July/August 2016 by Plumbing and HVAC

Publication Mail Agreement #43029513. Return postage guaranteed Marked Business Media Inc. 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4

Building automation

Retrofits a challenge, but rewards can be high

INSIDE Q Oil heat industry reports progress on tough issues Q Ont. door-knocker bill could hurt contractors Q Industry Canadian manufacturing capacity expands Q Making sense of pay-per-click advertising

JULY/AUGUST 2016

WWW.PLUMBINGANDHVAC.CA

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Q Contents

Controls & Automation Issue Departments Hot Seat .........................................5 Social media in business

Industry News ..............................7 Oil heat industry upbeat

People & Places ...........................42 Manufacturing in Canada expands

Shop Management .....................44 Pay-per-click web advertising

Coming Events ............................46

Products & Technologies Controls .......................................12 Air Conditioning..........................18 Hot Water Heating ......................25

Water jetting Steady evolution makes machines more versatile

Refrigeration ...............................32 Drain Tech ....................................36 Faucets & Fixtures .......................39 Tools & Instruments ....................40

Features Commercial ductless

Cooling for computer, elevator rooms

Cover: It’s not easy, but adding automation to an existing building can result in significant savings. Please see our article on page 12.

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Water side service Maintaining today’s heating boilers

Hybrid refrigeration

Ammonia-CO2 cascade systems gaining ground

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Hot Seat

July/August 2016 Volume 26, Number 5 ISSN 1919-0395

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

The social media conundrum I think most of us recognize that the Internet plays a pretty critical role in business today. The ‘web’ has largely replaced the Yellow Pages, so having a web site is critical. It needs to work on computers, phones and tablets – whatever “device” your customer happens to be using when they call. And as our resident web expert, Ken McLauchlin, pointed out in the one of his early columns, the most important thing to prominently display on a website is a phone number. A prospective customer comes home from a holiday, finds the basement flooded, searches ‘plumber’ on their phone and then calls, because they need you to come right now, not when you or an employee happens to check e-mails. Today the experts are saying businesses need to be on social media – Facebook, Twitter, etc. I really wonder about this. There’s a reason why it’s called “social” media – it’s not about business. As a long time Facebook user, I know that any sort of advertising or business message is intrusive and unwelcome. People who forward such messages to friends and family are likely to find themselves “unfriended” pretty quick. And I suspect, for many businesses on Facebook, their followers are employees, family and friends who feel they have a duty to do so. And then there’s the problem that there are many ‘brands’ of social media. If you decide to start using Twitter, for example, how is your message going to reach the people that don’t use that particular brand.

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So then you decide that you have to be active in every form of social media. All this eats up an awful lot of time. But then I’m in my 60s; maybe I’m missing something, which is why we hire younger people to handle the “internet stuff.” Which brings me to the other struggle that any business owner faces. There are all kinds of people out there designing websites; some of them are good and others not so much. The problem that everyone runs into is that even if these people are excellent web designers, they are typically clueless about your business, how it works and what it is trying to achieve, not to mention the industry in general. While not all young people are as web savvy as some would have us believe, this is where it helps to have younger staff members – along with the more experienced people – on your web planning team. They are more likely to know what’s possible and what their generation expects. And being actively involved in your business, they may have a better idea of what, among the many things that make up the internet, social media and general connectivity, could actually be advantageous. We long for simpler times. I hope everyone is having a good summer!

Editor Simon Blake (416) 614-5820 simon@plumbingandhvac.ca National Sales Manager Mark Mierkalns (416) 614-5832 markm@plumbingandhvac.ca Design and Production Tim Norton/Janet Popadiuk production@plumbingandhvac.ca Circulation Manager Dorothy Lai

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published eight times annually by Marked 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.

Marked Business Media Inc. 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4 Tel: (416) 614-2200 • Fax (416) 614-8861 POSTMASTER: Send all address changes and circulation inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Magazine, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 43029513. Postage paid at Toronto, ON. Annual Subscription Canada: $40.00 plus applicable taxes, single copy $5.00 plus applicable taxes. Annual Subscription United States: $60.00 U.S. Annual Subscription foreign: $90.00 U.S. Copyright 2016. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

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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Q Industry News owner of Powderhorn Agency, a U.S. insurance broker that operates the ProGuard program that provides cleanup and tank replacement coverage for 30,000 homeowners paying premiums of about $50 per year. In the U.S., the oil dealer conducts cleanups for leaking tanks under 2000 gallons. From 100 to 5,000 parts per million (ppm) of oil, depending on the jurisdiction, can be left in the soil.

Better education

New COHA chairman Dave Brown, left, is congratulated by predecessor Mario Bouchard.

Oil industry upbeat Progress on major issues generates new optimism By Simon Blake Members of the oil heating industry were upbeat at the recent Canadian Oil Heat Association annual conference as the industry is beginning to overcome some of the issues that have dogged it in recent years. “We have gone through some struggles in the past few years and now we are beginning to see that light at the end of the tunnel,” COHA president Michael Koch told about 115 delegates and companions at Cleaner Heat 2016, held June 8-9 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Challenges have included oil spills and high remediation costs, insurance industry aversion to oil heat, and competition from heat pumps. Two years ago the organization formed an advisory council to work directly with regulators, insurance companies, educators and the oil heating industry to address these issues. It has had some success and come up with a clear strategy, said Koch.

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Dealing with spills Initiatives include convincing governments and insurance companies that rapid response to a spill is a must. Spill cleanups are often made much worse because the oil is left sitting on the ground. And the industry is often excluded from the cleanup process, “but boy are we sued,” added Koch. As well, the advisory council wants an end to the conflict of interest where the company evaluating the spill and recommending cleanup procedures is also the company doing the work. Delegates heard about residential oil spill cleanups have cost up to $1.7 million in Canada. Part of the problem is that engineering companies are brought in to deal with even minor spills. “Insurers have data that says if they have a problem, it’s going to be with those drops of oil hitting the ground. It could be a thousand or it could be a million dollars. There’s no way for them to manage risk,” said Koch. Contrast that to the U.S., where the average residential oil spill cleanup cost between 2005 and 2016 was $4118, reported Gary Missigman,

A key initiative is to enhance COHA’s GreenTech training program to ensure that technicians and oil dealer personnel have the necessary training to spot potential problems before they occur. The oil heating industry has been around for many years and is struggling to attract young people and new ideas. The problem is that many students have never heard of oil heating, said Alan Gaunt, an instructor from Humber College in Toronto. “We are not just trying to teach oil heating; we have to teach what it is.” The college emphasizes that oil burner training gives technicians the opportunity to work in rural areas. “We sell them on the basis that they can work anywhere if they have all the fuels covered.” Insurance companies have been so “antioil” that they have made selling oil-heated homes difficult, remarked Ottawa realtor Barb Koch. “The biggest challenge that we are having is that it’s the only time I have to put in a clause that says, ‘sale conditional on insurance approval.’” However, remarked Jim Wood (McKeown & Wood Fuels, Napanee, Ont.): “In Ontario, we are starting to turn a corner. We are having a lot less problem with that than we were three years ago.” Bob Parsons (Granby Industries) urged COHA to develop a presentation to educate real estate agents on oil.

Better information Another advisory council initiative is to create a database of reliable accurate information on oil heating, spills, and other useful facts. “It’s a lot easier to influence a government or an insurer if we have reliable data,” noted Koch. Please see ‘Getting’ on page 9

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Industry News

Much of the information concerning oil heating, such as that on the NRCan website, is outdated, noted Steve Wilson

different fuel suppliers. • Oil dealers are typically family businesses and have a close relationship with customers. • Some gas utilities are now charging thousands of dollars

Another challenge for the industry is that many provinces are using outdated versions of the CSA B-139 oil heating code. (Kerr Controls). A COHA database needs to provide ready access to up-to-date reliable third-party validated information. Another challenge for the industry is that many provinces are using outdated versions of the CSA B-139 oil heating code. COHA is urging provinces to adopt the latest 2015 version, which includes many changes.

The oil advantage One of the struggles for the industry is getting the word out that heating with oil does have advantages, In a session titled ‘Top ten reasons to heat with oil,’ delegates came up with a number of reasons including: • A given amount of oil puts out more energy than a comparable amount of natural gas or propane. • The new high efficiency equipment can substantially reduce heating costs. • Ultra low sulfur fuels can reduce emissions to similar or lower levels than natural gas. • Oil is safe – a leak won’t result in an explosion. • The customer has a choice of

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to install a gas line – oil is often a less expensive option. • Oil-fired water heaters offer a quicker recovery time than gas or electric. The oil industry can be its own worst enemy, remarked outgoing COHA chairman Mario Bouchard (Granby Industries). When equipment needs to be replaced, dealers and contractors tend to offer the customer the least expensive and least efficient equipment without explaining the options. “A lot of people don’t know that we have high efficiency equipment.” He suggested that the industry reverse its approach. “Start high; you don’t know what the capacity of the customer to pay is.”

served for the past two years. Numerous seminars and presentations along with a lot of healthy discussion ensured that those attending Cleaner Heat 2016 went home with plenty of ideas to run their businesses better. But it wasn’t all work. The Sixth COHA Cup golf tournament took place at the beautiful Fox Meadow Golf Course. Participants also toured the Rosignol Estate Winery. The ‘Light up the Night’ banquet had everyone – well, almost everyone – dressed in white to wrap up the event. The next COHA annual conference will take place at the Delta London Armouries, London, Ont., June 13-16, 2017. For more information, visit www. cleanerheat.ca.

CUSTOM DUCT HEATERS SDHx SERIES

YEAR

Continued from page 7

pumps, which can compliment an oil system, using oil for heat in the coldest months and the heat pump for the shoulder seasons and air conditioning, or to add heat and AC to an addition on the home. The important thing for oil dealers and contractors is that they educate themselves on heat pumps so that they can help customers make the right decisions. “If you don’t have the information to share, they make misinformed decisions,” noted Brennan Ferguson (BFAL HVAC Equipment Sales, Dartmouth, N.S.). At the COHA annual general meeting, members elected Dave Brown, operations and sales manager for Western Petroleum, Cornerbrook, Nfld., as chairman, replacing Bouchard who has

Getting the word out

WAR

A new competitor Heat pumps, often backed by government incentives, are increasingly becoming serious competition for the oil heating industry. However, exaggerated performance claims along with poor installations have slowed the growth somewhat. Some oil heating contractors and dealers also install heat

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Industry News

Door-knocker bill goes too far, says HRAI Door-to-door fraudsters continue to plague Ontario homeowners despite changes to the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, but a private members bill introduced in the Ontario Legislature would make it almost impossible for plumbing and HVAC contractors to do business. Bill 193, the Door-to-Door Sales Prohibition Act, would ban all “direct contracts” (including agreements signed in homes) whether or not they were initiated at the door, including those where a customer calls in a contractor. This would significantly restrict the typical and legitimate sales process used by HVAC (and other) contractors, forcing contracts to be signed at a “retail location,” reported Martin Luymes, director, programs and relations for the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada. Any contract signed in the home would be deemed to be void and penalties for

contravening the law would range from $500 to $2,000 for individual salespersons and $5,000 to $25,000 for companies that employ them. Introduced by Liberal back-bencher Yvan Baker, the bill passed second reading on June 9. It was drafted, said Baker, as a means for addressing complaints he was hearing from his constituents in Etobicoke Centre, particularly seniors, about being duped into a dubious purchase. The bill goes after specific products – “air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, water treatment devices” – but also gives the government the right to add other products as necessary.

Associations working to get changes Working with the Canadian Water Quality Association and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, HRAI met with Baker on June 1 to offer qualified support for his initiative, but also to let him know that this

bill could only be supported if there were key changes to the wording. In that meeting, Baker admitted that the language in the bill is based on the only legal “hook” that the government could find to get at the problem – the “direct contract.” Proving what happened at the doorstep in a court of law can be tricky, he stated. For example, if the homeowner invites the salesperson in, is that evidence of them initiating the process? The only clear indicator of an actual sale (fraudulent or otherwise) is a signed contract.

Alternative mechanisms proposed HRAI proposed alternative mechanisms for tackling the problem, such as targeted consumer education and possibly registering/ licensing of all itinerant salespersons or organizations. Baker provided assurances that an all-party committee studying the bill will be open to industry input. He also accepted the offer of a meeting with HRAI members to discuss alternative methods for solving the problem.

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July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Controls

The somewhat

INTEGRATED WORLDof

BUILDING CO Building automation retrofit can be difficult, but rewards are high for those who persevere By Bruce Nagy

Energy management engineer Neil Williams, left, and Abdul Billahi, energy manager, track operation and efficiency for multiple schools in the York Catholic District School Board.

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

Ever since the day Bill Gates sold an operating system to IBM that he didn’t even own yet, there have been two ways to talk about information technology. You can say what’s theoretically possible; or what’s actually currently do-able. No matter how skeptical we might be, we all seem to agree that when computers work, they work really well. These assertions seem to apply to the current state of computerized control systems for HVAC and for general building management. When they work, they can do some amazing things. For example a lot has been written in this space about using sophisticated controls for optimizing energy use in a home or commercial building by moving and recovering heating and cooling energy between modern and conventional HVAC zones and equipment. Less often have we looked at organizations that use controls and

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NTROLS Connecting 83 schools in the York Catholic Board, with more to come, proved a challenge. data holistically across a big organization to find the best potential ways to save energy and prioritize capital improvements.

The value of data At the York Catholic District School Board in Ontario, HVAC engineers have been working with control systems and building automation systems (BAS) for 17 years. They have been ramping up steadily during that time, starting and finishing different projects and phases. They currently have 83 of their 105 schools connected to a BAS. And they have three different BAS systems, added at three different times under separately budgeted projects. The amazing thing that they have accomplished is HVAC cost savings of between 45 and 47 percent and an improvement in weather-adjusted energy intensity to 50.12 megajoules per square foot in 2015 compared with 89.4 megajoules/ square ft. in 2000. In dollars, we’re talking $4.5 million in cost savings.

How did they do it? They just went down to the BAS store, bought a product for $49.99 and have been saving

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millions ever since. Yes, I’m kidding! It’s a lot more involved than that. Like in the Bill Gates example, with a BAS almost anything is ‘theoretically possible’ and almost nothing can be accomplished on day one. “They’re actually called ‘programmable building automation systems,” reported Abdul Billahi, the Board’s energy manager. “Every job is a custom job.”

Auto-fault analytics and failure prevention is the holy grail of HVAC data collection.

To connect just one high school to the system involves about 300 points. A point is one function on one piece of equipment. Changing the temperature of water in a heat pump is one point. Changing the speed of a fan is one point. Making sure in real time that the speed in fact did change is another point. Each

of these points requires mechanical devices, sensors, and so on, somewhere in the school, plus programming into the system. “To add one school to the system could take four people two to three months,” says Billahi. Having 83 schools connected was no small project. When senior manager, environmental services, Norm Vezina and Billahi first considered the importance of controls in 1999 they realized it was a vast undertaking, but also that it offered significant potential upside. The priority at the Board was the comfort of 50,000 students and 5,000 staff personnel; without regard to efficiency. “We did not have staff to monitor energy. We were stretched with the usual challenges: service calls, boilers, chiller shutdowns, putting out fires,” said Vezina. But it was a new century and the world was changing. Large organizations could not afford to ignore energy cost volatility. Educational institutions needed to know about their own emissions. They wanted to move away from fossil fuels by changing their equipment. But it was tricky with that many schools Please see ‘work’ on page 14

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Controls

A work in progress Continued from page 13

and really no data. They decided the focus would be just as much on collecting data about energy efficiency as about how to achieve better efficiencies. What they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully realize was that good controls helped significantly with both.

Setting holistic priorities They took a variety of routes toward better control systems. They hired staff programmers and engineers. They hired the vendors of the BAS systems they were using to do some custom work. They contracted with consulting engineers to do retrocommissioning of equipment already in the schools, and added some higher efficiency, cleaner HVAC equipment. Each of these

initiatives informed the others. Having better data made a big difference. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the $4.5 in cost avoidance came from reinvesting in controls, not very much in modern HVAC equipment,â&#x20AC;? says Billahi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to matter how many people we hired to work on programming, we kept saving more money,â&#x20AC;? says Vezina. Now that most of the schools are part of the system, they will be looking more at HVAC technology itself. The process of choosing the right capital project priorities should go smoothly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From my office I can control virtually every classroom and every office in the Board,â&#x20AC;? says Vezina. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy for them to identify areas with a lot of potential, to zero in on a stuck-open damper or to analyze the effect of such an anomaly on other dampers and loads.

Who says you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Zone Forced Air? Solve the problems of rooms that are Too HOT and Too COLD ZÄ&#x17E;Ć?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ EÄ&#x17E;Ç Ĺ˝ĹśĆ?Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;ĆľÄ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺś ZÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ä¨Ĺ?Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝ĹľĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä?Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹŻ 7KHUPRVWDW FRQWUROOHG PRWRUL]HG GDPSHUV LQ WKH GXFWV FRQWURO WKH IORZ RI FRQGLWLRQHG DLU NHHSLQJ \RX FRPIRUWDEOH LQ HDFK ]RQH ZKLOH VDYLQJ HQHUJ\ 1RW RYHUKHDWLQJ RU FRROLQJ RWKHUV

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Engineer Neil Williams and his colleagues quickly realized that the collection of reliable data was critical to the success of their building automation systems.

Auto-fault predictions â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have more than 5,000 chillers connected to our data cloud 24/7 and we collect 87M+ chiller operations per day around the world,â&#x20AC;? reported Don Albinger, vice-president of product development for Johnson Controls in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Auto-fault analytics and failure prevention is the holy grail of HVAC data collection. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely complicated and still being developed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take our real time operational chiller data and analyze it against machine specs, while considering weather conditions and service histories, and we are getting close to accurately predicting equipment failures. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In one case we have a service agreement with a hospital. We were receiving data indicating degrading performance of the cooling equipment serving an operating room. We went to the customer and said this equipment is headed for trouble and when it fails it could cost ten times as much to replace the chiller as it would cost now to do some preventive maintenance. They agreed. Our prediction was based on startup patterns, part load operating characteristics, and other stresses on the machine; none of which you

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might see in a physical inspection,” he added. “In another case our customer opted for a diagnostic board on some of our rooftop units. Just prior to a big wedding reception at the facility, one of the units began cutting out. Our tech specialist was able to access complete records on the fault. We reset the unit remotely, then sent the mechanic with the right refrigerant charge and he fixed it within an hour.”

Progress slow

Re-investing in controls while maintaining existing HVAC equipment resulted in substantial operating savings and improved comfort.

If it all sounds too good to be true, it is. These are successes. There are many alsorans. “Although the trends are towards integrated analytics to optimize all the energy in a building or group of buildings, we’ve come a long way and have a long way yet to go,” remarked Gerry Cellucci, principal at Yorkland Controls Ltd., Toronto. “Despite the hype, integrating HVAC with lighting is sill in its infancy and integrating with security is hardly there. A lot of data is

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

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being collected and not really used. HVAC is the bright spot. Wireless HVAC control systems are doing well too. We’re putting them into homes and retail buildings. In general we’re growing more quickly than we expected.” Even enthusiasts like Vezina and Billahi at the school board have cautionary tales. They’ve made mistakes. But they’ve learned from them and put together a list of dos and don’ts for hiring and providing guidelines to programmers. In other words they celebrate what’s theoretically possible; and are more careful about what’s actually currently do-able. Bill Gates would be proud.

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Q Controls HVAC zoning software

Expanded controls platform

Focus zoning software from ProLon is now available for iPhone and iPad de vices t h rou g h a Wi - F i c on n e c t i on . Fu l ly animated graphics and total configuration capabilities through the app allows the contractor freedom from the need to bring a laptop to the job site. ProLon Â&#x2039; www.prolon.net

Taco has expanded the capabilities of its iWorX control platform to provide an updated graphical user experience. A tablet, PC or smart phone now acts as the local control interface for monitoring, system diagnostics and the new graphics. Touchscreen control, Wi-Fi connections and ready automatic updates via an app provide additional ease of use. This means custom integration with dramatically reduced installed cost, greater system intelligence, and

Pumping system controller The IPS 4000 pumping system controller for variable primary applications from Armstrong Fluid Technolog y features sensorless pump control and best-efficiency staging in a headered configuration for maximum operating efficiency. It is compatible with zone sensors for easy application to a wide range of variable primary, secondary or tertiary applications. In a primary application, the IPS 4000 also automates pumps in response to a changing number of chillers or boilers. Armstrong Â&#x2039; www.armstrongfluidtechnology.com

Wi-Fi connected pump control The NightEye app and cloud-based system from Liberty Pumps allows Internet connection of a pump via the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wireless router and provides alarm and other performance information to a mobile device. It transmits via text, email and push notifications to up to four different address/ phone numbers - anywhere in the world. NightEye-connected products also include the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ALM-EYE series indoor pump alarm, 442 battery backup pump systems and the SumpJet water powered backup pump. Liberty Pumps Â&#x2039; www.libertypumps.com

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continuous monitoring and control of system performance, and energy management for the life of the building, reports the manufacturer. Taco Â&#x2039; www.taco-hvac.com

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July/August 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Plumbing & HVAC

Q Air Conditioning

Commercial ductless cooling Maintaining stable temperature, humidity in challenging circumstances By Bob Bettles and Brian Guttormson

We ventured into residential ductless system installation in the past, but as time moves on we find the applications have expanded into very popular commercial applications such as computer rooms, doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices, elevator rooms, etc. Installation in computer rooms can be

Plumbing & HVAC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July/August 2016

a challenge. The room holds a whole lot of sensible heat and not a lot of humidity (latent heat) and, given that the heat is produced in short periods of time, it normally exceeds equipment specifications. Other issues can arise due to the placement of the wall or ceiling coils. Most have a standard throw of 20 to 25 feet, yet with server towers in the way and the roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generally small footprint the coils can recirculate within themselves. Long runs or longer demand periods result in coil face freeze-ups and causes the air conditioning (A/C) equipment to shut down and present a failure code.

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If it fails to restart, the room’s temperature and humidity will rise and damage could result before anyone is wise to the problem. Most server rooms are improperly designed, resulting in large temperature swings and more frequent equipment failure. Adequate ventilation is critical. Hot air needs to be able to escape from within the room to prevent ballooning heat and humidity that the equipment can’t keep up with. Keep in mind, when selecting and sizing computer room cooling, most equipment is designed based on 85ºF to 110ºF but the ideal operating server equipment temperatures are between 70ºF to 90ºF maximum. Even though the thermostats can read temperature

Most server room cooling systems are improperly designed – oversized – resulting in large temperature swings and more frequent equipment failure. Computer room cooling When selecting a ductless system for computer room applications, step one is typically to figure out what you need, read up on the equipment specs and determine if that equipment will do the job. Auto restart is a must for computer room cooling. If the equipment or the power is interrupted or a long-term brown-out occurs, the equipment needs the ability to self-start and maintain its previous operating condition when it starts up.

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set-points below 68ºF, the equipment will fail before the set points are met due to conditions within the room and possible coil freeze ups. Advise the client that if lower temperatures than normal are required for their server rooms to opt for equipment designed to operate at those lower temperatures; simply lowering the thermostat is not going to work for them. Please see ‘Shifting’ on page 21

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Q Air Conditioning

Shifting loads in medical offices The space can be anything from a dentist’s office to a therapy room to just general waiting areas. There are many reasons for ductless systems in office spaces, but generally it’s due to a workplace or building being cookie-cut into smaller areas and add-on heat or cooling is required. Challenges arise in healthcare buildings because anticipated loads are not consistent and the equipment ends up somewhat oversized at times. Problems arise when the cooled area has low occupancy during a higher traffic time of day. Waiting areas and exam rooms, if kept too cold in light traffic times, can create headaches and fatigue, muscle aches and cramping, breathing problems for some, and germs that can spread due to their surviving on surfaces and filters. Low temperatures or oversized equipment can add to symptoms and slow recovery times for the patient.

Large window areas can make sizing a ductless unit correctly a real challenge. Continued from page 19

Dealing with humidity Balancing the humidity levels within the computer room is crucial to server room equipment. Too much humidity causes corrosion in connections and server boards; too little results in static electricity, causing servers to be charged or zapped with loss of data if they shut down. Relative humidity or (RH) is the amount of moisture in the air and if measured in cubic feet, for example, and if given a setting or temperature that is capable of holding the calculated mixture of humidified air needed in a cubic foot, the amount of content or percentage within the same cube would hold

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the conditioned cooling air with the humidity without condensate issues or short cycles and static electricity. Acceptable humidity levels are based in computer rooms at an average of 45 percent to 55 percent for an 85ºF to 90ºF room. However, some server designs require 22 percent to 30 percent relative humidity at 70ºF room temperature. It is best to consult the server manufacturer to confirm before cooling equipment is ordered and humidity levels are put to design.

Doctor’s offices When we think of the standard doctor’s office, we may not be thinking about all the different types of doctors and their different practices.

There are many reasons for ductless systems in office spaces, but generally it’s due to a workplace or building being cookie-cut into smaller areas and add-on heat or cooling is required. Poor indoor air quality has also been linked to lack of maintenance of the indoor coil sections and/or interior filters that are not cleaned regularly. Contracts for these systems are a must. Please see ‘Spot’ on page 23

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Spot cooling in elevator rooms Continued from page 21

Elevator rooms Elevator mechanical rooms are also a great challenge with gaining loads as the day goes on with added outdoor heat and humidity. Many older mechanical elevator rooms have no other option but to use spot cooling (ductless systems). Most already have updated equipment and are more efficient, but concerns of excessive heat are still present. In the past, these rooms only required large exhaust fans to extract excess heat, pulling the air over the motors and equipment to provide acceptable cooling and reduce the operating equipment temperature. Now, in today’s solid-state world, equipment and oils need to operate equipment at registered guidelines and be kept at stable temperatures for longevity and safety. Elevator rooms are sized to stay at an operating temperature of below 90ºF, which is the maximum allowed temperature of the rooms during operation. Purchasing ductless equipment for commercial jobs for added heat or added cooling has become the norm in today’s commercial market. You must follow installation manuals to a Tee for each product purchased; they all are critical refrigerant charge systems. Each system may require different types of electrical supply wire and 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. 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.

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gauges from outdoor units to indoor sections, so read up on your chosen product, most being 115v or the popular 220v-240v heads. And due to the outdoor unit that feeds the supply voltages to the indoor sections, only one disconnect box is required at the outdoor section. Care must be taken when locating the outdoor section; their compact size allows

a myriad of location methods. Rooftop installations, in most applications, will require the addition of a wind baffle to prevent the blade from freewheeling in heavy winds. Some units may require anchoring or tie downs to the roof curbs or sleepers. If using wall brackets allow sufficient spacing from the wall (check the manual)! In a driveway, be sure the unit is higher than the truck height limits, which are usually in the 14’ range.

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July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Hot Water Heating

Water side

boiler maintenance

This cutaway heat exchanger illustrates the many small passages that are susceptible to getting plugged up with crud in the heating fluid.

Today’s smaller heat exchangers, tighter passages require attention By Roy Collver Last month I talked about how gas boiler heat exchangers have shrunk, leading to some fire-side maintenance problems. The same is true on the water-side of these boilers. You need to pay a bit more attention to water quality depending on the design of the heat exchanger and the material it is made of. Water-side problems result either from a build up of “stuff ” inside the boiler or because the system is dissolving itself (including the boiler) from the inside-out. Large water volume boilers (fire-tube or sectional) form a low velocity, high temperature zone inside the hydronic system. The low velocity provides a perfect opportunity for floating stuff to drop to the bottom and settle-in. The high temperature encourages dissolved stuff to turn solid and settle in. Low volume boilers (water tube and plate heat exchanger types) have higher fluid velocities, which tends to discourage stuff from taking a rest. Too much fluid speed, however, leads to erosion problems instead and variable flows create conditions that reduce immunity from build-up of said stuff. Regardless of boiler type, a coating of stuff slows down heat transfer and results in hot spots and uneven heating. This causes various stresses to the heat exchanger metal – and eventual failure.

Stuff? What stuff? Starting with the most common, these are some of the things that can build up inside a boiler: Calcium: Precipitation and accretion of Please see ‘Upgrading’ on page 27

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July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Hot Water Heating

Upgrading older systems

with some practical fixes. They both have complete user friendly systems for fill water demineralization in residential and light commercial closed-loop hydronic systems along with good technical information on their websites. Incoming water should be filtered because you can bring in suspended junk, like sand from well water or rust and crud from old water mains. Don’t assume new water mains are squeaky clean – I have picked gravel out of more than one backflow preventer connected to a brand-new, big-city water supply.

All of these issues can be avoided through good system design and vigilant maintenance.

A chemical pot feeder and side-stream filter prevents contamination in this commercial installation. Residential systems use inline filters and dirt separators to accomplish the same task.

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Continued from page 25

dissolved solids onto heat exchanger surfaces is common. Micron filters and dirt separators won’t catch this stuff while it’s in solution. Just like an aging kettle, noise and severe damage can occur if it isn’t addressed. Many traditional water-softening methods remove harmful calcium, but add sodium, which can increase conductivity and lead to corrosion issues. The really good news is that there are now effective and inexpensive water de-mineralizing devices that will correct your fill water. Two companies, that I know of, have effective fixes for this problem and are accessible through your local plumbing wholesaler. Axiom Industries (www. axiomind.com) based in Saskatoon, and the Italian company Caleffi (www.caleffi. com) – which has a strong sales agency network in Canada – have come to market

There is also the kind of junk left in the pipes during new system construction. Oil, pipe dope, metal filings, jobsite debris – the usual suspects. Use a specialized hydronic cleaning solution and circulate. After the work has been done, then blow it all out, but check with your local authority to see where you can dispose of the stuff before you proceed. There are some nifty power flush devices available that do an amazing job and, of course, you have the fine-mesh construction screen installed in the strainer to pick out the chunks – right? Oh, and you will remember to remove said screen after commissioning – right?

Retrofit challenges Older system modifications can result in lots of junk breaking loose – this one gets a bit trickier. You should clean and flush before you start your renovation job (to keep the old junk out of the shiny new boilers), but some people feel it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. The power flush devices do a great job, but there is real cause for worry. Why stir up decades of junk if it isn’t bothering anything? Please see ‘Analyzing’ on page 29

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Hot Water Heating

Analyzing ‘goop’

Large volume older systems, even though they are closed systems, can contain enough minerals in solution to cause serious harm to a new boiler (all that heat trying to get through that teeny little heat exchanger). If the water chemistry is good, ensure there is adequate particle filtration. A side-stream filter or one of those new-fangled dirt separators will keep things clean. Speaking of chemicals – occasionally one discovers the appearance of various forms of goop when incompatible chemicals get thrown together. Most chemical treatment is designed to go into plain water, so if there are already chemicals in your system, you need to contact the chemical manufacturers (both the old one and the new one) and find out if what you are adding is going to get along with the current resident. If you don’t know who supplied the old stuff – go get the flush cart and start all over.

Internal corrosion

When retrofitting a new boiler into an older system, it makes sense to clean out the piping with a power flush cart, most of the time.

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Continued from page 27

The most common concern I hear is that you might end up with a bunch of leaks that weren’t there before - the owner is then going to blame you and expect you to fix them all for free. You may need to do a lot of “what if ” explaining before you go ahead with this procedure, because afterwards is too late. Also, some people cherish their old system fluid - it may have taken them years of tweaking to get it just right – like fine wine. The last thing they want is to dump it and start over. I understand this fully, and in those cases the proper procedure is to get the fluid tested for hardness and adjust if required.

A system can dissolve itself? Too true. From corrosion due to galvanic action and/or poor water chemistry, oxygen contamination from constant make-up water (leaks), oxygen infusion through plastic pipe, and poor water pH maintenance (fluid goes acidic), etc. – all of these things cause trouble. And they can all be avoided through good system design and vigilant maintenance. Don’t despair! Again – spend some time fishing around the web sites of reliable suppliers and manufacturers. There are many products and solutions available and many offer good educational literature – free for the downloading. Here we are again – out of space. Stay tuned, because I have lots more to cover in the next instalment. We will end by talking about why systems dissolve from the inside-out and how to prevent it from happening. I will explain how we can recognize these problems before it’s too late and help you try and save the boiler. Roy Collver is an author and consultant on hydronic heating based in Qualicum Beach, B.C. He can be reached at hoth2o@shaw.ca

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Hot Water Heating Hybrid heater upgraded

Wi-Fi zoning system

A.O. Smith is upgrading its line of Voltex hybrid electric heat pump water heaters for use in all climates, including colder climates, and adding a duct kit accessory that enables installation even in limited-space applications. This ensures excellent performance even when the units are processing cooler air and winter groundwater. The Voltex DHW heaters can reduce water-heating costs by up to 71 percent, depending on the application, reports the manufacturer. A.O. Smith www.hotwater.com

The Wi-Fi zoning system from HBX Controls is now capable of controlling two damper zones per module for a maximum of 10 damper zones in air systems. In geothermal applications, it can control two or four-pipe systems. The Wi-Fi zoning system allows the user to set a priority zone(s) over other zone(s). It is also available for hydronic applications. HBX Controls www.hbxcontrols.com

Efficient tankless unit The new Laars Mascot ST condensing tankless water heater – natural gas or LP-fired – offers an ultra-high 0.96 energy factor (EF) efficient stainless steel heat exchanger, full 10:1 modulation, is available in a 199 MBH size and produces a plentiful supply of domestic hot water to meet the needs of the modern home. The condensing heat exchanger is a self-cleaning design. Other features include an advanced control system, primeless condensate trap, zero clearance installation and venting up to 100 feet in PVC, CPV and polypropylene. LAARS www.laars.com

Large commercial water heaters Niles Steel Tank is now offering 150- to 1,000-gallon electric water heaters, from 12 to 162 kW that feature 150 psi ASME code glass lining, ASME temperature and PRV, internal fusing (above 120 amps) and magnesium anode rods. The water heaters also include immersion thermostats, manual reset high limit, hinged and locking door and channel iron skid base. Options include low water cut-off, electric step controller (for 36 kW and higher), low and high-pressure switches and time clocks. Niles Steel Tank www.nilesst.com

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July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Refrigeration

Hybrid

refrigeration Ammonia-CO2 cascade systems gaining ground By Greg Scrivener Three years ago in an article I introduced CO2 refrigeration systems and some of the new technologies and system types that were being brought to the market. I would like to take a renewed look at one of them in particular, the ammonia-CO2 cascade. There are a number of

This ammonia compressor and heat exchanger are part of a packaged ammonia-CO2 system for an ice rink system.

Plumbing & HVAC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July/August 2016

different system sub-types and combinations that include both cascade compression and volatile brine secondary type systems; this article will be primarily focused on the volatile brine/secondary type systems. In generic terms, a CO2-NH3 cascade system is a refrigeration system that uses ammonia (R717) to condense CO2 (R744) in a heat exchanger. In a volatile brine type system, the liquid CO2 from the heat exchanger is pumped out to evaporators using a centrifugal pump and the pressure is re g u l at e d t o t h e d e s i re d evaporating temperature using a control valve. The amount of CO2 that evaporates will depend on the load on the evaporator; so a mixture of liquid and vapour returns from the evaporator. By cooling the liquid-vapour mixture with the ammonia circuit, the vapour is condensed to a liquid and can be recirculated A complete ammonia-CO2 skid package that was through the system again. These factory assembled and shipped to the construction types of systems can be used site. The CO2 connections to the floor were field for almost any temperature, connected. but they are not as efficient at

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lower temperatures when compared to a true cascade system that has a compressor on the CO2 side instead of the pump. Ammonia-CO2 volatile brine systems are seeing increased usage in food processing, warehouse storage and recreational ice arenas. I’m frequently asked to explain the benefits of using ammonia-CO2 volatile secondary systems so I’d like to go through both the good and bad and what parameters are involved in making the decision to embrace these systems.

Food production, storage facilities Let’s first take a look at food storage warehouses and production facilities. A large percentage of them already use ammonia as the refrigerant of choice because it is substantially more efficient and environmentally responsible than the current halocarbon competitors. But ammonia comes with a downside; it is classified as a B2L refrigerant (ASHRAE 34). The B2L designation means it is toxic and has a ‘low’ flammability. In areas where workers are present, ammonia leaks can cause significant safety concerns and evacuation protocols need to be established. Ultimately there is a risk of lost production and the possibility of injury. Ammonia can also cause damage to food products and large leaks can result in fairly substantial product losses. Using an ammonia-CO2 system mitigates these risks

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by reducing the ammonia charge and keeping it isolated and away from people and product. Safety and regulatory requirements are by far the main drivers in adoption of these systems. From an energy use standpoint, the two types of systems are essentially equivalent. The pumping costs for CO2 are less than for ammonia, which usually makes up for the loss of efficiency due to the additional heat exchanger. So far, this sounds pretty great. Why aren’t we seeing full large-scale adoption of ammonia-CO2 systems?

Cost considerations Just like in most of life, things that seem too good to be true usually are... There are a couple of significant issues with using CO2. Not surprisingly, a major issue is cost; the heat exchanger required between the ammonia and CO2 can be very expensive. While the CO2 piping is smaller and less expensive than ammonia piping, the pressure requirement is higher, which increases the cost of the components and of the pressure test. If you are in a province like Alberta that has mandatory evacuation zones based

One of the first ammonia-CO2 installations in Canada was at Flanagan’s Food Service. on stored internal energy during pressure tests, there could be some fairly significant administrative costs associated with pressure testing a large CO2 system. The second reason is that the heat exchanger introduces another failure point in the system that is hard to provide with redundancy. Generally speaking, in industrial settings we try to minimize the number of failure points that can cause the entire operation to shut down. It is, of course, possible to use multiple heat exchangers and CO2 circuits, but this increases the cost even further. And what about failures? Those of you with a chemistry background likely recognized the risks of putting ammonia and CO2 in the same system. For the rest of us, while the chemistry itself might not be too important, the results certainly are. When you mix CO2 with ammonia, a Please see ‘Ice’ on page 35

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

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• CWQA Water Treatment Workshop • New Product Showcase > SEE the newest products and technologies • CIPH BC Region Industry Dinner > Tuesday, November 1 with speaker Brian Thwaits, the Brain Trainer

Q Refrigeration

Ice rink applications figure it out pretty fast. tubing under the ice The odour and your body’s rink floor, temperature substance called ammonium carbamate response to ammonia are distribution on the ice forms. Ammonium carbamate is a corrosive a blessing and curse. The surface is more uniform. white powder and unless safeties are installed blessing is that it is almost In a typical calcium to detect it and shut down the system, it will completely intolerable to chloride brine system, travel through the piping and contaminate the stay in an area that is not there would be at least 5°F ammonia system if the heat exchanger fails. If safe. difference in temperature this happens, it can be very difficult to remove. The IDLH (immediately between the entering and In order to break the CO2 and ammonia dangerous to life and exiting brine. With CO2 apart, the ammonium carbamate has to health) concentration for this difference is equivalent be heated to 60°C or higher. This doesn’t ammonia is 300 PPM; I only to the small amount of sound too hard until you really think about can assure you that there pressure drop and is almost it, imagine heating up a valve group and is no way you are just This diagram shows a simple zero. evaporator in a -40°C freezer. hanging out in an area that ammonia-CO2 volatile brine There is one fairly There are safety measures that can be put has even remotely close system. serious issue to consider, in place to attempt to limit the damage by to this much ammonia however. Unlike industrial in it. At 25 PPM most people get occupancies, ice rinks are considered a public uncomfortable and can feel some eye, assembly space so the refrigerant concentration skin and respiratory irritation. In other rules are different. This limits the amount of words, ammonia is self-alarming. CO2 that is allowed in the system substantially Using an Ammonia-CO2 Other gases, like CO2, are not and in and it appears, to this author at least, that it system mitigates these risks by industrial settings where there is no limit would be difficult to have multiple ice sheets to the quaintly of refrigerant in a system, to the same CO2 system. reducing the ammonia charge detectors must be installed to alarm if connected As you can see, the decision to use CO2 is and keeping it isolated and away the concentration limits are exceeded. not always a slam dunk. Many factors need While detectors are usually fairly robust, to be considered and analysed in order to from people and product. they are not perfect. Remember that determine the right solution. I hope we see CO2 is a toxin too; there is a reason the technology mature quickly so that some your body expels it with every breath. of the costs and risks associated with using With that being said, the IDLH of CO2 CO2 can be decreased. There is certainly a lot isolating the heat exchanger when a failure is significantly higher at 40,000 PPM (four of potential! is detected. The detection systems often rely percent) so more can leak before there is a on sensing the pressure drop across a sideproblem, compared to ammonia at least. Greg Scrivener stream filter. I’m not aware of how successful is a refrigeration consultant these methods have been, but I do know that Ice rink systems for Cold Dynamics a number of systems have been installed We are also seeing an increase in the amount in Edmonton. He is a without using any method of determining if of ammonia-CO2 installations in ice rinks. professional engineer, the heat exchanger fails. There are two main reasons for this: The first journeyman refrigeration is that fairly significant energy savings can be mechanic and holds Ammonia and toxicity achieved because of the reduced horsepower RSES CMS designation in commercial Let’s talk about toxicity for a minute. Almost requirements of pumping CO2 compared refrigeration. He can be reached at everyone knows that ammonia is toxic. If you to typical brine or glycol. The second is that greg.scrivener@colddynamics.com didn’t know and you smelled it, you would because the CO2 is actually evaporating in Continued from page 33

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July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Drain Tech

Today’s water jetters

Continuous evolution has made them a critical drain-cleaning tool By Simon Blake

A remote foot pedal allows the tradesman to control this gas machine from indoors.

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

When a contractor enters the drain cleaning business, they typically start by renting or buying a cable-type drain-cleaning machine. It works well most of the time. But every now and then they come across an application where the blockage closes in as they pull the cable out. “Grease is the main thing,” noted Dave Dunbar, assistant sales manager, General Pipe Cleaners, McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. “A grease clog can re-heal – if you poke a hole in it, it doesn’t actually clear. It just sort of re-clogs in a very short period of time.” Restaurants are the biggest customers as their drains are regularly getting plugged with grease and sludge. Jetters are also excellent for clearing sand and ice blockages. “A jetter used alongside a cable machine is a powerful combination,” remarked Brandon Moherman, global marketing manager for the Ridge Tool Co., Elyria, Ohio. “A jetter can provide a customer with a more thorough cleaning of their drain lines, when compared to a standard cable drain cleaning machine. Jetters are great for cleaning grease and soap blockages, as well as flushing away stubborn debris that likes to stick to the drain line’s inner wall.” With the advent of cameras, it’s easy to see what the blockage is. Cleaning a grease, sludge or sand-plugged line with a jetter will leave it looking like a new pipe in the “after” video. And creating a before and after video

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General’s new JM1000 handheld jetter is designed for small sink drains. of a grease clogged drain will prove a major benefit in selling preventative maintenance contracts. “Jetters are great for PM contracts. In food service, what they really don’t want is for a grease blockage to come and put them out of business when they are really busy,” remarked Dunbar. Regular An electric machine will cover most cleaning of grease traps and drains will requirements for the plumber or maintenance person. prevent that. In northern climates frozen drains can be a problem in the depths of winter. size of the line. Depending on the size of the drain, a jetter General recently introduced its JM1000 will typically cut through ice at about a foot handheld jetter that is useful for small a minute. drains in homes and apartments. “What we find is that most of the grease – most of the Buying the right machine soft stoppages – that are gumming up the Water jetters come in multiple sizes all the plumbing system are within about 20 feet of way up to large trailer mounted gas-powered a sink drain. A lot of the stuff which is going units. Contractors need to ask themselves a down the drains is cooling off and coalescing, few key questions in deciding which machine creating a clog in the small pipes before it even to buy: gets into the medium and large size pipes and laterals where you could get in with a larger • What diameter pipe am I trying to clean? machine.” • What’s the longest run that I will be While not as powerful as a larger machine cleaning? the JM1000 works the same way and includes • What do I expect to find in the pipe? “vibra-pulse”. All manufacturers offer their machines with some sort of pulsing action “You can do most of the things that that prevents the hose from getting hung up plumbers and maintenance people do with an in a drain. electric jetter,” remarked Dunbar. Four-inch Ridgid is also seeing more demand for lines are typically the limit. Manufacturers also offer different hoses depending on the Please see ‘Specialized’ on page 38

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Sophisticated design and materials allow these General high performance nozzles to use every ounce of energy for cleaning.

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Drain Tech

Specialized nozzles add versatility Continued from page 37

small jetters like the company’s KJ-1350 model, reported Moherman. “We have seen customers’ demand increase for compact jetters that can be used inside the house on sink and shower drains.” Electric jetters offer up to about 1.7 gpm flow and 1500 psi pressure. They are limited by what a typical 15-amp breaker can handle. Above that, jetters are typically gas powered.

Electric versus gas Time is money, as the saying goes. The main reason for upgrading to a larger gas-powered jetter is speed. As the flow rate goes up, the job gets done quicker. A technician with a gas jetter that pumps 4.0 gpm and 3,000 psi – or more – can get done in five to 10 minutes what took him an hour with an electric machine. The largest trailer mounted gas jetters push 12 gpm at 5000 psi, but those are for municipal mainlines. However, that added power can be useful where a long hose run is required. “I’ve been with contractors who come in with a larger trailer mounted machine, parked it a 100 feet away from the cleanout, and they’re done in 10 minutes,” said Dunbar. Adding a cart reel with remote foot switch – leaving hands free to push the hose down the drain – allows the technician a high degree of control while working indoors a considerable distance from the machine. “That way you can get around the whole fume issue and control it from inside,” noted Dunbar. Some building owners won’t allow this, noted Moherman, so the contractor needs to know his/her potential customers and where the cleanouts are typically located.

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

Ridgid’s Root Ranger is a popular accessory that cuts through roots with a powerful water jet. Many contractors use their jetters to clean out the laterals to the street because it’s quick and leaves the inside of the pipe looking like new, which is always impressive to the customer.

Choosing the right nozzles Jetters come with a standard kit of nozzles that cover most of the contractor’s needs. General’s four nozzle kit, for example, has a propulsion nozzle with 15-degree rearward facing jets, a penetrating nozzle with 15-degree jets and one forward facing nozzle to punch through obstructions and a 15-degree spring leader or drophead nozzle – the spring helps it get around corners. The kit also includes a 40-degree finishing nozzle for final cleaning. Some contractors like to use a rotary nozzle for finishing. As its name suggests, it spins as it cleans. There are many other nozzles available for specialized applications. High performance nozzles are designed so that almost 100 percent of the water and

energy is used for cleaning, creating very little turbulence or noise. For the large jetters, things like General’s chainsaw nozzle – “a weed wacker for jetters,” as Dunbar calls it – will cut through roots. Ridge’s Root Ranger nozzle is popular. A powerful single jet outlet cuts through roots and other stubborn blockages.

Looking to the future Pumps and motors have improved in the past 20 years. Today’s hoses are lighter and more slippery than previous versions. In the coming years, manufacturers will continue to refine the machines, hoses and nozzles. “I see development moving towards improving setup and transport capabilities of machines both small and large, allowing contractors to get in and out of drain cleaning jobs more quickly,” said Moherman. Most contractors buy a water jetter because they see business that they are not getting. Many quickly find it an indispensible tool that is a lot more versatile than they expected.

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Q Faucets & Fixtures Magnetic docking Moen’s new Magnetix hand shower technology provides secure docking and an easy release. Users can do it with their eyes closed. The magnetic dock means the showerhead always points forward. There are six highperformance spray options, with the choice of a dial or push button to change between settings. Each setting offers optimized pressure ranging from massage to combinations of soft and forceful full-rinse sprays to accommodate any shower preference. Moen Canada www.moen.ca

New colour options Geberit has upgraded its Monolith system for wall-hung toilets with new color selections, adding umber and sand the existing white and black options. A revamped installation technique makes installation easier than ever. The system is perfect for replacing a floor-mounted toilet with a wall-hung toilet, reports the manufacturer. Geberit www.geberit.us

Minimalist series expanded Following the popularity of its MiniMe single-hole lavatory faucet, Aquabrass has expanded its minimalist collection with a medium single-hole lavatory faucet, wallmount lavatory faucet and floormount tub filler with handshower. Made in Italy, these products are available in 15 custom finishes. Aquabrass www. aquabrass.com

Wall hung efficiency Sloan’s new ST-2459 top spud wall hung water closet is designed to maximize flushing performance in lower flushing volume applications. The universal flushing volume of the ST-2459 can accommodate any high efficiency flush volume including the newest maximum efficiency of just 1.1 gpf. Each model scores the maximum 1,000 grams flush volume in the MaP Test for toilet flushing performance. Sloan products are distributed in Canada by Dobbin Sales. Sloan www.sloanvalve.com

SUSPENDED EQUIPMENT

PLATFORMS support up to 750 pounds QUICKSTAND

800-321-0316 | www.HOLDRITE.com | www.facebook.com/holdrite www.plumbingandhvac.ca

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Tools & Instruments

High-power

CORDLESS

Engineer Christine Potter says the new cordless electric chainsaw is the greatest thing to make holes for HVAC ductwork.

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

DeWalt launches flexible battery system, 60 and 120 volt tools By Simon Blake

he “cordless jobsite” took a huge step closer to becoming reality June 21 when DeWalt unveiled a new battery and charging system that covers tools from 20 volts to 120 volts. The company brought media from all over North America to a “secret location” in an airplane hanger near Baltimore to introduce the company’s new Flexvolt battery and charging system. The 60-volt Flexvolt battery automatically senses the power requirements of the tool and can run the company’s 20volt tools along with new lines of 60-volt and 120-volt units. Used in a 20-volt tool, it provides up to four times the run time of a 20volt battery. “I believe the new Flexvolt system will transform the industr y,” remarked Frank Mannarino, president of Stanley Black & Decker’s professional products group. The 120-volt line – at this point only a mitre saw and a table saw – runs off two 60volt batteries. And because these tools are 120 volt, they can also plug into a standard wall outlet so that the contractor has the option of running them corded or cordless depending on the job situation. With the new 60-volt battery, many of the cordless tools now have more power than

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their corded counterparts, added Mannarino. A 60-volt cordless angle grinder has 1,700 watts of power compared to the corded equivalent at 1,200 watts. A new charging station can simultaneously charge four Flexvolt batteries in two hours. Once those batteries are fully charged, it can also operate as a portable power station and run 120-volt corded tools.

The other big news at the event was the introduction of specialized mechanical industry tools. This lightweight charging station can also serve as a jobsite power supply. A new fan-cooled 80-amp 60-minute (or less) fast charger will be included with all 60-volt kits. The 60-volt battery can also be charged with a standard 20-volt charger. Along with the 60 and 120-volt tools, the company will continue to offer it’s 20-volt line and introduced a number of new 20-volt Max products at the event.

The cordless jobsite One of the goals with the new Flexvolt system is to make a cordless jobsite a reality. “Why have we been relentlessly pursuing a cordless jobsite,” Mannarino asked. He listed four critical reasons: • convenience • eliminating tripping hazards • lack of power availability on many job sites • market expansion “Twenty-volt or 18-volt just do not have the power to go after the land of corded and gas powered applications,” he added.

power to cut, noted engineer Brad Nohr. “A lot of work went into improving saw blade performance to get more cuts per charge.” In hole saws, for example, a new design for the pilot bit actually pulls the hole saw through the wood.

Mechanical industry tools The other big news at the event was the introduction of specialized mechanical industry tools. Topping the list were crimp press tools for PEX, ½ to two-inch steel and ½ to four-inch copper. In addition to offering its own jaws, the new DeWalt press tools will accept the jaws of other manufacturer’s press tools. The jaws can be changed quickly with a spring loaded

Different approaches While improved battery technology boosts run time, DeWalt has expended considerable effort in finding other ways to extend battery life. One of those ways has been to improve the design of things like reciprocating saw blades, hole saws, etc. so that they require less

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Todd Plajzer demonstrated the new press tools and threaded rod cutter.

locking pin that is either fully in or fully out. There are no electronic sensors to fail, noted Todd Plajzer, product manager for press tools. As well, the neck pivots 360 degrees for working in tight spaces. Each press tool uses DeWalt’s free Crimp Connect software, which tracks tool use, reminding the user when it requires calibration. “If an inspector comes by, I can plug it in and show him exactly when it was calibrated,” he added. As well, the contractor can print out a full report for each tool that documents every crimp. Asked if DeWalt intends to introduce tools for expansion type PEX fittings, Plajzer said: “We’re looking at it.” The other tool that will have a significant benefit for contractors working on industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) projects is a cordless electric threaded rod cutter. It cuts ¼, 3/8 and 1/2 –inch mild steel rod and ¼ and 3/8-inch stainless steel rod. Cuts take about two seconds with no thread cleanup required. The tool is designed for use with one hand, leaving the worker with a free hand to hang on to a ladder or railing when cutting. “It’s a huge productivity saver,” said Plajzer. DeWalt expects to introduce the new Flexvolt system and the new plumbing tools in Canada on Sept. 1.

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q People & Places Participating in the groundbreaking were, from left, Marc Tremblay (City of Laval), Wolseley’s Chris Swartz, Sébastien Laforge, Akbar Makalai and David Megarry, Michael Racine (Cominar), Martin Leclerc (EBC Inc.) Jean Laramée (Cominar) and André Hubert (City of Laval). Behind them is an artist’s rendering of the new facility, to be completed in November.

Wolseley breaks ground on 130,000 sq. ft. Quebec facility Plumbing and HVAC/R wholesaler Wolseley Canada, Burlington, Ont., broke ground on a new 130,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose facility in Laval, Que. June 23. The facility, scheduled for completion in November, will employ 180 people. It will include a plumbing and HVAC/R branch, a Vague & Vogue showroom, warehousing, and office space to house the company’s Quebec management,

sales and administrative teams. The new location at 4200 Rue Louis B. Mayer is designed to offer Wolseley customers a “onestop-shop” with a plumbing and HVAC/R branch and showroom in the same location. Additionally, Wolseley will use the new Laval warehouse to replenish inventory at its 38 Quebec plumbing and HVAC/R branches for more efficient and timely delivery of products

throughout Quebec. Wolseley’s current Laval HVAC/R branch, located at 4075 Industriel Blvd., will relocate to the new facility, as will the company’s plumbing branch and showroom, both currently located at 890 Munck Ave. in Laval. Wolseley’s other branches in the Montreal area will continue to operate from their current locations. “The province of Quebec and the Montreal region have been integral to our company’s success over the years and this investment in our infrastructure shows Wolseley’s commitment to the region,” said Sébastien Laforge, general manager, plumbing and HVAC/R, Quebec. “The facility will help us centralize our Quebec operations and will increase our capacity to better serve our customers in the region...”

IPEX showcases $55-million Edmonton plant expansion On June 29 IPEX Inc., Oakville, Ont., molecularly oriented polyvinyl chloride unveiled its recently completed Edmonton (PVCO) pipe in Canada since 2008, to provide plant expansion to stakeholders and guests Western provinces with large diameter PVCO at a re cept ion. The piping. It is designed to development represents a be lighter while providing $55.4-million investment increased strength and for the company, which durability. It will be offered manufactures thermoplastic in sizes up to 30” diameter. piping systems. PVC and PVCO are The 17,245-squarewidely used in municipal foot expansion brings the From left, IPEX president and and commercial projects production of the largest COO Travis Lutes: Mathieu in Canada. diameters of polyvinyl Rousseau: vice president, “Alberta has been chloride (PVC) pressure manufacturing; Pierre Coulombe: a strong proponent of and sewer piping to the vice president, engineering; and our piping systems as a C anadian market. It operation manager Jean-Francois responsible choice for also allows IPEX, the Doyon cut the ribbon at the sustainable infrastructure sole manufacturer of newly expanded plant. for many decades,” said

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

IPEX CEO Alex Mestress. “We are proud to be at the forefront of new technologies and products that let us serve our Canadian customers with unparalleled responsiveness for their current and future demands.” IPEX Bionex PVCO piping was previously manufactured exclusively at the company’s Montreal plant. The plant also manufactures IPEX Centurion PVC in 14 to 60-inch diameters. IPEX Ring-Tite PVC is also manufactured in Edmonton. It is available from 4 to 60-inch diameters and features high abrasion and sewage chemical resistance. As a result of the expansion, 15 local fulltime skilled tradespeople, including PVC extrusion line operators, design engineers, as well as quality control and maintenance workers will be joining the Edmonton plant.

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HVAC manufacturing plant to create 250 jobs

Plant employees gathered with the company executive for a ribbon cutting. From left (beginning at fourth from left), are TMI’s Alex Cutter (director, applied sales engineering), president and GM Sham Ahmed, Gene Toombs, president of MiTek (cutting ribbon), TMI CEO Jim Huff and Tom Manenti, MiTek chairman and CEO. TMI Climate Solutions Canada, Inc., PointeClaire, Que., has opened its first Canadian manufacturing plant. “We are very thrilled to officially inaugurate our 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art

The

People

Dale Heath

Howard Huss

Viega LLC, Wichita, Kansas announces Dale Heath as its newest regional sales manager, responsible for all of Canada. Based in Calgary, he was previously Prairie District sales manager for Viega. HeatLink, Calgary, has announced that Howard Huss’s sales management territory has been expanded to include Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces.

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facility in Pointe-Claire”, said president and general manager Sham Ahmed on June 14. The company manufactures custom airhandling equipment, hydronic systems and custom-engineered HVAC solutions.

“Our $45-million investment will create more than 250 jobs over the next three years, allowing TMI to increase its global manufacturing and export capacity. Our new Montreal facility not only reinforces TMI‘s leadership in custom-engineered HVAC systems, but it also sets the stage for enhancing the product offering with a wider variety of air handling units,” he added. The new plant will serve the eastern and midwestern North American market, with 90 percent of its production slated for export. It represents a substantial increase in production for the company, which also operates a plant in Michigan. “This lively and dynamic metropolis is home to some of the world’s best specialized talents that are both creative and innovation focused. The strength of the region’s human capital convinced us to take the next step in Quebec,” said TMI CEO Jim Huff. TMI Climate Solutions’ arrival in PointeClaire is the result of close collaboration among Montréal International, Investissement Québec, Emploi-Québec and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Region (CED).

The

Companies Stanley Black & Decker Canada, Mississauga, Ont. and its employee participated in the Habitat for Humanity GTA Adopt-a-Day Program on June 15, working on the Torbram Road, Brampton build. The DeWalt and Stanley tools used were donated to Habitat GTA. The company’s employees took part in similar Habitat builds in Calgary on June 14 and were scheduled to participate in Edmonton June 22 and Montreal July 12. On June 16, McKeough Supply, Brantford, Ont. raised over $30,000 in support of Camp Trillium at their 18th Annual Bill Porteous Memorial Golf Tournament. Platinum Level

Sponsors included, from left, Rhonda Craft and Andrew Porteous of McKeough Supply, Rich Simpson of Rheem Canada, Camp Trillium’s Carrie Arnold, AMTS’ Luke Kilborne, Scott Waters of ICP (Keeprite/Tempstar), John Pallante and Jean-Guy Marchand of Broan Nutone/ Venmar and Paula Burgin and Roy Levy of Sandpiper Energy Solutions. Federal Signal, Oak Brook, Illinois, announced the acquisition of Joe Johnson Equipment (JJE), Barrie, Ont., distributor of Spartan drain cleaning equipment in Canada (among other things), on June 6.

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Shop Management

pay-per-click SUCCESSFUL

ADVERTISING

How to target online search users By Ken McLauchlin

Overwhelmingly more people are searching for HVAC companies and plumbers online versus the Yellow Pages. Not just a little bit either. Almost 90 percent off all people in need of these services go online first. If you’re not doing any pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, you’re missing out on a major part of your marketing. PPC marketing is essentially targeting search users. We’ll use Google as the example, because it’s the largest, but this also applies to other search engines like Bing and yahoo. The obvious answer is that a potential customer could be searching for a new air conditioner or plumber, and of course you want your advertisement to appear. Every

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

time they click on it, you pay a small fee. The best part is you only pay when they click on it – not just when they view it. It would be like the Yellow pages only charging you when someone actually looked into your business and seriously considered your services. In fact, one of the best ways to get ahead of your competition and save on the fees is to get to the user before they are thinking about a plumber. For example, if someone is asking Google a question like “How to fix a leaky pipe”, this is a great opportunity for your ad to say “Get your leaky pipe fixed today!” and your contact info. That’s highly relevant advertising.

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Targeting the right customer If you are doing PPC, there are a few things that can increase your return on investment (ROI) to maximize the impact each dollar has. We’ll go over a few of these secrets here. Geo-Targeting: This is probably the number one rule you should be following – make sure you hit only the area you cover. It’s a simple to set up when you’re creating a PPC program, but if you forget you could be paying for ads to run in cities you don’t service. Keywords: This one is a little tricky. You may want to enlist the help of a professional here. Your campaign can target literally thousands of keywords and phrases. Whenever someone types in the word ‘pipe’ you may want to come up. However, pipe can be used for a smoking pipe, musical pipe, etc. This is where negative keywords can filter results. You’ll want to make sure when people are searching for something, that it’s relevant to your business. Don’t be overwhelmed. Just keep it simple at first, and adjust as you go. You can also target a competitor’s business name. For example, if your competitor is ABC HVAC, whenever someone searches for them you can have an ad that appears stating you are the number one HVAC company, or that you’re less expensive, faster, better, etc.

Monitor and test campaigns This goes hand-in-hand with the above tip. You’ll want to keep an eye on which keywords and ads are performing well for you and which aren’t. This will ensure your return on investment (ROI) is highest. As you get comfortable with PPC, you’ll want to test out new campaigns that go further from the obvious. For example, look for people searching things like “water pressure”, “air conditioner making noise”, or

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“water stains”. Think about all areas in which your expertise could be used. When you do try a new idea, monitor the results. They’ll let you know if it’s working.

A great PPC campaign won’t deliver the results it needs if the connection is to a poorly designed website.

Mobile matters

This is probably the number one rule you should be following – make sure you hit only the area you cover. It’s really easy to go by “gut feeling” when it comes to ads, but you need to put your focus on the results you get when you use analytics – Google Analytics for example – to measure performance. It will tell you for sure what works and what doesn’t.

Monitor your competition Spyfu is a simple tool that allows you to see what your competition is doing. You may want to hire a pro for this one too. They can easily dissect all the other ads that are currently out there for your keywords and let you know what your local competition is doing. Once you get a potential customer to click though, you’ll want to sell them on your product/service. This is where the landing page matters. A poor landing page without the information that the customer needs can cause them to leave instantly. Make sure the landing page is relevant to the keywords. For example, if you’re talking about pricing in your ad, they should land on a page about your pricing.

Make sure your website works on mobile. Searches happen from the car, the couch, the driveway – more than 50 percent of all searches are from phones, tablets and ipads. If your website can’t handle mobile traffic, you’ve lost the battle right there. Make sure it displays properly for the best chance of success. Plumbing and HVAC has seasonal issues. Air conditioning, heating, frozen pipes, irrigation issues – all seasonal problems. Make sure your advertising reflects this. Google searches vary by the time of year and you’ll want to make sure you’re tackling these issues as they come. Pay-per-click advertising can seem really complicated at first. It’s best to start out small and do your research. Crafting a good campaign with the right keywords and bidding can bring in massive return on your investment and from there you can reinvest back into the advertising with a bigger budget for the following months. Grow slow and steady and you’ll be happy with the results.

Ken McLauchlin is the founder and owner of HVAC Marketing in St. Catherines, Ont., an online marketing agency specializing in the HVAC and Plumbing industries. He has worked with many mechanical contractors and is also the author of the HVAC Online Marketing Handbook. He can be reached at Ken@HVACMarketing.ca.

July/August 2016 – Plumbing & HVAC

Q Coming Events

MCAC will celebrate 75th birthday at Disney

Events

Calendar AUG. 24-26:

INDEX to ADVERTISERS Bradford White ................................... 11 Caleffi................................................... 8 Cash Acme ......................................... 10 Chrysler ................................................ 4 CIPHEX West ...................................... 34 Coldmax ............................................. 17 Daikin ................................................... 2 Fieldpiece............................................ 19 Fujitsu ................................................... 6 General Pipe Cleaners ......................... 16 Holdrite .............................................. 39 IPEX .................................................... 30 Liberty Pumps ..................................... 22 Mitsubishi Electric ............................... 20 Napoleon ............................................ 47 NTI...................................................... 26 Noritz ................................................. 15 RIDGID................................................ 48 Redzone ............................................. 28 Stelpro .................................................. 9 Victaulic .............................................. 23 Viessmann .......................................... 24 Zoeller Pumps ..................................... 31 Zonefirst ............................................. 14

Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2016

The Mechanical Contactors Association of Canada is inviting members and their families to join them for a huge celebration of the group’s 75th birthday at Disney World. The conference itself will take place November 14-17 at the Disney Yacht Club Resort at beautiful Lake Buena Vista, Florida. MCAC is encouraging members to book extra time and make it a family holiday. The Disney Yacht Club Resort is a lakeside hotel in the style of a grand New Englandstyle yacht club. A variety of watercraft can be rented. Sharing many amenities with its pastel-toned sister, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, the Yacht Club Resort is walking distance to Epcot and a convenient boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is also close to the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and several water parks. As usual with MCAC conferences, participants can expect some excellent speakers and events and an opportunity to catch up with old friends, but also plenty of free time to enjoy the special location. For more information, call Daryl Sharkey in the MCA Canada office at 613-232-0492, or email daryl@mcac.ca.

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada Annual Meeting and Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary. Call 1-800-267-2231 or visit www.hrai.ca.

OCT. 13-14: National Design-Build Conference, Canadian Design-Build Institute, The Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel, Winnipeg. Please visit www.cdbi.org or call (613) 236-9455.

NOV. 2-3: CIPHEX West Trade Show, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver. Call Elizabeth McCullough at 1-800-639-2474 or visit www. ciphexwest.ca.

NOV. 14-17: Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada 75th National Conference, Yacht and Beach Club Resort, Disney World, Orlando, Florida. Call (613) 232-0492 or visit www.mcac.ca.

HRAI to meet in Calgary The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada will hold its 48th Annual General Meeting & Conference in Calgary Aug. 24-26. The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Calgary. The event kicks off with a review of HRAI initiatives over the past year followed by a reception. It gets into full swing on the 25th with an impressive lineup of speakers covering everything from business and relationships to marketing, sales and technical subjects. There will be an industry panel on the strategic direction for HRAI. There will be

a presentation on the changes occurring in the industry with the move to lower global warming potential refrigerants and a discussion of the alternatives. One speaker will show contractors how to grow their business using social media and the internet. There will be a report on today’s geothermal industry and where it’s going. A companions’ tour will include a walking tour of downtown Calgary along with a bus tour and river walk. For more information, visit www.hrai.ca/ agm.

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