April 2014

Solar cooling

New chiller technology reduces peak cooling loads

Spring Air Conditioning Issue

INSIDE ■ Revised national show well attended ■ ASHRAE plans residential IAQ standard update ■ Big build marks CIPH/Habitat 20-year partnership ■ Students earn gas tickets in Ont. high school program

APRIL 2014

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Q Contents

Spring Air Conditioning

Departments Hot Seat .........................................5 Regulatory confusion

Industry News ..............................6 Industry supports revised national show

People & Places ...........................43 HRAI honours RSES members

Coming Events ............................45 Oil heat returns to Ottawa

Shop Management .....................46 Go big or stay small?

Products & Technologies

Quality AC installation

Best evacuation and welding practices

Air Conditioning..........................10 Heating ........................................24 Hot Water Heating......................31

Features

Ventilation ...................................35 Pipes, Valves & Fittings...............36 Tools & Instruments ....................38

High school success story

41

Ontario school gives students opportunity to earn gas license

Cover: At the hottest time of year solar

Emergency backup heat

cooling makes a lot of sense. Please see our article on page 10.

Specify the right ďŹ replace for heating during power outages

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24

Rooftop repair

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Spring maintenance for packaged rooftop systems April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Hot Seat

April 2014 Volume 24, Number 3 ISSN 1919-0395

Regulatory quagmire The regulations that govern plumbing, heating, cooling and refrigeration to ensure that these systems are safe, reliable and perform as designed should be simple, straightforward and pretty much the same from coast to coast. Unfortunately, they are not and we have a rapidly increasing patchwork of regulations across the country.

For decades building systems ran largely under the radar of politicians. But environmental and to some degree consumer issues have pushed them to the forefront to the point that now we have every jurisdiction – federal, provincial and municipal – making its own rules. We also have different standards from our neighbors south of the border.

This has become particularly acute recently as different jurisdictions and different politicians try to become “greener” that the others. The many different regulations create a nightmare for manufacturers and confusion for system designers, installers and inspectors.

The current system is not sustainable, said Michel Girard, vice president, policy and stakeholder relations, for the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) in a recent address to the Manufacturers Division of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada.

Manufacturers have been saying this for years. It has increasingly become a struggle to supply different products for different provinces and even different municipalities in what is a relatively small market for these mostly international manufacturers. At some point some may just walk away from the Canadian market, deciding that for its size it’s just not worth the hassle.

So, what’s the solution? How do we stop politicians from meddling in technical issues they don’t understand? And it’s not that they don’t have a role, but that role is to set direction and then let the industry

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and technical experts find a solution.

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and HRAI have both been very active in lobbying governments to harmonize regulations. But their resources are being stretched by the enormity of the problem.

However, some progress is being made. As we reported in the last issue, the SCC has announced a pilot project with its U.S. counterparts to develop a common standard for balloon-type ball backwater valves – a relatively new product that doesn’t yet have a standard. It is hoped that this will set a precedent for future co-operation between the U.S. and Canada in developing standards.

As well, federal initiatives to reduce red tape should help at that level. If only the provinces and municipalities could be convinced. In fairness, many of the technical people at the provincial and municipal level understand the problem. But they have to answer to their political masters.

We all understand that we need to do whatever we can to preserve the environment. The problem is that each government jurisdiction feels the need to “reinvent the wheel,” as it where.

The industry is doing everything it can to educate politicians. And in the end, the solution can only come from those politicians and will only come through a concerted effort between the federal and provincial governments to make harmonization of standards a priority.

Because Girard is right – the current situation is not sustainable.

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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.

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Q Industry News

Dalton Hooker of Duravent explains polypropylene venting to contractors.

Strong industry support for revised Toronto show

By Simon Blake A new name and new dates, traffic chaos and unseasonably cold weather could not dissuade 13,600 people from attending CMPX 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre March 19-21.

That number was down about four percent from the numbers achieved at CMX-CIPHEX 2012, reported Warren Heeley, president of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada.

But for 2014, the show had moved from its traditional Thursday through Saturday format to Wednesday through Friday. The usual opening day surge failed to materialize on Wednesday, hampered by the closure of the two main highways leading into downtown Toronto due to a suicide on Hwy. 404 and a truck rollover on the Queen Elizabeth Way, reported show manager Patrick Shield.

As well Heeley along with many exhibitors couldn’t help but wonder if contractors and other industry personnel aren’t “creatures of habit,” showing up in droves on Thursday, the usual opening day. Friday proved pretty busy too with contractors and other visitors on the show floor until closing. In fact all three days saw considerably better attendance than Saturday had in the past.

Show space was sold out with over 200,000 sq. ft. divided among 500 exhibitors displaying the latest technology in air conditioning, heating (forced air and hydronics), hearth, plumbing, piping, refrigeration, ventilation, tools, trucks, and software.

6

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

The national show “is the major event for the mechanicals industry in Canada. We have got the largest attendance, the largest subscription from the standpoint of exhibitors and it is literally the focus of the industry for a three-day period,” remarked Heeley.

Face-to-face contact with manufacturers remains one of he key draws for the show, he added. “We’re a practical industry. People want answers, one-on-one.

Wholesalers and the contractors, and all the other people who attend the show, want to be able to meet the people who can solve their problems. They want answers one-on-one.”

Ralph Suppa, president of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, a partner with HRAI in the show, agreed. “The exhibitors are delighted with the turnout, the caliber and the quality of the people who have come into the their booths.”

Skills competition It was a busy show for visitors. Not only were there many new products to see, but visitors were able to attend many seminars, most of them free. There were a number of special events hosted by manufacturers. There were numerous draws at manufacturer’s booths and the big draw for a 2014 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van. Ron Van Brenk, project manager at Hobbs Welding & Boiler Service in London, Ont., was the lucky winner.

There was considerable activity at the HRAI Skills Centre throughout the show, with the event focused on installation rather than troubleshooting as in the past.

Students from Elmira District Secondary School, Elmira, Ont. took the top three places in the secondary

The top apprentices in the Skills Competition were, from left, Tamas Suveg, Sean Nolan and Jason Reaman. competition with Brady Erb, first, Brodie Altman second and Cole Burkhart in the third spot.

In the post secondary competition for apprentices, Sean Nolan, representing North American Trade School, London, Ont., took first place. Tamas Suveg, George Brown College, Toronto, won second place and Jason Reaman, Algonquin College, Ottawa, was third.

In the Masters Challenge, Phil Gagnon was first, Jason Malloy second and Matthew Prince, third.

The next CMPX show will take place March 16-18, 2016.

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ASHRAE proposes residential IAQ standard update ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) has proposed putting all multi-family dwelling units of any height under residential ventilation standard 62.2 to provide consistency of ventilation requirements for dwelling units regardless of building height.

For new construction, this will result in a change of requirements for dwelling units in buildings four stories and higher and, in the retrofit market, will result in coverage by ASHRAE ventilation standards for the first time in buildings greater than four stories.

Currently, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, has responsibility for multifamily residential buildings four stories or more, while ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.22013, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, has responsibility for residential buildings three stories and less.

The proposed changes are open for public review from April 4 to May 4. For more information

or to submit comments, visit www.ashrae.org/ publicreviews.

In Brief

Performance standard comparison

Ontario makes HRVs mandatory

ASHRAE has also revised its building energy performance standard.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 105-2014, Standard Methods of Determining, Expressing, and Comparing Building Energy Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, is designed to provide a consistent method of measuring, expressing and comparing the energy performance of buildings.

A standard method of measurement is needed in order to be able to compare one building’s energy use to another, said Keith Emerson chair of the Standard 105 committee. For instance, comparing one building’s summer energy use to another building’s winter use would be “comparing apples and oranges.”

The new edition of Standard 105 includes procedures for going beyond site energy to calculate the impact of building energy use on primary (source) energy and greenhouse gasses.

To keep the standard flexible, a number of decisions are left to those who adopt it, including what should be calculated beyond site energy and the multipliers for those additional calculations, Emerson said. The standard has also been upgraded to code enforceable language.

Visit www.ashrae.org for more information.

The Ontario Building Code (OBC) 2012 has been amended to require heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) in all new homes after Dec. 31, 2016.

Sample prescriptive packages are included in Part 3 of Supplementary Standard SB 12, Energy Efficiency for Housing (Part 9 Residential Buildings).

Manitoba refrigerant compliance guide The Manitoba Ozone Protection Industry Association (MOPIA) has released its 2014 Spring Compliance Guide, which is designed to help HVAC/R contractors understand and comply with the Manitoba Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Regulation 103/94. It can be downloaded from www.mopia.ca.

Prompt payment hearings After considerable pressure from industry including television ads and a petition, the Ontario government has finally moved prompt payment legislation, Bill 69, into public hearings, which were scheduled for March. The bill passed second reading in May, 2013, but has since stalled. Supported by all parties, the bill would ensure that trades would be paid promptly upon completion of a project.

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Q Industry News

CIPH marks 20-year Habitat partnership The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating is marking 20 years of supporting Habitat for Humanity Canada with its most ambitious home building project yet.

On March 18 Habitat and CIPH broke ground on a 12-unit townhome project in Burlington, Ont. The group has raised over $10 million in cash and products for the group over the years. However, noted CIPH chairman Robert Whitty (Bartle & Gibson, Edmonton) at the ground breaking, “We don’t want to be just a pay cheque. Our members look forward to being active community builders.” CIPH will announce a number of Habitat Build Days where members will be able to participate in the actual construction.

This is the 10th home build sponsored by CIPH with considerable help in the construction from its members, and also members of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), which partners in the Habitat campaign with CIPH. The new complex will also include a much-needed

CIPH Charity Committee members along with Habitat officials celebrated a ground breaking March 18, from left: Habitat CEO Kevin Marshman, Bill Palamar (AquaTech), Doug Kennedy (Masco), Gail Kaufman (Wolseley), Russ Morgan (IPEX), Paul McDonald (Bradford White), Sandy Bartel (Habitat Halton), John Gerrard (Habitat Halton), Robert Whitty (Bartle & Gibson) and Ralph Suppa (CIPH). special needs home. Former CIPH chairman Case de Young (Franke Kindred Canada, Midland, Ont.), who spearheaded the CIPH partnership with Habitat in the early years and remains active, serving on the Habitat board of directors, is being recognized with a street in his name on the new site.

A fund raising gala and silent auction held at the

Metro Toronto Convention Centre on the evening of the 18th raised another $20,000 towards the group’s 2014/15 goal of $2 million, under the leadership of current charity committee chair Paul McDonald of Bradford White Canada.

For more information, call CIPH charity manager Matt Wiesenfeld at 1-800-639-2474 or visit www.ciph.com.

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Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

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Q Air Conditioning

The Shouldice Hospital uses traditional evacuated tube collectors

loads by 80 percent or more.

Some of these savings are undoubtedly being realized, but there have been technology integration problems, and one of the companies involved went under during the project, so the data is still inconclusive after three years.

Another medical facility in California had similar integration challenges at first, but is now achieving its goals. At about 6,000 square metres (64,000 sq. ft.), the Crow Canyon Medical Centre in Danville uses 75 Chromasun microconcentrating panels and a Thermax chiller. It is saving 145,000 kWh of electricity and 1100 therms of natural gas and is again supplementing all three: air conditioning, heating and DHW. These projects used two very different kinds of solutions; and in the solar air conditioning world, there are several more. The Sholdice Centre uses traditional evacuated tube collectors with a somewhat innovative approach to the chiller. Crow Canyon uses innovative collectors with a more traditional chiller. Robert Waters, solar product manager for Viessmann Manufacturing in Waterloo, Ont. says: “Chiller technology around the

COOLING with heat Solar chiller technology may offer solution for overburdened electrical grid

By Bruce Nagy

L A series of mirrors inside each Chromasun collector tracks the sun as it moves across the sky.

10

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

ars Sjoberg is still smiling. The former Volvo engineer hopes that solar chiller technology will one day capture as much business in North America as it has around the world; but he has been through a bit of an adventure with a solar AC project in suburban Toronto during the past few years. And this project is a metaphor for the struggles facing the Canadian solar thermal cooling and heating industry as a whole.

The 89-bed Shouldice Hospital in North York, Ont. (Toronto) has ďŹ ve operating rooms, 131 solar thermal evacuated tube panels on its roof, and 10 Climatewell solar chillers to provide cooling. The full system is designed to save more than 90 percent on domestic hot water (DHW), 44 percent on heating, and 36 percent on cooling; and critically, reduce peak cooling

In the mechanical room, Lars Sjoberg believes that solar cooling has a bright future in Canada.

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Ten solar chillers provide cooling at the Shouldice Hospital.

world is still being developed with players working on different combinations and variations.”

But it does make a lot of sense because air conditioning is needed the most when solar radiation is at its peak.

How it works Despite more than 200 installations worldwide cementing its reputation, the Climatewell absorption chillers in North York are considered experimental because the brand is still somewhat new to North America. It is basically a heat pump that generates chemical reactions between two tanks.

One contains water; the other contains lithium chloride salt.

Heat energy from the panels and a vacuum state initiate a reaction between the salt solution and solar heated water, creating pressure and temperature differentials.

Sjoberg explained that unlike a conventional absorption chiller, with this unit there is no pumping of saline solution and very little electricity is required. Each chiller unit is actually two pairs, with one pair charging while the other is distributing cooling. It provides cooling for several hours after the sun has set. Solar storage capacity at Shouldice Hospital is 4364 litres and this system boasts a COP (coefficient of performance) of .333.

Because the system was installed as a retrofit while the hospital continued to serve patients, the operating rooms actually continue to use the old air handlers, with the rest of the hospital cooled by the new system. That integration had to be managed and another of the challenges was to fit the new equipment into the building. “We put a little in each of three mechanical rooms,” says Sjoberg.

All equipment is roof mounted at the Crow Canyon project in California.

California says they are easy to install and anchor onto the roof very securely, almost like flat-plate collectors. “It’s the largest installation we’ve ever done in a single day,” he says, referring to Crow Canyon. He also says the big question will be about maintenance and how they perform over the life of the system, given that they contain moving parts.

At the Crow Canyon facility, the mega-hot water

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Please see ‘Difficult’ on page 13

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A new type of collector The concept developer, Peter LeLievre, took the idea for Chromasun micro-collectors from his experience with the really large solar farms. A micro-collector uses a series of mirrors sealed inside the solar thermal collector to reflect sunlight onto a pipe in each, containing water.

The mirrors move, tracking with the sun’s changing location and optimizing angles. The concentration of the sun’s energy on the pipe heats the water inside to temperatures in the neighbourhood of 171ºC (339ºF).

Justin Weil, president of Sunwater Solar in Novato,

from the micro-concentrating panels fuel a double-effect absorption chiller, which uses lithium bromide as the absorption solution. The heat from the building is rejected via the cooling tower. When there is not enough solar energy, a built-in natural gas boiler assists. The chilled

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Q Air Conditioning

Difficult times Continued from page 11 water produced by the chiller is pumped through coils installed in the two existing compression chillers. If the absorption chiller cannot keep up with the cooling load, existing compression chillers activate.

An industry on life support?

You may have heard that these are boom times for the solar industry, but in North America that applies more to photovoltaic (PV) solar, than to solar thermal. It also applies to California, Arizona, Hawaii, North Carolina, New Jersey and New York; not so much to Canada.

“Solar thermal heating and cooling technology was becoming popular for a while,” reported John Gorman, president of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA). “Then the (federal) EcoEnergy programs ended at the same time as natural gas prices dropped, creating a perfect storm for solar thermal.”

Meanwhile in the U.S., both PV and

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solar thermal are growing at a torrid pace. PV grew by 41 percent in 2013 adding $13.7 billion in new solar, with more installations in the past 18 months than the total of the previous 30 years.

They accounted for 29 percent of all new electricity generation capacity.

In it’s 2013 report the Solar Energy Industries Association said: “The U.S. solar market showed the first real glimpse of its path toward mainstream status…

The combination of rapid customer adoption…improved financing terms, and public market successes indicated clear gains for solar in the eyes of both the general population and the investment community.”

Gorman remains hopeful that the solar explosion in the U.S. will spill into Canada. “Although we seem to have a short-sighted view based on the current price of natural gas, Ontario and Alberta have stated that they have plans to explore returning to their support of solar thermal heating and cooling.”

This schematic shows the layout of solar cooling components at the Crow Canyon facility.

In Europe, China, Japan and the Middle East, solar thermal heating and air conditioning continue to boom.

Europe has 70 GW of solar, 75 percent of the world’s total, in a climate very similar to Canada. And that’s why Lars Sjoberg is still smiling.

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

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

13

Q Air Conditioning

Diligent troubleshooting will pay dividends for building owner

By Greg Scrivener In honour of the spring air conditioning season we are going to spend a few minutes on packaged rooftop air conditioning units.

There are many components of the air conditioning system that need to be working properly in order for the unit to deliver the correct amount of cooling. Following are a couple of common problems encountered in rooftop air conditioning systems and what you can do about them:

Evaporator coil icing Iced up evaporator coils are an extremely common symptom of air conditioning system problems and can also be one of the most frustrating issues to troubleshoot. The first and most important thing to understand is that the only direct cause of evaporator ice is a refrigerant temperature below the freezing point of water. This fact often leads to an over emphasis on the refrigeration system as the culprit when the truth is that the majority of evaporator ice problems are caused by insufficient airflow.

The reason they can be very difficult to troubleshoot is that insufficient airflow is often caused by small and seemingly insignificant changes to the system over a long period of time. It often goes like this: Undersized or marginally sized ductwork is installed during construction – there are no noticeable symptoms. A couple of interior offices are too warm in the winter so some dampers get closed to prevent over heating – no noticeable symptoms. The filters are neglected for a couple years so the evaporator gets a bit dirty – no noticeable symptoms.

When a nice hot day rolls around you get a service call and the unit is frozen up. You immediately find

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This new unit is being shipped to the jobsite.

Many later problems have their root in something done, or not done, during the installation. plugged filters and a frozen coil. Wow that was easy, change the filters and tell the owner to leave the cooling off and the fan running until you come back in the next day or so to check it. You return the next day and the unit is clear of ice so you fire it up and it seems to be working well so you leave, concluding the plugged filters caused the air flow problem.

Problem solved? What if I told you that had you put your gauges on you would have found the suction pressure at 60 psig. For R22 that means the evaporator temperature is 34°F. Is that okay?

This scenario is typical of a unit that develops chronic freeze-up problems. The immediate problem is fixed, but

the time required to find all of the underlying problems is too much and even if you wanted to look, the customer would probably refuse to pay for the time it would take. We have all seen systems that operate right on the edge for their entire life. I once walked into a service call and had the owner tell me that the unit is frozen up because they didn’t shut it off last night. I asked why they had to shut it off and he explained that a technician had told them to do it because the unit wasn’t getting enough “off time” due to the high load in the facility.

One has to ask, off time for an air conditioner? There are specialized systems out there that purposely operate below freezing and require defrosts, but all standard packaged air conditioning systems that I am aware of do not fall into this category. As long as there is a load and sufficient outdoor ambient temperature, an air conditioning system should be able to run 24/7 for 365 days a year without freezing up.

Checking the refrigeration side Iced up evaporator coils that are caused solely by the refrigeration system are usually either the result of a low refrigerant charge or a malfunctioning or plugged metering device. On a refrigeration system without a receiver you can distinguish between low refrigerant charge and a malfunctioning metering device by the high side pressure. A low refrigerant charge causes lower than normal condensing pressures while a plugged metering device will usually cause higher than normal condensing pressure.

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

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Q Air Conditioning

Not enough cooling?

Continued from page 15

Not enough cooling

The Right Tools

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Working on a unit that appears to be working perfectly with a customer standing beside you insisting that it isn’t cooling as much as it used to can be one of the most frustrating experiences there is. However, from my experience, even though you are the expert on how the machine works, most customers that tell you it used to cool better are right.

There are hundreds of ways a unit can malfunction but a few of them can sometime be tricky to solve. One good example is a dirty condenser. Some condensers can look relatively clean, yet have enough dirt and contamination to cause performance decreases of 10 to 20 percent. That is a significant amount of cooling and is exactly the type of problem that will only be evident on a hot day. It’s worthwhile to note that it isn’t always easy to tell from the discharge pressure whether the condenser is dirty. There are quite a lot of units out there designed with significantly different condenser temperature differences, which can lead you to believe the condenser is dirty. Unless you have the manufacturer’s data, don’t let a ‘normal’ condensing pressure convince you the condenser isn’t dirty.

Economizer woes Another example of ‘not enough cooling’ can result from a malfunctioning or improperly configured economizer. In this case, the refrigeration system is working properly but the load is increased significantly by outside air. Economizers are very rarely configured properly and often allow a very large amount of outside air into the building.

From my experience, even though you are the expert on how the machine works, most customers that tell you it used to cool better are right.

Proper ventilation amounts should be determined from local code requirements (which usually reference ASHRAE 62.1) but for the sake of argument let’s assume we want 10 percent outside air. On a five-ton rooftop unit that moves 2000 CFM of air we would need to introduce 200 CFM of outside air. Cooling 200 CFM of air from 90°F Dry Bulb/65° Wet Bulb to 70°F Dry Bulb/58°F Wet Bulb requires roughly seven percent of the cooling capacity. If the economizer was unintentionally set to 30 percent outside air, the unit would use 21 percent of its capacity just to cool the outside air. It’s pretty easy to use up the entire capacity

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Iced up coils are a sure sign of a problem, but sometimes it is difficult to determine the cause. of the unit cooling hot and/or humid outside air. It’s worth noting that older economizers can allow almost 10 percent outside air when they are closed!

In general, packaged roof top units operate well for their entire service life. They have relatively low leak rates and they rarely malfunction if maintained properly.

Unfortunately they are often installed in situations that force them to operate close to their limits with ductwork that is too small and with too much outside air. These two installation problems alone likely account for a tremendous amount of wasted energy and they both make it hard to troubleshoot problems effectively.

Newer units are coming with a dizzying array of electronics and controls that help set up the unit correctly and provide thousands of different configuration options and troubleshooting codes. As great as this is, it can make troubleshooting and start-up even more difficult. Walking up to most new rooftop units without having the manufacturer’s literature puts you at an immediate disadvantage.

Greg Scrivener is president of Cold Dynamics, Meadow Lake, Sask. He is a journeyman refrigeration mechanic, holds RSES CMS designation in commercial refrigeration and is a mechanical engineer in training. He can be reached at greg.scrivener@colddynamics.com

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Q Air Conditioning Five-ton AC The AirEase single-stage, five-ton air conditioner from Allied Air operates at efficiency levels from 14 to 16 SEER. It is equipped with the company’s proprietary MHT technology, a heat transfer system designed to deliver maximum heat transfer and performance. It also offers both high and low-pressure switches to compensate for adverse system pressures, in addition to a single-stage scroll compressor, an upgraded contactor designed to reduce nuisance failures and a heavy-duty sound blanket for quieter operation.

Allied Air Enterprises www.alliedair.com

Residential communicating control The new Wi-Fi-capable York Affinity Residential Communicating Control from Johnson Controls offers an intuitive interface and remote access, which makes installation and troubleshooting routines relatively easy. Homeowners can access the control system from a smartphone or tablet

using the company’s IntelliComfort mobile app, allowing them to monitor every enabled system device including the air conditioner, furnace, air handler and heat pump.

Contractors can ask homeowners to provide them with access to automated system faults and notification alerts via email. This is also available in the Luxaire brand.

York www.yorkhvacdealer.com

Geared to small systems The OLK-400EZ/E Complete EZ-Ject refrigerant leak detection kit from Spectronics contains everything needed to pinpoint refrigerant leaks in small to medium size AC/R systems, including high-pressure R-410A systems, reports the manufacturer. Leak locations are revealed with a bright fluorescent glow. The included rechargeable violet LED leak detection flashlight emits less visible light compared to standard blue light inspection lamps, making leaks easier to spot. The inspection range is 25 feet (7.6 m).

Spectronics www.spectroline.com

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

19

Q Air Conditioning

WE

will be discussing proper line set welding and evacuation – or the lack of. The problem of systems that are not properly evacuated continues to plague the industry.

Every compressor failure brings these same topics and questions up. They continue to surface at training meetings and, just when we feel we have them licked, well here we go again. Did you pull a good vacuum on the system during the repair and was fresh oil used in your vacuum pump?

Best welding practices Nitrogen flowing through the line set during welding prevents contamination.

AC

Quality installation Correct evacuation and welding ensures reliable long-term operation

By Bob Bettles and Brian Guttormson

20

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

Shaping or bending the lines to fit into final position can be somewhat tricky for some locations due to tighter bends, corners and other obstacles in the building.

The use of mechanical or spring benders is a must. In most cases, trying to form line without them can kink the copper tubing, restricting the flow of refrigerants.

Sometimes the cheaper coppers kink up easily, so beware of what you are purchasing. Remember to keep the sealing caps on the copper lines until the system is in place. No matter how good your evacuation is it will not pull sand and gravel through the pump!

Dry fitting and mocking up all joints before welding is best for the system. All copper-to-copper joints must be pre-cleaned and prepped with wire brush tube cleaners.

If a Sil-Fos product is used for welding copper, fluxes are not needed. Copper to brass joints, if any, should be done with silver solder and minimal flux applied.

A good torch makes the process easier. It is suggested to use oxy and acetylene torches over a turbo torch due to the concentrated flame of the oxy/acetylene keeping the flame localized and offering better control of heat transfer to brass components. Wet rags and a heat sink paste must be used to protect the brass service valves.

Each spring brings service calls that reflect low or no refrigerants within the system and yet no leaks found.

This can be the result of overheated brass valves. During the cold winter months the brass may shrink and the refrigerants are lost; when spring comes with warmer

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temperatures the fitting moves back to its original position, hiding the real problem.

It is important to have enough nitrogen on hand and to use a nitrogen regulator on the bottle. This allows the technician to reduce bottle pressure to a controllable pressure. It is imperative to purchase and use a nitrogen flow regulator that steps the pressure even lower.

The nitrogen flows constantly, filling the pipe but not pressurizing the system, during the welding to prevent any impurities inside the lines. The exterior surface of the welded joints will have some copper oxide flakes created during the welding process. Without nitrogen in the system, this flake is produced inside too. The current R410A will flush the interior of these flakes and deposit them in the compressor, the TXV, reversing valve or, hopefully, in the filter drier.

Evacuating the system Evacuation must be done to remove any impurities from the system and also remove 99.99 percent of air and moisture. As discussed, impurities that are left in the system will cause sludge to be built up in the compressor oil. Any moisture mixing with the refrigerant will create a form of hydrochloric acid, damaging the motor windings and causing an eventual compressor failure.

There is a myth about the minimum allowed time for evacuation of a system. In fact there is no set time written in any handbook for this procedure and without instrumentation you would not know what has been achieved. When evacuating a system, factors taken into consideration are the size of the system, size of hoses from pump to system, amount of contaminants to be removed, quality of your pump and its oil and if your pump is a single or two-stage system.

Refrigeration gauges can see up to thirty inches of vacuum, which relates to 97 percent of the air inside the system, but only five percent of the moisture has been removed. Further instrumentation is required to continue to see the depth of vacuum with the use of a vacuum (micron) gauge. It is used in conjunction with regular gauges and vacuum pumps to tell when the system has reached complete dehydration. Evacuation is the process of pulling a negative on the system and boiling out the moisture, getting the system well below the 1000 microns dehydration point and removing all impurities.

Vacuum pumps that cannot reach levels of 1000 microns or more may require service or it may indicate a leak within the system. The pump may not be large enough to pull the system down, in which case a larger or second pump could be added.

Right sizing Our recent article on right sizing a furnace (P&HVAC, Jan/Feb, 2014) did receive several comments and negative replies! One of our formulas did get transposed and missed in the proofreading of the article prior to publication. This was pointed out by several of our readers! The corrected formula is уT x 1.08 / BTUH input = CFM. As pointed out by readers, the proper way to size equipment should be based on a current heat loss calculation of the dwelling and a proper duct design with an analysis of the existing distribution system. In the real world, this doesn’t always happen!

The retrofit market, unfortunately, is sold mostly on the bottom line and a job will be lost to the “other guy” with a lower price. Some end users are sharp enough to question the difference between quotes but, in the end, the bottom line is the lowest price wins.

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When the system fails to perform as advertised the low ball contractor will pass blame to us as the tech reps for the installed product with “your equipment is a piece of junk and you better fix it!” By the time we are involved the homeowner has experienced several no-heat complaints, noise issues and of course several part failures. Usually the equipment has not been properly commissioned and is as shipped from the factory.

Our articles are based on what we have seen and experienced over the last combined 60 years of work in the HVAC industry. We have both graduated several times from the school of hard knocks and paid dearly for the diplomas! Unfortunately, we never hear from the happy customers raving about their system or contractors.

Thanks for reading!

Bob Bettles Brian Guttormson

Systems should be evacuated to 500 microns or less to eliminate impurities and damaging moisture. When the desired level is reached, run the vacuum pump for at least 30 minutes and then isolate the pump from the system prior to shutting off the pump with your valves closed off for testing.

Wait for a period of 10 to 15 minutes for possible leaks to show.

Note, if there is a slight rise on the vacuum gauge it is due to system pressure equalization of the two sides of the system. If your gauge rises up to 1,000 microns and holds it, it is deemed to be secure and dry. If it rises up to 2,000 microns and holds, it is vacuum tight but too wet!

At this point, it is suggested to change the oil in your vacuum pump, sweep the system with nitrogen and evacuate the system again. Remember to change the oil in your pump often; contaminated A vacuum tree will usually make the evac- oil in the pump will not allow a uation process easier. strong vacuum to be pulled.

Pre-charged systems Today’s condensers, in most cases, are pre-charged at the factory for an installation with a 15-foot line set and a preselected evaporator. Most scroll compressor systems

Please see ‘Time’ on page 23

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21

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Q Air Conditioning

Time well spent

desired value printed on the rating plates. This may vary anywhere between 8 to 12ºF. Superheat of the suction gas refrigerant with a TXV will be about 10ºF. If this is a restrictor metering evaporator, the superheat values depending on indoor load may vary between five and 40ºF depending on indoor wet and dry bulb conditions as well as the outdoor ambient temperature.

One must remember system set up and commissioning is not a five-minute process. An extra 20 minutes to an hour spent on the initial startup will result in a system that will perform as described by the manufacturer for many years.

Continued from page 21 will have a minimum of ¾” suction line and a 3/8” liquid line. Larger capacity systems will require a larger suction line depending on capacity and separation.

Check the spec sheets included with the equipment for additional refrigerant charge volume required for the extended length of the tubing system and the installed evaporator. Refrigerant required should be weighed into the system’s liquid line before the service valves are opened to break the vacuum in the line set.

It is suggested, when opening the service valves, to crack open the suction valves first and the then liquid valve after the pressures are equalized. If the system is opened on the liquid side first with a high vacuum in the system, there is a possibility of compressor oil being pulled into the tube set. If this occurs the oil must circulate through the system to return hopefully to the compressor.

In most cases this oil will end up getting into the evaporator coil and cause more problems. By cracking the suction valve, if oil migration occurs, it will be drawn back to the compressor on start up. Most of today’s service valve top caps are of the self-sealing design.

Depending on the manufacturer, the top cap should be snugged up and then turned one flat of the hex cap

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.

Cut from ICP A/C Insttallation Manu ual file # 421 01 6000 01

It is critical that the technician follows the evacuation chart supplied by the manufacturer in the equipment installation manual, like this one from ICP. beyond tight. This will complete the seal between the valve body and the top cap. Back seating service valve top caps, which are not commonly used today, should only be opened at the top of the valve body.

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.

Starting the system When starting the system, allow at least 10 to 15 minutes of operation to allow the system pressures to stabilize. If this is a TXV system, the sub-cooling of the liquid refrigerant must be checked and compared to the

PEOPLE. SOLUTIONS. VALUE. Industry leading service. It’s what we do. With 20,000 parts stocked on the warehouse floor, an in-house training facility to teach your installers the best techniques on the latest systems, and engineering support with deep experience in hydronics–we have what you need. We can even find the manual for you, because it’s our business to support yours.

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

23

Q Heating

Gas fireplaces, like this Redmond Hearth direct vent unit, are great for zone heating, making a room that would otherwise be cold like a sunroom into a cozy living space.

A gas fireplace can do a lot more than just look nice

By Simon Blake gas fireplace or insert is a nice feature in any home. Adding the “romance of a fire” along with a little additional heat to a basement family room that can be cold in winters has always had considerable appeal to homeowners. However, as long-term power outages caused by ice storms, floods and other extreme weather are becoming more common, gas fireplaces are also proving a valuable source of backup emergency heat.

“It’s quite simple really; they work without electricity,” remarked Chris Green, general manager of Kingsman Fireplaces in Winnipeg. “It’s something (the contractor) can incorporate in their sales pitch if someone asks about a fireplace,” added Terry Hicks, national sales manager for Wolf Steel (Napoleon), Barrie, Ont. “They can say: ‘Here’s a viable backup. If the power goes out, this will

24

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

save your house from freezing up.’”

At 20 to 30,000 Btu/h, a typical gas fireplace won’t heat the entire home. But it will allow residents to stay warm by camping out in the room with the fireplace until the power comes back.

A simple device A gas fireplace is a relatively simple device. It radiates heat through the glass by convection. It doesn’t require a blower to circulate heat, although some are equipped with fans. And unlike a standard inefficient masonry wood fireplace that typically sends 75 percent of its heat up the chimney, a direct vent gas fireplace or insert radiates most of its heat into the room, said Hicks.

Today’s models typically have electronic ignition – intermittent pilot ignition or IPI – with a battery backup. So, during a power outage the batteries will light the pilot. (And if the batteries are dead, it’s a lot easier for the homeowner to find batteries than a generator!)

Many gas fireplaces still use a standing pilot millivolt system. The pilot heats a thermopile that generates enough electricity to operate the gas valve, thus making

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In a power outage, this Napoleon fireplace heat will keep the basement room comfortable and take the chill off in the main floor.

A gas fireplace doesn’t have to be mounted in a traditional location. Wallmounted installations, as with this Kingsman zero clearance unit, are popular.

an outside electricity source unnecessary.

This used to be common on furnaces and boilers, but has fallen from favour in recent years as regulators who would put energy efficiency before all else – including public safety – see the standing pilot as an energy wasting device.

“As an industry, we would probably just as soon see the millivolt system stay… it’s really for the government

require non-combustible materials because we don’t have louvers on them to circulate air around the box, so we’re just relying on the glass to vent that heat out,” said Hicks.

They can say: ‘Here’s a viable backup. If the power goes out, this will save your house from freezing up.’

and the environment that we are using electronic ignition,” said Hicks.

Some models offer both and can be toggled between intermittent pilot and standing pilot, noted Mark Devlin, technical manager for Redmond Hearth in Mississauga, Ont.

The right fireplace Obviously, not all gas fireplaces are equal. They range from primarily decorative units to heater-rated monsters that give off 100,000 Btu/h.

While in theory it might be possible to heat an entire home by installing a large gas fireplace, it’s not typically

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practical because it will short cycle and the room will be uncomfortable.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that most models offer up to 60 percent turndown, noted Devlin. “You can be at 28,000 Btu/h on high and down to 12,000 on low.”

There are different types of glass as well – those with ceramic glass transmit heat more efficiently than those with tempered glass. Fan equipped models will still radiate heat without the fan.

Power vent models won’t work at all.

“Anything that requires an electrical hookup is going to be susceptible to the whims of Mother Nature,” remarked Mike Powell, director of marketing for Miles Industries (Valor Fireplaces) in Vancouver.

Venting is easy. Fireplaces, inserts and some free standing stoves are typically direct vent through the wall

Please see ‘Gas’ on page 27.

Residential Heat Recovery Ventilators

Commercial Heat Recovery Ventilators

Dryer Boosters

Inline Fans

Bathroom Fans

Inline Mixed Flow Square Fans

The installation For HVAC contractors new to the fireplace business, installation is relatively straightforward.

“The biggest thing for a contractor used to working in furnace rooms is that – I hate to say it – but now you’re in a living room,” said Hicks. Attention to detail is critical. “If a furnace has a little ding on it people don’t notice, but they notice the slightest imperfection on a fireplace.” The technician needs to use drop sheets and just be very conscious of the fact that they are working in a finished space.

Fireplaces can be built into a wall, or a “cabinet mantle” can be built around the fireplace. There are also freestanding stoves and even wall hanging models.

“Some of the new lineal designs

Come see us at the MEET Show in Moncton booth 604 www.fantech.net 800.565.3548

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

25

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Q Heating

Gas fireplace installation Continued from page 25 with a maximum horizontal run, depending on the model, of about 20 feet or 40 feet vertical.

Gas lines don’t typically have to be upsized, although the contractor will need to ensure he has enough capacity based on the number of gas appliances in the house.

“The gasfitter going in will have to make a total Btu count and know what his longest measured run is and size (the gas line) accordingly,” said Devlin. In some cases, where there already several gas appliances running off the main gas line, it may be necessary to upsize the line. However, there’s a simpler solution he added. The gas fitter can install a Tee at the gas meter and run a second dedicated line for the fireplace.

At the end of the day, “It just has to be sized properly, and the whole house has to be taken into consideration when you are sizing,” said Devlin.

Positioning logs, coals, rocks, etc. can be critical in some cases, added Green. Like any gas appliance, reading and following the manual will ease the installation considerably.

“Every manufacturer is different, so just because you’ve used one product for a number of years doesn’t mean another manufacturer’s product is going to be the same,” noted Devlin. “There are always different clearances required and for that reason alone you should always read the installation manual.”

Controls Controls vary, depending on what the customer wants.

Most electronic ignition models come with a handheld remote. On the higher end models, the remote can operate as a programmable thermostat. There’s also a Wi-Fi “app”. “ You can now control your fireplace through your phone (for the young people - Ed),” noted Hicks.

At the other end of the spectrum, any millivolt fireplace can be controlled with a simple wall-mounted thermostat. The homeowner can also have the fireplace on a timer or even just a simple on/off switch.

Other benefits Of course, there are many good reasons to install a gas fireplace besides the need to provide backup heat. They

are attractive, they add value to the home and they make a room cozy. It’s an easy way to zone – that cold basement room or back porch converted into an extra room suddenly becomes a place where the residents want to hang out.

From the contractor’s perspective, one of the other nice things about gas fireplaces is that only qualified gas technicians can install them.

“These are technical appliances. You are not going to get one out of a big box store because you have to have your gas certificate and the knowledge to install them,” remarked Powell.

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• CSA B415.1 Approved • 60K – 120K Btu/hr.

In an existing wood fireplace, this Valor gas insert makes a lot of sense.

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

27

Q Heating Energy Star DHW heater A.O. Smith has expanded its Vertex high efficiency DHW heater line with the addition of a power vented 75-gallon gas unit.

It is Energy Star qualified with up to 96 percent thermal efficiency.

The Vertex family of water heaters provides a long-lasting, energyefficient supply of hot water, a user-friendly electronic interface and easy installation options thanks to its power direct vent to power vent convertibility, reports the manufacturer.

A.O. Smith www.hotwater.com

New condensing boilers Aerco International introduces the AM Series of boilers and water heaters featuring high-efficiency, condensing hydronic technology that is designed to provide installation, operating, and lifetime cost advantages to systems from 399,000 to one million Btu/h. Featuring a modular design, they offer efficiencies of up to 98 percent AFUE. Each modular unit has a turndown of 5:1.

Aerco www.aerco.com

Packaged geothermal unit GeoStar has added sophisticated Aurora controls to its Aston Series geothermal heat pumps that provide two-way communication with components for superior performance and troubleshooting capabilities. These units provide forced air heating, air conditioning, and generate a portion of a home’s DHW. They are available in nine single-speed and five dual capacity sizes from one to six tons. The system achieves an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 30 and a 4.8 coefficient of performance (COP). Components include Copeland scroll compressors and a variable speed ECM motor.

GeoStar www.geostar-geo.com

Public spaces radiator The Maxi radiator from Jaga is designed for public locations.

Low-H20 technology allows safe-to-touch low surface temperatures. Each casing features curved edges and has two locks that cannot be detached without tools. An antibacterial coating is also available. Based on the concepts of low water and low mass, the LowH20 heat exchanger inside the radiator has only 1/10 of the thermal mass of an equivalent steel panel radiator.

As a result, it can react much faster to temperature fluctuations. It is available in a number of colours.

Jaga www.jaga-usa.com

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

HVAC website Reznor has redesigned its website to make it easier for users to find information. Users can browse by product number or search for a solution to a specific HVAC need. The new site is also divided by geographic region. Engineers, contractors and distributors that are registered on the website will continue to have secure access to wiring diagrams, detailed replacement parts information, and other specification tools.

Reznor www.RezSpec.com.

R-22 is best for R-22 equipment.

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

29

Freezeless AND Anti-Rupture? What’s the difference? A freezeless faucet has the shut off mechanism well within the heated portion of the home – but what if a garden hose or other device is inadvertently left connected to a faucet during freezing temperatures? Water in the tube fails to drain, this water then begins to freeze and pressure in the tube is increased as ice forms and tries to compress the water trapped in the tube. The tube ruptures and the next time the faucet is used the wall fill with water. Woodford Model 19 Freezeless Faucets have a patented pressure relief valve which allows for expansion during freezing temperatures, saving the faucet and preventing a costly repair or call back. With Woodford’s Model 19, you’re protected – even from other people’s mistakes!

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Q Hot Water Heating

Combosystems Part III

Confusion over terminology

By Roy Collver

I

n March I was at the CMPX Trade kick at being able to provide consumers Show in Toronto, talking to many with a way to compare a variety of people about hydronics related “combo” heating systems against each “stuff.” It was assumed that I had an other – as regards energy efficiency. inside track to all things “combo”.

NRCan proved through their Although I have been doing a lot of Integrated Mechanical Systems program research on the topic lately, I realized that such systems did indeed provide that I had better dig a little deeper in superior energy performance. Rather order to clear up some of the widespread than hold fast to the original idea of a confusion I encountered. “system in one box,” the P.9 standard One question I’ve gotten lately is – was developed to provide a realistic way what is meant by the terms “combo” for manufacturers to package individual or “combi” – are they different systems components into a system that could – is there an “official” definition? I then be evaluated in a laboratory and didn’t think so. I have always applied given an Energy Star rating. these labels interchangeably (along with “hybrid”) – but recently those Energy Star certified persons responsible for crafting the In the short-term, builders will be CSA-P.9-11 Standard, the “test method able to apply an Energy Star rating to for determining the performance of the heating systems in their houses. It combined space and water heating may be just bragging rights for now, systems (combos),” staked a solid claim but the long-term goal is to make it a to the term “combo,” requirement and an as defined below: important marketing Combined space tool – more efficient and water heating Many experts houses for all. system (combo) — a This standard have pointed out that product or a group of is mostly about a individual components current industry test strict laboratory that form an integrated testing protocol that system that is designed procedures have serious narrowly corrals to provide space “combo” as a system heating and water shortcomings. with a heating heating. “appliance” that That definition heats domestic hot would seem to apply water and provides to just about any hydronic system, hot water to an air handler for space but when you examine the actual CSA heating. The standard doesn’t appear document you discover that “combo” to specifically exclude the possibility of has a very narrow definition. As reported in the last issue, this standard is the first Please see ‘Combo’ on page 33

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

31

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Q Hot Water Heating

Combo systems Continued from page 31 other types of systems being rated, but after trolling through the 80-plus pages of the document (highly recommended for you insomniacs out there), I could find no procedures for testing anything other than heating appliance/DHW/air handler systems. To wit: “This standard applies to forced-air packaged combo systems and combo designs/configurations with heat inputs up to and including 87.9 kW (300,000 Btu/h) for boiler-based systems and a maximum input up to and including 73.2 kW (250,000 Btu/h) for waterheater-based systems that are intended for field assembly.”

Think of a combo system as a small three-man band, kind of like, well, a combo. Each musician can hear each note that the other musicians are playing.

In the future I will use “combi” to describe larger custom systems that are more like a symphony orchestra or big band. Lots going on, too many notes to follow all at once, new music for every concert, musicians that may not know each other, and a conductor needed to interpret the music and help all of the musicians stay on pace. (I suspect most would simply describe these larger configurations as hydronic systems – Ed.)

A new standard The new 80-page P.9 standard is available from CSA for $320. The good news is that you don’t really need to get a copy unless you are an engineer trying to design or test a combo system.

Under P.9, a manufacturer designs and manufactures a combo (system in a box), or the components used in a field constructed combo system. A “system integrator” assumes responsibility for the design of a combo and the system’s control settings used during testing (this all makes more sense when you grind through the actual document).

Either “entity” selects the equipment that makes up their particular combo system – this means exact make and model of all components (boiler, pumps, controls, air handler, valves – everything). They then prescribe exactly how it all is to be installed and controlled (piping, wiring, control settings). Once they put it all together, they run it through a very, very detailed testing procedure. Energy use is measured (fuel

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burn, electrical consumption) under very strict operational conditions.

Many experts have pointed out that current industry test procedures have serious shortcomings. The developers of P.9 have taken great care to ensure that the CSA tests are comprehensive and much more reflective of real world operating conditions than any previous testing protocol.

This is actually a bigger deal than you may think. If you review the standard itself, you will see that the P.9 Technical Committee is a veritable who’s who of the HVAC industry. They were obviously all keeping a sharp eye out to ensure that nobody got away with anything.

This is an important role for these committees. Each member tries to protect their own interests and they can call-out any mercenary committee members who are there to try and skew things to flatter their own products.

This system actually works pretty well.

After reviewing P.9, I couldn’t find too many ways that players could “game” the numbers to unfairly favour the performance of their own systems over another – it takes a lot of knowledge, talent, integrity, and vigilance to prevent that kind of thing.

The last word So what’s my last word on combos?

Their time has come. These systems will put affordable and energy saving, hydronic systems into the houses of the average homeowner. They will help us reduce carbon emissions and will counter the impression that hydronic systems are elitist – only for the rich.

Most importantly, they will help bring more HVAC contractors into the hydronic family.

The hydronics industry has been too elitist – often mocking the simple three-piece combo. Musical trends in the last four decades have seen the combo become more popular, but as a side effect, more people have discovered orchestral music as well.

Roy Collver is an author and consultant on hydronic heating based in Peachland, B.C. He can be reached at hoth2o@shaw.ca

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April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

33

Q Ventilation

Product Profile High-rise condo ventilation A new energy recovery ventilator (ERV) introduced at the March CMPX show in Toronto is aimed squarely at the high-rise condominium market.

At only nine inches thick, the new Venmar AVS and vanEE S-Series ERVs fit into the ceiling bulkhead, freeing up space traditionally reserved for mechanical equipment and maximizing living and saleable area for each unit. And because it’s an ERV, it doesn’t require a drain.

The unit moves 115 cfm with a new ventilator design that ensures effective ventilation regardless of pressure differentials typical in condo towers. They provide up to 67 percent heat recovery efficiency at 0ºC. The Energy Star qualified unit is also considerably quieter than a typical ERV thanks to an integrated anti-vibration system to eliminate noise associated with installation directly into concrete ceilings. Snap-fit brackets speed the installation. Venmar’s

New fan options

Swimming pool ventilation

Daikin has introduced new fan array options for its Vision indoor, Skyline outdoor, and custom air handlers. These, in combination with the unique modular air handler design and two inch cabinet variable dimensioning, provide considerable design flexibility.

The Daikin fan array incorporates a number of smaller, reduced maintenance direct-drive fans in place of a traditional large single belt-driven fan, allowing engineers to right-size the motor load to the building application.

Daikin www.DaikinApplied.com

The Seresco NV-Series swimming pool ventilation unit is designed to offer a small footprint, lightweight and high efficiencies. It taps the growing trend of specifying economical simple-to-maintain, non-compressorized ventilation units for space temperature and relative humidity (RH) control in geographical areas with cooler, drier summer climates, such as western Canada. A glycol run-around loop (GRAL) heat recovery strategy results in a smaller and more compact unit versus conventional plate heat exchanger systems. It is available in 4,000 to 70,000-cfm sizes.

Seresco www.serescodehumidifiers.com

WATCO

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ABS drain elbow is white • Removable/replaceable crossbars make drains easy to clean and maintain • Five year limited warranty

Venmar engineer Dominic Blanchette explained the development of the company’s new ultra slim ERVs at the recent CMPX show in Toronto.

ColdShield system tempers supply air to protect the unit in extreme cold temperatures.

It has been a struggle to get builders to include mechanical ventilation. However, that is changing rapidly with concerns over indoor air quality and energy efficiency from residents and governments.

The new S-Series ERVs should go a long way to providing a solution. These units meet the tough new Ontario Building Code requirements.

Venmar www.venmar.ca

Watco Manufacturing Company

Always A Step Ahead

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Patented and Patents Pending See www.watcomfg.com for details ®

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1220 South Powell Road Independence, MO 64057-2724 tel 816.796.3900 fax 816.796.0875 watcomfg.com

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Q Pipes, Valves & Fittings Lead-free ball valves Matco-Norca is offering a full line of lead free ball valves comprised of lead free brass. These valves, for iron pipe, are full port 600 WOG with tee handles available in 1/4”, 1/8” and 1/8” x 1/4.” Each valve has a brass body, stem, ball and end cap with an aluminum alloy handle and zinc-plated screw. The O-ring is made of nitrile butadiene rubber and its seat of PTFE (Teflon).

Matco-Norca www.matco-norca.com

New suction diffuser sizes Taco has expanded its suction diffuser line with three new sizes: 4 x 2.5-inch, 5 x 3-inch, and 8 x 5-inch sizes.

Suction diffusers are flow-straightening devices that provide maximum flow efficiency at the suction inlet of the pump while at the same time reducing space and fitting requirements. They also eliminate the need for an equivalent length of ten pipe diameters of straight run on the suction side of the pump. It is an elbow (and in some cases a reducing elbow) with a built in strainer that is easily maintained.

Taco www.taco-hvac.com

Rigid strut clamps Sioux Chief has added rigid strut clamps to its line. They are used to support IPS pipe and copper tubing along with nominal CTS tube.

Sioux Chief www.siouxchief.com

Easy install tub drain

Transition fittings Viega has introduced a line of specially designed adapter fittings for pipe transitions from ProPress copper systems to PEX tubing systems using the well established Viega press technology. These are zerolead fittings, making them suitable for potable water applications up to two inches.

Viega www.viega.us

One person can install the Innovator Drain from Watco from inside the bathtub. It features an integrated strainer body/drain elbow resulting in fewer joints. The drain is available in high gloss white, biscuit and chrome. It is available in ABS or PVC; the ABS drain elbow is white. Made of a corrosion resistant material, they come standard with test membranes; testable up to five floors (22 psi). Removable/replaceable crossbars make drains easy to clean and maintain.

Watco www.watco.mfg.com

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36

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

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Q Tools & Instruments Compact reciprocating saw

Powerful jetter

Improved battery technology has allowed cordless tool technology to make major strides in recent years.

Tools are becoming more powerful, with longer run times, while being lighter at the same time. The new M12 (12-volt) Fuel Hackzall reciprocating saw from Milwaukee Tool is evidence of this trend. It delivers four times more run time, 70 percent faster cutting and six times longer tool life compared to previous models, making it more powerful than some 18-volt models, reports the manufacturer.

Milwaukee Tool www.milwaukeetool.com.

Centre punch for pipe

Dual port manometer

The Sumner Centre Punch from Sumner Manufacturing includes a digital inclinometer gauge set on an angled base, ideal for measuring angles on pipe. The digital gauge displays angles to the nearest hundredth and is removable from the angled magnetic base.

The angled base contains a push button spring-loaded striking hammer for clearly marking pipe at the desired location.

Sumner Mfg. www.sumner.com

With Fieldpiece Instruments SDMN6 Dual Port Manometer, service techs can measure gas pressure and static pressure and also test pressure switches with the internal draft simulator. This is important because many technicians don’t have the extra equipment to test pressure switches. With the SDMN6, he (or she) can learn how to make pressure checks that can help fix problems related to filters, blowers, and ducting.

Fieldpiece www.fieldpiece.com

The redesigned JM-3080 gas-powered Jet-Set water jet drain-cleaning machine from General Pipe Cleaners is about the biggest jetter that doesn’t require a trailer. Designed to clear stubborn grease stoppages, sand, sludge and ice, it generates 3000 psi at eight gallons per minute. A 614 cc (20 hp) Honda engine with electric start and two-to-one gear reducer drives the pump, while a 12-gallon buffer tank protects the jet if the water supply can’t match pump demand. It features a removable 300 ft. capacity hose reel.

General’s Vibra-pulse on demand technology helps the hose slide easily down long runs and around tight bends.

General Pipe Cleaners www.drainbrain.com

Large bore pipe cutter The Exact PipeCut 280E saw from Mag Tool is designed to quickly and accurately cut pipe from 1.5” to 10 inches in diameter.

Featuring two-speed operation, it cuts all pipe materials with the appropriate 140 mm blade.

Mag Tool www.magtool.com

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Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

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Q Smart Hiring

Developing new managers Choosing the right candidate a critical first step

By Fiorella Callocchia “We promoted a great performer to a new manager’s role and they are not working out.

What can we do?”

This is such a common scenario in organizations.

So why does it continue to happen and what can companies and human resources (HR) professionals do to better select and support new managers?

First, let’s remember that transitioning from an individual contributor’s role to a manager’s role is not easy or simple. Sometimes people glorify managerial roles, which prevents them from seeing the challenges as well.

The manager’s role is all about getting results through people. This means knowing what makes people tick, what motivates them to perform and how to build a high performance team.

Identifying potential managers New managers need to be informed and trained, but even more important is the process of identification, assessment and selection of new managers. It is in no one’s best interest for a new manager to fail. It can damage the reputation of the organization’s leadership and deter aspiring managers from wanting the leadership job.

What can organizations do to be proactive and help a manager succeed in the role?

Here are seven best practices and strategies: 1) Develop a competency model for the manager’s role that clearly outlines the core skills, knowledge and behaviors required for success.

2) When considering internal candidates, ensure that a “management” role is, in fact, one of their career aspirations. Soliciting candidates who do not have a management role in their sights will make them feel they have no choice but to take the job, especially if they want to earn more money. This can prove to be disastrous if the situation does not work out, plus it could create legal risks for the company.

3) Provide a balanced view of the manager’s role. There are positive aspects to every job as well as tradeoffs. Managers who are promoted within the same team will be managing former peers and maybe even friends. They will need coaching as to how to deal with the “new work

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relationship” and establish boundaries.

4) Ensure the process is sound and respected. Conduct an in-depth interview of all internal candidates.

Don’t assume because they know the organization that this critical step can be skipped. Assess them with the same level of rigor as external candidates and complete skills assessments that can later be used for professional development plans.

5) Work with the manager to develop a 100-day plan.

Set dates within the first three months to discuss progress, performance, milestones and challenges.

Dealing with any issues early on will increase the likelihood of success.

6) Arrange for coaching and the necessary training. New managers need to understand how to give feedback, address performance challenges, understand legal responsibilities and conduct performance reviews, to name a few. Consider assigning a mentor who

It is in no one’s best interest for a new manager to fail. can share their lessons learned and navigate them through the first few months.

7) Consider “lunch & learn” sessions for the staff to discuss what it takes to be a manager within the organization, to enhance the management “brand” and encourage individuals to develop their skills.

Management roles offer exciting career and professional challenges while expanding one’s skills related to people. Let’s help people be successful by providing them with the appropriate training, tools and support. This way, everyone wins!

Fiorella Callocchia is a Canadian Human Resources Professional (CHRP) and specialist lead, human capitol with Deloitte. She is also author of Canada’s HR Audit Toolkit, a business best seller. The Human Resources Professionals Association (www.HRPA.ca) provided this article.

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

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With saveONenergy incentives, we installed energy-efficient equipment in the building to save energy and money for our tenants Vladimir Niderman Property Manager, 212 King West Holdings Inc.

Saving energy makes sense – business sense.

Receive incentives of up to 50% of the cost of your energy efficiency projects including high efficiency lighting and HVAC system upgrades.

Learn more about available incentives at saveonenergy.ca/business

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice.

OM Official Mark of the Ontario Power Authority.

Q Training From left, students Austin Giles and Bailey Fitch with teacher Phil Gagnon are about to test and adjust the manifold pressure on an old furnace.

High school success story Ontario school celebrates six years of graduating licensed gas fitters

On the job

Over the past six years students at College Avenue Secondary School in Woodstock, Ontario have been given the opportunity to write their Gas Certification Level 3 licence in their own classroom under the guidance of their teacher, Phil Gagnon. As the only high school in Ontario designated as a training provider by the Ontario Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), dozens of students have achieved their Certificate of Qualification over the years.

The students receive workplace experience with area contractors through a double credit co-operative education course, ensuring that each student experiences a minimum of 180 hours working in the skilled trades.

These students are registered under the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, guaranteeing that their hours will count towards their apprenticeship. As a measure of their success, these students are required to monitor their training using the Ontario Skills Passport.

students also received certification in fall arrest, confined spaces awareness, lock out/tag out, first aid/CPR, elevated platform training, propane in construction, electrical safety and WHIMIS.

explain their role in gas safety. As well, representatives from manufacturers are invited to provide industry specific training. Recent sessions included one on Gastite flexible gas piping and

another on ULC s636 venting systems.

“By providing a well-rounded trade specific education, we are ensuring that we can provide our students with the opportunity to explore a rewarding career in the heating industry, as well as to supply employers with young educated and trained employees for years to come,” said Gagnon.

By supplying the code books as well as all tools and a textbook, the school ensures that this opportunity is available to everyone.

This program is available to any student of the Thames Valley District School Board under the age of 21. By supplying the code books as well as all tools and a textbook, the school ensures that this opportunity is available to everyone, reported Gagnon.

Along with their gas certification,

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As well, in providing as much real world experience as possible, many guest speakers are used throughout the course, said Gagnon. Representatives from Union Gas and local trade contractors provide insight into the day-to-day activities of a technician.

TSSA inspectors are brought in to

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

41

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Q People & Places

HRAI honours RSES members Two members of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada (RSES) were honoured recently by the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI).

HRAI president Warren Heeley presented the HRAI CMS Award for educational achievement to Gary Struhar of Belle River, Ont. and Brendan Myers of Kanata, Ont. for obtaining the highest marks in Canada for the 2013 Certificate Member Specialist (CMS) examinations.

The awards were presented at RSES Annual Meeting held March 20 in Toronto.

Struhar is a refrigeration mechanic at Honeywell Ltd., has been a member of RSES for 33 years and is the editor of the group’s newsletter. Myers is currently a journeyman with Plan Group in Ottawa and a member of Local 787 (Refrigeration Workers of Ontario).

The

People

Brent Noonan

Cindy Gonsalves

Uponor North America, Apple Valley, Minnesota, has named Brent Noonan to the position of vice president of sales. “We are confident that Brent’s proven experience and success with Uponor and his existing relationships with our customers will continue to build on our growth and momentum in Canada,” said company president Bill Gray. “This is a great opportunity for us to leverage, share best practices, and align our existing sales and marketing resources in the U.S. and in Canada.” Recognizing the regional differences in the U.S. and Canadian markets, Gray added, “We will integrate and align where it makes the most business sense and adds value to our customers.”

Cindy Gonsalves has been appointed manager, operations and administration, for the Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO), Toronto.

Taco Canada, Milton, Ont., has appointed Mike Miller as director, commercial sales. Mike Miller Formerly with Uponor and Tekmar, Miller is also vice chairman of the Canadian Hydronics Council.

Brendan Myers, right, receives his CMS award from HRAI president Warren Heeley.

Gary Struhar, right, receives his award from Warren Heeley.

from its longtime owner Bill Reinhardt, who will stay in place for the time being to help with the transition.

Dectron Internationale, Montreal, has appointed HTS Engineering Ltd., Toronto, as the official representative of Dectron and Eco-tron brands in the Greater Toronto Area.

NEXT Plumbing Hydronics, Toronto, has announced its sixth Trevor Toronto area location. Their newest 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse MacDonald will open June 1 at 120 Industry Street, near Eglington Avenue and Black Creek Drive. Plumbing Industry veteran Dave Kellar has been appointed branch manager.

ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, has announced the sale of its Thomas & Dave Betts HVAC business for $260 million to Nortek Inc., headquartered in Kellar Providence, Rhode Island.

The

Companies HeatLink Group, Calgary, is expanding its warehouse and distribution centre in Grand Rapids, Michigan to better serve its customers in Eastern Canada and the U.S. However, this means the closure of the current satellite warehouse in Mississauga, Ont. “Our customer base for both heating and plumbing systems has increased across North America,” said company president Manfred Schmidt. “We need to ensure all customers receive the products they need in a timely fashion. Based on a logistics study we realized we could improve overall service and delivery times for our customers in Eastern Canada and the Eastern United States by expanding our main Eastern facility and closing our satellite warehouse in Ontario.”

Novacap, a private investment firm headquartered in Longueuil, Que., has signed an agreement to purchase a 65 percent stake in the Master Group, Boucherville, Que. from shareholders M. Alain Fournier, Michel Ringuet and Louis St-Laurent. The current Master Group management team will remain in place. “Our association with a local business partner, whose expertise in the management of acquisition projects and strategic alliances crosses our borders, will be key to the implementation of the longer term business plan of The Master Group and will be a huge support to all our growth plans. This partnership represents a great business opportunity for us, guaranteeing the continued development and growth we have generated over the years, and the success we expect to achieve in new markets ” said Michel Ringuet, Master Group CEO. Trevor MacDonald has purchased Raptor Cutting Tools Inc., Concord, Ont.,

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administered by

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

43

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.

Brenntag Canada Inc. Exclusive distributor of Genetron® refrigerants in Canada Ontario & Western Canada: Tel. No. (416) 243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731 Quebec & Maritime Provinces: Tel. No. (514) 636-9230 Fax: (514) 636-8229 To learn more, call 800-631-8138 or visit www.genetronperformaxlt.com. © 2010 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

Q Coming Events

Oil heat in Ottawa Canada’s capitol will host the Canadian Oil Heat Association Annual Conference and Symposium this year.

Scheduled for June 18-19 (with early registration on the 17th), Cleaner Heat 2014 will take place at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in downtown Ottawa, right next door to the Parliament Buildings.

Cleaner Heat always has some interesting educational sessions and this year is no exception.

Topics include things like bio fuel, systems inspections logistics, controlling labour costs for drivers and techs, best practices, insurance issues, etc.

There will be a dedicated oil heat equipment trade show on both days of the event as well.

The golf tournament – the 4th COHA Cup – will

INDEX to

ADVERTISERS

AquaTech ................................................... 23 Arkema Canada .......................................... 29 Bardon Supply* ......................................... 12 Bibby Ste. Croix .......................................... 28 Bradford White ............................................. 7 Brant Radiant .............................................. 41 Canadian Water Quality+............................ 40 Collver Hydronics ........................................ 45 Fantech....................................................... 25 Fieldpiece.................................................... 17 General Pipe Cleaners ................................. 14 Habitat for Humanity+ ................................ 12 HRAI ..................................................... 21, 43 Hilmor ........................................................ 34 Honeywell/Genetron Div. ........................... 44 IBC Boilers .................................................... 4 Invensys ........................................................ 8 IPEX ...................................................... 22, 42 MAG Tool ................................................... 33 MEET Show ................................................ 36 Mitsubishi Electric ....................................... 16 Mobilio ......................................................... 5 Napoleon .................................................... 18 Navien .......................................................... 9 Newmac ..................................................... 27 Ontario Power Authority* ........................... 40 P&HVAC+ ................................................... 37 RaptorCutting Tools .................................... 19 RatechElectronics ........................................ 11 Redmond Williams* .................................... 37 Refrigerant Management Canada ............... 43 RIDGID........................................................ 48 Saniflo ........................................................ 26 Taco ............................................................. 2 Unico Systems............................................. 19 Uponor ....................................................... 47 Viega .......................................................... 32 Watco Mfg. ................................................ 35 Woodford Mfg. .......................................... 30 Zoeller ........................................................ 13 Zurn............................................................ 38

take place at the Emerald Links Golf Club south of Ottawa. For non-golfers, a city tour is planned.

Everyone will return to the Chateau Laurier for dinner, followed by renowned Canadian comedian Mike MacDonald. This award winning comedian is the only comedian in history to perform at the world famous Just For Laughs Gala for more than 20 consecutive years!

Day 2 of the symposium will include a full day of

speakers and learning sessions. The Delivering the Goods Luncheon and Awards is always a highlight, with those that have worked hard to further the oil heating industry in this country being honoured for their efforts.

Another highlight of this year’s event, on the second day, will be a dinner at the Canadian War Museum.

For more information, call 1-800-257-1593 or visit www.coha.ca.

JUNE 22-24:

Events

Calendar

ABC 2014, CIPH Annual Business Conference, Delta Grand Okanagan Hotel, Kelowna, B.C. Call 1-800-639-2474 or visit www.ciph.com.

MAY 7-8: MEET Show 2014, Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, N.B. Call 1-888-454-7469 or visit www.meetshow.ca.

AUG. 20-23:

MAY 7-8:

SEPT. 24-27:

Solar Ontario 2014 Conference and Trade Show, Ottawa Convention Centre, Ottawa. Call 1-866522-6742 or visit www.solarontarioconference.ca.

Mechanical Contractor’s Association of Canada 73rd National Conference, Delta St. John’s Hotel, St. John’s, Nfld.

Call (613) 232-0492 or visit www.mcac.ca.

HRAI Annual Meeting, Montreal. Call 1-800-267-2231 or visit www.hrai.ca.

JUNE 18-19: Cleaner Heat 2014, Canadian Oil Heat Association Annual Conference and Symposium, Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa.

Call 1-800-257-1593 or visit www.coha.ca.

NOV. 5-6: CIPHEX West Trade Show and Conference, BMO Centre, Stampede Park, Calgary. Contact Elizabeth McCullough at 1-800-639-2474 or visit www.ciphexwest.ca.

Mastering Hydronics Condensing Boilers in Hydronic Systems A Convenient Online Training Opportunity A significant change in the North American hydronic heating industry took off and gained altitude in the mid 1990’s. Residential and light-commercial gas-fired boilers started to rapidly evolve from high-temperature, chimney-vented appliances to pressure-vented, modulating, high-efficiency condensing (mod-con) boilers. This detailed course will help hydronic system designers optimize their system designs and control strategies to be able to take full advantage of the energy savings and comfort benefits these boilers have to offer. Traditional boilers were required to operate above 140°F, and system design followed that requirement.

The industry’s thinking about system design is skewed because of this, and a widespread “reset” in designing modern hydronic systems is required. This 9 week course could very well be your “reset” button. Students in this course will submit a full system design, including equipment selection and control strategy, for the Capstone Project.

Roy Collver produces and presents this course.

Hydronics Specialist / Educator, Class 1 Gas-Fitter and Illustrator. Regular columnist for Plumbing & HVAC Magazine, Roy is a premier “translator” of new technology. This training is upto-date, comprehensive and entertaining. He explains the effective application of these new products in real-world system designs.

Course starts September 2014 30 Early Bird spots available!

SAVE $400!

Now only $795 with early bird discount. Go to www.plumbingandhvac.ca /training

*Ontario only + Outside Ontario only

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

April 2014 – Plumbing & HVAC

45

Q Shop Management

Expand or

contract

Moving into other areas of business By Ron Coleman

H

as a customer ever told you that they were not going to use your services in the future because one of their other service providers also does what you do and they would prefer to deal with only

one provider?

The conversation goes like this (you can fill in the blanks): “We won’t be using you in the future as our contractor also does (which is what you do for them) and it’s simpler for us to just deal with one provider.”

If this hasn’t happened to you, it will; it’s only a matter of time. Consolidation and cross-selling is gaining momentum.

Your greatest competition is often yourself. You get so busy running your day-to-day operations that you don’t spend time thinking about your clients’ needs or talking to them about those needs.

Here’s an example that happened to one of my clients here in Vancouver a few years ago. They are a HVAC contractor doing a lot of work for property management companies. They sent out a survey to their top 10 customers asking them if they would use them for their plumbing needs if they established a plumbing division and how much they spent on plumbing services each year.

Four of the 10 replies said yes and, between the four of them, they spent $500,000 on plumbing each year.

That was enough work to justify putting two plumbing trucks on the road. I believe the company is now up to at least six plumbing trucks. After that, they got into electrical services through an associated company – one stop shopping, that’s what the customers wanted.

was asked by the property management company that he did work for if he could do drainage work. He didn’t want to let any of his competitors into the building – a shopping mall – so he said “yes.” And then he figured out how to do it – using rental equipment at first – and now has drain inspection and cleaning in his arsenal.

Many service contractors are offering water treatment services. Homes often get under-the-sink systems that need regular filter changes and maintenance. Isn’t that a nice add-on? How about all those office coolers? Lifting those large jugs of water is a health and safety hazard.

Why not get the water connected through a permanent water line with the appropriate filtering system?

Make a list of all the mechanical systems in a person’s home or business and see what you could service. I have a home office and here’s what comes to mind for me: ✓ boiler ✓ hot water tank ✓ three full bathrooms ✓ four toilets ✓ one water cooler ✓ automatic garden sprinkler ✓ kitchen sink with no filtered water ✓ gas fireplace ✓ gas stove

✓ washing machine ✓ dryer ✓ fridge ✓ outside mains gas bbq ✓ hot tub ✓ freezer ✓ radiant heating (ground floor) ✓ hot water heating (upstairs)

Because I live in Vancouver we don’t have air conditioning, just extra water proofing (need to keep my gutters clear).

or air conditioning unit (for a fee, of course)? Do you think to offer to check their thermostats? Maybe they should use more up-to-date programmable ones.

If you are going to do some plumbing work, do you automatically check the toilets to see if the cisterns are leaking into the toilet bowl? Put some food colouring into each cistern before you start other work and then when you are finished check the toilet bowl and where there are leaks (and usually there are) offer to replace the flappers for, say, $15 each while you are there.

That’s easy money you are leaving on the table.

After that, they got into electrical services through an associated company – one stop shopping, that’s what the customers wanted.

There are services that you could perform within your existing expertise and there are services you can add to your repertoire. Consider this carefully because it is costing you sales, profits and customers.

Another growth area is security and monitoring.

There is a big demand for that particularly with the aging population.

If you don’t want to expand into these areas, then form alliances with other providers so that between the two of you, you can meet a broader base of your customers’ needs. For example, a HVAC contractor could send out a plumbing or an electrical contractor to his customer and take a 10 to 20 percent commission for the referral.

What’s the difference between a clever contractor and a wise contractor? A clever contractor makes money doing what he does; a wise contractor makes more money doing what he could!

Don’t forget to have fun!

Surveying your customers Other services I am sure you have heard that it is six times easier to sell to an existing customer than to a new one. So, look at your customer base and determine what other services you could provide to them.

There are several different options open to most mechanical services. One HVAC contractor in Ontario

46

Plumbing & HVAC – April 2014

How much of that equipment could you service and how much are you allowing your competitors to service? Make a checklist for your major customers of what you do and what you could do and explore these options with them.

Also when you go to service someone’s furnace, do you offer to check their hot water tank, gas fireplace

Ronald Coleman is a Vancouverbased accountant, management consultant, author and educator specializing in the construction industry. He can be reached by e-mail at ronald@ronaldcoleman.ca.

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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