January/February 2013 by Mechanical Business

JAN/FEB 2013 $6.95

PM #41536047

Also in this issue

w w w. m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m

M e c h a n i c a l

TA B L E

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

CONTENTS O F

F E AT U R E S

35From regulatory changes to

18KITCHENS & BATHS

product changes to technological advances, if you are moving BTUs in a building with a hydronic system for heating or cooling, then the first of our twice-annual Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplements (WHAT for short) is for you.

Harnessing the power of the upsell Denise Deveau

26HVAC/R

Junk or Spare Parts? Carol Fey

30VEHICLES

If the up fits Denise Deveau

57TOOL TIP 67FIND THE FIX 70EVENT IN PICTURES - MCAC in Maui 72HVAC/R

Emergency replacements Ian McTeer

76DRAIN CLEANING

A tool for every clog Marty Silverman

80COMMERCIAL PLUMBING

Assessing diaphragm and piston flushometers Jason Boyd

SPECIALISTS 16HVAC/R Putting the V back in HVAC Gord Cooke

22REFRIGERATION Defrost concerns Phil Boudreau

34ASK ROGER Suppliers: Partners in profits Roger Grochmal

42HYDRONICS Series Piping Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

64MARKETING Boost your marketing; not your budget Doug MacMillan

96WORLD VIEW Pushing the right buttons Jeff Patchell

68COVER FEATURE

There are a lot of people who think they know a thing or two about construction projects, but are they willing to put their skills to the test in a forum like Canada’s Handyman Challenge? Judges Bryan Baeumler, Paul Lafrance and Scott McGillivray – all HGTV stars and professional contractors – along with host Jenn Robertson, are on the lookout for the nation’s top amateur handyman, and they promise a few surprises along the way. Adam Freill

P R O D U C T S 56,62Hydronics 84HVAC/R 88Plumbing 92Stuff you need

D E PA R T M E N T S 04From the editor’s desk 06News 14Profile: Bob and Nancy McKeraghan 94The Info Page 95Calendar 98By the numbers mechanicalbusiness.com

CHECK US OUT ONLINE

On the cover: Bryan Baeumler, Paul Lafrance and Scott McGillivray – all HGTV stars and professional contractors – are on the lookout for the nation’s top amateur handyman. Photo: Courtesy of HGTV Canada

FROM Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 CANADA Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com Jan/Feb 2013 Issue Published 6 times per year. Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Jeb Roberts, ext. 225 jeb.roberts@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Laura Goodwin, ext. 221 laura.goodwin@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

Postmaster – Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

THE EDITOR’S

An interesting opening act With this being the first issue of the year, we find ourselves in a bit of a different world. Numerous regulatory adjustments were triggered as of J anuary 1, some for the better, some that will have little impact, and others that, well, I guess we’ll see the results and impacts of as the year progresses. Here in Ontario, the recently Renew your subscription! formed Ontario College of When was the last time you renewed your Trades continues to make subscription? Can’t remember? No problem. headlines. Membership issues Just hit www.mechanicalbusiness.com and and requirements came into update your info instantly online and you’ll be effect at the turn of the year all set for another year. – although they will not collect fees in 2013. While the membership categories and fees have been clearly outlined, the potential benefit to contractor groups is a bit less forthcoming, and many are considering the membership fees an additional tax. “We’ve seen little or no evidence that this tr ades tax will have any benefit,” said Katherine Van Leeuwen, vice-president of the Barrie Construction Association. “It will drive up construction costs, feed the underground economy and drive people a way from skilled trades.” She is not alone in her criticism of the college , and several construction and trades organizations have expressed their disapproval of the college. The college groups trades such as barbers and hair dressers in with plumbers and HVAC technicians. The province contends that the college will help address skills shortages , but the jury is still out on whether their moves will justify the $120 per year that they are adding to the bill to be a professional in the province . Beyond Ontario, we’re also starting to see the industry adjust to an unexpected need to rewrite the efficiency test protocols for modulating boilers. This was triggered by a protocol review at AHRI in the U.S. towards the end of 2012. Manufacturers in that segment of the market are being told to use a 90% AFUE baseline for efficiency claims of affected product, at least until they get their equipment reevaluated. Be sure to check out our cover age of that developing story (page 41), and sign up for our e-Newsletter to keep up with developments as revised testing standards are announced.

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector's supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy).

If the end of 2012 and first few weeks of 2013 are a barometer of things to come, this year could prove to be an interesting ride, so strap yourselves in, make sure your subscription is upto-date, and join us on the ride that will be 2013. Until next time,

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher. © Copyright 2013. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

Adam Freill, Editor

Proud members of:

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

DESK

0 2 . 1 3

Left to right: Nuno D. (Stantec), Jerry L. (Uponor), Erik W. (Klimar), Brian M. (The Morgan Group), Kaveesh P. (HTS)

Both organizations stand as examples of companies which create progressive approaches to today’s building challenges. We strive to provide solutions to allow them to meet their goals, and combine this with local support through partners like Brian Morgan, The Morgan Group and Erik Walesiak, Klimar Agency together with members of our team like Jerry Leyte, Commercial Business Development Manager, we look

Founding Sponsor

www.uponorpro.com/thefutureis

to enabling everyone to create better human environments, because at Uponor we provide Simply More.

The Future Is Enabling At Uponor “enabling the environments we will create” is one of our values and goals. It means that all our solutions provide you the flexibility, comfort and efficiency your clients deserve. We are proud that many of our partners within the marketplace share this ideal. Partners like Nuno Duarte Practice Leader, at Stantec, or Kaveesh Padiachy, Ottawa Controls Manager at HTS Engineering Ltd.

02.13

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Dahl honours top performers Chet Camrud and Kyle Williams of RAM Mechanical Marketing in Saskatoon, Sask., recently accepted Dahl’s Canadian Rep of the Year award, along with a $5,000 prize for having the greatest percentage increase in unit sales for the year. Also recognized were Onward Sales & Marketing of Burlington, Ont., and Equipco of Coquitlam, B.C. dahlvalve.com

CIPH delivers Habitat home CIPH chairman John Hammill, and president and general manager Ralph Suppa, recently visited Carleton Place, Ont., to present the Shaver and Mitchell families with the keys to the ninth CIPH Habitat for Humanity home. The duplex, which was built with hydronic heating and water-efficient plumbing products, is the first modular home build for Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region, and was built in partnership with Bonneville Homes. ciph.com

OCOT officially taking shape The new regulations for membership and registration with the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) officially came into effect this month, and the third and fourth group of journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio reviews were underway at press time. In addition to other skilled tr ades, the third review group includes plumbers, steamfitters, sheet metal workers, and refrigeration and air conditioning systems mechanics. To follow developments and news from OCOT, be sure to visit its website. collegeoftrades.ca

HVAC Coalition gathers in T.O. The HVAC Coalition of Ontario held its AGM during the November meeting of the HRAI Toronto Chapter. Coalition chairman (and MB contributor) Roger Grochmal and Martin Luymes, HRAI’s director of programs/relations, were on hand to present updates and address questions about the group’ s activities, including its stake in Enbridge’s Open Bill Agreement. hrai.ca

Follow Us on Twitter! It’s MB’s Twitter Roundup Caught the twitter bug? We've got you covered with tweets about everything that matters to the mechanical trades in Canada. Follow us @mechbusiness.

Brett Wilson

HarbourSidePlumbing

Wheatland Tube

FlameHeating

(@WBrettWilson)

(@HSMplumbing)

(@WheatlandTube)

(@FlameHeating)

The #NHL #lockout is finally over. Are fans a) excited, b) indifferent, c) on strike from supporting league & players with their hard earned $?

The world’s first recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the UK in 1812 by its architect.

Did you know that a cracked heat exchanger can leak carbon monoxide into your home?

Made the cover of @MechBusiness this month – talking about life balance. Jan. 10, 2013

Jan. 7, 2013

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

Jan. 10, 2013

Jan. 4, 2013

0 2 . 1 3

Construct Canada sees green Green building was the focus of Construct Canada 2012, and CMHC’s Barry Craig and Jamie Shipley (in photo) discussed the importance of heating considerations in green renovation projects during a seminar titled “Renovating for Energy Efficiency.” The session was one of approximately 200 presentations at this year’s Construct Canada, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The event attracted 24,800 attendees to downtown Toronto. The 2013 edition of the show is scheduled for December 4 to 6.

IAPMO seeks industry input The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) is seeking volunteers to participate in the development of the 2015 editions of the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code (USPSHTC) and Uniform Solar Energy and Hydronics Code (USEHC). The USPSHTC technical committee and USEHC technical committee require members in a number of categories, including manufacturers, installers and maintenance professionals. Details can be found on IAPMO’s website. iapmo.org

constructcanada.com

Revised code for oil-burning equipment Despite efforts from COHA Ontario to extend the deadline to April, an amendment to the Ontario Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment, CSA-B139ON-2006, came into effect on January 1, 2013. The change requires that all indoor and outdoor above-ground steel tanks be installed with double bottoms and double walls or an approved secondary containment. Single-walled fibreglass tanks are not affected by the regulatory change. Details can be found on TSSA’s website.

Solar spotlight shines in Toronto Eric Bremermann, a partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP, moderates a panel session outlining regulatory and policy updates for the PV and solar thermal industries during CanSIA’s Solar Canada conference, held in December in Toronto. The two-day event featured plenary sessions, keynote speakers, industry awards and a trade show. cansia.ca

tssa.org

New efficiencies in Ontario MARCH/APRIL 2012

CT 2012 SEPT/O $6.95

www.mec

hani calb

usine ss.co

m JULY/A UGUST

2012 $6.95

Renew your subscription, free of charge at mechanicalbusiness.com PM #415360 47

Also in this issue

47 PM #415360

e-laws.gov.on.ca

hani calb

PM #41536047

Ontario Regulation 404/12 took effect on J anuary 1, 2013. The new rules, which replace O.Reg 82/95, establish provincial efficiency standards for 45 products, including water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, manufactured as of January 1 or later.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

02.13

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

From trades to degrees

Napoleon signs exclusive with builder Napoleon Heating & Cooling has signed an exclusive deal with Pratt Homes, a home builder in Barrie and Innisfil, Ont., to include the brand’s newest Heljar Hansen of Pratt Homes (left) and line of furnaces in its Steve Schroeter of Napoleon discuss projects. “We take great furnaces during a recent tour the Napoleon pride in the fact that these factory in Barrie, Ont. furnaces were manufactured here in Barrie by our neighbours,” said Heljar Hansen of Pratt Homes. Pratt Homes has been building residences in Simcoe County for more than 100 years .

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has launched the Trades to Degrees initiative, allowing certified tradespeople in Alberta to move directly from a trades certificate to a degree program. Developed in response to the growing demand for tradespeople with business skills, the program allows qualified professionals to enter the third year of NAIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration program. nait.ca

napoleonheatingandcooling.com

METALBEST

CHIMNEY & VENTING SYSTEMS

Expandable Ex xxpa xpandable pand pa pand dablle eF Fle Fl Flex Flexible lex exible xxib iblle e Gas Ga as V Ve Vent entt Co ent Conne Connector onne ecto ect ec ector to or Model M ode del el EFC t Simple connection between appliance and Tyype B Veent t No elbows required t Expands 1’ to 3’ or 2’ to 5’ t Integraated Draft Hood Connector t Limited Liffeetime Warranty t 360° Flexi F biliity

Call Customer Service Today o 1.800.263.9308 1.800.26 www.selkirkcorp.com 8

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

APP ALERT Saniflo releases branded app

Change requested for backflow standard The Canadian Hydronics Council’s Codes and Standards Committee has submitted a request for a wording change in the latest edition of CSA B64.10, Selection and Installation of Backflow Preventers. Under the current version, a system that contains any kind of additive requires the installation of a reduced-pressure backflow device that would require annual inspection. The CHC claims that toxicity and other types of backflow preventers should be added to the wording to make it consistent with other sections of the standard.

Designed to give users access to new product information, descriptions, technical specifications, installation instructions, and service contacts, the Saniflo app is now available. It can be downloaded for iOS and Android devices through Apple’s App Store and the Google Play market. saniflo.ca

Jobsite office app The ServiceCall iPad app from Mpengo lets service technicians manage calls and work orders on-site without taking notes back to the office. Users can document work performed and time and materials used, and then create custom work orders that customers can sign directly on the iPad. Invoices or work orders can then be emailed directly to the customer or wirelessly printed from the device. mpengocloud.com

ultimatecomfort.ca

RSES targets the Falls RSES Canada will hold its 74th education conference and trade show from April 25 to 27, 2013 at the Fallsview Hilton Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ont. Featuring the theme “Education Beyond Borders,” this year’s event will offer seminars from industryleading speakers, including Mechanical Business refrigeration columnist Phil Boudreau, and contributors Andre Patenaude and Rob Robertson, and will focus on career development both in and beyond the classroom. In addition to the conference and exhibits, the RSES AGM will take place on Saturday, April 27. rsescanada.com

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

02.13

Movers and Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Boshart Industries buys Flomatic Plumbing supplier Boshart Industries has acquired Flomatic Corporation, a manufacturer of valves for water and wastewater, in a share purchase transaction from Watts Water Technologies. The sale does not include Flomatic’s backflow product line, which Watts has retained. No changes to management for Boshart or Flomatic are anticipated. boshart.com flomatic.com

Desco purchases plumbing supplier Desco Plumbing and Heating Supply has purchased Western Plumbing and Industrial Supplies Limited, a mechanical distribution firm with locations in London and Stratford, Ontario. Desco, headquartered in Etobicoke, Ont., is a subsidiary of Deschênes Group Inc.

ECCO adds line, relocates branch ECCO Supply has entered into a distribution agreement with Bosch Thermotechnology Corp to supply and support Bosch Geothermal Heat Pumps. ECCO will also supply Florida Heat Pump water source and geothermal products as part of the agreement. ECCO also announced the relocation of its Edmonton North branch in Edmonton, Alta., to a new 120,000 sq. ft. facility with a custom sheet metal shop. The new location is at 11415 184th St. NW, and can be reached at 780-479-1946. eccosupply.ca

desco.ca

Chromalox changes hands Private equity firm Sentinel has sold Chromalox, a designer and manufacturer of electric heating products. Irving Place Capital, another private equity firm, made the purchase, and the senior management team at Chromalox has increased its ownership of the company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. chromalox.com

LSP/Danco acquire MJSI Plumbing parts and supplies manufacturer LSP, along with sister company Danco, have acquired MJSI, Inc., a manufacturer of toilet repair products. As part of the acquisition, Danco will be responsible for all of MJSI’s business operations, and MJSI CEO Michael Schuster will join Danco and LSP to work with the company’s product and marketing teams. gomjsi.com

Dechênes buys AC/R distributor Dechênes Group has acquired Gelair Inc., a Quebec-based distributor of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment with locations in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil. Under the terms of the agreement, Gelair will continue to operate with its current name and under the leadership of Mario Micheli. groupedeschenes.com

A century of Trane Trane is celebrating its 100th year in business in 2013. The company has 12 offices and 13 parts centres in cities throughout Canada, including Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. trane.ca

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

M&G Group purchases Security Chimneys DuraVent owner M&G Group has signed an agreement to purchase Security Chimneys International Limited, a manufacturer of venting products and accessories for residential and commercial applications, located in Laval, Que. Under the terms of the deal, Security will continue to serve its customers in the U.S. and Canada through its existing brands, which include Security Chimneys and Oliver MacLeod. securitychimneys.com

EBRATI N CEL G

C A N A DA

Install a complete bathroom anywhere you need! Basements, Apartment units, Ofﬁces, Restaurants… Two easy-to-open service panels for easy access to internal components Pre-assembled unit with three inlets for a sink, toilet and bathtub/shower Pumping distance of up to 15’ vertically or 150’ horizontally 2-year warranty

¾” discharge pipe

Can also be concealed behind the wall!

The original plumbing solution since 1958

Toilet seat not supplied

1-800-363-5874

saniﬂo.ca

Scan this tag to see how this product works

02.13

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

DARREN KEIR (top) has been hired as branch manager for Goodman’s Edmonton, Alta., location. Darren spent 14 years in the industrial coatings business before moving to HVAC. Also at Goodman, ANDY CINCAR (bottom) has been named key accounts manager of the company’s sales department. Andy has spent 25 years in the HVAC industry, working in both sales and marketing.

Bristol Compressors has announced two new appointments to its management team. JOEL MOSELEY has been named senior vice-president of global sales and marketing,

and DUSTIN STEWARD has been named senior business development manager, responsible for creating new business opportunities throughout North America. The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has appointed JED SCHEUERMANN to the role of field services manager for the newly created Region 12. In this role, Jed will be responsible for the provinces of British Columbia, Yukon, Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as Oregon, Nevada and Arizona in the United States.

M e c h a n i c a l

JERRY LEYTE has been promoted to the position of sales manager for Central Canada at Uponor. Previously the Canadian commercial 3 sales engineer for radiant heating and cooling, he is working from the company’s Mississauga, Ont., location.

Nuheat has promoted vicepresident of sales KEVIN McELROY to the role of president. Kevin will lead the company’s operations in both the United States and Canada, and current president and CEO John Rose will remain CEO.

CB Supplies has named SYLVAIN BRUNELLE manager of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Working out of the company’s Laval, Que., office, Sylvain will oversee the sales functions for Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

ROB HUGHES now has an expanded role at Dobbin Sales Ltd. Previously the sales manager for Eastern Canada, he is now the company’s national sales manager. Hughes has been part of the sales team at the firm for seven years.

B&B Trade Distribution Centre has appointed ROB KEARNS to the role of sales and marketing manager. Rob brings experience in distribution, procurement, sales and marketing to the position. Also at B&B, ROBB HOWE has been named general manager.

GREG LeCLAIR has been appointed to the role of customer service specialist within Novo Water Conditioning’s customer service team. Greg brings 25 years of experience in the water conditioning industry to the position.

KEVIN GILL has joined The Master Group as an outside sales representative for commercial and industrial HVAC/R products. With more than five years of experience on the tools, and now in the wholesale market, Kevin will be covering the Greater Toronto Area for the company.

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

JOHN PALLANTE has been named director of sales within Ontario and Western Canada for the wholesale division of Broan-NuTone Canada - Venmar Ventilation. John brings 12 years of HVAC and green technology experience to the role.

02.13

Profile The McKeraghans (Bob and Nancy)

Sometimes you come across two people who complement each other so well that they seem to be on the same w avelength, even when they are working on different projects . That’s the way it is with Nancy and Bob McKeraghan, the owners of Canco ClimateCare in Newmarket, Ont. Over the years, each has dedicated themselves to fostering learning within the industry, and to helping the industry na vigate the challenges that can be expected within an ever-changing marketplace. And while they may go about it in their own w ay, their complementary paths ha ve helped numerous technicians over the years, and this has not gone unnoticed.

Q A

How did you get involved in the industry?

Q A

Nancy, what’s been the biggest adjustment from teaching to the mechanical world? I think the biggest adjustment for me w as learning how to share responsibility, since I had been my own master in my own classroom. And it was also delicate because we are not only partners in Name: Nancy McKeraghan business, but we are also married, so there Title: Secretary/Treasurer was a period of adjustment there. Once Company: Canco ClimateCare we differentiated our division of labour, Corporate Office Location: Newmarket, Ont. we worked well together because Bob has Joined the industry in: 1984 skills that I don’t, and I have skills that he Association Involvement: HRAI, ClimateCare, doesn’t. National Comfort Institute (NCI)

BIO

Bob: I worked as an electrician, and I was doing the design and construction of control panels,

Q A

Tell us about your company. Nancy: We specialize primarily in residential HVAC in York Region and Southern Simcoe. We made a conscious decision to provide a high level of service , so we restrict ourselves to an area that we could get to relatively easily, and we have pretty wide range of expertise among our staff.

BIO Name: Bob McKeraghan Title: President Company: Canco ClimateCare Corporate Office Location: Newmarket, Ont. Joined the industry in: 1970 Association Involvement: HRAI, ClimateCare, Skills Ontario, NCI Trade School: Ryerson; holds interprovincial certifications in electrical and refrigeration, gas tech, radon and numerous specialties.

We recently caught up with them at their offices to find out what makes them do what they do.

doing work with Standard Mechanical. That relationship led me to pursue a parallel career in refrigeration and gas. Nancy: I got sucked in by Bob. He said to me, “Could you just come and answer the phone?”

How did the two of you meet? In Unison: Blind date! Nancy: I had a master at teacher’s college who kept saying to me, “I have a guy you have to meet.” Ten months later we were married. (42 years ago) And we are still having fun.

Nancy was chair of HRAI in 2006-2007 – the first female to hold that position – and continues to work on committees and boards within the organization. She was awarded HRAI’s Craig McCarty Memorial Award for leadership and dedication in 2010. This past summer , Bob w as recognized by the same association with a Life Member Award in recognition for taking such an active role in progr ams like the Skills Canada-Ontario Heating Systems Technician competition.

Q A

What motivates you to offer a considerable amount of time to the industry, and to HRAI? Nancy: This industry has been good to us. It provides a good living, and a rewarding one. I feel I

owe a debt of sorts. I want to make a contribution, make a difference, if I can. Bob: There is a direct relationship between education and how well one can excel in this industry. And we need bright people. We’re trained, educated and licensed professionals, and we need to get that message out to parents.

FAST FACTS • In his teens, Bob played goal for the Kitchener Rangers hockey club. • Nancy played French horn in high school and university. • Nancy does a crossword puzzle every day.

- THE ONLY GAS FURNACES MADE IN CANADA -

- the newest member of the napoleon family ®

Y H I GH E F F I CI EN ON L C

E TH

Now a complete line of high efﬁciency furnaces to suit any residential application. 9200, 9500, 9600 & 9700 Series. • 9200 Series - 30,000 to 120,000 BTU’s (92.1% AFUE) • 9200 Series - Single Stage Gas Furnace, smallest

A 3

0 0,0

AVAIL

ACE

FOR IR

cabinet available - 14” width

BTU

napoleonheatinggandcooling.com

• 9700 Series - Highest efﬁciency two stage gas furnace on the market

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

By Gord Cooke

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent 20 years helping builders and HV AC contractors implement innovative technologies into high-performance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ and air flow management in houses, and can be contacted at gcooke@airsolutions.ca.

Putting the

or most homeowners, friends and family, the word ventilation is most easily associated with attics and bathrooms, so as contractors, an understanding of the basic needs for each area is useful in maintaining healthy, durable buildings for the people who count on us to see to their HVAC needs.

The history of bathroom ventilation follows a similar timeline to attic ventilation (see Ventilation, the early years). The early 1940s saw an increased prevalence of indoor plumbing, the start of insulation practices, and higher moisture production from baths and, more importantly, showers. No wonder that codes and standards called for operable windows, passive stack vents in bathroom ceilings and, eventually, mechanical exhaust fans in bathrooms. The 1990 Ontario Building Code was the first residential code in North America to require a mechanical exhaust fan in all bathrooms, regardless of whether the room had a window or not.

What should be of interest to professional HVAC contractors is the virtual explosion of new, high performance bathroom fan models that are now available. This includes fans with extremely low noise levels, under 0.5 sones, and fans with ECM fan motor technology that result in lower power consumption, but more importantly maintain airflow capacities at varying static pressure loads. Fans are also sporting new control options; occupancy sensors, humidity sensors, two speeds, adjustable low speeds, timed cycles, delayed off cycles, and more.

Much like attic ventilation, however, there was not a lot of definitive science or research on the issue of exactly how much ventilation is enough in bathrooms to control moisture and odours. This is of particular relevance to HVAC contractors now, as you respond to the ever increasing expectations of homeowners who in one or two gener ations have gone from the idea of a simple utilitarian w ater closet to their own private rain forest spa. In the past, mechanical contractors could be excused for thinking that promoting simple bath fans w asnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worth it, leave it to the electricians. That should change. There are nice new opportunities for mechanical contractors in the bathroom ventilation business. The value of fans with definable, saleable benefits is much higher, and the labour content and disruption of surrounding ceiling areas is lower. So, put the V back in HVAC. Think about creating relationships with specialty bathroom renovation

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

• Sizing the fans • V entilation, the early years

VENTILATION

contractors and full-service renovators. Property managers of apartment and condominiums should also be a target as they look to retrofit thousands of fans to mitigate moisture, odour and noise complaints.

THE EARLY YEARS

The earliest official references to ventilation of attics in residential construction in codes or building practices started appearing in the late 1930s. It is not a coincidence that this is around the same time as attic insulation was becoming prevalent in cold climate housing.

Remember, the responsibility for airflow, air quality, moisture control and pressure control in houses should rest with mechanical contractors. Bathroom ventilation is an ever increasingly important element of each of these and thus warrants the attention of professional mechanical contractors.

The cause and effect of moisture accumulation on the underside of roof sheathing and in wall cavities was being debated by roofers, roofing manufacturers, the wood industry, the new insulation companies and even painters (who in the early days were known to refuse to paint insulated houses).

SIZING the fans With respect to sizing of bathroom fans, perhaps the best place to start is the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) Guide. This calls for bathrooms under 100 sq. ft. to have a ventilation rate of one CFM per square foot of floor area. A comfortably sized bathroom of five by eight feet, with an eight-foot ceiling would need a 40 CFM fan, which would result in an air change rate of 7.5 times per hour (ACH). For bathrooms larger than 100 sq. ft., HVI recommends using a fixture count; 50 CFM for each toilet, shower and bathtub, and 100 CFM for a jetted tub. This is the common sizing used in most codes for commercial applications. In a typical household “spa” this could easily lead to a ventilation need of 200 to 250 CFM. Let’s take the math a little further to determine how much moisture that 40 CFM of ventilation can be expected to remove.

The first reference to the now hard, codified rule of one square foot of net free area of ventilation for every 300 square feet of ceiling area appeared in 1942 U.S. federal housing standards without reference to any testing, research or documentation. It is an arbitrary number that has been retained by the industry all these years. This did, however, establish that the prime directive of attic ventilation was to minimize the effects of moisture accumulation on the underside of roof sheathing. The attic air space itself doesn’t really need to be ventilated. In fact, air movement over the top of insulation in an attic re duces the effectiveness of the insulation. Extensive housing research has now clearly identified that the best way to avoid attic moisture problems is to thoroughly air seal between the house and the attic, eliminating pathways for warm, moist air leakage into attic spaces.

Using a psychrometric chart, with household air at 21°C and 40% RH, and imagining that during that int erminably long teenager’s shower or the long soak in the jet tub, the bathroom itself gets up to say 25°C and 95% RH. At these conditions the 40 CFM of exhaust will remove approximately 1 kg (2.2 lb.) or 1 litre of water per hour from the air in the bathroom. Compare this with the expected evaporation rate of a very hot jet tub (40°C or 104°F). Assuming a water surface area of 20 sq. ft. with lots of turbulence, as much as four pounds of water can be expected to evaporate each hour. In fact, that matches up pretty well with the HVI recommendation of 100 CFM capacity for a jetted tub. It also means that local exhaust ventilation from bathrooms provides excellent drying potential.

Keeping balanced Some thought should be given to air supply when large capacity exhaust is used. Significant undercuts on doors or transfer grilles may be required to provide adequate replacement air to the bathroom. Otherwise the fan capacity may diminish due to increased static pressure and ventilation effectiveness will be reduced. M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

PLUMBING By Denise Deveau

HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE

Zero-radius sinks with straight lines tend to cost a little more because of the workmanship involved. Heavy gauge commercial square sinks alone can up the budget by $1,000. “And under-the-sink boilers can add up to $800,” Scheffel advises. People also love to accessorize kitchen sinks with grids, fitted glass cutting boards, colanders and cutting boards. They might also consider adding various items like soap dispensers, instant hot water, point-of-use water filtration faucets and under the counter water softeners. “At the same time, they don’t want too

M e c h a n i c a l

ometimes the power of suggestion can be a wonderful thing, especially when it comes to selling upgrades for kitchens and bathrooms. Whether talking small ticket items such as faucet finishes and sink r acks, or grand notions like LED lighting and waterfall fixtures in bathrooms, sometimes it can pay plenty to have a heart-to-heart conversation with homeowners.

showroom supervisor for The Water Closet Showroom in Kitchener, Ont. “The nicer the rooms, the easier it is to sell them. So upgrades are never a waste of money, because you typically get back what you put in. ”

Most contractors tend to start out with the basics when quoting a job as a means to stay competitive, but when it comes time to delve deeper into what customers can do with their budgets, kitchens and bathrooms are a prime place to start.

It’s easy to come up with suggestions for customers once you get past the necessities, agrees Daniel Scheffel of the Taps Bath Centre, a Wolseley Company, in Toronto. “From that point on, it’s the toys.”

She notes that when it comes to new home construction and renovations. “We’re seeing a lot of clients coming in to do some upgr ades.”

The selling points can be many, from hygiene or future accessibility needs, to resale value and convenience. In some cases, the driver can be something as simple as adding a wow factor just for the fun of it. “Bathrooms and kitchens are huge selling features in a home,” notes Stephanie Willan,

much clutter on the countertops. Where a kitchen is big enough, prep sinks are a nice little add-on,” Scheffel says.

Brizo

KITCHEN KITSCH When it comes to kitchens, Daniel Scheffel of Taps suggests starting with faucets. “People are looking for things with a presence, especially in a new open concept kitchen where there might be a centre island. You can really go crazy with faucets and sinks.”

UPSELL

A CONSERVATIVE KITCHEN UPGRADE What contractors allow for

What you can add

Price premium

Kitchen Sink - $200

Bronze tone or higher end stainless steel

$700

Kitchen faucet - $150

Chrome finish touch faucet

$350

No filtered water tap - $0

Filtered water tap

$150

No accessories for sinks - $0

A sink grid

Total Original Cost - $350

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

$200 Total premium: $1,400

Water with the wave of a hand. MotionSense™, only from Moen. Wave over for a pot-filling stream. Reach under for a quick rinse. It’s water how you want it, when you want it.

moen.ca

To see it in motion, scan the code.

Moen In

corporat ed.

Download reader at getscanlife.com

PLUMBING

continues from page 18

BATHROOM BEAUTIFICATION Bathrooms have become an upgrade Mecca for both the practical and fanciful. Even a small bathroom can be upgraded with a few more costly choices, such as wall-hung toilets, some of which can cost up to $1,000 depending on the design and flush features . There are also toilets with special glazing that works like Teflon or seats with push buttons to remove them for cleaning. “We’re selling a lot of electronic bidet toilet seats ,” says Stephanie Willan. “You can easily spend $1,000 to $3,000 over and above the toilet itself , depending on the features. But that’s less expensive than installing a separ ate bidet.” In some cases a fully-decked-out electronic bidet can reach up to $8,000. “Usually that’s for the master en suite, not for guests or the rest of the family ,” Daniel Scheffel says.

Moen

An easy upsell is faucet finishes. And sensor faucets hold a lot of appeal, especially for families with children because you can preset the temper atures and not waste water, Willan explains. These tend to be in the $600 r ange and up. But it’s the showers and tubs that can really add to the revenue pile . Free-standing tubs can easily reach into the five-figure area, especially if you include upgrades such as jets, air blowers, underwater lights, aromatherapy and/or chromatherapy.

DIGITAL AMENITIES If you want to get things really tricked out, there are endless possibilities for computerbased technologies. There are plasma screen wall systems, for example, that consumers can use as a backsplash to monitor surveillance cameras, internet, TV and phone. When it’s turned off it can be programmed to look like a granite wall or show scenic sites. The price tag on something like that could end up being $40,000 notes Daniel Scheffel of Taps.

The possibilities for showers are endless. While rainhead and handheld showers have become standard, a new potential addition is w all slots that shoot blades of w ater to create a waterfall effect. Where the sky’s the limit, ceiling tile rainheads are a highly attractive proposition for homeowners, Willan notes. “Depending on the size, they can cost close to $5,000, if you include chromatherapy lighting and sound systems. But they offer an amazing experience.”

Duravit

Hygiene has become an important issue for a lot of homeowners, which means chances are they’ll consider faucets that can be turned on with a touch or without touching at all, “Touch faucets can go from $150 to $200 or more and are particularly appealing for anyone that bakes or cooks a lot,” says Stephanie Willan of The Water Closet Showroom.

One upgrade that is holding a lot of appeal is shower towers that include thermostatic valves, body sprays, hand showers and rainheads, she adds. Some even include a waterfall and/or chromatherapy lighting features. “They can replace a number of individual pieces and can run anywhere from $1,200 to $4,000 depending on the brand, finish and features.” Whether kitchen and bathroom upgrades are a few small finishing touches or all-out spending sprees, there’s no question that consumers are interested in looking at options, Scheffel says. “All it takes is money.”

An aerial view of a free-standing tub.

A BATHROOM BON ANZA

DO THE MATH Whether working on a small or large budget, upgrades can make a big difference to your bottom line. Here are some examples that are worth a look (prices vary depending on make, model and finish).

What contractors allow for

What you can add

Standard toilet - $250

Wall mount toilet Bidet seat

$1,000 $1,000

Sink faucet - $100

Touchless faucet

$700

Tub - $200

Standalone tub with jets/hydromassage

$3,300

Tub faucets - $150

Roman tub filler

$850

Shower enclosure and basic faucets system - $500

Designer glass enclosure Rainhead/shower/body spray and thermo valves

$2,500 $2,500

No in-floor heating - $0

In-floor heating with thermostat

$600

No accessories (towel bars, tissue holders) - $0 Towel bars and toilet tissue holders

$400

No luxury add-ons - $0

Built-in TV and sound system Towel warmer

$4,000 $800

No thermostatic valve - $0

Thermostatic valve with trim

$400

Total original cost - $1,200

Price premium

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

$18,050

Kohler

NO HANDS!

Tankless so advanced it’s simple. (Isn’t it amazing what technology can do for you?)

Francois with Scott Harrison Plumbing

“With the NPE, you can now save half the time on installations Normal tankless water heaters take 6-7 hours to install but the NPE only takes 3 ½ hours. The NPE can use the existing ½” gas pipe which is a major time saver.”

2” system 636 Up To 60’

High Condensing

240LP

Learn more at TanklessMadeSimple.com/Training

240NG

1/2” Gas Pipe Capable

800.519.8794 NavienAmerica.com

Field Gas Convertibility

Outdoor Installation

REFRIGERATION TROUBLESHOOTING

By Phil J. Boudreau

Sorting defrost issues RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS IVERSUS

n the November/December 2012 edition of Mechanical Business, we started to look at incomplete defrosting and possible causes of this, so letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continue with the topic and look at what the ev aporator pressures and superheat readings are telling us.

SYMPTOM: LOW EVAPORATOR PRESSURE AND LOW SUPERHEAT Systems that employ hot gas defrosting may exhibit low evaporator pressure and low superheat because the hot gas cycle is not able to completely clear the coil by the end of each defrost cycle. When defrosting an evaporator using hot or cool gas, the defrost time is significantly lower than an air/off cycle or even electric defrost. One of the reasons for this is that the heat for defrost is supplied to the inside of the tube. Additionally, the heat supplied tends to be more evenly distributed and contains a large amount of latent heat.

CAUSE: PROLONGED DEFROSTING TIME It is very normal for liquid to occur during gas defrosting as we are removing latent heat from the vapour. This can, of course, be potentially very dangerous for compressors that are applied with a three-pipe defrost technique when the system is not designed and set up c orrectly. Appropriate compressor protection is a must. An accumulator of an appropriate storage volume must be used and installed correctly.

Condensing unit with hot gas defrost components.

USING THE RIGHT ACCUMULATOR When selecting the accumulator, both the required storage volume, along with the minimum and maximum refrigerant flow rates, must be considered. The flow rate, either in tons or in pounds per unit time, mus t not be such that oil is not abl e to return from the accumulator back to the compressor.

The amount of frost that occurs on the evaporator depends on a number of variables, including the evaporating temperature, air-to-evaporator temperature difference, moisture content of the product within the refrigerated space, the moisture content of the air surrounding the refrigerated structure, and the leakage rate of the structure. In order to reduce the quantity of liquid produced during defrost, the defrost time must be kept as short as possible. During defrost, the pressure will first climb to a saturation temperature that is somewhat above the melting point of the frost. Once the frost has been removed, the suction pressure will quickly escalate. This is why defrost is sometimes terminated by pressure.

Also, the maximum velocity or pressure drop of the accumulator should never be exceeded. This will ensure that the liquid is properly separated from the vapour within the accumulator. Oftentimes the connections on the Accumulators on left. Oil accumulator will not be the same as separators on right. the suction line size. Never assume that they should be the same. The connections depend on the application itself, along with the requirements that the accumulator must meet.

If the saturation temperature is too low during defrost, the defrost cycle will be prolonged and the risk of compressor damage increases. Having the higher saturation temperature also helps maintain a higher mass flow through the evaporator. When defrost pressures are too low, check to ensure that the discharge pressure does not fall too much during defrost. Pressure regulators are sometimes used on gas defrost systems in order continued on page 24

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

even exchange

Honeywell has solutions to replace R-22. The pressure is on to phase out R-22. Now is the perfect time to switch T tto a Honeywell Genetron non-ozone-depleting alternative for your A/C or refrigeration application. For A/C, consider Genetron ® 407C or 422D. For Refrigeration, consider Genetron® Performax™ LT, Genetron 422D, 404A or 5 507. Talk to your Honeywell distributor today to understand your options and hand-pick the R-22 replacements that will work for you. h

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, visit www.genetron.com. © 2012 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

REFRIGERATION TROUBLESHOOTING

continued from page 22

COMPRESSOR NOTES

Remember, compressors that have refrigerantcooled motors require cooling during both the refrigeration and the gas defrosting modes.

consequently starve the evaporator. Also, ensure that the TEV inlet screen is not plugged.

Low-temp compressor with CPR to prevent compressor overload to ensure that pressures remain high enough to get the job done as quickly as possible. If you experience low pressures during defrost, ensure that the installed evaporator was actually intended for use with gas defrost and is circuited accordingly.

CAUSE: ABSENT OR INCORRECT USE OF WATER CONDENSATE TRAPS P-Traps should be used in order to create a barrier between the air in the refrigerated space, the moist air surrounding the space and the drainage system of the building. If a coil constantly freezes up, this is one possible reason. Since the air pressure in the refrigerated area will generally be lower than surrounding areas, moisture may find its way to the cold evaporator where it will condense and then freeze.

This creates a few undesirable issues. First, the capacity of the system will be reduced. In this case, it is likely that the system will not be able to meet the required thermostat setting. Also, heavy frosting will usually occur on the portion of the evaporator where liquid is present. In a starved evaporator, the small amount of liquid refrigerant is closer to the entrance of the coil and will boil at a lower temperature. Although a pump-down of the low side is very common with commercial refrigeration systems, one must be careful not to set the cut-out pressure too low. The system layout, ambient temperature, evaporating temperature, refrigerated space temperature and compressor operating limits must all be considered when setting the low pressure control.

CAUSE: UNDERSIZED OR DEFECTIVE METERING DEVICE Evaporator starving may also be caused by a malfunctioning metering device. For example, thermostatic expansion valves have an element that is connected to a sensing bulb via a small tube. If this assembly loses its charge, then there will be no opening force, so the system will usually pump-down and then shut off. If the valve is suspected, you can also check to ensure that the diaphragm in the element (TEV head) cannot be moved by pressing it directly. It will be necessary to remove the element in order to check this.

SYMPTOM: LOW EVAPORATOR PRESSURE AND HIGH SUPERHEAT CAUSE: INSUFFICIENT REFRIGERANT CHARGE A common refrigerant undercharge scenario is one where a system that has condenser flooding regulators is charged during a warm ambient temperature without adding the full charge needed during lower ambient temperatures. Remember to add the additional charge that will be required to maintain proper operation during the coldest ambient temperatures, but be careful not to overcharge the system. Otherwise, when the ambient temperature increases, the high-pressure control setting, or even the receiver relief valve setting, may be exceeded and result in unnecessary release of refrigerant.

When expansion valves are overheated, it is possible to damage the TEV push-rods and other components. If this happens it will be necessary to replace the valve.

CAUSE: MIGRATION OF THE TEV CHARGE TXV charge migration occurs with some types of thermostatic element charges when the element is at a temperature that is lower than that of the sensing bulb. As an e xample, this could occur on a packaged outdoor air-cooled chiller where the evaporator and TEV are exposed to temperatures that are colder than the fluid being cooled. Special metering devices with anticharge-migration elements are available for this purpose. Electronic expansion valves do not exhibit this same characteristic.

CAUSE: RESTRICTION IN THE LIQUID LINE A restricted drier, solenoid valve or other component in the liquid line will result in flashing. This flash gas is restrictive and takes up valuable real estate in the liquid line. This will reduce the flow and

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Phil J. Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and also provides training and technical support for Bitzerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s clientele. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

THE BEST VALUE IN A

MODULATION COMBINATION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Choose the Goodman® GMVM96 for the BEST VALUE in a modulating gas furnace! It’s the only model that combines the benefits of a fully modulating gas furnace with Goodman’s exclusive tubular heat exchanger. The ComfortNet™compatible GMVM96 delivers quiet, precise temperature control with a self-calibrating modulating range from 35% to 100%. All in all, the Goodman GMVM96 Modulating Gas Furnace delivers the best combination for maximum value: energy-efficient operation, precise temperature control, exclusive tubular heat exchanger and ComfortNet communicating system compatibility. For more information, contact your local Goodman branch, call us at 1.877.780.3316 or visit us online at www.goodmanmfg.com.

Goodman Distribution, Inc.

LOCATIONS: N. TORONTO 905-760-2737

LAVAL 450-681-2220

MONTREAL 450-674-3883

OTTAWA 613-745-3846

E. TORONTO 905-420-4001

VANCOUVER 604-420-1331

BRANTFORD 519-757-0965

CALGARY 403-250-6579

SASKATOON 306-651-7350

W. TORONTO 905-606-2345

LONDON 519-453-1200

EDMONTON 780-443-3072

HVAC/R

By Carol Fey

JUNK

Carol Fey is a technical trainer who has worked as a heating mechanic in Antarctica and has published six books for the HVAC/R industry. She can be reached at carol@carolfey.com, or visit her website, www.carolfey.com.

or Spare Parts?

he New Year is upon us, and if you haven’t chosen your resolution, or are looking to replace the one that lasted until about noon on January 3, I have one for you. How about finally cleaning up the junk around the shop, home, office and yard? I’ll give you a moment to protest. I know, I know, “It’s not junk – it’s spare parts.” But just stand back for a moment and think about it objectively. Wouldn’t it be nice to have – at no cost – a bigger work area or more space to put things? Getting rid of some “stuff” would do it. And you could even make some money doing it (see below). I know that “spare parts” are especially important in the plumbing and heating business. Some of it you just can’t buy anymore. The rest? Well, why would you want to spend good money to replace what you already ha ve? Let me tell you where I got a new perspective on spare parts. When I was a heating mechanic in Antarctica there was no way to get any part or tool that w asn’t already on station. The supply ship came but once a year. If it wasn’t on the ship, you wouldn’t have it. And don’t get me started about trying to find it if the computer said “There’s one, and it’s on the station.” Many repair jobs came down to “MacGyvering” a solution. (For those of you without a fixation for 80’s TV, that’s fixing it with whatever you have available.)

MAKE MONEY SELLING YOUR STUFF Someone might be willing to pay for your junk! On Craigslist I sold an old hot tub for $600 and a garden wagon with a flat tire for $50. It was really easy. And if no one will buy it, list it for free. At least you won’t have to pay someone to carry it away. Yes, people are crazy, but that’s their problem and your solution to too much stuff. You could also try eBay online. And of course, you can sell metal as scrap, and some recyclers might even pay for paper.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

A lifetime of saving My father was a collector of spare parts. He worked for the electric utility. During the 1960s, the company was closing down small local power plants. After a shutdown employees could take home whatever was left. To Dad, every nut and bolt had a potential use. But most items were bigger than that. The back yard filled up. The basement filled up. For a long time there was a hot debate at home about what t hese things were. Mom insisted, “This bringing home junk and more junk has g ot to stop.” Dad maintained that it was all parts he had a use for. They compromised. If it was labeled and neatly stored on a shelf, either in the shed or in the basement, it was parts. Otherwise it was junk and had to go. Dad lovingly labeled it all, including paint cans wit h the letters “MT” – empty. After all, there are times when an empty paint can is just what you need.

Of course Mom had her version of the same thing, but no one would have dared to call it junk. Hers was household items rescued when an elderly relative “broke up housekeeping.” What to call it was made more confounding by the fact that it was neatly stored in cupboards and drawers. Still, how many flour sifters can one person use?

No matter what’s accumulated or how tidy it is, it still comes down to the fact that some day someone has to dispose of it. That fell upon me continued on page 28 0 2 . 1 3

Kevin’s on the road, so you can keep on the job. More parts. More brand names. More branches. More service. PLUMBING • HVAC • HYDRONICS • INDUSTRIAL • FIRE PROTECTION • BUILDING MAINTENANCE Noble is known for having a great selection of stock-on-hand in our branches. Noble drivers like Kevin go the extra mile to get parts and equipment into the hands of customers at their businesses or on site. We’re on the road to keep you on the job and on schedule. That’s the Noble Difference and you’ll ﬁnd it in everything we do.

At Noble, we have a ﬂeet of more than 150 trucks, we have more than 50 branches, we carry more than 70,000 SKUs and we’re committed to having more of the parts, equipment and products that our customers need as stock-on-hand. So, if you’re looking for more, try Noble.

You need it? We got it. www.noble.ca 1-800-529-9805 OR 905-760-6800 BARRIE BELLEVILLE BRAMPTON BROCKVILLE COQUITLAM CORNWALL GRAVENHURST GUELPH HAMILTON KINGSTON KITCHENER LANGLEY LAVAL LONDON LONGUEUIL MAPLE RIDGE MARKHAM MILTON MISSION MISSISSAUGA MONTRÉAL NEWMARKET OAKVILLE OSHAWA OTTAWA PETERBOROUGH SECHELT ST. CATHARINES TORONTO VANCOUVER WINDSOR

continued continued from from page page 84 26 HVAC/R

RERE-VERBER-RAY VERBER-RAY

last summer when it was time to clear out my parents’ house to put it on the market. Everything had to go somewhere else. We had an auction. Three auctioneers went for four hours each, a total of 12 hours of selling. That’s how much good stuff there was. Then there was paper recycling, clothing donations, and finally a small truckful of trash. Needless to say, I was just plain worn out with having been left to deal with 60+ years of two people not getting rid of anything “useful.”

HAZARD ALERT!

IIntroducing ntroduc d the HL3 SERIES g gas fired infrared infrared heater heate fired Two T wo stage operation operation improves improves comfort comfort levels, levels, faster faster heat heat recovery recovery and an additional 12% fuel savings savings over over single stage. stage.

Quality, Quality, black coated, coated, lock locking ing tube e exchangers xchangers prolong prolong equipmentt lif equipmen life, fe, enhance enhance heat heat output and install with ease ease.. A dvanced stainless st eel Advanced steel v ortex burner pr oduces an vortex produces elonga ted flame rresulting esulting elongated g reater hea ibution. greater heatt distr distribution.

The strangest junk that I have seen in a plumbing or heating shop was a coffee can filled with mercury. Mercury is hazardous when it is exposed to the air, so why would someone put it in a can with a loose-fitting lid? Here’s the best answer I received when I posed the question: “Whenever Grandpa replaced a thermostat, he always clipped out the mercury bulb, broke it open like a little egg, and poured the mercury into a big can. We’ve just always kept on doing it. Don’t know why.” Don’t do that! Keep it in the bulb inside the thermostat. And properly dispose of the thermostat.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED WHEN YOU’RE IN THE PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING BUSINESS Here’s the start of a list of things to throw away. And please go to the trouble of disposing properly and safely: Anything you don’t know what it is or what it ’s for; Disabled cars and trucks;

H Highly ighly polished polished,, adjustable aluminum rreflectors eflectors pr provide ovide optimal focus fo ocus of infrared infrared heat heat waves target areas. w aves tto o tar get ar eas.

Scrapped boilers and furnaces; Bathroom fixtures in colours that no one’s used in 10 years; Radiators; Anything collected in unlabeled coffee cans; Mercury, especially if it’s in a coffee can; Old motors, gas valves, transformers, relays, thermostats – use today’s universal part replacements. For safe thermostat disposal Google thermostat recycling; Used oil;

BRANT RADIANT HEA HEATERS ATERS T LIMITED LIM 34 Scott Scott AAve.,Paris ve.,Paris OOn.N3L n.N3L 3R1 1-800-387-4778 w www.brantradiant.com ww.brantradiant.com

M e c h a n i c a l

Old tires, even if there is tread left on them; Old bicycle inner tubes – believe it or not, back when I was a Honeywell rep I once got a phone call demanding a template to cut a replacement gas valve diaphragm from an inner tube; B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

• Hazard Alert • What you don’t need • But you threw it away BUT YOU THREW IT AWAY! I finally had a buyer for my parents’ house, but she wanted the aged geothermal system replaced. I asked my contractor, who had kept it running all these years, if he couldn’t fix it once more. “No I can’t,” he scolded. “You threw out all the spare parts when you cleaned the basement.” Hum, it sure looked like junk to me.

WHAT A HARDWARE STORE OR SUPPLY HOUSE IS GOOD FOR Recently I was at the A&A Trading Post, one of the best hardware stores ever. It’s one of those places with the sloping and creaking wooden floors that make you expect a geezer in overalls to come shuffling out and ask, “Whatcha lookin’ for?” You might have something like it near you. The A&A has everything, and it has a crew that knows exactly where to find that odd part you need for any job – carpentry, plumbing or electrical. Here’s what I overheard one day when I was there looking for a spare part. Customer: “Why that’s highway robbery! You want 59 cents for that bolt? I got four just like it at home that didn’t cost me near that.” Employee: “No doubt you do. But you don’t know where yours are, do you?”

True HVAC professionals know their reputation is made with every sale. Which is why they choose to sell Armstrong Air.® Piles of rags. Those are a fire hazard; Analogue meter – even if it was expensive and you never learned how to use it; Collections of loose electronic components – transistors, resistors, diodes; Rusty or broken tools, even if they were Grandpa’s; Your collection of scrap wood and pipe. Maybe keep just a few of the longer pieces; Opened paint more than a couple years old – it’s probably dried up anyways Discarded computers and cell phones; and

HVAC professionals take a lot of pride in the work they do, and the equipment they install. They choose Armstrong Air because they know our standards are as high as their own. With smart designs like MHT™ Technology in the summer and EHX™ Technology in the winter, we have thoughtfully engineered comfort solutions that can delight every customer, every time. If you're ready to make the choice to sell something better, get started at www.armstrongair.com/become-a-dealer.asp

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

VEHICLES

By Denise Deveau

OFF THE RACK There are three basic types of ladder racks, each of which serves slightly different purposes:

CLEAN RUNNING

• The standard crossbar type provides the most flexibility in terms of what you can put on it . In addition to holding ladders and scaffolding, it can widen to accommodate sheets of plywood.

Over time, the guide bar on dr opdown ladder racks may accumulate road grim. Simply take a multi-purpose automotive cleaning wipe or tire cleaner and wipe the top and bottom surface. This will ensure that the unit slides in and out more easily.

IN, UP AND

OUT OF THE WAY

adder racks have been around for years. But times and technology have changed, as have the safety features that go along with rack systems for vans and pickup tracks. Upfitting with the right stuff can deliver all sorts of benefits, from improved safety and reduced injuries, to extending the life of your vehicle.

• Basket-type racks are ideally suited for situations where you need to prevent loads shifting back and forth. • “Extra feature” racks offer a wide variety of bells and whistles to assist in loading and unloading, including locking systems and dropdown hydraulic systems. These are especially useful on higher vehicles and cube vans as a means to avoid shoulder strain. One caveat with these systems, however, is that they may limit the ability to haul larger loads.

“Over the past few years contractors have been keeping vans a lot longer than they used to,” says Jeff Kotz, senior product manager for Knaack/Weather Guard. “In fact recent data indicates that the average life of a truck or van has stretched to 10 years, whereas it used to be about seven.” Given that contractors are looking for a longer life from their investment, it pays to upfit vehicles at the time of purchase. The ladder rack system of choice starts with understanding what you plan to be storing on the roof , and how frequently you need to get at it. For example, will the van be used to hold ladders or scaffolding, or larger construction materials such as sheets of plywood? It’s also important to understand and be realistic about the van’s carrying capabilities. Stacking four to five feet of material is simply not what a vehicle is designed for, although some contractors will try.

A ladder keeper is a good way to keep equipment off the floor of the van and free up extra space for additional items.

It’s important to select the right materials for your systems . Aluminum racks are more lightweight, highly durable and can stand up to moisture. Steel, however, offers a perfectly good value-priced option and may be better for holding

continued on page 32

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Does your cargo van take too many coffee breaks? Beyond the sticker price, a cargo van requires additional expenses you might not always account for. In addition to the longest maintenance interval and highest retained value in its class1, Sprinter has the lowest fuel cost per kilometre, saving you money every time you drive. All of this has earned Sprinter the very ﬁrst ‘Best Fleet Value in Canada’ award 2, and the lowest total cost of ownership for the third year in a row 3 as rated by VINCENTRIC™, the authority on identifying, analyzing, and comparing automotive ownership costs.

FUEL COSTS - CENTS/KM4 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

/KM

Nissan NV

/KM

Ford E-Series

/KM

GMC Savana/ Chevrolet Express

/KM

Visit thesprinter.ca to learn more about TCO.

© 2013 Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. 1Retained value based on 2012 analysis of Canadian retail market for 2500 series vans as calculated by Vincentric, LLC. Maintenance intervals based on Mercedes-Benz Canada review of vehicle owners manuals. 2 Awarded to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo 2500 144" wheelbase (Standard Roof) and 3500 144" wheelbase (High Roof). 3 Based on analysis of Canadian retail market for 2500 and 3500 series vans performed in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by Vincentric, LLC. 4 Fuel cost based on 50,000 Kilometres per year over 5 years as calculated by VINCENTRIC™ for the 2500 series van.

VEHICLES

continued from page 30

heavier loads. Powder coating will help to keep the equipment in good condition for a long time and won’t stain the vehicle. Also, it’s important to ensure that additional features won’t cause damage to what you put on top. Kotz advises the inclusion of preventative features such as plastic wear strips. “That way you’re not roughing up the edges of your equipment. If you have fibreglass ladders for example, you don’t want those edges to start to fr ay.” Prices typically range from about $200 for a basic r ack to $1,000 for a dropdown system for both the passenger and driver side. While it might seem a lot to spend, when compared to lost income from injuries on the job , dropdown systems could make sense. To top off your investment, there is a whole catalogue of rack accessories you might want to consider. These can range from attachable amber safety lights and remov able cross members to holders for large containers (e .g. fivegallon water jugs), and a variety of hooks and bars to hold loads. With the right choices and proper care, rack systems can last a long time. Better yet, they can easily be transferred to a new vehicle. In fact, suppliers report that it’s not at all unusual for some systems to be installed three times over, which is all the more reason to put careful thought into your purchase decisions.

SAFETY FIRST Unloading and loading a dropdown ladder rack may be a simple process, but it’s always important to follow the proper procedures to avoid the chance of injur y or damage to your equipment. Vehicle upfitting company Adrian Steel offers the following advice on how to load, and unload, dropdown racks safely. LOADING: 1. If the rack is in the up or st owed position, take hold of the handle with both hands and disengage the lock with your thumb. 2. Pull the rack bed away from the van until it stops. 3. Let the gas struts slowly lower the rack bed down. 4. Approach the rack and rest the top of the ladder in the front clamp pad. 5. Place the bottom of the ladder on the gr ound adjacent to the rear wheel of the van. 6. Allow the top of the ladder to be supported on the front clamp bracket. Using it as a pivot point, lift the ladder from its lower rungs. Keep the ladder vertical or perpendicular to the ground until the bottom half of the ladder is in the r ear clamp bracket. 7. After the ladder is in place on the r ack bed, take hold of the grab handle with both hands and push the rack bed straight up to a horizontal position and slide it in place ont o the roof. 8. Make sure the lock is engaged. Use a saf ety latch pin or padlock. UNLOADING:

Pick a rack,

BUT NOT JUST ANY RACK Weather Guard’s Jeff Kotz offers some suggestions of what to consider when purchasing a roof rack.

1. Using both hands take hold of the grab handle and disengage the lock with your thumb. 2. Pull the rack bed out away from van until it stops. Let the gas struts slowly lower ladder down.

• Will it stand up to your day to day needs?

3. Take hold of the ladder from the rear clamp bracket and tilt it up out of the rack bed.

• How often will you be going up and pulling it ems down from the rack?

4. Lift the rear of the ladder from the clamp bracket and set it on the ground.

• How many service calls do you make in a day? The more calls, the more you may want to invest in features that will secure ladders faster, or dropdown systems so you can get off and running to the next site.

5. Move to the centre of the ladder and t ake it out of the front clamp bracket.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

6. You can leave the empty rack in the down position while loading and unloading your vehicle. However, racks must always be in stowed positions and latched while the v ehicle is in motion.

0 2 . 1 3

S A Y S A E S A W O XFR IS N

2 1 0 1 8

S ES DE UD LLU C C N I N I W W O O N R N XFFR M MX E E T T S S Y ® ” Y S ®& 2” S 12 & &1 5 ” 5 & 1 ” 0 1 0 1 1 M , ” M , E ” 8 E T 8 T R S R S Y O SY RS S FFO AR GS LLA NG U LLIIN U P P P O P U O P U O P O R C R C U L O OU AL CA NIIC A AN H H C C TTM E MM E M Y EY RE GR M MJJ G ® ®

STEWART MACINTOSH, Installer,

System XFR & MJ Grey come from the same team who brings you Aquarise

“

We mostly used the XFR product for speed. It’s especially ideal for smaller diameters where you would have to use copper with soldered joints. When you compare joining PVC to soldering, there’s no comparison.

“

Welln ess Cen tre

Atlantica Mechanicall

The IPEX Teams are good to work with, and they do their best to address our needs.

For more case studies visit www.ipexinc.com/mjgrey

PVC Drain, Waste & Vent for Non-Combustible Applications Product manufactured by/for IPEX Inc. System 15®, System XFR® and MJ GreyTM are trademarks of IPEX Branding Inc.

Call 1-866-473-9462 or visit www.ipexinc.com

with Roger Grochmal

Suppliers: Partners in profitability Roger, is there any benefit to working with just one or two key supplier s, and what should I be looking for in a supply chain partner? Mark B., Milton, Ont.

Roger Grochmal is the CEO of AtlasCare in Oakville, Ont. To submit a question about your company, business practices, or the industry in general, send an e-mail to Mechanical Business magazine’s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Benefits beyond the cash register A good supplier can help you in ways beyond giving you a better price. Consider warranties – these are one of the biggest costs in our businesses these days. If your warranty cost on equipment is one per cent of revenue, that could represent 10 per cent, or more, of your profit. Do your suppliers compensate you fairly for all your expenses, including diagnostic time, travel time and administration? Does your supplier make it easy for you to make warranty claims? Do they pay you in a timely manner? And do you pay them in a timely manner? Most suppliers have discounts available for prompt payment. If you have the cash this is a far better return than you can get at any bank. Suppliers also have generous programs for co-op advertising, which may include truck identification and uniforms for your technicians. Most will give you the benefit of the doubt on these expenses if they see you trying to grow your business.

M e c h a n i c a l

ontractors always like to ask each other who they buy their equipment from. It’s like asking about the weather, and is usually taken in the same spirit. That said, most contractors don’t think about their suppliers until they can’t get something, but you can’t take these relationships for granted. The people change, rules change and prices change. Some changes will be for the better, other for the worse, but with change there is also a lot of opportunity. New players want to increase market share to justify their investments. Loyalties change. Suppliers have never been more willing to work with contractors to get and keep your business.

A constantly changing picture

By establishing standard The supplier landscape is always evolving. inventories and In the past year, here in Ontario, we have minimizing what seen an enormous amount of change. we need by Keep in mind it's not just about For example: shipping only price though. A price advantage only when we need • Daikin bought Goodman; lasts for a short time. These things it, we have cut tend to even out. You want to work • Carrier distribution is now run by Watsco; our investment with suppliers who are committed • Trane distribution in Ontario will now be in inventory by a to your ongoing success. done by National Energy Equipment; and third over the past year. This • Coleman in Ontario will now be managed At AtlasCare, we have developed gives me the by Groupe Master. some standard installation kits that cash to invest in one supplier builds and stocks for us. new technology This has saved us labour on our jobs and grow my business. Our suppliers are our best and simplified our inventory. friends because they are committed to helping us improve our customer service as well as our bottom We also work with them to restock our service trucks line. every night so our technicians don’t have to come into the shop. We only make money when our techs There is a lot of opportunity in building solid, are in our customers’ homes. profitable relationships with suppliers. Are you taking advantage of it? With competition at an all-time We also have some suppliers who will deliver high, there has never been a more important time to product direct to customers’ homes. This increases partner with suppliers. the amount of productive labour available to us at a reasonable expense. B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Learn more about P-K, contact pkmarketing@harsco.com or visit www.harscopk.com

Engineering excellence. Applied.

The P-K name is back. Look for it as a symbol of quality.

With over 125 years of industrial heritage, the P-K name has a tradition of excellence and innovation as a market-leading producer of heat transfer equipment. Our commercial water heaters and boilers are used in facilities for virtually all applications. When your project requires reliable, innovative products with outstanding customer service... look for the P-K to ensure nothing less.

Boiler acting

fuelish?

The FuelMizer uses microprocessor-based controls to carefully regulate boiler supply temperature, based on the outdoor temperature. Functions include reset ratio adjustments, warm weather shutdown, minimum boiler temperature and boiler diﬀerential settings. All these functions are designed to reduce fuel consumption - in both new and retroﬁt

installations. The FuelMizer is easy to install and will not aﬀect the boiler’s warranty. Typical energy savings is about 14% with some customers experiencing up to 30%. Boilers controlled by a FuelMizer deliver optimum performance while simply sipping less.

TACO CANADA LTD. 8450 Lawson Road, Milton, ON L9T 0J8 Tel. 905-564-9422 Fax. 905-564-9436 www.taco-hvac.com FOUNDING MEMBER

eLearning

Air Eliminators

Hot Water on D’MAND®

Circulators

Electronic Controls

Radiant Mixing Blocks

iSeries Mixing Valves

ProFit Parts

Software

Fl FloPro P Tutorials

w h a t F E AT U R E S

great

s u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

CONTENTS

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT

SERIES PIPING 42PIPING

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

48HYDRONICS IQ A Battle of the Rings David Hughes and Warren Hyde

52INJECTION MIXING Pumping to meet low-temperature needs Ken Tomihiro

Toronto YWCA

TARGETS HVAC EFFICIENCY 58THERMALLY ACTIVATED SLABS Heather Hudson

WARMING UP

wide open closed spaces

44COMMERCIAL IN-FLOOR Jerry Leyte

64MARKETING Boost your marketing; not your budget Doug MacMillan

P R O D U C T S 56,62Hydronics

D E PA R T M E N T S 40 From the editor’s desk 41Wet Ink News 50 ROAD WARRIOR: Jamie Whitehead 57Tool Tip

On the cover: Road Warrior Jamie Whitehead, owner of Cooper Plumbing & Heating Ltd. in Calgary, Alta., jumped into plumbing on a three-week temporary job. That was in 1993. He now owns his own plumbing and heating company, and is a dedicated Wet Head. Photo: Shaun Robinson

Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, Ontario L6J 0B2 CANADA Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Jeb Roberts, ext. 225 jeb.roberts@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Laura Goodwin, ext. 221 laura.goodwin@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector's supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. © Copyright 2013. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

FROM

THE EDITOR’S

DESK

Compounded errors and calculating next steps In the final few months of 2012 the hydronic marketplace had a major curveball tossed its way. In the U.S., AHRI was pointing to a problem with the methods used to calculate the AFUE efficiency ratings for two-stage or modulating condensing boilers (see story opposite this one). Until a revised testing method or new efficiency r ating scale is in place, and product is retested, all affected product from AHRI member companies is to use a 90% AFUE rating. That decision was made in the absence of a revised AFUE testing protocol. As such, manufacturers had no choice but to roll back any r atings higher than 90% and wait for the new rules to come into effect to decide whether to retest their equipment to achieve ratings higher than the 90% baseline put in place by AHRI. While it is absolutely necessary to correct the situation, and revised test protocols must be developed, it is questionable whether the immediate rollback of efficiency ratings was necessary. Picture this: On Tuesday, Mrs. Smith meets up with her hydronic contr actor who sells her on a 95% AFUE boiler. On Friday, she is told she is getting a 90% AFUE unit, and that she cannot get a 95% unit, but she shouldn’t worry, since it is the same unit she was sold on Tuesday. Not only that, but by mid-year, her new boiler could be sporting a 92% rating. Talk about confusing. The units affected are the most efficient of their class , and they were determined to hold that position based on the best tests a vailable at the time. To force them to take an arbitrary efficiency rating because of a flaw in the test protocol is simply compounding the error. Until next time, Adam Freill Editor

Two new solutions for combustion analysis. NEW! testo 310

NEW! testo 320

Fully Featured Priced Right

High Def & Heavy Duty

š š š š

Residential tuning š Residential/ Draft & pressure Commercial High-range sensors š HD display NOx ﬁlter standard š Flue gas matrix š Memory - 500 tests

www.testo.com/310 www.testo.com/320

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

NEW!

Temporary measures, new tests

W E T

Until a revised AFUE testing protocol is developed, AHRI has decided that manufacturers must drop AFUE ratings to 90 per cent for all affected models that haven’t been discontinued.

I N K

Boilers in the News Efficiency ratings questioned

“This represents an interim default rating that recognizes that these models are condensing designs,” says Dietz, adding that the manufacturers of modulating condensing boilers will ultimately have to re-rate these models and provide new test results that support higher ratings.

During a recent internal review, an engineer at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) discovered that current U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency test procedures may result in inaccurate AFUE measurements for two-stage or modulating condensing boilers.

The new test methods may involve new protocols that include heat-up and cool-down tests or recalculation of the AFUE once an appropriate calculation is developed and accepted by the Department of Energy, Dietz confirmed.

“One of our staff engineers discovered an issue with calculations for the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of a condensing, modulating boiler when the option to omit heat-up and cool-down tests is used, as per Section 9.10 of ASHRAE 103,” explained Francis Dietz, vice-president of public affairs for AHRI. “Specifically, some of the calculations that provided v alues to plug into the AFUE calculation had anomalous or illogical results.” According to Dietz, some appliances show significant differences in the AFUE calculated when the AFUE rating is calculated without using the option to omit heat-up and cool-down tests, and then calculated again with the option to omit them.

Trickledown effects Because the testing issue applies only to two-stage or modulating condensing boilers, which are in the high-end efficiency range, it will affect boilers that have received the Energy Star Most Efficient designation. But Jacinthe Perras, a spokesperson for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) points out that, even with temporary lower ratings in place, boilers can still qualify for Energy Star status. “The Energy Star level for gas boilers is 85 per cent AFUE,” she says. “Therefore, even boilers reduced to 90 per cent AFUE can still receive the certification. But the Energy Star Most Efficient program identifies products in the top five per cent of the efficiency range, and NRCan is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine the impact to that program.” According to Katie Hutchinson, manager of councils at CIPH, “NRCan is in the process of hiring a consultant to review the testing and regulations to make sure any change will be incorporated properly and with minimal burden to the manufacturers.” Hutchinson also confirms that NRCan will be drafting a survey, which CIPH will circulate to its manufacturer members, to assess further impacts.

AHRI sees the issue as a set of temporary challenges for manufacturers. “It affects manufacturers more in the short term, because they need to re-test and determine revised ratings for their equipment,” says Dietz. “But they will also need to revise information, such as product literature, website details and labels, once those revised ratings are determined.” He points out that while manufacturers will have to explain to customers why ratings have changed when the units haven’t, in the long run things will return to normal once the correct test procedures are in place. John Goshulak, vice-president of Weil-McLain Canada, points to another challenge in the wake of AHRI’s discovery. “Even with the new testing and revised ratings in place, we’re not going to be up as high as we were in terms of efficiency,” he says. “And that makes us less competitive as an industry when a customer is choosing between a boiler and a forced-air system.” That perceived difference may cause consumer confusion as they attempt to compare boilers to forced-air systems, especially if trying to base their comparisons on efficiency ratings that do not assess total system efficiency, only the efficiency ratings of the heating appliances. ahrinet.org

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

PIPING GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT

SERIES PIPING Series piping is a simple concept for connecting heat emitters. It is commonly used to connect a string of fin tube baseboard or panel radiators. With series piping all the heat emitters are usually on one zone, controlled by one thermostat. A simple way to describe the system is that the supply water enters the first baseboard, then out the opposite end into the next baseboard, and so-on down the string of radiators. With series you need to remember the fluid temperature drops as it passes through the emitters. So if the first baseboard receives 180°F water that drops three degrees across the fin tube, the next baseboard will be supplied with 177°F. Keep in mind that the final heat emitter on the string will see a lower – possibly much lower – temperature. Compensate for this by increasing the size or length of the last emitters to ensure that you have sufficient output to warm the room. Additionally, it is possible to regulate the individual baseboard output by closing down the damper. Closing the damper “shuts down” the convective currents and reduces the output. This could be used to regulate and lower the temperature to an unused bedroom, for example. Perhaps the easiest way to define and calculate this is with a baseboard simulation program. I like the program within the Hydronics Design Software that’s available at www.hydronicpros.com. On the tool bar, find the series baseboard simulator and start entering data, like total load, fluid type, circulator pump selection, etc. The manufacturers of various baseboard emitters will have this information available online or in their training literature. There is a place for series piping, just be aware of the pitfalls and use the available design programs to avoid any callbacks.

ADDING CONTROL to the system When planning a series piping job, it might be an idea to look into TRV thermostatic radiator valves. This unique valve senses the ambient room temperature and opens and closes the flow to the emitter. A TRV also offers non-electric zone control. This type of valve uses a temperatureresponsive element to open, close and modulate flow to equal heat output. In Europe, TRVs are the most common way to zone heating systems. Better yet, a TRV is a proportional valve. The cooler the ambient temperature around the valve, the more flow the valve allows. It is almost like a weather responsive control using indoor temperature feed back.

WHAT

Supplement

TRVs are available in plain white as well as chromed finish to be used in bathroom towel bar installations, for example. Another option is a setback control added onto the TRV. I’m trying out a setback control on a cast iron pantry radiator I recently installed next to the bed in our master. It’s a small battery operated control that has the ability to be programmed for multiple on-off times. This clever setback control option has freeze protection and an anti-seize feature, in addition to vacation and party mode. TRVs are ideally suited for use with your choice of various delta-P, pressure differential circulators currently on the market. At least

02.13

three of the pump manufacturers now offer price competitive ECM delta-P pumps. Basically, this pumps senses when the TRV opens and starts the flow. The more valves that open, the more the flow rate increases. This is yet another “cruise control” option for your heating systems, as well as an energy saving feature, thanks to ECM technology.

by Bob ‘Hot Rod’ Rohr

HOT ROD’S NOTEPAD A rule of thumb is to limit the loop length to about 65 feet. I recall this number from some of Bell & Gossett’s training.

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

BYPASSING and BALANCING The panel radiator industry has developed a valve specifically for series piping also called one-pipe systems. This small “H” pattern valve connects to the bottom of the radiator. It has a bypass passage built into the valve. The bypass typically has a balancing valve to adjust how much flow goes on to the next emitter in the loop.

Working with PEX One of the things that’s now a bit easier when working with series piping is that the various heating emitters can be connected with PEX tube. PEX or PEX-AL-PEX (PAP) tubes are ideal for new or retrofit installations. With this type of tubing, the issues of expansion noise are often eliminated, and the ability of the PAP tubing to maintain a bend can also prove helpful on a jobsite. A wide range of PEX and PAP adapters are available to make connections to the radiators clean looking and simple. This type of pipe also eliminates the need to use a torch in tight spaces, or over and around existing structure when working on a retrofit.

The brand I am most familiar with has a bypass of

Protective covers are also available for the tubing. These can help protect it where it comes up through the floor to connect onto the radiator, and they can help the esthetic look of the install. Plastic floor eschutions another option that can trim out the job to “detail” the floor or wall penetrations.

65 per cent. Thirty-five per cent goes to the radiator the valve connects onto. The valve ensures that adequate temperature is supplied to the string of panels – so that you do

TEMPERATURE

not run out of “fizz” before you get to the end of

ratings and rads

the loop.

One thing to be aware of is that the output of the emitter is

The H-pattern valves are usually chrome plated, and may include isolation valves to remove and service the radiators. These valves make it simple to install and balance panel radiators. It also allows every radiator or heat emitter to have its own temperature control with a thermostatic radiator valve attached.

based on the temperature of the fluid flowing through it. If the fluid enters at 180°F and leaves at 177°F, for example, the average temperature across the element would be 178.5°F. The manufacturer’s data will indicate the output of their product based on this temperature, entering air temperature and flow rate. Your heat load calculation will indicate how many BTUs are required per room. With this number, you can size the baseboard or heat emitters for the job.

WHAT

Supplement

02.13

Commercial In-floor By Jerry Leyte Jerry Leyte, P.Eng., MASc., is the sales manager for Central Canada at Uponor. He can be reached at jerry.leyte@uponor.com.

Working the slab When installing radiant tubes in thick slabs: 1. There is approximately a 4ºF to 6ºF increase in hydronic water temperature needed to produce the same surface heating flux for each inch deeper than 2” that the tube is installed.

WARMING UP

wide open closed spaces

nce again we are well into our Canadian heating season and faced with the challenge of keeping our work spaces warm and comfortable for the people and equipment in those areas.

follow up I wrote about the effects of radiant tube depth and slab thickness on radiant system performance in the January/February 2012 edition of Mechanical Business. For more on the subject, be sure to check it out in the issue archive at mechanicalbusiness.com

For homes and offices, the doors leading into these spaces are not kept open very long on a cold winters day , and often even have a double door arrangement to minimize heat loss. But what about larger commercial buildings like airplane hangars, garages, maintenance facilities or ambulance and fire station bays? These facilities all have large doors that require frequent openings and closings, and very often the pieces of equipment coming back into those spaces are cold and covered in snow and ice. For commercial facilities, a significant amount of energy is required to simply warm those vehicles back up, not to mention keeping the work space w arm. Service vehicles like ambulances, police cars and fire trucks are always on standby, so having those vehicles and their equipment warm and ready to go on a moment’ s notice is crucial. Pulling a large plane or snow plow back into a hangar or maintenance gar age continues on page 46

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

2. The deeper the tubes, the greater the mass heated, and therefore the more thermal inertia to control. Controls have to compensate for the slow responses from the slab. 3. For thicker slabs with deeper tubes, each inch of concrete causes an approximate two-hour lag in temperature fluctuation control. Pick-up time is reduced for deeper tubing with higher water temperature from the heating plant. 4. If you want a faster pick-up time from a thick slab, it will require an oversized boiler to provide the energy to heat the increased thermal mass.

In response to requests from customers across North America, last year Spirotherm introduced the Spirovent Quad® — a world class air eliminator, dirt separator, and hydraulic separator designed as a low loss header. The response has been fantastic, and we are now excited to follow through on another request for combination air eliminators / dirt separators in brass construction for use on systems where hydraulic separation is not needed.

WE’RE STILL LISTENING.

Spirovent® VDR Series

The Spirovent® VDR Series is being introduced this year and includes again all of the world class features of our Spirovent and Spirotrap® products in one compact unit. For ease of application and installation, it is available in either threaded or sweat connection by simply changing the tailpiece. Offered in sizes from 1” through 2”, the VDR will be a cost-effective product for smaller systems and allow for two full-flow functions (air and dirt removal) in one product. Also coming this year will be a 2” Brass Spirovent Quad to extend that line into larger copper systems that may not require the steel commercial unit. And last but certainly not least, the original Spirovent VJR Air Eliminator product line will be enhanced with the introduction of 11⁄ 2” and 2” sweat models. All of these new products are because you, our loyal quality contractors, have asked for them. Air Eliminators, Dirt Separators, Combination Separators, and Hydraulic Separators — all from one source and backed by the world leader in air elimination technology. Check with your local Ontor representative for availability. Thanks for the continued input and we’ll keep listening!

In Canada:

Ontor Limited 12 Leswyn Road Toronto, ON M6A1K3 Tel: 416.781.5286 Fax: 416.781.7680 www.ontor.com

THE ULTIMATE IN DISTRIBUTION EFFICIENCY

continues from page 44

LOSING

would have a similar effect as dropping an ice cube in a glass of water. It would contribute to cooling that space if supplemental heat was not used to keep the space warm. Radiant heating applications are an excellent w ay to heat large garage spaces during our cold Canadian winters. Such facilities often have thick concrete slabs ranging from six to 12 inches in depth that make great r adiators for keeping these facilities comfortable. In commercial garages/bays/hangars radiant tubing installations would typically be located in the bottom half of the overall tube thickness. For example, in a commercial airplane hangar with a 10” thick slab, the tubing would likely be located about 6” deep. Having the tubing located in the tr aditional 2” depth would provide a faster response time, but with heavy loads from the commercial equipment, the structural integrity of the slab could be compromised if the tubing w as located too close to the surface. Another advantage of keeping the radiant tube deep in the bottom portion of the concrete slab is to reduce the possibility of puncturing the tubes when anchor bolts are installed in the slab for mounting shelving/r acking and other pieces of facility equipment. When using radiant heating in thick concrete slabs, care must be taken to minimize over-heating or under-heating the slab, especially during the shoulder seasons of the spring and fall when heating requirements fluctuate frequently. Thick slabs do take a long time to w arm up when first started and also take a long time to cool down due to the thermal inertia of the slab. Proper control of the slab will help minimize this effect, however radiant heating is quite “self-regulating.”

WARM AIR

Many garages, service bays and airplane hangars use forced air heating systems or hydronic fan coils to heat the given space. Gas-fired radiant tube heaters are also quite common. If it takes 30 minutes to open the doors, bring in a plane and then close the doors, all of the heated air in the space will escape while the doors are open. The system would have to reheat that space, and it would be a considerable amount of time to get the space comfortable for the workers. Floor-based radiant heating systems would experience a minor drop in temperature during the aircraft loading process, and the radiant slab would increase its output once the air got cold. The technicians working in that space may see their breath due to the cold air, but the radiant effects of the slab would be providing heat to them and the aircraft, and would keep everyone comfortable.

A SELF-REGULATING SYSTEM If a radiantly heated garage starts to overheat slightly because the outside temperature rises, the room air temperature becomes closer in value to the slab temperature, thus decreasing the temperature difference between the room and the floor surface. This, in turn, reduces the heat output of the radiant floor. The result is a self-regulating effect. The more the overheating, the less the slab releases heat to the room. The opposite is also true. If the space gets colder due to heat losses, such as an opened garage or warehouse door, the delta T between the air temperature and the floor temperature becomes greater, and the slab then releases more heat to the room. A high-radiant-output slab, like a commercial garage or hangar, would have less of a performance drop or increase from a 2°F room temperature change than a slab that was only supplying minimal radiant heating.

service them. What better place to have your heat source than right next to where you are working?

WARM

, UNDER THE VEHICLE Another advantage of a floor-based system is the effect of the warm floor for technicians who are under vehicles to

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Radiant floor systems are also great for quickly warming up the underside of vehicles and melting any snow and ice buildup that has been established while those vehicles were out on the road. I’ve talked to technicians who work in establishments with radiant floors and they love being able to pull a snowcovered vehicle into a bay at the end of their shift and arrive the next morning to work on a warm, dry vehicle that is not sitting in a pool of slush and water.

SAVE

THE

DAY WARNING: Using Aquatherm pipe does

not give you superhero powers, even though you may feel like it. Do not attempt to fly or stop trains. Seriously.

Here’s your chance to be everyone’s hero. What if you could install piping systems that were invulnerable to things like corrosion and pinhole leaks? What if your connections were faster and more reliable than anyone ever thought possible? And what if your systems helped save the planet, as well as time and money? Yeah, we think that would be super too. Visit us at Aquatherm.com and learn how you can unlock your powers with our heat-fused Polypropylene pressure pipe.

403.809.8707 www.aquatherm.com

aquatherm

change what’s possible

hydronics iq A Battle of the Rings Okay folks, the cold weather is here, but that doesn’t just bring heating systems to mind. In fact, all that ice and snow drives some Canadians indoors to… more ice and snow. Break out the brooms and let’s hit the curling rink for this edition’s hydronics IQ quiz. Our game is going to take you through 10 ends of play. The one with the most points at the end walks away with the hydronic tankard (feel free to create your own trophy) and bragging rights. Just please do everyone a favour and keep your beverages and your heating systems away from the ice, and try not to trip over the hog line. (That made sense to some of you, didn’t it?)

This year’s Brier is March 2-10, 2013 at Edmonton’s Rexall Place.

Answers can be found on page 62. 1. Pumps piped in series: a) b) c) d)

Theoretically double the flow rate, but not the head. Theoretically double the head, but not the flow rate. Theoretically reduce the flow rate, and increase the head. Theoretically reduce the head, and increase the flow rate.

2. A circulator pump in a closed system: a) b) c) d)

May be constructed of ferrous material. May not be constructed of non-ferrous material. Shall be constructed of non-ferrous material. Shall be constructed of ferrous material.

3. When pumps are piped in parallel, one pump will most likely pump backwards through the other one when: a) b) c) d)

DID YOU KNOW? Curling was officially added to the Olympic Games in 1998. It had been played at the 1924 Olympics, and was thrice a demonstration sport before being added to the official list of winter sports in 1998.

The Royal Montreal Curling Club, the oldest established sports club still active in North America, was established in 1807.

One pump is off. Both pumps are off. Both pumps are on. One pump has been installed in reverse. 5. Fin-tube baseboard heat emitters transfer heat into a room in what manner?

4. When sizing a circulator for a closed system, what are the calculations based on? a) b) c) d)

To move water through the total amount of piping. To move water through the longest loop of piping. To move water to the highest part of the system. To move water through the longest loop and highest part of the system.

Tiebreaker time!

Need to break a tie in the shop? Let’s play closest to the button. What’s the diameter of the outer ring on a curling sheet?

WHAT

Supplement

02.13

a) b) c) d)

Convection Conduction Radiation Forced-convection

6. How does a panel radiator’s heat output compare to the same length of fin-tube baseboard? a) b) c) d)

Higher Lower Equivalent Negligible difference

7. Which heat emitter responds to a call for heat the quickest? a) b) c) d)

10. What is used to take 120V line voltage down to 24V control voltage? a) b) c) d)

Fan-coil In-floor tubing system Panel radiators Fin-tube baseboard

8. When a plate heat exchanger is used to separate a dual-purpose water heater from an in-floor system, which of the following is not true with regards to installations downstream of the heat exchanger? a) b) c) d)

a) b) c) d)

So, are you a Lord of the Rings? 10 out of 10 correct – You win! Feel free to pick up the tab as a nice goodwill gesture.

All materials must be non-ferrous. An expansion tank must be installed. A pressure relief valve must be installed. A circulator pump must be installed.

9. Using a soil temperature of 40°F, an indoor air temperature of 67°F, and an insulation value of 6.7, what is the approximate heat loss through a 1,900 sq. ft. poured slab? 11,324 BTUH 10,475 BTUH 18,968 BTUH 14,060 BTUH

Relay switch End switch High limit Transformer

8 to 9 correct – A little more ice and you’d have hit the button for sure. 6 or 7 correct – You’re in the house. 5 or below – Try using the other end of the broom next time.

With thanks to Dave Hughes, Associate Chair (Special Projects) Pipe Trades Programs, School of Trades at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Warren Hyde, a Plumbing and Hydronics professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont. www.nait.ca • www.mohawkcollege.ca

The Perfect Choice for Today’s Demanding Homeowners Laars boilers are everything a modern boiler should be easy to use, easy on the environment, powerful and compact. Laars has a solution for any home’s space & domestic water heating needs with boiler sizes from 50 to 285 MBH and efficiencies of 85 to 95%.

Find out more at www.laars.com 95% AFUE Floor Standing Boiler

95% AFUE Wall Hung Combi Boiler & Water Heater

85% AFUE Floor Standing Boiler

866.690.0961

85% AFUE Floor standing Combi Boiler & Water Heater

Indirect Water Heaters

www.laars.com WHAT

Supplement

02.13

ROAD WARRIOR

By Jeb Roberts

hen it came time to choose a career, plumbing was barely a blip on Jamie Whitehead’s radar. “I started in the trade as a temporary job that was supposed to last three weeks,” says the Calgary native. “That job lasted until I moved to a different town three and a half years later, and I’m still going.” During his time in the trade, Jamie’s gone from pure plumbing to focusing on custom jobs that combine plumbing and hydronic systems with some unique applications. “We recently did a heating and cooling system for a large custom home renovation that included a chiller for cooling the house. And in the winter, the chiller is used for a 30’ by 50’ ice rink in the yard,” he says. So what’s his secret for breaking into the higher end of the market? “There’s no real trick to it,” he says. “Just educate the customer and deliver on your promise, and they’ll want to keep working with you.”

Photo: Shaun Robinson

Name: Jamie Whitehead Company: Cooper Plumbing & Heating Ltd. Job title: President Age: 38 In the mechanical industry since: 1993 Family: Wife (Jen) and five-year-old daughter (Chevelle) Pets: Two tuxedo cats (Bob and Dan)

Did you know?

Jamie has a twin brother who, according to him, looks absolutely nothing like him. W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Favourite tool in your toolbox: My Leatherman multi-tool Where did you go to trade school? Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Favourite thing about the job: I like the variety — I rarely do the same thing two days in a row. Time behind the wheel per day: I spend anywhere from an hour and a half to four hours a day on the road, putting in 75 to 300 kilometres. Service area: Calgary and the surrounding area. Any area you like to get dispatched to? There are no specific spots, but I do have some great customers that I always like to work for. Fondest memory on the job? In my first few years, I did quite a few water and sewer replacements. I often got to work on these with my dad, who owned an excavating business. It was great to work with him as two professionals, as opposed to working for him like I did when I was a kid. What radio station do you listen to during the day? I stick with my iPod. Favourite band: Social Distortion Best concert you ever attended? Pink Floyd’s The Division Bell tour in the early ‘90s. Favourite movie: GoodFellas Favourite magazine (aside from Mechanical Business): Anything related to old trucks or hot rods.

Favourite car: 1969 Chevelle Favourite place to hang out: My garage. Favourite outdoor activity: Camping Favourite local haunt for lunch: The Belmont Diner in Calgary. Favourite food: Whatever somebody else cooks for me. Favourite beverage: I need coffee in the morning or I don’t function, and who doesn’t like a cold beer? What do you like to do in your spare time? I work on projects in my garage or ride my motorcycle. Favourite business-related website: Kohler.ca — it’s one of the easiest websites for finding what you’re looking for. Favourite website to browse during spare time: There’s always something interesting for sale or a great old car to dream about on Kijiji. Biggest pet peeves: I can’t stand inconsiderate drivers. If you could be an animal, what would you be? My five year old just informed me that humans are animals! Favourite place to vacation: Who has the time?

W H A T

One place in the world you would like to visit: I would like to see the rest of Canada before I start thinking about the rest of the world. Farthest place you’ve travelled from home: I lived in Australia for a year when I was a kid, and I went to Thailand for my honeymoon. If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Henry Rollins If I were Prime Minister for a day, I would ... fire everybody and start over. My rule of thumb is ... a job worth doing is worth doing well. If I had $100,000 dollars to invest in my company, I would ... put it into new vehicles and tools. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an ... autobody technician. If I had a super power, it would be ... Superman’s strength. If I had tomorrow off work, I would spend the day ... with my daughter. The best advice somebody has given you is: If you don’t want to work harder, find a way to work smarter.

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Injection mixing Cost and efficiency The use of VS injection pumps can reduce installation costs and increase operating efficiency when the distribution system manifolds are located a long distance from the primary loop. Rather than mixing the water in the mechanical room and pumping the lower temperature water to the manifold, it may be more efficient to pump lower volumes of hightemperature water to the remotely located manifolds using the injection pump.

By Ken Tomihiro

PUMPING to meet low-temperature needs I

njection pump mixing is a temperature control strategy that has been employed since the 1960s. The term applies to any assembly in which heated fluid is pushed into a circulating distribution system directly by another pump .

The original systems simply cycled the injection pump on or off to deliver spurts of hot water into a constantly circulating distribution system. The longer the pump stays on, the warmer the distribution system gets. One of today’s most popular methods for injection mixing uses a variablespeed (VS) pump as the injection flow control device. The regulation of heat transfer is accomplished by varying the speed of the pump to provide optimal performance at all times.

For example, a manifold requiring 250,000 BTUH located 100 feet from the mechanical room would require a flow rate of about 25 gpm to supply the required heat. By using the injection system to carry much higher temperature fluid to the manifold, the design requirement could be satisfied by a flow rate of only six gpm and a reduction in pipe sizing from 2” to 3/4". Reducing both pipe and pump size can result in significant savings on material costs alone, and the concept can be used to supply multiple manifold stations for even greater savings.

DID YOU KNOW? Since it is necessary to inject enough hot water to bring the temperature a few degrees above the target temperature, the actual distribution system temperature tends to oscillate.

“Simple on/off injection systems create large and fast water fluctuations affecting comfort and equipment reliability,” says Greg Leupin of tekmar Controls. “In a variable-speed injection system, modulation of a common wet rotor circulator is available to automatically adjust the system water temperature to changing conditions.” One of key enablers of variable-speed mixing has been the development of micro-processor controls that provide high levels of accuracy, efficiency and system protection. Using these controls, VS systems can operate in a very narrow range of target temperatures that cannot normally be achieved with on-off injection systems.

Designing the system When the injection pump is turned off and the primary loop continues to circulate, there should not be any heat transfer from the boiler loop to the system loop. Here are some design and installation principles to properly isolate the primary and secondary loops and avoid that unwanted heat transfer. • Injection piping should be at least one pipe diameter smaller than boiler and system loops. • Use a maximum of four pipe diameters between the tees in the boiler and systems loops. • Allow for at least six pipe diameters of straight pipe on either side of the tees. • Install a minimum 12” drop in the injection feed piping to create a thermal trap. • Do not use flow check valves when using a VS injection pump.

Minimizing fluid temperature variation also reduces problems such as noticeable temperature continues on page 54

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

• To allow the controller to utilize the full range of the pump capacity, the installation of a flow balancing valve should allow the injection pump to operate at, or close to, full speed under design load conditions. 0 2 . 1 3

Jason Chamberlin, Technical Support Lead

Aaron Kirkpatrick, Designer

The Future Is Knowledge Uponor has always offered a wide range of technical know-how and industry knowledge that carries over to our mission of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Partnering with Professionals.â&#x20AC;? We strive to accomplish this every day in all facets of our business. Peers like Jason Chamberlin, Aaron Kirkpatrick and Robert Bean always share with us their candid views on how they believe the industry is taking shape. Their knowledge provides us insight into our market and the future direction of the industry. We know the future is knowledge. We believe in it so much that it is one of our core values. Staying relevant to our customers and partners allows us to provide Simply More. For more information on Jason, Aaron and Robert, scan the QR code or visit:

www.uponorpro.com/thefutureis @uponor_aaronk @uponor_jasonc @healthyheating Founding Sponsor

Robert Bean

continues from page 52

fluctuations in low mass systems or system stresses and noise due to excessive pipe contraction and expansion. “Variable-speed injection also works great on systems that may have a wider range of input temperatures, such as combinations of boilers, solar and geothermal heat sources,” adds Mike Miller of Uponor. “Variable injection mixing allows the heat sources to work seamlessly in the background while providing maximum comfort.” Many modern low-mass radiant systems also have multiple zones that can create large fluctuations in heating demand. A VS injection system will provide greater occupant comfort by responding two to four times faster than tempering or mixing v alves to the changing requirements in the distribution system. Energy-efficiency and system protection are other key benefits of v ariable-speed injection mixing. Sean Giberson of Taco (Canada) explains, “VS injection mixing controls can regulate the supply fluid temperature by simultaneously controlling both the boiler and the speed of the injection pump. Based on the outdoor air temperature, proper controls can achieve maximum efficiency by continuously adjusting the boiler differential to optimize boiler firing cycles and prevent large fluid temperature swings.” The addition of a boiler sensor also allows the system to adjust the pump speed if the temperature of the fluid returning to the boiler falls below the minimum required to prevent condensation.

The Evolution of High Efﬁciency Condensing Boilers s )NNOVATIVE $ESIGN s %NGINEERING %LEGANCE

SIZING THE PUMP 1. Determine the design values of the boiler supply temp (Tb) and the system supply temp (Ts). 2. Determine system flow rate and system loop temperature drop (ΔT). • System Flow Rate (gpm) = Design Heating Load (BTUH)/(500 x ΔT) • ΔT = Design Heating Load/ 500 x Sys tem Flow Rate 3. Calculate Tb – Ts and look up Flow Ratio from established charts (see Chart 1). 4. Use the formula: Design Injection Flow Rate = System Flow Rate x Flow Ratio 5. Reference manufacturer specifications to determine appropriate pump model in conjunction with flow balancing valve. It is NOT recommended to oversize the injection pump.

s %FlCIENT 0ERFORMANCE

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

The Evolution of High EfďŹ ciency Condensing Boilers High efďŹ ciency stainless steel boiler Models from 46,000 to 151,000 BTU/Hr U/Hr Available in a combi version Fully modulating with 5:1 turndown Advanced outdoor reset control Low NOx operation Venting to 150' 2" venting on all models up to 100'

HYDRONIC

In-line mounted pump

Wood-fired boiler

Available for pipe sizes from 1” to 3” and with motor sizes from one-quarter to three horsepower at 1,750 rpm, Bell & Gossett’s Series 60 is an in-line mounted pump with flow capacity up to 200 gpm and head up to 55 feet. The pump is available in bronze-fitted or all-bronze construction, and the design includes a precision-crafted bearing system and permanently lubricated motor.

www. xylemappliedwater.com

Equipped with a triple-pass heat exchanger and modulating output control with a 4:1 turndown ratio, Viessmann’s Pyrot is a rotary combustion wood-fired boiler with heating inputs of 512,000 to 1,843,000 BTUH and thermal efficiencies of up to 85%. Built for wood fuels with a maximum water content of 35%, the unit is designed to keep emission levels of CO to fewer than 10 ppm, NOx to fewer than 75 ppm, and dust particles to fewer than 0.06 pounds per MMBTU.

www. viessmann.ca

Boiler fill fitting The RBFF residential boiler fill fitting from Watts is designed to comply with boiler manufacturers’ piping requirements for expansion tanks and water-pressure regulator valves in closed-loop hot water heating systems. It features a drain port with an integral ball valve, a 0-to-30-psi pressure gauge and a three-way ball valve design that eliminates the need for up to twelve 1/2” fittings.

www. wattscanada.ca

Universal boiler control

W H A T

Featuring temperature and low-water cutoff control, Beckett’s AquaSmart is a universal boiler control designed for use with residential and light commercial boiler systems. The control comes equipped with a backlit LCD display and touchpad, memory storage for troubleshooting, freeze-up resistance and an optional dynamic temperature reset. The unit has an operating temperature of -20 to 65°C.

Gas-fired boiler

www. beckettcanada.ca

www. weil-mclain.ca

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

The Ultra Series 3-UE from Weil-McLain is a gas-fired boiler with heating inputs of 80,000 to 399,000 BTUH. The unit, which is designed to operate in low-temperature condensing applications, has a cast aluminum heat exchanger, variablespeed motor, stainless-steel burner and a negative-regulated gas valve.

TOOL TIPS

Avoiding shocking situations

S Wall-hung boiler Noritz’s NH199-DV boiler is a wall-hung, direct-vent unit with inputs up to 199,900 BTUH. It has a thermal efficiency of 83%, and is available in natural gas or propane models. The unit features dual temperature controls and an automatically adjusting, fully modulating burner.

www. noritz.com

Hydronic air vent Caleffi’s Minical automatic air vent is designed to remove air that accumulates in hydronic systems. The vent has a maximum purging capacity of 1.6 cubic feet per minute, and is available with 1/8" NPT male connections.

www. caleffi.com

Combined mechanical system The Q Premier Boiler System by Rinnai is a single appliance designed to provide residential heating and domestic hot water heating. The boiler features a 24gallon hot-water storage vessel and has a maximum input of 130,000 BTUH. It is offered in floor-standing and wall-mounted models.

www. rinnai.ca

ometimes it is the little things that are the most important, and a two-second step can make a lifeor-death difference. Take for instance voltage test meters. They are small, they are inexpensive, and they can save your life. How many times have you been in a basement or mechanical room with wires hanging down? Working as though they have been de-powered can be a dangerous assumption, especially when a quick check with a pen-sized tool can offer certainty that the power is off. A quick sweep or touch of the tester will produce a visual indication, as well as an audible beep to alert you if power is detected. A non-contact voltage detector will signal that current is present when it is close to an electric field. Contact detectors need to come in direct contact with a wire or outlet to work properly. As with any device designed for use with electricity, these devices will come with a CAT rating. CATIII is rated for high voltage but inside work in a building; CAT IV is for work outside with high voltage transformers and other such equipment. Worth doubling up The higher the rating, the These tools tend to be replaced more protection the device before the sensor board gives will offer, and never use a out. They are small and can get tool to test for voltage on a misplaced (like that screwdriver wire that is beyond its rating that’s never where you left it capacity. last), but they are an inexpensive safety measure. It doesn’t hurt to Remember, when working have a few around, including with or testing any electrical one for the shirt pocket, and one field or equipment, be sure in every toolbox. to wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com. Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and merchandise!

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Thermally activated slabs HOW IT WORKS PEX pipe is embedded within the c oncrete layers of a building, creating a network of pipes snaking through different zones, levels and rooms. All come back to a central manifold where warm or cold water is passed through them to heat the concrete slab or cool it down. Unlike a conventional radiant slab, insulation is not used between levels of the building and suspended ceilings are removed, creating an exposed concrete floor and ceiling. This can effectively create a radiant surface both above and below while only requiring one layer of PEX circuits per slab, usually spaced between six and 12” on-centre. “This type of system includes all the basics of a uni-directional, conventional in-slab radiant floor heating system configuration,” explains Rehau Academy manager Lance MacNevin. “By facilitating

Toronto YWCA

continues on page 61

TARGETS HVAC EFFICIENCY By Heather Hudson

ight budgets, increasingly strict environmental regulations and an appetite for innovation have created the perfect conditions for a fresh look at heating and cooling systems. If you haven’t yet worked with thermally activated slabs, there’s a good chance you will in the near future.

The YWCA Elm Centre in downtown Toronto, is an $80 million, 302-unit affordable housing complex for women and their families. Completed in late 2011, and officially opened in May of last year, it spans an entire city block and includes five-, 10- and 17-storey residential towers, a restaurant, boutique, offices and more.

Though radiant heating has gained traction in North America in recent years, thermally activated slabs are a fairly new phenomenon here, despite decades of uptake across Europe. Lauded for its energy efficiency and low maintenance post-installation, it’s a technology that more and more builders are considering, including the team that built the YWCA’s Elm Centre in Toronto.

The complex features a multi-stage heat recovery system and a geothermal water-to-water heat pump system integrated with a thermally activated slab radiant heating and cooling system. It’s designed to deliver 3 million BTUH and is fed by a geothermal well field of 90 500-foot deep vertical boreholes located under the parking gar age structure. continues on page 60

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

When you have a website named

www.theballvalve.com you'd better be good.

We are. Jomar Valve s T-100NE is the best ball valve on the market. It carries more certiﬁcations than any other valve in the industry. It features a heavy forged brass body pattern, corrosion resistant Dacromet® steel handle, high temperature Hostaﬂon® seats, ecologically TEA-coated ball, and a triple stem seal allowing for the highest cycle test results in the industry and a Life-time warranty against leakage. All of these make the T-100NE a contractor preference for any application.

Available in Canada through:

www.neovalves.com 1-888-515-8885

www.jomarvalve.com

continues from page 58

According to Ryan Westlund of Rehau, the thermally activated slab system was chosen because it is designed to reduce carbon emissions by 45 per cent per year versus a more traditional HVAC system. Other benefits include the increased usable floor space and, with all mechanical equipment housed outside the units, considerably less maintenance costs. The building was designed to concentrate all the major pipes and ancillary ductwork of the other systems into the structure’s core, which allowed for maximum exposure of each slab’s ceiling and floor surface. The thermally activated slab system designed for Elm Centre was installed in a total of 212,000 square feet (20,000 m 2) of floor area throughout each level of all three towers. A total of 236,000 feet (72,000 m) of 1/2" O2 barrier PEX pipe was used throughout the building, embedded in the center of each of the suspended eight-inch concrete slabs using an efficient pipe layout pattern. Manifolds were installed in the corridor on every other floor of each building, inside mechanical cabinets that also house the system’s pumps and mixing valves. The manifolds’ circuit control valves allow for precise flow balancing to each circuit to match the zone’s heat load calculations, while low-voltage valve actuators provide electric flow control to each of the residential suites. To heat and chill the water circulating throughout the radiant heating and cooling system’s piping configuration, a 25 per cent antifreeze fluid is fed from the w ater-towater geothermal system’s braised plate stainless steel heat exchangers located in each mechanical cabinet.

Finding savings with thermally activated slabs With the success of projects like the YWCA, Rehau’s Ryan Westlund expects more engineers, architects and builders will consider hydronic radiant systems featuring thermally activated slab designs. “The big advantage that usually gets most engineers and architects excited are the energy savings on projects. We’ve seen upwards of almost 50 per cent savings when lumped with a geothermal system, and the payback is almost immediate on many projects,” he says. In addition to the appealing payback savings to the client, installing contractor Ramesh Jain says he typically saves 15 to 18 per cent in labour costs when installing thermally activated heating system compared to more conventional systems, and he reports that he sees fewer warranty calls after the fact. “If it is designed properly with the proper layout of the building, the system should work for the total life cycle of the building. I can add another two per cent savings on warranty calls,” he says. Westlund says contractors who are inexperienced working with heating and cooling systems need not be afraid to jump in and try out the technology. Most manufacturers offer training and support. “It’s important to understand it isn’t magic or voodoo. Controls have gotten to the point now where we’re able to do phenomenal things with buildings. The controls are out there to be able to do just about whatever you want with a radiant system right now.”

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

The YWCA Elm Centre • Built to a LEED Silver standard • Incorporates geothermal in-slab radiant heating and cooling • One of the largest residential applications of geothermal technology in North America • Estimated greenhouse gas emission savings of 415 tonnes per year • YWCA Toronto is the largest provider of women-focused housing options in Canada, and the new YWCA Elm Centre more than doubles the agency’s permanent housing capacity.

con’t from page 58

HOW IT WORKS the circulation of heated or cooled fluid through pipes embedded within the slab, and removing any added thermal resistance from plenum spaces associated with suspended ceilings, one can effectively create a radiant surface both above and below.” The design of the heating system makes use of the natural buoyancy of warm air, says Ryan Westlund, systems engineering specialist for Rehau. “You’ve got a greater system capacity or heat flux from a warm surface to the conditioned space measured in BTUH per square foot, or watts per square metre. And the reverse is true for radiant cooling ceiling systems, where embedding the pipe to be used as a cooled ceiling surface yields an approximate 60 per cent advantage in heat transfer coefficient, compared to a chilled floor surface system. A thermally activated slab inherently uses both systems, maximizing the output of the c eilings and floors in either mode.” Multi-storey office and residential buildings with similar loads from floor to floor are ideal applications for thermally activated slabs. “The key is to just carry the core loads of the building. You’re not bringing 100 per cent of the heating or cooling with the system,” said Westlund.

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

HYDRONIC Residential condensing boiler With efficiencies of 90% AFUE and 5:1 turndown, the Mascot II from Laars is a condensing boiler with heating inputs of up to 125,000 BTUH. The unit features a sealed combustion chamber, pre-mix stainless steel burner and stainless steel heat exchanger with welded construction. It also features a built-in condensate trap and pan, and NOx emissions of 10 ppm.

www. laars.com

Smartphone pump control Designed to work with a variety of the company’s pumps and control systems, the Grundfos GO Remote is a combined hardware-and-app smartphone interface that allows users to monitor, configure and control the performance of a system. The device is available in the form of hardware attachments with corresponding apps for iPhone and Android devices, or as a complete boxed product that includes an iPod.

www. grundfos.ca

Differential pressure controller Victaulic’s TA series 793 Differential Pressure Controller is designed to stabilize differential pressures across control valves. Each balancing module is pressure independent from the rest of the system, and each branch is balanced independently.

www. victaulic.com

Outdoor reset control The CPU-0500 outdoor reset control from HBX Control Systems is a standalone control unit featuring single-dial operation and a multi-colour, backlit display. It operates with up to two on/off boilers or a single modulating boiler, and can incorporate on-board DWH. It can also function as a standalone pump sequencer.

www. hbxcontrols.com

Hydronic IQ (from page 48) Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-A, 4-B, 5-A, 6-B, 7-A, 8-A, 9-B, 10-D, Tiebreaker: 12 feet

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Near-boiler piping kit Webstone’s Hydro-Core Flex line is a series of nearboiler piping kits for wall-hung boilers. Each kit comes equipped with a double ball drain manifold and flexible stainless steel lines that are outfitted with connections for up to 30 different boiler models from 11 manufacturers.

www. webstonevalves.com

System override switch Compatible with all tekmarNet thermostats, Tekmar’s tN4 User Switch 479 is a pre-programmed, three-button switch designed to let users override system temperature setpoints. A single button lets users switch thermostats and boiler controls to occupied, unoccupied or away temperature settings to save energy when a building is not in use.

www. tekmarcontrols.com

Hydronic balancing valve

Engineers and architects in countries around the world look to Runtal for innovative heating solutions. From health care to high-rise and everything in-between, Runtal is the leader in heating efficiency, durability, comfort and style.

Designed for hydronic heating applications, Dahl’s Mini-Ball balancing valves feature a compact design with self-lubricating seals. They have a maximum working pressure of 250 psi at 250°F, and are available with loose-key operation for tamper-resistant applications.

www. dahlvalve.com

Renewable radiator The Vertiga radiator from Jaga Climate Systems is available in three different panel designs, including the Kirei panel, which has an exterior sheath made from entirely renewable components. The units are designed for use with lowwater-temperature heating systems, and they come equipped with two dynamic lateral air heat exchangers featuring copper tubes and aluminum fins.

www. jaga-canada.com

And with engineering assistance just a click or phone call away, you can rest assured that form matches function.

Make it extraordinary. Make it Runtal. 1-888-829-4901

Condensing boiler Fulton’s Pulse condensing boiler offers inputs ranging from 300,000 to 2 million BTUH. The unit’s pulse combustion occurs through a series of positive and negative pressures that draw in additional gas and air as required. This self-aspirating design prevents the need for a blower motor and decreases venting diameter requirements.

www. fulton.com

runtalnorthamerica.com W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

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

Boost your marketing; not your budget

s the economic downturn transition slump new normal continues into another year, it seems many business owners have at last agreed on one of the core tenets of marketing in a slow economy: Do more, not less. Rather than cut their marketing effort as one of the few “soft” budget items left, clients I’m

working with are motivated to ramp up their sales and marketing efforts to remind the market that they are resilient and reliable at a time when competitors may be proving the opposite. The good news is that does not automatically mean spending more money than what’s in their existing budgets. It’s a matter of investing that other valuable business commodity: Time.

What to do with your time This year, consider building a new kind of marketing plan that looks at both dollars and hours. Instead of just deciding how to spend $50,000, also look at how to spend 50 or 100 hours on activities. Here are a few to consider:

Finding time Investing more human capital in marketing could mean spreading some work into different departments – or working even longer hours than we already do. At my firm, we’ve involved employees in our marketing who don’t normally do those things. As well, we’ve been on an efficiency bandwagon across the organization to free up time for more marketing-related efforts. It’s surprising where little bits of time can be found when we put our minds to it.

1 2 3 4

Re-build customer relationships. Too often, satisfied customers sit dormant as untapped marketing gold. Connect with these quiet-phase customers by phone or in person to build a case study you can use online and in sales appointments.

Build a strategic social media presence. We’ve touched on this in previous columns of course. If you haven’t jumped in, commit just one hour per week to maintaining and mining a LinkedIn profile, Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Mine your files. I know a business that has about a dozen file boxes in a corner. They’re filled with old warranty forms dating back 10 years. We started calling them boxes of money. Once properly databased, they represent a huge opportunity to reach out directly to these customers. Volunteer and give back. Last month we evaluated two years of our agency’s sales activity to better understand the return on our investment. The time we spent on community profile produced 10 times the business that Requests for Proposals or direct mail was producing. Attend trade or local networking events. Yes, these grip ‘n grin free seminars and after-work events hosted by the local chamber of commerce, service club or other business group can seem like a colossal waste of time. Yes, they are usually the same circle of people. Yes, the seminars frequently only reiterate what you knew. And yes, just being there makes a difference. Remember the old adage that it takes seven marketing touches to be top-of-mind in the market? That’s seven events before people remember your name.

Time, in action Through its “Extreme Comfort Reno” program, Bryant dealers are proving that volunteering and community support is good for the soul, and the brand. Stratford’s Comfort First realized some great media profile when employees donated the time to retrofit a local charity.

W H A T

S u p p l e m e n t

0 2 . 1 3

Share your knowledge. This column is about the best example I can give to wrap up the theme. It’s a time commitment, to be sure (I’m writing this one early on a Sunday at the dining room table in sweat pants while the family snores) but the profile has led to countless new business opportunities, increased profile and new friendships.

The Murelle HE provides domestic hot water on demand and central heating in one compact unit. Wall hung for the ultimate in space efficiency, this fully modulating unit comes complete with built-in circulator, expansion tank and air eliminator and is up to 97% (condensing) efficient.

Known worldwide as “The Intelligent Combi”, the Murelle HE is multi-zone capable, features a solar-ready PCB board and hosts a stainless steel heat exchanger covered by a 10-year warranty. PVC vent pipe approved, this contractor-friendly combi boiler is A.S.M.E and Energy Star certified.

Call us today, or visit us online, for more information.

Murelle HE

E IN ITA L Y

The Intelligent Combi

North American Distribution by: S U P P L Y

L T D.

101 Sharer Road, Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 8Z3 Tel: (905) 265-1527 Toll Free 1.877.836.7772 Fax: (905) 265-9739 www.thermalhydronics.com

NORTH

AMERICA

w w w. s i m e n o r t h a m e r i c a . c o m

DISTRI BUTOR OPPORTU N ITI ES AVAI LABLE!

A commercial conundrum

Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer. He handles the sales territory from the Niagara region to the Greater Toronto Area for Jess-Don Dunford, a manufacturers’ rep in Ontario. He can be reached at jhouse@jessdondunford.com.

Okay, this time out you’re playing with a small commercial project that your company just landed. The engineer called for a 500,000 BTUH condensing modulating boiler with a 5:1 turn down ratio; five zones, each with a 60,000 BTUH air handler; and one zone with a commercial DHW tank for a busy restaurant kitchen. Despite limited mechanical room space and access, you get the equipment installed and up and running. 1. After looking at the job and realizing the boiler is oversized. You get the engineer to agree to a buffer tank to minimize short cycling of the boiler. Why? A) The five zones of air handlers plus the 250,000 BTUH DHW load amounts to 550,000 BTUH, so there should be no issue. B) If only one air handler zone calls, the system will fire at less than the boiler’s minimum firing rate of 100,000 BTUH, so short cycling will occur. C) Most of the load is for DHW, so it is not really required, however with priority DHW the heating zones may not see enough heat when the restaurant is busy. D) The high limit for the air handler zones is only 45,000 BTUH on design conditions, but the 60,000 BTUH model was the smallest you could get. 2. Fill in the blank: The connections for the air handlers are only 1/2" supply and return. You set up a manifold off the buffer tank and run ___ lines to and from the units with a delta-T of 15°F. A) 1/2" B) 3/4" C) 1” D) 1-1/4” 3. To save some energy and still have the best comfort and efficiency, and the lowest return water temperatures back to the buffer tank no matter the outdoor conditions, you could use:

Answer and win! HAVE SAW, WILL TRAVEL! Just send us your answer key to this month’s puzzle by March 8, and you could be sporting a Milwaukee M12 Cordless Sub-compact Band Saw, courtesy of Milwaukee Electric Tool. Send your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com and the M12 saw could be yours.

A) A new ECM motor variable delta-P circulator and five zone valves. B) A new ECM motor variable speed delta-T circulator and five zones valves. C) A PSC motor variable speed delta-T circulator and five zone valves. D) A standard three-speed circulator would work best on high speed, just like all the ones you have installed before. 4. After installation, you find that the DHW doesn’t seem to be giving the performance the spec sheets called for. The boiler circulator is a high head (30’) and high flow (50 gpm) unit, but the DHW circulator is a high flow (25 gpm), low head (12’) unit. The boiler is set up with the boiler circulator running on a call for heat and/or DHW. How can you change the piping arrangement to protect the boiler, minimize pump differential conflict, and minimize long priority DHW calls? A) There is nothing you can do, this should work fine. B) Change the DHW circulator to the same size as the boiler circulator. C) You could make it the first zone off after the piping comes out of the buffer tank. D) Put in close-coupled Ts, or a Twin Tee, on the supply line before the buffer tank.

Looking for the answers? The answer key for the November/December quiz is: 1-A, 2-D, 3-B, 4-C

Step right up and win a Prize! Just like Earl Leger of E. Leger Plumbing & Heating Ltd. in St. Andrews West, Ont. Earl won the Milwaukee M12 Cordless Sub-compact Band Saw up for grabs last issue, and it is just like the one we’ll be handing out in early March. So get those answers in, and pick up the next edition of Mechanical Business. for the next installment of Find the Fix!

If you need the quiz, check it out in our issue archive at www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

Mechanical

Business

02.13

COVER STORY By Adam Freill

Catch judges Bryan Baeumler, Scott McGillivray and Paul Lafrance, as well as host Jenn Robertson, on the second season of Canada’s Handyman Challenge, Tuesday nights on HGTV Canada.

hether it’s a brother-in-law, a cousin or just a friend, everyone knows someone who thinks they know more than they do. When it comes to construction, these are the guys who blast through their limits, never reading instructions, not asking for help, and refusing to call in professional trades despite the pleas of their significant others who can envision the disasters they will leave in their wake.

Photos: Courtesy of HGTV Canada

Canada’s Handyman Challenge is not about them – or at least that’s the hopes of the show’s celebrity judges, Bryan Baeumler (Leave It To Bryan), Scott McGillivray (Income Property) and Paul Lafrance (Decked Out).

Currently in the midst of season two of HGTV Canada’s top series of 2012, the judges of Canada ’s Handyman Challenge are looking for the top amateur handyman in the nation – someone who can balance the skills necessar y to conceptualize and safely build a project, all while under a spotlight and under the gun of a countdo wn timer. “There’s nobody certified, and there’s nobody licensed here. We are looking for the best amateur out there. The

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

person with all the skills, but isn’t necessarily in the business. Who has it naturally, was born with it, and has it in their blood,” explains McGillivray. “There will be people that watch this season who will write in and say, ‘I would have done better than that person, and I would have performed better, and I could have won this thing.’ We even had people show up who had made those claims before. They are not in the top four. None of them,” laughs Baeumler. “The thing is, we push these guys with such a time crunch. We are on top of them, constantly. There’s cameras surrounding them. There’s lights. That tic-toc they hear non-stop…” “It’s pressure,” injects Lafrance. “So there’s a ton of pressure, and we’re not expecting a perfect product in two hours,” continues Baeumler, pointing to himself and his fellow judges and adding, “I don’t think any of us would throw out the perfect product at the end of the time w e are given. We are putting this pressure on to see what these guys can do under that pressure. It really has to be an adaptable person – we are looking for MacGyver.”

Rising to the challenge of plumbing While the goal of the show is not to tread into the realm of trades professionals, many of the contestants will find themselves working on plumbing projects at their own homes, so the judges wanted to test for the basics. “We wanted to see if they had an understanding of at least the exposed parts of a plumbing system, under a sink,” says McGillivray. To test this, the show included a challenge with a double sink and a dishwasher. “We put a pile of proper pieces, everything cut-tolength, we had the proper fittings, and we threw in a bunch of inch-and-a-quarter stuff, some rubber connections just to see what would happen,” explains Baeumler. “I would say that 50 per cent had a good basic understanding of water flow, venting, the proper placement of things – where to put a proper P-trap, that sort of thing. But we also had some that were just lost.” “If you don’t know what you are doing and you are messing around with water, you can destroy your house in a heartbeat,” adds Lafrance. “Particularly with plumbing, it is absolutely vital that your knowledge is not just slapdash.”

A different type of outdoor plumbing As host of Decked Out, judge Paul Lafrance is perhaps better known for his deck projects, but he brings a full slate of construction experience to the table, and lately more and more of his projects have been merging plumbing systems with his backyard masterpieces. “Outdoor kitchens are something that are following suit to the basic revolution of people moving into their backyards and treating that as their cottage, or as their escape,” he reports, adding that these can range from high-end projects with prep sinks and hot and cold running water, to more basic setups with cold water only. “People are really catching on to doing things in the outdoors that are out of the box,” he says. “People look at it and say, ‘I didn’t realize that you could do that.’ But you can do anything. Most things can be done, it’s just a question of the engineering and the budget.”

Oopsies! Mistakes happen on jobsites, and the judges of Canada’s Handyman Challenge have come across their fair share of them over the years, and they were willing to dish on some that made them shake their heads. Paul Lafrance: On the Decked Out episode that we are filming right now, my client was telling me about hooking up his toilet upstairs, and disconnecting his lead line into his toilet. He went away for the weekend, realized he didn’t reconnect it properly, came back and his whole house was destroyed. There was drywall falling from the ceiling, the whole place was destroyed. They had to do a ninemonth renovation. And in the same conversation saying that he thought he could do really well on Canada’s Handyman Challenge. Scott McGillivray: I cursed whoever did the HVAC in my house. I went through four rolls of foil tape before I finished my basement because for every connection, instead of using a new connection t hat was all perforated and ready to go, he just cut a slice up the back, folded it and jammed it in. So up the back of every connection is a big V. [Bryan Baeumler laughingly suggested, “That’s passive radiant heating.”]

Bryan Baeumler: One of the best things, inspection-wise, is to crank the heat in the house and let it go for about a half an hour, and then go in there with a thermal gun. You get to see if the ducts are leaking; you’ll see if there are air returns that are covered, because you’ll see them through the wall as they are sucking heat from inside the cavity.

Contestants full of surprises It can be tough to judge a book by its cover, and a handyman from his tool belt. “It has been an amazing journey to see the guys you think are going to excel fall completely on their face, and then the underdogs who you think are not going to last at all, who you think are going to be gone tomorrow, and then the next day, but they just keep hanging on and surviving,” says Lafrance. “It is really hard to predict who is going to come out on top because every challenge is so different, and tests a different skill set. We are constantly surprised by who we are sending home and who comes out on t op.” “There’s always surprises,” agrees Baeumler. “I think with this group of people, you certainly can’t judge a person’s hands-on ability just by looking at them. We’ve had some very creative, artistic challenges built, and some mechanical things.”

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada 1

MCAC meets up in Maui

More than 400 members of MCAC, special guests and family members made their way to the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort in Lahaina, Hawaii in November to celebrate another successful year in the mechanical sector. While there was plenty of sun, sand and fun, the association also found time to ensure that attendees were presented with business educational sessions, the annual general meeting, and the annual awards breakfast, featuring none other than James “Surf Daddy” Derksen. Next year the event returns to Canadian soil, landing at the Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel from September 25 to 28. mcac.ca

1. Tania Johnston and Angie Taing at the registration desk. 2. Charles and Karla Mann

of Watts take in some music and entertainment during the “Hang Ten” Beach Bash. 3. Fire dancing at the Drums of the Pacific Lu’au. 4. Gaetan and Carol Beaulieu, and Trish McKeagan enjoy a drink on the beach during the official welcome to Maui. 5. MCAC president Richard McKeagan. 6. Surf’s up for Jada Munro, and Emily and Tyler Marshall. 7. Enjoying the catamaran tour are Flo Bartoli, Emily Marshall, Tyler Marshall and John Fornari. 8. Bruce Laing of Dobbin Sales talks with Scott Munro, immediate pastchairman of the Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada and CEO of Cofley Adelt. 9. Keynote speaker and global adventurer Jeff Salz. 10. Perry Daneshgari talks about communication needs on jobsites. 11. Tim and Theresa Meadows (Victaulic). 12. MCAC chairman Brad Diggens welcomes guests and delegates to Maui. 13. James Morrison and his girlfriend Krystal Kohen. 14. James “Surf Daddy” Derksen prepares to host the annual awards breakfast broadcast.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

READY WHEN YOU ARE. We’re committed to providing innovative solutions that can help you get the job done. That’s why Delta allows you to order and install a variety of electronic faucet roughs and trims separately. Our pre-assembled roughs are pre-plumbed and factorytested to ensure quality and help save you installation time and hassle. And the trims can be ordered when you’re ready for them – no more worrying about storing or misplacing them during the project. For more information, visit deltacommercialfaucets.ca or specselect.com.

590T1150

Pre-Plumbed Control Box Sensor, controller, power supply and solenoid shown are sold separately as part of trim kits.

HVAC By Ian McTeer

WHEN THERE’S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

magine a gas furnace having the nerve to break down while an entire family, including relatives from “over home,” gathers to celebrate the holiday season. Of course, Murphy’s Law dictates that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and two corollaries emphasize the seriousness of the situation: 1, it will happen at the most inopportune time; and 2, left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse . Many times I have seen families huddled around fireplaces or electric heaters, and more than once I’ve seen basements full of water caused by frozen pipes bursting. An experienced HVAC contractor should have a solid sales plan for dealing with mid-season catastrophic furnace failures. The plan should focus on the customer’ s crisis – and you need to take care of minor things like protecting flooring, wearing booties, shoveling snow if necessary, providing temporary heaters, working carefully in a house full of kids and pets, and ensuring your staff retains a sense of composure during a trying time. There is no doubt that the prime mission of the HV AC contractor in such cases is to restore heating system oper ation as soon as possible. Unfortunately, that often leads to no time for a needs analysis; no time for up-selling; and no time for system repairs to improve efficiency. It turns into, “Just get the heat back on, NOW! And for the cheapest, rock bottom price to boot.” continues on page 74

DON’T OVERLOOK THE COOLING SYSTEM Existing evaporator coils must be inspected for proper installation, cleanliness and serviceability. Yes, this may also be the time to replace the cooling system too. Since the evaporator coil is a large pressure drop accessory, it may well be the root cause of the furnace failure, so fix it now. Build a proper plenum to suit the existing coil. Elbow plenums must not be re-used. It may be necessary to remove the system charge in order to re-install the coil properly – use pier cing valves on the line set so that refrigerant recovery can be done inside. Better yet, install a matching cased coil on the ne w furnace whenever practical. The condenser may be an antique, so there’s no time like the present to sell a new one. If the outdoor unit is t o be replaced, I suggest completing the outdoor unit installation in the spring when a proper dehydration and evacuation of the refrigerant circuit can be done.

GETTING THE INSTALLATION RIGHT There is nothing more important than ensuring the new furnace is working properly before you leave the home. Gas pressure must be set up for first and second stage. Modulating furnaces have specific requirements for gas pressure, and manufacturer’s instructions must be followed accordingly. In a no-heat emergency situation, the house will likely be cold enough to encourage the new furnace to run a long cycle in second stage or at 100 per cent input . Be sure to check the temperature rise and compare your reading with the manufacturer’s blower chart after a minimum of 15 minutes operation. The blower chart may indicate an exact temperature rise at a specific total external static pressure and may also provide total motor watts. Your installation should conform to the manufacturer’s chart; otherwise the new furnace will, sooner or later, run afoul of the problem that killed the original unit.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

THERMO MANUFACTURING EXCLUSIVE

THERMO EQUIPMENT PAD THE LIGHTEST AND MOST DURABLE EQUIPMENT PAD ON THE MARKET PAT. PENDING

NEW PRODUCT

THERMO EQUIPMENT PAD is a plastic pad designed as a mounting base for HVAC and pool equipment. Put a professional ﬁnish on air conditioning installation with an easy-to-install plastic pad that beautiﬁes exteriors and protects your condensing or outdoor heat pump unit. Our rugged pad design provides a patented structural technology for optimum support. The Thermo Equipment Pad is blow molded from polyethylene, resulting in a pad that is lightweight, but not too light. A classic, clean appearance, which is enhanced by rounded edges and a concrete gray color. Each pad is molded with its size in raised letters on the side.

2”

NEW PATENTED DESIGN - INSIDE AIR CUSHION REDUCES VIBRATION NOISES

FEATURES & BENEFITS • Incredibly Lightweight & Textured Finish • Patented Design made of Durable Polyethylene in cured cement color • Easy to Install on any substrate • Stacks on pallet for easy transportation and allows for less space and more stock • Green Product. Made with Recycled Material • Won’t Crack like Concrete • UV Protected & Color all the Way Through

AVAILABLE SIZES

AVAILABLE IN

& ”

THICKNESS

3”

PRODUCT

ORDER #

SIZE

PRODUCT

ORDER #

SIZE

EQUIPMENT PAD

21836

18 x 36 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

31836

18 x 36 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

22424

24 x 24 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

32424

24 x 24 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

22436

24 x 36 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

32436

24 x 36 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

23030

30 x 30 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

33030

30 x 30 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

23333

33 x 33 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

33333

33 x 33 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

23636

36 x 36 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

33636

36 x 36 x 3

EQUIPMENT PAD

23648

36 x 48 x 2

EQUIPMENT PAD

33648

36 x 48 x 3

Made with Recycled Materials

3709 Columbus Road NE | Canton, OH 44705 U.S. & Canada Phone Toll Free: (888) 678-3709 | U.S. & Canada Fax Toll Free: (888) 678-8711 CERTIFIED TO ISO 9001 www.ThermoPan.com

HVAC

continues from page 72

That may be the customer’s attitude, but the HVAC contractor must not allow the customer’s crisis to overshadow the need for a total heating system inspection and analysis. There is no time like the present to be sure the customer gets the best possible system, even though repairs may take an extr a day or two under punishing conditions. Consider the facts: Why did the unit break down? Is it 20 years old or more? Then maybe a modern high-efficiency gas furnace sized properly will solve the crisis in one day. What if the existing unit is less than 15 years old? What if the furnace has been replaced several times in the past 15 years?

NEEDS ANALYSIS Even though it's 10⁰C in the house with seven electric heaters running full time, it’s wise to ask the customer if the heating system actually provided comfort when it did work. Are there any cold areas? Is the system noisy? Did the furnace start and stop constantly? A recent study done by the National Comfort Institute (NCI) found that 32 per cent of the 1,000 sy stems surveyed needed duct renovation to improve performance to expected levels.

Perhaps the homeowner has never performed any preventative maintenance nor had the unit professionally serviced. Remember, Murphy says things left to themselves tend to go from bad to worse. You can fix that problem by offering a suitable maintenance program. Other than lack of maintenance, a furnace that cracks heat exchangers or burns out components like dr aft inducers and fan motors on a regular basis is unhappy with its home . You need to find out what’s wrong with the heating system and correct the problem for good.

JOIN, LEARN

Proﬁt

We have the most comprehensive resources available in Canada... all helping you to work smarter, faster and more profitably.

• Servicing all hydronic professionals • • Standards, codes and regulatory compliance information • • Training and skills development programs • • Supporting consumer awareness programs including Beautiful Heat •

JOIN, LEARN, PROFIT

Call Ken Tomihiro at 1-888-275-2474 www.canadianhydronics.ca k.tomihiro@ciph.com 74

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

HVAC A noisy system often means high velocity. What little air the system can actually move is travelling at a high rate of speed. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the customer canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sleep at night. Put that problem to bed by improving the system air handling capabilities. Does the system need more return air, larger trunk ducts, and aerodynamic fittings? Now is the time to improve upon a bad design or fix a poorly installed system once and for all. A customer may come up with some objections to your designs, chief among them are normally, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your price is too high,â&#x20AC;? and, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any money.â&#x20AC;? Remember to sell the customer on what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do for them. The value of your solution must be higher than the price!

PSC blower and can be much quieter. I also recommend selling the most efficient electronic air cleaner (EAC) available â&#x20AC;&#x201C; some EAC brands are over 98% efficient at capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns. Hint: The secret to maintaining high performance is any air handling system is cleanliness. Outstanding cleaning capabilities like this will allow a secondary heat exchanger and air conditioner evaporator coil to maintain advertised efficiencies throughout their entire life cycle. An added bonus is that homeowners with allergies get much needed relief from nasty pollen spores and other respiratory system irritants.

A properly sized furnace running longer cycles is a better way to keep people comfortable. Proper sizing prevents short-cycling and longer cycles reduce standby losses.

SALES FORCE TIP Your customer may be able to take advantage of your financing program or perhaps a rental solution might work in some situations.

I think forced air heating contractors need to sell two-stage furnaces with variable speed fan motors or modulating furnaces with communicating controls.

Ian McTeer is the Ontario technical field services representative with Ingersoll Randâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HVAC division, which includes Trane Canada. He can be reached at imcteer@irco.com.

In a properly designed duct system, variablespeed fans use considerably less electricity than a

222 222

A AGINCOURT GINCOURT C CAMBRIDGE AMBRIDGE

ETOBICOKE GODERICH

GUELPH HANOVER HANOVER

KITCHENER L LONDON ONDON LINDSAY NORTH YORK YORK LINDSAY

OSHA OSHAWA AWA ORILLIA

M e c h a n i c a l

O OWEN WEN SOUND PETERBOROUGH PETERBOROUGH

B u s i n e s s

REXD REXDALE ALE WOODSTOCK WOODSTOCK

0 2 . 1 3

DRAIN CLEANING

Marty Silverman is the vice-president of marketing with General Pipe Cleaners. He can be reached at mjs@generalpipecleaners.com.

By Marty Silverman

A TOOL FOR EVERY CLOG

ow convenient would it be if every clogged line could be addressed in the same w ay? Just show up, grab the drain cleaning machine from the truck, drop the end down the line, fire it up, hand over your invoice, and you’re off to the next stop.

OPENING LINES

And then the alarm on the nightstand goes off and we climb out of bed and get ready for the workday. In the real world, clogs happen for any number of reasons – rust, sediment buildup and root infiltrations are common, as are accumulations of fat, oil and grease, and don’t forget ice. That’s a stubborn one for sure. And with each different blockage comes a different challenge.

Thankfully, if a clog exists, there’s a cutter, accessory or tool to remove it. The key is ensuring that you’re matching the right cutter or tool to the task at hand. Here’s a look at some of the more common head types for your coil-type machine , and what they are designed to do down the pipe .

The basic arrow head, boring gimlet or auger head will help get water flowing in many situations, much like drilling a starter hole and expanding to a larger bit when drilling holes in board or sheet metal. For drain cleaning, you start with a small cutter head to get the water flowing, and move to a larger cutter head to scrape the walls clean. These are good for punching a quick hole, or f or knocking some types of blockages through smaller diameter pipes, like when dealing with hair clogging a sink dr ain. Some small lines can have sharp turns, which a cable might ha ve trouble navigating, but there are flexible tools and adapters that can be added to the tool heads to help maneuver through these extra-tight spaces. Augers can also be used to help get the flow going, and can be useful to explore and break up stoppages, or to return a sample of the blockage to the surface to help determine the right tool for the task.

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE MATTER There are several designs of root cutter heads, and each manufacturer will have its own name or design variation that will clean drains that have a root blockage. In general root cutter heads will have one or two blades to cut through anything that is causing the blockage, including leaves and any other small objects.

serrated edge to the blades to help with heavy-duty cutting. The circular heads are similar to a hole saw, but without the closed cup and mandrel, and they are designed to cut a clear path through tree roots inside a pipe.

These tools may have a “C” or “U” shape, or may resemble a saw blade that’s been shaped to a circular dimension, and generally have a continues on page 78

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

DRAIN CLEANING

continues from page 76

A change of direction CLEARING THROUGH THE FOG

Tight bends and traps can be difficult for some machines to navigate, especially when working in smaller lines. Flexible leader tools can help the cable get around sharp bends, for example when the blockage is more accessible through a trap than through a cleanout . Gimlets and fittings are also available in a down-head design, which are designed to ensure that the tool goes down the waste pipe, and not up the stack.

One of the most common clogs generated from restaurants and food services clients comes as the result of fats, oils and grease, or FOG, as it’s commonly referred to. This type of blockage can be a tough one to deal with if all you are armed with is an auger, since those tools are more suited to starting the water flow, at which point the task is turned over to other tools.

EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS One option that can add a bit of versatility to the tools that you carry, or can help deal with systems that transition from one size of pipe to another, is to investigate expanding cutters. These tools are designed to pass through smaller pipes so that you can reach and clean larger pipes. For example, several companies offer a 4” to 6” expanding cutter. Other expanding cutters have a smaller minimum size and can be passed through 4” P-traps.

A jetter is the ideal tool to use on grease. If, however, you’re on the jobsite with a cable machine rather than a jetter, there are tools that may work to get the water flowing, but a more thorough cleaning will result from the use of a jetter. Some manufacturers do have specific grease cutters, in varying sizes, and there are also multipurpose ball cutters that may work on grease, as well as on roots, scale and other debris.

GOOD ON THE BEACH, NOT IN A PIPE Sometimes drains will get filled up with sediment, silt and sand. Specialized tools do exist for some drain machines that allow the user to dig through and remove these blockages, but sand in the belly of the line is much better handled by a jetter machine as they are great at blasting the sand and sediment down the line.

LOST A CABLE? NOT A PROBLEM Retrieval tools come in numerous shapes and sizes, for most cable sizes. These can be used t o snag small objects that are obstructing water flows, or to grab broken cables if you have a mishap while tr ying to clear the blockage. Various types of augers can also be used t o retrieve objects, or to remove loose objects. Check the cable machine manufactur er’s instructions when working with this type of tool.

Match the tool to the task Larger diameter drains will require larger diameter cable and cleaning attachments, as well as adequate power, while smaller diameter pipes usually require smaller diameter cable and attachments, although they still need enough power to get through

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

blockages. And root cutting applications will require heavy-duty cable to cut through the roots. If the machine or cable used is t oo small for the line being cleared, the pipe could be left only partially opened, or the cable could f old back on itself and tangle. If the tools are too big for the task, it might be difficult to guide the large cable through the lines.

Water Condi oning is a Big Opportunity to Improve Your Bo om Line! Professional Plumbers Wanted!

Turn Opportunity into Profit with a Dealer Program Offering REAL Value! Water Condi oning is a natural fit and an easy sell to your exis ng customers who are installing new plumbing, water heaters or water-using appliances. Adding more revenue per call with li le addi onal cost means a be er bo om line!

Interested? Get a Dealer Promo Kit Mailed to You Today!

The Novo ProAdvantage™ Cer ﬁed Dealer Program Makes Water Condi oning Easier Than Ever Before: 1-800 Dealer Help Line

Consumer Website

1-800 Consumer Help Line

Dealer Website

Cer ﬁed Dealer Training

Dealer Promo ons

Co-op Adver sing Program

Dealer Apparel

Adver sing Materials

Water Tes ng

Showroom Displays

Consumer Financing

Sales Literature & Tools

Dealer Advisory Council

Vehicle & Window Decals

Novo Field Sales Managers

Product Recommenda on

Dedicated Your Success!

Visit www.novoproadvantage.com or call 1-855-317-6364

COMMERCIAL PLUMBING

By Jason Boyd Jason Boyd is the LEED-accredited marketing manager for Dobbin Sales Ltd., Sloan’s exclusive representative in Canada. He can be reached at jboyd@dobbinsales.com.

DETERMINING THE FLOW In a flushometer installation, water flows under pressure from the supply piping directly to the fixture. The vitreous china fixtures with which flushometers are most commonly associated are the water closet, urinal and service sink. The required flow rate, measured in litres per flush (lpf), is established by the hydraulics of the fixture, not the valve. If the supply pipes are properly sized, an adequate volume of water will pass through the flushometer and permit the fixture to operate efficiently.

Diaphragm or Piston Flushometer? Well, It Depends…

n ongoing debate within the plumbing industry on flushing technologies has had a resurgence recently with comparisons of piston valve technology to diaphragm valve technology.

or orifice that is no larger than a pin hole, typically measuring between 0.05 centimetres and 0.07 centimetres in diameter.

Although both options have been around for decades, the debate heightens when trying to determine which is “better.” In actuality, one technology is not inherently “better” than the other, but instead the best choice depends on the specific application. The more information that can be collected ultimately ensures successful valve operation.

A flexible rubber disk separates the upper from the lower chambers in a diaphragm flushometer; a moulded cup separates the upper from the lower chambers in the piston flushometer.

For a better understanding on how to select the right type of flushometer technology, a commercial plumbing contractor needs to investigate the factors that impact proper flushing .

The key to making the best choice between diaphr agm and piston technology is understanding the application environment and knowing each technology’s strengths. Both technologies are excellent when used in the right situation.

And please note that this article isn’t about “Manual vs. Electronic,” as piston and diaphragm technologies are available for both types. The theory of operation for both diaphragm and piston types is fundamentally the same. Each has an upper control chamber and a lower chamber connected by a bypass. The bypass connecting the upper control and lower supply chambers in both the diaphragm and piston valves is a small hole

flush·om·e·ter n.

It is not a one-size-fits-all type of solution or a matter of one flushing mechanism being better than the other. Instead, the best decision depends on the application and environment. Restroom traffic, water quality and operating conditions are all determining factors that assist in selecting the proper v alve to ensure successful flushometer operation. continued on page 82

A device for flushing toilets and urinals that utilizes pressure from the water supply system rather than the force of gravity to discharge water into the bowl, designed to use less water than conventional flush toilets.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

“I can’t take a leak.” “That’s why I only use Dahl valves.” Nothing makes my blood boil like going back on a job to replace a leaky valve that’s caused water damage. I just can’t stand it, and now I don’t have to because I’m using Dahl valves, covered by a 25-year warranty. With Dahl on our trucks, I sleep better at night. Interested? E-mail us at sales@dahlvalve.com. Or visit us at www.dahlvalve.com

Made in Canada. Really.

COMMERCIAL PLUMBING continued from page 80

Join The Green Scene

THE PISTON FLUSHOMETER A piston flushometer features a moulded cup with the upper and lower chambers separated by a rubber lip seal. This seal is extended inside a hollow piston, and the bypass hole can be found on the piston side wall. The relief valve seals the upper chamber from the lower chamber. Pressing the handle causes the plunger to push against the relief valve, making it tilt and release water from the upper chamber. This causes a reduction in the water pressure above the relief valve.

New WatcoFlex Bath Waste ...installs faster/easier TM

Special patent pending PVC flexible tubing. Eliminates four field joints. Innovator overflow parts assemble by hand. No screws. Approved by IAPMO. It’s green. You’ll get used to seeing it. Just ask your wholesaler

SELECTING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY

WATCO

Whether you go with piston or diaphragm, the first step is to always match the valve and fixture appropriately as it relates to water volume requirements. To make an informed decision on flushing technology, simply break the installation down into three parts: restroom traffic, water quality and operating conditions.

The Bath Drain Company WATCO MANUFACTURING COMPANY

1. Restroom Traffic – In high-traffic situations, like airports and sports stadiums, the diaphragm technology can accommodate the quick recovery needed to immediately flush again. Either type will work in lower traffic situations, but further information is needed to make the optimal choice.

1220 South Powell Road, Independence, MO 64057-2724 Phone 816-796-3900 • FAX 816-796-0875 www.watcomfg.com A Division of WCM Industries, Inc.

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

When the pressure above the relief valve is reduced, the high pressure under the moulded cup lifts the piston, allowing the piston to rise up from the main seat. Water continues to flow from the inlet pipe, under the piston, to the fixture. Once the piston lifts, the relief valve re-seats and a smaller stream of water flows through the bypass hole, restoring the pressure within the piston, above the relief valve.

0 2 . 1 3

THE DIAPHRAGM FLUSHOMETER In the diaphragm flushometer, a flexible rubber diaphragm sits between the chambers. A small amount of the supply water makes its way to the upper control chamber through a bypass hole in the diaphragm. The pressure of the water above the diaphragm creates force and compresses the diaphragm and the relief valve over the valve barrel's opening. When flushed, the handle plunger shifts the stem of the relief valve, which causes it to tilt. This tilting allows a small amount of water to exit the upper control chamber through the valve barrel. When the relief valve is tilted, a pressure imbalance is created between the upper and lower chambers of the valve. The pressure in the upper chamber becomes less than the pressure in the lower chamber. This lower chamber pressure forces the diaphragm and the relief valve to rise up from the barrel opening, thereby allowing high velocity water to flow directly from the water supply into the toilet bowl. At the same time, the relief valve re-seats and a small amount of water begins to refill the upper chamber via the bypass hole. Pressure builds up, creating force, depressing the diaphragm and closing the opening of the barrel. As the pressures in the upper control and lower supply chambers equalize, the upper control chamber side of the diaphragm, which has more area than the lower side, compresses against the barrel opening and shuts off the water flow.

2. Water Quality – In cases where poor water quality is a concern diaphragm valves may be the better choice. With piston valves, the main lip seal can deteriorate from constant abrasion in gritty water, causing a gradual decrease in performance. Diaphragm valves can also be affected, especially with high levels of chloramine, which can cause the rubber material in the diaphragm to break down over time. 3. Operating Conditions – “Weak” or low-pressure systems, especially those below 20 psi, may be better suited to piston valves since they have a longer stroke length that can provide greater forgiveness with low pressure. Conversely, diaphragm valves may be better suited to high-pressure situations, as this pressure can be dispersed over a wider surface area. M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

HVAC/R Products P Residential gas furnace With inputs ranging from 30,000 to 120,000 BTUH and efficiencies up to 92.1% AFUE, Napoleon's 9200 Series single-stage gas furnace is available in four cabinet widths, each 32.8” high. The unit accommodates upflow, horizontal, right and left installation positions.

napoleonheatingandcooling.com

Unit heater line Available in 10 models with inputs ranging from 55,000 to 310,000 BTUH, Modine’s Effinity93 unit heater is designed to offer 93% thermal efficiency. The units feature a high-grade stainless steel secondary heat exchanger designed to withstand the acidic condensate from the combustion process. They can be vented as either a two-pipe or concentric vent system.

Commercial UV system

modine.com

Fresh-Aire UV’s Tubular Rack UV System is designed to disinfect interior HVAC air handler surfaces, coils and the airstream to improve indoor air quality in commercial buildings. The kit includes a multi-voltage power supply, UV lamps, brackets, mounting hardware and cables. The kit is available in 22 lamp variations, in 32- or 60-inch lengths.

freshaireuv.com

Compact air purifier Designed to remove bacteria, pollen, animal dander and other pollutants as small as 0.3 microns, Carrier’s Performance air purifier has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13. Its compact cabinet measures 18 cm wide, and the air purifier measures 6.4 cm wide. The unit has a dual-voltage power supply with rear electrical connections.

High-efficiency compressor Available with a capacity range of 950 to 5,450 BTUH and ranging from 1/4 to 1 hp, the AE2 Compressor from Tecumseh is designed to support traditional HFC refrigerants R-134a and R-404A, and has been optimized for use with hydrocarbon refrigerant R-290. Models are available in a single-pack configuration, with select models available as a pallet pack.

carrier.com

tecumseh.com

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

:KR 6D\V <RX &DQÂ·W 3OHDVH (YHU\RQH" Digital panel thermometer Cooper-Atkinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dual-Cool digital panel thermometer features interchangeable probes, adjustable alarm settings, and high and low temperature recall. The unit can simultaneously measure temperatures in two separate storage environments or two locations inside the same reach-in, walk-in or hot-holding cabinet.

cooper-atkins.com

)XMLWVXÂ¶V QHZ +\EULG )OH[ ,QYHUWHU OLQH SURYLGHV LQGLYLGXDO FRPIRUW WR XS WR ]RQHV DW RQFH /HWÂ¶V IDFH LW RQH WHPSHUDWXUH GRHV QRW SOHDVH DOO ZKLFK LV ZK\ )XMLWVXÂ¶V QHZ OLQH RI +DOF\RQ +\EULG )OH[ ,QYHUWHU +), PRGHOV DOORZV XS WR LQGRRU XQLWV WR EH FRQQHFWHG WR RQH RXWGRRU XQLW SURYLGLQJ LQGLYLGXDO ]RQHV RI KHDWLQJ RU FRROLQJ Â&#x2021; 8S WR 6((5 HQHUJ\ HIILFLHQW RSHUDWLRQ ORZHUV XWLOLW\ ELOOV Â&#x2021; )ODUH FRQQHFWLRQV PDNH +), PRGHOV HDVLHU WR LQVWDOO Â&#x2021; 2QH *URXS 5HPRWH &RQWURO FDQ FRQWURO DOO ]RQHV Â&#x2021; /RQJ SLSLQJ OHQJWKV RI XS WR IHHW LQFUHDVH LQVWDOODWLRQ RSWLRQV Â&#x2021; ,QYHUWHU WHFKQRORJ\ UHJXODWHV WKH FRPSUHVVRU VSHHG WR LWV RSWLPXP HQHUJ\ XVDJH SURGXFLQJ KLJKHU UHIULJHUDQW SHUIRUPDQFH ZLWK OHVV SRZHU FRQVXPSWLRQ

:LWK )XMLWVXÂ¶V OLQH RI +DOF\RQ +\EULG )OH[ ,QYHUWHU V\VWHPV \RX UHDOO\ &$1 SOHDVH HYHU\RQH

Ductless heat pump With a heating capacity of up to 40,000 BTUH and an HSPF rating of up to 10, Mitsubishiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mr. Slim H2i PSeries ductless heat pump is designed to offer a COP of 1.45 at ambient temperatures as low as -25Â°C when in heating mode. The unit comes equipped with variable compressor speed inverter technology and a hot start system.

7R ILQG RXW KRZ \RX FDQ SOHDVH HYHU\RQH DQG KRZ WR EHFRPH D +DOF\RQ 'HDOHU YLVLW

ZZZ IXMLWVXJHQHUDO FRP

mitsubishielectric.ca

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

HVAC/R Products P Available with input rates from 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH and efficiencies of up to 95% AFUE, Ruud’s Ultra Series 90 Plus upflow gas furnace has a 34-inch height. Each unit is equipped with an ECM motor and an aluminized-steel heat exchanger.

www. ruud.com Dwyer’s Model PLVT1 compact digital thermostat with heat pump control is designed to control a furnace, small boiler, air conditioner, circulator fan or heat pump in a commercial or residential building. The thermostat features an LCD display that shows the current temperature and the operating mode. It can be operated with two AAA batteries during outages. It can also be set to automatically switch between heating and cooling.

www. dwyer-inst.com

A buildup of 0.042” of dirt on a heating or air conditioning coil can result in a decrease in efficiency of 21%.

Designed for residential, commercial and light industrial ventilation applications, Continental Fan’s AXP in-line duct fan comes equipped with a backward-curved motorized impeller, permanently lubricated ball-bearing motors, and a UV-resistant plastic housing. Units are available in sizes from 4” through 12” with airflow capacities up to 837 cfm. They are suitable for air temperatures up to 122°F.

www. continentalfan.com

The B6EMMX Series air handler from Nordyne is designed to achieve efficiencies of up to 15 SEER and offers a performance range of 18,000 to 60,000 BTUH. The unit’s fixed-speed ECM motor provides 16 field-selectable cooling airflows, and a plug-in heater kit is available in 5 kW through 30 kW. It can be used in horizontal, upflow, downflow or vertical applications.

www. heynordyne.com

Available in two- to five-ton models, Luxaire’s Acclimate packaged dual-fuel heat pump is designed to achieve efficiencies of up to 14 SEER and 8.0 HPSF. The unit is equipped with a twostep compressor, which handles both two-stage cooling and heat pump operations, and can be combined with a two-stage gas heating module.

www. joinluxaire.com 86

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Gerty Has A New Hairdo...

And she can’t wait to tell you all about it. Gerty is our telemarketing Goddess – a job she was born to, given her love of talk. And while it’s her job to phone you if you haven't renewed your free subscription at least once in the past year, her enthusiasm sometimes gets the best of her.

You see, Gerty just loves to talk. And talk. And talk. Whether it’s sharing stories about her latest crumpet and jam social, her beloved Mrs. Muffles or her new “fantabulous” hairdo (her words, not ours), Gerty’s stories will hold you captive. Captive, of course, being the operative word. So, while she gets paid to be on the phone – you don’t. We understand that. That’s why we’ve made our online renewal process easier than ever. Simply visit our brand new website, click on the Subscribe tab and confirm that you want to continue receiving (or start receiving) Mechanical Business. It’s fast, easy and Gerty free.

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

If your label says “Time2Renew” – this could be your last issue.

Please Renew Your Subscription Today.

PLUMBING Available in interior or exterior models with inputs from 157,000 to 199,000 BTUH, Bradford WhiteCanada’s EverHot HE tankless gas water heater is designed to supply up to 9.8 gpm of continuous hot water. The unit features direct electronic ignition and a dual heat exchanger with a built-in lime accumulation sensor.

www. bradfordwhite.com

Uponor’s Commercial Engineered Polymer (EP) MultiPorts comprise a 1” EP multi-port tee and mounting clips for header termination and water distribution to lavatories with one fitting. The ports feature visual, manufactured connections with no dry-fittings, and can be used to a maximum flow rate of 21.8 gpm.

uponor.ca

General Pipe Cleaners’ Metro power drain cleaner is designed to handle roots and other difficult stoppages in 3” through 6” drain lines with 75 feet of 5/8” cable or 100 feet of 9/16” cable. The unit comes equipped with a folddown handle, stair climbers, truck loading wheel and heavy-duty wheels on a narrow frame for convenient transport.

www. drainbrain.com

Designed to boost domestic water pressure in commercial buildings and mid- and high-rise residential buildings, Armstrong’s Design Envelope IVS Booster offers a maximum flow rate of 2,000 gpm and a maximum pressure rating of 370 psi. The pump, which increases water pressure to match occupant needs, features such energy-saving functions as soft-fill, no-flow shutdown and pressure-setback mode.

Offering inputs ranging from 150,000 to 400,000 BTUH, and thermal efficiencies of up to 96%, John Wood’s commercial gas water heaters feature a fully submerged, spiral-shaped condensing heat exchanger designed to avoid sediment buildup on its surface. Each unit features top-mounted controls and two titanium-powered anodes to protect the tank in varying water conditions.

www. johnwoodwaterheaters.com

armstrongpumps.com

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

FREE REGISTRATION $20 VALUE

MCEE

MÉCANEX/CLIMATEX/EXPOLECTRIQ/ÉCLAIRAGE

Canada’s largest plumbing, HVACR, hydronic, electrical and lighting expo. April 17 & 18, 2013 Place Bonaventure Montréal, Québec

Innovative designs Sustainable products Energy efﬁcient technologies Renewable energies

www.mcee.ca Produced by:

In cooperation with:

PLUMBING Available in five models offering DHW storage between 29.6 and 109.4 gallons, the Aqua Plus indirect-fired water heater from Weil-McLain features a stainless steel coil tank welded with TIG and plasma technology, a stainless steel heat exchanger, pre-installed thermostat connections, temperature and pressure relief valves, and a magnesium anode rod to protect against corrosion.

www. weil-mclain.ca

The Atlantis Pro Series kitchen sink from Artika consists of a handcrafted 18-gauge stainless steel double sink with protective sink grids. The larger bowl measures 435 x 426 x 220 mm, and the smaller bowl is 305 x 426 x 220 mm. The sink can be installed above or below the kitchen counter.

www. artikaworld.com

Available in freestanding or wall-mounted options, Rinnai’s Tankless Rack System is designed for multiunit tankless water heater installations. Individual racks can hold between two and six of the company’s 199,000 BTUH condensing units, and multiple racks can be banked to accommodate up to 25 units. When fully assembled with water heaters, the freestanding version fits through a standard 32” doorway.

Offered in in 1/2", 3/4", and 1" sizes, polypropylene-random (PP-R) to PEX transition pieces from Aquatherm are made from PP-R and brass. The fittings are heat fused to PP-R pipe on one side of the connection and crimped to PEX pipe on the other side.

www. aquatherm.com

www. rinnai.us

Incorporated into Moen’s Arbor and Brantford pull-out kitchen faucets, the Reflex pull-out system features a flexible hose and a ball swivel joint between the hose and wand for an extended range of motion. The system also offers a retraction mechanism designed for minimal friction while holding the wand firmly in place when not in use.

www. moen.ca

Designed to provide water availability on commercial building roofs, Woodford’s RHY2-MS freezeless roof hydrant can be used for cleaning of windows, condenser coils, cooling towers and other rooftop equipment. The hydrant comes equipped with a field-testable backflow protector, a built-in drainage vent and a one-piece variable flow plunger with a cushiontype seal.

www. woodfordmfg.com 90

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

PLUMBING Designed for data rooms and server spaces, Victaulic’s Vortex 500 fire-suppression system uses a suspended mixture of nitrogen and water to both cool the hazard area and remove oxygen. The system, which integrates with detection systems and facility security technology, disperses the mixture at 40 miles per hour to extinguish fires with little to no water presence. Constructed from cast brass, American Standard’s Quentin bathroom faucet features washer-less ceramic disc valves and a preassembled, adjustment-free drain. The faucet and corresponding fittings are available in polished chrome, satin nickel and oil-rubbed bronze finishes.

www. americanstandard.ca

www. victaulic.com

In 2011, astronomers discovered the largest and oldest mass of water ever detected in the universe — a gigantic, 12-billion-year-old cloud harboring 140 trillion times more water than all of Earth's oceans combined.

Unique product solutions that save time and money.

One Choice. One Zurn. Zurn provides lean construction and engineered solutions that reduce material cost, site work and labor. Our goal is serving the customer through innovative products that create efficiencies in new construction and retrofit applications. Choose Zurn for a reliable, recognized manufacturer to supply your entire installation, from behind the wall rough-in, to finish trim product and fixture systems.

zurn.c m 905-405-8272

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Thermal imaging camera

Milliamp clamp meter The Milwaukee Milliamp Clamp Meter is designed for measuring 4 to 20 mA signals used in control panels to collect and send data, and can measure 0 to 99 mA if needed. The tool features a long clamp wire and narrow jaw profile for clamping in tight spaces, and the high contrast white on black display is designed for all lighting conditions.

The Predator GTi10 high-resolution thermal imaging camera from General Tools & Instruments is designed to generate thermal images at 160 by 120 (19,200) pixel resolution within a temperature range of -20° to 300°C and with an accuracy of +/-3°C. The camera comes equipped with manual focus, interchangeable lenses and software that allows detailed data analysis and video creation.

www. generaltools.com

www milwaukeetool.com

Adjustable hacksaw Lenox’s 1512 hacksaw features a rubberized grip and an adjustable aluminum beam that tensions to 15,000 psi. The saw accommodates 10” and 12” bi-metal blades. It ships with a 12” blade installed.

www. lenoxtools.com

Pneumatic saw blade guide Offered in 21” and 30” lengths, Reed’s Blade Guide for its Saw It pneumatic saw reaches across the pipe section being cut to stabilize the blade, preventing whipping and rotating to square the cut and prevent blade breakage. Blade guides are sized to match blade length.

www. www.reedmfgco.com

Drain cleaner Designed for institutional, commercial or residential cleaning, Ridgid’s K-60 Sectional Machine features push-handle operation, an instant-access cable clutch and a rear handle for transport. The unit’s 1/2 horsepower motor spins cable at 600 rpm, and an adjustment knob accommodates up to 150 feet of 7/8” or 125 feet of 5/8” cable.

www. ridgid.com

World leading Froling technology now available in Canada! With over 50 years of proven experience. Froling is recognized in Europe and beyond for high efficient, carbon neutral, world class heating technology. Evergreen provides a wide variety of biomass boilers to suit the need of residential home owners to large institutional buildings ensuring each system will be highly efficient, affordable and easy to use.

w w w. e v e rg re e n b i o h e a t . c o m THREADED ROD CUTTERS Threaded Rod Cutters give a fast, clean cut on soft steel threaded rod and eliminate the need for grinding or filing. The head is made of forged alloy steel while cutting dies are heat-treated. The powder-coated painted handle features a drilled hole on the lower handle for permanent mounting to a benchtop or other surface. There’s also a comfort handle grip on the upper handle. TRC2 features two cutting spots for 1/2” or 3/8” rod. The single die model, TCR3, ships with 3/8” dies and can be outfitted with optional dies for 1/4” and 5/16” rod. Reed also offers replacement dies.

w w w. re e d m f g c o . c o m RIDGID® SEESNAKE® MAX™ RM200 CAMERA SYSTEM The RIDGID® SeeSnake® Max™ rM200 Camera System combines portability and versatility to provide plumbing professionals with an easy-to-use solution for inspecting longer and tighter lines up to 200’ in length and 1-½” to 6” in diameter. Features include improved reel mechanics for easier passage through tight turns, an ultra-compact camera capable of providing optimal lighting through narrow spaces and an upgraded cable (200’), which provides greater abrasion resistance and allows users to push further with less effort.

w w w. R I D G I D . c o m GET IN THE SPOTLIGHT!

TECHNICAL CONTENT. READER FRIENDLY.

Showcase your products in this Mechanical Business exclusive – Spotlight Profiles! Featured in every edition, Spotlight Profiles are an effective and economical way to deliver your message right across Canada to almost 19,000 industry professionals. And at only $795, they are the most economical ads in the marketplace ... just four cents per reader!

SPOTLIGHT PROFILES

NOW SEEKING QUALIFIED DEALERS

Plumbing Hydronics Heating/IAQ Refrigeration/AC

Marketplace Ads

Special Features

2013 MEDIA FILE

w w w. m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

THE INFO PAGE PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 461-5581 www.napoleonheatingandair.com

Tel: (800) 245-6200 www.drainbrain.com

Tel: (250) 983-5942 www.alliedair.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 519-8794 www.navienamerica.com

Tel: (877) 780-3316 www.goodmanmfg.com

Tel: (403) 809-8707 www.aquatherm.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (416) 695-0447 www.ultimatecomfort.ca

Tel: (570) 421-7500 www.harscopk.com

✓PA

GE #

Tel: (800) 529-9805 www.noble.ca

✓

PAGE #

Tel: (877) 655-6686 www.novowater.com

Tel: (800) 553-9749 www.genetron.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 688-2575 www.nythermal.com

Tel: (866) 473-9462 www.ipexinc.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (905) 712-3030 www.deltafaucet.ca

Tel: (800) 567-1631 www.ontor.com

Tel: (866) 690-0861 www.laars.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (416) 213-1505 www.desco.ca

PAGE #

Tel: (877) 314-6040 www.osb.ca

Tel: (800) 639-2474 www.mcee.ca PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 666-3691 www.reedmfgco.com

Tel: (800) 387-0100 www.mercedesbenz.ca

Tel: (250) 983-5942 www.evergreenbioheat.com PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 729-3878 www.milwaukeetool.com

Tel: (800) 613-0507 www.flir.ca

M e c h a n i c a l

✓

Tel: (800) 268-5355 www.dahlvalve.com

✓

PAGE #

Tel: (416) 781-5286 www.cozyheaters.com

Tel: (888) 888-3424 www.fujitsugeneral.com

Tel: (888) 515-8885 www.neovalves.com

Tel: (800) 561-7119 www.glcopper.com

✓ AGE # ✓P 59

91 Formerly Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc.

Tel: (800) 387-4778 www.brantradiant.com

✓21 ✓

Tel: (800) 474-3443 www.ridgetool.com

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 465-6130 www.moen.ca

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

PAGE #

Tel: (888) 829-4901 www.runtalradiators.com

PAGE #

100

Tel: (800) 227-0729 www.testo.com

Tel: (800) 363-5874 www.saniflo.ca

Tel: (888) 208-8927 www.wattscanada.ca

PAGE #

Tel: (888) 735-5475 www.selkirkcorp.com

Tel: (888) 678-3709 www.thermopan.com PAGE #

Tel: (905) 456-8300 www.weil-mclain.ca PAGE #

PAGE #

9 P

Tel: (888) 994-7726 www.uponorpro.com

Tel: (888) 820-0120 www.sharkbite.com PAGE #

Tel: (877) 836-7772 www.simenorthamerica.com

53 PAGE #

PAGE #

Tel: (800) 387-7373 www.viessmann.ca WATCO

PAGE #

Tel: (905) 564-9422 www.taco-hvac.com

C A L E N D A R

Tel: (719) 574-1101 www.woodfordmfg.com

Tel: (800) 928-7867 www.zoellerpumps.com PAGE #

PAGE #

速

Tel: (816) 796-3900 www.watcomfg.com

O F

Tel: (905) 405-8272 www.zurn.com

EVENTS

2 0 1 3 ISH 2013 March 12-16, 2013 Frankfurt, Germany www.messefrankfurt.com

2013 NEBB Annual Conference May 2-4, 2013 Montreal, Que. www.nebb.org

MCEE Trade Show and Conference April 17-18, 2013 Montreal, Que. www.mcee.ca

CIPH Ontario Business Meeting May 16, 2013 Mississauga, Ont. www.ciph.com

KBIS April 19-21, 2013 New Orleans, LA www.kbis.com

CIPH ABC June 16-18, 2013 Halifax, N.S. www.ciph.com

RSES Canada AGM April 25-27, 2013 Niagara Falls, Ont. www.rsescanada.com

Cleaner Heat 2013 June 18-19, 2013 Moncton, N.B. www.coha.ca M e c h a n i c a l

HRAI Annual Conference August 21-24, 2013 Vancouver, B.C. www.hrai.ca

GOT AN EVENT? SPREAD THE WORD! If your organization has a conference, trade show or other event coming up, send details to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com See it all online at www.mechanicalbusiness.com

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

RLDVIEW

Pushing the right buttons

Jeff Patchell in Australia

he Australian landscape changed when dual-flush toilets were introduced to market more than 25 years ago. Today, every Australian household is required to have a dual-flush toilet installed to a 6/3 litre volume. For the most part, there has been little complaint about the functionality of this design. You use the single flush for number one and dual flush for number two – it’ s simple and apparently saves water. However, a recent report by ASHRAE, and research conducted by respected North American industry consultant John Koeller, questions the legitimacy of the amount of w ater that is said to be saved. First to ASHRAE.

QUICK FACT

ASHRAE 189.1 is the Standard for “There is no evidence the Design of High-Performance that the dual-flush toiGreen Buildings. lets use significantly less water than the fullflush in commercial settings,” reports Thomas Pape, a member of the organization’s Standard 189.1 committee. “We have found that 90 per cent of the flushes from dual-flush toilets are full flushes.” There is a pretty simple solution here: only use the full flush when necessary – but obviously people aren’t, and that has generated discussion on how best to push conservation efforts forward. Unless behaviour changes, some hold that it may become necessary to change our building codes to force conservation.

A STUDY IN TOILET TECHNOLOGY For those unfamiliar with John Koeller’s work, he runs MaP-testing.com. Currently, John is conducting testing into Premium toilet models, which flush at 4.0 L or less, performing on the MaP test at 600 grams or better, and are fully certified to all of the other requirements in North America. “Soon we will see a very significant move to the Premium labelled product [Ed. Note: these toilets are also WaterSense-certified] by the advocates of indoor water use reduction in domestic applications,” says Koeller. He would like to see the industry take a global perspective on dual-flush toilets which, he says, have not proven to be superior in terms of water consumption. “All one has to do is look at the data on the frequency of use of the 'half-flush' even in Australian homes, where the technology originated. A Yarra Valley Water study and a further Queensland study by the Urban Water Alliance both show minimal usage,” says Koeller. “It seems to me, it definitely is time the industry to rethink its design-restrictive commitment to dualflush and allow new and more efficient technologies into the marketplace.”

I would think that people would not w ant their toilet habits regulated. Self-regulation is definitely the best option. John Koeller recently wrote to www.worldplumbinginfo.com with a different take, and that is a rethink on design. “The almost religious loyalty to dual-flush obfuscates the benefits of high-efficiency single flush toilets. While I realise that mandates currently exist for dual-flush, they are, in my view, totally unwarranted, given the proven flush performance and water efficiency of numerous singleflush models available around the world. As I have previously pointed out, 3.0 L and 4.0 L singleflush fixtures remove the user behaviour element and provide exceptional performance in domestic installations.”

EDUCATION OR REGULATION Dual-flush technology is not necessarily reducing water consumption at the rate expected, since users often use the full flush, even when not necessary to clear the bowl, so the industry needs to consider: 1. Whether design principles need to be investigated, with particular regard to human behaviour; or 2. Whether a broader education program is necessary to educate people to use the single flush component when appropriate.

Jeff Patchell is managing director of Connection Magazines Pty Ltd. He operates www.worldplumbinginfo.com, an online plumbing industry knowledge bank.

UP TO

MOTOR LIFE LONGER LIFE

Milwaukee速

Competitor 1

Competitor 2

UP TO

25% MORE POWER MORE POWER

50% MORE RUN-TIME Milwaukee速

Competitor 1

Torque (in-lbs) Milwaukee速

UP TO

MORE RUN-TIME

Power (Watts-Out)

10X LONGER

Competitor 1

Competitor 2

Compiled by Mechanical Business

ONE IN THREE

33% Percentage of men who don’t wash their hands after using the restroom.

GERM CONCERNS HOARDING HEAT

300 Number of surfaces the average person touches every 30 minutes, coming into contact with up to 840,000 germs.

70%

48 hours Average lifespan of germs on

Roughly 70% of Canadians surveyed don’t lower the temperature when the house is empty.

surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs.

SNOW BLIND

36%

71%

Percentage of Canadian drivers who don’t use snow tires in the winter.

Percentage of Canadians who said they’d feel safer on the road if other drivers had snow tires.

RENOS RISING

$43.8 BILLION

MORE DANGEROUS THAN A TOILET

Total of renovation spending in Canada during 2011, a growth of three per cent over the previous year.

400x

The average desk surface harbours bacteria 400 times more dangerous than a toilet seat.

SKILLS SCARCITY

30%

Percentage of Canadian business facing a skilled-labour shortage, double the rate of 2010.

Sources: Air Canada Centre, RBC, Canadian Tire, CMHC, Statistics Canada, Industry Canada PM# 41536047 Postmaster: Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

M e c h a n i c a l

B u s i n e s s

0 2 . 1 3

Introducing the Complete Shower Install. Linear Shower Drains including the new Tile Top model Pre-formed Niches, Curbs and Curb Overlays Ready-to-tile Shower Base Kits :DWHUSURRĂ&#x20AC;QJ 0HPEUDQHV Pre-formed Benches Shelf Bench From the sleek contemporary bronteâ&#x201E;˘ Linear Shower Drain system to the convenient ready-to-install pre-formed Bath and Shower Niches, the new bronteâ&#x201E;˘ collection has your shower needs covered. For more information contact your OS&BTM Representative or call 1.877.314.6040

www.brontecollection.ca

Refreshing.

Introducing Pure Water by Watts

ure Water by Watts is a nice change. Your customers will like the easier installation and better-thanbottled water quality. What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find refreshing are the new opportunities Pure Water offers for new and incremental business. t *OOPWBUJWF UFDIOPMPHJFT customers already want t 'JMUSBUJPO TPGUFOJOH disinfection and conditioning t #SPBE BSSBZ PG GJMUFS DIBOHF LJUT BOE SFQMBDFNFOU DBSUSJEHFT including competitorcompatible options t #BDLFE CZ 8BUUT RVBMJUZ support and quick-turn BWBJMBCJMJUZ

Founding Sponsor

wattscanada.ca/purewater

A Watts Water Technologies Company