May/June 2013 by Plumbing and HVAC

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Meeting new rules proves challenging for manufacturers ■ Drain water heat recovery recognized ■ Dangerous refrigerant campaign boosted ■ Montreal show breaks records ■ GM launches new small van

MAY/JUNE 2013

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■ Contents

Kitchen & Bath Issue

Departments Hot Seat .........................................5 Industry News ..............................7 Drain water heat recovery gets boost

People & Places............................41 State-of-the-art showroom opens

Events...........................................43 Quebec’s largest mechanical show returns

Shop Management......................45 Establishing key elements for success

Products & Technologies Plumbing ......................................12

Get the lead out, Part II

Manufacturers make major changes to meet new regulations

Faucets & Fixtures .......................21 Air Conditioning..........................23 Heating ........................................27 Refrigeration ...............................31

Features

Ventilation ...................................35 Trucks for the Trade.....................37

Boiler plant maintenance

Keeping the crud out

Cover: Conbraco built a new foundry to comply with lead-free regulations

Persistent AC problems Year after year, same issues crop up

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

GM fills small van void

But the new offering will come as a surprise

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

■ Hot Seat

May/June 2013 Volume 23, Number 4 ISSN 1919-0395

Publisher Mark Vreugdenhil (416) 614-5819 mark@plumbingandhvac.ca

An explosive situation Sooner or later an HVAC technician is going to get seriously injured or killed. Only then, it appears, will government authorities take action. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is stepping up its campaign to prevent the sale of hydrocarbon refrigerants as homeowner do-it-yourself (DIY) air conditioning repair kits. But in the three years since the HRAI began lobbying government authorities and retail establishments these kits have become even more widely available. Now HRAI is targeting fire marshals with the message. Perhaps they will understand the dangers of putting an extremely flammable mixture of propane and isobutene into systems designed for and charged with nonflammable refrigerants. The danger is obvious, to anyone in the industry anyway. The typical scenario would go as follows: The homeowner’s air conditioning system isn’t working. He/she decides to save a few dollars by purchasing one of these DIY kits at the local big box store and then injects the refrigerant into the system, carefully following the instructions of course. The system still doesn’t provide adequate cooling, so they reluctantly call in an air conditioning contractor. The technician, not knowing that the homeowner has been messing with the system, starts working on it and fires up a torch. Kaboom! Not so fast, say the manufacturers and perhaps even the retailers of these kits. Hydrocarbon refrigerants are

widely used in Europe and other places. This may be true, but they were never intended to be mixed with R22, R404a or any of the other refrigerants we commonly use in North America. They are not approved for use in our air conditioning systems. The repair technician is not expecting to find them there. This is a case of do-it-yourself being taken to a ridiculous extreme. If a homeowner changes a faucet, they may get a little wet and cause some property damage, but the end result won’t likely be fatal. But that’s not the case when it comes to working with refrigerants – or natural gas and electricity for that matter. There is a good reason why technicians in these fields are trained and licensed. We see a lack of action from authorities at the same time governments are forcing a very difficult and expensive switch to lead-free plumbing products for potable water systems despite a complete lack of evidence that the current low-lead products represent any kind of a hazard. Unfortunately, the evidence in the case of hydrocarbon refrigerants will likely come in the form of a fatality or serious injury to someone in our industry. Hopefully the fire marshals step in before that happens.

Editor Simon Blake (416) 614-5820 simon@plumbingandhvac.ca Design and Production Tim Norton production@plumbingandhvac.ca Production Manager Lilianna Kantor (416) 614-5815 lily@newcom.ca Circulation Manager Pat Glionna Corporate Services Anthony Evangelista

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published eight times annually by NEWCOM Business Media Inc. and is written for individuals who purchase/ specify/approve the selection of plumbing, piping, hot water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and related systems and products throughout Canada.

NEWCOM Business Media Inc. 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4 Tel: (416) 242-8088 • Fax (416) 614-8861

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. A member of: Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Canadian Circulation Audit Board Mechanical Contractors Assoc. of Canada Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association American Society of Heating Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada

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■ Industry News

In Brief Hydrocarbon refrigerants The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is stepping up its campaign against potentially explosive hydrocarbon refrigerants sold in hardware stores. After approaching both the government and the retail outlets with little success, HRAI will now get the word out to provincial fire marshals beginning with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office. “With the air conditioning season nearly here, Canadians need to be aware that flammable refrigerants used in home or business air conditioning systems can create the potential for a serious explosion and fire, which could result in injury or death,” stated Warren Heeley, HRAI president. “It is time government authorities including provincial fire services take action on this potential hazard.”

Gerald Van Decker, left, and homebuilder John Godden extol the virtues of drain water heat recovery.

Geothermal group joins HRAI

Drain water heat recovery recognized Ontario amends building code By Simon Blake Ontario has recognized drain water heat recovery in its Building Code and will offer energy credits for including the technology in new construction. It is the first jurisdiction in North America to do so. It was all smiles at the plant of Renewability Energy Inc. in Kitchener, Ont. during a press event April 12 – the same location where just a year ago the industry and its advocates were furious after the Ontario government left drain water heat recovery (DWHR) devices out of a “recipe book” for green residential construction. Effective Jan. 1, 2012 the Ontario Building Code set energy conservation requirements for new homes. The code’s Supplementary Standard SB-12 Compliance Path Tables provided builders with a relatively easy procedure to comply. DWHR devices were not included despite being an Energy Star product. The lack of a CSA standard or test procedure for DWHR devices was the key roadblock, said officials with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at the time. That has since been rectified with the creation of the CSA B55 Standard. In fact Renewability is the first manufacturer to have its units tested and approved under the new standard, the company reported.

DWHR versus HRVs? There is some controversy to the move because of the

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way the Compliance Path Tables work. Builders can use different technologies to comply with the requirements. The goal is to save energy, which may not always result in the most effective mechanical system. As a result, if the builder installs a DWHR device, depending on the building’s location, they can either do away with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or use a less efficient unit, despite the lack of any relationship between mechanical ventilation and drain water heat recovery. “Does this make any sense at all?” asked David Terlizzi, technical advisor for the Manufacturer’s Division of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada at that group’s manufacturer’s meetings held in Mississauga, Ont. April 10. Buildings must still comply with OBC minimum ventilation requirements. However, the fear is that builders may opt for DWHR devices rather than HRVs because they are easy to install. A typical DWHR unit consists of a copper coil wrapped around a copper drainpipe, which recovers heat from the drain water of showers, dishwashers, etc. This heats the water in the coil, which is typically used to preheat water for the DHW heater. “In France (DWHR units) are rated the same as a solar hot water heating system,” remarked Gerald Van Decker, an engineer and RenewABILITY president.

On April 16 HRAI and the Ontario Geothermal Association (OGA) signed an agreement that will make OGA a part of HRAI. The culmination of 12 months of discussions, the agreement will see HRAI provide advocacy with regulators, training, marketing and industry statistics for OGA, which will operate as an affiliated association or chapter within HRAI.

Progress on prompt payment legislation Prompt payment legislation in Ontario has passed second reading in the legislature. The private members bill, designed to ensure that contractors are paid in a timely manner, received unanimous approval from all three parties. It is based on a framework agreement negotiated by the Ontario caucus of the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada and the Ontario General Contractors Association.

A significant milestone Having DWHR devices recognized in the SB-12 Compliance Path Tables is a significant milestone for the small Ontario company that has struggled to get its product recognized by code authorities in Canada while achieving significant success in the European market, he added. The United Kingdom and France have offered energy credits for DWHR for the past two years. However, today a number of Canadian builders are installing DWHR in new homes and companies like Home Depot and Sears are now selling DWHR units retail. RenewABILITY employs 20 people in Kitchener and expects to expand that workforce to about 35 by this time next year. It sells 7,000 to 10,000 units per year. For more information, visit www.renewability.com. ✚

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Industry News

Lead-free code changes moving quickly egulatory changes in Canada that will reduce the maximum allowable lead content in plumbing products used for potable water systems are moving quickly as a similar change in the U.S. approaches. As we reported in the last issue, the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act requires manufacturers to make all products for potable water applications lead-free by Jan. 4 in that country. The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) has been urging authorities to have no-lead requirements in place by Jan. 4 to correspond with the U.S. law. “Our concern is that if there’s no regulation in Canada, manufacturers will just take all of this leaded product and dump it into Canada,” said Jon Leeson, general manager of Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply in Toronto. However, the Canadian process is considerably different from that in the U.S. The Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Services (SCBPS) prepares the National Plumbing Code (NPC) under the direction of

the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), an independent committee of volunteers established by the National Research Council. Adoption and enforcement of the codes is the responsibility of the provincial and territorial authorities. These codes are amended on an ongoing basis. The NPC will reference the latest (2012) version of the CSA B125.3 Standard for Plumbing Fittings, which requires lead-free alloys (one quarter of one percent lead content or less on all wetted surfaces, using a weighted average of the wetted surfaces and material specifications) for potable water products, along with the ASME A112.18.1-2012/CSA B125.1-12 - Plumbing Supply Fittings Standard, reports Franco DiFolco, CSA technical adviser for drinking water products. Manufacturers must test products to NSF International Standard 372 by Dec. 31 to maintain their CSA certification. The proposed NPC changes went to public review in the fall of 2012. Once completed, the SCBPS reviewed the changes to the standards and the public review comments. It will recommend to the CCBFC – which

makes the final decision – that that they be adopted as interim changes to the 2010 National Plumbing Code, reported Diane Green, technical adviser for the committee. The Commission is expected to vote on the changes for publication in September. From there, it’s up to the provinces and territories to incorporate the changes into their building codes. And while time is short, it should be a relatively straightforward change, added Green. As reported in the last issue, CSA Group is also working on additional lead-free criteria for backflow valves, pressure pipes, drinking water treatment, flexible connectors and other products that may be used in potable water systems. While the Canadian system is complicated compared to that in the U.S., it actually works better in the longterm, remarked CIPH president Ralph Suppa. “I think the way Canada has positioned it is much better because once it is referenced in the standards and adopted in the codes it’s understood by everybody and it’s enforceable.”

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May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

■ Industry News

Busy Montreal show The mood was upbeat among exhibitors and visitors alike at MCEE 2013 April 17-18 in Montreal. Organizers report a five percent attendance increase over the record setting 2011 show, which was up 18 percent over the previous event. In total, 6,807 people viewed the latest in plumbing, HVAC/R and electrical technology displayed by 420 exhibitors at Place Bonaventure. Over 100 products were entered in 15 categories for

the New Product Showcase, which was judged for innovation, efficiency and other factors by industry experts. Winners in the mechanical categories included Cobra Anchors for its Flip Toggle anchoring system, Viessmann Manufacturing for its Vitocrossal 200, CM2 condensing boiler, AirTechni Inc. for its Tower Tech Series TTXL cooling tower, Granby Industries for its Conforto KLC 95 percent AFUE oil furnace, Inflotrolix Inc./Emco for the Aqua-Protec backflow prevention

system, Diversitech Corp. for its ClearVue Mini condensate pump, Milwaukee Electric for its Hammervac M12 dust extractor kit, Enervex/Enviroair Industries for it EcoFlex 90 economizer, Airvector for its NEX air diffusers and the Master Group for its KE2 evaporation control system. MCEE (Mecanex/Climatex/Expolectriq/Eclairage) was organized by the Corporation of Master Pipe Mechanics of Quebec (CMMTQ), the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), the Corporation des enterprises en traitement de l’air du froid (CETAF) and the Corporation of Master Electricians of Quebec (CMEQ). ✚

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Strong support for trade shows Response to a recent poll on the Plumbing & HVAC website (www.plumbingandhvac.ca) shows strong support for industry trade shows. We asked site visitors: “Are industry trade shows still relevant?” Yes they are, said the overwhelming majority of the 113 respondents. The ability to actually see and handle the equipment and talk directly to manufacturers continues to have considerable appeal. A total of 77 respondents said that was their primary reason for attending. Another 10 people said they like to attend, but rated educational seminars as the most important factor. Only 21 respondents said trade shows are no longer important because there are other sources of information, such as the Internet. Five people said trade shows are not as important today because their wholesalers are doing a good job of keeping them up to date. And while this poll was not scientific, it is supported by industry trends in recent years, with the AHR Expo in Dallas in January and the recent MCEE show in Montreal both reporting record attendance.✚

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May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

■ Plumbing

GET THE LEAD OUT

part II

Manufacturers make major changes to product design and manufacturing processes By Simon Blake educing the lead content in plumbing products to meet new regulations expected in the New Year hasn’t been easy for manufacturers. As reported in the last issue, the maximum lead content for the wetted surfaces of potable water fittings is being reduced from eight percent to 0.25 percent. Manufacturers have had to make changes to materials, product design and manufacturing processes. “It’s like the federal government telling the automobile manufacturers that within 12 months all of

Delta DIAMOND Seal technology uses other materials to isolate the waterways from the brass faucet body.

Plumbing & HVAC – May/June 2013

their products must get 150 miles per gallon. It’s a great concept – a wonderful goal – but the people that make the laws have absolutely no idea what it takes for a manufacturer to comply with the requirements that they pass,” said Brad Noll, director of engineering for Zurn Engineered Water Solutions, Paso Robles, Calif. To complicate matters further, many products are used in both potable and non-potable applications. A considerable cost difference means that manufacturers and wholesalers will offer two product streams – the standard

Fittings are removed from a heat-treating oven at Conbraco’s new lead-free foundry.

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More care is required in tightening lead-free fittings, engineers warn.

fittings for hydronic heating, irrigation, industrial, etc. with no-lead versions for potable water systems. Add to that the difficulty for contractors and inspectors to identify lead-free products in the field. There is no “official” product marking and many manufacturers have created their own. In some cases they are cast into the body of the product; in others the difference is only on the labeling or part number on the box.

Many products affected The initial lead-free legislation was introduced in California in 2006. At the time “we all said: ‘That crazy California; it’ll never stick,’” laughs Jeff Vandervet, manager, commercial products, for Conbraco Industries Inc., Matthews, North Carolina. But on Jan.1, 2010 it became law. Vermont followed suit and manufacturers knew it would only be a matter of time before it became mandatory across North America. “When the U.S. decided to adopt this we were already prepared and most of our work was done,” reported Mark Handzel, director of building services marketing for Xylem Inc., White Plains, N.Y. However, the volume of products affected is staggering. Conbraco alone offers 4,200 line items that are ANSI third-party certified as lead-free.

research to find a substitute. The two primary elements used are silicon and bismuth. Today lead-free products are split about 50/50 between the two camps. “There’s a lot of controversy over which are better materials,” Vandervet added, noting that Conbraco settled on bismuth. The company found it easier to machine and solder with traditional methods. “We actually experimented with both for a very long time,” reported Noll. Zurn settled on siliconbased bronze. Lead-free brass machines like stainless steel. Manufacturers must slow their machines down, use cutting fluid and degrease the products. Machine settings are different. “There’s a lot of trial and error to get the machines dialed in,” said Vandervet. It has also been expensive. Both Conbraco and Watts

Water Technologies, Andover, Massachusetts, make their own castings. The switch to lead-free has meant building specialized lead-free foundries to avoid any chance of cross contamination with the standard product. “We decided to build a new foundry because we wanted to have control over all elements of the manufacturing process,” reported Stephanie Ewing, Watts Water Technologies director of strategic partnerships. “We had to ensure that every element of our new lead-free product is in compliance with the new law.” Most manufacturers use outside foundries. “In the early days it was a challenge finding foundries to cast the lead-free product because they didn’t have separate furnaces and could not justify the capital expense to put them in for the small demand. New supply chains and foundries had to be set up. However, with growing demand more foundries have made the investment and are able to supply lead-free alloys,” said Paul Erb, product manager for Boshart Industries, Milverton, Ont. One option was to move away from brass completely. Masco Canada, which includes Delta Faucet, Hansgrohe and Brizo, created its Diamond Seal technology. It combines a ceramic disc embedded with diamonds and PEX waterways, reported Frank Stauder, director of engineering.

More cost Lead has its place Lead is not easy to replace. Today’s brass or bronze products are “low-lead,” meaning they have a maximum lead content of eight percent. The lead performs three critical functions – it makes brass easier to machine, it improves cold working properties for forging and reduces porosity, filling minute voids. Manufacturers have been doing considerable

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This Boshart fitting has ‘NL’ with a check mark cast into the product to indicate lead-free. There is no standard marking for no-lead.

All these manufacturing changes can’t help but result in price increases. Figures anywhere from five to 40 percent have been quoted. “We’re having to pay for these special alloys – that’s pretty expensive. Things take longer to machine – that’s more expensive. There’s a greater scrap rate –

Please see ‘Engineers’ on page 15

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Plumbing

Engineers, contractors must get up to speed Continued from page 13 that’s more expensive. So you can understand that these products will cost more,” said Handzel. “Moving forward, the dual stocking of products anticipated for potable and non-potable products changes the volume on both sides and that will result in cost increases all around,” said Ewing.

Total conversion? Many have argued the regulations should require any product that could be used in a potable water system to be lead-free, regardless of its final application. In fact Xylem decided to go 100 percent lead-free for it’s Bell & Gossett products, said Handzel. “We knew that the primary purpose of our bronze components is to go into plumbing systems. We wanted to keep it simple.” And that helps to moderate the price, he added. Other manufacturers would like to go the same route. “We would rather not have to deal with dual inventories,” said John Mankins, product manager for Zurn. “We’ve sent letters to the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) asking for that.” Zurn has also asked the EPA to establish a uniform lead-free mark. “Right now, all manufacturers are doing their own thing and it’s really a disservice to the industry,” said Noll.

Multiple markings may make lead-free products easier to counterfeit, remarked Jon Leeson, general manager for Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply in Toronto. “Canada has become more and more prone to imports that are counterfeit. I don’t see how this isn’t going to increase that problem. Unless the enforcement of the standards has really got some teeth, it’s going to be really tough to monitor and police this.”

Wholesalers adapt The changeover means significant changes for wholesalers as well. Major concerns include dumping, dual inventories and a lack of direction from code officials, said Leeson, Some wholesalers wonder if they need to know how the product will be used to ensure lead-free is supplied when required. That won’t be easy. “We get an order from a wholesaler that is nothing more than a purchase order with a part number on it. We have no idea, in many cases, who the contractor is or where that part is going to be installed,” remarked Jason Boyd, marketing manager for R.G. Dobbin, a master distributor for Chicago Faucet, Sloan and other brands in Toronto. The company expects to be lead-free by the end of 2013. “We are going to be supplying lead-free

This Bell & Gossett circuit setter is also clearly marked. product even though it might not be required by our customers,” said Boyd. However, manufacturers are working with wholesalers to get things on track, said Thomas Husebye, vice president of marketing for Dahl Bros. (Canada) Ltd., Mississauga, Ont. They must get part numbers, new pricing and bills of materials set up in their databases. “Everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility. Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and contractors all need practice due diligence, educating not only their employees, but also their customers on the different alloys for various applications, to ensure that only compliant lead-free products are used in potable water applications,” said Erb. “With leaded brass/bronze products still being available for nonpotable applications such as irrigation and or industrial applications, it will be a significant challenge in the coming year.”

Preparing for the change

Wholesalers are faced with carrying separate leaded and lead-free product streams.

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The manufacturers that spoke to P&HVAC advise engineers and contractors to get up to speed quickly. “This particularly impacts the consulting engineers that do plumbing system design. They need to ensure that they are specifying lead-free components… We’re still seeing a lot of specifications that don’t specifically call that out,” said Handzel. And with two product streams, they have to ensure that when they specify lead-free that is what is actually installed. For the plumber in the field, several engineers warned P&HVAC that because lead-free brass is harder it can also be more brittle. The eight percent product had a little bit of “give,” so if nuts on connections were over-tightened the plumber would probably get away with it. For contractors, product identification is critical. When doing a walk-through with an inspector at the project commissioning stage, the contractor must be able to show which products are lead-free and which are not. The manufacturers have been working on the changeover for years. But for the rest of the industry, January will come quickly. ✚

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Building Green The new Telus Garden building in Vancouver will use waste heat energy from an adjacent building.

Energy recovery New Vancouver Telus building reduces HVAC load with waste heat. By Bruce Nagy The silent and magnificent North Shore Mountains are like a gathering of gods watching over the serene and beautiful City of Vancouver – and they keep an eye on architects, engineers and mechanical contractors too. Buildings cannot exceed certain heights, which would detract from the view of the mountains enjoyed by nature-loving Vancouverites. Thus the peaks on the north shore were on the minds of those creating Vancouver’s most important new building, along with another kind of peak – peak energy load.

Data centre opportunity Adam Sime, the engineer who was tasked with designing the HVAC system, faced a good news-bad news situation. The good news was that the new Telus Garden head office building would be located right next door to an existing Telus data centre that was expelling five gigajoules of waste heat energy into the atmosphere each day, more than enough for the total load of the new building. Telus was receptive to recapturing this energy. The bad news was that it still amounted to only about one quarter of expected peak

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energy needs, the benchmark commonly used to size HVAC systems. After some study, Sime and the team at Integral Group in Vancouver realized that to help minimize the disparity they needed to take advantage of the different energy use patterns of the two halves of the new building – the 22-storey office complex and a 45-storey residential section. During daylight hours the residences would have low occupancy while the offices would reach their peak, and vice versa. This meant they could use a radiant system as thermal storage during the night, releasing into the offices in the morning; then shift the energy priority later in the day to the residences. The result is a heating and cooling system that will save 80 percent over a comparable conventional building by re-using the data centre energy and employing other innovative technologies.

How it works In cool weather the new building’s district energy system taps into the data centre’s cooling towers and its high efficiency heat pumps convert water from 35ºC (95ºF) to 63ºC (145ºF), pumping it to each zone through PEX

piping embedded in the slab. On the office building side a radiant effect is created, but not on the residential side. On both sides Jaga Clima Canal Hybrid convectors – about 3,900 units in total – are used, reported engineer Cyrus Kangarloo of Jaga Climate Systems in Waterloo, Ont. They are designed to deliver low heating water temperatures and high chilled water temperatures, while being compact in size. “They’re nice little units, all around the perimeter,” said Greg Knight, principal of Georgia Mechanical in Burnaby, British Columbia. “They are designed to be recessed, but Vancouver is in an earthquake zone, so they cannot be embedded. It’s just seven inches of concrete.” Instead Georgia is installing eight by eightinch steel enclosures with a baked enamel finish. They sit on top of the floor and are incorporated into the architecture of the structure. In warmer weather, five high-efficiency, 330-ton electric chillers kick in, as data centre heat is rejected to the cooling tower. The system is 60 percent more efficient than conventional cooling. Energy draw is mitigated with help from a 50 kW photovoltaic solar array on the roof. The new building will be clad with triple pane glass, saving energy and providing more control in a climatic region that can be windy and variable.

Green plumbing too Heat pumps also use data centre waste energy to provide preheating for the domestic hot water system. Naturally, low flow faucets and toilets are being installed. Toilets, irrigation and the backup sprinkler system are all supplied through contemporary rainwater collection arrangements (toilets 45 percent, irrigation 100 percent). Rainwater is collected from non-accessible exterior surfaces and funneled into a 1,000 cubic metre tank under the office building’s parkade. Once the irrigation tank is full, the overflow runs to the flushing

Mechanical equipment was installed early in construction. tank. The same system is also utilized for water retention during storms. As with many new urban buildings, the Telus Continued on page 19

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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public property, so the City of Vancouver has been very involved. “However, on the whole they have been pretty supportive of the project. It’s the first high-rise office building in Vancouver in about 10 years,” says Sime. The lack of recent high-rise activity means that one challenge is the scope of the undertaking. “We’ll be installing pipe in there for more than two years,” says Knight. “It’s a big project.” With very modern buildings there can be design bumps and grinds, but delays must be avoided because Telus and other tenants have already established fairly inflexible move-in schedules. The Georgia team is waiting to see what the home automation configuration will look like. When supplied, the company will have to move quickly to source and install this technology as well. Residents and office workers can plug into electric car charging stations, use high-tech zone climate controls and window-blind controls via their iPhones, while stepping out into a rooftop garden, taking in exhilarating sea-breezes and enjoying great views of the mountain peaks. The Telus Garden brings together the best of Mother Nature and human ingenuity. Watching over this from above the North Shore Mountains, the gods will undoubtedly approve. ✚

Maximizing energy use efficiency meant balancing the needs of the residential and commercial areas of the building.

Bruce Nagy is a Toronto-based freelance writer that reports on green technologies and solutions. He can be reached at bruce.nagy@rogers.com.

Continued from page 17 ground level. These reflect a move toward optimizing healthy living and healthy workspaces in city cores.

building has considerable irrigation needs for green roofs and garden areas totaling 1,400 square metres, some indoors, some outdoors, some cantilevered over the street, as well as a leafy public plaza (and retail) at

Significant challenges Lines from the district energy plant sometimes run on

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May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Faucets & Fixtures

Product Profile

Modern style The new Align suite from Moen is a modern-styled collection of faucets with advanced performance benefits. “As more Gen Y-ers are buying homes, they are searching for products with modern styling…at attractive price points,” said Garry Scott, vice president, wholesale marketing and brand development, Moen Canada, Oakville, Ont. Align faucets feature high-arc spouts that are complemented by geometric handles, for simple elegant design. The single-hole installation fits cleanly against solidsurface and natural-material

The Moen Align collection is designed for young home and condo buyers. countertops that are popular in today’s kitchens. Available models include singlehandle standard and pull-down kitchen faucets and pull-down bar/prep models. These feature

Moen’s Reflex technology that provides self-retraction of the wand. The two-function pull-down wand allows users to switch the water flow from aerated stream to spray with the push of a button. Another thoughtfully designed element in the Align collection is the optimized handle design, for maximum handle-to-backsplash clearance, assuring a full range of temperature control even when installed near the backsplash. All models feature Moen’s1255 Duralast cartridge. Flexible supply lines allow quick and easy installation. There are two finish options: chrome and Moen’s Spot Resist Stainless. Moen Canada u www.moen.ca

For small bathrooms The petite Almena bathtub from Barclay provides a charming claw foot tub for smaller bathroom spaces. The cast iron roll top bathtub with ball and claw

feet measures 48 inches in length. It is offered in white; however, it can be easily painted with a wide array of color choices from Sherwin Williams. Barclay Products u www.barclayproducts.com

New glass fillers Chicago Faucets has added two new glass fillers to its food service product line. The models, 312-ABCP and 712ABCP (pictured), feature heavy duty chrome-plated, solid brass construction. Both provide flexible mounting with single-hole deckand wall-mount options. A heavy metal lever has a rubberized coating to protect fine glassware. A one-piece riser/shank includes a standard ½” NPSM thread. The deck flange threads onto the inlet shank for secure placement. All mounting hardware is included. Chicago Faucets products are distributed in Canada by Dobbin Sales. Dobbin Sales u www.dobbinsales.com

MAKE YOUR DRILL A

Wolseley showroom website Wolseley Canada has launched a redesigned website for its TAPS plumbing showroom – www.tapsbath.com — showcasing a wide variety of kitchen and bath product lines. Designed to help the homeowner and contractor plan their project, included are a wide range of product photos and decorating ideas for any style. The Planning Tools section provides customers with renovation tips, the TAPS product brochure, and suggestions for booking an appointment with one of the company’s showroom consultants. Wolseley Canada u www.woseleyinc.ca

Graceful collection Inspired by the elegance of a gliding swan, the Vuelo collection from Brizo borrows from the graceful, organic elements fof the natural world – a

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popular design trend for 2013. Features include an integrated pull-down wand, split Cocoa Bronze and Stainless finish. The Vuelo is equipped with Brizo’s optional SmartTouch technology, which enables homeowners to start and stop the flow of water with a simple tap anywhere on the faucet spout or handle. Brizo Div./Masco Canada u www.brizo.com

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Instant hot water The new InSinkErator Invite Contour instant hot water dispenser faucet delivers up to 60 cups per hour of nearboiling water. It features a twist activation handle and includes a 2/3 gallon stainless steel tank. It has a stylish, sleek chrome and black design that offers tool-free tank connections and dry-start protection for installation convenience. InSinkErator u www.insinkerator.ca

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May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Air Conditioning

PERSISTENT AC PROBLEMS The most likely things to go wrong in a residential air conditioning installation By Bob Bettles and Brian Guttormson

With the air-conditioning season at hand we will look at the most standard five nagging problems that persist when working with an ill-handling system. Our industry, as we are all aware of by now, is full of the elusive underthe-table dudes and trunk slammers. Most, if not all, of the issues with these poorly installed systems are caused right from the start of the install and unfortunately it is the manufacturer’s name and engineering that often receives the blame when it doesn’t work properly. Corrections and further repairs are often left to the more experienced companies and mechanics and the customer is left holding the bag for expensive repairs. The late George Carlin shocked the world in 1972 with his “Seven Words You Can’t Say” monologue and, while they are now almost standard vocabulary in some locales, we will be discussing the “five dirty things” that have come to give the most trouble to our industry and do not seem to be going away. Every year, just like asthma and mosquitos, these same topics continue to surface. Our training meetings of A/C 101 every spring are a rerun of the previous year’s training and, just when we feel we’ve got them licked, well here we go again! So starting with number five:

Coils must be installed with no air bypass leaks.

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LINE SETS

Manufacturers spend a lot of money and time to determine the sizing and length restrictions, so believe what they recommend! When doing an installation, the existing line sets must be replaced because today’s air conditioning units require larger tube sizes for proper operation. Remember the ¼” liquid line, 50 feet in length, was the capillary metering device on the older systems. R410A is a cocktail of refrigerants that, when circulated through the system, will clean the tubing internally and the drier you didn’t use, well... Triple evacuate, weld with an N2 flow and use an oxy-acetylene torch set.

EQUIPMENT SIZING

Bigger isn’t better! With today’s tighter construction methods equipment cannot be sized by the “rule of thumb” methods. Heat loss/gain programs and training are readily available at reasonable cost, but keep in mind that the

examples used by the instructors are just that – examples. Every installation is different and a heat loss/gain calculation needs to be accurately done for each one. Guessed measurements can often create over or under-sized systems. If your customer wants to have a dinner party in July for 25 people and have the house cooled, sell him a minisplit for the dining room! Oversizing the cooling system will cause more problems such as pre-mature furnace failure or cold and damp indoor conditions that promote the growth of mold spores.

EVAPORATOR COILS

Current higher SEER products require a larger coil surface area to achieve the published SEER values shown on the glossy handouts and websites your customer has viewed. In most cases, if the coil will fit in the plenum it is not large enough to match these published numbers. Remember that you are working with a complete system. If a coil with an 800 cfm airflow is installed, what is that going to do to the operation of a 90 percent AFUE furnace that needs 1200 cfm to achieve its listed efficiency rating? Thermo expansion vales control the constant flow of refrigerant into the a-coil, even with conditions resulting from exterior and interior temperature swings. Expansion valves (TXV) help maintain, in most cases, 10 degrees of superheat by modulating or opening or closing a spring loaded assembly adjusting and supplying the correct flow of refrigerants. This system is superior to a fixed pin assembly. For easy and faster servicing of (TXV) thermo expansion valves, bulbs are best located outside the plenums – just outside at 10 to 2 o’clock positioning and well insulated for proper operation for flow.

REFRIGERANT CHARGE LEVELS

System operation is quite dependent on the correct refrigerant levels in the circuits. “Beer can cold,” 10ºF superheat, or any other “rules of thumb” are not the

Planning is everything. This is a retrofit heat pump installation in a four-foot crawlspace!

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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â&#x2013; Air Conditioning Not mentioned, but very important to air conditioning system performance, are annual service and maintenance inspections. In the next issue we will do a suggested procedure for the annual maintenance service call.

Tape is for doctors, not HVAC techs! correct methods of verifying the charge. Measure the actual length of the tube set and, when charging the system, break the last of the triple evacuation with the required additional charge weighed into the system. Check the ambient dry bulb outdoor temperature, check the indoor wet bulb temperature, verify the indoor air flow with a Delta-T drop across the coil and compare the static resistance of the coil with the coil chart provided by the manufacturer. Do not panic if there is a high load and your pressures seem too high! We have received many panic calls on a 95ÂşF day when the service tech sees a suction pressure of 95 psig (R22) or 150 psig (R410A), another rule of thumb of the past! All blended refrigerants must be installed into the system as a liquid, not as a vapor. If not charged in as a liquid, the refrigerant will fractionate out of its original container, meaning its chemical makeup will be altered and it will not function as designed.

We have mentioned all types and styles of workmanship that is in the field. As equipment manufacturers improve designs, installers and service techs must evolve as well and meet the challenges. â&#x153;&#x161; Brian Guttormson HVAC author and trainer Brian Guttormson is technical service advisor for Trent Metals Ltd. (Supply). He can be reached at techsupport@tmlsupply.com.

Bob Bettles HVAC author and trainer Robert (Bob) Bettles is technical service adviser and product trainer for B&B Trade Distribution Centre. He can be reached at bbettles@bandbtrade.com.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the number one problem with modern air conditioning systems that we see in the field? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably airflow. Airflows in a cooling system have been for years determined in most localities as 400 cfm per ton of capacity. Most of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equipment efficiencies are based on 350 cfm per ton airflow. Evaporator coils, which see a higher volume, may experience drainage issues due to excessive air velocity through the coil, actually carrying the condensate off the coil and flooding the interior of the equipment. Airflow in the system can also be affected by undersized air filters. The homeowner may install a high efficient pleated filter and think that as it was four times the cost it should last four times longer than the original throw-away products. We have also seen, lately, installers under sizing the air filter from the start. Filters are rated on a maximum air velocity of 300 fpm for 1â&#x20AC;? disposables and 500 fpm for washable high velocity units. Using this formula, the maximum cfm for a typical 16â&#x20AC;? x 25â&#x20AC;? washable filter is 1200 cfm, for the same airflows to maintain the 300 fpm value requires two 14â&#x20AC;? x 25â&#x20AC;? disposables. What are we missing? Obstructions of air flowing into the plenum takeoff or takeoffs are mostly attributed to A-coils installed into the face of the openings of PTOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S or excess use of duct tape gluing patches together and coming detached, creating air blockages.

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■ Heating

Fig. 1: This Y-strainer is plugged with what the experts refer to as “crud.”

Boiler plant

maintenance

Looking after the water side of multiple condensing boiler installations By Roy Collver

t seems as if every boiler manufacturer and chemical treatment company has a different opinion as to how best to avoid water side problems in condensing boilers. I hope to be able to steer around the rocks in this particular stream and leave you with a better understanding of how to keep your hydronic systems in tip-top shape. The water side of multiple condensing boiler plants should be maintained much the same as any hydronic system, but special attention must be paid to initial system fill and water chemistry. Checking the water side “state of affairs” should be done with more frequency due to the much larger water volume contained in many of these systems. There are two major problems to consider: Problem one is that of preventing corrosion of wetted surfaces. Problem two is the avoidance of build-up of “crud” of different varieties. What we are calling “crud” comes in many forms. It can be material that has been introduced by the fluid fill (calcium, iron, sand, solder flux, etc.), or it can be formed as a result of chemical reaction between incompatible chemicals, or material stripped off of interior wetted components as corrosion slowly eats up your piping and boiler.

Watching for changes

Fig. 2: This air separator was not intended to turn into a dirt separator! www.plumbingandhvac.ca

The easiest way to check the health of your system on the water side is to analyze the hydronic fluid when it is new and follow repeatedly on a scheduled basis, making note of any changes and keeping a sharp eye on various chemical “flags” that may indicate a problem is starting to develop. Airlines don’t wait for

bits and pieces to start flying out of the exhaust of a jet engine or a passenger to comment on the flames licking down the wing in order to schedule maintenance. They

Please see ‘Regular’ on page 29

Fig. 3: The drain valve in this dirt separator is useful for testing.

Fig. 4: A drain/test valve could be added to this micron sidestream filter.

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Heating

Fig. 5: A Y-strainer is also a good location for a drain/test valve.

Regular testing critical Continued from page 27 also don’t take the engines apart every weekend just to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be. They know exactly what is in the engine oil and what shouldn’t be there and they test it regularly to confirm that all is okay. So what are you looking for in these samples? You are looking for indicators of common failure modes to then decide the frequency and intensity of maintenance. Taking stuff apart just to look inside often hurts it more than leaving it alone would. The maintenance person on-site can analyze some indicators such as grit, rust and fluid discolouration, but a chemical analysis done by a test lab that knows what to look for is often necessary to get the full picture.

Make preventative maintenance as easy as possible so someone will actually do it. Let’s look at some components that were opened in order to see what was inside. In both cases, disassembly was necessary in order to remove the crud. The Ystrainer screen pictured in Fig. 1 is designed to capture the crud, so it is doing its job. The air separator in Fig. 2 was not intended to turn into a dirt separator, so in this case it could be considered collateral damage. Further examination of the substances from both devices by a test lab will be required to identify just what this stuff is. Needless to say, when you come across something like

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this, you should be worried. Did it come out of solution or suspension from the fluid, is it construction debris, or is it the result of corrosion of internal components? A test lab can help answer these questions. Once you know what it is, you can figure out how it got there, how to clean it out, and how to prevent it from happening again. Until you get an analysis done, you are not playing with a full deck.

Cleaning the system In the December 2008 issue of this magazine, I covered this topic from the angle of cleaning up an older system that had been “let go” and was already plugged up. You can have a look at this article by going to: http://www.plumbingandhvac.ca/images/documents/ P&HVAC Nov-Dec 2008.pdf I illustrated three devices that are used to help catch the crud and filter the hydronic fluid on an ongoing basis. But two equally important functions of these devices in a regular maintenance program are to allow an easy way to remove the crud, and most important, to provide a “portal” from which you can easily take small samples of fluid so as to be able to analyze it. Every car has a dip stick for easily checking oil and every hydronic system should have a readily accessible valve to make it easy to get a fluid sample. If you make it dead simple, people are more likely to actually do it. This is probably the most important point of this and my former article – make preventative maintenance as easy as possible so someone will actually do it. The dirt separator (Fig. 3) is shown with a drain/flush valve installed at the bottom. Both the micron (Fig. 4) and the Y-strainer (Fig. 5) are equipped with just a plug, and I always advise that you remove the plug and install a drain valve in either of these devices to facilitate flushing and easy fluid sample collection.

Finding a test lab So where are these test labs? How much do they charge? What can they tell you? After talking to many people on this subject, the best advice I can give you is to deal with hydronic system chemical suppliers that offer these services as part of their “package.” You can Google them and come up with a dozen suppliers, but it is best to talk to a wholesaler, sales agency or others in the industry locally so you are not dealing at a distance. Local suppliers should have knowledge of local water chemistry along with ready answers for any odd conditions you may encounter. Commercial systems typically have much more fluid volume than residential systems, so the effects of water hardness or lack thereof are often magnified and the amount of chemical treatment required is measured in gallons, not quarts or pints. Most commercial system suppliers will also have a local expert and will offer regular testing and sample taking for free, or a relatively small fee. The nice thing about taking advantage of this type of service is that it not only gets done on a regular basis, but the supplier then has a stake in making sure that there are no problems with your system. The amount of outside help you recruit for water side maintenance will be based on your budget and on whether you have inside maintenance people trained to do the job. Many institutions like school districts will have their own staff do regular checks and filter changes, but employ the chemical supplier to do an annual test and fluid analysis. For more on water quality and treatment, check out previous articles in the May/June 2011 Issue (starting page 34), and the July/August 2011 Issue (starting page 28). ✚ Roy Collver is an author and consultant on hydronic heating based in Peachland, B.C. He can be reached at hoth2o@shaw.ca

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Refrigeration

TROUBLESHOOTING COMPRESSORS PART II

Using the

right tools Analyzing wonky performance with a pressure-enthalpy diagram By Greg Scrivener

In the last issue we had a bit of a primer into the problem of compressor failures and I mentioned that one of the tools available to help diagnose compressor failures is the pressure-enthalpy (P-h) diagram. Fig. 1 shows a simple version of a R404 P-h diagram. For all practical purposes, P-h diagrams are always formatted in a similar fashion. The pressure scale is on the y –axis (vertical) and the enthalpy scale is on the x-axis. Note that the pressure scale is plotted in what’s called a logarithmic scale. This is done to better display the data; the only thing that concerns us right now is that there is not equal spacing between the values and we have to be careful interpolating between the lines. The saturated liquid line and saturated vapour line form the dome shape that is present in many unique looking shapes on the different P-h diagrams. Inside this dome the refrigerant is a saturated mixture of liquid and vapour. At the top of the “dome” is the critical point. In this schematic, lines of constant temperature are coloured blue and lines of constant entropy are coloured green. For example, anywhere you go on the same blue line the refrigerant will be at the same temperature. You can see that as you move through the “dome” if your pressure doesn’t change than the temperature will remain the same. This is the exact same information that you are using when you use the common Pressure-Temperature (PT) chart. To jog your memory, Fig. 2 shows the ideal refrigeration cycle on the P-h diagram. Since everything on the left side of the saturated area (the “dome”) is liquid and everything on the right is vapour, the

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compression must happen on the right side of the diagram and we’ll focus our attention there.

Small inefficiencies I mentioned earlier that the green lines were lines of constant entropy. Entropy is a bit of difficult monster to tackle, but it can be thought of like this: when a piston compresses a gas there are a lot of small inefficiencies, friction for example, that make it impossible for the compressed gas to drive the piston back down and generate as much power as it used to compress the gas in the first place. We can’t actually measure the entropy of refrigerant going into or out of a compressor, but we can easily determine the enthalpy of the refrigerants in both locations and compare this change in enthalpy to what the change would have been in an ideal cycle (This is done by looking at the power input to the compressor and, in the case of an open drive compressor, the shaft work is used). This comparison between the energy we actually used and the energy we could have used is called the isentropic efficiency. This efficiency depends on the actual operating condition of the compressor, but generally falls between 75 and 85 percent. What does this mean? In a perfect world we would get the exact same amount of work out of a compressor as we put into it. If we managed to achieve this, the refrigerant entering the compressor would have the exact same entropy as the refrigerant leaving. Fig. 3 shows this process on the P-h diagram; notice how the “ideal” line follows exactly parallel to the lines of constant entropy. But we know this doesn’t actually happen, so we use this isentropic

Fig. 1: A simple version of a R404 P-h diagram. efficiency to compare the operation of different compressors. Also shown in Fig. 3 is the same process with different isentropic efficiencies. The top of these lines is the discharge temperature. In this case, with an ideal compressor, we would have a discharge temperature of about 130°F, but notice as we move to the right to less efficient compressors the discharge temperature climbs rapidly. At an isentropic efficiency of 0.5 the discharge temperature reaches 200°F. In this example we haven’t even added any superheat to the refrigerant entering the compressor.

Overheating still a problem Compressor overheating is a huge problem. It has been addressed repeatedly. Unfortunately it isn’t going away. One of the best ways to understand why overheating is so easy to do is to work

through the compression part of the p-H diagram and examine what superheat does to discharge temperature. For this we will look to Fig. 4. There is a lot of information crammed into Fig. 4, but we’ll look through it one section at a time. Each of the pink and red lines represents a compression cycle of a compressor and the red lines are the perfect cycle. In the first group we have added 20°F of superheat to the refrigerant; it is leaving the evaporator at -20°F and entering the compressor at 0°F. This is a pretty typical situation for open drive or semi-hermetic compressors where the suction line is connected directly to the cylinder head. Notice in this case that the discharge temperature ranges from 145°F in a perfect world to 175°F for a compressor Please see ‘Superheat’ on page 33

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Refrigeration

Superheat and discharge temperature Continued from page 31 on the lower end of the common isentropic efficiency scale. This isn’t too bad, we can live with all of these

discharge temperatures. What if the compressor is hermetic or a suctioncooled semi-hermetic where the refrigerant must pass over the hot motor winding before entering the cylinder.

Fig. 2: The ideal refrigeration cycle on the P-h diagram.

Using the refrigerant to cool the compressor motor can add as much as 60°F superheat to the refrigerant. In the next grouping of compression cycles on the P-h diagram we have accounted for exactly that, although I’ve only assumed the motor added 40°F of superheat. Now we have discharge temperatures ranging from 180°F in the perfect world to 220°F for a compressor with an isentropic efficiency of 0.7. This is starting to get warm, but still not too bad as long as the condenser is big enough to get rid of the excess heat. Have you ever seen compressors rated with suction gas temperatures of 60°F? The next grouping shows what would happen to the compression cycle if the inlet gas temperature was 60°F and the refrigerant picked up another 40°F of superheat going through the motor. Now we are getting to a place that we really don’t want to be. Not only are the discharge temperatures getting too high, but the condenser now has to deal with a very large amount of de-superheating. What if the condenser is not quite big enough to do that, what happens? Discharge pressure goes up. You can see how this will affect the discharge temperature by extrapolating the compression lines on the diagram. It’s a downward spiral.

Ice build-up

Fig. 3: The unachievable ideal where the refrigerant entering the compressor has the exact same entropy as the refrigerant leaving.

Fig. 4: Working through the compression part of the p-H diagram shows what superheat does to discharge temperature. www.plumbingandhvac.ca

In the last issue I made a point that ice on a freezer compressor wasn’t a bad thing. I know it can be disconcerting to see ice on a compressor, especially one where the refrigerant is piped directly to the cylinder head, but we need to understand why the ice forms there in the first place. To do that, we can take a quick look at the psychometric chart. Condensation will form on any cold surface that is below the dew point of the ambient air. Anyone in a cold climate has seen this on windows in the winter. At 75°F and 50 percent RH the dew point is 55°F. So if your refrigerant pipe is below 55°F and is in contact with the air, so there should be condensation. If your pipe or compressor is below 32°F, that condensation will freeze and voila, ice! So, in the example we’ve been looking at, in order to get rid of the ice the suction temperature will have to be above 32°F, which for a freezer running with an evaporating temperature of 20°F is over 50°F of superheat. We’ve just discovered what having that much

superheat can do to your system. Of course, ice can also be an indicator that liquid is flooding back. On a suction cooled or hermetic compressor the ice doesn’t usually get very far along the compressor because of the heat from the motor, but if I show up at a plant and there is no ice on a low temperature compressor or the suction lines that connect to them, I start to ask questions. Before we finish up I would add one word of caution. We’ve used R404a in the examples today and it is a fairly well behaved refrigerant as far as discharge temperatures are concerned. Some other refrigerants have discharge temperature effects that are much more dramatic. R22 is a good example. This is why low temperature R22 compressors often have liquid injection cooling to help control the discharge temperatures. We also use de-superheating valves commonly in applications such as environmental chambers where there is a large volume of hot gas being sent back to the compressor and it would overheat if we didn’t lower the superheat. So what was the point in learning this and how does it help troubleshoot compressors? There are three things that can help you improve troubleshooting: experience, knowledge and tools. Obviously, mastering P-h diagrams increases your knowledge, but they are also a very useful tool to visualize what’s happening in a compressor and the entire refrigeration system. They let you paint a visual picture of what’s happening to the refrigerant. If you use them frequently you will discover that they help you gain better insight and even develop an intuition of sorts about what’s actually going on. The temperature and pressure measurements you make will have more meaning and usefulness when you are thinking of the system as a whole. This interconnectedness is what makes troubleshooting refrigeration systems fun! ✚

Greg Scrivener is project and design manager for Polar Refrigeration Service Ltd. in Saskatoon. He is a journeyman refrigeration mechanic, a licensed gas fitter, holds RSES CMS designation in commercial refrigeration and is a mechanical engineer in training. He can be reached at gscrivener@polarservices.ca.

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Ventilation

Product Profile In-duct UV treatment The new SR+ In-Duct ultra violet (UV) Air Treatment System from Montreal-based Sanuvox Technologies Inc. is designed to treat residential applications up to 2,000 sq. ft. Today homeowners and builders must seal homes to save energy and resources by not having to re-heat and re-cool the air. A major disadvantage to this is not being able to bring in

enough fresh outside air to lower the concentrations of contaminants within the home. The Sanuvox SR+ UV system offers a solution, complimenting a home’s filtration system by addressing the thousands of biological and chemical contaminants that pass through even the highest efficiency filter. It employs Sanuvox’s proprietary UV process to effectively destroy airborne viruses,

The Sanuvox SR-Plus is designed to improve air quality in today’s tightly sealed homes.

bacteria, mold, chemicals, VOCs and odors that continually circulate within the home’s HVAC system and building envelope. Installation requires approximately 20 minutes as the unit is plug-and-play and relies on a microprocessor controlled sensor for automatic operation. Sanuvox Technologies u www.sanuvox.com

High SEER ductless The new RLS2H ductless heat pumps from Fujitsu General America provide cooling as high as 27.2 SEER. These extra-low ambient temperature units are available in 9,000, 12,000, and 15,000 BTU configurations. And by using a large heat exchanger and high-capacity compressor, the units can provide heating operation with outdoor temperatures as low as -26ºC (-15ºF). Fujitsu u www.fujitsu.com

Inverter compressor technology Daikin McQuay has expanded the use of variable speed inverter compressor technology across its entire rooftop line, which ranges up to 140 tons. The technology has proven very successful in the company’s Rebel unit, ranging from three to 15 tons, providing excellent energy efficiencies and better temperature and dehumidification control. Daikin u www.DaikinMcQuay.com.

Packaged ventilation Modine Manufacturing Co. has expanded its Atherion commercial packaged ventilation line with its new seven to 15ton B-cabinet. Designed to meet ASHRAE 189.1 and 62.1 standards for IEER efficiency and indoor air quality, the Atherion features optional high-efficiency gas heating and MERV16 air filtration. An advanced energy recovery module (ERM) option makes this unit an efficient 100 percent dedicated outside air unit. The airflow range is 1,111 to 6,000 cfm. Modine Manufacturing u www.modinehvac.com

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May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Trucks for the Trade The new Chevrolet City Express fills a void left by the GM Astro/Safari vans.

GM, Nissan collaborate Replacement for much missed compact vans announced

Reviewed in the Nov/Dec issue of P&HVAC, the Nissan NV 200 has a cargo capacity of 123 cubic feet (3.5 cubic metres). It measures about 15-1/2 feet long, the wheelbase is 115 inches and the carrying capacity is 1,500 lbs. (680 kg). There are integrated mounting points for shelving, sliding doors on both sides and 40/60 split rear doors

that open to 90 and 180 degrees. The centre console includes space for a laptop and hanging file folders. A 2.0 litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine provides power. The NV200 is manufactured in Mexico. Other than the styling, no details were available on changes to be incorporated into the Chevrolet version. Pricing has not yet been announced either. ✚

ight years after General Motors killed off its extremely popular – with tradesmen anyway – Chevy Astro and GMC Safari small vans, the company has come up with a solution. On May 14 General Motors Co. and Nissan announced an agreement that will see a new compact cargo van based on the Nissan NV 200 sold through GM dealers in Canada and the U.S. The 2015 Chevrolet City Express will be available in the fall of 2014. “Our fleet customers have asked for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales. No kidding – contractors were flabbergasted when GM cancelled the Astro/Safari vans in 2005 with no replacement. As those vehicles are now showing very high mileages, many contractors have been forced to switch to alternatives such as the cargo version of the Dodge Caravan and Ford’s Transit Connect.

The interior is quite roomy for a small van.

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

■ Drain Tech

Roto-Rooter celebrates 30 years in Toronto

Government protectionism created rare opportunity for young entrepreneur By Simon Blake

oday there are few barriers to foreign listing. But there was no point in sitting at the shop companies buying or starting waiting for calls. “My father always told me that you’ve businesses in Canada. That wasn’t got to get out there and make things happen.” He spent always the case. his time knocking on the doors of homes and businesses In 1982 officials at Roto-Rooter, the around Toronto to get the word out. company that invented the cable type But he had one advantage. In 1983, few contractors drain cleaning machine in 1935 and had developed a were savvy about marketing. Many didn’t even have their network of franchises across North America, realized company names on their trucks. “There was almost no that it didn’t have a presence in the Greater Toronto Area one in the industry that had a brand,” noted Collini. (GTA) – the largest market in Canada. So in the fall of Roto-Rooter, a name as common as Coca-Cola or Ford 1982 the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company did what in the United States, was an exception. It was one of the seemed like a natural thing to do. It hired staff and first plumbing and drain service companies to use their opened a location in Toronto, but it didn’t last long. trucks as rolling billboards. That helped build awareness After just five weeks the federal government’s Foreign of the upstart company. After a year, business was good Investment Review Agency (FIRA), created by then enough for Collini to hire his first technician. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973 to ensure that As time went on, Collini expanded his marketing foreign companies operating in Canada were beneficial efforts to include local newspapers, radio and television. to Canadians, shut it down. The new Roto-Rooter Sponsoring recreational amateur sports teams helped get subsidiary didn’t meet rules requiring at least 50 percent the name out and provided an opportunity to support Canadian ownership. local communities. To this day, he uses a diversified At the time Stan Collini was a young man from a fammarketing strategy to reach different people. Located on ily in the municipal sewer Zorra Street in Toronto’s west and water main construcend, the exposure of being in tion business. He had replain view of thousands of cently earned a diploma as motorists that pass by every The business of drain a civil technologist after day on the Queen Elizabeth three years at Seneca Col- cleaning has changed dramatiWay, a main highway into lege in Toronto. downtown Toronto, has cally since 1983, in large part due He heard about the proven invaluable. foreign ownership issue to advances in technology. with the Roto-Rooter Steady growth Toronto operations and From a one-man shop, Rotocontacted the company, Rooter GTA grew both in which offered him the franchise for Toronto and the company size and territory. Greg Leger, who joined the surrounding region. From there, things moved company as a plumbing supervisor in those early years, quickly. The company sent him for training with today fills the role of operations manager. He is also other Roto-Rooter operations in Buffalo, N.Y. and responsible for spearheading Roto-Rooter’s digital Newark, New Jersey. marketing initiatives, a growing component of the As part of the franchise agreement, Roto-Rooter company’s overall marketing strategy. supplied a truck and equipment. The young Collini went “More and more of our customers are turning to the to work, like so many in this business, as a one-man web when in need of plumbing, drain and operation. The invoice for the first job – which Collini waterproofing services, so we are constantly adjusting still has on his wall – was for $58 to clear a basement our marketing to meet that need,” said Leger. Many drain on Feb. 10, 1983. customers now schedule service calls online through the Roto-Rooter website. Marketing the business In addition to Toronto, the company serves Business didn’t come easily. Most companies did their communities east of the city including Ajax, Whitby and marketing through the Yellow Pages, but he had to Pickering and north of the city including Newmarket operate almost an entire year before he could even get a and Barrie.

Technician David Guo cleans out a plugged urinal drain.

Plumbing & HVAC – May/June 2013

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

Technicians take their trucks home. They seldom see each other, except once every three months when they bring their truck into the shop for an oil change. A mobile oil change company starts at 7 a.m. and typically finishes all 40 trucks by 9:30. A breakfast or social event keeps employees entertained while they are waiting.

The future From left, Greg Leger, Stan and Dino Collini discuss a project. Collini also started a Roto-Rooter branch serving Hamilton and Burlington 20 years ago, but sold it back to RotoRooter to focus on the growing GTA, one of the largest Roto-Rooter franchise territories in North America. At first, Roto-Rooter only offered mechanical drain cleaning. However, it soon added sewer replacement, plumbing service, high-pressure water jetting, pumping and waterproofing services in response to changing customer needs. Today about 50 people work for RotoRooter GTA – either directly or as full-time sub-contractors. The company has about 40 service trucks, including four large combination vacuum/water jetter trucks to flush out catch basins and sewer mains. The main reason for a large staff and variety of services is that “regardless of time of day, nights, holidays or weekends, when a customer calls with a drain, plumbing or waterproofing problem, they want you there ASAP,” said Collini, adding that

Office manager Jayne Mundier works one of the dispatch desks in the busy shop.

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

Roto-Rooter GTA has built its reputation on solving customer’s problems in a quick and efficient manner.

What’s in a name? If there’s one issue for any Roto-Rooter franchise owner, it’s the number of small, upstart companies that try to hijack the name and reputation. “It bothers me no end,” admitted Collini, who has worked hard to create a brand known for honest, professional service. Even friends have made the mistake of calling a company with “Rooter” in the name, thinking they were calling Roto-Rooter GTA. The parent company has taken legal action and succeeded in preventing anyone from using the “Roto” part of the name, but “Rooter” has been deemed generic as it describes a type of drain machine.

allowing technicians to replace the sewer or water line with minimal property damage and restoration costs. Today every technician has a computer in the truck in order to facilitate communication between the customer, office and field technicians. Technicians see the details on the customer and their problem. They can generate an invoice for immediate payment on job completion.

After 30 years, the future looks bright for Roto-Rooter GTA. Oldest son Dino joined the company two years ago as a member of the management team, looking after the day-to-day operations. In fact all three of Collini’s children have worked in the company at one time or another. However, Collini prefers that they first gain experience with other employers in order integrate best practices from other established organizations into their own. And that makes Collini confident that the business will remain in the family, likely for many years to come. ✚

Constant change The business of drain cleaning has changed dramatically since 1983, in large part due to advances in technology. When Collini started, few plumbing contractors had powered cable machines. “Most of them used hand rods,” he reported. For Collini, three pieces of equipment dramatically changed the business – drain cameras, pipe bursting equipment and portable handheld computers. Today every truck has a drain camera. Technicians clear the line and then run a camera down to accurately determine what caused the problem. Typically, once the customer sees the problem they want it fixed, making repairs an easy sell. Unfortunately, the cost of repairing driveways, lawns, etc. after digging up a broken drain could be more than the repair. Pipe-bursting equipment – trenchless technology – solved that,

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

top performer

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

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■ People & Places

Bradford-White’s Joe Drago, left, talks about water heating with contractors.

40th successful show Officials at Ontario-based wholesaler Desco Plumbing & Heating Supply are celebrating 40 years of their extremely successful Parade of Products trade show. This year’s event, held at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener, Ont. May 2, drew just over 1,250 contractors and technicians, reported Desco general manager Jon Leeson. While the record is about 1,300, Leeson was pleased with the turnout given the difficult business climate these days. Vendor spots were sold out with 72 exhibitors displaying the latest in plumbing and HVAC products. J.B. Allen started the show in 1973. In July 1994, Desco parent company Deschênes Group Inc. of Montreal bought three branches of J.B. Allen located in Goderich, Hanover and Kitchener, Ont. “The management of J.B. Allen said at the time, ‘if you don’t keep anything else, make sure you keep this show going because a lot of customers will tell you it’s the best show in southwestern Ontario,” said Leeson. That proved to be solid advice. The show runs in opposite years to the Canadian Mechanicals and Plumbing Exposition (CMPX, formerly CMX and CMX-CIPHEX) in Toronto. For more information, visit www.desco.ca.

Noble launches new website Noble, Concord, Ont., has launched a new website designed to better serve the changing needs of its customers and support the company’s speed-tomarket capabilities. The goal was to develop content management that would enable it to increase usability of its digital properties in the field, improve the timeliness of digital communications and speed-to-market, as well as reach a wider market and react more effectively to customers’ needs. The site is designed to support different markets, allowing the company to present customized promotions in different regions. “We are excited about growing our customer engagement across all aspects of our business and enhancing our online capabilities is a key component of our business plan,” remarked general manager Jim Anderson. “Creating a customer-centric digital environment demonstrates our commitment to delivering customized solutions to our customers in all of the markets we serve.” The launch of the new site coincides with Noble’s 20 years in business celebration. Visit www.noble.ca for more information.

From left, Marco Bélanger, Mondeau director of operations and development, Claude DesRosiers, Boone vice president and general manager, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, showroom manager Ginette Bourbonnais and Martin Deschênes, Group Deschênes CEO, celebrate the opening.

State-of-the-art showroom opens in Ottawa Boone Plumbing Supply Co. held a grand opening for its new Mondeau Showroom in Ottawa March 19. As reported in our Nov./Dec. issue, company officials visited the best plumbing and design showrooms around the world and used those ideas along with many of their own to develop the new showroom, located at 1282 Algoma Road in Ottawa. Boone Plumbing, a division of Groupe Deschênes, was a pioneer in wholesale plumbing showrooms, opening its first Mondeau location in 1997. It has continued to refine the concept ever since.

The

People Stephen Koch has been appointed president of the Canadian Oil Heat Association (COHA), Markham, Ont. Koch previously worked in business marketing for companies Stephen such as Nabisco, IBM, Westroc Drywall and Norton Abrasives. Koch He is also previously chairman of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance and Ottawa’s EnviroCentre. Yorkland Controls, Toronto, has appointed Randy LeBlanc as Randy territory manager for Atlantic Canada. Based in Moncton, LeBlanc N.B., he can be reached at 506-855-0595. Deschênes & Fils Ltée, Montreal, has named Pierre Pelosse as director of procurement and products. The ClimateCare Co-operative, Pierre Burlington, Ont., announces the Pelosse

appointment of Rick Little to the position of director of marketing. Novanni Stainless Inc., Vaughan, Ont., has named Ray Dupuis as commercial business Rick Little manager. The Imperial ManuRay Dupuis facturing Group, Dieppe, N.B. has appointed Kevin Carrier IAT sales manager, Atlantic and Quebec. Kevin IPEX, Mississauga, Carrier Ont. has made a number of appointTravis ments. Travis Lutes, P.Eng. has been named vice president of Lutes innovation. Gordon Lefort, P.Eng. will replace Lutes as national sales manager – mechanical. Tony Miceli has been appointed Ontario Tony Miceli Gordon sales manager – mechanical systems.

Lefort Please see ‘Companies’ on page 43

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

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■ Coming Events

Oil heating industry to meet in Moncton The Canadian Oil Heat Association (COHA) will hold its annual conference and trade show in Moncton, N.B. Cleaner Heat 2013 will take place June 18-19 at the beautiful Delta Beausejour Hotel. It will be a busy two days with a strong speaker lineup including Thomas Tubman, executive director of the American Energy Coalition, John Levey, an oil heat consultant and educator for over 40 years, Natalie Mullins, a Toronto lawyer and expert on contaminated land disputes, and Sofie Andreou, an expert on social media and marketing. Manufacturers will display the latest oil heating

technology at a table-top trade show. A golf tournament is planned and, for non-golfers, there is a tour to the Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. For more information, visit www.coha.ca.

CIPH in Halifax The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) will hold its 80th Annual Business Conference at the Halifax Mariott Harbourfront Hotel June 16-18. Up to 250 industry personnel and companions are expected from across Canada. The “wealthy barber,” David Chilton, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers will include popular green grocer Pete Luckett, Tom Gale, publisher of Modern Distribution Management, and Alan Beaulieu, president of the Institute for Trend Research. Events include the second annual Edward Hardison Memorial Golf Tournament and local tours for non-golfers. For more information, visit www.ciph.com.

Continued from page 41

The

Events

Calendar JUNE 16-18: CIPH Annual Business Conference 2013, Marriot Halifax Harbourfront Hotel, Halifax. Call 1-800-639-2474 or visit www.ciph.com.

JUNE 18-19: Canadian Oil Heat Association 2013 Annual Conference, Delta Beausejour Hotel, Moncton, N.B. Call (905) 946-0264 or visit www.coha.ca for more information.

JUNE 23-26: Ont. Plumbing Inspectors Assoc. 83rd Annual Meeting & Educational Seminar, Holiday Inn & Suites, St. Catharines, Ont. Visit www.opia.info/members for more information.

AUG. 21-24:

Companies

HRAI Annual Meeting, The Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver. Call Heather Grimoldby-Campbell at 1-800-267-2231, ext. 238 or visit www.hrai.ca for more information.

Threaded Rod Cutters Wolseley, Burlington, Ont., has opened a new plumbing and hydronic heating branch in Brampton, Ont. Darren Wright, previously branch manager at Wolseley’s Milton location, is now managing the Brampton branch, located at 56 Bramsteele Road, Unit 2A. From left, staff Patrick Brown, Cheryl Devlin, Darren Wright and Alan Masters celebrated a grand P&HVAC, May/June, 2013 Honeywell, Minneapolis, Minnesota, has announced that DMA Applied Controls, with offices in Regina, Saskatoon, and Yorkton, Sask., has received Honeywell’s 2012 Canadian Contractor of the Year Award for outstanding performance and innovative solutions for customers.

INDEX to

ADVERTISERS

A.O. Smith.....................................................................14 Apollo Valves ...................................................................4 Bradford White Canada .................................................19 Brant Radiant.................................................................39 CIPH ..............................................................................42 Cash Acme ....................................................................35 Delta Faucet...................................................................18 General Pipe Cleaners ....................................................10 Honeywell/Genetron Div. ..............................................40 Imagewear.....................................................................20 IPEX .....................................................................8, 30, 47 Liberty Pumps ................................................................46 Lyncar ............................................................................37 Malco ............................................................................21

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Grundfos, Oakville, Ont., has named Mohawk College, Stoney Creek, Ont., is the first institution in Ontario to receive the Grundfos Technical School Initiative, a program designed to boost apprenticeship schools across Canada. The college will receive $25,000 over five years. Pictured, from left, are Piero Cherubini - dean of Skilled Trades and Apprentices; Wayne Joudrie, president, Mohawk College Foundation; Simon Feddema - president, Grundfos Canada; and student John Cameron. Redmond/Williams Distributing, Mississauga, Ont. announces that it is now offering the Bosch line of boilers and on-demand water heaters for residential and commercial installations.

Mitsubishi Electric ............................................................6 Mobilio ............................................................................5 Napoleon.......................................................................16 Noble.............................................................................36 Ont. Power Authority.....................................................44 RaptorCutting Tools .......................................................43 RIDGID...........................................................................48 Rinnai ............................................................................34 Royal Building Products..................................................22 Saniflo ...........................................................................26 Taco Canada ....................................................................2 Uponor ..........................................................................28 Victaulic.........................................................................11 Viega .............................................................................24 Watco Mfg. ...................................................................25 Woodford Mfg. .............................................................32 Zurn Industries.................................................................9

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www.raptorcutting.com May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

Grow your business opportunities by registering as a participating heating and cooling contractor.

When you register as a participating contractor with the HEATING & COOLING INCENTIVE, your business will be added to our online listing, giving your company more visibility. Once you are registered you will be able to offer your customers incentives of up to $650* when they replace their old, inefĂ&#x201E;cient central heating and cooling systems, and allow them to better manage their energy costs. Plus, for a limited time only HRAI is pleased to offer a one-day AC Installation Optimization Training course to participating contractors of the HEATING & COOLING INCENTIVE program.

Courses are Ă&#x201E;lling up fast so register today! For complete details visit saveonenergy.ca Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca saveonenergy.ca. *Incentives are available for installation of eligible equipment completed between Jan. 1, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013, and must be submitted no later than Feb. 2, 2014. Equipment must be purchased from and installed by a participating contractor. Replacement furnaces must be high-efficiency models with an electronically commutated motor (ECM). Funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by your local electric utility. A mark of the Province of Ontario protected under Canadian trade-mark law. Used under licence. OMOfficial Marks of the Ontario Power Authority.

■ Shop Management

STARTING A BUSINESS, PART III

Maintaining control Establish the key elements for success from the beginning By Ron Coleman n parts one and two of this article we explored buying a business versus starting one up and some of the things that a start-up business should be doing from day one to get ahead. In this part we will explore infrastructure, marketing and technology. Surveys show that 80 percent of business troubles could be avoided by the management staying in control of the key elements of their business. Only one out five business failures could not have been avoided. The question often arises, do you own a business or have you bought yourself a job? One of my clients in Ontario decided to get out of residential service. He offered an exceptional deal to the employee who ran that division, who turned it down and started on his own. The day after he started I phoned him and asked him how it was going and why he didn’t buy the previous business. He said he was already very busy as he had dropped his prices and that he wouldn’t be able to get the rates his former boss was charging. Some people should think twice before they start their own business.

Infrastructure Don’t work on the tools if you want to be successful. Maybe in start-up you need to do so for part of the time, but unless you have a strategy for getting off the tools ASAP all you will have is a job, not a business. Don’t do your own bookkeeping. Hire an experienced bookkeeper that understands the industry. Get references. Make sure you have enough cash and financial backing to see you through the first six months. Never fall behind with your remittances to the Canada Revenue Agency or other trust payments. Develop procedures, checklists and systems, write them down and use them. Working 60-plus hours a week is not an option. You can’t do that over the long haul and expect to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Develop key performance indicators (KPI) to keep you on track. Use them to monitor your cash flow and know how many hours a day you have to invoice out to

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cover your costs. If you do service work, develop a planned maintenance program. In residential service, give serious thought to using a flat rate system. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has an excellent human resources program. Their Essential Employee Management Toolkit is well worth the $800 investment. They also have a book of 20 bulletins on business topics (that I wrote for them) and they sell that for $75. (I am biased in favour of that one!) There are lots of tools available to you; go find them before you go into business. Do as much of your research in advance as possible.

Marketing The best way to get new business is to lower your prices; unfortunately that is also the best way to go broke. You are in business to make money. Develop a business model that adds value to your customers and provides you with profits. You need to reinvest your profits in your business and in your own lifestyle.

The best way to get new business is to lower your prices; unfortunately that is also the best way to go broke. Use inexpensive processes on a regular basis. Have a referral program that rewards customers who send you new customers. Do co-op advertising with your major suppliers and use their brands to create awareness. Let them help you develop marketing programs. Join an association and use it as a marketing tool. HRAI (www.hrai.ca), for example, has a variety of logos and information that you can use to promote your business.

Likewise, in Ontario, ClimateCare (www.climatecare.com) has an excellent program. Other groups and associations such as the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (www.mcac.ca) can also provide valuable tools to help you grow a profitable business. Use a contact management program and keep in touch with your customers. (ACT links with Simply Accounting). Have a professional looking website. It will attract a lot of new business. Provide lots of good information on your website about your products and how to use them.

Technology There is a huge range of business software and technology available to you today. The hardest part is picking the right programs. Do your due diligence. Review the programs you are considering and talk to people who are using them, or better still go visit them and spend time monitoring how it works. Don’t just talk to one person in a company. If it is a dispatch program that you are reviewing you should talk to the dispatcher and at least two of the techs

Please see ‘Using’ on page 46

May/June 2013 – Plumbing & HVAC

■ Shop Management

Using technology

Many contractors use Jonas business and construction software, which offers specialized programs for mechanical and HVACR.

Continued from page 45

http://www.fieldaware.com/ Mobile App provides the field worker instant access to job details, customer information, job history, location information, asset information and notifications all in one place.

who are being dispatched and to someone in accounting. Make sure that you implement the right program. Don’t let price be the deciding factor, ease of use and getting the right information is crucial. There are many programs out there and here are just a few, in no particular order (with thanks to Dan Hunter for doing the research [dan@hunterz.ca]):

Mobilio Field Service www.MyMobilio.com Mobilio is one of the pioneers of dispatch software for the mechanical/HVACR industry. It connects technicians in the field to the office through wireless devices and webbased software.

Field Aware

SmartService http://www.smartserviceinfo.com This is a scheduling program that integrates with QuickBooks. It links to the iPhone and sends a full days worth of work to your employee in the field, and receives continuous updates throughout the day.

FieldOne http://www.fieldone.com FieldOne offers a suite of software designed to streamline business and manage staff.

Jonas Construction Software

ServiceMax

www.jonassoftware.com

http://www.servicemax.com

Plumbing & HVAC – May/June 2013

Again this product focuses on field efficiency

ESC by Desco http://www.desco-soft.com Tracking, scheduling, dispatch, accounting

CUC http://www.cucsoft.com This accounting package is very popular with mid-side HVAC companies. But be prepared to spend $20 to $30,000 if you go this route. It has a variety of modules, including dispatch and links to flat rate programs.

VeriClock https://www.vericlock.com/ VeriClock is a Vancouver based cloudbased employee time tracking system. Employees clock in and out of the system via phone, smart phone, or web, eliminating the need for specialized hardware or software and doing away with manual time sheets. Managers can view, verify, and report on employee hours in real-time.

have no idea. Are there other ones on the market? Definitely! I just want to get you thinking about how technology will help your business. It is easier to implement systems in a new business than an existing one, as there are no old habits to break, so start from day one. Starting your business now is very different from even 10 years ago. There are far more tools available to you than ever before. This can be a very exciting time for being in business, but make sure that it suits your lifestyle and your temperament. Make sure you build fun into the equation! One other thing – if you are in Vancouver for the HRAI conference in August please come and say hello as I will be there presenting two programs. ✚ Ronald Coleman is a Vancouver-based accountant, management consultant, author and educator specializing in the construction industry. He can be reached by e-mail at ronald@ronaldcoleman.ca.

Which of these products are the best? I

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MAKE ONE LESS LIST.

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