED KHAKPOUR has joined RefPlus as an engineer specializing in refrigeration and natural refrigerants.

He is based at the company’s head office in Saint-Hubert, Que., and brings 8 years of industry experience to the role.

General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring, has named DAVE DUNBAR its national sales manager. A 21-year veteran at the company, Dunbar succeeds Andy Zelazny, who retired at the end of September after 40 years of service with the company.

WAGO Canada has added BORIS BABIC to its sales force for Quebec City and Atlantic Canada.

Babic has almost a decade of experience in the controls, automation and electronics sector.

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12.17

Profile Sidney Manning: Constantly giving back

With more than 30 years of formal activity in the mechanical sector, and almost as long a history of contributing to Canadian plumbing codes and standards, it was rather fitting when Alberta’s senior plumbing and gas regulator, Sidney Manning, was named as the 16th recipient of the Joseph K. Seidner Award. The award was presented earlier this year during a Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing meeting in Charlottetown, PEI. We recently caught up with Sidney, who happens to also be past-

What’s been the biggest story or change in the industry over the course of your career to date?

I would say it is going from the concept of minimum requirements to introducing the concept of a maximum. For example, the maximum amount of air that a house can exhaust; maximum change in temperature; the maximum amount of water you can use; and so forth.

Q A

How has the regulatory environment changed, and how is it evolving?

Q A

What’s your motivation to be so involved?

Q A

It used to be that you’d have 10 years to get ready for something that you saw at an international show or event; now if you see something, it’s already here. That 10-year cycle has been brought down to a few months, so a five-year code cycle now starts to look archaic.

You have to be able to give back to the industry that has rewarded you with a career, paid your bills, raised your kids, and offered us this amazing life that’s available to us in Canada.

What’s new or coming on the codes front?

The first one is water reuse. The reality in Canada that our water is not infinite is becoming a core in discussions.

The energy codes are also something to consider, as we look at the building as a system. And CETA, the Canadian European Trade Agreement. That means from going from a handful of recognized labels to hundreds.

FAST FACTS 1. Sidney sings. “I have had operatic training, including choral work, and that extends to musical theatre, dinner theatres, even last winter I participated in many murder-mysteries as a paid artist.”

2. He enjoys small engine repair. “Whatever someone couldn’t get started, they seemed to drop off at my place. It has turned out to be a hobby.”

3. When he’s not working on codes, standards and regulations, Sidney may be found on his Vulcan 2000 motorcycle. “It’s the biggest production V-twin in the world, and it is slightly modified.”

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BIO Name: Sidney Manning Title: Administrator for Plumbing & Gas Company: Alberta Municipal Affairs/Safety Services Age: 56 Resides in: Edmonton Family: Wife Jolayne, daughters Martine and Shannelle Joined the industry: 1984

Photo: Corey Hochachka

Q A

chair and vice-chair of the Canadian Regulatory Committee for Plumbing as well as CACP, and the Canadian rep on a number of international committees and councils. He was on his way to yet another industry event (he seems to attend a lot of those) but he made time for us to find out some of what he’s learned and observed over his decades of dedication to the betterment of the trades.

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HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” R o h r

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

IN

ENTER THE

A

ll the pieces of a hydronic system need to be sized, selected and installed properly to work together as a complete package, and to get the most efficient performance. This is especially so for the circulator(s) that you choose.

For me, I consider the circulator pump to be the “motor” of a hydronic system. The boiler or chiller is the energy converter, creating the temperature difference needed to heat or remove heat from a space; the piping and heat emitters are the driveline, the conduit to place the energy in the desired locations; but the circulator is what allows those BTUs to reach their destinations.

Properly applied and installed, a circulator should provide years, possibly decades, of reliable service.

Just remember, what goes around comes around.

ECM

Over the past decade and a bit, we’ve had a generational change in pump technologies as electronics have made their way into circulator offerings.

Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs) are not new.

They have been used on the air side as blower motors for 20 years or more, but what is relatively new is that this technology found its way into circulator pump offerings.

This has been, and will continue to be, a game changer for our industry. In the simplest systems, electronic circs have the potential to save 50 per cent, or more, of the energy that a pump uses while accomplishing the same amount of work as processor PSC-type motors.

Keep circulating my friends.

POWERING THINGS UP

18

In its simplest form, the circulator is an electric motor with a wheel on the end that’s inserted into a casing (a volute in pump terminology).

energy throughout our buildings.

The 1930s are when powered circulators started to show up in the heating world. This was a huge technological advance for an industry that had previously depended largely on gravity to move heat

Looking at pictures of these early circulators, you might see not a lot has changed in the actual design and components.

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The powered circulator allowed for longer piping runs, smaller diameter piping and easier zoning.

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HYDRONICS

IF IT ONLY HAD A

Selecting a pump To pick the right pump, and to set it up properly,

brain

you need to know the type and temperature of the fluid, GPM flow rate required and head pressure that the piping circuit develops.

Technically, a circulator doesn’t really develop head; it works to overcome the head that is

The real win, in my opinion, is the ability of the circulator to now have a brain.

With intelligence, we can have more control over the operation. We can vary speed, sense temperature, flow and pressure. Data logging is possible, as is remote wireless control.

developed in the piping system to which it is attached.

There is a wide selection of software

While PSC circulators also evolved over the years, offering multiple speed selection, the ECM can be controlled over a much wider speed range.

available to help you make the correct circulator selection. Suppliers should

I witnessed the beginning of the ECM circulator revolution at the German ISH show back in the early 1990s. As I recall, the first ECM pump was introduced to North America around 2005, via a branch location opened in Calgary.

have selection knowledge, as well as the factory reps, if you need assistance. And

Since the Canadian introduction, virtually all the major pump manufacturers now have a selection of ECM circulators in their offerings.

pump manufacturers are constantly offering

Manufacturers offer a range from small residential heating and DHW circulators with basic functions, to loaded versions that can be programmed for delta T, P, setpoint, or fixed-speed operation. With this adjustability, a single circulator stocked on a service vehicle helps the technician cover a wide range of replacement options.

seminars to aid you with proper selection and installation, so visit their websites for scheduling and locations. It is of great benefit to stay up with

Just remember, buying a smart circulator does not by default make the installer smart. An analysis of the system and actual pumping requirements is always the best first step in the selection process.

the quickly advancing technology.

Install it right I highly encourage every installation to include isolation valves on both sides of circulators. Some isolation valves offer hose thread purge ports and a means to connect pressure gauges.

Isolation valves are also available with integral check valves. In multiple circulator installation, checks are required to prevent undesired reverse flow.

You need to know the explanation behind pumping away from the PONPC (point of no pressure change) in a system. The connection of the expansion tank into a piping circuit establishes the PONPC, and I recommend reading Dan Holohan’s

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book Pumping Away as he does a great job of explaining this, and other topics.

A short section of straight pipe is a good idea at the inlet side. In small, residential sized circulators the isolation valve and flange generally provides this.

Avoid high-pressure drop valves or devices on the suction side. If you use Y strainers, maintain them. Keep them clean so you do not starve flow to the pumps and boilers.

And pay attention to the boiler manufacturer’s recommendation for the placement of the circulator. Many high efficiency boilers require the circulator on

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the return, pumping into the boiler. This ensures the boiler sees the increase in pressure developed by the circulator.

Many of the newer boilers have pressure switches as a safety, and pumping into the boiler ensures that the switches can stay enabled. But pay attention to the location of the expansion tank so that you are not pumping into it.

‘‘

My clients trust me.

I trust HeatLink.

“Our decision to choose HeatLink as our preferred PEX provider has been a good one. Vitullo Plumbing has been installing HeatLink PEX products and plumbing systems for years now. We count on HeatLink to deliver innovative products with outstanding performance in the field–all backed by a great warranty. Our clients trust we’ll do the job right–and we trust HeatLink to deliver the products we need to do it right.” – Pat Vitullo, President, Vitullo Plumbing

HeatLink potable water, snow melt and radiant hydronic heating/cooling systems are made to perform in the field. All our products are certified to meet or exceed industry performance standards and are approved for use by contractors across North America. Each system has been

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engineered to set the mark in energy efficiency too. We’ve worked hard for over 20 years to build the products contractors can count on.

Plus, our products are backed by HeatLink’s 25 Year Warranty. Give HeatLink systems a try and we hope to earn your trust too.

with Roger Grochmal

Creating consistent customer experiences

I

recently watched an interesting movie about Ray ay nts Kroc, the man who built McDonald’s restaurants into what it is today, and changed the way the world eats.

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.

Communication Challenges Through each generation of learning, the message changes.

I once watched a show on TV where the first person in a line of eight people whispered a well-known punchline for a joke to the next, and so on down the line.

The phrase started out as, “Don’t throw stones in a glass house.” The last person heard, “Don’t stow thrones in a grass house.”

It’s only seven words.

Consider the small variances passed from one mechanic to another in a more complicated process such as the installation of a furnace and you can see the importance of having a defined and structured process that can be communicated consistently.

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The thing that caught me immediately is that he did not start with a vision of what he wanted the future to look like. In fact, he had never owned a restaurant before. He was the quintessential traveling salesman who called on restaurants and thought he had seen it all – until he met the McDonald brothers, Richard and Maurice.

The brothers had established processes for their restaurant that allowed them to deliver the same result every time, quicker than any competitor. They didn’t make a better burger, they just consistently made it the same, so that customers could expect the same result every time they went there.

Contractors are no different than restaurateurs. We all believe that we have a business that is better, faster and cheaper than our competitors. We still need to differentiate our businesses in a busy marketplace, but being different from our competitor is not the only piece of the puzzle. We also need to figure out how to do what we do with consistency. And keep in mind, as sad as it sounds, customers will often choose consistently poor service over inconsistent service – better the devil you know.

LEARNING TO BE CONSISTENT One of the prob problems in our businesses is that that we often confuse technical training train with process training. We have a very good ttechnical education system in Canada. Graduate technicians are generally pretty competent in their technical knowledge. However, they are not taught process.

I often have field people tell me that every jobsite is different. While that may be true to some extent, how you approach the jobsite and client should be consistent.

The apprenticeship system has its basis in jobsite training and is placed in the hands of mechanics who train the aspiring apprentices. If your mechanics take different approaches and use different processes, they will teach the same to the apprentices. This results in several different approaches coming from one company. Even if the techniques used to build, service and maintain systems are all sound, they’re still inconsistent.

Of course, if the technicians use poor processes, the apprentices will learn poor processes as well.

If we don’t have well-documented standards that are taught and refreshed regularly with our technicians, we run the risk of passing along inconsistent and potentially poor behaviours. Yearover-year, customers don’t know what to expect.

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Creating consistent customer experiences with Roger Grochmal BOTTOM LINE BENEFITS Do you have a way to integrate better tools and processes, including adjusting to any new tools and procedures as they develop, so that everyone in your company stays current – and not just technicians who take it upon themselves to be current and consistent?

Consistency benefits not only customers, but also you as the business owner or manager. Reliable processes allow you to have more confidence in your estimating of time to perform work. It also improves the callback rate and warranty expense in your business.

Many companies use a taskrated pay system and shift the onus for process consistency and improvement on to the backs of their techs. While this solution can work, it can also result in unintended consequences when shortcuts are taken to fit the work into the time allowed. Faced with a time crunch, the tech may use poor processes, which could up callback rates. Given the risks we as owners take on for safety and warranties, this may not be the best strategy.

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This is one of the reasons large, corporate competitors and franchises are thriving in our industry. They bring good processes and consistency to their operations. Customers and employees know what to expect.

As business owners, we owe it to ourselves to build consistency in our businesses. It takes discipline and commitment to our business goals. But it is definitely worth it as it makes your business more valuable when it comes time to sell it.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Zoning in ng

has never been easier CHANGING

A

s I travel, I tend to see a lot of zoned HVAC systems in the U.S., but very few in Canada. Admittedly, the prevalence of zoning is highest in the southern U.S., where cooling two (or more) storey homes can make zoning an attractive option.

But is there any reason to believe our clients here in Canada are any less concerned about better comfort control in their homes?

Indeed, as I have written many times before in this column, the expectations of our customers for near-instant response to any comfort discrepancy should have us all rethinking the opportunities for zoned control of HVAC systems in Canada.

Fortunately, there have been a number of changes in housing, technology and homeowner expectations that should make it easier to both sell and apply zoning to new and existing homes.

I am a big believer that change presents great opportunity for our industry. With respect to the zoning opportunity, changes in house design and usage, improvements to duct air sealing and furnace fan motor technology, and advancements of controls and damper options by zoning specialist companies themselves, all stand to make zoning easier than ever before.

Gord Cooke

M e c h a n i c a l

It seems obvious to us, but not always to homeowners, that the load characteristics of the first and second floors are very different.

As such, designing one static distribution system that meets the peak loads of each area is challenging.

While heating loads are fairly consistent, cooling loads are dominated by intermittent, rapidly changing loads, such as solar gain through windows and occupant activities.

Certainly, the trend to larger windows and the increase in occupant-based internal gains, such as more appliances over the past 20 years, should be a conversation you have with your clients.

In my opinion, the best sales opportunity is explaining that duct systems in Canada were historically designed to provide consistent

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 airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at

gcooke@airsolutions.ca.

28

The predominance of two-storey homes, and even two-and-a-half or three-storey homes, and the way homeowners live, are opportunities to help your clients realize the need for more targeted comfort control.

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PROMOTING ZONING TO

CUSTOMERS

PROFILES heating control throughout the winter. That simplistic system design makes it challenging to respond to the varying load profiles of a modern household.

Help them recognize that the thermostat on the main floor suits them well as they go through the dinner hour and evening hours in the family room, but it struggles to provide expected comfort as the family moves upstairs to bed.

Applying zone dampers to a duct system is just one way of providing targeted comfort control to a home, and by all means, consider adding separate cooling capacity, such as mini-split systems or second air handlers.

In the context of duct systems specifically, there are helpful changes that will help you promote zoning of the duct system.

First, since 2006 in all Energy Star for New Homes builds (there are upwards of 100,000 across Canada) supply ducts have been air-sealed. This has also been true of all new homes in Ontario since 2014.

Zoning is only effective in reasonably well-sealed duct systems.

When you see proper duct sealing in a home, you can feel good about offering a zoned option.

If air sealing has not been done, there are simple, quick and convenient duct sealing technologies that can be used on any existing duct system.

Second, most of us have been promoting and installing variable speed, constant torque, DC drive, ECM fan motors in both new and replacement systems for upwards of 10 years now. Again, this has been a code requirement in my home province since 2014.

This fan motor technology is very helpful in a zoned system. It allows better adjustments of airflow and pressures, which may eliminate the need for by-pass air ducts, or at least reduce its size and control complexity.

Limited by AC The size and characteristics of the air conditioning system will have the biggest impact on appropriate zoning. I suggest the promotion of two-stage cooling systems as a way to facilitate zoning. Even if there isn’t a two-stage system, simple measurements of duct pressures, airflow and coil discharge temperatures can help determine the proper set up for zoning.

EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS STEPPING UP FOR ZONING There have been recent advancements in zoning technology that will allow you to offer better comfort control in a more cost effective and convenient way than even a few years ago.

Wireless thermostats and sensors are now widely available, allowing easy access to that second-floor bonus room or master bedroom.

And there are options for zone dampers that are placed within the termination grilles themselves.

Although these are more expensive individually, careful selection of which grilles to control can limit the number required, and make the entire system more affordable.

In a pure sense, every grille or duct would be controllable, but in most cases you can do

airflow and pressure measurements with a selection of grilles open and closed to enhance airflow to a targeted area.

For example, to encourage airflow to the upstairs, you don’t have to close all the ducts on the main floor and basement.

It would be acceptable to have some small amount of conditioned air to continue to be delivered to the kitchen when the upstairs zone is calling for cooling.

For this approach to be successful, properly sealed ducts, such that air doesn’t simply leak out of ducts along the way to the dampered grille, are require, as are controls that are able to ensure the first-floor temperature doesn’t overshoot the minimum desired temperature.

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PLUMBING

Toilets

B y Ba rry Orr

are not garbage cans!

G

arbage and wastewater don’t belong together, but that doesn’t stop consumers from making poor decisions when it comes to what they choose to flush down the toilet, or down the drains in their homes and businesses.

A trip to a waste water treatment facility will attest to the number of homeowners and businesses that have had everything from pan drippings from a turkey dinner to baby wipes and even syringes go down their drains.

Historically in my home city of London, Ont., around 40 per cent of sewer clogs can be traced to the disposal of fats, oils and grease (FOGs) into the drainage systems leading to the municipal sewage system. This can lead to emergency calls and raw sewage overflows.

Our city’s sewer-use bylaws state that animal and vegetable oil must not exceed 100 mg/l in wastewater discharged into the municipal collection system. Storm drains have a permitted level of 15 mg/l.

The city can charge individual and corporate violators $10,000 to $100,000, with fines varying based on first or repeated offences. This type of bylaw is quite common to municipalities in Ontario.

Seeing the volume of clogs, and desiring to do something about it, we (City of London) started investigating compliance with our sewer use bylaw Barry Orr is the sewer outreach and control inspector with the Environmental & Engineering Services department at the City of London. He can be reached at borr@london.ca.

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“Your Turn” The City of London and the London Fire Department have jointly developed a degradable cup that homeowners can use for proper disposal of fats, oils and grease.

More than 75,000 cups have been distributed, and the collection program is making an impact. About a quarter of all cups are returned to one of four depots, where they are used for clean energy power production.

Residents can also dispose the full FOG cups in their garbage.

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PLUMBING about a decade ago. What we have found is that the key to reducing the amount of improperly disposed of items is a combination of education and enforcement. To achieve this, inspecting grease interceptors (GIs) is a must.

Working together with our Sewer Operations team, we are proud to report that a combination of strategies has resulted in a massive reduction in clogs in our city. In fact, we have not had a blocked sewer main related to FOG in more than three years.

KEEP THEM CLEAN

DID YOU KNOW? According to the International Water Industry Statement on Flushability that was released in 2016, for a product to be considered flushable, it must break into small pieces quickly; not be buoyant; and not contain plastic or regenerated cellulose but only contain materials that will readily degrade in a range of natural environments.

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ct a f

o

Nationally, the CSA B481 standard addresses the structure, operation and maintenance of grease interceptors. While code requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, where I live in Ontario, the building code requires CSA B481approved grease interceptors for all installations.

The City of London has 2,500 businesses and institutions, such as restaurants, hospitals and groceries stores, that fall into this category.

When we first started the inspection program, many restaurant managers would communicate with each other that the city was inspecting GIs, so they would scramble to make sure their interceptors had been serviced. While I’ll never fault someone for cleaning up their equipment, the motive should be because it is the right thing to do, and not just because an inspector has been spotted in the area.

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PLUMBING

The International Water Services Flushability Group The IWSFG is a group of water associations, utilities and professionals seeking to provide clear guidance on what should and should not be flushed down the toilet to protect customers, wastewater systems, their workers and the environment. Earlier this year, the organization released a draft flushability standard for public comment and is working on the second draft, which will be released in the coming months.

FLUSHABLE? PERHAPS NOT. manufacturer associations and individual companies (voluntarily only) to put clear logos on non-flushable products, to help avoid consumer confusion.

There are a number of products in the market that tout themselves as being flushable, but one of the biggest problems for treatment facilities is the flushing of wipes, all kinds of wipes. These, and the plethora of nonflushable products that are sent down drains, cause clogs in pipes, sewers, pumps, screens and grinders, while increasing the amount of garbage that must be removed at treatment facilities.

Sometimes it’s simply a matter of not knowing that a product is not flushable, which can happen when nonflushable wipes are not marked with a “do not flush” warning or symbol. As such, many consumers mistakenly or unknowingly flush non-flushable products into the toilet.

Of course, just having fine print on packages will not eliminate the problem, so education is needed, and is something that the plumbing community can help with. For example, explaining to a home or business owner that there are some things that should never be flushed or poured down a drain, or pointing out that the box of baby wipes in their bathroom are not good for the sewage system, can go a long way to avoiding future clogs.

We have been working with an organization that is negotiating with a number of

The simple message that we need to get out there is:“Toilets are not garbage cans.”

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PLUMBING

Products

Commercial system Saniflo Canada’s Sanibest Pro is a heavy-duty grinder system designed for commercial settings where multiple fixtures are needed, but where traditional plumbing and drainage is not possible, or would be cost prohibitive. The unit’s up-flush technology offers the ability to handle several fixtures, including toilets, urinals and sinks.

Electronic pressure-balanced thermostatic shower

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Riobel’s Genius Shower is an electronic pressure-balanced thermostatic shower system that features a digital keypad allowing users to activate one or two components simultaneously. The shower allows the user to set the water temperature and maintain it in the event of a drop in hot or cold-water pressure. Output is up to 16.5 liters of water per minute at 60 psi, even in the event of a power blackout.

A shower leaking at a rate of 10 drips per minute will waste 500 gallons of water per year.

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PROJECT PROFILE

Vancity’s head office building is located in a high-pedestrian, high-traffic area, with a SkyTrain line running under it. Trane’s installation team worked overnight to minimize the impact on building users.

By Ted Barker

VANCITY goes green with HVAC

W

hen Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity) was looking to replace the aging 70 per cent efficient HVAC system at its PROJECT: head office, it brought in SES Consulting The Vancity and a team of industry suppliers to find a way update Centre: and optimize the efficiency of the boiler plant.

Retrofit update of space & water heating system

The 12-storey, 115,000 sq. ft. office tower in downtown Vancouver houses the credit union’s management, administration and support staff, as well as a large data centre that has a need for year-round cooling.

Vancouver, BC.

Looking for novel solutions, Scott Sinclair, president and CEO of SES, proposed installing a heat recovery chiller that would be used to capture the waste process heat load from the third-floor data centre to heat the entire building.

OWNERS:

LOCATION: BUILDING:

12 storey, 115,000 sq. ft. office tower built in 1995.

The Vancouver City Savings Credit Union BUDGET:

$250,000

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SES used a year-long BC Hydro-sponsored continuous optimization study and applied those insights to first drop the base operating temperature of the heating system by a minimum of 30°C, or 37.5 per cent. Next, SES produced a feasibility study detailing the potential energy savings of a heat reclamation system.

That helped secure $85,000 in funding toward the project from Fortis BC.

PROJECT PROFILE

IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIAL

THE SYSTEM At the core of the retrofit is an 80-ton helical rotary heat reclaim chiller that features only two rotating parts. It uses a low-speed direct drive compressor, and manages a heat recovery efficiency rating in the range of 4.2 COP at 60°C. When the heat recovery chiller was being installed, a pair of one horsepower constant volume pumps was also installed, to circulate the water from the existing hydronic loops to the new heat recovery chiller.

“One serves the condenser side of the chiller, and one serves the evaporator side,” explains Chris Goodchild of SES. Vancity opted to replace the original 2,500,000 BTUH boilers with smaller 720,000 BTUH boilers in a second phase of retrofitting. Thanks to the success of the reclaim system, the company found there was no need to stay with such large boilers, since they are now rarely used, and are essentially employed as a backup heating system.

“And even then, the boilers are only used to top up the waste heat recovered from the data centre,” adds Goodchild.

HOW IT

Although heat reclaim systems are becoming more common in new buildings, many over-specified older buildings with higher temperature systems or available waste heat may be able to incorporate heat reclamation technologies into their planned system improvements.

According to SES Consulting, there is a simple way to assess whether a building has a waste heat problem.

When you observe flue gas exiting a chimney while simultaneously noting water evaporation in the cooling tower, it is time to seek out some professional advice.

FAST FACT:

Thanks to the energy efficiency improvements with the new system, all costs are expected to be recouped in as little as 4.5 years.

For a heat reclaim chiller to be a good option, Doug Robertson of Trane Canada advises that simultaneous heating and cooling loads are required. In this building, the data centre was a heat source that could be farmed, since it generated residual heat that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere or offset by a cooling system.

“Sometimes people assume there is not simultaneous heating and cooling if the chiller is not running. For example, if the building is ‘free cooling’ with a waterside economizer or with air-

WORKS

The heat recovery chiller at Vancity boosts the low-grade waste heat that is generated by the data centre, taking it from 20°C to a useful optimal system temperature of 50°C, before sending it back into the building where it can be used where it is needed.

This has the effect of reducing cooling tower fan and pump usage, which offsets much of the energy required to operate the chiller while also significantly reducing water consumption.

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side economizers,” he explains.

“In both cases, heat is being rejected from the building, either though the cooling tower or though exhaust air. In these cases, capturing that heat with a heat recovery machine makes sense. A data centre in the building is a great source of waste heat.”

Vancity was designed with separate cooling and high-temperature heating systems, which helped to make this project feasible because the waste heat was accessible.

“Each project is unique,” says Robertson. “Some projects are more difficult to install, for many reasons, so the threshold of available heat might be higher on those projects. Other factors come into play, such as: How long do the simultaneous cooling and heating loads persist? Does the heating load exist in the summer? How large is the cooling load in the winter?

“Another big factor is the temperature of the heating and cooling loops. Hotter water temperatures may reduce the COP, which can negatively impact paybacks.”

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USB S d dataloggers l Extech Instruments’ TH30, RHT30 and RHT35 compact dataloggers deliver realtime troubleshooting data for HVAC/R and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues related to temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. High and low thresholds can be pr configured to trigger a red flashing LED co ala alarm indicator.

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VRF systems Samsung’s Digital Variable Multi (DVM) S series consists of heat pump, heat recovery, water and chiller units. They are equipped with an inverter scroll compressor, and flash or vapour injection technology. Single-phase and three-phase DVM S Water systems are available in six-ton, eight-ton, 10-ton and 20-ton capacities.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER (UPDATE)

By Adam Freill

T

en years ago, as we started on the journey that became Mechanical Business, we reached out to the most famous plumber in North America, Richard Trethewey, to be Cover Person Number 1. We asked him to help us examine some of the topics that were pertinent in the mechanical trade in 2007.

For any readers not familiar with Richard’s work, he’s the resident plumbing and heating expert on This Old House and its spin-off shows and publications, and the founder and owner of RST Inc., a manufacturer’s rep firm specializing in the mechanical sector.

Long before there were thoughts of specialty networks dedicated to home renovations, This Old House was sharing information from tradespeople with an audience of professionals and homeowners. Now in its 39th season, it is the longest running building-related show in television history.

Since we last spoke for that November 2007 edition, some things have changed in Richard’s business life, and in the industry.

But as we looked back at our original interview, it was also remarkable to note how some things have not changed much.

Main photo courtesy of carltremblay.com

For a look at the full interviews, then and now, be sure to check out our website, www.mechanicalbusiness.com, for bonus coverage.

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“As I look back at 10 years ago, my advice to contractors still rings true: Say what you do, and do what you say. People are willing to pay for people that they can trust.”

--Richard Trethewey M e c h a n i c a l

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MB: What’s changed in your world since 2007?

RT: Both of my sons have joined with me to bring better heating and cooling systems to America. That’s one of the joys of my life. Ross and Evan Trethewey represent the next generation and our future, and they are better, taller, faster, smarter, than me.

I remember about five years ago they said, “Dad, we want to work with you,” and I said, “Really! Why?” They said that this energy field is fascinating. We need to be smart about the fuel we have left in this planet, and still be comfortable.

MB: What’s been the most significant advance or change since 2007?

RT: Ten years ago, I don’t think I could have imagined there would have been air-to-air heat pumps that would be able to find, even on a zero-degree day outside, enough heat to heat the building. That’s a paradigm shift. Back then, the only way you would have thought you’d be able to do that would be with geothermal.

Ten years ago, my only discussion with anybody was hydronic, and I still believe that hydronic is the best way to move energy around a building. There’s never been anything better to carry BTUs than water, but back then the most we could get was a condensing appliance and get about 95 per cent of the fuel that we bought. Now, we have these heat pumps that we put a dollar [of energy] in and get three dollars out, so it’s 300 per cent efficient, so to speak.

MB: What’s the biggest challenge facing the industry today?

RT: Nothing has changed. Ten years later and we are still talking about the need to attract and retain good people in this industry. Has it improved? Yes. I think there’s at least a conversation about it.

To that end, our TV show this year has started a segment called “Generation Next” to broadcast an outreach to the public. We are working with Mike Rowe and his foundation.

There’s nobody that tells a story better than Mike. I was shooting with him and I said something about the need to find the next generation of technicians, and without skipping a beat he said, “What we need is a micro-Mike Rowe.”

MB: What are some of the most exciting emerging technologies to watch for in the industry?

RT: What’s amazing to me is the Internet of Things, the IoT. I just saw wireless powerheads for a radiant manifold, so now it can talk to a wireless sensor so that you can dial in all these radiant jobs to give you exact, precise temperatures in all areas of a room.

MB: Where’s the mechanical industry going over the next 10 years?

RT: I think we have to pay more attention to water. There is a shortage of water that exists in so many parts of the world. We have to embrace using greywater. The water that’s used in the kitchen sink: why isn’t that stuff that we can use out in the garden and on the lawn; or rainwater collection?

The other thing that we are going to have to pay much more attention to is ventilation. In HVAC, most people only really pay attention to the H, heating, and the AC, but by code we have to insulate like crazy. We need to think about a way to bring in fresh air that’s been preconditioned by the exhaust air, an ERV or an HRV, is going to have to be a standard component.

Water and air: We need to think about what’s going into our lungs and what’s going into our bodies.

MB: On the code and regulatory side, will things ever get back to simple?

RT: I don’t think so. That’s the day pigs fly.

I’m all for continuing ed, because the world is becoming more complex, but there are still some holes in the code and standards process.

And we ourselves have caused some of the need for extra regulations. We now have inspectors who come out to double check that the building was insulated properly. That’s just a sad commentary that the industry could not enforce itself, so now there’s a whole other layer of regulation that you need to pay for to double check basic work.

MB: What’s the coolest product or tool that you’ve had a chance to check out over the past 10 years?

RT: Sadly, the smartphone. You go to Google or a website.

This entire world has changed so much in the past 10 years.

That’s been the biggest change. Not only is information available, it’s available in a nanosecond. It is available in video format, in manuals, in archives.

As the equipment gets more complex, thankfully you have these devices. There was a day where if you wanted to get anything done you’ve have called a hotline and then waited, sometimes for days, until someone would call you back. No contractor can afford to do that anymore.

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By Fred Bretzke

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.

PLUMBING

YOU DON’T KNOW CODE! In this ongoing series, Fred Bretzke plumbs the depths of the evolution of plumbing codes in Canada over the course of his 40+ years in the industry, as well as some of his trials and tribulations from his formative years to now. Keep your eyes peeled for future installments of Tales from the Code!

G

rowing up in the late ’60s, my brother and I learned a lot of game making from my dad. Dad was a very creative, yet cheap, person. As dad didn’t have much money, he would create games for us.

One that I can still recall vividly was a worldwide battleship game, based on his detailed memories of the war. He hand-illustrated a huge cardboard sixfoot square grid map of the world, coloured it in, and then individually drew out battleships, cruisers, aircraft carriers and destroyers on small cut out pieces of cardboard so that we could have the right navy ships to play with.

It was an awesome game, and a history lesson in itself as our Dad would teach us history at the same time. This is how I learned to make visual games.

As a teenager in the 1970s, I could not get enough of sports and games. I also started my career as a plumber at the age of 17. Every Monday, we set aside time for a family night where we would do something together.

Everyone had a turn to do something, such as teach a lesson, make a dessert or food, or create an activity for the family. My sister Brenda and I always tried to create a word game or an activity to distract everybody, just so that my dad, who we loved so dearly, would not talk for two hours or more on some long, boring subject. Hence, word games became second nature to me.

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HANDS-ON, FROM AFAR There’s no arguing that the best way to learn the code is to live and work it on a jobsite with a teacher or mentor, but 3D technology is absolutely the next best way of learning the code.

One of my dreams is that someday students will learn via 3D technology as part of the regular apprenticeship curriculum, since they will end up learning the code better by being able to design their own plumbing systems in a virtual space – and virtual water doesn’t require a mop and bucket for cleanup.

Think inside the box!

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Make Anvil International Canada your one-stop shop. Our quality products now come in new brightly colour-coded boxes that help reduce overall costs. That’s a bright idea inside and out.

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PLUMBING In the ’80s and ’90s I got married and had two kids. I loved when my kids got a little older, so I could play games with them. Of course, with the emergence of the home computer and gaming systems, technology won out and my kids grew into video games. And to fully come clean, I have to take part of the blame, as I was playing these games with them for a while too.

These games held their attention span 110 per cent. They knew more about world of Warcraft than their school work.

Stepping forward to 2005, I decided to go back to teaching. It just so happened that was the same year that a new national plumbing code came out after 10 years of using the 1995 national code.

After a few months of developing PowerPoint lessons, I was getting bored.

And if I was getting bored, I could just imagine what was going through my students’ heads. It just wasn’t cool

WHY TECHNOLOGY? All this talk about technology and computers reminds me of a comment a plumbing student made to me back in 2009.

His complaint was phrased something like, “What was I trying to do, turn hands-on tradesmen into computer geeks?�

I responded by pointing out that his cell phone was a computer, and that one day he would even order pizza off his cell phone instead of out of the Yellow Pages. enough. I needed to think of something that would capture the students’ interest. And then it came to me like a light bulb flashing in the night.

The video word game I loved to play with my kids as they grew older was You Don’t Know Jack, which is still produced today. This game was made up by a bunch of witty comedians, and was all the rage.

That got me thinking: if I could think of a game for plumbing apprentices that was funny, witty and educational, they might have some fun learning the skills that would serve them well on the job. That was the beginning of my You Don’t Know Code! games.

For the next year, while I was learning the new 2005 code myself, I began creating animated PowerPoint slides with narrated trivia questions.

I began using trial versions in my classes the next year, and it soon became apparent to me that even post-secondary students learn better through gaming.

As trends changed, so did my approach. In

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BE A GOOD TEACHER

2007, Randy, a fellow teacher, was talking to me about the popular show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, so I made Are You Smarter Than a Second Year? followed by Are You Smarter Than a Third Year?

I would commence all my first day classes with games to help instill interest in the code, which brought about many laughs and worked well.

In 2009, my boss Darrel came to my office and suggested that if I was bored of PowerPoint, maybe I should try Sketchup. As I tried my hands at it, this software opened up a whole new world of 3D technology to me.

With a little bit of video editing, I could create a 3D plumbing world out of my head. This became as addictive to me as Lego is to a 12-year-old.

Later in 2010, as YouTube grew in the ability to render videos in high definition, it was a perfect time to upload learning plumbing videos, so that plumbing and gas apprentices could check out the day’s lesson on their smartphones on the way to school. Since then,

Yes, it is true: I love using technology to teach the plumbing code, but it’s still not the absolutely best way to pass along knowledge. The absolute best way is having a teacher who can properly animate a story in person.

If you are passionate about what you teach, it doesn’t matter if you sloppily write on a whiteboard, or use physical visual aids and body language. As long as you do it with passion, apprentices will remember.

I’ve created more than 40 YouTube SAIT Plumbing videos.

More recently, I’ve even branched out to take learning into the social media realm, adding Facebook group sites for use as supplemental learning tools.

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Andrew Quattrociocchi, C.B.C.O., is the deputy chief building official for the Township of Oro-Medonte, and a director with the Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association. He can be reached at quattroscorner@hotmail.com.

QUATTRO’S CORNER B y Andre w Qu a t t r o c i o c c h i

Variations

in circuit vented branches S

ometimes it can be awkward being in the men’s room with a camera, but I do it as a service to the trade to help others understand what an inspector may be looking for when enforcing plumbing and building codes.

Take, for example, this photo of a circuit vented branch. It has portions that meet code and portions that don’t, so for this edition of Quattro’s Corner, let’s start with what’s right.

UP TO CODE This installation meets the requirements of section 7.5.3.1. (1) of the Ontario Building Code and section 2.5.3.1. (1) of the National Plumbing Code.

This plumber also installed an additional circuit vent. Why? I have no idea, but that doesn’t mean it’s against code. It just added to the cost of the project, with more material and time. According to OBC 7.5.3.1. 6b, an additional circuit vent is required where more than eight circuit vented fixtures are connected to a branch between vent pipe connections.

What’s MISSING?

OBC 7.5.3.1. (1) A section of a horizontal branch may be circuit vented provided: a. A circuit vent is connected to it; b. All fixtures served by the circuit vent are located in the same storey and located at the most distant upstream section of the horizontal branch; and c. No soil or waste stack is connected to it upstream of a circuit vented fixture.

NPC 2.5.3.1. (1) A section of a horizontal branch may be circuit vented provided: a. A circuit vent is connected to it; b. All fixtures served by the circuit vent are located in the same storey; and c. No soil or waste stack is connected to it upstream of a circuit vented fixture.

It also meets the requirements of OBC 7.5.3.1. (3) which states: “Except as provided in sentences 4 and 5, a relief vent shall be connected to the branch that forms part of a circuit vented system, downstream of the connection of the most downstream circuit vented fixture.”

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As per 9a of section 7.5.3.1., a circuit vented branch, including the fixture drain downstream of the circuit vent connection, shall be sized in accordance with articles 7.4.10.7. and 7.4.10.8., except that it shall not be less than 2”, where traps less than 2” in size are circuit vented.

Based on the code, this branch is undersized. It should all be 2”. Also missing from the photo, and depending on where in Canada you live and the code book you read, is the requirement for clean-outs on urinals.

OBC 7.4.7.4 (5) states that a clean-out shall be provided to serve vertical drainage piping from a wall hung urinal and shall extend above the flood level rim of the fixture.

The NBC, however, does not require the additional clean-out. It just goes to show you that requirements change based on where in Canada you live, and what code you must follow.

That’s another great reason to contact your local building department. Talk to you soon!

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HVAC

B y Do u g P u r d y Doug Purdy is a mechanical technical representative with IPEX and is a specialist on ULC S636, as well as IPEX’s System 636 training. He can be reached at doug.purdy@ipexna.com.

VENT it RIGHT W ith the cold weather of

winter upon us, certainly

LOOKING up the

CHIMNEY Older furnaces were generally natural draft appliances, and were often installed toward the central areas of homes. With so many homes featuring finished basements, retrofitting with direct venting may present a challenge to the finished spaces.

It may be impossible to avoid disrupting existing walls and ceilings, unless you are able to determine that using a dormant chimney is a viable option.

some of those old mid-

efficiency furnaces that customers

have been pleading with you to keep running for “one last season” have decided that this will in fact be their final season, meaning a mid-season replacement project for you.

Eying up a new high-efficiency furnace offering greater efficiency and comfort to your customers is not without its challenges. However, venting should be one of the first considerations on your checklist as you work through updating their HVAC system.

Where the use of a dormant nt nt masonry chimney is an option, tion, it can be used to exhaust flue ue gas in a vertical elevation. The The vent pipe must be sized as per the appliance manufacturer’s er’s installation instructions, and nd installed as per the vent pipe pe manufacturer’s installation guide.

Fresh air intakes may also b bee installed within existing unused nused chimney spaces providing acceptable spacing and clearance is obtained at thee termination, as per the appliance pliance manufacturer’s requirements.

Pro Tip Consideration should be given to obtaining an airtight or water-tight seal as required at the chimney exit to prevent entry of water, snow, moisture or cold air.

Hit the BOOKS There are two primary sources of information that will prove invaluable when it comes tto changing out a furnace. The first is the latest version of the CAN/ CSA B149 B149.1 Natural gas and propane installation code. This document, like all other ccodes and standards, is revised from time-to-time, and you need to using the most recent edition. be us contains information that is intended to provide for safe, reliable and It co high-quality installations, as well as information about the placement high and spacing of vent termination.

The o other document to review is the installation manual that comes with the brand bra and model of appliance being installed. The manual will contain guidance for sizing of the vent line. This will be based on the actual length of venting required, plus an additional length accounting for friction losses in any 45- or 90-degree bends in the line. The longer the total length, the larger the vent size must be.

The installation guide, along with proper training from the vent system manufacturer on the proper installation of their product, can help ensure that you successfully install the venting for the appliance.

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HVAC

Compliance in Canada Venting systems for furnaces in Canada must be ULC S636 compliant. The furnace manufacturer will specify which category of S636 venting is allowed for their appliance. The two most common VC, and Class IIB, which categories for residential furnaces are Class IIA, which uses ULC S636 PVC, uses ULC S636 CPVC. ULC S636 PVC venting systems are suitable for temperatures up to and including 65°C (149ºF).

ULC S636 CPVC venting systems are suitable for temperatures up to and including 90°C (194ºF).

For a system to be compliant, piping and fittings must contain a sticker confirming third-party certification to ULC S636.

Products need to be installed as they were tested and certified – as a system from each individual venting manufacturer. PVC and CPVC material may be combined as per the appliance manufacturers’ installation instructions, or as long as the installation is being upgraded from a PVC minimum requirement to CPVC. However, the ULC S636 standard does not permit mixing of product from different manufacturers.

This also means that only the certified primer and solvent cement provided by the venting system manufacturer may be used to solvent weld joints of each brand of vent pipe and fittings. The vent pipe manufacturer’s installation guide for solvent welding must be strictly followed to ensure joint integrity at all times and to avoid possible failures.

Calculate the heating load When replacing older HVAC equipment, the first step is to start with a load calculation, or heat loss calc. Once you know the BTUH requirements of the building, which may be considerably different from the load that the old equipment was (likely improperly) sized for, you can decide on an appropriately sized furnace. This may result in a considerably smaller furnace than what was previously installed.

This could be the result of gains in furnace efficiencies over the past 20 to 40 years, or because of changes in how heating loads are now calculated.

Did you know?

To ensure safe and reliable installations, always review the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions and vent system manufacturer’s installation guide along with your local building code requirements.

VENTING best practices Venting should always be as direct as possible, with a minimum number of fittings. The maximum vertical rise or horizontal run of vent pipe in a single vent installation will be in the vent pipe manufacturer’s installation guide, and these should never be exceeded.

To ensure a solid solvent weld, the pipe must be cut square. A diagonal cut will reduce the fusing area in the most critical area of the joint.

After cutting, be sure to remove all burrs from both the inside and outside of the pipe with de-burring tool.

Failure to remove burrs can scrape channels into pre-softened surfaces, create hang-ups inside surface walls, or inadvertently plow cement out of the joint during assembly.

Any shavings remaining in the line after cutting will adversely affect the operation of the appliance, especially for the combustion air intake line.

The runs of intake and exhaust pipes for terminations through a side wall or a roof should be installed with minimum clearances to not allow the re-circulation of exhaust fumes. Consult the appliance manufacturer’s and vent system manufacturer’s installation guide.

Combustion air intakes should not be located within six feet of a dryer vent outlet hood, or the inlet or outlet of another appliance. The exit points of gas venting pipe must be more than three feet from an opening into another building, and snow height must be considered as well. Venting should terminate one foot higher than the average snow accumulation. To ensure safe and reliable installations, always review the appliance manufacturer’s installation instructions and vent system manufacturer’s installation guide along with your local building code requirements.

All horizontal sections of the venting system must be installed with a slope not less than a quarter-inch per foot down towards the appliance. This will allow for the collection and removal of the condensate generated inside the line.

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Higher energy-efficiency ratings and lower cabinet heights

®

Goodman brand high-efficiency gas furnaces now offer more features and benefits than ever. And all of them help to make Goodman gas furnaces easier to sell and install. Take a look at some of the enhancements you’ll find on select Goodman brand gas furnaces.

Q

Energy-efficiency performance ratings up to 98% AFUE

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Newly designed tubular heat exchanger with wrinkle bend technology

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20,000 BTU firing rate per burner to deliver capacities from 40,000 to 120,000 BTU

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Vertical gas valve for easy field connection to either side of the cabinet

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Thumb screws on the cabinet doors for easy access without tools

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Factory-installed internal trap for vertical applications

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Overall cabinet height reduced to 34.5 inches

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ComfortNet communicating control system compatible

®

For a closer look at the new line of Goodman high-efficiency gas furnaces, simply visit www.goodmanmfg.com, call 1-877-780-3316, or contact your local Goodman brand distributor.

Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2017 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. · Houston, Texas · USA

www.goodmanmfg.com

At Goodman, we believe in American dependability. Units are designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A.

Road Warrior

By Adam Freill Favourite thing about the job: Everyday is different.

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

Coolest project worked on: Probably the first geothermal system we did. It was in a large home, with a 72,000 BTUH triple-function machine. Four zones on the duct side, and four zones on the radiant side.

1. The Tragically Hip: Fully Completely 2. Bob Seger’s Greatest Hits 3. The Tragically Hip: Road Apples Last movie you saw: Trolls (with the kids, honest).

The most useful tool in your toolbox: My multimeter.

Your favourite tool: The “Big Boy Drill” – it’s a concrete hammer drill.

Favourite restaurant: Ninety Nine’s Steakhouse or Buffalo Wild Wings.

Favourite place for lunch: The coffee mill, or the Boyce farmers market.

Favourite food: Steak

Favourite band/performer: The Tragically Hip or Bob Seger Best concert ever attended: The Tragically Hip

If you could be an animal, what would you be?

A cheetah, so I can be fast!

One word that describes you: Determined

My rule of thumb is: Do it right the first time.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a... “pro football player.”

Favourite magazine: All snowmobile magazines

Hitting the big time

Favourite TV show: SportsCentre. It allows me to catch up on all the games I missed.

Last year, St. Francis Xavier University recognized its 1996 men’s football team, inviting the players back to induct the team into the St. FX Sports Hall of Fame.“I was surprised at the number of people who were able to make it,” said Appleby. “It was great to see the guys again.”What’s his biggest memory of the game? “The big thing was the pre-game stretching when they went with the camera across everybody and you see yourself on the jumbotron. That was pretty neat,” he said. “It’s a big version of everybody that you knew.”

Favourite character on that show: Connor McDavid! Ha ha!

Favourite sport: Football Favourite cartoon as a kid: Scooby Doo

Photo: Mag Hood Photography

Biggest pet peeves: People parking in handicapped spaces that shouldn’t be.

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Terry Fox

Favourite snack: Chips and Dip

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Favourite website: Kijiji

Favourite actor/actress: Zack Galifianakis/Demi Moore Favourite movie of all time: Stand By Me Favourite car of all time: 1990 Corvette ZR-1 Favourite outdoor activity: Snowmobiling

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Name: Murray Appleby Company: Owner/Partner, Degree Technologies Lives in: Fredericton, NB Work ride: 2017 Ford F250 Kilometres per day: 150 Time behind the wheel per day: 4 hours Service area: Fredericton, Oromocto and surrounding areas.

Murray Appleby From the locker room to the boiler room

T

he lure of playing football led Murray Appleby to a bachelor of science degree at St. Francis Xavier University, but it was a fireside chat that led him to a career in the mechanical trades.

Appleby, a member of the St. FX team that took part in the 1996 Vanier Cup championship in Toronto at what was then known as SkyDome, actually landed in the information technology sector as his first step into the work world. However, three years on computers had him questioning his career path, and led to a fortuitous conversation with a family member.

“One day when camping, my cousin’s husband and I were sitting around the fire talking,” he explained.

“He was in the trade, but was off at the time because of a back injury. I had a good back and he had the knowledge, so we said, ‘Why don’t we try this?’”

More than 10 years later, their company Degree Technologies is still going strong, bringing comfort systems to customers in and around the Fredericton area.

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HYDRONICS B y Ne i l Wa t so n

THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF

magnetite MAKING BAD

WORSE

Many contractors have heard about the damaging effects of magnetite (iron oxide) on hydronic heating systems. However, there are other types of debris and contamination potentially inside of these systems as well.

I

n our analysis, we’ve found that approximately 95 per cent of all system debris is made up of magnetite. As such, it is the chief contributor to hydronic heating system problems by a significant margin.

Magnetite is more insidious than other types of debris for several reasons. It starts with the small size of magnetite particles, which can be as tiny as a sub micron (not visible to the naked eye). By comparison, the average human hair is about .002 inches in diameter, or more than six times the width!

As a result, magnetic particles don’t stay put like much larger and heavier installation debris.

Microscopic particles of magnetite readily travel, dispersing into heating system water, impacting all the internal components that they come into contact with.

Magnetite is more insidious than other types of debris for several reasons.

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Installation debris is typically dense and immobile within a heating system, meaning it is not circulating around creating problems in pumps and waterways. However, when met with magnetite it can develop into a serious problem.

Then there’s limescale, which on its own is limited within a closed heating system. In other words, there is a finite amount that can precipitate out of any given amount of water. But once again, when mixed with magnetite, the two substances react with one another and combine to form a hard, enamel-like coating on the inside of pipes, which can block waterways and reduce efficiency significantly.

Flux residue is another type of debris found in hydronic systems, but it’s typically very watersoluble and is easily removed during cleaning.

A second reason magnetite is so challenging again relates to its small size. It accumulates in low-flow areas where fast-moving water can’t sweep individual particles away. As a result, magnetite collects and forms a sludge-like substance in heat exchangers, radiators and baseboards.

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In addition to corrosion debris (magnetite), which is by far the most prevalent and damaging, you’ll typically find several other types of debris, including installation debris, limescale and flux residues.

Magnetite is a lot more challenging. It generates across the surface of all pressed-steel radiator panels, baseboards and iron pipework, so there is significant surface area for water and oxygen to react with it.

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HYDRONICS

ATTRACTION AND EROSION In areas within the system where there is faster moving or turbulent water, coarse magnetite particles can cause erosion damage. This problem is made worse in ECM pumps, in which the magnetic components actually attract magnetite.

Even discounting erosion damage, the magnetite that is attracted by the magnetic components can foul the pump.

In the U.K., up to 70 per cent of failed circulator pumps returned to manufacturers failed due to magnetite buildup. In fact, studies have shown that it can reduce heat transfer to the home by as much as 15 per cent and reduce boiler efficiency by up to six percentage points in as little as three weeks. That represents significant operating costs for homeowners.

HELP THE

INHIBITOR

!

REE

F CLAMPR

Some have turned to chemical inhibitors to protect against the formation of magnetite. In my experience, you can use an inhibitor, but not on its own.

E

MET

First, clean and flush the system.

Then install a magnetic filter to capture any existing magnetite. And then consider an inhibitor.

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Just one ounce of magnetite has the equivalent surface area of more than 268 feet of oneinch-diameter iron pipe. Some commercial installations are removing pounds of magnetite with magnetic filters. Tremendous amounts of existing debris must first be eliminated, otherwise it completely neutralizes an inhibitor.

At our company, we recommend a multistep approach that includes the cleaning and flushing of a system, the use of a magnetic and particulate filters as well as inhibitors as part of a complete system health program.

Just using chemicals alone is insufficient. Even an A-rated boiler will deteriorate rapidly if it’s fitted to a system that hasn’t been flushed and cleaned effectively.

Neil Watson is the chief technical officer for Adey, a manufacturer of products designed to protect heating and cooling systems. For more information about filtration options, contact his company at neil.watson@adey.com.

Hydronic Products

Climate control system Uponor's Climate Control Zoning System II is engineered to support up to six thermostats and eight actuators from a single base unit. An expansion module can increase that to 12 thermostats and 14 actuators, respectively.

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Combi boiler Lochinvar’s Noble fire tube combi boiler is available in three sizes, 110,000, 150,000 and 199,999 BTUH, and offers a 95% AFUE efficiency rating. All three models are equipped with a backlit Advanced Electronic Control unit that displays diagnostic information in words instead of codes.

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Business for Sale: The following turnkey business opportunity is currently available. Ideally suited for business expansion, or for a motivated self-starter.

Company Location: Ontario; ‘705’ area-code region Company Sector: Complete plumbing & hydronic services Company Markets: Residential & light commercial Company Services: New construction; renovation; service Yearly Sales: $1.0 - $1.25 million Established: 1971 Asking Price: $300,000 Financing: Vendor willing to finance All inquiries are strictly confidential and will be vetted for possible conflict of interest. Contact us, in confidence, at 416-457-9563, or 705classified@mechanicalbusiness.com

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19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON, L6J 0B2 Confidential Communication: Tel: 416-457-9563, 705classified@mechanicalbusiness.com M e c h a n i c a l

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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.

Find the Fix

FIXING IT ALL UP So we’ve gone and made some changes to that pesky heating system that we’ve been dealing with for the past few issues – the one where the homeowner had concerns that his boilers were not set up p and programmed correctly. Looking oking at this new schematic of the revised ed system, let’s discuss some of the adjustments tments that we’ve made.

1. After doing the repairs to make ake the system work, are mixing valves ves B and C installed correctly?

3 If you installed the indirect S/R piping as per the optional piping (dashed lines) using a “Twin T” or closely spaced Tees, what one advantage could you have?

a) Yes b) No c) It depends. d) Only if the flux capacitor is properly charged.

2. If Zone 1, the 80,000 BTUs of in-joist radiant heating, has a Delta T of 10°F, what should we select for the size of the piping to the manifold? a) 3/4” like the mixing valve. b) 1” would work better. c) 1-1/4” if it is steel or plastic piping. d) 1-1/4” if copper, but you would be at the limit for velocity at 4 feet per second, as per ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook. e) Either C or D would be appropriate.

Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com.

Please include your name and daytime phone number.

Looking for the September/October answers?

If you need the answers to last edition’s quiz, you’ll find them at our home on the web, www.mechanicalbusiness.com. Just click the “Looking for Answers?” button on our homepage.

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a) The system side could still run during a long call for DHW and provide enough heat. b) You would help ensure a large Delta T, so the boilers could run more efficiently. c) None. That is not how you would pipe it in the real world. d) A & B 4. If we are using a Delta T of 10°F, what would the flowrate be for Zone 1? a) 4 gpm b) 8 gpm c) 10 gpm

d) 12.5 gpm e) 16 gpm

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REFRIGERATION

OPTIMIZING

COMPRESSOR LIFE THROUGH PROPER COMMISSIONING

1

START WITH THE TERMINAL BOX In many situations, a compressor is factory-installed and pre-wired into a condensing unit or package. As a first step, check to ensure that the compressor nameplate voltage and frequency are correct for the application.

And then remove the terminal box cover for a visual inspection.

Look for loose debris, like metal filings, unused washers, nuts, etc. It is not common to find these types of materials in premanufactured equipment, but it has happened on occasion.

Loose metal floating around the terminal box is likely to cause a problem, such as creating a short between terminals or between terminals and the terminal plate itself, which is, of course, grounded.

T

he commissioning process is a crucial time for a compressor.

Improper commissioning can significantly reduce its life expectancy, so there are several key points that should be considered during the startup process.

Bridge bars will typically be installed, since many applications use a “directonline” or “across-the-line” start approach.

If there are no bridge bars, there is a chance that the compressor was intended to be started using the “part-wind” start method, where a total of six wires are fed from two contactors inside the control panel. With nine-lead, dual-voltage motors, there should always be some bridge bars in place.

The position of the bridge bars should be compared to the compressor manufacturer’s instructions or wiring diagram. This is often affixed to the underside of the terminal box cover.

Next, check the bridge bars and terminal connections. With six-terminal, three-phase motors, there will generally be three bridge bars installed, or there will be none installed.

Phil Boudreau

Wiring terminations should be checked to ensure that the insulation has been properly removed and that the wires are sufficiently tightened into the terminal lugs.

Next, check the protection module to ensure that it is correctly wired so that it will take the compressor offline in the event of stator overheating.

Phil is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at:

pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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Refillabl Refi ble bl e cy yli lind nder nd errs av avai a la labl ble e in Canada.

Make the Switch to Solstice® N40

Solstice N40 (R-448A) is the most exciting new refrigerant in commercial refrigeration for new supermarkets and for R-404A and R-22 retrofits. Its GWP of 1273 is 68% lower than R-404A, and demonstrates a 5-16% lower energy consumption in medium-temperature refrigeration.

Learn more at honeywell-refrigerants.com.

Solstice N40 ®

©2016 Honeywell International Inc.

REFRIGERATION

2

3 4

DOUBLE CHECK THE PRESSURE

HEAT THE OIL H

Cold oil increases the rate at which refrigerant is absorbed into it. As the amount of refrigerant in the oil increases, the viscosity decreases. Even the addition of small amounts of oil can have a significant impact on the viscosity of the lubricant.

Never assume that pressure controls are pre-set from the factory. A condensing unit can be used in a number of applications, using various refrigerants, so the equipment manufacturer may not always set pressure controls.

When setting these pressure controls, always remember that the setpoints of these controls should never allow the compressor to operate outside its intended envelope.

Starting the compressor with oil that is not properly warmed up, and laden with refrigerant, results in a lack of lubrication for bearings, cylinder walls and other components. Under these conditions, it is also possible for foaming to occur. When foaming reaches the point where it appears to occupy the entire crankcase, lubrication of the compressor is further complicated.

As a general recommendation, oil should be warmed to at least 30ºF (17ºC) above the ambient temperature or saturated suction pressure that exists at startup – whichever is higher. This can take several hours, but it must be done. This recommendation is a minimum value.

Allowing more time for the oil to heat will certainly benefit the compressor.

THE CHARGING PROCESS

Before charging the system, it is a good idea to determine approximately how much refrigerant will be needed. Don’t forget any additional charge needed to support low ambient operation when a condenser flooding system is present.

There are a number of ways that compressor life may be reduced during charging.

When systems use a high-side receiver, charge as much of the charge as possible into the high side. Although, it is generally recommended to charge only vapour into the low side, manufacturers may allow small amounts of liquid to be metered into the low side of the system, providing that certain compressor operating temperatures are monitored

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I

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TOOL TIP

and limited to values that permit its safe operation.

Discharge superheat and crankcase oil temperature should be monitored during charging. Low discharge superheat and low crankcase oil temperature are generally indicators that the rate of charging is being pushed too much.

Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure that these temperatures do not drop below the minimum recommend levels. Failure to respect the values listed by the manufacturer can significantly reduce the life of the compressor.

5

SHORT CYCLING When a system that contains a partial refrigerant charge is being brought online, it is possible for short cycling of the low-pressure control to take place.

Short cycling results in an accumulation of motor heat as the compressor frequently draws the starting current. Always respect the compressor cycling limits stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Anti-short-cycle timers are a great way to prevent short cycling, but they cannot do their job if they are bypassed or set to the minimum timing in an effort to save time on a job.

Forcing the low-pressure switch to remain closed in order to “pull” the refrigerant into the system can allow the compressor to operate outside its envelope, and can even allow the compressor to operate in a vacuum.

Low pressure controls should never be bypassed. It is always best to take the time needed in order to get the job done correctly.

6

Reciprocating, p g the right g wayy

G

o to any jobsite and one of the most coveted tools you’ll find is a reciprocating saw. Everyone seems to have one, or want one, b butt nott everyone h has b been shown how tto h h get the most out of “the sledge hammer of saws.”

Undoubtedly, the primary application for a recip is demolition. Need to tear out a wall? No problem. Pesky pipes need to go? Already done. Wood, metal, plastic? The material matters not, although blade choices should be considered.

Just remember, the cuts will be rough, but that’s fine for most applications where this type of tool comes into play.

When using the saw, always have as much support as possible on the shoe. That’s the metal piece that surrounds the blade at the end of the saw. Hold the saw with the shoe against the material with the blade resting on the material. Let the blade do the work. Slight rocking can help with wood, but don’t do that with metal, and adjust the speed of the tool based on the material being cut.

Pressure should be just enough to keep the bladed cutting back and forth, but not so heavy as to bind the blade or stop the saw. This could result in kickback and that is dangerous.

REFRIGERANT FLOW CONTROLS

SELECT YOUR BLADE

During operation, the expansion valve, as well as various regulators, will need to be set to match the application. The regulators must not allow the compressor to operate outside its intended envelope.

Use the correct blades for the material.

Blades are available for wood and wood with embedded fasteners, as well as for metal pipe, tube stock, and even cast iron.

Always use the correct blades, and sharp blades. Dull accessories will not work well. If excessive pressure is applied, things will bind up and accidents can result.

It is also important to consider the operating conditions during pull-down to ensure that the compressor remains inside its envelope.

Excessive suction pressure may overload the motor, in some cases. Reed valves are also subject to excessive activity and will lead to wear and possible breakage when the suction pressure remains high for long periods of time.

Where a crankcase regulator has been installed and properly set, this condition should not take place.

7

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW UP After commissioning the system, prepare a startup report containing baseline operating data like pressures, temperatures, voltages and amperages. Return to the site e soon after initial startup to change the oil and filters, ters, and to confirm that all modes of operation are working correctly.

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

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HVAC/R Products P Electric floor heating thermostats Danfoss’ LX205T Wi-Fi Touch Thermostat is designed for electric underfloor heating applications, and is capable of controlling the company’s LX Floor Warming Mats, LX Floor Warming Cables or the TX Thermal Trace electric heating products. The thermostat enables remote access to the system via iOS and Android apps.

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Wi-Fi thermostat The Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Thermostat from White Rodgers features illuminated terminals, a builtin level and geofencing. The unit can use a smartphone’s location to make automatic adjustments to home temperature settings, and offers a customizable, seven-day thermostat schedule to fit the user’s lifestyle.

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Variable refrigerant flow system

Digital vacuum gauge uge

Daikin’s VRV Aurora 575V Series Heat Recovery systems are engineered for Canada’s 575-volt applications. They deliver heating down to -22°F (-30°C) and feature vapour-injection compressor technology. BTUH delivery ranges from 72,000 to 240,000, depending on model.

Testo’s 552 Digital Vacuum Micron Gauge provides vacuum m measurements with a resolution n of one micron. It displays the saturation temperature of H2O to ensure full and proper evacuation. on.

Its illuminated display also has a visual alarm for evacuation pressure. Using Bluetooth, it links to a smartphone to provide de analysis and reporting.

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HVAC/R Products P Building management system The Honeywell LCBS Connect is a cloud-based connected solution thatt allows for remote 24/7 system monitoring and diagnostics. Users can troubleshoot light commercial buildings from anywhere, and can receivee diagnostic data and actionable analytics, as well as notifications in the event of problems, to keep buildings operating at peak performance.

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Drop-in replacement RS Cool’s RS-70 (R-453A) is a drop-in replacement for R-22 refrigerant. Featuring a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1,765, it is compatible with mineral, alkyl benzene and POE oils. It can be used in either air conditioning or refrigeration applications and has similar mass flow, pressures, capacity and energy efficiency as R-22 over a wide range of temperatures.

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Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

Online Reviews: The good, the bad, or even the downright mean M Receiving compliments If you receive a great review, acknowledge it. Often, companies receive praise and are very appreciative but don’t actually show it. By simply thanking the customer with a quick reply, it shows your appreciation and adds a personal touch. Everyone wants to feel cared about right?

An example of a good review can range from a simple “Great job!” to a more detailed one with an employee’s name. A response that references the customer’s comment gets bonus points. Don’t be too generic, but show you put some effort into replying.

“How nice! Thank you. We agree that Judy is top notch – and she bakes a mean peanut butter cookie, too!” is better than “Thanks for the positive review.”

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

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y wife and I recently spent several weeks traveling. A day didn’t go by that we weren’t asked to provide an online review. Whether it’s a restaurant, group tour, car rental, hotel, or a plumbing or HVAC contractor, reviews have become integral tools in the marketing mix.

Other customers’ experiences are often the first step consumers will take before purchasing, visiting or booking anything these days.

There are so many dos and don’ts, and pros and cons, to keep up with when it comes to handling the thumb ups or downs that our businesses receive each and every day. And it’s important to stay on top of these, because online reviews and conversations are open to the public, and can ultimately make or break a company.

Some common questions I’ve fielded about reviews include: • Is it cool to actually ask for a review, or should I just wait for • How do we know if that person isn’t a mean internet troll?

• Is it worth the money to resolve every complaint?

• Should I offer something to people who leave good reviews?

people to do it?

Yes, it’s cool to ask. I’ve received several business cards or emails from companies providing instructions about how and where to post a review, and that’s okay. As a start, include instructions for Google and HomeStars, as well as for your Facebook page, if you’re on that platform.

It’s important to invite everyone to review – not just the calls where you’re pretty sure they’ll be nice. People talk, and if word gets out you’re cherry-picking the reviewers, things could get ugly. As for the reviews that come in… well, read on.

Negotiating the bad The reality is that people are far more likely to share a bad review than a good one. Analytics showed that 33% of negative reviews on Yelp turn positive when a company takes time to respond to the unhappy customer. So, that should be one goal.

A bad review can be a quick “What a rip off!” to more detailed information like, “I sat on the phone for 15 minutes before speaking to someone, only to have them transfer me and wait again.”

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Always apologize (whether you feel like it or not) and explain the reason for the mishap. A bonus us is offering to discuss itt further.

If you receive a poor or review, acknowledge ge it – quickly, and on the platform where it was written. Then, take it offline by sending a direct message or asking the person to email or phone you directly.

This shows you’ve dealt with it without publicizing exactly how.

Negative reviews hurt your average rating and there can be people trolling the internet and leaving fake reviews. If you suspect that’s the case, you can contact the review site and ask them to investigate and delete it.

Mitigating the mean M The angriest customers go into extreme detail with their online and social media reviews, naming everything they possibly can. This nam can be b jeopardizing to the company and an individual within it. Stopping the review from indivi spreading online is top priority.

Step 1 is to aapologize and offer a solution. If an online conversation continues, make it an urgent priority for a high-ranking principal to speak with them directly.

conclusion. Hopefully, the customer will agree in a final comment.

Of course, some grievances won’t be resolved. In that case, there comes a time when you should stop acknowledging or commenting if the angry person continues to leave disparaging comments. If you’re managing the other reviews well enough, and generally getting good reviews, the bad ones don’t stand out as much.

Once the issue is resolved, leave a comment that acknowledges that you reached an amicable

Keys to online review management • Check reviews regularly. If possible, set them up so you’re notified when a review comes in.

• Acknowledge everyone who took the time to write something.

• Apologize, even when you don’t want to.

• Don’t get into an online public battle. Contact the reviewer privately.

• Be authentic. Don’t copy and paste generic messages. You are not a robot.

• Offer a solution to fix issues.

• Don’t take it personally.

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PLUMBING B y D e ni se D ev e a u

UPSELL IDEAS FOR KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS W

hen quoting a kitchen or bathroom job, more often than not you will put together a quote based on a list of specifications and leave it at that, but a renovation or new build project can be a perfect time to think about pointing out some extra features that customers may be willing to consider – once they hear about them.

“The upselling opportunities are definitely there,” says Scott Duncan, sales manager for Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply.

“Beyond the basic fixtures, we’re seeing some really interesting products and finishes now that are popular with customers, especially in the higher end brands.”

Gordon Stille of Bathworks says customers are willing to pay extra for quality items that suit their aesthetic. “For example,” he says, “the most used appliance in your kitchen is your faucet. Why would your customer not want to spend more on a quality product that will last longer?”

He adds that technological innovations are also becoming increasingly important to homeowners, whether it’s a Bluetooth showerhead that can link with smartphones for streaming music, or faucets with touch technology.

“Whether a manufacturer is the first to innovate or follows somebody else’s innovation, all the major ones are coming out with them, because these are the kinds of things more and more customers are looking for.”

Ultimately it’s all about giving customers their money’s worth, and then some, says Jacqui MacNichol, showroom consultant with Wolseley Canada Plumbing division. “A big part of our business is helping customers achieve more with their price point. But there are also lots of things available to upsell them. It’s about giving them a whole package rather than just faucets and showers.”

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Royal flushess You might think ink a tion toilet installation is a pretty basic sic line item in your quote, but you can always up the ante by suggesting uggesting a wall mount option. n. Or better yet, a bidet seat – a concept that showroom managers anagers say is all the rage right ght now.

Amercican Standard

“Bidet seats are re very, very popular right now, and can be installed on existing xisting toilets or they can be built into t new unit,” it ” MacNichol M Ni h l says. “Some have features like pre-misting, heating, front and rear washers and a dryer, and can run from $600 to $1,800.”

Or here’s another fun feature for the homeowner who turns green at the thought of scrubbing toilets: a self-cleaning toilet with built-in electronic controls that dispense cleaning fluid and flush automatically at scheduled times.

STAY-AT-HOME IDEAS

Shower power

With older Canadians looking to stay home longer, many are turning to bathroom conversion ideas that include walk-in tubs or barrier-free wet room showers with hand rails and seating, Stille says.

There are always ways you can up the bath and shower experience, from digital controls or Wi-Fi compatible fixtures to steam functions or body jets.

You can even throw in a bit of aromatherapy for a treat.

Diana Di Carlo, sales and operations manager for Desco’s water closet showroom, notes that newer tubs are turning heads with features like air-jet whirlpool combo systems – an attractive option for people with skin conditions or who enjoy pampering themselves. A freestanding system can run up to $8,000. “It has more effect than just relaxing in a spalike tub. It has health benefits too.”

Solid surface tubs using materials like volcanic limestone are going strong, she adds. “Not only do they have wonderful warmth retention, it’s said they add natural minerals to the water. They are stupendous and look very edgy and modern.” The price tag for one of these beauties can be well over $10,000.

Grohe

“Rather than mom and dad having to downsize or move to a seniors’ home, the best next step might be to spend a few thousand dollars converting their existing bathrooms,” he says.

According to showroom folks, a big upsell is steam systems for showers. “You can up the experience even further with lights and music,” MacNichol says.

An attractive feature for shower areas are linear channel drains that give everything a more modern, clean look. Another option are shower towers, in which all the functions are wrapped in a pillar, making for an easy retrofit. Some even have anti-fog mirrors for shaving.

Don’t forget behind the walls as well. Upgrading valves during the rough-in stages allows you to run several functions off a single valve, so users can have a better, customized shower experience using a single or multiple features at once.

Fixing up the fixtures

And for the physically challenged or elderly, you can always suggest decorative grab bars that are a cut above the norm, she adds. “These can bring your shower to a new level instead of bringing it down with a commercial-style bar.”

Under-the-counter deals

Moen

A nice renovation upgrade is a compact instant hot water system. Beyond the fact users can have tea and coffee ready in an instant, the system can be used to disinfect toys, warm baby bottles or steam vegetables quickly.

InSinkErator

If you’re looking for some added revenue, don’t forget to suggest possible ideas for under the kitchen sink.

It’s never a problem to add a bit of bling to your proposal when talking faucets, whether in the kitchen or bathroom.

Today’s hottest finishes for fixtures are matte black and gold, with some champagne bronze thrown into the mix as well.

Some fixtures can even be custom ordered in colours like purple or teal.

“People are realizing they can invest in an indoor system that has all the functionality and benefits of a hot tub and takes the stigma away from walk-in tubs,” Di Carlo says. A handy feature on some newer walk-ins is a quick drain system that can do the job within 90 seconds.

For the kitchen, sensor faucets are really where it’s at right now, Di Carlo says. Some suppliers even have foot sensors, which are handy for the mobility challenged who have difficulty reaching or turning faucets.

Food waste disposers are also making a comeback, as companies come out with more compact, quieter systems, reports Duncan. “In some areas waste systems couldn’t handle food in the water, but that’s not an issue anymore.”

If you’re working from a clean slate, pot fillers installed behind stoves are a handy kitchen accessory that users might not have considered.

Homeowners are also big on additional sinks for prepping vegetables or working at an island.

Water filtration systems are also small enough to be installed under the sink to provide a constant supply of water for cooking and drinking.

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PLUMBING

Products

Tankless on tank A.O. Smith’s TX1 integrated tankless on tank is a 119-gallon (US) storage tank with an integrated CT-199 condensing tankless unit. The 199,000 BTUH unit has a thermal efficiency rating of 96 per cent, a maximum temperature set point of 185°F, and can be vented using ULC S636 PVC, CPVC or polypropylene.

Faucet with temperature limiter American Standard’s NextGen Selectronic touchless faucet incorporates a thermostatic hot water temperature limiter. This is designed to protect users from scalding and eliminates the need to specify and install a separate thermostatic mixing valve. The integrated design contains its electronics in its spout, rather than in a control box below the deck.

www. hotwater.com

www. americanstandard.ca

Grinder pumps Franklin Electric Co.’s Little Giant GP P Series grinder pump models operate across a range of voltages, from 208 to 230 V. The company’s GP-A (Automatic) matic) and GP-M (Manual) versions each employ mploy a two hp single-phase, 3,450 rpm with th capacitor start/run motor with built-in n overload protection to prevent over-cururrent and over-temperature damage. Each unit features a non-clogging impeller designed for pumping sewage slurries.

The shut-off head is 130 feet.

Ozone infused water Franke Kindred Canada’s Medi-flo sink is designed to limit exposure to healthcare-associated infections.

The sink infuses water with ozone and other mixed oxidants, keeping hands and the drain free from bacteria and pathogens. The sink incorporates freedraining, smooth curves and an integral rib to further direct water flow into the open drain.

www. littlegiant.com

Kinetic water ram General Pipe Cleaners’ Kinetic Water Ram is designed to clear clogged drains. Simply pump it up, insert it into the drain and snap the trigger. It uses compressed air to generate a shockwave to pulverize stoppages. The shockwave bypasses vents and goes around bends to reach the stoppage with marginal loss of power.

Pressure relief pneumatic test plugs Test-Tite is offering a redesigned series of pneumatic test plugs (1½” to 4”) with built-in pressure relief (PR) valves. The valves, which are available from G.F. Thompson, release excess pressure if the plug has accidentally been overinflated, preventing damage to the plug and increasing user safety.

www. ipscorp.com

www. drainbrain.com

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Hydronic Products High-efficiency boiler The high-efficiency UCS 240 condensing hot water boiler from Utica Boilers is made for residential or light commercial applications. The unit has a 95% AFUE rating, features a built-in boiler loop pump and has a low-water pressure sensor. Also included is a primary/ secondary manifold.

Steam and hot water boiler Cleaver-Brooks’ CBEX Dryback Elite is designed to achieve three per cent O2 across its 10:1 turndown range. The 250 to 800 HP boiler offers 82% nominal efficiency, producing less than 10 ppm of CO. It has been constructed to offer unencumbered access to all parts of the boiler for maintenance. It includes the company’s Hawk control system for oxygen trim and variable speed drive control.

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Dirt and magnetic debris separation The Dirtmag from Caleffi is engineered to remove nonferrous debris as small as five microns from systems. The unit removes debris from the flow path using nareaeodymium rare-earth magnets to attract and capture microscopic ferrous oxide impurities. Dirt separation mesh separates dirt particles from the flow stream using deflection and gravity. Debris is captured in a lower bowl. Opening the purge valve and removing the magnetic ring releases captured magnetic impurities and purges all dirt without shutting down the system.

Combi boiler and water heater The Laars Mascot FT is a condensing combi boiler and water heater with an AFUE rating of 95%. The fully modulating system features a fire tube heat exchanger.

The natural gas or LP-fired units are offered in sizes up to 199,000 BTUH in combi-boiler, water heater or heating-only boiler models.

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© 2017 Selkirk is a registered trademark of Johnson Controls, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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Hydronic Products Combi boiler

Smart circulator Bell & Gossett’s ecocirc 19-16 variable-speed ECM circulator automatically adjusts pump performance for efficiency. It features three operation modes: Proportional Pressure, Constant Pressure and Constant Speed.

Maximum system pressure is 150 PSI. Minimum to maximum fluid temperature ranges from -10ºC to 110ºC.

Bosch’s Greenstar Combi 100P gascondensing boiler is designed to provide heating and domestic hot water to apartments, condominiums and single-family homes. The unit provides up to 2.6 GPM of DHW in a wallmounted unit. It has a maximum input rate of 100,000 BTUH and a minimum input rate of 24,600 BTUH.

www. boschheatingandcooling.com

Variable-speed circulator Available in four sizes, the sensorless 00e VR line from Taco Comfort Solutions provides differential head pressures of up to 42 feet and flows up to 360 GPM. The circulators offer self-sensing dynamic auto (factory default), proportional and constant pressure, plus manual variable speed modes.

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DEMAND THE BEST Communicating i ti condensing d i boilers

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Weil-McLain’s SlimFit condensing gas boiler series features boiler-to-boiler communication, Modbus and BACnet for linking with BAS systems, and an express set up wizard with 10 pre-set heating settings. They are available in five sizes, ranging from 550,000 to 2,000,000 BTUH. The boilers offer flexible venting configurations up to 100 feet.

www. weil-mclain.ca

Compression sleeve fitting Rehau’s Everloc+ compression-sleeve fitting ting system is designed for use with Raupex UV shield PEXa pipe in potable water applications and Raupex O2 barrier pipe for hydronic heating and cooling systems. The units are available in both polymer and lead-free brass fittings in diameters of up to 2”.

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HiTech Dispensing Inc.

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STUFF YOU NEED Combustible gas leak detector Klein’s ET-120 Gas Leak Detector, available from Ontor, provides audible and visual alarms in the presence of methane, propane or other combustible gases at concentrations as low as 50 ppm. Five red LEDs as well as 85 db audible alerts warn of an increase in gas concentration. For added convenience, the unit features automatic zero-point calibration upon power-up and an 18” flexible gooseneck for extended sensor reach.

Drain clearing air gun Milwaukee Tool’s cordless M12 AirSnake drain clearing air gun allows users to clear clogs without removing drain covers and traps. The M12 uses compressed air to flush clogs up to 35 feet out as well as remove grease and sludge from pipe walls. It’s designed to deliver sufficient power to clear clogs past vent stacks.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

www. ontor.com

Oscillating O ill ti multi-tool

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

Bosch’s 12V Max EC Brushless Starlock Oscillating Multi-Tool features the company’s Starlock 3-D interface for cutting, scraping, grinding and sanding. Its accessory connection is cupped and shaped like a bottle cap to provide more contact surface area for blade grip and better torque transfer. The unit produces a top speed of up to 20,000 oscillations per minute and offers a 2.8-degree oscillating arc.

Cordless tripod light DeWalt’s LED 20V Max Cordless Tripod Light is designed to illuminate work areas handsfree, and is compatible with all of the company’s 20V Max and Flexvolt batteries. The light has three brightness settings and delivers a maximum output of 3,000 lumens. It collapses for portability and storage.

www. boschtools.com

www. dewalt.ca

Flaring kit RectorSeal’s Pro-Fit Precision Flaring Kit is a pipe-flaring tool designed for copper and aluminum tubing used in air conditioning and refrigeration work. The tool is designed to help prevent potential sidewall splits and leaks when forming 45-degree, field-applied refrigeration tubing flare connections. The kit consists of five bell-shaped, colour-coded, size-inscribed flaring bits designed for 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4-inch (6, 7.5, 12, 16, 19-mm) tubing.

Carbide tipped blades Lenox has released a pair of carbide-tipped reciprocating saw blades for tough-to-cut materials. Lazer CTTM Reciprocating Saw Blades are designed for cutting non-ferrous metals and ferrous metals. They’re offered in 4”, 6” and 9” lengths. Demolition CTTM Reciprocating Saw Blades are designed for tough, nail-embedded bedded wood applications, and are available in 6”, ”, 9” and 12” lengths.

www. lenoxtools.com

www. rectorseal.com 78

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HVAC

B y Michael W ilk ins on, Ry an Colem an and Dan Br a dle y

Optimizing furnace installs

Michael Wilkinson is the building science research engineer for RDH Building Science and can be reached at mwilkinson@rdh.com. Ryan Coleman is the founder and CEO of Ecolighten Energy Solutions and can be reached at ryan@ecolighten.com. Dan Bradley is the energy utilization manager for FortisBC Energy and can be reached at dan. bradley@fortisbc.com.

Filter cabinet installation and filter media selection

I

n the September/October ber edition of Mechanical Business, we outlined ined llation several key furnace installation practices that, if followed, d, nt can optimize replacement furnace performance.

The aim, of course, is improved comfort, durability and energy savings for homeowners.

Unfortunately, the realworld conditions found in n many mechanical rooms do not match the conditionss that would make quality furnace installations easy. y.

In order to remove some of the barriers associated with ith furnace replacements, FortisBC ortisBC C has published the High-Efficiency Furnace Effi i F Installation Guide for Existing Homes that highlights installation considerations and techniques for high-efficiency furnace replacements.

The guide was prepared by Ecolighten Energy Solutions and RDH Building Science, in consultation with such industry stakeholders as the Province of British Columbia, FortisBC, TECA and HRAI. Of note, the guide includes a section on common challenges encountered by contractors in the field, proposing several solutions for troubleshooting existing site conditions.

While some of the solutions proposed may help, they do not reflect all of the challenges that a contractor may encounter as part of a quality furnace installation, and local regulations may vary, so if in doubt, consult with your local inspectors and building officials.

The performance of a retrofit furnace is significantly influenced by both filter selection and filter cabinet accessibility and sealing. The existing furnace may include a filter cabinet that is inaccessible, unsealed or inappropriately sized for the new furnace filter media.

When replacing a furnace and the filter cabinet, framing and other o mechanical appliances are often situated directly adjacent the t newly installed furnace, interfering with potential ductwork modifications. m In this situation, one of these solutions may help overcome the ob obstacle: • A lift kit can be constructed out of sheet metal and installed beneath ben nea the furnace base to avoid adjacent obstacles.

• The fil filter cabinet can be located elsewhere in the return retu urn air drop ductwork where there is more avail space available.

• The hot water tank or framing can be moved in order to accommodate the new furnace cabinet.

Remember, the secondary heat exchanger included in modern condensing furnaces has many small passages that are susceptible to obstruction by small particulate matter. Selection of a thicker filter with higher filtration efficiency can help protect these sensitive furnace components.

NEW THERMOSTAT AND WIRING Modern furnaces often include a staged gas valve that can improve building occupant comfort and save energy, if used. To take advantage of the staged gas valve, highefficiency furnaces require a compatible thermostat with the correct number of wires.

Older single-stage thermostats require only two low-voltage wire connections, whereas newer thermostats generally require three, or more, wires. To capitalize on the improved features of the new furnace, the old thermostat should be replaced.

Where fishing new wiring to the existing thermostat location poses a challenge, it may be possible to: • Move the new thermostat to a location where the new wiring can be easily installed;

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HVAC

COMBUSTION AIR VENTING Older furnaces are typically natural draft appliances with a single exhaust vent pipe.

The high-efficiency condensing furnaces that replace these existing models are designed for use with a two-pipe system where both exhaust and combustion air are connected directly outside.

• Install the new thermostat and wiring at, or near, the furnace and use a remote temperature sensor located at the old thermostat location; or • Install a wireless thermostat that interacts with the furnace without wiring.

Installing the required venting can be challenging, particularly when the existing furnace is situated in the centre of a finished home. Penetrations caused by the new venting must not compromise the building enclosure. In some situations, municipalities may place restrictions on where the venting termination can occur.

Where municipal bylaws do not prevent sidewall venting, the most common venting route is horizontally through the exterior wall. Often, a makeup air pipe already penetrates the exterior wall that can be removed and reused for the new venting.

DUCTWORK MODIFICATIONS

In situations where a new hole through the wall is desired, venting can be Typically, existing ductwork is not sized correctly routed adjacent the existing exhaust venting and terminated with a concentric for the existing furnace system, let alone its highvent termination kit flush to the wall, or with two pipes with elbows up and efficiency replacement. Newer furnaces produce down, respectively. higher airflow levels than older models, and this should be accommodated for in the system In single-level ranchers or two-storey homes, it is often practical to install the ductwork. new venting vertically by using the existing B-vent route through the floors Oversized or undersized ductwork as well as poor and roof above. A concentric termination kit can then be used at the existing B-vent flashing. sheet metal fittings can affect static pressure and increase turbulence in the ductwork which may Where the home has a vented crawlspace, the new venting can be routed place additional stresses on the replacement furnace through the floor and out through the basement foundation. blower fan.

Where the new venting penetrates the exterior of the building, always ensure In order to understand what duct modifications that the necessary insulation, flashing, and air and moisture barrier repairs are needed, an external static pressure (ESP) test are completed. should be taken prior to selecting the new furnace.

Where the existing furnace orientation limits testing access, the needed ductwork modifications can be estimated using a “Ductulator.”

If the existing ESP readings are high, investigate the home for closed ACIDIC CONDENSATE REMOVAL or blocked grilles or duct runs. If no obstructions are observed, it may be possible to drop the size High-efficiency condensing furnaces produce acidic of the new furnace down condensate that must be managed. The furnace appliance a BTU size, while adding must be tipped to drain, or levelled to the manufacturer’s an alternative heat source recommendations, with condensate removed via a direct to make up the remaining line to an interior floor drain in order to prevent corrosion heating demand. of furnace components.

Supplementary ductwork In some situations, an easily accessible floor drain is not or a new spill grille at the available.

Furthermore, some municipalities or authorities furnace can also be added having jurisdiction (AHJs) do not allow draining of the to achieve lower ductwork condensate directly into the municipal sewer system. pressures.

If the existing ductwork If permissible, find a drain that is accessible and below ESP readings are low, it the furnace cabinet. Otherwise, a pump can be installed to may be possible to partially transfer condensate to an acceptable drain. Note that drain close some of the supply piping should be braided to ensure that no kinks develop or return air grilles to along the line. raise the ESP within the In situations where untreated condensate cannot ductwork. be drained into the municipal sewer system, an acid neutralizer such as limestones chips can be installed to treat the condensate.

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Fieldpiece Instruments’ SDMN6 Dual Port Manometer and Pressure Switch Tester measures gas, static and differential pressure as well as accurately tests pressure switches by simulating a draft with an internal pump. The tester also allows technicians to easily calibrate any adjustable pressure switch to the furnace manufacturer’ss specifications.

Visit our website to learn more about our new complete radiant solutions program!

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The Marketplace Ads from $995

SPOTLIGHTS GENIUS™ ELECTRONIC SHOWER

INTRODUCING THE AQUA2

Riobel’s Genius™ Shower is an electronic pressurebalanced thermostatic shower system. Installation is easier than a regular shower, since the Genius™ Shower’s valve is designed to be inserted between two 2x3-inch studs in a discreet spot (such as a closet, under the sink or behind the shower). The Genius™ delivers up to 19 litres of water per minute at 60 psi, and is one of the few electronic systems on the market offering an auto-recharge battery with a 1.5-hour lifespan.

The most economically priced tankless water heater on the market is now in Canada. The Aqua2 uses its very own stainless steel heat exchanger technology to generate 190,000 BTU/h. on It features 10-to-1 modulation and an ultra-efficient EF rating ng of .97. Capable of 7.02 GPM at 54ºF rise, the Aqua2 is re-circ ready and features installer-friendly 2” PVC, CPVC and polypropylene venting. nting All the features off a boiler, in a quality-built economical water heater.

CONDENSAZIONE

riobel.ca POWER VTX CONDENSING WATER HEATERS PVI Industries’ POWER VTX features a DOE-certified 95.5% thermal efficiency, low NOx pre-mix burner with full modulation, and 225 gallons of storage with 500,000 to 1,000,000 BTU inputs. The tank and heat exchanger are fabricated from AquaPLEX duplex stainless steel (requiring no linings or anode systems) and come standard with a 15-year corrosion warranty.

radianthydronics.com fieldpiece.com EXPANDED SHARK SERIES The dependable Shark grinder series is offered in 1.0 and 1.5 hp models (818 and 819). Zoeller’s dual-bladed, angled cutter shreds difficult wastewater materials down to 1/8”.

This improved cutter delivers more torque per blade, which lowers amp spikes and extends pump life. These 100% factorytested pumps are available in automatic and nonautomatic models.

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EVENTS

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KBIS 2018 January 9-11, 2018 Orlando, Fla. www.kbis.com International Builders’ Show January 9-11, 2018 Orlando, Fla. www.buildersshow.com Interior Design Show January 18-21, 2018 Toronto, Ont. www.interiordesignshow.com ASHRAE Winter Conference January 20-24, 2018 Chicago, Ill. www.ashrae.org AHR Expo January 22-24, 2018 Chicago, Ill. www.ahrexpo.com CIPH Ontario Business Meeting January 31, 2018 Mississauga, Ont. www.ciph.com

N AT I O N A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N MANAGER

MIFAB seeks a National Specification Manager. The ideal candidate has experience calling on specifying engineers and National Accounts (Loblaws, Sobeys, Tim Horton’s, etc . . .)

Focus will be to get MIFAB’s range of plastic grease and oil interceptors and other products specified. Candidate will report to the President.

Excellent compensation, benefits and bonus package.

Reply to Michael Whiteside, President, MIFAB – mwhiteside@mifab.com

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1745

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ON THE RADAR

Photo: Eric Schrader

In a survey of facility and management executives regarding their views on energy efficiency:

58% Are expecting to increase energy investments next year.

CHARGED UP ABOUT CAPACITOR HISTORY Capacitors date back centuries, although early versions are somewhat different from the modern components that can be found in HVACR equipment. And while they discharge very slowly, many can store a charge for years.

1745

The year Pieter van Musschenbroek is credited with creating the Leyden jar, the first capacitor.

35,000 volts

The potential amount of electrical energy from friction that can be collected within a Leyden jar.

1.11

The earliest unit of capacitance was the jar, equivalent to about 1.11 nanofarads.

77% Rated cost reduction as a very or extremely significant driver in those investments.

75% Say HVAC equipment was the most popular improvement made last year.

71% Say maintaining critical operations during severe weather or extended power outages is very or extremely important when considering future infrastructure investments.

HOME OWNERSHIP STATS 9.5 million Homes owned by Canadians in 2016.

14.1 million Number of households in Canada.

67.8% Homeownership rate.

SETTLING ARGUMENTS EVERYWHERE

stable over the past decade (In 2006, the rate was 68.4% and in 2011 it was 69.0%). By contrast, from 1991 to 2006, the homeownership

1979

rate rose from 62.6% to 68.4%.

The year that the game Trivial Pursuit was invented by a pair of Montreal journalists.

MILLENNIALS THOUGHTS ON GENERATION Z Likely you’ve heard a baby boomer’s opinion on millennials (flattering or not). Have you ever wondered how millennials feel about GenZ, the generation following them?

20 Million

61% Millennials who believe GenZ will have a positive impact as their

Number of games sold in 1984, the peak of Trivial Pursuit popularity.

6

The rate of homeownership has been relatively

presence in the workplace expands.

Number of time zones that Canada stretches across. Scottish-born Canadian, Sir Sandford Fleming proposed a worldwide system of time zones in 1879.

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Introducing Serenity and Symphony Featuring all brass construction in today’s most popular finishes.

Including a hair catcher too! It’s sleek and contemporary styling will bring balance and harmony to your bathroom environment.

Exceptional quality will provide years of dependable use.

www.brontecollection.ca AAn OS&B® partner company

Get customers Connected with our WiFi solution •

Access tekmar WiFi thermostats & controls remotely with tekmar Connect mobile app

Hydronic Zoning Just Got Smarter Zoning with RoomResponse™ Zone Valve Controls 304V & 306V Switching Relays 304P & 306P Automatically adjust the boiler temperature based on feedback from ANY brand of low voltage thermostat to: • Improve comfort & efficiency • Avoid customer callbacks

Visit tekmarControls.com to learn more

WiFi thermostats with optional floor sensor WiFi Thermostat The 561 One Stag Stage Heat

WiFi The Thermostat 562 Two Stage Stag Heat, One Stage Co Cool, Fan

WiFi Thermostat 563 Conventional 2H/2C or Heat Pump 4H/2C