Nov/Dec 2023

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Home Heating Revolution Canada providing incentives to ease transition to heat pumps NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

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INSIDE n Zoning air-to-air n Creating win-win partnerships n Mechanical room makeover n New era for water-based heating/cooling

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n Contents

Residential Construction Issue Departments Hot Seat..........................................5 “I told you so!”

Industry News ...............................7 Federal government pauses oil home heating tax

PHVAC, In the Field......................33 Charity hockey tournament breaks record

People & Places............................34 Business expansion in wholesaler business

Shop Management......................36 Business partnership opportunities for contractors

Coming Events.............................38 AHR Expo heads to the windy city

Products & Technologies Heat Pumps .................................10 Residential Construction ............15

16 Calgary retrofit case study Century-old home receives much needed TLC

Features

Case Study ...................................16 Hydronics .....................................22 Refrigeration ...............................26 Fluid innovation

22

Zoning HVAC

10

Radiant heating industry witnessing sizable shift in tech

Cover: Zoning is common practice in hydronic heating, however, contractors still hesitant when it comes to forced air. www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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Refrigerant boiling points

No direct relationship between temperature and pressure when the fluid is saturated

26

What’s stopping zoning from being in every home?

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

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n Hot Seat

November/December 2023 Volume 33, Number 7 ISSN 1919-0395

1 PO

Publisher Mark Vreugdenhil (289) 638-2133 ext.1 Cell: (416) 996-1031 mark@plumbingandhvac.ca Editor Leah Den Hartogh (289) 638-2133 ext. 2 Cell: (289) 830-1217 leah@plumbingandhvac.ca

2023 Bingo Card Anyone who grew up with a sibling has probably been told by either one or both parents “not to speak to your brother or sister that way.” Or that, it’s not polite to tell them “I told you so.” Even in the moments that you really want to.

Well, I highly suspect there are some people in the industry who are currently struggling to hold on to that childhood lesson right about now with how slow it has taken for heat pumps to be adopted. I bet they wish they could yell it as loud as they can from the top of every mountain.

On the flip side, those early adopters of heat pumps might be taking a bit more of a graceful approach and are simply happy that more and more people are coming to terms with the direction of the industry.

My best guess is that it’s split somewhere along the lines of 50/50 between those who want to scream “I told you so,” and those who are simply happy to see the industry evolving.

I will say, that for an industry that has been known to resist change and prefer to do things the way their mentors taught them, there are so many that are learning to embrace the change. For those people, I applaud.

Looking back at this calendar year, I would summarize that 2023 was a year of so much

Facebook: @PlumbingandHVAC

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LinkedIn: Plumbing + HVAC Magazine

change. It has been the fi st year in a while where we weren’t put into lockdowns at some point and were able to feel some semblance of normal.

I look back at these past 12 months and I think about how we are still just on the cusp of what is to come. If I were to create some type of crossword with the buzz words of the year, I’d say you’d see terms like heat pump, electrification, hybrid, carbon, and net zero, right up at the top of the list.

The education around these topics will become so much more paramount to the success of contracting companies. I have heard radio commercials about heat pumps or rebate programs over the speakers while shopping at the grocery store. We are entering a time where homeowners will be the ones asking about heat pumps and it’ll be up to the tradespeople to be up to date on the nuances of the technology.

For now, enjoy the chilly fall weather before we are blasted with a typical Canadian winter.

Happy Holidays and hope our readers have a wonderful New Year. Cheers to 2024.

Twitter: @Plumbing_HVAC_

Instagram: plumbing_hvac_

Assistant Editor Francesco Lo Presti (289) 638-2133 ext. 3 francesco@plumbingandhvac.ca Contributing Writers Glenn Mellors, Greg Scrivener, Michael Ridler, Ron Coleman Design and Production Tim Norton/Janet Popadiuk production@plumbingandhvac.ca All articles and photos by Plumbing & HVAC staff unless noted.

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

Marked Business Media Inc. 286 King Street W, Unit 203, Oshawa, ON L1J 2J9 Tel: (289) 638-2133 Postmaster: Send all address changes and circulation inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Magazine, 286 King Street W, Unit 203, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada L1J 2J9. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 43029513. Postage paid at Toronto, ON. Annual Subscription Canada: $40.00 plus applicable taxes, single copy $5.00 plus applicable taxes. Annual Subscription United States: $60.00 U.S. Annual Subscription foreign: $90.00 U.S. Copyright 2023. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

A member of: • Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating • Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada • Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association • American Society of Heating Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers • Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada • Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada

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2023-11-17 5:36 PM

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n Industry News

Federal pollution price on heating oil pauses

The federal government has announced relief for homeowners using propane as its space heating energy source.

By Leah Den Hartogh The Canadian government has paused the federal pollution price on heating oil for three years in an attempt to allow for homeowners to make the switch to heat pumps. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in a press conference on Oct. 26.

“We have to make sure we’re fighting climate change in ways that supports all Canadians. That has been at the center of our choices as a government for the past eight years — fight climate change, while supporting Canadians in how we do it,” shares Trudeau. “That is why, we are announcing a three-year pause on the federal pollution price on heating oil, so that we can give everyone the time and ability to switch to heat pumps.”

Mixed reactions The home heating oil exemption will apply across Canada, however the policy is expected to help Atlantic Canada in particular; this is due to the fact that 30 per cent of homeowners in the region still use oil to heat their homes.

Overall in Canada, heating oil accounts for 2.7 per cent of the total energy consumption by Canadian households in 2019, according to the Household and the Environment Survey: Energy Use, 2019 conducted

by Statistics Canada.

The Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) applauded the federal government’s move to address support for low-income Canadians and those struggling to transition to low carbon heating, reports Martin Luymes, vice president or government stakeholder relations at HRAI. “We encourage additional measures of this type that facilitate the energy transition for Canadians in all regions of the country who are interested in making the transition, but lack the means to do so,” www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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reports Luymes.

Fellow industry associations are equally ecstatic over the announcement, “The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) welcomes the federal government’s plan to help Canadians manage their home heating costs during these inflationary times,” explains Satinder Chera, CEO of CIPH. “We encourage the government to continue to balance the focus on energy transition with practical, economic solutions for all consumers.”

The Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is calling on the government to fix the “oversight” by not including propane in the energy assistance program. “Propane, like heating oil, is a rural fuel,” said Shannon Watt, CPA’s president and CEO. “Those same rural communities that rely on heating oil also use propane.

These are rural Canadians facing the same financial pressures as their neighbours and deserve the same breaks on their heating bills.”

According to the CPA, there are upwards of 200,000 households that use propane to heat their homes and about 30,000 households in Atlantic Continued page "8"

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November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

7

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n Industry News

GF acquires Uponor Uponor has offically been acquired by Georg Fischer (GF). The announcement was made on Nov. 13 by both companies, with the transaction closing occurring on the same date.

Uponor will now become a new division within GF and will focus on building technology, whereas the infrastructure and utility businesses will move to GF Piping Systems. GF Uponor will be one of four divisions within the group, joining GF Piping Systems, GF Casting Solutions, and GF Machining Solutions.

“We will continue to implement our Continued from page "7"

Canada alone. “Federal assistance must be fair to all rural Canadians, not a patchwork and the Prime Minister must also be there for those that depend on propane for heating,” said Watt, “Otherwise, efforts to help rural Canadians pay their energy bills will just end up creating winners and losers right in rural communities themselves, and nobody wants that.”

Axing the carbon tax The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) isn’t as pleased with how the announcement to pause heating oil from the carbon tax and is looking for a complete overhaul of the federal carbon tax. “The recent announcement by the federal government that it will exempt only one type of heating fuel — heating oil — from the carbon tax is just the latest example of how unfair the tax has been to small businesses,” shared CFIB in a press release.

“Now the government is choosing to help some Canadians with their heating costs by exempting them from the carbon tax, while leaving the majority out. CFIB is concerned that the recently announced enhancement to the rural top-up to Climate Action Incentive payments will be funded by reducing the small sliver of carbon tax revenue that is current earmarked to be returned to small business. The entire federal carbon tax structure is

8

strategy, and leverage powerful global trends, such as the need for safe and clean water, or more efficient energy use,” said Andreas Müller, GF’s CEO. “On behalf of all my colleagues, I am happy to welcome Uponor employees and start this new chapter together.”

O r g an i z at i on a l c h an g e s w i l l b e implemented during 2024. Up onor Corporation’s president and CEO, Michael Rauterkus, will become a member of GF’s executive committee as president of the GF Uponor division.

“I am proud to continue to steer GF beginning to look like a shell game,” explains Dan Kelly, CFIB’s president.

As such, CFIB is calling on the federal government to overhaul the carbon tax system entirely by expanding the carbon tax exemption to all forms of heating fuels, including natural gas. In addition, they are calling to halt any future carbon tax increases, including the increase planned on April 1, 2024.

“Small businesses have been waiting for a meaningful effort from government to return the carbon tax revenues it promised them since the tax was introduced. They have seen consumers and big businesses benefit from rebates and grants, while they were left in the cold,” Kelly concluded. “If the government can’t fix the carbon backstop system now, it’s time to scrap it and look for other ways to address climate change.”

In Canada, heating homes and businesses isn’t a choice and tackling heating costs is an important way to address the higher cost of living, explains CFIB. “Last winter rural Canadians had difficulty paying residential energy bills.”

In addition to the pause on federal pollution tax on heating oil, Trudeau announced a new pilot program that will be released in Atlantic Canada. “We’re working with provinces to install a free heat pump for people who are making at or below median household and encourage people to sign up for the change.”

Plumbing & HVAC – November/December 2023

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Uponor together with my leadership team.

The combination of our businesses will bring more exciting opportunities and will allow us to serve our existing and new customers even better,” said Rauterkus. “Together we are creating a global leader in sustainable water and flow solutions. We are looking forward to a bright and successful journey together.”

Founded in 1802, GF is headquartered in Switzerland and as of the end of 2022, it was present in 34 countries with 138 companies.

Total value of building permits decreases in Sept.

The total monthly value of building permits in Canada decreased 6.5 per cent in September to $11.2 billion, reports Statistics Canada.

Despite the monthly decrease, the total value of building permits in the third quarter of 2023 rose 4.9 per cent from the second quarter to $34.6 billion.

In the residential sector, the total monthly value of residential permits increased 4.2 per cent to $7.2 billion. Th s was due largely to a 37.2 per cent increase in construction intentions in British Columbia.

Declines seen in five provinces were offset by monthly gains in the value of residential permits in Newfoundland and Labrador (up by 20.8 per cent), Prince Edward Island (up by 16.2 per cent), Nova Scotia (up by 10.3 per cent), and Quebec (up by 9.1 per cent).

In the third quarter of 2023, the residential sector increased 3.4 per cent to $21.2 billion. Additionally, 64,400 new units were authorized through building permits in the third quarter of 2023.

On the non-residential side, the total monthly value of non-residential permits fell 21 per cent from August to $4 billion in September. Th s drop was attributed to the decline in construction intentions for the institutional component (down 50.7 per cent to $1.0 billion).

Despite the sharp month-over-month decline, the total value of non-residential building permits in September 2023 ($4 billion) was 18.7 per cent higher than in September 2022 ($3.4 billion).

Meanwhile, the non-residential sector was up 7.3 per cent to $13.5 billion in the third quarter of 2023. www.plumbingandhvac.ca

2023-11-17 5:36 PM

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L E A D E R

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n Heat Pumps

Traditional furnaces can benefit from zoning, however the system can be more flex ble when zoning with a heat pump.

By Francesco Lo Presti

Homes are becoming more sophisticated and connected; a home’s heating system is no different. “By zoning an HVAC system, homeowners can access customized temperature control and energy efficiency,” said Mike Bauman, senior technical support specialist at Resideo.

The concept of zoning isn’t new; it has been around for a while within the industry, but it isn’t talked about enough in residential applications. “We do see zoning in our industry as most modern and efficient hydronic floor radiant system’s zone. It’s there. But the interesting thing is when we flip the conversation and ask contractors installing a furnace or air conditioner how many are zoned, the conversation is a little different,” explains Dick Foster, president of ZoneFirst.

In the zone

10

HVAC zoning refers to dividing a home or building into specific areas, each with its own thermostat control to regulate temperature independently. “When talking to a customer about the possibility of zoning, explain it the same way you would Plumbing & HVAC – November/Decemberexplain 2023 a light switch.

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 10

In a home, a customer wouldn’t want one light switch that controls the whole home.

You fli k the switch, and the whole home is lit. That isn’t functional or the best. You want control in each room. Zoning is no different,” explains Foster.

In terms of benefits to zoning, comfort is at the top of the list, “With a properly designed zoning system, the heat pump can cycle off completely when a particular zone is not calling for heating or cooling,” adds Foster.

When broken down into single-stage, two-stage, or modulating equipment, it is almost always advantageous to zone using multi-stage technology. This is one of the main advantages of zoning a heat pump as it is typically two stages, explains John Brown, chief engineer at EWC Zone Controls.

“An inverter heat pump can be more costeffici t than running a fossil fuel furnace, depending on the kilowatt rate versus the gas, liquid propane, and oil rate cost in a given area of the country.”

It is important to remember that each individual system requires its own solution.

A single-zone system would be more effective www.plumbingandhvac.ca

2023-11-17 5:36 PM

given time,” explains Foster. It is worth noting that the energy efficiency benefits of zoning a heat pump or furnace system can vary depending on the specific equipment, system design, and usage pattern of a home.

The right duct

HVAC zoning refers to dividing a home or building into specific areas, each with its own thermostat control, to regulate temperature independently.

Photo provided by Resideo

for a smaller space, whereas for larger homes, it might be better suited for a multi-zone approach.

It should still be noted that a single-stage heat pump can still be zoned. “However, multi-stage and, in particular, modulating heat pumps lend themselves quite well to zoning,” explains Brown. “You can satisfy a single zone’s demand using the low BTU capacity of a modulating system or the fi st stage of a multi-stage heat pump. With a single-stage system, full BTU capacity is brought online for a single zone demand, which consumes more energy.”

Why a heat pump?

The answer to the question of which technology is better suited for zoning, heat www.plumbingandhvac.ca

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 11

pumps or furnances, might be surprising to some. “Traditional furnaces benefit from zoning, but they are not as flexible when compared to a heat pump,” explains Foster. A zoned air-to-air heat pump can be considered more energy efficient compared to a zoned furnace system because of the variable capacity operation. “Modern air-to-air heat pump systems often have a variable capacity operation, allowing the heat pump to adjust its output to match each zone’s heating or cooling demands more efficiently,” explains Foster.

Additionally, since a heat pump’s heat transfer process occurs primarily through refrigeration circulation, “Zoning allows the heat pump to operate at a reduced capacity since only selected zones are conditioned at a

One of the most significant factors in an adequately zoned system is the quality of the ducts. “For a ducted zoning system, ideally, whoever is doing that layout would like a main trunk for each zone so that they can put a single damper in that zone,” explains Bauman.

Brown adds, “Duct quality, more specifi ally duct sizing, is the biggest factor that affects the performance of any HVAC system, whether it’s zoned or not.

Undersized ductwork results in high static pressure, noise complaints, poor airflow complaints and may affect the refrigeration circuit.”

Older technology, like permanent split capacitor (PSC) indoor blower motors, can’t compensate for under-sized ductwork like a variable speed blower motor can.

“Thus, the PSC motor drops and loses CFM as the static pressure of the HVAC system increases above 0.5 inches of water column,” explains Brown.

When speaking specifically on duct sizing for heat pumps versus furnaces, there really is no difference between the sizing, explains Brown.

Dampers and airflow Dampers are a crucial element to a zoned system, but they “don’t need to be in a specific angle or position,” explains Foster. “While there isn’t a specific angle or position that is needed, there are different control strategies that are debated. One topic of debate is when a zone is active, should the damper be 100 per cent open? Or should it

November/December – Plumbing & HVAC Continued 2023 on page “13”

11 2023-11-17 5:36 PM

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9 5:41 PM

n Heat Pumps

This zone damper installation in Michigan was installed with standard three-wire power open/power close motor actuators. Photo provided by EWC Zone Controls Continued from page “11”

modulate towards close as the zone gets close to satisfying?”

Brown states that, in his opinion, each damper should be open from the beginning of the heat or cool demand to its end. “Some control strategies interpret this condition as a lowered zone demand and decreased BTU capacity/airflow accordingly. But gradually closing the damper down as the zone comes

This can make the installation of a thermostat in a retrofit application tricky due to the requirement to run wires in areas where there were none before. “Then people may also upgrade equipment and move from a single stage to a multi-stage, and the concern will be whether they have enough wires to control that extra stage,” explains Bauman.

Retrofit jobs will require much more creativity and planning when incorporating a zoned system. As Foster explains, “In these

When talking to a customer about the possibility of zoning, explain it the same way you would explain a light switch. In a home, a customer wouldn’t want one light switch that controls the whole home. close to satisfying complicates the airflow (static pressure) control process and makes the heat or cool demand last longer than necessary,” explains Brown.

Installations

The installations between a furnace and heat pump are quite similar but “The differences come down to wiring and programming. A heat pump installation has more wires to run and connect,” explains Brown. www.plumbingandhvac.ca

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 13

older homes, access to dampers may be an issue, and that’s something that may need to be changed. In these cases, mini-splits may be a solution. The mini-split system requires a contractor to bang a hole through a wall and have an inside and outside unit.”

As previously mentioned above, there is no one right solution for zoning. There are different ways to zone a home, and each home will require its own approach. One solution can be utilizing mini-splits. “You are still

Zone control methods nowadays can control a multi-stage heat pump with either electric or fossil fuel as a backup.

Photo provided by EWC Zone Controls

zoning the house when you decide to use a mini-split heat pump on a new addition because you cannot route the required duct size from your existing equipment to the new area. You will have two HVAC systems instead of one, but you have still zoned the new house addition,” explains Brown.

While the reasoning isn’t completely clear as to why every home isn’t zoned, for some contractors, it’s because they are still unfamiliar with the technology. “I’ve talked to some contractors, and when I ask them about zoning, they mention things like its too difficult or they aren’t comfortable doing it.

The thing is, no one is forcing contractors to zone. However, we need to zone more homes.

We need to make homes run more effectively and efficiently, and zoning can help with that,” said Foster. :

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

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n Residential Construction

Residential electric heater

Modine, Racine, Wisconsin, expands its portfolio of electric heating products by introducing the Amp Dawg electric residential heater.

The residentially certified 5.7kW unit allows application flexibility in spaces like basements, garages or storage areas, while the 9.0kW unit provides two stages of controlled heat. Features of the Amp Dawg include a 24-volt circuit for compatibility with popular lowvoltage smart thermostats, sound levels as low as 46 dBA high stage, and a heating output similar to or equal to an HD30-45 gas-fired unit.

Modine u www.modinehvac.com

Air-to-water heat pumps

Unico Inc., Arnold, Missouri, announces the North American distribution of its Chiltrix air-to-water heat pumps. The CX35 and CX50 series of smart heat pumps provide optimized heating performance and capacities ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 tons of cooling and 3.4 to 4.8 tons of heating. The CX35 has an IPLV of 23.27, and the CX50 has an IPLV of 21.2.

Unico u www.unicosystem.com

Tankless reverse osmosis system

EcoWater Systems, Woodbury, Minneapolis, announces the debut of the efl w tankless reverse osmosis system to market. The eflow features a continuous flow, space-saving design, and easy-tochange filters. The eflow employs advanced filtration technology to remove impurities, contaminants, and unpleasant tastes, ensuring that the water that fl ws from the tap is of the highest quality.

EcoWater Systems u www.ecowater.com

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 15

Carbon steel fittings

Nibco Inc., Elkhart, Indiana, introduces its new BenchPress product line of carbon steel fittings, which includes 44 new BenchPress and 45 new BenchPressG sizes and configurations. Available in 1/2-inch to two-inch sizes, the BenchPress and BenchPressG fittings require no threading equipment nor lubricants. The BenchPress and BenchPressG fittings feature a patented fitting design.

Nibco u www.nibco.com

Residential air safety

Sanuvox Technologies, Montreal, Quebec, debuts the R1r to market, its new residential UV air purification solution. The R1r is designed to suit smaller HVAC systems and features an aluminum refl ctor to maximize UV intensity. The R1r also features a new J-shaped UV lamp, ensuring air purifi ation and promoting healthier indoor air quality.

Sanuvox Technologies u www.sanuvox.com

Wet rotor circulator

Wilo, Montreal, Quebec, announces the introduction of the Wilo-Star E 21, its EC motor-driven, wetrotor circulator. The E 21 is designed with differential temperature control that adjusts to the system d e m an d to m ai nt ai n the best heat transfer possible. It features a fourspeed circulator, an auto mode where the pump automatically adjusts to the system resistance, and fluid temperature ranges between 36 F to 230 F, with a maximum operating pressure of 145 PSI. Wilo u www.wilo.com

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

15 2023-11-17 5:36 PM

n Case Study

After 10 years of mechanical issues, a Calgary-based home gets much needed upgrades to its mechanical systems.

By Leah Den Hartogh

16

Sometimes in life, it can feel like nothing goes the way you hope it would. For one homeowner based in Calgary, Alta, it was more like 10 years of bad luck.

Back in 2013, during a particularly devastating flood, most of the 8,000 sq. ft. house was heavily damaged, including the mechanical room. It might come as no shock to learn that due to the fact that much of the mechanical room was underwater following the flood, there were some major repairs needed to ensure the homeowner’s heating and cooling system was back up and operational again.

The previous contractor after the flood decided to install three combi boilers to do the job. “He would run into all these issues where his house would overheat certain areas, and wouldn’t get heat unless other areas were getting heat,” explains, Alex Reid, project designer at Arpi’s Industries Ltd. “Hot water was really hit and miss.”

The venting for the old equipment used to come out into the homeowner’s back garden.

Plumbing & HVAC – November/December 2023

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 16

This would result in six to eight inches of ice that would cover the whole back of his house. In addition, the foundation of the home is sandstone, which was starting to get damaged. “It was starting to physically harm his home and his property because of that. It was quite the rat's nest when we went in there,’ explains Reid.

What’s in the mechanical room?

To fix the reoccurring issues, Arpi’s Industries Ltd fi st spoke to the homeowner for a couple of hours just to try and understand each of his concerns. “We wouldn’t have been able to if he wasn’t so in tune with his house and what’s been done over the 30 years that he’s owned it. So, part of that was just an absolute maze of pipe work in the mechanical room and we needed to fi st identify which supply and return lines went to what area first,” said Reid. “When we went in there, we spent a lot of time first identifying everything, labelling all the pipe work, then back that up with testing and making sure that each thermostat would then obviously work with each component that we designed.” www.plumbingandhvac.ca

2023-11-17 5:36 PM

The entire mechanical room needed to be upgraded due to poorly designed, ageing components. Many of which were severely damaged from a previous flood.

out to different areas of the system at the same time with boilers only putting out one temperature? ” said Reid. In this case, they used Tekmar floating actuators with three way mixing valves. “The theory being when the high temperatures running the medium and the low temperatures will auto adjust to get what they require at that time with the three individual demands all coming back to the boiler. So, if one of the lower temperature zones is the only thing calling, the boilers will still modulate down and put out that lower temperature.”

everything down, I was able to determine there was essentially three different temperatures that we need the system to supply at any one time.” There was a high temperature that was run at about 160 F that runs to his fan coil in the mechanical room.

A medium temperature was run to his steel radiators, which are located throughout his house and are over 100-years old. Lastly, the low temperature radiant was run at about 110 F, which is found in the basement. In addition, the steel radiators caused some concern of magnetite in the system, as such, a magnetic separator was installed.

Radiant heating was installed on the main fl or and in the ensuite. To accomplish the many zones, Taco’s 003 ECM circulators were used and run in its smart auto adapt mode. In addition, Caleffi zone valves were used for each zone. “Part of the issue is how do you supply three different temperatures

He basically just kind of put it in our hands and said, however you want to design it, whatever you want to do, I’m fine.

I just want it to work.

The goal was to tie all the technology that had been installed together into a nearly packaged system, but also making sure that the homeowner wouldn’t see any kind of interruptions regardless of what was going on in his home, shares Reid.

High level of comfort

From start to finish, the project lasted a total of 14 days at the house. “He basically Continued on page “17”

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 17

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n Plumbing

n Case Study Continued from page “19”

Three combi boilers were retrofitted and replaced with two IBC boilers.

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PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 19

just kind of put it in our hands and said, however you want to design it, whatever you want to do, I’m fine. I just want it to work,” shares Reid. After a decade of his mechanical room not working properly, who can blame him.

As someone that likes to host large parties at all times of the year, the homeowner really just wanted to make sure the system was confide tly operational, no matter the number of people visiting his home. “This wasn’t a system that we designed around effici cies per se. It was more about making sure he was comfortable. Th s is kind of more about performance than chasing effici cies, explains Reid. “I’ll be in touch with him quire regularly over the winter just to see how it’s performing.

The home was completed in July 2023, with this winter being the new mechanical rooms fi st. Reid expects the homeowner will still see some savings simply because of how poorly the

older system was designed.

Like any project, there was a few unanticipated hiccups. “One of the bigger issues we had kind of run into is the way his house is structured. His office sits above his garage. The garage has a floating tin ceiling in it and so when we started hooking up some of the pipe work in the mechanical room, we realized that certain components weren’t responding the way they should be,” explains Reid. “When we started poking out head around the ceiling space, there was steel pipe work that was disconnected and some of it was capped off. There were a dozen junction boxes up there with wire everywhere. There was valves and pumps that nobody truly knew were there until we started poking around. It ended up being relatively simple.”

The overall project ended up being quite the treat to be able to work on and design, shares Reid. “If you’re able to see this house, it’s truly amazing. It’s a piece of history.” :

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n Piping

n Hydronics

The industry is entering a new era of water-based heating and cooling and there are plenty of new technologies being released like no other in Canada.

By Michael Ridler Radiant heating has undergone a remarkable evolution. It has been a very long time since the days of the hypocaust (ancient Rome’s method of heating). Today, we are witnessing a signifi ant transformation in radiant heating products, from air-to-water heat pumps to intelligent controls that are propelling our industry forward. These new innovative methods within the industry, particularly in hydronic heating and cooling, are poised to become increasingly prevalent in Canadian homes.

Before taking a deep diving into hydronic panel technologies, it’s crucial to address the subject of controls. The control systems represent a pivotal, yet often overlooked,

22

Giacomini heating/cooling panels can address contractor's dew point concerns. component in radiant heating and cooling.

Numerous manufacturers are developing controls that promise to revolutionize the

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way we heat and cool our homes. The right control system is the linchpin of efficiency; conversely, ill-suited controls can reduce a system to mere operation without delivering effective performance.

When it comes to selecting controls for hydronic systems, the initial cost often overshadows the importance of choosing the most effective control for the job. As the industry begins to shift from traditional boilers to hydronic heat pumps, there’s a pressing need to prioritize education on controls over mere cost considerations. The reality is that inexpensive controls may suffic for a boiler, but when it comes to a hydronic heat pump, it can lead to increased costs,

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diminished trust in the system’s efficiency, and the expertise of the installer or designer.

Making the investment

For instance, a $100 control might operate a heat pump adequately, but investing in a $500 control could optimize the system’s thermal efficiency and achieve the highest possible coeffi ent of performance (COP).

That additional $400 is not an expense but an investment in long-term savings and system reliability.

Today’s controls are also created to be able to apply to a hybrid approach to home heating, with or without a boiler. There are versatile

simple outdoor air sensor can offer.

As we transition away from boilers, it’s vital to remember that heat pumps require different piping and control strategies to prevent issues such as high electricity bills, discomfort, and equipment failure. Heat pumps are sensitive to high return water temperatures, while boilers stop condensing, heat pumps risk compressor damage.

Simplifying complex challenges

Integrated controls within an indoor module can help simplify the complex challenge of managing a system capable of heating, cooling, providing domestic hot water, and

The reality is that inexpensive controls may suffice for a boiler, but when it comes to a hydronic heat pump, it can lead to increased costs, diminished trust in the system’s efficiency, and the expertise of the installer or designer. control systems available on the market that accommodates heating and cooling through air-to-water, water-to-water, or a combination of both with a boiler. These controls are ideal for contractors experienced with hydronic heat pumps, providing a solution that brings their applications to life.

Recent enhancements to control technology has seen some new features, including having access to external weather data, which enables contractors to ensure peak operational efficiency beyond what a

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back-up heat. A packaged unit with precompleted piping only requires connections to the outdoor unit, indoor heating. This approach is extremely valuable for a contractor.

Within the controls sector, not all products should be thought about the same way. Some might be better suited for

These Reverso convectors, installed

by Farr Mechanical, resemble panel radiators but are an idea retrofit option for homes transitioning from boilers to air-to-water heat pumps. solely single-home applications, but there are plenty available to market that can be applied to a much broader range of applications, from single residential units to large scale projects.

These types of controls are designed for those who are skilled in system piping but desire a robust control, that simplifies setup, and can Continued on page “25”

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to tie your mechanical room together.

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n Hydronics

Continued from page “23”

manage multiple hydronic heat pumps and backup boilers, whether electric or gas.

It’s important to acknowledge that innovation doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. Sometimes the most effective solutions are already within our grasp, waiting to be recognized and utilized in new ways. This is exemplified by my personal experience with integrating modern technology into my own home’s heating and cooling system.

I sought a straightforward method to control an air-to-water heat pump paired with an air handler for cooling and radiant floor heating. A critical requirement was to prevent chilled water from circulating through the radiant floor slabs. The solution emerged from a creative application of priority calls and leveraging an air handler control for forced air heat pumps, which was developed over a decade ago; long before hydronic heat pumps became a focal point in the industry.

This control, which originally was not designed with today’s hydronic heat pumps in mind, proved to be remarkably adaptable. By using it to orchestrate the operation of the system, ensuring that cooling and heating demands were met without the risk of inappropriate chilled water circulation, it demonstrated that sometimes the tools we need are already at our disposal. This approach not only solved the challenge efficiently but also underscored the value of looking at existing technologies through a new lens, especially as we navigate the evolving landscape of hydronic heating and cooling.

Sophisticated controls As we venture beyond the realm of controls, we encounter equally compelling innovations in hydronic heating technology. While hydronic cooling is a staple in commercial projects, its application in residential settings

This Jaga Clima Canal was recently installed on a five-ton heat pump in Ontario. is less common. However, the importance of sophisticated control strategies becomes even more critical when introducing chilled water systems into homes. Reflecting on my previous discussion about controls, it’s clear that inadequate controls can lead to dire consequences, such as inadvertently circulating chilled water where it’s not intended.

This year has seen the emergence of some particularly interesting and straightforward products. In my own residence, I’ve installed an air-to-water heat pump, yet I haven’t incorporated hydronic heating — yet.

The ductwork in my home could only be described as a disaster, leading to a staggering 15 F temperature variance across fl ors. To address this, I wasn’t going to rip my home apart to put in new ductwork. Instead, I ran a 3/4-inch piece of PEX into my attic and used some high-quality connectors. I’m considering three innovative products.

One of my top choices is trench convectors.

Although there’s a higher initial cost for

the equipment, the operation savings are significant due to its ability to produce usable heat at temperatures as low as 95 F. This efficiency translates into an impressive COP for the heat pump, reducing monthly heating and cooling costs over the equipment’s lifespan.

However, we must acknowledge the premium that accompanies this advanced technology.

Another product that caught my attention was wall-mounted units, which resemble high-end panel radiators, but are highperformance convectors designed for both heating and cooling. They offer an aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective retrofit option for homes transitioning from boilers to air-to-water heat pumps. Its combination of performance and affordability makes it an undeniable solution.

New to the panel market is technology that can address few point concerns without the need for a condensation tray or drain. Th s technology is very versatile and can be designed not only for ceiling panels but also as a drywall panel that can be mounted on a wall, simplifying the installation of hydronic heating and cooling systems.

I’m curious about the cool technologies our readers have encountered in the field of hydronic heating and cooling. I would love to hear from you, see your photos, and learn from your experiences. Please share what’s caught your eye and what innovations you’re excited about. : Michael Ridler is the general manager at Eden Energy Equipment. He started out working for a Ont-based HVAC company and now focuses on providing fi ld support and technical training to contractors, engineers, and builders on heat pumps, boilers, and all things hydronics. He can be reached at edenenergymike@gmail.com.

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n Refrigeration

Glide is the phenomenon that all refrigerant components will boil at different temperatures.

By Greg Scrivener

This evaporator uses a high-glide refrigerant.

26

Earlier this year we discussed how to understand and take subcooling and superheat measurements. We’ve also discussed evaporator and condenser performance, and going back a couple of years, we went through the differences between azeotropic and zeotropic refrigerant blends. In this issue, we will revisit glide to help gain a better appreciation for it and help to understand the nuances that high-glide refrigerants have.

Recall that many refrigerants are a mixture of other refrigerants and that these blends can be either azeotropic, which means they do not separate into their parts while saturated, or zeotropic, which means the individual components evaporate and condense at different temperatures. R449A for example is a zeotropic blend of R32, R25, R1234yf, and R134a, at the following proportions: 24.3 per cent, 24.7 per cent, 25.3 per cent, and 25.7 per cent respectively.

Glide is the phenomenon of refrigerant components boiling at different temperatures; we are going to use pressure-enthalpy (Ph) curves to demonstrate what happens to the component temperatures when we have a high-glide refrigerant like R449A. To get our bearing with Ph curves, Figure 1 shows a typical Ph curve for a refrigerant that

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PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 26

doesn’t have glide. The green line represents the refrigerant boiling in the evaporator at a constant pressure (and therefore a constant temperature), the red line is the refrigerant vapour being compressed in the compressor, the dark blue line is the refrigerant rejecting heat and condensing at a constant pressure (and therefore constant temperature) in the condenser, and the purple line represents the refrigerant being expanded from the condensing pressure to the evaporating pressure in an expansion device.

Figure 1: A typical Ph curve showing a line of constant temperature.

Lines of constant temperature

The refrigeration cycle remains the same when we use a refrigerant with a high glide, but the lines of constant temperature are no longer horizontal on the Ph diagram. In other words, unlike a pure fluid or azeotropic blend, there www.plumbingandhvac.ca

2023-11-17 5:36 PM

Condensing units are often selected based on the mean temperature to make the system less expensive. is no direct relationship between temperature and pressure when the fluid is saturated. Th s can be a bit hard to conceptualize because we are taught very early that refrigerants boil at a constant temperature.

Figure 2 shows what this looks like for an evaporator using R449A. The figure shows three lines of constant temperature. The top one is 21 F and intersects the saturation curve when the refrigerant is 100 per cent vapour at 46 psig. The bottom line is 11 F and interests the saturation curve when the refrigerant is 100 per cent liquid at 46 psig. Th s difference is the glide of the refrigerant, and, in this specific case, it equals 10 F (21 F subtracting 11 F). A similar effect is also happening at the condenser.

remember these is to imagine moving into the saturation dome horizontally from each side by adding or removing energy (corresponding to enthalpy). From the left, you are moving from an area of subcooled liquid; by adding energy you move closer and closer to the saturation dome.

When you hit the line, the liquid is 100 per cent saturated, which means that if you add any more energy the liquid will start to boil forming bubbles. Th s is why it is the bubble point.

Conversely, moving from the right into the saturation dome requires removing energy from superheated vapour; when you hit the line, the vapour is 100 per cent saturated.

When saturated vapour has any energy

removed, a drop of liquid starts to form, just like the dew drops from water in the air. This is why it is the dew point.

Superheat and subcooling You may recall that we did several superheat and subcooling calculations last June. Figure 3 shows the same example we used previously but the refrigerant is changed from R410A to R449A. As you can see, measuring a temperature of 55 F in this case leads to a superheat calculation of 15 F since the pressure measurement of 71.8 psig means the refrigerant in the evaporator is 40 F. Pay attention to the slider on the P-T app; it is set Continued on page “29”

Figure 3: A 15 F superheat measurement on a condensing unit using R449A.

Figure 4: Mistakenly using the bubble point results in a superheat measurement of almost 25 F.

Figure 2: A Ph curve for R449A at 46 psig.

Figure 2 also introduces the terms “bubble point” and “dew point.” The best way to www.plumbingandhvac.ca

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 27

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

27 2023-11-17 5:36 PM

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n Refrigeration

Figure 5: The condensing temperature glide of R449A at 258 psig.

Figure 6: Condenser selection charts showing condenser capacities for various refrigerants at a 1 F temperature difference.

Continued from page “27”

R449A as shown in the Ph diagram in Figure 5; again, there is almost a 10 F glide. When you look at selection charts for condensers, capacities are given at a temperature difference (TD) between ambient air and the condensing refrigerant, as shown in Figure 6. For condensers, this selection charge almost always uses the mean or average

to “dew,” which is correct.

Figure 4 shows the results if “bubble” is selected incorrectly. Notice that you would calculate the superheat to be 24 F (55 F temperature measurement minus the 31 F assumed temperature in the coil based

Energy comparisons often assume compressors operating at the same condensing temperature which means the dew point temperature when viewed from the perspective of the compressor, when in reality the condensers are being selected based on the mean temperature to make the system less expensive (and less efficient).

temperature of the condensing refrigerant with glide and not the dew point. In the case of our example in Figure 5, this would mean that the manufacturer would assume a 109 F condensing temperature when calculating the TD. In other words, if our design ambient temperature was 95 F, then this condenser would have a 14 F average TD (109 F subtracting 95 F).

It would be possible, and more energy efficient, to use the dew point temperature to select condensers. Th s is where a bit of a trick can be played when discussing how efficient high-glide drop-in refrigerants are compared

to their replacements. Energy comparisons often assume compressors operate at the same condensing temperature which means the dew point temperature when viewed from the perspective of the compressor, when in reality the condensers are being selected based on the mean temperature to make the system less expensive (and less efficient).

Where condensers get the disadvantage with the ratings, the evaporators get the advantage. Th s is because with evaporators, the refrigerant is colder at the inlet than the outlet and therefore, when outlet suction temperature remains the same as a refrigerant with no glide, the coil is on average colder and can do more cooling.

I continue to see technicians and installers get glide wrong when setting expansion valves and other system setpoints and it’s not a surprise. As you can see, high-glide refrigerants can cause headaches when troubleshooting and when doing system calculations. : Greg Scrivener is the lead refrigeration engineer and a partner at Laporte Consultants, Calgary, and works throughout Canada and the U.S. He is a professional engineer and journeyperson refrigeration mechanic. He can be reached at GScrivener@laporteconsultants.com.

November/December 2023 – Plumbing & HVAC

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n Plumbing & HVAC, In the Field

Road Hockey charity event sets new world record Plumbing & HVAC magazine joined NEXT Supply at the 2023 Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer event, on Sept. 30. Th s is the third consecutive year a member of the Plumbing & HVAC team has joined NEXT Supply at the charity event.

The wholesaler raised over $500,000 towards cancer research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. There was a sea of NEXT jerseys, representing 26 teams and over 370 people.

The 2023 Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer charity event raised $3.15 million.

At this year’s event, there was a total of 150 teams and more than 1,800 players and volunteers. A total of $3.15 million was raised in the 12th year of the event. In total, more than $30 million has been raised since its inception.

CIPHEX West celebrates successful tradeshow in Calgary

The biannual CIPHEX West tradeshow has offically come and gone for another year.

The 2023 iteration of the show saw around 3,000 attendees and 156 exhibitors.

From Oct. 18 to 19, attendees explored booths, networked with industry experts, and were able to see firsthand the latest products.

The two-day event featured a new product showcase. Nine winners were selected from 40 new products and technologies entrants. To see the full list of winners, please visit www.

PlumbingandHVAC.ca.

Taking place every two years, CIPHEX West is a one-stop expo for industry

Another successful CIPHEX West in 2023 saw around 3,000 attendees at the show. professionals looking to stay up to date with the new products and technologies available in the plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R and water treatment industries.

CIPHEX West 2025 will be heading to Vancouver, B.C. and will run from Nov. 5-6.

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33 2023-11-17 5:36 PM

n People & Places

Th

People Bardon Supplies Ltd. announces that Mat Golden has been appointed as the new branch manager of their Belleville, Ont. location. Golden first joined the Bardon Supplies team as a warehouse co-op student in 2002, which led him into securing a permanent position within their warehouse team.

Eden Energy Equipment announces Mat Golden t he promot ion of Michael Ridler to general manager. Ridler has been at the company for 22 years, having risen through the ranks from shipping and customer service to tech support and lead trainer. He fi st started his career working for his family-run HVAC company. Ridler has a background in software development and HVAC. He has worked on technical standard Michael Ridler committees and currently is the featured hydronics writer for Plumbing & HVAC magazine.

Max Rohr has been appointed director of education and technical marketing, a newly created position with Caleffi North America. In this capacity, Rohr will lead the ideation, development, and execution of Caleffi’s training platforms, including the idronics design journal series, Coffee with Caleffi monthly webiMax Rohr nars, Caleffi Academy field training, and Ask Caleffi blog and podcasts. Before rejoining Caleffi in 2020, Rohr spent five years at Rehau as the marketing and academy manager, and five years in outside sales with Shamrock Sales Inc. Masco Canada has promoted Rob Marchio to director of sales for its Eastern region as of September 2023. Marchio joined Masco Canada in February 2022 as a regional sales manager for the central region.

Master Group announces the retirement of its longtime employee, Carole St-Georges. She recently retired after 50 Rob Marchio years of service with the wholesaler. St-Georges worked as an administrative assistant in the billing department.

34

Plumbing & HVAC – November/December 2023

PHVAC-NovDec2023.indd 34

Wolseley Canada announces that Mark Evans will be the new Western Canada sales director of plumbing and HVAC. In this newly created leadership role, Evans will focus on growing sales in the Western region, and work closely with the regional sales managers to understand customer needs, Carole market dynamics, and St-Georges nuances. He previously held the role of senior director of corporate development at Viega. Evans will Mark Evans begin his new role at Wolseley on Oct. 10.

Independent Mechanical Supply announces that Jake Morgan has accepted the position of drainage product specialist with the company. Morgan fi st joined the team in December 2021 under the sales and operations development program.

Tina Gullickson will now take on the role of chief operating officer for Caleffi Jake Morgan North America.

Mark Olson, who recently announced plans to step aside as CEO, will begin transitioning responsibilities to Gullickson over Tina the coming months. Gullickson brings 20 Gullickson years of experience in the plumbing and hydronic industries.

Smith Energy welcomes Matthew Reid to its team of experts as its new outside sales representative. Reid will be working out of the company’s Richmond Hill, Ont, location. He has previously worked at Equipco as its technical sales specialist.

Nibco I n c . Matthew Reid announces the promotion of Dawn Block from vice president of customer engagement to chief people offic . In her new role, Bloch will oversee business development, customer service, marketing communications, and human Dawn Bloch resources. Bloch will report to Ashley

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Martin, executive vice president. She fi st joined Nibco in 2000 as a customer service representative.

N i b c o an nounces its board of directors has approved several executive leadership appointments.

Steve Malm has Steve Ashley Rex been appointed as Malm Martin Martin the new chairman and chief executive offic . Malm has been with Nibco since 1996 and has served as president and chief operating office from 2006 to 2018, and president and chief executive officer s ce 2018.

Ashley Martin has been promoted to president and chief operating offic . She fi st joined Nibco in 2012 and has most recently served as executive vice president since 2021.

Rex Martin will continue to assist the company with the title of chairman emeritus. He has been with the company for over 48 years and has most recently served as chairman since 1995.

CB Supplies welcomes Paul Agapito as its new senior marketing manager. Combined with his previous advertising agency and building products industry roles, Agapito brings over 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, branding, communications, and support of Paul Agapito product development.

Th

Companies Weil-McLain launches a new customer growth and loyalty program, which is designed for HVAC business owners, managers, and contractors. Available to HVAC contractors, the Weil-McLain Advantage presents a range of benefits with three loyalty tiers — Authorized, Pro, and Elite.

Caleffi North America announces that Central Sales, Inc. will now represent Caleffi in Kansas, Missouri, and Southern Illinois. They will present the entire line of Caleffi roducts.

ThermOmegaTech celebrates the 10th anniversary of its CircuitSolver brand. In 2012, the company expanded into the plumbing industry with CircuitSolver thermostatic balancing valves for domestic hot water recirculation. All CircuitSolver thermostatic valves are designed and assembled at the company’s

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manufacturing facility in Warminster, Pennsylvania.

Navien Canada announces the relocation of its shipping warehouse from Surrey, B.C. to a larger facility in Langley B.C. The new warehouse in Langley opened its door on Oct. 2 and boasts an additional 20,000 sq. ft. of space compared to its previous location. Th s expansion provides Navien with the capacity to maintain a larger inventory. Navien’s new Langely shipping warehouse is located at 1-9494 198 St, Langley, B.C. Refrigerative Supply Ltd. opens a new West Edmonton branch. To celebrate, the company held a grand opening event on Sept. 28. The location of the new branch is 11260 - 184th St NW, Edmonton, Alta.

Wolseley Canada’s Indigenous Student Bursary has reached its $150,000 milestone. The bursary was created in 2021 in partnership with Indspire and provides support for indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education.

Wolseley Canada annually contributes $25,000 to the fund, which the Government of Canada matches for a total of $50,000 each year. The application deadlines are Nov. 1, 2023, and Feb. 1, 2024.

Wolseley Canada announces the opening of a new location in Port Coquitlam, B.C. The new 16,000 sq. ft. facility will offer the full range of Wolseley Canada’s roster of plumbing and HVAC products. The store will be open Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the showroom will be open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saniflo Canada announces a new sales representative agreement with Westpoint Sales, covering British Columbia.

Westpoint will act as an outside sales force, providing Sanifl products to plumbing wholesalers and their contractor customers in British Columbia. For over 35 years, Westpoint Sales has served the residential, commercial, and luxury product markets.

Dean-Lane Contractors Inc. announces that it will be expanding its facility in Kitchener, Ont. with an addition of 24,000 sq. ft. of space. Updates and behind-the-scenes sneak peaks will be shared as the project progresses.

Wilo reaches an agreement to acquire the assets of Plad Equipment Ltd, a company specializing in pumps and packaged pump systems for HVAC, boosting, fi efighting, and irrigation applications. Based in Montreal and Quebec City, Plad employs 43 people and also offers pump repair and machining services.

TML Supply Company announces that it has been named Canadian Tempstar Distributor of the Year for the fourth time.

The award, given by ICP/Carrier, recognizes distributors for its achievements in sales growth and customer support. TML also earned the award in 2013, 2016, and 2019

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n Shop Management

Entering into the right partnership can help ensure that the company maintains that family business-feel and create a win-win situation for everyone involved.

By Leah Den Hartogh

36

It isn’t easy stepping down from a business.

When there has been so much hard work, blood, sweat, and tears put into a company, for so many years, the decision to walk away from a business that you helped cultivate or maybe even create can be very difficult.

As our shop management expert, Ron C oleman, has touched on in previous ar ticles, succession planning isn’t an easy task. Do you sell your company to a family member, employee, or a third-party? For each individual, the answer will be different.

There is another option. Contractors looking at transitional retirement have the option to sell a portion of the business but maintain some control. One of the benefits to this solution is that it allows for companies to maintain a small family business-feel but compete in the new world the industry is currently facing, reports Spencer Ross, co-founder of MechCan. “We believe, fundamentally, that these businesses are strongest when they maintain that small family, local business feel.”

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How it works

At the core, the aim of this specific type of strategy is to create a win-win relationship between the acquiring company and the selling owner-operator company. “It helps to have some flex bility to sort of deliver the solution that the seller wants, and so the idea of this sort of 80/20 to 60/40 structure is to maintain the alignment,” explains Arty Phillips, co-founder of MechCan. An 80/20 to 60/40 structure means that the acquiring company would receive a portion of control of the company, whether www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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it is somewhere in the 80 to 60 per cent range, and the previous owner would maintain a portion of ownership.

One of the benefits that this type of partnership can offer the company is through negotiated purchasing deals with suppliers. By being a part of a larger group, contractors can access strategic partnerships with suppliers that can benefit their business.

“During the pandemic, we saw equipment, materials, and commodity prices rising. The power

electrical trades. For some, it was a way to maintain the company name. “Basically, I put the business up for sale with a mergers and acquisitions company and because I was running my business still, I didn’t have the time and the expertise to sell a business on my own,” explains Bart Rietveld, president at B.R.’s Plumbing & Heating Inc. “That’s when MechCan came along. They had a vision and

and I didn’t want to sell to a company that would completely get rid of all my staff and completely change everything,” explains Barry.

“I worked towards building a great name and I’m only 50 and I’m not ready to retire. I love HVAC, it becomes part of your blood.”

Since the acquisition, the company has expanded into the plumbing market. “I don’t think we would have ever done that if it was

We believe, fundamentally, that these businesses are strongest when they maintain that small family, local business feel. didn’t want to change the company name, which I was really serious about. I didn’t want to sell to somebody that was going to change everything.” For Rietveld, the name was important because it was how all of his customers knew his work.

Since the acquisition over a year ago, Rietveld has found such a weight lifted off his shoulders. “As far as day-to-day business, things haven’t really changed. It’s working. We just keep doing what we’re doing and driving the business like usual.” He is even able to now take his Fridays off from work. With this specific partnership, MechCan maintains an 80 per cent share in the company and Rietveld has 10 per cent, as he sold his other 10 per cent to one of his employees.

Building a legacy

For Mike Barry, owner partner at Comfort Zone Heating & Air Conditioning, it was about building a legacy. “I had an investment guy ask me one time, “are you building a legacy or trying to make money?” I guess I’m building a legacy,” shares Barry.

When he sold his shares of the company to MechCan, he entered into a 70/30 partnership.

His business was making around $8 million in revenue, but felt like the company could grow even more. “I’m pretty proud of my business

on my own.”

As for advice to anyone thinking about entering into some type of partnership, “I just think for a person that owns their own business, they should look at where we are in this industry and what’s coming and have a real hard look at the future. That would be my advice,” shares Barry.

Employee retention

Following the fi alization of each acquisition there remains a high employee retention rate. “Having a high retention of employees is core to our thesis, there is always someone that doesn’t want change and move on, either before or after,” shares Phillips.

“When I think about the type of people that are reading an article like this, this is often their only time going through a transaction of this nature and I think one thing that’s interesting is that these acquisitions are about ongoing conversations.”

Oftentimes, there are many different conversations working through the kinks before the partnership is drafted. “It’s the only way that this really works for us as if we can make it work for our partners,” explains Phillips. “That is among the many things that really aligns us to figu e out how to create win-wins with everybody that we do deals with.” :

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n Coming Events

AHR Expo releases 2024 educational program

The 2024 AHR Expo is making its triumphant return to Chicago after last held in Atlanta.

The annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition, or better known as AHR Expo, is only months away. In preparation, North America’s largest HVAC/R trade show has released its 2024 education program.

This year’s program features more than 110 free seminars, a lineup of panel series, new product and technology presentations, professional certifications, and continuing education courses.

“The education program has grown into a true complementary asset to the show fl or experience,” said Mark Stevens, AHR Expo’s show manager. “Inside exhibitor booths, manufacturers are displaying real solutions to improve the health of the industry, the professional work experience and to address the shifts in our wider society. As a bridge to the robust activity on the floor and attendee understanding, the education program will offer real discussions about real problems that are shared across the industry.”

According to the show, the program will include real-world applications and deep dive into areas of niche disciplines, as well as a broader discussion of topics relating to trends currently happening in the industry.

The entire education program listing is available on the AHR Expo website. There will be a variety of different topics that will be included on the listing. For the interest of any contractors, AHR Expo highlights its “Contractor Marketing Do’s and Don’ts

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2024”, “A2Ls Are Here; What Happened to A3s?”, “How Distributors, Contractors & Homeowners Can Prepare for Low-GWP Refrigerant Transition”, and “Price Increases, Inflation, the Economy… and What Your Customer Experience Can Do about It.” The “State of the Industry” panel series will be making another return in 2024. “As the fi st large event following the pandemic, the panel served as a recalibration of all that was happening across the industry as a result.

The response was overwhelmingly positive and the benefit to the industry led to open communication through the remainder of the year,” shared the show in a press release.

This year’s speakers on the panel will include Dominick Guarino, president and CEO of National Comfort Institute; Ginger Scoggins,

INDEX to Advertisers Bradford White ......................................... 4 Continental ........................................ 20-21 CMPX ..................................................... 32 Flocor ....................................................... 6 Honeywell ............................................... 28 ICP .......................................................... 33 Intertek ..................................................... 7 Giant ...................................................... 19 Navien .................................................. 2, 9 NEXT Supply ........................................... 18 RWC ....................................................... 39 Sunrise Tradex ......................................... 14 Taco ........................................................ 24 Technical Training Day ........................ 30-31 Triangle Tube .......................................... 40 Wolseley Canada .................................... 12

Plumbing & HVAC – November/December 2023

president of ASHRAE; Greg Walker, CEO of the Association for Smarter Homes and Buildings (ASHB); Steve Yurek, CEO of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); and Talbot Gee, CEO of the Heating, Air-Conditioning Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI). This panel will be moderated by Bryan Orr of HVAC School.

In addition, there will be a panel focusing on heat pumps, electrifi ation, and the grid. Th s presentation is set to address how best to deploy heat pumps in retrofit projects while addressing barriers to electrifi ation at the building and grid levels. Speakers on this panel will include Mark Frankel, chair of ASHRAE’s Task Force for Building Decarbonization Heat Pump Working Group; Jon Heller, president at Ecotope Inc.; and Rand Conger, Johnson Barrow; and Sean Jarvie, Flow Environmental Systems.

The 2024 AHR Expo will be held Jan. 22 to 24 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

The fi st two days of the show will run from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The last day of the show will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for the show is open now.

Calendar March 12 – 15: MCE - Mostra Convegno Expocomfort, Fiera Milano, Milan, Italy. For more information, please visit www.mcexpocomfort.it/en-gb/.

March 19: CIPH Habitat for Humanity Gala, Intercontinental Toronto Centre, Toronto, Ont. For more information, please visit www.ciph.com.

March 20 – 22: CMPX 2024, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, Toronto, Ont. For more information, please visit www.cmpxshow.com. www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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