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Managing drainage properly is key to preventing HVAC inefficiencies.
Ian McTeer
HVAC/R is a skilled trade profession that should be respected. By Gerry
Wagner
From confusion to clarity: example of a business owner’s turning point. By Matthew Birch
A
Oldfield
Elevate your business with next-level drain cleaning gear.
Doug Picklyk
Maintaining belt and pulley systems. By Dave Demma
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SYSTEM DESIGN
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An air-to-water heat pump can satisfy a complete home or building comfort solution for all seasons.
By John Siegenthaler
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MH14
INTEGRATED DESIGN EFFICIENCY IN EVERY DROP: PART 1
As modern buildings strive for energy and environmental efficiencies, along with a healthy indoor environment, hydronics and heat pumps will play a major role in the solution.
By Zachary Londo, Jean-Claude Rémy & Chris DesRoches
MH20 CONTROLS
CURTGPT: ASK ANYTHING (ABOUT HYDRONICS)
A real person’s response to a real person’s question about the effects of glycol in a hydronic heating system.
By Curtis Bennett
MH24
NEW PRODUCTS
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MODERN DESIGN
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Adapting a tried-and-true wood-fired heating system to work with modern air-to-water heat pump technology.
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AI-AI-OH!
BACK IN JUNE OF 2023, IN THIS VERY SPACE, I WROTE ABOUT HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) WAS ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE HVAC/R WORLD, mostly on the technology side, but the next phase I suggested would directly impact service businesses at the contractor level.
This past June I was contacted by Adam Oldfield, president of Vacu-Man Furnace and Duct Cleaning in Hamilton, Ont. who had a story to share about how his family-run business has embraced AI. The future is here.
While some in the trades may still dismiss AI as something for big tech companies or other big business boardrooms, that’s a mistake. AI isn’t about replacing what you do on a large scale and replacing workers—it’s about improving what you’ve already been doing. When implemented thoughtfully, AI can cut costs, increase administrative efficiency, improve customer service and even improve operations.
The journey to incorporating AI into a small service business doesn’t happen all at once. If your shop is still writing out work orders on paper and fulfilling payroll by cutting cheques to your employees, then take the first steps to digitize your operations.
For those already locked in with online solutions for service operations and financial accounting, it’s worth taking a look at how AI can boost the business. Take scheduling for example. AI-powered dispatch software can build the most efficient routes, predict which jobs will take longer based on historical data, and reshuffle the day if a no-heat call comes in at 8 a.m. on a frosty January morning.
AI chatbots are not science fiction. Read Oldfield’s article (starts on page 56) and learn about Donna, and how modern AI systems can field calls, answer basic service questions and much more. For a small business, this gives you a 24/7 receptionist that can learn from past conversations and get better over time.
When it comes to marketing your business, AI-driven platforms can help here too, cutting out time and cost when it comes to getting your messages out across many platforms. And there is a place to integrate AI into your business financial reporting (see Matthew Birch’s article on page 58).
Yes, AI is powerful, but it’s not a magic button, and it’s a learning process. It requires accurate data, training and a willingness to adapt processes. Choose systems that integrate with your existing software and start small. And yes, AI can streamline operations, but in the service business customer trust is built face-to-face, and consider the technology as a way to support your people, not replace them.
In his article Oldfield notes: “Make no mistake, this isn’t a story about replacing people. It’s about empowering them.”
Face it, the trades are changing, gas utilities are talking about electric heat pumps, homeowners are asking about smart controls, efficiency standards are only getting tighter, and AI is seeping into every industry. Embrace the change.
– Doug Picklyk, Editor
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NEWS FEATURE
PLUMBING AND HVAC COST INCREASES OUTPACING OTHER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IN CANADA
The recent Building Construction Price Indexes released by Statistics Canada reveal that for the second quarter of 2025 there was an overall increase in building costs across Canada’s residential sectors, with plumbing and HVAC materials leading the way.
The cost of plumbing materials increased by 3.7% in Q2 2025, with HVAC supplies increasing in price by 3%. Joining these sectors in the upper tier of price increases were utilities, with a 2.9% increase, along with a 2.7% increase for structural steel framing.
Overall, Q2 of 2025 saw a 1% increase in residential construction costs, edging out Q1’s increase of 0.9%. Non-residential construction costs rose more sharply at 1.6%, surpassing Q1’s 1% increase.
The report suggests the imposition of tariffs as a contributing factor to these increases, stating that “tariffs imposed by the United States and the countermeasure tariffs implemented by Canada on certain imports from the United States have increased volatility in both pricing and availability of certain materials.”
The building construction price indexes are quarterly series from StatsCan that measure the change over time in the prices that contractors charge to construct a range of new commercial, institutional, in-
dustrial and residential buildings in 15 census metropolitan areas (CMAs): St. John's, Halifax, Moncton, Québec, Montréal, Ottawa–Gatineau (Ontario part), Toronto, London, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.
Year over year, construction costs for residential buildings in the 15 CMAs composite rose 3.7% in the second quarter, while non-residential building construction costs were up 4.0%.
Builders reported that uncertainty surrounding tariffs and tariff countermeasures continued to create challenges in securing contracts and has contributed to delays in project starts.
The report also notes that at the same time, persistent skilled labour shortages
DEEP ENERGY RETROFIT COMPLETE AT VANCOUVER'S MANOR HOUSE
FortisBC, the Pembina Institute, Metro Vancouver Housing and local government officials recently collaborated to complete a deep energy retrofit pilot project at the Manor House building, located in North Vancouver, a 1970s-era, 50-unit wood-framed non-market rental building.
The team worked with consultants including RDH Building Science Inc. SES Consulting Inc., FRESCo and AES Engineering to lower gas use, energy costs and associated emissions at the multi-unit residential building.
continued to push labour rates higher in several regions across the country. As building activity remained modest in many regions of the country in the second quarter and project starts were delayed, competition for available work intensified in some areas, putting pressure on margins. While the price increases across the countryl were partly influenced by rising construction material costs, including plumbing and HVAC materials and including some affected by tariffs and the associated countermeasures, the report also indicates that subdued construction activity in major regions like Toronto and Vancouver offset overall upward pressure at the aggregate level. statcan.gc.ca
Upgrades made as part of the Manor House project include:
• gas heat pumps for both space heating and domestic hot water
• in-suite heat recovery ventilation units
• in-suite units for heating and cooling
The Manor House retrofit project is part of two different initiatives. FortisBC is piloting deep energy retrofit projects across four commercial buildings and 20 residential homes across the province. fortisbc.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
CIPHEX WEST GETS A JOLT
As announced in early 2024, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) biennial tradeshow in Western Canada, CIPHEX West, is taking on new partners for 2025 and 2027, joining forces with the British Columbia Electrical Association (BCEA) and Alberta Electrical Alliance (AEA) to present CIPHEX + Electrical Learning Expo West.
The partnership between CIPH and BCEA will be delivering the first edition of the combined show this November 5-6 at the PNE in Vancouver. The 2027 edition is scheduled for November 3-4 at the BMO Centre in Calgary. ciphexwest.ca
A2 MECHANICAL A NEW PRIVATE EQUITY BACKED FIRM
Canadian-based private equity-backed investment firm, A2 Capital, has acquired FJ Plumbing, a commercial and institutional plumbing contractor based in Hamilton, Ont., and tucked the business under A2 Capital’s subsidiary A2 Mechanical.
This marks the first in a series of planned investments to grow A2 Mechanical. A2 Capital’s plan is to partner with experienced founder-led businesses across the mechanical and environmental services sectors building a scalable platform of specialized contractors that can meet the needs of industrial, institutional, and commercial clients.
Founded in 2020 by Filomeno Fasulo and Jean Paul Canaris, FJ Plumbing established itself as a mechanical contractor in
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“We weren’t looking to sell—but when Adam and Antonio approached us, it felt different,” said Fasulo in a media release.
“We’re excited to have more resources behind us to take on larger projects while continuing to support our clients,” added Canaris.
Adam Spencer, CEO of A2 Mechanical and co-founder of A2 Capital, was impressed with the FJ team. . “Their deep expertise, reputation for quality work, and long-standing client relationships make them a natural fit for our long-term vision.” a2mechanicalgroup.com
Continued on p10
Continued from p9
KITCHEN AND BATH CANADA EXPO RELAUNCHES
Emerald Holding, Inc., producer of North America’s leading kitchen and bath trade show event, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), has acquired the Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC) Expo from ExpoHut.
As a result, the KBC Expo will return to the Toronto Congress Centre, November 5-6 this year, bringing the help of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), which owns the KBIS brand, delivering a boost to Canada’s kitchen and bath design and construction industries.
“We’re thrilled to bring the strength of
the KBIS platform to Canada through the acquisition of KBC,” said Brian Pagel, executive vice president at Emerald in a media release. “The demand for a nationally focused, high-quality kitchen and bath experience in Canada is undeniable. In partnership with NKBA, we’re creating a powerful new opportunity for Canadian professionals to connect, learn, and grow—right here at home.”
According to the show organizers, the revitalized KBC Expo will bring the best of KBIS to Canada and will feature curated programming in partnership with NKBA, specifically designed to support the Canadian kitchen and bath community.
The 2025 KBC Expo will feature leading brands, hands-on product discovery, design-focused education, and a collaborative environment. kbcexpo.com
REPORT BREAKS DOWN AIR CONDITIONING USAGE ACROSS CANADA
Statics Canada has released a new report focused on the air conditioning habits of Canadians, using data from the Canadian Social Survey (CSS) –Quality of Life and Energy Consumption Behaviours
The report shows an increase in air conditioning usage amongst Canadians, with over two thirds (68%) of Canadian households using air conditioning or similar cooling equipment in 2025, compared to 64% in the previous 2021 survey.
For regional usage, Ontario leads the country with 83% of households reporting to have an air conditioner, with British Columbians shown to have the least amount of air conditioning usage by province at only 45%.
Air conditioning usage was also found to be more prevalent among homeowners (76%) than renters (52%); with air conditioners also more likely to be found in new-build, higher-income households.
This is supported by the data finding that 80% of homes originally built in 2001 and later featured air conditioners, with air conditioners found in only 58% of homes originally built before 1960. In addition, 82% of households earning more than $150,000 pre-tax reported having an air conditioner, with just over half (55%) of households earning $50,000 before taxes having an air conditioner.
The report found that just over half (51%) of Canadians with an air conditioner reported turning it off or down when absent from their home for one week or longer, with this figure being higher in the Prairies (56%) and British Columbia (56%).
Reasons for turning off air conditioning when away from the home included to avoid wasting energy (82%), prolong the lifespan of the cooling equipment (7%), and reduce GHG emissions (5%). statcan.gc.ga
The Government of Manitoba has launched the Affordable Home Energy Program, which through Efficiency Manitoba aims to grow household adoption of ground-source heat pumps.
The program offers financial incentives including income-based, family and multi-unit homeowners currently using electric heating, including no-upfrontcost options, initial energy assessments, heat pump installations, and interestfree monthly payment programs of $50 for 10 years, for a total of $6000.
Applications are currently open through Efficiency Manitoba’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program and Métis Energy Efficiency Offers.
The program is part of Manitoba’s overall Affordable Energy Plan to reduce household energy costs, cut emissions and support employment opportunities in the clean energy sector.
Efficiency Manitoba, in partnership with Raven Outcomes, has also announced an $18.9 million investment through its Community Heat Pump Program aimed at supporting the adoption and workforce development around heat pumps in First Nations populations.
Raven Outcomes, Efficiency Manitoba’s partner in this investment, is an Indigenousled fund manager that promotes Indigenous leadership, local economies, and community well-being through its investments.
One of the recipients of this investment will be the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, who will receive $1.89 million from Efficiency Manitoba and nearly $7 million from Raven Outcomes. This investment will allow the community to install 100 ground-source heat pumps and provide training in heat pump installation and maintenance for 12 residents. efficiencymb.ca
ravenoutcomesfunds.com
NOVA SCOTIA PRIORITIZING WOOD HEATING IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The Government of Nova Scotia has directed all departments to prioritize opportunities to use mass timber for building and wood pellets, biofuels and other wood products as a heating source in public buildings.
Opportunities to use these wood products include new construction, renovations and conversions from oil heat. Applications of wood heating sources will be applied to projects both partially and completely funded by the government.
HVAC, plumbing and electrical services to the Vancouver Island area’s residential and commercial markets. The partnership with Alphi was announced on July 22.
“We are incredibly excited about partnering with Alphi and the resources and expertise they bring to the table,” said Owen. “Their investment in RedBlue will enable us to accelerate our growth, while better serving our loyal employees and customer base.”
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CLIMATECARE CO-OPERATIVE’S NAVIGATOR PROGRAM MAKES
INAUGURAL ACQUISITION
ClimateCare Co-Operative, the Ontariobased cooperative of independently owned (HVAC) contractors, has acquired member company Canco ClimateCare of Newmarket, marking the Co-op’s first acquisition under its Navigator program.
The Navigator program is an initiative
the Co-op a structured approach to succession planning. While this program can include third-party succession, in thiscase Canco’s successor will be the ClimateCare Co-op itself.
“This is a landmark moment for our cooperative,” said Rob Lake, ClimateCare president and owner of Dows ClimateCare covering the Belleville to Kingston region. “The acquisition of Canco ClimateCare demonstrates our commitment to our members and the sustainability of their businesses.”
Canco ClimateCare was founded in 1984 by Bob and Nancy McKeraghan, and has been an active member of the ClimateCare Co-op network since 2001.
“It was important for us to know that the company we built would remain in the hands of a Canadian-owned, member-focused organization,” said Nancy McKeraghan. “We have full confidence in ClimateCare’s ability to uphold our values.”
LESS HASSLE, MORE HUSTLE
CONDENSATE MANAGEMENT
Managing drainage properly is key to preventing water damage, mould growth and HVAC inefficiencies. BY
IAN McTEER
Looking back, I still find my first experience with air conditioning amusing. It was back in the late 1970’s; I had been working in another industry and managed to save up enough money to take a second honeymoon to New Orleans. Friends of ours let us use their apartment near the world famous Ochsner Clinic in Jefferson Parish for a week-long stay. The apartment was equipped with two through-the-wall air conditioning units, one in the living area and another in the bedroom.
We arrived at the apartment late afternoon one Sunday in early September. The heat and humidity were relentless. Our friends left us detailed instructions on how to operate the cooling units. The units had been left running to maintain a higher temperature while the apart-
ment was unoccupied, so I almost immediately reduced the settings to provide comfort cooling.
After a long day of travel, we retired early only to find the droning sound of the bedroom fan running at a brisk pace was not conducive to a good night’s sleep. We figured: turn the unit off and get some sleep; how bad could it be?
We noticed it right away. The thumping of dripping condensate from the upper floor’s cooling unit was incessantly drumming on the metal cabinet of our bedroom unit protruding at least a foot out from the wall. It was beyond annoying: drip, drip, then a series of drips, then back to drip, drip, drip like some crazed blacksmith hammering on a hollow anvil.
It was worse than a dripping tap, louder and more eccentric. We decided
to restart the fan as it nicely muffled the bothersome dripping sound, however, it took a while to learn how to treat the fan as something akin to white noise and fall asleep. We did prevail and had a nice time in New Orleans. Little did I know that the aggravating drip would soon become part of my professional life.
PHASE CHANGE
When I began my HVAC career, I quickly discovered the source of all that annoying water: condensate. This liquid forms when vapour condenses — either water pulled from the air by cooling or dehumidifying coils, or water removed from flue gas in high-efficiency furnaces or boilers. Regardless of the source, this moisture must be safely collected and drained away.
Continued on p15
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Typically, it is captured in a durable drain pan beneath the evaporator coil or within the cold header of a condensing gas furnace, then directed to an open, vented drain.
Although draining condensate seems like a straightforward process, poor sizing, improper slope or trap design, and even insulation mistakes can lead to customer complaints and serious property damage.
Back in the early days of my HVAC career, attention to drainage detail was often an afterthought, especially with standard ‘A’-type evaporator coils. The painted steel drain pans frequently warped in ways that allowed condensate to pool away from the drain outlet, raising the risk of overflows. Manufacturers typically provided only a single primary drain stub with no secondary outlet.
More often than not, we would be provided with a short piece of ¾-in. copper brazed into the pan (still covered in paint), or a ¾-in. steel nipple pointed toward the ceiling with chewed-up threads. Getting these coils to drain properly was a frustrating, and far too common, part of the install.
MODERN DRAIN DESIGN CRITERIA
With growing awareness of liability risks, manufacturers have shifted toward more thoughtful and consistent drain pan and drain line design criteria.
RTFM! Read The Fantastic Manual:
• The drain line must be at least as large as the coil drain or furnace drain connection.
• Residential evaporator coil drain connections are ¾-in.
• Residential gas furnace drain trap outlets are typically ½-in.
• Reducing fittings should not be used at the trap or in the drain line run out.
• The trap and drain line should be insulated in attics or places where condensate forming on the outside of the cool drain line will drip enough water to cause property damage.
• The drain line run out should slope ¼-in. per foot and be supported to prevent sagging (double trapping).
• Air handlers in attics must be installed over an auxiliary drain pan fitted with a separate condensate drain line.
• Long runs of drain line (more than 20 feet) may require one or more vents to the atmosphere (after the trap) to ensure free drainage.
• Interior drain lines must terminate at an open, vented drain. What was once too often left to the discretion and improvisation of the installer is now better engineered.
Modern evaporator coils usually include integrated corrosion-resistant pans with built-in slope to ensure complete drainage. Secondary drain connections are now standard, and clear labeling and accessibility have improved dramatically.
HOW MUCH WATER ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
Of course, the amount of condensate water produced will depend on the capacity of the cooling system and the condition of the air entering and leaving the process. Let’s break this down step by step.
Figure 3. Avoid using non-compliant tubing and running it across the floor in foot traffic areas.
Figure 1. Estimated condensate produced based on a condensing appliance’s efficiency and Btu/h input.
Figure 2. Example of a latching float switch on a drain pan.
Step 1: Determine moisture removed per pound of air
For example, a technician determines the grains of moisture using dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures applied to a psychrometric chart after a 20-minute stabilization period of operation of a 3-ton residential system:
• Entering air: 106 grains of moisture per pound of dry air
• Leaving air: 51 grains per pound So, the system removes:
• 106 – 51 = 55 grains per pound of air
There are 7,000 grains in a pound of water, so:
• 55 grains ÷ 7,000 = 0.00786 pounds of water removed per pound of air
Step 2: Estimate airflow
Residential systems typically move about 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) per ton of cooling.
• 3 tons × 400 CFM = 1,200 CFM
Convert CFM to pounds of air per hour. At standard conditions, 1 CFM ≈ 0.075 lb/min, so:
• 1,200 CFM × 0.075 = 90 lb/min
• 90 lb/min × 60 = 5,400 lb/hour
Step 3: Total water removed per hour
• 5,400 lb/hour × 0.00786 lb water/lb air = 42.44 lb of water/ hour
Step 4: Total water per day assuming 12 hours of operation
• 42.44 lb/hour × 12 hours = 509.3 lb/day
Convert pounds to gallons (1 gallon of water ≈ 8.34 lb):
• 509.3 ÷ 8.34 ≈ 61 gallons/day
Therefore, approximately 61 gallons of water (230L) per day
Continued on p17
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Figure 4. Drainpipe size should not be reduced over its length.
could be produced by this system at least at start-up. A 2M Btu/h condensing boiler, running at 95% AFUE, will produce approximately 0.766 gph/100K Btu/h input (see Figure 1).
Running continuously for 24 hours, expect 367 gallons of condensate (1,389 L) to be produced. That is a lot of water. Canada’s National Plumbing Code refers to this condensate as “clear-water waste” meaning it contains impurities but at levels not harmful to health; however, a condensate neutralizer should be installed to prevent acidic water in the municipal sewage systems.
TO TRAP, OR NOT?
Should every drainage system have trap, the short answer is yes, always use a trap. When the blower is operating on a pull through system, a negative static pressure exists between the coil and the blower.
Unless an industry standard trap is used, air will rush through the open drain line from outside the cabinet preventing drainage until the condensate depth exceeds the system’s negative static pressure. The risk of water overflowing the drain pan and flooding into electrical components and otherwise causing property damage is too great;
“In the early days of my HVAC career, attention to drainage detail was often an afterthought.”
always trap a pull through system.
More often in residential applications, the evaporator cabinet is under a positive pressure, commonly called a blow through system. The old-school thinking was, “Well, air escaping from the drain is still inside the building envelope, so no harm done.” But today, we know that air not delivered to its intended space is wasted energy, plain and simple.
Again, a trap should be used with a blow through system to prevent the delivery of conditioned air to spaces where it is not needed. How much conditioned air could that be? Craig Migliaccio from AC Service Tech LLC made an interesting video in which he measured the velocity of air at 900 feet per minute blowing out through an open ¾-in drainpipe. Using the formula CFM = velocity x area, Craig calculated 5.31 CFM of air escaped through the drain.
Suppose the system operates eight hours per day: 5.31 CFM x 60 minutes x 8 hours of operation per day = 2,549 cubic feet of cooled and dehumidified
air per day lost to the drain location. That’s a lot!
Yes, a trap will become a maintenance item that could, left unattended, clog and cause an overflow. I recommend an overflow switch be installed in the evaporator coil secondary drain outlet. The latching overflow switch, (Figure 2) for example, will turn off the HVAC unit should the drain become blocked, and the latching component prevents the system from restarting even if the water slowly recedes. The unit must be
Continued on p19
Figure 6. Set up condensate pump properly.
Figure 5. Condensate drain tube must terminate at an open, vented drain.
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reset manually once the blockage has been cleared.
Managing condensate drainage properly is key to preventing water damage, mould growth, and HVAC inefficiencies. Here are some best practices that can help ensure reliable condensate removal.
Use a condensate pump. Running PVC pipe or other non-compliant tubing across the floor might create a trip hazard or even prevent the condensate from reaching the drain (see Figure 3).
Use recommended drainpipe material, and do not reduce pipe size (see Figure 4).
RTFM, manufacturers specify the condensate drain tube must terminate at an open, vented drain. Under the floor drainage is not permitted (see Figure 5).
Use a condensate pump capable of handling all the condensate produced by the HVAC equipment. The pump should have a float switch wired in series with the secondary evaporator coil overflow switch that breaks the 24-volt transformer hot lead preventing equipment operation should an overflow or pump failure occur (see Figure 6).
Terminating the pipe above the water line creates an air gap, which is a basic plumbing principle to prevent crosscontamination and ensure proper venting. This practice also helps prevent any stagnant water in the pump reservoir from migrating back into the evaporator drain line. That is important for hygiene and to avoid biofilm or mould growth creeping upstream.
Another best practice to help avoid drainpipe clogs is to install a premium cabinet style air filter with a gasketed door and sealed tightly to the ductwork thus preventing dust, dirt, and debris from bypassing the filter and landing on the evaporator coil only to be washed into the drain during cooling season. Drain pans, drainpipes, condensate pumps and discharge tubing should be
easily maintainable and be inspected at every service call.
NEW PRODUCTS
Following are two products I have seen lately (among many other useful devices) that help to address condensate issues. The Combat P-Trap from Cool Air Products promises to maintain drain flow and features a tablet dispensing method helping to prevent blockages due to the buildup of bacteria, slime, rust, scale, algae and other materials (Figure 7 ).
This trap assembly uses any brand of drain pan tablets and can be altered to allow the use of a CO 2 gun to clear blockages with a short blast of compressed CO2 gas (see Figure 8).
Mini split evaporators can easily drain to the outdoors when installed on an outside wall, although some small critters love to crawl into drainpipes as Fall approaches potentially creating a blockage realized next cooling season.
When installed on interior walls, a properly plumbed standpipe gravity drain can be used to collect condensate. When high wall mini split condensate must be pumped to another location, Little Giant has a product that mounts underneath the mini split air handler. Model EC-1U-DV uses 18 watts and can
pump 4.5 liters per hour to a height of 6 meters or as much as 10 liters per hour with no lift. This unit could help to solve a localized drainage problem (see Fig 9). There are other such products now available on the market with slim and quiet designs.
Always consult the Plumbing Code of Canada and any applicable local regulations when in comes to handling condensate. Drainage systems, while often overlooked, are a constant source of concern for insurance companies, municipalities, and HVAC professionals— not due to storms, but because of the costly damage caused by improper installation or failure. <>
Ian McTeer is an HVAC consultant with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He was most recently a field rep for Trane Canada DSO. McTeer is a refrigeration mechanic and Class 1 Gas technician. He can be reached at imcteer@outlook.com.
SOURCE: COOL AIR PRODUCTS
Figure 7. Tablet dispenser in P-trap to prevent buildup in drain lines.
Figure 8. CO2 gun to clear blockages
SOURCE: LITTLE GIANT
Figure 9. Slim undermount condensate pump for ductless mini-splits.
DOES THE TRADE SUPPORT DIYERS?
HVAC/R is a skilled trade that should remain in the domain of trained professionals. BY
GERRY WAGNER
Sometimes the HVAC trade is its own worst enemy. I really make a point of not writing any negative online posts or articles that put our beautiful trade/industry in a bad light, but I have had something eating at me for a while now, and my visit earlier this year to the 2025 AHR Expo in Orlando brought something back into my consciousness once again.
Why does a company that promotes mini-split installations as a do-it-yourself (DIY) project and markets and sells equipment directly to consumers (homeowners) have a booth at the most recent AHR Expo show dedicated to the trade?
This outfit was at the last CMPX Show in Toronto as well, and I’m not going to name them, but you may may be aware of this display as well. Their booth at the AHR Expo was showing equipment that clearly even the most ambitious weekend warrior wouldn’t dare take on as a DIY project.
What that tells me is that this approach is getting some support from the very people/companies that they are trying to skirt
around and put out of business — independent HVAC installers!
Yet, every time I passed by their booth seemed crowded with what I assume were independent HVAC installers. Look, as I mentioned, I truly don’t want to be negative, but what am I missing here?
Some HVAC tradespeople have told me they often benefit from cleaning up DIYer’s mistakes and disasters, and I commend those folks.
Back in the day when Patricia and I had our contracting business, I was always threatening to hire some young kid to hang out at the local Big Box outlet to hand out our business card to potential DIYers.
I appreciate that some professional HVAC companies actually did something similar, but I just don’t see that being a significant enough benefit to what I believe is the greater negative of direct sales to DIYers.
The long-term result is yet to be realized, and I’m certain it will not benefit the trade/industry as a whole.
I have received comments from tradespeople that mentioned the warranty for this DIY product requires a licensed HVAC installer to install the product for the warranty to be valid and honoured.
Well, when I searched online, the only place you see any reference to a licensed HVAC professional is, “If compressor failure occurs within the first 7 years, and it has been verified with
Continued on p20
< DUCT FREE ZONE
Continued from p19
diagnostic testing performed by a certified HVAC technician.”
And then on another tab under the heading of “Proper Installation” you will find: “Limited warranty applies only to systems that are installed by a state certified or licensed HVAC contractor, under applicable local and state law in accordance with all applicable building codes and permits.”
I would suggest that 90% of the homeowners viewing this website, and ultimately buying the DIY product, never see that!
I’m rarely in favour of more legislation, because legislators tend to be clueless, at least as it pertains to our trade/industry. That said, a tradesperson buddy of mine and I were discussing this topic and we noted that many provinces/states (and at the national level) already have laws in place that
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limit and/or restrict the amount of refrigerant a homeowner can purchase as integral to a piece of equipment.
How are mini split systems with several pounds of R410A being shipped all over North America, crossing provincial and state lines, as well as international borders on their way to non-licensed, untrained weekend warriors?
Now throw in the A2L refrigerant changes and the potential for flammability. Where are the governing officials on this issue?
An HVAC installation and service business owner in Ontario enlightened me that these “ready to install” products do serve a purpose in areas of Canada where traditional licensed HVAC contractors are scarce due to logistics, geography and lack of population.
OK, these products absolutely have a place and fill a need in the Northern
Territories of Canada, specifically within the Indigenous communities. I think we can all agree however, that this is a very small market. I don’t want to suggest I’m discounting the need to service these communities; all I am suggesting is that the sales potential in these markets is small.
What I often hear in response to my anti-DIY diatribe from some in our trade is that this problem (I call it a problem) is much of the industry’s own making (traditional distributor pricing structures, confusion created by more than one company claiming to be the “master distributor”, e-commerce sales, etc.). OK, I have to accept that.
What I’m not willing to concede is that there is no solution, strategic response or at least an understanding that directto-consumer is not healthy or supportive for the skilled tradespeople who are the backbone of our trade.
I have to say I’m really surprised at the general acceptance of this “directto-consumer” approach. I haven’t changed my position, nor has anyone yet even come close to swaying me in that direction.
Maybe this is my age showing? I don’t believe this is me simply being a traditionalist or “old school.” I believe this is going to hurt the HVAC trade both in the short term and the long term.
My question remains, why would anyone in the HVAC trade support this? Look, this company selling direct to the homeowner is one thing, but then also getting support from the HVAC trade is another. <>
Gerry Wagner is the president of Education, Services & Products Company LLC (ESPCO LLC). He has spent 45 years in the HVAC/R industry working in manufacturing, distribution, contracting and training. gerry@ ESPCOtraining.com.
MODERN HYDRONICS HOLISTIC
BUILDING DESIGN
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Swing Season Solution
An air-to-water heat pump can satisfy a complete whole home or building’s comfort for all seasons.
By John Siegenthaler
MH12
30 MECHANICAL MINUTES Thermal Storage
Webinar review: John Siegenthaler shares insights on trends in maximizing thermal efficiency.
INTEGRATED DESIGN Efficiency in Every Drop: Part 1
As modern buildings strive for energy and environmental efficiencies, along with a healthy indoor environment, hydronics and heat pumps will play a major role in the solution.
By Zachary Londo, Jean-Claude Rémy & Chris DesRoches
MH20
CONTROLS CurtGPT: Ask Anything (about hydronics)
A real person’s response to a real person’s question about the effects of glycol in a hydronic heating system.
By Curtis Bennett
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MH26
DESIGN
Old World, New World
Adapting a tried-and-true wood-fired heating system to work with modern technology.
By John Siegenthaler
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SWING SEASON SOLUTION
An air-to-water heat pump can satisfy a complete whole home or building comfort solution for all seasons.
BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER
Hydronically-heated concrete floor slabs can deliver silent, steady, and superior comfort. Their high thermal mass can dampen out reasonable variations in heat input to an extent that occupants are unaware that such variations even exist. The same thermal mass can also deliver “full afterburner” heat output when cold outside air slides over the heated floor from an open overhead door. That burst of heat output quickly restores comfort when that door is closed.
The concept that the floor slab can act as a thermal storage device to absorb heat from sources such as a heat pump running on low-cost off-peak rates is also an attractive quality, and one that has the potential to keep hydronic-based sys -
tems highly relevant as utilities plan how to meet future electrification goals.
So, what’s not to like about heated floor slabs?
Well, imagine this scenario: it’s a cool rainy day in early fall as a cold front moves through dropping the outdoor temperature to 7C/45F for a short time. The air is damp and the heated slab system has not yet been turned on for the season. The weather forecast is for sunshine and temperatures in the mid-20s to return the next day.
Should that floor slab heating system be turned on to chase the chill away for the next few hours?
Consider some Western Canadian locations where the overnight temperature in early fall drops to just above freezing, but “Chinook winds” and sunshine the following day bring the outdoor temperature into the upper 20s causing the building’s cooling system to kick in the following afternoon.
Should that slab heating system be turned on during that cool, but short-lived, overnight period, knowing that “summer
like” conditions are only a few hours away?
IN FLOOR TIMING
Let’s assume the answer to these two questions is “Yes.”
The occupants, feeling slightly uncomfortable, flip the switch to start the system. If the water temperature supplied to the floor circuits is controlled based on outdoor reset control, the supply temperature might only be in the upper 70s F to mid-80s F (20 to 30C) range when the outdoor temperature is 45 to 50F (7 to 10C).
Although those water temperatures are above the room temperature, the difference is small. It’s going to take several hours for the floor to make much improvement in comfort. By the time the floor warms the load could be eliminated by warmer outdoor temperatures, or by the internal heat gains from sunlight, people, etc.
If cooling is required by the afternoon, any heat that continues to percolate from the floor surface just adds to the cooling load.
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RAPID RESPONSE
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a system that can quickly warm the interior air, without waiting for hours as the floor slab slowly warms?
Imagine a hydronic system with a “first gear” to quickly accelerate the space to some degree of comfort, as well as a “high gear” to keep that comfort cruising along during the dead of winter.
Consider the system shown in Figure 1.
This system uses a monobloc air-towater heat pump as its lead heat source. An electric boiler provides supplemental and backup heating when necessary.
Both heat sources supply a reverse indirect tank that serves as a buffer for supplying stable domestic hot water, as well as a hydraulic separating device for all four circulators in the system.
This tank can also buffer a small space heating load - to be described shortly.
When the heat pump is first turned on in heating mode, the bypass zone valve (MV3) is open, and motorized ball valves (MV1) and (MV2) are closed. This allows the fluid to recirculate back through the heat pump until it reaches a temperature just above that in the upper portion of the tank.
At that point (MV1) opens and the bypass valve closes. Heated fluid is delivered to the reverse indirect to maintain its temperature between 115 and 125F (46 and 52C).
A similar control scenario is used when the heat pump turns on in cooling mode. The bypass valve is open and both (MV1) and (MV2) are closed.
The fluid recirculates through the heat
pump and quickly reaches a suitable temperature for cooling. At that point (MV2) opens, the bypass valve closes, and chilled fluid is delivered to the coil in the air handler.
Flow through the air handler’s coil is provided by the same circulator (P1) that creates flow through the heat pump.
If the heat pump has a variable speed compressor its cooling capacity is regulated to maintain a pre-set supply temperature to the coil - typically in the range of 45 to 55F (7 to 12C).
MAKE ME WARM
There are two heating load circuits on the right side of the tank. One goes to the air handler, the other supplies the high thermal mass floor heating system.
Circulator (P3) provides a flow of warm
Figure 1. A complete HVAC solution suited to modern “electrified” homes and assembled from readily available components.
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SHOULDER SEASONS
fluid from the upper portion of the tank to the coil in the air handler. This is the “rapid response” heating method for those cool/damp fall days.
Ideally, (P3) is a variable-speed circulator that responds to the air temperature leaving the air handler. The faster the circulator runs, the warmer the leaving air temperature. Variable-speed “setpoint” circulators have been available on the market for several years, and they are ideal for this application.
After passing through the coil the cooler fluid returns to the lower portion of the indirect tank. Some or all of the flow leaving the coil might also go to the heat pump if it’s operating.
The high thermal mass floor heating system is also sourced from the upper portion of the tank. The supply temperature to the floor circuits is regulated by a motorized “injection” valve (IV), which is controlled based on outdoor reset. The greater the flow rate passing through the valve, the warmer the supply temperature to the floor circuits.
A simple two-stage temperature setpoint controller operates the air-to-water heat pump - or if necessary - the electric boiler, to maintain the upper portion of the tank between 115 and 125F (46 and 52C).
That’s high enough to provide reasonable DHW delivery at 110F, and it’s also well within the operating range of modern air-to-water heat pumps, especially those operating on R-32 or eventually on R-290 (propane).
LET ME BREATHE
Modern homes built to ever-tightening energy codes often require mechanical ventilation. The preferred method for exchanging stale air for fresh air is through a heat recovery ventilator (HRV).
Figure 1 shows an HRV tapped into the return side of the air handler. This ventilator draws air from the bathrooms, extracts up to 70% of the heat from that air, and transfers it to the incoming fresh air stream.
That “conditioned” fresh air is then injected at the return side of the air handler.
A typical ventilation rate for a modest single-family home is 5 cubic feet per minute (CFM) per 100-square-feet of floor area. This equates to 125 CFM for a 2,500 sq. ft. house. That’s well below the air flow rate of 250-300 CFM per ton of cooling.
A typical 3-ton rated air handler could be operated at 750-900 CFM to distribute the fresh air to all supply diffusers in the building, but doing so increases the power demand of the blower higher than necessary when only ventilation (and not cooling) is required.
Modern blowers with electronicallycommutated (EC) motors often have speed tappings allowing them to operate at lower flow rates in the range of what the HRV produces. This minimizes power input while distributing the fresh air through the same ducting system used for cooling.
A different motor speed tapping is activated to provide the higher air flow rates required for cooling.
ADDITIONAL FEATURE
Consider a situation in a cold northern climate where the outdoor temperature is -10F (-23C). If the HRV recovers 70% of the sensible heat from the outgoing 70F (21C) air, the incoming fresh air stream leaves the HRV at about 46F (7C). That’s still pretty cool to be introduced directly into occupied space.
This is where the variable speed setpoint circulator (P3) can provide additional functionality. It can operate to create a small flow rate of heated fluid through the air handler coil to boost the incoming 46F fresh air up to a neutral temperature in the range of 70 to 75F (21 to 24C) before that air is introduced into occupied spaces.
Since a monobloc heat pump is being used the entire system needs to operate with an antifreeze solution. This protects the heat pump during a power outage, or
other situation when it remains off for several hours at sub-freezing outdoor temperatures. It also provides freeze protection for the air handler’s coil.
REMAINING RELEVANT
Consumers have lots of choices when it comes to HVAC systems. Contemporary systems such as ductless mini-split heat pumps are incessantly pushed as being a “state-of-the-art” solution. In reality, these heat pumps provide forced air heating and cooling, but not domestic water heating nor heat recovery ventilation. They’re a “partial” solution.
The system shown in Figure 1 provides that complete HVAC solution. It’s well suited to modern “electrified” homes, and it can be assembled from readily available components.
It’s a system that demonstrate that hydronics technology is not passé, but rather “cutting edge” in its versatility, energy efficiency, and its ability to deliver superior comfort.
It’s up to us — the North American hydronics industry — to keep hydronicbased systems relevant amidst all the marketing efforts for competing HVAC options.
It’s up to us to educate homeowners, builders, architects, and energy consultants how a hydronic-based system, using multiple function air delivery subsystems, can provide complete solutions for HVAC using the latest heat pump technology.
Collectively we have the technology to provide superior and complete solutions for HVAC. Learn it, believe it, design it, and sell it.
John Siegenthaler, P.E., has over 40 years of experience designing modern hydronic heating systems and is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating (4th edition) and Heating with Renewable Energy (visit hydronicpros.com).
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THERMAL STORAGE
We speak with John Siegenthaler about the evolving role of thermal storage and hydronics systems.
BY DOUG PICKLYK
Once again, longtime HPAC Magazine contributing writer and hydronics industry expert John Siegenthaler joined us for a recent edition of 30 Mechanical Minutes, the free live webinar series. This episode tackled the topic of thermal storage and the role it plays in hydronics systems. This edition was sponsored by Lochinvar and Aqua-Tech Marketing Solutions, the Lochinvar master distributor across Canada (except Quebec).
To begin, Siegenthaler shared how the concept of storing thermal energy has been associated with hydronics for decades and how it’s commonly used in applications like biomass boilers and with solar thermal systems to collect the heated water and store it for distribution when required.
The concept is now evolving with the drive to decarbonize heating systems and incorporate more electrification into hydronic heating solutions. As Siegenthaler explains, “When it comes to electrification, electrical utilities are introducing time-of-use rates, so we can use electricity when it’s at its least expensive.”
As he explains, in a hydronics system, designers can incorporate water-to-water or air-to-water heat pumps and save money by running the units in off peak times and storing the heat energy for use when it’s required.
“One of the unique characteristics of hydronics versus forced air is the very high thermal storage potential of water,” notes Siegenthaler. “A given volume of water can hold almost 3,500 times as much heat as the same volume of air with the same temperature change.”
To illustrate the cost saving potential, he shared how one utility has an on-peak cost of electricity of 44 cents a kilowatt
hour, and the off-peak rate is 7 cents a kilowatt hour— almost a 7 to 1 rate differential.
He compares that to a gas station selling gas at $3.30 a gallon in the daytime, and then at 2 o’clock in the morning marking it down to 55 cents a gallon. People would fill their tanks whether they need to or not.
This is where the thermal storage comes in for heating buildings. He shared a slide showing a system design schematic with a monoblock air-to-water heat pump using a mixture of antifreeze and water as the primary heat source. The distribution system leads to panel radiators suitable for low temperature supply water and also to a storage tank as well. The design shows the required valving and three circulators can all be controlled to direct the flow in three different modes.
In one mode the heat pump would flow direct to the heat emitters. Alternatively, at times when the cost of electricity is low (typically night times, weekends or major holidays) valves would open and close to send the heated fluid into the top of the thermal storage tank, what Siegenthaler calls “the charging mode.”
And the final mode would be when the heat pump is off and a circulator draws water from the top of the tank, through a hydraulic separator and out to the load, and the return water returns to the bottom of the tank.
PILOT PROJECT
Siegenthaler then shared details of a research project he has been involved with focused on using very low operating cost systems in a cold climate without ever losing comfort in the building. In one example the researchers are using a cascading heat
pump system with a standard outdoor condenser unit with a refrigerant line set that goes inside a house to another heat pump. The first one lifts the outdoor temperature to an intermediate temperature, and then that refrigerant gets boosted further and a heat exchanger transfers the heat to the water. “We’ve actually seen these things operate over 180F water temperature,” he notes.
Part of the project is to take advantage of the lowest cost electrical energy being offered by utilities using connected software. He explains that as utilities add more large-scale renewable electrical generation to grids (wind and solar), the challenge is not the lack of energy generation, it’s the inability to fully utilize the peak output.
When large-scale solar or wind farms generate more electricity than the grid can handle, rather than curtail generation utilities want to sell that power at a
wholesale rate to other utilities. And they encourage that sale by changing (lowering) their price structure.
And utilities operate with lots of data in order set the pricing, and there are times when the price structure at the wholesale level can be negative (they pay for you to take it off their hands).
This is where these research projects are using a sophisticated algorithm tied to the utility, knowing what the next 48-hour pricing schemes will be on an hour-byhour basis it can determine what the best operating mode will be for the heating system. Should you run the heat pump? Should you draw from thermal storage?
Calculations are continuous. He notes that this is a proof of concept project, but he feels there’s a very good chance it will come to market one day.
He adds that a lot of North America does want cooling now as well, so he also believes that it’s very important that systems
be designed so cooling can be added. And of course there is also the option of adding domestic hot water to a system as well.
THERMAL STORAGE OPTIONS
The webinar also addressed alternative forms of thermal storage, namely phase change materials and solid-based thermal storage. While Siegenthaler sees a growing interest in alternative methods for storing thermal energy, he sees the tank based solution as cost effective if the building has the required space.
The webinar included a question-andanswer period with topics ranging from storage tank design to questions about heat pumps and new refrigerants.
To view the entire webinar video including the question and answer section, or to revisit any past episode of 30 Mechanical Minutes, visit hpacmag.com/webinars, or visit the HPAC Magazine YouTube channel, @hpagmag. <>
EFFICIENCY IN EVERY DROP
– PART 1
As modern buildings strive for energy and environmental efficiencies along with a healthy indoor environment, solutions will be achieved though hydronics and heat pumps. (Part 1 of a 4-part series.)
BY ZACHARY LONDO, JEAN-CLAUDE RÉMY & CHRIS DESROCHES
Designing HVAC systems for buildings within today’s modern regulatory frameworks has never been more challenging. What started in the early 2000’s as a drive towards energy efficiency and sustainability has transformed to encompass much more.
Holistic building designs must now meet stringent performance requirements implemented at municipal, provin -
cial and federal building and energy code levels including energy use intensity (EUI), thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI), and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). Meeting these metrics within the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems means we can no longer design hydronics and air systems separately, the best efficiencies come from an integrated approach.
Fortunately, constantly evolving tech -
nology now provides designers more choices than ever to achieve the above criteria. The market has accepted that heat pumps, in whichever shape or form they may take, are here to stay. Heat pumps provide an electrified means to heat our spaces, and some also offer cooling capabilities. They are instrumental tools to not only decarbonize but achieve efficiencies greater than 100% to reduce energy consumption.
That’s why heat pumps are instrumental to achieve Net-Zero or Net-Zero-ready building targets for new buildings by 2030, and they will play a key role for retrofitting existing building stock in Canada by 2050.
IEQ
When it comes to new buildings, voluntary performance programs such as LEED, Passive House and others have been gaining popularity over the last decade. The principles of these performance standards are quickly becoming
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mandatory at the federal, provincial and municipal levels on the path to 2030 and 2050.
The associated indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and occupant health benefits of a well-designed building are often forgotten and overlooked, but comfort and IEQ can be achieved while meeting or even exceeding energy and carbon efficiency goals.
You can have it all. Both the mechanical design of the system and the building parameters, such as ventilation strategies, building insulation and airtightness, must be planned in synergy with the mechanical design to meet these goals, without sacrificing comfort.
Think about it, you can design the most efficient building there is, but if occupants are not comfortable and open a window to seek comfort then there go your savings, right out the window. Literally.
EMBODIED CARBON
On top of these rapid changes, embodied carbon is quickly coming into the picture. Embodied carbon is the carbon emission associated with the materials and products used to construct the building, including manufacturing and transportation of these materials, as well as the downstream embodied emissions such as: refrigerant leakages, repairing or replacing the mechanical system to get them operating properly, and through to the disposal of materials and equipment at the end of their life cycles.
Embodied carbon is one of the key reasons the refrigerant R-410A is being phased out. One kilogram of R-410A has the equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 2,088 kg of CO 2 equivalent.
Europe transitioned away from high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants in 2017 moving to medium-GWP refrigerants like R-32 and R-454B for heat pump applications, which are classified as A2L, meaning they are mildly flammable.
In North America, that transition just
started in 2025. This means that designing with these new refrigerants adds another layer of challenges when safety is considered. Mildly flammable refrigerants are leading practitioners to rethink the idea of having these systems contained within the building.
Nobody wants undetectable, flammable refrigerants leaking in their building without the systems properly designed and mitigated to ensure safety codes are met. Distributed refrigerant systems will still be used during this transition, but meeting the requirements to use them safely in the building adds to the design complexity and increases the installation costs of the system. This is a key factor that is driving our market back to hydronics with use of these refrigerants in packaged equipment installed outdoors and water to move the energy throughout the building.
Navigating through this web of requirements has never been more challenging and is radically changing the mentality of the design market to reconsider what a building will look like in 2030. All these factors lead to a simple conclusion of one clear frontrunner for mechanical systems: hydronics.
HYDRONICS AND HEAT PUMPS
Advancements in hydronic heat pump technologies, like water-source and airto-water central heat pumps, have come a long way in recent years. With larger compressor equipment using liquid or vapour injection now available and certified for North America, today’s air-to-water heat pumps offer reliable operation and performance at ambient temperatures as low as -20C or lower. With properly sized heat pumps and well-calculated heating and cooling emitters, hydronics not only provides a low-carbon solution for the building but improves energy efficiency and comfort while removing refrigerants from the occupied spaces.
FOUR PILLARS
This four-part series of articles will demonstrate how hydronics is quickly becoming the preferred solution for buildings. Practitioners should consider the four pillars of building design: building envelope, indoor air quality, heat/cooling emitters (primary and in some cases supplemental heating and cooling emitters-ventilation, convection or radiation), and control strategies. When all four pillars are applied holisti -
Hydronics is becoming the preferred solution for buildings.
cally and as part of an integrated design process, we can enable low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling to boost efficiency outcomes and improve comfort.
The first, and most important component is the building envelope. An underperforming envelope, driven by a low R-value or poor sealing requires running the heating/cooling and ventilation systems at a higher load and for longer, resulting in more energy use.
“All these factors lead to a simple conclusion of one clear frontrunner for mechanical systems: hydronics.”
If we have a high performing and efficient HVAC system but a leaky building, then nothing is gained. By focusing on envelope improvements first, you create a space with lower mechanical requirements; this improves overall efficiency, drives down operational costs, reduces energy usage, and strengthens resiliency in extreme weather events.
These lower mechanical requirements also enable practitioners to take advantage of low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling which increases the central heat pump’s efficiency, further compounding the energy efficiency and operational cost savings. A secondary, and often overlooked, benefit is improved occupant comfort as you supply more mild water temperatures.
According to Natural Resources Canada in a 2016 study, Energy use in the Commercial/Institutional Sector, space heating accounts for 55% of energy use in commercial and institutional buildings across Canada while only 6% is attributed to cooling. However, in absence of updated statistical numbers, one could say there seems to be a defi -
nite trend to increase the amount of air conditioning across the country. New schools, retirement homes and long term care facilities and upgrades to existing buildings is but one example.
A study from BC housing on building airtightness, Achieving Airtight Buildings, shows that moving from minimum code requirements to ASHRAE 189.1 requirements, which is the standard for the design of high-performance green buildings, results in a 20% reduction on the heating demand.
Meeting ASHRAE 227P, the Passive Building Standard, results in a nearly 30% reduction in space heat demand. Developers and designers often think
less heating or cooling that needs to take place when we keep the heat and humidity out of the building in summer, and keep it inside the building in the winter.
The next critical pillar after envelope improvements is the ventilation system. Building ventilation is needed to supply fresh air to occupants which, if you’ve been paying close attention, directly contradicts the previous paragraph on reducing building air leaks.
The answer to this contradiction is energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) which have now become a minimum requirement for commercial buildings. There are a couple of options: small decentralized ERVs in each zone requiring ventilation,
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GAS ABSORPTION HEAT PUMPS
INTEGRATED DESIGN
The benefit of a centralized strategy is the ability to control and modulate humidity in addition to recovering heat energy, using equipment with much higher efficiencies compared to de-centralized recovery devices.
This reduces the dehumidification or humidification, or latent, loads and enables higher temperature chilled water systems, such as radiant floors.
In addition to the energy savings more stable humidity levels in the building will help improve occupant comfort. Practitioners often think about the ventilation and ERV systems as a mandatory code requirement, but we need to shift the conversation and think about ERV’s as a “first stage” of heating and cooling of the building that augments the envelope to improve the building efficiency and interior comfort.
Ventilation is an important health requirement but also akin to burning money if not properly designed. Maximizing the ERV effectiveness reduces the loads on the heating and cooling equipment while still maintaining temperature, humidity and comfort in the building.
After addressing the first two pillars, we can finally move on to designing the heating and cooling systems from source to terminal units. A heat pump can be used for both systems in a variety of shapes and forms: Direct-expansion (DX) heating and cooling, centralized refrigerant systems such as variable-refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, and packaged hydronic heat pumps.
Within the category of hydronic heat pumps, which will be the primary focus for this article series, there are a wide variety of choices available for the generation of heating or cooling water which will be further addressed in the next article.
On the load side, there are many types of terminal equipment to move the heating or cooling energy to or from the individual zones. Low mass, fast acting equipment such as fan coils, chilled
beams, air handling unit coils (for central air-side heating/cooling) are great convective options but often demand more extreme supply temperatures.
High mass, slow acting embedded radiant systems (in-floor, ceiling, or wall) are another option and can more effectively use low-temperature hot water and high temperature cold water.
Given the ventilation requirements discussed earlier, air movement will always be needed, so a hybrid approach is usually preferred. An in-floor radiant system can be designed to manage a lower, more constant base load while the low mass convectors can help during peak loads. This optimizes energy usage and occupant comfort.
HOLISTIC DESIGN
By working through the four hydronic design pillars, practitioners can develop a holistic approach to building design, and the effects of these design choices can have a compounding effect on improving the overall efficiency which translates to cost savings for the operator, reduced carbon emissions for regulatory compliance, and comfort for the building occupants.
This introductory article is the first in a series of four articles that will elaborate on the principles introduced here. The
following articles in the series will explore these concepts in significantly more detail and outline how they must be considered in conjunction with each other to address the regulatory constrains like energy codes and decarbonization presented in the introduction.
The next editions will focus on design parameters and integrated application of these sub-systems that form each pillar to support modern hydronic systems. Component and system sizing, controls and integration will be the next topics.
Finally, there is a large inventory of buildings with a diverse set of unique features and requirements that must be retrofitted in the coming decades. Hydronics is well positioned to play a key role in addressing the challenges of the 2050 decarbonization plan.
The final article will tie all of these concepts together with some solutions to overcome the challenges. <>
Zachary Londo, PE, is a senior design engineer with GF Building Flow Solutions (Uponor); Jean-Claude Rémy is a business development manager with GF Building Flow Solutions (Uponor); and Chris DesRoches, P.Eng., is the business development manager, heating and cooling, with Swegon North America.
PHOTO:
Building designers need to think about ventilation and ERV’s as a “first stage” of heating and cooling.
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CURTGPT: ASK ANYTHING (ABOUT HYDRONICS)
A real person’s response to a real person’s question about the effects of glycol in a hydronic heating system.
BY BY CURTIS BENNETT
Well, we hit the jackpot. Ok “we” is a bit of an overstatement, but it has started to work. We have a reader question that came in from my last article asking for readers to submit questions.
As I said before: “I think questions will make the best articles.” It’s hard to write about “random” information hoping you will find it relevant. Getting a question from a reader is ALWAYS relevant.
So once again, I encourage you—yes you—to submit questions so we can write about things that are relevant to you! (write to editor@hpacmag.com)
Ok, first off, I would like to say thank you to the reader, especially for calling me Mr. I do sometimes forget how long I have been in the industry. I usually still think of myself as a newbie.
This reader is an ex-electrician that is getting a little “push” by his heating specialist to add something to the water in his hydronics system. Here is the question:
Good day Mr. Curtis Bennett, In 1999 we built our new house with ICF walls from the foundation on up. As well as concrete floors including the subfloor.
At that time hydronic heating systems were not very popular yet. However, with help I was able to install the hydronic heating system myself. An oil boiler heats the stale water. The system has worked well for me all these years. Now that the government wants everyone to go off oil I am looking at switching to an air-to-water heat pump for the heating only. As you mention, in-floor cooling is not being used here in Canada. I do know that it is very popular in the Netherlands. My heating/cooling specialist wants to change the stale water to glycol. I have read that glycol is not as good a heat conductor as water, and therefore it will take longer to heat up the floor. The reason why my technician wants to change to glycol is that he
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claims that it will be better for the lifetime of the pumps. What is your opinion on this? The connection between the indoor and outdoor unit will only have freon. (no water or glycol). Is it advisable to change the water to glycol? Can you give pros and cons please?
First off, good job on installing your system yourself. That takes some guts. It can be very daunting.
Well, who doesn’t like a little physics lesson? Let’s break down what the glycol is there for first. The freezing point of glycol is way lower than that of water. So, we use glycol (antifreeze) as an additive to the water, so we still have fluid but the freezing point is now lower. The freezing point also depends on how much glycol you put in the water.
Why does it matter if the water freezes you ask?
Pipes break when water freezes, and since in a radiant floor the pipes are in the concrete, it’s really hard to fix a burst pipe. Hence the glycol solution.
Ok, let’s get to some math. The heat capacity of fluid is called enthalpy. Enthalpy is the amount of heat that fluid can carry, essentially. The calculation for a Btu is 500 x Delta T x flow (gpm). The key number is 500. That number represents the heat coefficient of the media you are using. In our case this is water.
The heat coefficient of air is only 1. Water has 500 times more capacity to hold heat than air. You know what that means furnace guys? Air is an insulator. (I had to throw that out there.)
The heat coefficient of glycol is lower than water, so when you mix glycol into water the overall heat coefficient goes down. How much it goes down is the question. Now I did use the basic calculation for Btu’s, but in the more complex calculation the temperature of the fluid comes into play as to how much “more” heat can it contain from the temperature it is already at. But we will not get into that today. So how much does the glycol affect the Btus? That’s really the big question
“Yes, it is totally okay to put glycol in radiant floor systems.”
here. Let’s throw in some numbers. Let’s use a 25-degree delta-T and a flow of 10 gallons per minute (gpm). So, with water you get Btu = 500 x 25 x 10 which equals 125,000 Btus.
When we put in 30% glycol, we get 467 x 25 x 10 which equals 116,750 Btus. The difference is not that much. I always find it easier to explain things with real numbers.
The ~467 is the number that changes with glycol, that is your new heat coefficient number. There are some crazy complex calculations to find this number but there are several places that you can track it down.
The long answer to your question is, “Yes, it is totally okay to put glycol in radiant floor systems.” Especially if you are going to be cooling the floor as well. Now you will not put 100% glycol, that’s just crazy, but up to 30% is fine in a house or garage.
As you can see above in the calculation, that 30% mixture will not hinder your ability to move heat around that much and keep your floors warm. Now, the other point that your technician made is also valid.
Glycol in the system is also a lubricant for your pumps. Most pumps today are
wet rotor pumps. The tolerances inside them are very tiny. The smallest bit of rust or buildup and you need a device (hammer) to get the motor spinning again. The glycol helps with this.
One last thing to say about glycol is the viscosity goes up in the heating fluid. So the pumps are working a bit harder to push the same flow rates. This can change the “head pressure” of your system from your original pumping calculations. Just keep that in mind.
On a side note, since you want to also do radiant cooling, you will need some more sophisticated thermostats and feedback to your heat pump controls to watch for dew point. The last thing you want is to wreck your flooring. I have seen it before, and that’s why dew point controls are super important for this specific application.
Thank you again for your question and for calling me “Mr.” It was a very relevant question and one that I am sure many other people wonder about.
(So dear reader, it’s your turn. Send your question to editor@hpacmag.com) <>
Curtis Bennett C.E.T is product development manager with HBX Control Systems in Calgary. He formed the company with Tom Hermann in 2002. HBX control systems are designed, engineered and manufactured in Canada.
Only a small change in heating performance when adding glycol to hydronics system.
Weil-McLain’s Simplicity heat only or combi gas boiler for residential applications delivers up to 95% AFUE with a 10 to 1 turndown and an insulated stainless-steel firetube heat exchanger. The Simplicity is available in 110, 150 and 199 MBH, and the 199 MBH combi can produce 5.3 gpm at a 70F rise. Compact in design (20-in. wide and less than 10-in. deep) it’s suitable for retrofits and tight spaces. weil-mclain.ca
NIBCO has introduced new Webstone Y-pattern thermostatic mixing valves, available in two temperature ranges for water distribution systems and high-temperature hydronic applications, with an optional temperature gauge, or as a body-only G-Series model for a fully custom solution. End connection options include PEX, FIP, MIP, sweat, push, and press, in sizes ranging from ½-in. to 1-in. All products feature lead-free, dezincification-resistant brass and are suitable for plumbing and heating applications. nibco.com
Armstrong Fluid Technology has introduced two new sizes, 40-85 and 60-50, of its Design Envelope Compass R circulators for residential heating, cooling and potable water applications. The Compass R is an energy-efficient variable speed dry-rotor circulator. Designed to replace existing fixed-speed circulators, Compass R can be considered a universal energy upgrade for circulators in its capacity range and installation profile. The circulators can serve applications requiring up to 60 feet of head. armstrongfluidtechnology.com
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Swegon North America has launched two air source heat pump solutions: the Tetris Reversible and the Omicron 4-Pipe Multifunction Heat Recovery. Designed to replace cooling-only chillers, the Tetris Reversible provides heating and cooling, while the Omicron 4-pipe system suits applications requiring both heating and cooling year-round. The systems produce hot water up to 60C/140F and can maintain heating operations down to -20C. The systems are designed for multi-use residential complexes, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and commercial office buildings. swegon.com/na
Enertech Global’s WV is a water–to–water variable-speed geothermal heat pump able to provide in-floor radiant heating, forced air heating and cooling, and 100% of a home’s domestic hot water in one compact unit. With a broad capacity range (0.5 to 5 tons), true dual-fuel compatibility with modulating boiler integration, and no need for a buffer tank, the WV offers space savings for both retrofit and new construction projects. enertechusa.com
Taco’s HS series horizontal split case pumps are designed to maximize power savings while minimizing operating costs. Suited for commercial and industrial applications, the series features a short shaft design, extending its operational life and reducing maintenance requirements. The pumps are built with a mechanical seal and bearings that are easily accessed without disturbing the top casing. And each pump comes with Taco Tags, a QR code linking to specifications, installation guides, and troubleshooting resources tacoinc.com
OLD WORLD, NEW WORLD
Adapting a tried-and-true wood-fired heating system to work with modern technology.
BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER
Ilive in rural upstate NY where there are lots of trees, and many homeowners harvest some of those trees for firewood. They fell them, buck them up into rounds using impressive Stihl or Husqvarna chainsaws, haul the rounds out of the woods in pickups or dump trailers, and use hydraulic splitters to slice them into cordwood. Many get their firewood a year before it’s needed to allow for proper drying.
Some, like me, burn their firewood in a wood stove that’s supplementary to other heat sources. Although we only burn about two face cords each winter, operating our stove on a cold cloudy winter day is something my wife and I enjoy. The warmth from a wood stove is delightful and relaxing.
The stove also stands ready for heating or cooking when utility power is out, which seems to be a more frequent occurrence given our location and the status of local utility lines that were installed during the 1940s.
Some folks in my area “go big” with their approach to wood burning. They opt for whole house heating sourced from an outdoor wood-fired hydronic heater, such as the one my neighbour operates (see Figure 1).
I can’t describe these heat sources as outdoor wood-fired
“boilers,” because they don’t hold their water in a pressurized vessel. Inside an outer shell made of steel roofing, most of these units have a large water-tight welded steel box with a smaller welded steel box, suspended inside. The small box is the combustion chamber. The space between these boxes is filled with water. The fire within the smaller steel box transfers heat through its walls to the water.
Most of these heaters have a circulator that shuttles water through insulated underground piping to some type of distribution system in the house. The illustration in Figure 2 shows the generic internal construction for an outdoor wood-fired hydronic heater.
These heaters are not very efficient. Older models probably land somewhere between 30 to 45% efficient depending on the moisture content of the wood, and how the unit is operated.
I’ve heard accounts of people burning upwards of 30 face cords of wood to keep their home heated using these heaters. Anyone who has ever cut and split that much wood - on a yearly basis - can appreciate how much work that involves.
Still, most of the people I know who own these outdoor woodfired heaters are very devoted to them. They take pleasure in
Figure 1. An outdoor wood-fired hydronic heater.
the fact that they’re not paying for much, if any, fuel oil or propane (natural gas is not available where I live). They’re proud of their independence from foreign fossil fuels. I get it, and I admire their willing -
ness to feed the beast to maintain their autonomy.
But there comes a time when even the best “Paul Bunyan” firewood enthusiasts start “ feeling their age.”
If you’re not sure what that term means, try cutting, splitting, moving and stacking 30 face cords of firewood. You’ll catch on quickly.
Which brings me to a recent inquiry from a fellow who had reached that point in his life. He had installed and operated an outdoor wood-fired heater for years, and he was really attached to it - emotionally, but becoming progressively less attached physically.
He asked me how he could connect an air-to-water heat pump to keep the slabon-grade floor heating system in his 5,000 square-foot shop warm. He wasn’t ready to completely part with the outdoor woodfired heater, but he wanted an option for those days when he chose not to use it.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
His shop building had a well-designed floor heating system. Plenty of tubing, conservative circuit lengths, ample underside insulation, and good manifolding. Upon review, it would definitely be adaptable to the heat pump.
The concept I suggested is shown in Figure 3
SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Let’s start with the wood-only mode. The owner needs to enable the circulator in the outdoor wood-fired heater whenever it is fired. This provides flow through the primary side of a generously-sized brazed plate heat exchanger which separates the open loop of the outdoor wood-fired heater from the remainder of the system, which is designed as closed loop.
The circulator between the heat exchanger and hydraulic separator operates at variable speed to inject heated
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Figure 2. Internal construction of an outdoor wood-fired hydronic heater.
fluid from the secondary side of the heat exchanger into the hydraulic separator.
The injection rate is set by a controller that monitors the supply temperature to the floor circuits, the higher the injection rate, the warmer the supply temperature to the floor circuits.
The target supply temperature is determined based on outdoor reset control. This allows the temperature supplied by the outdoor wood-fired heater to “coast” to the lowest possible value that can still satisfy the heating load of the building.
The distribution circulator runs continuously during the heating season. I like to use continuous circulation in garage and shop buildings that have overhead doors. It helps even out heat delivery across the floor and minimizes the potential for cold spots just inside the overhead doors. The hydraulic separator in this system makes this an easy detail.
The monobloc air-to-water heat pump is connected in parallel with the heat ex-
PORTIONS OF SYSTEM FROM SECONDARY SIDE OF HEAT EXCHANGER TO FLOOR CIRCUITS NEED TO OPERATE WITH ANTIFREEZE SOLUTION
changer. It can operate as the sole heat source, primary heat source, or supplemental heat source. The system controls determine the assigned function of the heat pump.
If the heat pump is intended to be the supplemental heat source, a two-stage room thermostat could be used. The first stage would enable the injection mixing controller. If there’s sufficient heat in the wood-fired heater the thermostat’s second stage would not activate. If the wood-fired heater was off, or too cool to maintain the set indoor temperature, the thermostat’s second stage would enable the heat pump.
Many modern air-to-water heat pumps can monitor a supply temperature sensor, either directly or through an interfacing controller. The variable speed compressor in the heat pump can adjust as necessary to keep the supply water temperature to the floor circuits at some target value based on outdoor reset.
PREVENTING LOSSES
One situation that must be avoided is inadvertently allowing the injection circulator to operate when the heat pump is the sole heat source, and the outdoor woodfired heater is cold. Doing so would shuttle heat sourced from the heat pump through the outdoor heater, needlessly dissipating it to the outside or into the soil surrounding the underground piping. This detail is handled by using the boiler inlet temperature sensor on the injection controller. That sensor is mounted on the primary side of the heat exchanger. If the injection mixing controller is active, it monitors this sensor and slows down or stops the injection circulator when it’s below some set minimum, such as 90F. Thus, if the outdoor heater is cool or cold, and fluid is still circulating through the primary side of the heat exchanger, the injection circulator will remain off, even though there’s a call for space heating.
Figure 3. Adding an air-to-water heat pump to the outdoor wood fired system
Tuesday
September 16
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PORTIONS OF SYSTEM FROM SECONDARY SIDE OF HEAT EXCHANGER TO FLOOR CIRCUITS NEED TO OPERATE WITH ANTIFREEZE SOLUTION
If the injection controller didn’t have this ability, there’s a workaround. Install a differential temperature controller that compares the water temperature entering the primary side of the heat exchanger from the wood-fired heater, to the temperature on the return side of the floor circuits (e.g., entering the lowerright-side connection on the hydraulic separator). If the temperature entering the primary side of the heat exchanger is 5-degrees F or more above the return temperature from the floor circuits, allow the injection mixing controller to operate. If this temperature difference is less than or equal to 3-degrees F, do not allow the injection mixing controller to operate. The closed loop portions of the system would operate with an antifreeze solution. This is necessary to protect the monobloc heat pump from freezing.
ANOTHER OPTION
Although it may or may not be used, the heat pump has a reversing valve allowing it to operate as a chiller. If the owner wants to add cooling to the shop, it’s just a matter of installing a diverter valve (manual or motorized) that can direct flow from the heat pump to a suitable chilled water air handler. I’ve shown the concept in Figure 4
Any piping carrying chilled fluid must be insulated and vapour sealed. Also note that the diverter valve, in this case a three-way manually operated ball valve, is only used on the pipe carrying fluid out of the heat pump. The other pipe leads back to the system to provide “communication” with the expansion tank.
The heat pump controls would be set for a desired leaving chilled water temperature, typically 45 to 50F (7 to 10C).
The compressor speed modulates as necessary to maintain that setpoint temperature.
WOOD & WATTS
This application demonstrates that what might be perceived as “low tech” heating (e.g., burning wood in an outdoor heater) can be combined with a state-of-the-art heat pump using off-the-shelf hardware to keep a shop comfortable though the winter, and maybe even through the summer. <>
John Siegenthaler, P.E., has over 40 years of experience designing modern hydronic heating systems and is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating (4th edition) and Heating with Renewable Energy (visit hydronicpros.com).
Figure 4. Adding cooling potential to the system.
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MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS
MANUFACTURERS • DISTRIBUTORS • WHOLESALERS
CIPH CONFERENCE CANADA PROUD
The 2025 Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) annual conference was filled with national pride and inspirational talks.
Held over Canada Day, June 29-July 1 in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, CIPH (the national association of manufacturers, wholesalers, manufacturers’ agents and associates in the plumbing, heating industry) gathered for three days of networking, educational sessions and association business.
This year’s theme was “La Belle Celebration”, and at the national board’s annual general meeting (AGM) the CIPH welcomed Brent Cornelissen of +osb as its newly elected Chair for 2025-26.
Cornelissen takes over from outgoing Chair, Sean Kelly of EMCO Corp. Over the last year the organization outlined a strategic plan for 2025-2028, and the new Chair will keep that momentum moving forward building on four key pillars: connect, advocate, inform and deliver. The national board is now comprised of 50% women, a promising accomplishment for this industry, noted Kelly.
The invited guest speakers carried themes of resilience, motivation, and the importance of team work. Daniel Richer Dit Laflèche, Canada’s official Provincial Crier, opened the proceedings sharing tales of wisdom gleaned from generations of elders and the enduring lessons still to be learned from First Nations
across this country.
Political commentator Andrew Coyne, a regular panelist on CBC national news, warned of more instability to come from south of the border, identifying the current president as a ‘singular’ figure in history. He noted how the southern influence has galvanized Canadians, and he is optimistic that Canada is pulling in the right direction and that with more business competition and innovation the country will thrive.
Canadian singer/song writer Kellylee Evans presented an emotional and inspiring personal journey of perseverance. Her advice is to invest your time in what makes you happy, don’t live in fear, and be open to taking help from others.
The importance of teamwork was a key message from Sebastien Sasseville, an endurance athlete who has reached the summit of Everest, run across Canada and the Sahara, and completed the grueling Race Across America (cycling), all with Type 1 diabetes.
Finally, Daniel LaMarre, CEO with Cirque du Soleil, shared his insights on creativity and the importance of empowering your teams to be innovative and challenging them to come up with new ideas to solve problems.
During the association’s AGM, the Canadian Hydronics Council announced Mike Miller of Taco as this year’s winner of the CHC Award of Merit, its highest honour.
DISTRIBUTION
>> Stone Mountain Technologies, maker of the Anesi line of gas absorption heat pumps, has partnered with three Canadian distributors. Bruce Sutherland Associates will provide distribution in Atlantic Canada. Flow Sales will handle Central Canada, and Canadian Aqualine Sales will support the Western Canadian market. stonemountaintechnologies.com flowsales.com can-aqua.com bsal.ca
>> Equipco has partnered with Canature WaterGroup’s commercial industrial engineering division to represent its commercial water treatment solutions nationwide. equipcoltd.com canaturewg.com
>> RWC has extended its relationship with Equipco to include representation in most of Ontario (excl. Kingston to Ottawa Valley). Equipco also reps the RWC family of brands (SharkBite, HoldRite, Cash Acme, John Guest, Eastman, EZ-Flo) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. equipcoltd.com
>> Dobbin Sales is partnering with Tarrison Products of Oakville to carry their line of commercial stainless steel sink solutions. dobbinsales.com tarrison.com
The annual Golden Leaf Award, presented to a manufacturer or master distributor who supports the efforts of sales agencies, was presented to Rolf Fischer of Caleffi.
At the closing Gala, Allen Taylor of Taylor Walraven was presented with the Honourary Life Member Award, and the CIPH Women of Distinction Award was presented to Nicole Miller of Uponor.
Next year’s CIPH conference will be at St. Andrews, NB, June 14-16, 2026. ciph.com
Brent Cornelissen, CIPH Chair 2025-26.
Mike Miller (right) received CHC Award of Merit from Sean Kelly.
CIPH Women of Distinction Award winners: Nancy Barden (2024), Barbara O’Reilly (2022), Nicole Miller (2025), and Sian Smith (2023).
CB SUPPLIES OPENS NEW CALGARY FACILITY
In early June local contractors were invited to the grand opening of CB Supplies’ new Calgary facility.
The Surrey, B.C.-based manufacturer and distributor of plumbing, hydronics and HVAC products, began construction last year on this new 56,000 sq. ft. distribution warehouse with integrated office space, doubling the size of its previous Calgary location.
The warehouse will service Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Thunder Bay and areas to the North. The new facility joins CB Supplies’ other locations across the country in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. cbsupplies.ca
LG EXPANDS WATER HEATING PORTFOLIO WITH OSO ACQUISITION
LG Electronics has continued the expansion of its HVAC business with its acquisition of a 100% stake in European water heating solutions provider OSO.
OSO will continue to operate independently and retain its OEM partnerships, though its portfolio will be integrated into LG’s global scale and resources. As part of this transaction, LG will combine its R&D and heat pump expertise with OSO’s history and product knowledge in the space.
Founded in 1932, OSO is a provider of electric water heaters, stainless steel thermal storage systems and other water heating technologies. lgnewsroom.com osohotwater.ca
The official launch of the Napoleon training van was attended by Christian Romeroll, vice president HVAC with Napoleon (with scissors), and Barrie Mayor, Alex Nuttall (far right).
NAPOLEON LAUNCHES MOBILE HVAC TRAINING PROGRAM
Napoleon hosted the official launch of its new HVAC mobile training program and demonstration vehicle in early June at the company’s headquarters in Barrie, Ont.
The training vehicle features technical experts showcasing the latest Napoleon and Continental branded HVAC technology and provides hands-on training and skill development for HVAC professionals across Ontario and surrounding areas.
The program will also aim to work collaboratively with colleges and other industry partners to provide training that can be delivered in an accelerated and flexible format. napoleon.com
IMPERIAL MANUFACTURING GROUP ACQUIRES DUNDAS JAFINE
New Brunswick-based HVAC and building products provider Imperial Manufacturing Group (IMG) has expanding its offering following the recent acquisition of air distribution manufacturer Dundas Jafine.
Established in 1934, Dundas Jafine, operates locations in Brampton, Ont. and Alden, NY, and the company has manufactured dryer venting and flexible duct products since the 1960s.
IMG employs over 1,200 people working in 13 facilities across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, in addition to locations in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This is IMG’s fourth acquisition since 2020. imperialgroup.ca
IPEX OPENS NEW ONTARIO WAREHOUSE
Travis Lutes, president/COO, IPEX cuts ribbon at new 150,000 sq. ft. distribution centre in Woodstock, Ont., including warehousing operations as well as a cross-docking function enabling more efficient movement of goods to its distribution centres across eastern Canada and the U.S.
ROSENBERG FANS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS IN CANADA
In June, Rosenberg Fans Canada welcomed guests to its recently opened headquarters and expanded warehouse space in Mississauga, Ont. to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary. Alex Loginov, vice president operations, who helped launch the Canadian division in 2005, recognized many key team members with ceremonial awards.
Based in Germany, Rosenberg provides high-performance fans for a broad range of HVAC applications. The Canadian operation incorporates sales, parts warehousing, custom engineering and post-sales support. rosenbergcanada.com
CB Supplies grand opening in Calgary: (l-r) Warren Lowe, president; Brian Henry, branch manager, Calgary; and Colin Lowe, account representative.
Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick signing autographs at Noble BBQ.
NOBLE GTA BBQ WELCOMES SUMMER
This year the annual Noble GTA Customer Appreciation BBQ fell on the first day of summer, Friday, June 20th, and the weatherman didn’t disappoint with partly cloudy skies and temperatures around 26C, but it was feeling much warmer with 50% humidity in the air.
Still, HVAC and plumbing contractors from across the Greater Toronto Area flocked to the well-established event to share in the generous amounts of BBQ, grab the new edition of the Noble t-shirt, line-up for the ice-cream truck and also get an autograph and/or photo with NHL All-Star and Hockey Hall of Famer, Jeremy Roenick. noble.ca
NTI HOSTS CANADIAN CONTRACTORS IN ITALY
Earlier this year a group of 10 contractors from across Canada were treated by New Brunswick-based NTI Boilers to a visit of the headquarters of NTI’s parent company, Ariston, in Fabriano, Italy.
The contractors were accompanied by six members of NTI’s leadership team for the trip. Alongside visits to historical landmarks across Italy’s Marche region, the visit included a tour of Ariston’s facilities, and learning about the company’s history and technologies. ntiboilers.com
In a move to avoid tariff markups, Noritz America has opened a new commercial tankless water heater and boiler warehouse in Vancouver with all products in the warehouse being shipped directly to the facility from Noritz’ Japanese manufacturing operations.
In addition to some pricing stability due to tariff accommodation, the new warehouse will also allow for faster deliveries, simplified logistics and improved product availability, with inventories expected to be replenished quarterly or sooner depending on demand.
Products available for shipment include residential condensing tankless water heater models, in addition to commercial condensing tankless units and a residential combination boiler.
The move is expected to help distributors and have a positive impact on the businesses of the company’s wholesaler partners and ultimately their customers. noritz.com
Watts appointed David Lopes as vice president of marketing. Bringing nearly two decades of international experience, most recently with Bosch, Lopes has built and transformed operations across Europe, Latin America, and North America. And Watts Canada has added Duane Davis as national sales manager for water quality, leak defense and rain cycle. Davis previously spent eight years with Emco.
REHAU has named Tim Greer as its Academy training manager for its building solutions division for Canada and the U.S. Greer brings 20 years of technical training experience including previous roles at Rinnai, Johnson Controls, Rheem and Grundfos.
The Ontario Geothermal Association named Paul Frith as president of the association. Part of the geothermal community for over 13 years, Frith chaired the last two OGA conferences.
Heating Solutions Sales Co. (HSSC) promoted Chris Mitchell to president, succeeding Dan Cork who is retiring, and the company also promoted Dave Walsh to vice president of sales for wholesale products. Part of Burnham Holdings, HSSC product families include: U.S Boiler, Burnham Commercial, and Thermal Solutions. Joining the business in 2013, Mitchell was most recently VP of wholesale products. Walsh now fills that role.
NIBCO promoted Will Hummel to director, sales enablement, a new role to equip the sales team with tools, training, and insights. Hummel joined NIBCO in 2023 as commercial sales manager bringing more than 25 years of industry experience.
Masco Canada has appointed Michael Zherebkin as vice president, finance. With over 15 years of progressive experience, Zherebkin now joins Masco’s leadership team.
Frith
Hummel Zherebkin
Davis Walsh
Greer
Lopes
Mitchell
AI AND DUCT CLEANING
A family legacy gets a tech boost as it integrates artificial intelligence into its business.
BY ADAM OLDFIELD
Let me paint you a picture. It’s 1980-something. I’m knee-deep in dust, dragging hoses longer than I am tall, working for my dad in the family duct cleaning business—back when “take your kid to work day” was every Saturday, and the only customer relationship management (CRM) system we had was my mum scribbling notes beside the kitchen phone.
Fast forward to today. Same business. Same family. But we’ve traded in the clipboard for the cloud, and we’ve added a little artificial intelligence (AI) swagger to the mix. Think less Sanford and Son and a lot more Suits —minus the pinstripes, but with just as much precision.
When I officially took over Vacu-Man Furnace and Duct Cleaning of Hamilton, Ontario in 2019, I had a decision to make: keep running the business like it’s 1979 or build something that could handle 2029. I chose the latter, and let’s just say the results have been more Donna Paulsen (sharp-witted and organized character from Suits) than Dilbert.
We’ve always been inching toward a paperless operation. But our transformation didn’t happen overnight—it happened step by step. Everything went digital—inspections, scheduling, billing, and customer notes. We built custom apps so our crew could log morning truck checks like they were clocking into NASA. Our fleet? Synced to the cloud. Operations team? Tracking jobs in real-time like it’s NORAD.
But the real game-changer? AI. Although we’re a small business, we bootstrapped our AI integration from the ground up. We started exploring the technology in October 2022, shortly after the early release of Open AI’s Gpt 3.5. We began by testing it as a support tool for our scheduling process, and things have grown rapidly since then.
Rather than using out-of-the-box field service software CRM solutions, we’ve integrated directly with OpenAI’s API, customizing the setup to fit our specific operational flow.
FROM PAPER TO PROCESSOR: STEP-BY-STEP TRANSFORMATION
Step
1: Ditching the Paper (2017 – 2018)
When I rejoined the business in 2017, we were still printing MapQuest directions and carbon-copying work orders. Customers had to call in credit card payments, which my Mum would process by hand. Then we’d mail a receipt. The whole process took longer than the actual job.
So we started by moving everything online. We built a simple WordPress form for quote requests, and suddenly we weren’t chasing paper trails anymore.
Step 2: Digital Scheduling & Payment (2019)
Next, we integrated Google Maps into our online forms. Customer requests flowed directly into a shared calendar. We enabled online payments so clients could pay without having to call—no more awkward phone calls reading out card numbers.
Step 3: Communication Templates & AI Writing (2020 – 2022)
Duct cleaning isn’t one-size-fits-all, so explaining our services took time. Templates only went so far. That’s when ChatGPT entered the picture. I discovered that with a few bullet points, AI could craft clear, custom messages.
This was especially helpful for admin staff whose first language isn’t English. AI helped them fine-tune communication and gave our entire team more confidence in how we responded to customers.
Step 4: Automated Answering & Donna (2023)
After-hours answering services were draining the budget. That’s when we introduced Donna—our AI-powered assistant. Yes, we named our AI phone assistant after that Donna (huge Suits fans). She doesn’t book appointments (some things still require the human touch), but she does handle the heavy lifting—late-night calls, pricing, confirms service areas, and even pre-qualifies customers for next steps.
People still ask, “Was that a real person?” when we follow up. But Donna’s saved us thousands of dollars and countless hours.
Step 5: AI - Powered Marketing (2023 – Present)
Ad agencies are great, but they’re not cheap—and they don’t always move fast. We began using AI to create marketing content from our job-site photos. Our crew sends in before-and-after shots, and AI turns them into polished, branded posts.
“We’re not just keeping up with change, we’re driving it.”
We first used Canva to tweak everything, but now AI tools let us generate clean, finished content directly from simple templates. What used to take days now takes 15 minutes—saving us time without sacrificing quality.
Step 6: On-Site Smart Support (2025)
Our latest AI tools are now giving our techs a leg up in the field. With just a phone and a few spoken words, they can describe what they see, what equipment is needed, and get a quick job summary created on the spot.
Photos taken during an estimate can be uploaded immediately and tied to the job profile. That data is then used to build a professional-looking quote that can be sent to the customer the same day. It’s helped us turn estimate requests
into jobs faster—saving time, boosting professionalism, and helping techs feel supported when they’re unsure about something. It’s like having a knowledgeable partner in your pocket.
THE TAKEAWAY
Make no mistake, this isn’t a story about replacing people. It’s about empowering them. My father (who still jumps in for big jobs), my wife Michelle (our VP and glue of the company), and the whole Vacu-Man crew are part of this evolution. We’re not just keeping up with change, we’re driving it.
Vacu-Man Furnace and Duct Cleaning remains proudly family-owned, serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and the surrounding areas. With more than four decades of experience and a modern AI-supported approach, we continue to evolve—one duct at a time.
Our transformation hasn’t stopped with digital forms or automated phone systems, we’re actively developing new technology, including hydrogen-powered prototype trucks.
We’re also working on AI tools that can interpret just how dirty your ducts are and whether your HVAC system is operating at peak efficiency.
The duct cleaning business may be dusty by nature, but the technology behind it shouldn’t be. We believe that cleaner systems mean smarter homes and buildings, and we know that innovation has a place, even in the dirtiest parts of the house where no one wants to look.
Because today duct cleaning isn’t just about removing dirt, it’s about moving forward. <>
Adam Oldfield, President of Vacu-Man Furnace and Duct Cleaning, is a second-generation leader in HVAC hygiene based in Hamilton, Ont. With roots in the trades and a brain wired for innovation, he has led Vacu-Man through a full digital transformation. vacuman.com
PHOTO: YASIR/ADOBE STOCK
HOW AI CAN ENHANCE FINANCIAL REPORTING
From confusion to clarity: example of a plumbing business owner’s turning point.
BY MATTHEW BIRCH
Mike Peterson had been running his plumbing company for nearly a decade. Business was growing—repeat clients, solid crews, and a strong reputation for quality. But when it came to his financial reporting, Mike constantly felt like he was navigating with outdated maps. His reports arrived weeks after the month had closed, leaving him with little insight into what was happening now or how to plan for what came next.
That changed when Mike’s bookkeeper introduced a new platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Instead of static spreadsheets, Mike now had dashboards showing shifts in gross profit margin, insights into cash flow trends, and interactive tools for scenario planning.
He could finally test questions like: What if I hired another technician? What if material costs rise 15%? The platform let him estimate startup costs, model future profits, and respond to risks early.
His decision-making became faster, more confident, and better aligned with the realities of his business.
AI hadn’t replaced his financial team—it had elevated them. And for Mike, that meant fewer surprises and better control.
WHAT IF YOUR FINANCIALS COULD THINK AHEAD?
What if your accounting system didn’t just explain last month’s numbers—but helped you plan for next month’s challenges? What if you had tools that:
• Identified trends in job profitability
• Flagged cash flow risk before it disrupted operations
• Modeled the impact of strategic choices before you made them
AI in financial reporting is making those possibilities more real each day. Rather than acting as a record keeper, modern AI tools aim to interpret financial data and surface timely, relevant insights. And while the technology is still evolving, the direction is clear: reporting is becoming more proactive, visual, and actionable.
In the past, financial reporting has been a backward-looking function—useful for taxes and compliance, but reporting was rarely leveraged to influence forward decisions. That’s beginning to change. AI systems are starting to transform raw financial data into business intelligence: a living dashboard of where things stand and where they’re heading. Imagine setting profitability targets and watching in real time how your business is tracking toward them. Imagine seeing the early signs of cost overruns or shrinking margins before they appear on your year-end statements. These are the kinds of tools that AI can bring into focus.
WHY PLUMBING BUSINESSES SHOULD PAY ATTENTION
In plumbing, your business can change daily. Job schedules shift, costs fluctuate, and seasonality impacts cash flow. Without timely reporting, it’s easy to
make decisions based on outdated or incomplete information.
That’s where AI-enhanced reporting helps:
• Real-Time Visibility: Know how you’re doing now—not weeks later. Dynamic dashboards can reveal dips in margins or rising costs while there’s still time to react.
• Scenario Planning: Thinking of expanding? AI tools can show the likely impact on your bottom line.
• Job-Level Insight: AI can link costs and revenue by job, making it easier to see which services are worth scaling.
• Cash Flow Forecasting: Projections based on real billing cycles help you plan with more confidence.
Most importantly, AI gives you the ability to respond—not react. This is a crucial distinction. Business owners who are reacting to last month’s numbers are always a step behind. But those who have access to insights in real time can course-correct faster and make smarter investments.
And because plumbing businesses often face tight operating margins, volatile costs, and labour constraints, even small improvements in efficiency or pricing can translate into big changes in bottom-line results. That’s what makes this technology especially relevant.
THE FUTURE IS MOVING FAST
AI in accounting is still new—but it’s growing quickly. Tools are improving
“This isn’t a tech trend to watch—it’s a shift already underway.”
monthly, with more accessible, affordable options for small and mid-sized businesses.
If you’re curious about where to start, look for tools that:
• Offer insight and clarity, not just automation
• Integrate with your current systems
• Help you understand profitability, cash flow, and risk
One Canadian company to watch is Huumans.com, which is developing AIpowered solutions to help business owners extract more value from their accounting platforms.
You don’t need to adopt everything at once. Begin with what matters most: clarity, control, and confidence. Ask your bookkeeper or accountant about new tools they’ve seen. Read case studies. Start small. But start.
YOUR FINANCIAL TEAM STILL MATTERS
AI enhances, not replaces. When paired with a great bookkeeper or a fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO), these tools
can improve the quality of advice and reduce time spent on data entry. The result? You spend more time leading—and less time guessing.
In fact, many of the most promising applications of AI in financial reporting are designed specifically to free up time for human professionals to focus on what they do best: interpreting results, advising business owners, and providing forward-thinking strategy. With AI handling the heavy lifting of sorting and analyzing data, your financial team can deliver far more value.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The plumbing trade depends on being responsive, accurate, and efficient. So should your financial systems. AI offers the tools to stay in control, plan ahead, and make smarter decisions—without needing to become a financial expert yourself.
This isn’t a tech trend to watch—it’s a shift already underway. And with the right tools and the right people, you’ll be ready to make the most of it.
Now is the time to ask: What if your financial systems could work harder for you? What if they could help you grow your business, not just report on it? That future is getting closer—and the steps you take today can help you get there faster. <>
Matthew Birch is the founder of Legacy Profit Solutions, a firm that helps trades-based service business owners build stronger financial foundations through strategic bookkeeping partnerships and accounting advisory services. If your plumbing or HVAC company is ready for a more experienced bookkeeping firm or CPA, Legacy Profit Solutions can introduce you to a professional who understands your business and your goals. If you’re interested in how AI tools can enhance your financial visibility or support smarter business planning, reach out for a conversation. 587-879-7822 or matthew@legacyprofit.ca.
UPPING YOUR DRAIN GAME
For plumbers seeking to elevate their business, investing in next-level drain cleaning gear will get you there.
BY DOUG PICKLYK
Every residential service plumber likely has a plunger and a drain snake of some variety in their truck to clear sinks, tubs or toilets, including a manual snake for smaller lines and maybe a powered auger for sewer lines, but levelling up the drain cleaning game requires stocking more tools for a complete drain cleaning service. And today, no drain clearing is complete without video evidence to back up the work.
So what tools do plumbers need in their vans to really be considered a drain cleaner? “It’s something we talk to plumbers about all the time,” says Dave Dunbar, a long-time national sales manager with General Pipe Cleaners. Dunbar has been in the business for decades and has seen the evolution of the drain cleaning business. “There are people out there that consider themselves service plumbers that do drain cleaning, but they only have one small drill snake. It might be cordless, it might be corded, but they might only have that. If the job gets bigger they farm it out to somebody else.” In Dunbar’s mind those plumbers are leaving money on the table and there are plenty of opportunities out there.
When it comes to the basic drain cleaning tools for service plumbers, there are new products on the market that can make the process easier. Today’s cordless power tools are one area that’s constantly improving. For example, the new K-46 cordless SinkSnake from RIDGID comes with a built-in kickstand to support the load of the tool in multiple positions for
stability and less user fatigue. A corded or cordless drill snake like that will typically go into 1- 1⁄4 -in. to 2-in. lines and is well suited for simple residential clean outs. But to get the job done and be a real drain cleaner larger tools are required.
DRUM, JET OR FLEX
To tackle larger projects and keep more drain cleaning work inhouse, plumbers should consider stepping up to more powerful tools. Drum machines are longer drain snakes in a compact single coil. High-pressure hydro or water jetters are a step up and can clear out and clean up pipes with their high-powered streams.
And flexible shaft machines operate by spinning a flexible core cable at high speeds through a stationary outer sheath that can be handled by hand and fed down a drain. Both the jetter and the flexible shaft are capable of both clearing clogs and cleaning up the inner circumference of a pipe—real drain cleaning.
“If a plumber only carries one power tool, it should be a drum machine, but it really depends on the type of work that the user is performing the most,” suggests Patrick Tomkin, product manager of plumbing and electrical at Milwaukee Tool.
According to Tomkin, drum machines are versatile and capable of performing a broad range of applications (sinks, tubs, to larger diameter mainlines). He suggests that high-speed
flexible shafts have a narrower focus of applications, but they can be more efficient. “For example, descaling a pipe with a high-speed drain snake is far more efficient than with a drum machine,” says Tomkin.
The various strengths of the different power tools makes it difficult to discern which is best, and is one capable of doing everything?
“It’s difficult to pick a one-size-fits-all tool solution because blockages and job sites vary, requiring different types of machines,” notes Alex Meyer, senior product manager with RIDGID. For the service plumber, Meyer recommends a flex shaft machine and the cordless sink snake.
Dunbar believes a small jetter should be on a every plumbing truck. “Plumbers have been telling us for the last 10 years that 50% to 75% of the grease that’s coming up in today’s world is within about 10 to 15 feet from a kitchen sink. So we recommend going through with a snake style machine first, poke a hole in it to get the water moving, and then go through with a small jetter.
“We say that small is the next big thing in jetting, because the best way to get through grease is a high-pressure water jetter. You can do a decent job with a flex shaft device, but we still say that the best way to get at grease is through a jetter.”
General Pipe Cleaners latest jetter is portable electric unit, the JM-1000 Mini-Jet that’s in a toolbox so it’s easy to carry.
CONDENSATE PUMPS
Sanicondens® Best Flat
Residential and commercial condensate pumps with multiple inlets will discharge up to 15 Ft vertically.
Comes with ready to install connections to an alarm system or shut-off switch
Equipped with 20 feet of vinyl tubing, PVC discharge adapter and neutralizing granules *.
Low profile commercial model with built-in neutralizer can handle up to 500,000 BTU/hour *.
* Based on commercial model
Sanicondens®
“We recommend that people use several machines on every job if they can, because this synergy will improve the work they’re doing.” – Dave Dunbar
And the RIDGID KJ-1350 water jetter is also designed for the residential service plumber with a flexible hose that can go through 1- 1⁄4 -in. to 4-in. lines–blasting through sludge, soap and grease blockages. “As you pull the hose back, it power scrubs the line, flushing debris away and restoring drain lines to their free-flowing capacity,” says Meyer.
While jetters come highly recommended, the flex shaft machines are also very versatile. Dunbar knows an experienced drain cleaner in California who uses a flex shaft for most jobs, but he seems to be an outlier. “I think flex shaft devices are going to continue to improve and people are going to get better and better at using them and understand how to avoid some of the pitfalls of them,” says Dunbar, noting that the greatest strength of the flex shaft can also be its greatest weakness.
Because the shaft can rotate from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm it can slice through roots, emulsify grease and descale pipes, but because it’s spinning so fast it can also get caught and snap. “People break the flex shaft all the time,” say Dunbar, adding, “The first support video we made when we brought out our flexible shaft device was how to repair a flexible shaft.”
But as an industry, flex shaft technology is an area where the machine makers are constantly improving. Two of RIDGID’s FlexShaft machines now come with an improved cable and a repair coupling that makes them fully field-serviceable. “The repair coupling is re-usable and only requires two wrenches to install or remove, replacing the original crimped style coupling,” says Meyer.
CAMERA READY
One of the fastest growing and necessary elements of drain cleaning are purpose-built inspection cameras. “It is a must-have on every truck,” says Frank
The new JM-1000 X Mini-Jet from General Pipe Cleaners is a toolbox jetter that provides 1,500 psi of cleaning power and weighs 23 lbs. Continued on p64
RIDGID’s newest cordless-powered drain cleaning machine is the K-46 Cordless SinkSnake for clearing blockages in sinks, tubs and showers.
MINDS OVER DRAIN MATTERS
DRAIN BRAIN FOR: 41 Years LOCATION: McKees Rocks, PA SPECIALTY: Director of Operations GO-TO TOOLS: Expertise & Experience
PROVEN PERFORMANCE. General Pipe Cleaners, the industry’s Drain Brains, develops proven solutions like the patented Flexicore ® cable. For 95 years, we’ve been designing and building products to take on the toughest drain problems.
MIKE SILVERMAN
< PLUMBING
D’Andrea, of Ratech Electronics, Canadian manufacturer of pipeline inspection cameras. “A drain inspection camera can trouble-shoot what the problem is inside the pipe. It will detect a crack, break, obstruction, or dis-joint. Not only will it detect a problem, but the inspection camera will tell you how far down the pipeline the problem occurred, and it will also give you a depth reading (if using a locator) as to how deep the camera is below the earth and pinpoint exactly where the issue is.”
Dunbar recalls when he first started in the drain cleaning industry, “If something was wrong inside a pipe, you’d trust your intuition. There’s a maple tree over there, it’s probably roots,” he says, but with video inspection now drain cleaners can see exactly what’s going on.
“Drain inspection is essential for several reasons,” says Meyer at Ridgid. “It allows the professional to understand what is really happening in-pipe before they begin work and confirms they’ve thoroughly removed a blockage once they’ve completed the work. It also provides customers with a visual understanding of the work they are having done in their home, enhancing trust with their service provider.”
The camera technology is also one area that is improving rapidly. “Nowadays pipe inspection camera systems have become smaller, more light-weight, feature-rich, and much more compact,” says D’Andrea. “Just like our mobile phones, pipe inspection command modules now have touch-screen technology built in and the ability to stream the inspection wirelessly to your phone via an app so that you can use your phone as a recording device to record snapshots or video.”
Tomkin at Milwaukee agrees that a plumber’s ability to show the pipe issues directly to the customer provides them with assurance and peace of mind that the job is being done correctly.
And Dunbar notes that a lot of drain cleaners will warranty their work, “And nobody should warranty a job if they haven’t gone through with the camera system first.”
And camera inspection isn’t only for before and after drain cleaning, but it can also ride along during the process. “One of the biggest positive aspects of the flexible shaft device is you can use it with a camera,” says Dunbar. He recommends feeding the camera about an arm’s length behind the flex shaft as you feed them through the pipe. “We don’t recommend zip tying it or taping it or something like that. Just grab it with both hands and push them both in, because if it does get caught and you have your camera tied to the flexible shaft you could have an expensive break.”
For the service plumber crowd, this year Milwaukee launched a lightweight and compact inspection camera and high speed chain snake designed for
1- 1⁄4 -in. to 2-in. pipes.
Compact solutions for portability, Milwaukee launched the M12 Compact Inspection Camera (65-ft. and 85-ft.) and the M12 FUEL High Speed Chain Snake for 1- 1 4 -in. to 2-in. pipes this year.
The K9-102+ FlexShaft from RIDGID is designed for 1-¼-in. to 2-in. pipes and includes 50-feet of ¼-in. cable enclosed in a nylon-sheath and is fully field-serviceable.
The Power-Vee drain cleaning machine with automatic feed from General Pipe Cleaners work for sinks, tubs and laundry drains and holds 50-feet of ¼-in. or 5 8 -in. cable, or 35-feet of 3⁄8 -in. cable.
PHOTOS:
I & I
A growing business within the serious drain cleaning industry is being on the lookout for inflow and infiltration (I and I) and then replacing or relining pipes.
“Municipalities are increasingly concerned about fresh water getting into the sewage pipes more than they are about sewage getting out,” says Dunbar. After heavy rains, as more fresh water gets into a pipe it simply increases the inflow and overwhelms sewage treatment plants.
“This is where the really big money is when it comes to drain cleaning,” he says, noting that one plumber told him that they have five service trucks on the road, but they’re just out there finding leads for the pipe replacement business.
The replacement and relining business requires the cleaning a jetter can accomplish and inspection video to pinpoint problem areas. “We say the cameras and jetters go together like peanut butter and jelly for these jobs,” says Dunbar.
NEXT LEVEL
For larger and longer pipes, the next level products include sectional or rodding machines that can spin faster and travel longer, and the jetting machines come in electric powered and also gas powered for higher-level requirements. As the projects get bigger there are tools that suit a drain specialist or a plumber that’s serious about the business.
Proper training and safety is critical as the level of power in the machines increases. For all sizes of drain cleaning equipment, Dunbar warns against forcing tools down the drain. “Make sure you’re not over-stressing the cable. The last thing we want is for a cable to bind up or throw a loop right in front of somebody’s face.”
And when it comes to drain cleaning snakes, he suggests users think of them like a drill, not a hammer drill. “Let the rotation of the of the cable and the
cutting head eat its way through the obstruction.”
As for trends in the market, all of the drain cleaning equipment manufacturers foresee continual improvments in the technology, but there is no single solution for the large variety of jobs out there.
But one thing is certain, there are a lot of drains out there and they are always clogging, so there is always a call for drain cleaning. “It’s not affected by inflation. It’s always happening, and it happens at a fairly consistent level,” says Dunbar.
Although not all plumbing companies want to get involved in drain cleaning, somebody has to do it. A business or house without working plumbing because of a clog cannot operate or be lived in. These are jobs that have to be done and done quickly. And to get the job done right requires the know how and the right machinery. <>
Best practices to maintain belt and pulley systems that keep the air flowing in HVAC systems.
BY DAVE DEMMA
In simple terms, power transmission can best be described as the movement of energy from one place to another place. The initial energy, emanating from a power source, is transferred through various types of components to accomplish some type of work.
A bicycle is a good example of power transmission. The source of power is the body’s legs, which apply force to the crankshaft at the point of connection, the bike’s pedals. The crankshaft has a sprocket, and the rear wheel also has a sprocket, and the chain, which connects the front sprocket to the rear sprocket, transfers the movement generated by the power source to the rear wheel, resulting in forward motion.
Similarly in the HVAC world, an electric motor (the power source) with a pulley attached to its shaft, can be connected to another shaft (with a pulley on one end and a fan blade on the other) with a V Belt, and that belt is transferring the movement generated by the power source to the fan’s shaft assembly, resulting in the rotating fan developing air movement.
PULLEY AND AIR MOVEMENT
Shafts and bearings are key components in power transmission. The shaft is the cylindrical component which transfers a motor’s power to whatever machinery is requiring rotation. Shafts require bearings to support the weight of the motor assembly and rotate smoothly with a minimum of friction. A properly lubricated and functioning bearing will reduce wear on the shaft, allowing the equipment to operate efficiently.
With a pulley (or sheave) directly connected to the power source shaft and the machinery shaft, a V Belt can then be employed to connect the power source to the machinery requiring rotation.
Not only will this result in the transmission of power, but it can also facilitate the transmission of power over distance.
The circular pulley will have grooved rims which provides a grip for the V Belt that drives the fans. When it comes to selecting belts, the selection should be based upon the pulley’s groove dimension.
There are several types of belts, each with their respective application and benefits (see Figure 1):
Figure 1. Belt profiles for different v-belts.
Fractional Horsepower Belts: These are light duty V-Belts, and they are typically used on relatively light load drives of one horsepower or less. A typical application would be a small exhaust fan, washing machine, or similar small load.
Classical V-Belts: These are the most common belts in use. The construction is a bias cut, with a rubber-impregnated fabric cover. These belts provide good flexibility and friction resistance. They vary in width from ½-in. to 1-½in., with lengths from 16-in. to 400-in. The nominal dimensions (sized as A, B, C, D, and E) determine what the width and height is (as indicated in Figure 1).
Classical Cogged V-Belts: Dimensionally, these belts are the same as the Classical V-Belts, but these ones utilize a bias-cut cover stock. This cover provides lateral stability across the entire width of the belt while also allowing for axial flexibility. This design provides optimum flexibility and minimizes heat
build-up. Some studies have shown cogged belts to be more efficient, and with the cog reducing the bending stress they typically last longer than standard V-Belts.
“Regular maintenance of belts and pulleys
tant and keep the individual belts permanently welded together. These are ideal for applications where high shock or pulsating loads are present, which could normally cause the individual belts to flip over or jump out of the pulley’s grooves. The combo design will ensure equal load distribution and eliminate the possibility of belt shifting. They are particularly effective in vertical shaft drives.
Classical Combo V-Belts: In applications where the pulley contains two or more grooves, combo belts can be used. Essentially, a combo belt is two (or more) belts of the same size joined together with a tie band. The tie band is reinforced with high-strength tensile cords. They are fully oil and heat resis -
Narrow V-Belts: Dimensionally, these belts are narrower than the standard V-Belts, and this allows for a greater depth to width ratio which offers more contact between the belt and pulley. This design provides the highest power in the smallest package, which can be advantageous for compact applications. These belts are well suited to severe duty applications such as high starting loads and high shock.
Continued on p68
< REFRIGERATION
BELT MAINTENANCE
Regular maintenance of belts and pulleys in HVAC systems is crucial for efficient operation and longevity. Key maintenance tasks include checking and adjusting belt tension, ensuring proper pulley alignment, inspecting for wear and damage, and cleaning the components. Here are four common mistakes made with belt replacement:
There’s an old saying regarding HVAC/R maintenance, ‘You can pay me a little more now (at the time of original pur chase), or you can pay me a lot more later (after the low bid contractor and/or materials are used). There’s no ques tion that better materials cost more than inferior materials. Materials such as aramid or Kevlar cords offer superior strength to polyester cords. Cogged belts are more expensive than standard
Figure 2. Proper pulley alignment.
failed belts at an inopportune time.
3.) Proper pulley alignment is also key to belt life. The use of a straight edge (or piece of string) can assist in the proper alignment of the pulleys. In addition, various pulley alignment tools are available. See Figure 2, where A illustrates pulleys being out of alignment angularly vertically; B illustrates pulleys being out of alignment parallel horizontally; C illustrates a pulley being out of alignment angularly horizontally; and D illustrates two properly aligned pulleys.
4. The art of properly adjusting a V-Belt is critical for optimal system performance, life of the belt and life of the shaft
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bearings (motor and load). If a belt is too loose it will obviously be prone to slippage. This results in reduced fan speed and potential heat/damage to the belt. If a belt is too tight the entire transmission train is under increased stress. This will result in early belt, pulley and bearing failure. Belt(s) should be tightened as follows: first, determine the length of the belt span—for every inch of span the belt should have 1⁄64 -in. of belt deflection (Figure 3).
SAFETY FIRST
As a mechanical system, motors, belts and pulleys are unforgiving and use great force. Before doing any inspection or maintenance on belt-driven systems turn the equipment off and lock out the power source. And as always, wear appropriate safety gear and wait until the belt is at a complete stop before working on it.
There you have it. Happy Belting! <>
Dave Demma holds a degree in refrigeration engineering and worked as a journeyman refrigeration technician before moving into the manufacturing sector where he regularly trains contractor and engineering groups. He can be reached at ddemma@uri.com
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The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) hosts its 96th annual conference in Palm Springs, California in conjunction with the international meetings of ASSE and ARCSA. iapmo.org
Heat Pump Symposium – Halifax
September 23
Produced by the HRAI, this conference, trade show and networking event will be held at the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. Dedicated to heat pumps, it will provide insights on regulatory trends, technology developments and product adoption. heatpumpsymposium.ca
AIM/R Annual Conference
October 20-23
The Association of Independent Manufacturer Representatives will hold its 53rd annual conference at the Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year’s theme is “Working on your business … and not just in it.” aimr.net
Modern Hydronics Summit
September 16
HPAC magazine’s annual Modern Hydronics Summit heads West to Calgary and the Glenmore Inn and Convention Centre for a day filled with learning opportunities and displays of the latest in products and technologies that are pushing the hydronics industry forward. modernhydronicssummit.com
IEQ Conference
September 24-26
Organized by ASHRAE and the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC), the IEQ 2025 Conference takes place in Montreal and provides an opportunity to learn, network and engage with professionals dedicated to advancing the fields of indoor environmental quality. ashrae.org
Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC) Expo
November 5-6
Making a return the Toronto Congress Centre, the KBC Expo is now being produced by the owners of the KBIS show in the U.S., and the organizers are looking to deliver a high level trade show and conference for everyone involved in the residential kitchen and bath business.
kbcexpo.com
MCAC Annual Conference
November 26-29
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada is heading to Barbados for this year’s annual gathering with educational and informative conference sessions focused on future trends and developments combined with networking opportunities for colleagues from across Canada.
mcac.ca
2026
AHR Expo
February 2-4, 2026
The Air conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration (AHR) Expo returns to Las Vegas to showcase the ladtest in technology advancements for the industry. Co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, the expo and conference is the largest of its kind in North America. ahrexpo.com
HRAI Annual Conference
September
21-23
The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada hosts its Annual Conference in Halifax this year. As always, the gathering includes social and networking events along with informative and thought-provoking sessions.
hrai.ca
Canadian Hydronics Conference
September 30-October 1
The Canadian Hydronics Conference is presented annually by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC). The two-day conference heads to the Palais des Congrès in Montreal featuring keynote presentations, technical sessions and a tabletop trade show. ciph.com
CIPHEX West
November 5-6
Heading back to the PNE in Vancouver, this year the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) has joined forces with the British Columbia Electrical Association (BCEA) to present CIPHEX + Electrical Learning Expo West, an expanded version of the show bringing electrical contractors on board. ciphexwest.ca
CMPX
March 25-27
The Canadian mechanical and plumbing industry once again comes together at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, south building, in downtown Toronto for the nation’s largest trade show that takes place every two years.
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INFINITI® GS & GR TANKLESS GAS WATER HEATERS
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