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A second successful edition at the Palais des congrès de Montréal By Luc Boily
The ISH show reveals the future of the plumbing and heating industry. By
Doug Picklyk
HEAT PUMPS AND BEYOND HVAC technology keeps evolving and will continue to improve.
By Ian McTeer
TRADE
All things considered, is private equity investment and venture capital ruining the HVAC/R trade?
By Gerry Wagner
By Doug Picklyk
comfort with the smart features your customers want and the reliability you need.
• R32 refrigerant – low GWP, in use by Hitachi since 2013
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• Reliable heating down to -30°C
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30 HYDRONICS
LOOKING AHEAD
Air-to-water heat pump set ups can be simple while combining efficiency, utility and comfort.
By John Siegenthaler
38 CONTROLS
ANY QUESTIONS?
I’m looking for your help—plus a few suggestions for zoning hydronic heat pump setups.
By Curtis Bennett
44 PLUMBING
IS THE TIDE TURNING FOR HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS?
It’s time to take a second look at HPWH technology.
By Doug Picklyk
52
ADVANCED HEAT PUMP TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
A review of common areas of concern and new technologies to become familiar with.
By Dave Demma
56 BUSINESS
AVOIDING SEASONAL DOWNTURNS
Strategic planning for sustainable success.
By Matthew Birch
58
WORKFORCE 25
TACKLING THE LABOUR CHALLENGE
Progressive companies in construction trades are taking steps to attract and retain good talent.
By Adam Freill
OF HOME COMFORT AND CLIMATE CONTROL, HEAT PUMP TECHNOLOGY HAS SURGED FROM CURIOSITY TO CENTRE STAGE. Once maligned for underperformance in cold weather and high upfront costs, the modern heat pump is now rewriting the script on how we heat and cool buildings—cleanly, efficiently, and with long-term economic sense.
Recent advancements in cold-climate heat pump technology have turned these units into solutions for all seasons in Canada. Units are extracting heat even when outdoor temperatures plunge below -20C or even colder.
On top of their expanded temperature range, modern heat pumps deliver efficiencies up to 300–400%, meaning for every unit of electricity consumed, three to four units of heat are produced. When those numbers are compared with the 95% efficiency of the best gas furnaces suddenly the case for electrification becomes not only environmental—but economical.
To help explain the efficiency angle, Robert Bean, a Canadian expert in this field and past HPAC contributor, likes to share a concept he wishes more contractors and consumers understood: exergy.
In simple terms, exergy measures the quality or usefulness of energy. Burning natural gas in a home furnace produces high-grade thermal energy, but when we use it merely to heat a house to 21C, we’re squandering that high-grade energy in a task that could be accomplished with much less. Using gas for intense manufacturing, processing and applications requiring highgrade heat makes sense, and will continue to make sense for a long time. But for raising a home’s temperature a few degrees, it's like using a blowtorch to toast bread.
In contrast, as we’ve all heard or read, heat pumps move heat rather than generate it from combustion. This means they use low-exergy (low-quality) energy to raise indoor temperatures using ambient heat from the air or ground. And they do this without carbon emissions on site, and not at all provided the source of electricity generation is also carbon friendly.
This isn’t just the vision of environmentalists or electric utilities. Even natural gas utilities are advocating for heat pump adoption. In Ontario, for example, Enbridge helps administer the Home Renovation Savings Program offering homeowners rebates for heat pumps. And of course there is also Enbridge Sustain, the gas utility’s arms-length (ahem) energy-as-a-service solutions provider that offers a range of home comfort solutions, including heat pumps, in partnership with licensed contractors (maybe even your company).
It would seem the gas company pivot underscores a larger trend: a decarbonized electrified grid is inevitable, and heating technologies must adapt.
This is not a threat to contractors—it’s an invitation. If you’re still basing your HVAC business on a furnace-and-AC model, are you in tune with today’s informed consumers? Maybe now is the time to get trained, get certified, and start marketing your business as a heat pump specialist.
Heat pumps represent more than an equipment upgrade—they symbolize a shift in how we think about energy. <>
– Doug Picklyk, Editor
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The Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has published its Bridging the Skills Gap for Heat Pump Proficiency research report highlighting skills gaps across the industry.
As part of the research, a technical assessment tool was created to evaluate the confidence and knowledge of more than 200 technicians, with 86 G2 and 313D technicians included among the respondents.
Research reveals a similar skill level between G2s and 313Ds, along with pathways for enhancing knowledge among both groups. Notably, the report found a gap between confidence levels and capabilities among 313D technicians that raised concerns regarding potential errors in critical tasks and adherence to safety and regulatory standards.
An assessment identified the need for heightened attention and training in the areas of sizing and selection, installation, maintenance, controls, line voltage, codes and commissioning.
Recommendations include expanding pathways for G2 technicians to obtain a 313D qualification, the mandating of professional development and upskilling for all HVAC/R technicians, along with financial support for workers and employers to offset training costs.
Further requests include engaging Skilled Trades Ontario to support curriculum updates based on technological advancements, encouraging national collaboration to harmonize training across provinces, and implementing an imperative for government and utility incentive programs to require work to be completed by licensed technicians.
The entire research project is a collaboration among the HRAI, NRCan and Environment and Climate Change Canada. hrai.ca
The Province of British Columbia’s annual Climate Change Accountability Report, based on 2022 emissions data and actions completed between April 2023 to April 2024, shows that heat pump installations increased 67% compared to the previous year, citing support from government rebates and expanded access.
Further investments in clean energy from BC Hydro was also highlighted, with $36 million being invested in the expansion of regional electrical infrastructure.
Emissions per person in the province are currently down by over 21%, with emissions per unit of GDP down by over 30%. Overall, the province remains on track to reduce its base level for emissions established in 2007 by 20% by 2030. Despite this progress, this figure does not meet the 2030 climate goals set by the province.
“I want British Columbians to know that we will continue to strengthen our efforts to reduce emissions, while ensuring people have more affordable and sustainable options available to them,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. gov.bc.ca
Green Communities Canada (GCC) has released the 2025 edition of its National Progress Report on Retrofitting Canada’s Homes, which analyzes steps made over the last five years.
The report compares more than 600,000 retrofits documented in the federal system over the last five years with the Energuide Rating System.
Major trends identified include a boom in home retrofitting following the launch of the Canada Greener Homes Grant program until its cancellation in early 2024. By the time of the cancellation, half a million Canadians had applied for the grant.
The report notes that 12 million homes across Canada are still in need of retrofitting. To address this, the authors recommend a new national retrofit program and highlight the intended goals behind it including: retrofitting remaining homes to align with Canada’ net-zero and climate resiliency goals and emphasizingbuilding envelope improvements and incentives that encourage deep energy retrofits with savings of at least 50%., creating a strong domestic retrofit economy, and lowering home energy bills for Canadians.
The report also recommends the development of a standalone rebate for heat pump-only installations that would not require an EnerGuide visit but would require heat pump right-sizing practices to ensure maximum energy savings.
greencommunitiescanada.org
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A second successful edition at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. BY
LUC BOILY
The 2025 edition of the MCEE Show (Mécanex/Climatex/Expolectriq/Éclairage), held on April 24 and 25 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, was the eighth edition of this joint venture trade show and conference format collectively produced by CMMTQ (Association of Master Pipe Mechanics of Québec), CIPH (Canadian Industry of Plumbing and Heating), CETAF (Association of air conditioning and refrigeration), and CMEQ (Association of Master Electricians of Québec).
The two-day show welcomed some
8,000 attendees this year, approximately 1,000 more than the last edition in 2023.
In a press release, the CMMTQ stated that the event’s attendance “confirms its position as the most important mechanical and electrical trade show in
Canada.” The show floor featured 355 exhibitors (about 55 more than the 2023 show) with a vast selection of the latest products and technologies covering the 66,000 sq. ft. exhibition floor.
“With its New Product Competition, its topical conferences, its onstage product presentations, and the variety of its exhibitors, each edition of the MCEE Show reinforces its position as an essential event in the Canadian industry,” said CMMTQ general manager Steve Boulanger.
For the attendees there were also 15 industry-related seminars made available free of charge (all presented in French).
A regular feature of the MCEE show is its New Product Competition and the accompanying New Product Showcase on the trade show floor. This year the competition presented 87 products with an emphasis on sustainable devel -
edge and discovered products that meet the global demand for climate change,” said Satinder Chera, CEO of CIPH. “In addition to the members of the organizing associations, I thank the chair of the MCEE Show Committee, Denis Beauchamp (Beauchamp, Babin & Associates. Inc.), who was greatly involved in the planning of this major event.”
take place on April 14 and 15, 2027, again at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. <>
Luc Boily is the editor of Plomberie, Chauffage Climatisation (PCC), a sister publication to HPAC servicing Canada’s French
The ISH show reveals the future of the plumbing and heating industry. BY
Every few years Frankfurt, Germany, welcomes plumbing, heating and mechanical professionals from across Europe and around world to ISH, the largest global trade show serving the heating, ventilation, plumbing and water industries.
This year ISH ran for five days (March 17-21) at the Frankfurt Fairgrounds (Messe Frankfurt), occupying 12 entire buildings. This year’s show attracted 163,157 visitors with over 2,000 exhibitors from 55 countries.
The expansive fairgrounds require multiple days to navigate, with walkways connecting buildings or shuttle buses to ferry visitors from hall to hall.
The theme for this year’s ISH was “Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” and HPAC magazine was fortunate to be on site to take in the major technology advances and trends.
Europe is on the road to lowering carbon emissions in buildings, and with a lot of hydronic heating across the continent, the halls dedicated to heating equipment featured many versions of new air-to-water heat pumps with the latest models incorporating R290 (propane) as the refrigerant.
As North America slowly embraces the mildly flammable A2L refrigerants in heat pump technology (R32/R454a), Europe is moving ahead quickly with the next phase in the refrigerant transition.
Entire halls were dedicated to bathroom fixtures and design, water treatment systems, software and building automation, ventilation and much more.
A Canadian contingent of 22 visitors, hosted by Taco Canada, took in the first two days of ISH.
The group, made up of contractors and engineers along with equipment suppliers, distributors and industry association leaders, were very impressed with the scale of the event.
“It’s a lot to take in,” said Derek Ermen of Ermen Plumbing and Heating in Moncton, New Brunswick. “Over the two days I’ve been here I’ve probably only seen about 10% to 15% of the show.”
Dave Donaldson of family-owned Donaldson Plumbing and Heating of Kingston, Ontario agreed: “You need at least three or four days to experience this entire show,” suggests Donaldson, who was struck by the high-quality of design. “All the products are very aestheti -
cally pleasing here,” he said.
He was also impressed with companies showing green energy whole-home solutions — tying in solar and energy storage with a boiler, heat pump and even EV plug-ins.
“That’s a trend I see here—one supplier packaging everything together for your house. I hope that’s a trend we see in Canada, and soon,” said Donaldson.
“There were so many things here that have a ‘wow’ factor because we don’t see them in North America,” said Mark Miller of Breakaway Plumbing and Heating in Kelowna, B.C.
Miller was impressed with the variety of pre-assembled hydronic panels for many different specific applications.
The Canadian group’s overall level of excitement with the new technology was also tempered with some frustration.
“Don’t come here expecting that you’re going to be getting these products in Canada any time soon,” says Donaldson. “Many of the manufacturers say they’re working on it, but it’s our approval program that makes it tough.”
Ermen agrees: “I find it interesting that there is so much technology out there, but with the certifications we have (for the small market that Canada is) it’s cumbersome for manufacturers to actually access our market.
Yet, everyone in the group was thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they were very appreciative of their host.
For Mike Miller, vice president of sales with Taco Canada, the tour was a combination of educating and community building.
“We take this opportunity to expose some of our Canadian market to a taste of European history and the technology at the show which is generally a few years ahead of what we have in North America,” says Miller.
The ISH experience is a bucket-list item for many veterans of the plumbing and heating industry, so for fellow Canadians interested in pursuing this trip in the future, a word of advice from Ermen: “Wear comfortable shoes, because coming here from Moncton, this show is like 40-times the size of our local trade show—it’s overwhelming.”
ISH returns to Frankfurt in 2027, running from March 15 to 19. <>
The third edition of the Heat Pump Symposium, an all-day conference and trade show produced by the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), attracted some 80 exhibitors and 1,000 overall attendees to the International Centre near the Toronto Airport on Tuesday, May 6th.
The large conference crowd was welcomed by current HRAI Chair, Chris Hann of Wolseley Canada along with messages from local politicians, including a video address from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and words from the presenting sponsor Toronto Hydro.
To set the table, the keynote presentation was delivered by Bryan Flannigan, P.Eng., executive director of the Building Decarbonization Alliance, who noted that although there is clear momentum for heat pump adoption building across Canada, the country will have to install heat pumps at three times the current rate to meet federal targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the course of the day there were also main stage panel discussions touching on technology and workforce development. One panel addressed industry trends including some future-looking technologies like thermal storage, as well as some feet-on-the-ground realities of getting heat pump sizing correct. Victor Hyman of ClimateCare expressed the need for contractors to take on the role of ‘comfort advisors’ for their customers, and he stressed the importance of understanding how to get the design and installation right the first time.
One panel was focused on overcoming
the labour shortage, especially the need for technically astute installers, with a reference to the recent HRAI Skills Gap Assessment Report (available at hrai.ca).
The day also included a series of breakout sessions zeroing in on topics like the viability of all-electric solutions and smart sizing including a walkthrough of the new NRCan Air Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection web app, City of Toronto multi-unit residential case studies and more.
The final session of the day featured Mélanie Auvray of the European Heat Pump Association sharing an international perspective on heat pump adoption. Auvray identified that heat pump sales across Europe in 2024 actually declined for the first time in years, but there were mitigating factors that saw both heat pumps and boiler sales decline last year, but overall the trend for
heat pump sales Europe-wide remains in an upward trajectory.
Much like Canada, Europe is also facing a shortage of skilled installers and heat pump sales volumes correlate to regions where the price of electricity is favourable compared to natural gas pricing. Europe also requires more policy stability and harmonization across the broad region of countries.
Overall, the event reinforced the message that today’s heat pump technology is up to the challenge of the Canadian environment, but the heat pump movement requires more ambassadors sharing the message and even greater buy-in from the existing industry and the upskilling of existing trades to drive further adoption.
The next Heat Pump Symposium, the fourth edition, will be taking place in Halifax, Tuesday, September 23. <> heatpumpsymposium.ca
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HVAC technology keeps evolving and will continue to improve. BY
IAN McTEER
In 16th-century France, King Henry IV dreamed of a future where every peasant could enjoy a chicken in their pot. If he were alive today, a modern King Henry might wish for every homeowner to enjoy the comfort and efficiency of a heat pump.
While this vision is undoubtedly worthy, achieving widespread electrification of residential and commercial buildings is a complex challenge, with significant obstacles still to be overcome.
Advancements in science and technology led to the development of practical and reliable mechanical refrigeration machines dating back to the early 20th century. Ironically, the seemingly relentless pace of widespread invention and
innovation at that time created a plethora of devices leading some people to think that everything that could be invented had been invented.
My own fascination with science and technology led me to visit the Ontario Science Centre in the early 1970’s.
Incredible things were on exhibit there:
• Bell Telephone displayed a push button phone console with an integrated television screen – imagine being able to see the person on the other end of the line!
• An interactive machine with a push button and speaker…press the button and the speaker said, “coffee” as an affirmation; press the button again, “coffee?” as a question; once again,
“coffee!” as an exclamation; another time, “coffee?!?” as a surprise – it took some time but eventually we started talking to machines and now they answer back.
• The incredible Van de Graaff electrostatic generator meant to help demonstrate the nature of electricity and cause your hair to stand on end.
• An inspiring Model Laboratory designed to mimic a working laboratory.
• My favourite machine, Robbie the Robot (from the sensational 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet) might soon be a reality, I thought. I do not recall any displays at the Science Center devoted to heat pumps,
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indeed, it was not for another 15 years before I encountered one.
That early heat pump, now that I think about it, was more of a prototype for our climate than a serious residential heating strategy. The poor beast, no one had prepared it for our cold climate. It had a ridiculously primitive defrost system that failed because the defrost pressure switch sensor tube became plugged with bugs and grass clippings. Not to mention the complicated set of add-on controls required to shut the unit off at balance point (a poorly understood concept at the time) along with another temperature actuated control meant to start the indoor furnace below balance point. Gaps in the electro-mechanical “programing” often caused no heat calls when an unanticipated dead zone occurred between various sensor settings. Enough of that, what happened in the past led to decades of research and field experience culminating in today’s cold climate air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. So, a heat pump for every house then?
Well, it’s complicated!
One could argue that heat pump technology has outstripped its bounds in several important areas:
Far too often, residential HVAC replacement decisions are made at the worst possible time due to an emergency breakdown. No preplanning, just get the heat back on. In such cases the finesse of proper specification of equipment along with top drawer installation and commissioning of today’s sophisticated products is less likely to occur at every level. And proper operation and maintenance requirements, even though well communicated by many contractors, do not have a lasting impact or are entirely ignored by the equipment owners.
Today’s HVAC industry is facing an overhaul of system designs (SEER 2), expectations to enhance product knowl -
edge (inverter vapour injected compressors), compliance regulations for A2L refrigerants, new installation methods, new tools, and new repair techniques— all of this literally at once!
Even more worrisome, our industry does not have enough engineers, technicians, installers, or trainers to meet the current demand. As I have heard it said, “not enough hands, too many targets.”
In a recent report from Green Communities Canada, subsidies are not working as intended. Two fast facts published in the report are disappointing:
• The retrofits completed from 2020 through to the end of 2024 achieved roughly half the average savings per
retrofit needed to support Canada’s 2050 net-zero targets. We need programs that support at minimum 50% reductions in energy use.
• Only 29,000 of the 600,000 retrofits have achieved the status of “deep energy retrofits.” A deep energy retrofit saves 50% or more of the energy used in the house.
A possible solution could be to install a heat pump in every new house (Figure 1). Subsidies should be provided for retrofits only when advance planning results in an optimized system design and the installation is carried out under favourable conditions, such as when there Continued on p22
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are no snowbanks. However, without first addressing workforce shortages, widespread implementation of technological innovations may face challenges due to the lack of professionally trained personnel.
In keeping with generations of scientific and technological advancements in every aspect of human activity, the way we heat buildings, especially residential buildings, has advanced remarkably in just the last decade.
From the conventional air source heat pump that failed to deliver impressive energy savings in cold climates to today’s inverter driven, dense vapour injected compressors combined with electronic expansion valves and sophisticated controls—now we have air source heat pumps that can deliver 100% of the heating load down to -20C and lower. Unthinkable a few years ago.
Today, homeowners and building owners have a growing number of alternatives to consider when upgrading their heating and cooling systems. I do understand why many Canadians decide to replace their existing systems with a 95% AFUE gas furnace and a 14.3 SEER2 conventional air conditioner. Typically, this choice is often driven by cost and the stress of a no-heat emergency.
And these decisions are frequently made without a full understanding of the long-term benefits of modern solutions like cold climate heat pumps. As a result, short-term savings often outweigh long-term value.
This is where contractors will begin to play a crucial role.
Far too many HVAC contractors assume their clients will demand the cheapest options over more innovative and sustainable solutions. But, with the right education and guidance, potential customers can gain solid information about how heat pumps will improve
“HVAC contractors assume their clients will demand the cheapest options over more innovative and sustainable solutions.”
their comfort, reduce their energy costs, and contribute to a healthier planet.
Drew Tozer’s book Feel-Good Homes underscores this idea by emphasizing that “everyone deserves a comfortable, healthy, sustainable home.”
Tozer is part of Toronto-based Foundry Heat Pumps, a contractor serving the Greater Toronto Area. His book is not only a resource for homeowners but also a valuable tool for contractors seeking to become “ambassadors of electrification,” thus equipping them to share the transformative potential of heat pumps with their clients.
HVAC systems are generally tailored to buildings in three ways: new installations, retrofits, and replacements. Moving away from the outdated “bigger
is better” philosophy, modern new construction and certain retrofit projects now benefit from advancements like improved insulation, high-performance windows, optimized ventilation, and enhanced air sealing. These innovations allow for the use of smaller, precisely engineered HVAC equipment designed to deliver the ultimate comfort, sustainability, and efficiency—a key pillar of the “feel-good home” concept.
While electrification of our HVAC world is a worthy goal, it is my opinion that many customers will continue to choose a gas furnace and air conditioner simply by way of a comforting inertia focused on the familiar. However, there are many other alternatives during this transitional period. Here are some noteworthy options:
Ducted Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps (ccASHP): In my opinion, such systems set the gold standard when applied to properly specified and installed forced warm air applications. In my own heat pump experience living in southeastern Ontario, there was a lot of snow last winter, but the outdoor air temperature only briefly dipped below my balance point of -22C. My backup electric heat strips installed in the matching air handler were nonetheless ready to provide uninterrupted comfort. Every house deserves to benefit from this gold standard.
Mini-Split ccASHP Systems: Offering installation flexibility for buildings without proper ductwork, these systems include single-head, multi-head, low-wall terminals, and low/high static air handlers. Advanced models can even signal backup baseboard heaters when temperatures drop below balance point, optimizing energy efficiency and performance.
Dual-Fuel Systems: Combining inverter-drive outdoor heat pumps with efficient gas furnaces, these hybrid setups can provide enhanced energy efficiency and comfort for older houses not insu-
Continued on p24
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In an industrial park north of Toronto in Richmond Hill, a company is focused on building a better heat pump, and after three years of R&D they believe they’ve done it.
Terravis Energy is a subsidiary of Worksport, a public company listed on the NASDAQ (WKSP) and founded by Steven Rossi. Incorporated in both Canada and the U.S., Worksport sells tonneau covers for pick-up trucks, but the company's Terravis Energy division, led by Lorenzo Rossi, Steven’s father, is a clean tech business that includes the focus on heat pumps.
In early March this year Terravis unveiled its AetherLux heat pump system with Zerofrost technology claiming it can “provide continuous heating without defrost cycles—even in extreme subzero conditions.”
Lorenzo Rossi, who has a masters degree in computer science, began investigating heat pump technology about three years ago looking for ways to improve system performance. With the assistance of a federal funding program he partnered with researchers at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to develop his theories.
Two years ago, Kurt Bhatnagar, a G1 313A gas mechanic with Smith & Long, came on board to help bring Rossi's visions to life. He was introduced to Terravis Energy by Tony Panetta of UA Local 787.
Since meeting Bhatnagar and Rossi have collaborated and tested various prototypes aimed at raising the heat output of a heat pumps system in extreme cold conditions. They tried a direct cascade system (multiple compressors all piped into the same refrigerant system) or an indirect cascade system using heat exchangers and different refrigerants, but recurring defrost cycles were always a limiting factor. So together they zeroed in on how to avoid the need for a defrost cycle at all. “The concept is we wanted to eliminate the defrost cycle, but we also made a unit that is designed to go down to -55C,” says Rossi.
In a live demonstration with their Zerofrost PRO unit sequestered in a -35C cold chamber, sensors positioned on a mini-split head located just outside the chamber show it blowing 30.8C air. (You can see a similar demo on YouTube, search: Aetherlux Pro in Action.)
Running for over an hour, there was no defrost cycle required. While Rossi can’t divulge yet how they do it, he says a 60-page patent has been filed and it will take another six months or so to become public.
“At the end of the day we are not breaking any laws of physics, everything is just energy transfer,” says Bhatnagar.
“The ability of our design it that it’s transferable to any heat pump,” says Rossi, noting that a primary objective now is to optimize the technology and then license it to other manufacturers. He’s already received interest from within the HVAC industry and also from the automotive industry, where heat pumps are used in electric vehicles for comfort and also to keep the batteries climate controlled.
Sadly, the next move for Terravis Energy is to a facility near Buffalo, NY. “At some point you have to stop engineering and start manufacturing, and doing it here in Ontario would be choice number one,” says Rossi, but he notes that a lack of incentives and the high cost of industrial space in the Greater Toronto Area is driving the business south. <> – By Doug Picklyk
lated or air sealed to modern standards.
Ground Source Heat Pumps (geothermal): Continual technological improvements are boosting their popularity, offering reliable, sustainable heating and cooling for properties with suitable land and installation conditions.
Innovative Compact Heat Pump Units: Products like window heat pumps and through-the-wall heat pumps are gaining traction in areas not necessarily considered to be cold climates. The New York City Housing Authority, for example, plans to deploy 4,000 windowunit heat pumps over the next two years following a successful pilot program.
Gas Absorption Heat Pump: These units burn fossil fuel yet deliver more efficient heating and operate in cold climates.
A company called Terravis Energy, conducting R&D work just north of Toronto, recently unveiled its AetherLux Pro heat pump. Their proprietary ZeroFrost technology eliminates the need for defrost cycles (see sidebar). The AetherLux Pro variant is expected to deliver full heating capacity down to -45C while maintaining a coefficient of performance (COP) of 3. (terravisenergy.com)
By combining extreme durability, energy efficiency, and AI-driven optimization, our industry will be expecting big things from Terravis Energy going forward.
Recently I learned that Copeland, a global provider compressors and more, has invested in a Netherlands based start-up called Blue Heart Energy. This company has developed a thermo-acoustic heat pump. Instead of traditional refrigerants, this heat pump design uses sound waves in a closed circuit to generate heat and cold. Blue Heart claims their unit is silent, affordable, and adaptable to both new and existing homes.
Copeland intends to assist Blue Heart Energy in bringing their innovative tech-
nology to commercial readiness. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of Blue Heart’s products, which suggests that their heat pumps could eventually become available in North America. (blueheartenergy.com)
In December 2024 researchers from the U. S. Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory shared development of a magnetocaloric heat pump claiming to match current vapour-compression heat pumps for weight, cost, and performance. Magnetocaloric heat pump works by changing the magnetic field applied to a magnetocaloric material, a rare earth metal, while pumping fluid to move heat. (ameslab.gov)
Future heat pump technologies with no refrigerant is an interesting prospect.
Engineers in British Columbia have been exploring a new generation of electric load sharing devices designed
to prioritize essential loads in buildings. Older buildings with 100-amp electrical panels, for example, could have an allelectric heat pump system installed using this technology to ensure the heat pump only operates when there is enough capacity in the panel.
By carefully managing the timing and distribution of power, these systems prevent overloading the electrical panel, eliminating the need for costly upgrades. If household appliances are not using the full 100-amp capacity at a given moment, the device allocates the available power to the heat pump. Brilliant!
Also, I stumbled across this. Panasonic has developed the OASYS System for high performance homes (under 3ach50) utilizing a network of highly efficient bath fans, an ERV, a mini split indoor head, dehumidifier, and a bank of high efficiency air filters. All the components are installed in one no load “conditioning room” within the home.
Conforto heat pumps keep your home refreshingly cool during the hottest days of summer—without compromising on energy efficiency. Choose the Cold Climate Centrally Ducted System for whole-home cooling or the Maximum Ductless Mini-Split for targeted comfort in any space. Both systems are whisper-quiet, ENERGY STAR® certified, and built to perform year-round.
Every other room is ducted to its own bath fan in a home run configuration ideally providing 3.5 air changes per hour per room 24 hours per day. The room access door serves as the return air filtration panel. (interesting concept: oasys.na.panasonic.com)
Have we reached the pinnacle of innovation when it comes to heat pumps? Hardly. Just as the clunky voice synthesizer at the Science Center in 1971 evolved into AI companions that speak English (and many other languages) better than I do, the journey of innovation is far from over. <>
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.
All things considered, is private equity investment and venture capital ruining the HVAC/R trade?
BY GERRY WAGNER
The issue of private equity investors coming into the HVAC/R trade to purchase small “mom and pop” install and service companies and ultimately creating large conglomerate type outfits was brought up in reply to a recent LinkedIn post of mine.
The concern from the commenter centered around these companies allegedly charging exorbitant prices for shoddy workmanship and ultimately harming the end-user (homeowner) as well as tainting the reputation of the HVAC/R trade/industry as a whole.
Look, private equity investors in the HVAC/R trade isn’t anything new. To me it’s just a new name for outside investment, and the concept and practice has been around as long as I have—and I’m sure longer than that.
I can remember some 30 years ago or more, private investment firms with an endless supply of cash buying up small independent contracting firms for well beyond their actual value at an extraordinary pace.
Yet every one of these companies that I remember from my day in the field are now gone. Yes, they had money to spend (and spend they did), but they had no idea how our industry worked and in the end they all failed. Why? Well, there are many reasons, but one of the primary reasons was they created a business model that encouraged sales over quality, volume over workmanship, and numbers over skill.
That works for the short term, but it never works for the long term. History
has proven that in our industry as well as others time and time again.
I will say this, the large consolidators of contracting HVAC/R companies I have witnessed in recent times may have built the better mousetrap. The people heading these companies are often brilliant young entrepreneurs who are laser focused and know how and where to get investment monies, and more importantly they spend those monies wisely to grow their business.
Most still know little about our trade, but here is the difference, they surround themselves with people who do and let them run the technical side while they concentrate on the business.
Another difference I see with these new firms is the formation of something of a hybrid business model more than a conglomerate of companies. Yes, they do purchase smaller firms outright from
time to time, but I have noticed that they have learned that simply finding a smaller firm in the market that is known for its quality and integrity and then essentially sub-contracting to them works just as well.
There is an old saying in the trades that goes: “You can be a brilliant technician/mechanic or you can be a brilliant businessperson, but you are rarely both.”
I myself found this to be true. That’s why Patricia ran our business while I turned the wrenches. These smaller firms that enter a sub-contracting arrangement with a larger firm receive an incredibly valuable resource, a new revenue stream along with business mentorship.
Private equity financed or otherwise, price gouging in this industry isn’t new and is not unique or exclusive to large contracting firms. Maybe I’m naïve, but I
always feel companies who take unfair advantage of the general public ultimately find themselves with a bad reputation, a seemingly endless list of poor Google reviews, and more often than not, find themselves out of business.
I think many of the large HVAC contracting firms nowadays get unjustly painted with a negative private equity brush. Is it really a problem that these firms exist? Is it really a problem that private investment money has recognized HVAC as an industry to have exponential growth potential? Is the negative brush they are being painted with more representative of simple jealousy?
I think we all should be pleased that the private equity/capital investment communities have identified HVAC/R as an industry with exponential growth potential. This is a good thing!
I also believe one of the best things to
During the pandemic HVAC/R was recognized and categorized as essential. Trust me, this put our industry on the radar of every Bay Street/Wall Street firm, business college, and the investment community in general.
“We all should be pleased that the investment community has identified HVAC/R as an industry with exponential growth potential.”
All aspects of our industry saw benefits from that designation, including distribution outlets (wholesalers). As I write this article today, Watsco (WSO) stock
share. Watsco is one of the largest HVAC/R wholesale suppliers in the U.S. Look, as much as I’m defending this private equity trend, I’m not blind to the potential for negative results for the smaller firms remaining within a community, but it’s competition—pure and simple competition, and that has always been healthy. I feel the greater threat to our trade comes from HVAC equipment being sold to the general public as D.I.Y. projects, but that’s a discussion for another day (next article). <>
Gerry Wagner is the president/owner of Education, Services & Products Company LLC (ESPCO). He has spent 45 years in the HVAC/R industry working in manufacturing, distribution, contracting and training. gerry@ESPCOtraining.com or connect with Gerry on LinkedIn.
This is your chance to enroll in TECA’s
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Lennox has launched the Dave Lennox Signature collection SL22KLV cold climate heat pump, delivering comfort down to -20F/-29C. The SL22KLV has efficiency ratings up to 21.1 SEER2, 13.2 EER2, and 10.50 HSPF2. It uses R-454B refrigerant, and its variable-speed compressor dynamically adjusts based on outdoor temperatures. A direct-drive fan and sound-dampening offer quiet operation. It pairs with the Lennox S40 smart thermostat, and built-in sensors allow the system to optimize performance and assist dealers with routine maintenance and troubleshooting. lennox.com.
NAVAC’s FLEX-X manifold gauge features an HD colour graphic interface and delivers Class 0.4 accuracy with digital readings, real-time visuals, and advanced animations, while keeping the traditional analog dial. The quarter-turn valves provide convenience in refrigeration flow control. It’s rechargeable lithium battery powers up to 100 hours of operation. It has one-knob control for quick navigation and a rugged aluminum body. The FLEX-X is fully compatible with A2L refrigerants and supports a total of 72 refrigerant types. navacglobal.com
Airzone Control expanded its line of HVAC control bridges with three new Aidoo Pro models: Aidoo Zigbee, native integration to Zigbee 3.0 smart home platforms; Aidoo Pro Smart Thermostat Interface (STI), a Wi-Fi based model for integration between smart thermostats and inverter (VRF / minisplit) AHUs; and Aidoo Pro Hub - a wired Ethernet controller. Airzone enables native integration with leading AHU manufacturers for control over temperature set point, fan speed, and mode from a smart home system, smart thermostat, or building automation platform. airzonecontrol.com
The Testo 558s digital manifold features a touchscreen and large colour display. Compatible with A3 and A2L refrigerants, it has a selection of 96-plus refrigerants. Readings can be recorded for up to 30 minutes and displayed as trend curves. Optionally, it can be extended to a logging capacity of 72 hours. Readings can be exported and sent as a report via the testo Smart App. Multiple applications can be controlled including superheating and subcooling, tightness testing, Delta T, evacuation or filling. testo.com
The Fujitsu single-zone, wall-mounted AIRSTAGE Orion XLTH+ (extra low temperature heating plus) is a cold-climate mini-split system with up to a 33.5 SEER2 rating. It maintains full rated heating capacity at -15F/-26C and 90% rated capacity at -22F/-30C. It’s available in three capacities: 9,000, 12,000 and 15,000 BTUh, with maximum heating capacities of 24,000, 27,300 and 28,000 BTUh, respectively. System control options include built-in WiFi connectivity with remote monitoring via an app, compatibility with Fujitsu wired controls, and third-party interface options. fujitsugeneral.com
Bosch Home Comfort unveiled a new R-454B version of its Climate 5000 ductless mini-split heat pumps. The systems include a factory-installed A2L sensor on the evaporator coil that directly connects to the indoor unit’s control base. The condenser can power up to six indoor air handlers for a multi-zone solution. The series features infrared technology to sense when people are inside a room. The outdoor unit runs as low as 53 dB, while the indoor unit runs as low as 23 dB. bosch-homecomfort.com
Rheem’s Endeavor line classic plus series universal heat pump RD17AZ side discharge units are compatible with existing HVAC systems, or serve as a universal replacement, the units provide 70% capacity at -15C and offer efficiency up to 19 SEER2 and up to 9.5 HSPF2. The side discharge features a small footprint with options a low as 40.2-in. wide, 16.4-in. deep and 36.6-in. tall. Models are available from 2-ton to 5-ton, and sound dampening features ensure sound levels stay as low as 58 dB. rheem.ca
NIBCO has partnered with DEWALT on a 24kN tool and jaw kit to crimp NIBCO PressACR fittings. The tool is optimized for one-handed use and the jaws have a gray galvanized coating. The kit includes the press tool, USB-C cable, shoulder strap, charger and two 20V MAX DCB203 2.0 Ah batteries. The jaw kit includes ¼-in., 3/8-in., ½-in., 5/8-in., ¾-in. and 7/8-in. sizes. PressACR connections, with patented interior groove design and HNBR seal, are suitable for HVAC/R applications rated up to 700 psi. nibco.com
Optimized for prefab and onsite mechanical and HVAC work, Milwaukee has expanded its thin sheet metal category with the M18 FUEL 10-Gauge Nibbler. The new nibbler provides fast, clean cuts in 10ga mild steel, and includes a variable speed trigger and an LED work light. The adjustable die head allows for tool-free 360-degree die holder rotation. The M18 FUEL 10ga nibbler provides up to 96 feet per charge and can make precise 2-in. radius cuts on tight radial turns. The included chip collection bag simplifies clean-up. milwaukeetool.ca
Air-to-water heat pump set ups can be simple while combining efficiency, utility and comfort.
BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER
Interest in air-to-water heat pumps as primary heat sources in hydronic systems continues to increase. Based on a poll conducted in 2024, 30% of several hundred respondents, including engineers, contractors, and wholesalers, indicated they would be recommending an air-to-water heat pump system to their customers. Another 24% indicated they are likely to be asked for such systems by potential customers
There are now at least 20 companies that offer air-to-water heat pumps in North America. They range from nominal 3-ton (36,000 Btu/h) single-phase units, to large 250 ton rated 3-phase powered commercial heat pumps. Momentum is also building due to government manipulation of energy markets. Many provinces and cities in Canada have established “aggressive” electrification mandates that seek to
rapidly transition the HVAC market away from fossil-fuels. You may or may not agree with these mandates, but you can’t deny they will change the residential HVAC market, and in doing so create profitable opportunities for those who choose to participate.
HYDRONICS REMAINS HIGHLY RELEVANT
Imagine a way to merge technologies including heat pumps, time-of-use (TOU) electrical rates and thermal storage and also deliver outcomes of superior comfort and high energy efficiency.
All three of the above technologies have existed for years, but to date they have not dominated the HVAC market. That’s likely to change as utilities create new TOU structures to meet increasing demand while minimizing peak loads.
Modern hydronic technology, when properly executed, can serve as the “glue” to bind these technologies also create unprecedented market opportunities in the process.
As is true with most things hydronic,
Every contractor needs a go-to tankless that can tackle just about any job. That’s what we had in mind when we engineered the Infiniti® GS & GR tankless gas water heaters. They’re flexible and easy to install in many configurations.
• Residential and Commercial applications
• Robust stainless steel heat exchanger for longer life
• Cascade and common venting between standard and recirculation models
• Certified Green Product™ by the Green Restaurant Association
Continued from p30
there are multiple ways to combine components into systems. Some approaches are simple but overlook opportunities to improve comfort, efficiency, or reliability, while others are “hardware intensive” but result in a higher cost and complexity.
So, what’s a reasonable approach for a system that can leverage the previously mentioned technologies while providing thermal and distribution efficiency? Look at Figure 1 (page 30).
This system uses a monobloc air-towater heat pump along with individually controlled panel radiators for heat delivery. The insulated tank provides both buffering and thermal storage. The latter mode allows the system to coordinate operation with time-of-use electrical rates. The heat pump can “charge” the tank when rates are low.
The tank is shown with an optional electric heating element, which could be used for backup heat.
Additional components include two motorized ball valves (MV1, MV2), two variable-speed circulators (P2, P3), a hydraulic separator with magnet, a manifold station, pressure relief valve, differential pressure bypass valve, and fill/purging valves.
Motorized valve (MV1) is a modulating valve controlled by a 0-10 VDC signal. Motorized valve (MV2) is a two-position valve (e.g., either fully open or fully closed).
The hydraulic separator serves a simple homerun distribution. Each panel radiator is supplied by ½-in PEX tubing and equipped with a thermostatic valve that modulates flow as needed to keep the desired comfort level.
Circulator (P3) operates 24/7 during the heating season. Its speed is regulated based on constant differential pressure control. As the thermostatic radiator valves open, the circulator in -
creases speed and vice versa. In most locations a small circulator that only requires about 45 watts power input at full speed is adequate.
Its typical operating cost at a location where electricity costs $0.20 per kWhr (and its average power input is 30 watts) would be about 15-cents per day. If all the radiator valves are fully closed, the circulator goes into a “sleep mode” at about 9 watts of electrical input.
In systems with water based thermal storage it’s important to maintain temperature stratification within the tank (e.g., hottest water at top, coolest water at bottom). Without going too deep into thermodynamic theory, a stratified tank provides better “usability” of the heat compared to a fully mixed tank.
When an air-to-water heat pump is used to add heat to the tank, there’s an operating characteristic that can quickly destroy this stratification. It happens when the heat pump turns on its circulator for two minutes before starting its compressor, a typical control action. It’s how the heat pump’s internal controller verifies adequate water flow prior to op -
Continued on p34
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Continued from p32
“It’s important to maintain temperature stratification in the thermal storage tank.”
erating the compressor.
This action would result in water from the bottom of the storage tank passing though the heat pump without any heat being added and then being injected into the top of the storage tank, destroying the temperature stratification. This can be prevented with the use of the motorized valves (MV1) and (MV2), and the ∆P bypass valve.
When the heat pump is first called to operate in heating mode its circulator turns on, but valves MV1 and MV2 remain closed. This forces flow leaving the heat pump through the differential pressure bypass valve, which has been set to a pressure high enough to remain closed when either (MV1) or (MV2) are open. The minimum thermal mass of the circuit between the heat pump and bypass valve allows the temperature leaving the heat pump to rise quickly.
A differential temperature controller monitors this temperature as well as
the temperature at the top of the storage tank. When the heat pump’s leaving temperature rises slightly above the temperature at the top of the tank, the differential temperature controller opens valve (MV2) to allow flow from the lower portion of the tank to return to the heat pump. This helps preserve beneficial stratification within the tank.
To understand how this system works, it’s helpful to examine each mode individually. We’ll start with a mode where the heat pump is “charging” the tank with heat, Figure 2 (page 32).
Circulator (P1) creates flow through the heat pump. As soon as the water temperature leaving the heat pump rises a few degrees above the temperature at the top of the tank motorized valve (MV2) opens, allowing flow to return from the lower portion of the storage tank to the heat pump.
Motorized valve (MV1) modulates as necessary to create a suitable supply water temperature for the distribution system. That supply temperature is based on outdoor reset control.
The amount of flow passing through (MV1) determines the mixed supply water temperature to the panel radiators. That temperature is sensed downstream of the distribution circulator (P3). If there is minimal flow demand to the radiators, most of the flow from the heat pump passes to the thermal storage tank. This control logic ensures that comfort is maintained, while sending any “surplus” heat production to thermal storage when rates are low.
The time during which the system could operate in this mode depends on the rate of heat output from the heat pump, the volume of the tank, the allowed temperature increase in the tank,
and what electric utility rate is available.
As an example, a heat pump delivering an average of 30,000 Btu/hr to storage could raise the temperature of 119 gallons of a 30% solution of propylene glycol and water about 33F degrees in one hour. Heating the tank from say 100F to 130F is a reasonable requirement for modern air-to-water heat pumps, especially those operating on R-32 or R-454B refrigerant. Even higher temperatures are possible when heat pumps operating on CO2 or R-290 (propane) refrigerant become more available in North America.
During thermal storage charging mode the heat pump remains on, at full capacity, until the tank temperature rises to some high limit based on what the heat pump is capable of.
Figure 3 shows the system supplying heat from the thermal storage tank to
the emitters, while the heat pump is off.
The flow rate of heated water from the tank is being controlled by the variable-speed circulator (P2) using a 0-10 VDC control signal. Motorized valve (MV2) is fully closed. Motorized valve (MV1) is fully open.
The flow created by circulator (P2) mixes with flow returning from the heat emitters to create the desired supply water temperature upstream of the manifold station. This is a form of injection mixing. As the temperature of the storage tank cools, the flow rate created by circulator (P2) increases to maintain the desired supply water temperature as long as possible.
When the tank can no longer maintain the required supply temperature the system switches to a mode that depends on the type of heat pump used. When a variable speed “inverter” heat pump is used, the supply water temperature to the heat emitters is controlled by
varying the heat pump’s compressor speed. If a fixed speed heat pump is used, the thermal storage tank operates as a buffer tank. The heat pump runs until the temperature at the top of the tank is a few degrees above the target supply temperature to the heat emitters, at which point it turns off, and remains off until the tank’s temperature drops a few degrees below the target supply water temperature. During this “cool down” period circulator (P2) operates at a speed that can maintain the target supply water temperature to the load.
It’s also possible to expand the capabilities of this basic platform to include domestic water heating and central cooling (see Figure 4, page 36).
Domestic water is heated as it passes through the coils inside the reverse indirect water heater, which also serves as
Continued on p36
Continued from p35
the system’s thermal storage tank. If the tank temperature is maintained sufficiently high (between 115F and 125F), the domestic water can be fully heated to a useable temperature as it passes through the tank’s internal coils.
If the tank temperature is maintained based on outdoor reset, some type of electric booster (tank-type or tankless) can be used to bring the domestic water to the required temperature.
Cooling is provided by a ducted air handler with a chilled water coil. Flow through the air handler is created by circulator (P4). By using a dedicated circulator for cooling, there is no concern about sizing or speed control for the heating distribution circulator (P3) if it were to be used for cooling mode.
With a system that provides space heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, it’s necessary to provide priority controls to handle a situation where cooling and domestic water heating are called to operate at the same time. I favour making domestic water heating the priority load. The tank tempera -
ture can usually be recovered in a few minutes of warm weather operation.
The piping layouts shown in Figures 1 through 4 are relatively simple. The hardware used is all available from multiple sources. However, coordinating the control functions using currently available single function controllers, while possible, is cumbersome.
I’ve done the design for this. The system - without the cooling option - requires five single function controllers, five relays, and a fair amount of wiring to tie everything together.
An alternative “brain” for this system would be a programmable and relatively inexpensive micro-controller such as an Arduino that provides the digital and analog outputs needed to turn devices on or
off, as well as control the speed of circulator (P2) and the modulation of valve (MV1).
Perhaps some enterprising individuals will seize this opportunity. The hardware is inexpensive and readily available; it’s mostly a matter of writing software to drive the micro-controller.
The future of home heating and cooling will involve heat pumps and time-ofuse electric utility rates that leverage demand side management of energy.
Thermal storage will increasingly be part of that convergence. Hydronics technology provides an ideal way to bring all these concepts together and at the same time provide unsurpassed comfort. It’s available in the present, and it’s ideally positioned for the future. <>
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).
Proud of your work? Better than the rest? It’s time to bring it on!
THERE WILL BE A WINNER IN EACH CATEGORY: COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL NEW-BUILD & RESIDENTIAL RETROFIT
ENTRY IS SIMPLE - send us pics of your installation. Include a brief description of the particular challenges that you faced with this installation and how you overcame the obstacles. Submissions are limited to one per contractor. Deadline to enter is July 31, 2025. The three winners will also be announced by John Siegenthaler at the Modern Hydronics Summit 2025. In addition to having your winning entry shared across our social media channels you’ll also be interviewed by HPAC’s editor and featured on the cover of the October edition of HPAC –
I’m looking for your help—plus a few suggestions for zoning hydronic heat pump setups.
BY CURTIS BENNETT
We all fundamentally know this deep down, but really none of us enjoys change. Sure, if you won the lottery that kind of change is good, changing your morning routine, not so good. You get the picture. Well, you may asking, “What is he getting at, and what does this have to do with me?” It has to do with you, and you specifically, because I need your help.
For years now I have been writing these awe-inspiring articles, covering topics from hydronics control basics to what the components on the board actually do. I have also all but run out of stories about how I have hurt myself, shocked myself, or just done something dumb (and I really enjoy sharing these stories, because if you can’t laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at?).
Anyways, back on track, you have probably read this far and thought, “Oh no, he’s not going to write any more articles.” Well, you’d be wrong. I am simply going to change what I write about.
It’s one thing for me to write about what I, or the staff at HPAC magazine, think you want to read, but it is another for you to give us your ideas. Yes, this could get dirty, and it could get me into a whole lot of hurt, but it also (in my opinion) helps more people than simply explaining what ECM means again.
As more information becomes available at your fingertips (Chat GPT), how can this human bring you more value? What if I could help you solve your realworld issues?
This is not a fundamental change, but something I have been thinking about for a long time.
Controls issues arise for installers at all levels every day — programming settings, setting up Wi-Fi, hooking up wires, all the way to how to check continuity. So, here’s my ask: I want you to send in your controls questions, and then I can explain how we would solve them. [send questions to editor@hpacmag.com]
Simple or complex, it doesn’t matter. There are no bad questions, but this isn’t going to be a product help line. I’m not going to walk you through the steps in your product manual, but when you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to be working—and you’ve patched things together with paper clips and Scotch Tape— maybe I’ll have an alternate solution. So, send me your hydronics control stumbling blocks, and I’ll share my solutions.
Now, just because this article has to be a bit longer, let’s throw in some zoning suggestions for heat pumps.
I will start with this. What I am about to say is for wet load heat pumps. I think I just made up a new term. Heat pumps that are air-to-water or water-to-water. Air-to-air heat pumps are basically just a furnace in my book, so the zoning is air zoning alone, not the topic today.
Okay, at the very least you need to start with a zone control that will take both heating and cooling inputs. That narrows the field down considerably. Those zone controls that are referred to as “relay boxes” are not designed for this job, so don’t add a hundred relays and auxiliary switches and say you got it working.
You did a disservice to the homeowner and probably made your life
wayyyyyyy harder in the future. Harsh I know, but it had to be said.
I also don’t want to see you use two separate thermostats to do one job. When using heat pumps, you have two separate water sources (water tanks). OK, direct to load guys are saying “no you don’t have to,” but let’s not complicate things just yet. We’ll leave that for another article (if someone asks for it).
Okay, we have cold water and hot water sources that we can put into the zones, so let’s use thermostats that can do cooling and heating. It will make your life a lot easier in the end.
You may be wondering why I mention this, because I still see it happening. That’s why.
Basics out of the way, let’s dig in a bit. Zoning for heat pumps can be a little complex, but with a zone control that has some unique options, specifically designed for zoning heat pumps, it can take a lot of guesswork out of the equation. (Shameless plug,. our company has just added some very cool options to our zone controls specifically for heat pumps.) A lot of the time in these setups the cooling is done with a fancoil. We are still not seeing a lot of in-floor cooling situations, but there are more panel cooling jobs showing up.
But for today we will focus on air cooling via fan coil. I suppose we need to hit another small topic as we lead into the rest. On the air side of a heating and cooling system you can have two types of systems. A two-pipe system and a four-pipe system. The two-pipe system means that heating and cooling water goes through the SAME heat exchanger in the fancoil,
so you can only have one at a time.
A four-pipe system means the heating water and cooling water go through separate coils in the fancoil. You guessed it, two pipes for each side. Two for heating and two for cooling. My math on that equals four. Super-fast explanation, but that’s the gist. You know I don’t get much into the mechanical side, but I needed to explain that.
Ok, back on track here. We need to use thermostats that can do heating and cooling on one stat as well as needing to use “smart” zone controls.
Another good aspect of heat pump zone controls is the fact that it has all the air side control built in as well. This now limits the field even more.
Trust me, having this integrated in will save you a lot of time. It will.
Now I am sure I have said this before in another article, but if you have both heating and cooling loads at the same time in the house use a two tank system (a buffer tank for hot, another tank for cold). The reason you are installing a heat pump system is for efficiency. If you use a single tank system, what hap -
pens if you have a cooling call during a heat call? The control waits until the heat call is gone and then proceeds to cool down the tank that you just heated up. Does that make for an efficient system? (That was a rhetorical question.)
Setting up the thermostats for this situation is easy. We want the thermostats to be in 2-stage heating and single stage cooling. What this will give us on our zone control is radiant heating as first stage and second stage heat will be air side. Made super easy by the fact that the zone control will take care of that for you.
Wiring the air side is as easy as wiring W-W, R-R-Y-Y and so on. Remember we are wet heads here, so we want radiant heating as much as we can. Having the thermostats set up like this also allows us to, in rare cases, keep the floor warm but also have room cooling.
You would have to set up the thermostat for floor heating to do this, so keep that in mind. You will run into customers that will want this.
We also don’t want zones fighting against each other. Setting up one zone in the larger area to run the fancoil is the
most effective at achieving this. You don’t need to zone each zone with air, remember it’s not the primary heating. The rest of the zones in that “area” would be set up just for their floor heating. This way if the cooling zone comes on the zone control will “lock-out” the heating zones automatically.—this is one of the new options I was telling you about.
Ok, I went way over my quota and left a little bit hanging, but zoning is a huge deal. Use a zone control that can handle the radiant zones as well as the air side for cooling and second stage heating. It makes or breaks installations. So, get it right. Use the proper zone controls for the job! Remember, send me your questions: editor@hpacmag.com <>
Curtis Bennett C.E.T is manager of product development, HBX Control Systems in Calgary. He formed HBX with Tom Hermann in 2002. The company’s controls are designed and manufactured in Canada to accommodate a range of hydronic heating and cooling needs.
IPEX Centre ribbon cutting: (l-r) Trevor Johnston, VP of R&D; Alex Mestres, CEO; Premier Doug Ford; Travis Lutes, president/COO; and Philip Martino, P.Eng., director of R&D.
The leaders of IPEX North America welcomed Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, to help celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new IPEX Centre for Advanced Research located in Mississauga.
An investment of $32 million and three years in the making, the new facility is dedicated to accelerating product innovation and reinforcing the company’s manufacturing operations across North America. Bringing together material scientists, design engineers and more, the 53,000+ sq. ft. R&D centre includes operational spaces dedicated to testing and developing new products, trialing new material formulations, 3D printing applications, machining, and the capability to simulate production.
In addition, a training and collaboration area allows customers to co-create and experience product innovations firsthand expediting new product development. ipexna.com
Expanding its presence across Canada, A-Gas has acquired Dartmouth, N.S.based Refrigerant Services Inc. (RSI).
RSI provides patented technologies covering the reclamation of high and low pressure refrigerants and the separation of refrigerant and solvent mixtures. The company opened Canada’s first refrigerant reclamation facility in 1993, and it
has since established licencees of its technologies across Canada, the U.S., Europe and Australia.
“We are thrilled to welcome Refrigerant Services Inc. to A-Gas,” said Mike Armstrong, managing director and President of A-Gas in the Americas.
As part of the acquisition, A-Gas has joined the Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) Pollution Prevention (P2) Program—Canada’s leading initiative for refrigerant recycling and responsible waste management. agas.com rscool.com
BlueHeart Energy technology inside a client’s heat pump application
Copeland has announced a strategic investment in BlueHeart Energy, a Netherlands-based startup developing an innovative heat pump technology.
BlueHeart’s thermo-acoustic-based heating technology allows for a compact design and quiet operation, suitable for smaller sized residences.
“We’re pleased to announce our strategic investment in BlueHeart, whose innovative thermo-acoustic based heat pump technology complements our bestin-class scroll compressor portfolio,” said Ross B. Shuster, Copeland CEO. “This investment will assist BlueHeart in taking their novel technology to commercial readiness and reinforces Copeland’s dedication to driving the global energy transition and delivering efficient, sustainable heating solutions worldwide.” copeland.com. blueheartenergy.com
Continued on p42
>> Master Group has added Hitachi residential HVAC products to its Canada-wide distribution and support network. Master offers nationwide availability and dealer training for all new Hitachi and Johnson Controls products, in addition to being involved in the YORK and Coleman dealer programs. master.ca
>> Ontario-based wholesaler Bardon Supplies has acquired Dolan Enterprises, a sheet metal fabrication and wholesaler based in Welland, Ont. Dolan’s 40,000 sq. ft. location will operate under the Bardon banner and add HVAC and plumbing supplies. bardonsupplies.com
>> Enviroair has expanded its partnership with Whalen Company adding exclusive representative in Atlantic Canada. Enviroair already represents Whalen in Ontario and Quebec. enviroair.ca whalencompany.com
>> Guelph, Ont.-based Eden Energy Equipment has entered a distribution partnership with Sunamp in the Ontario market overseeing distribution, training and system integration for Sunamp’s Thermino-brand thermal batteries. edenenergy.com sunamp.com
>> Barclay Sales, plumbing/HVAC manufacturer’s rep in Western Canada, is expanding its representation and distribution of Thermasol steam shower, smart shower products and more into Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. barclaysales.com
>> Refrigerative Supply opened a purpose-built branch in Regina located at Unit 10 – 905 Park Street. The new 12,000 sq. ft. facility includes a 6,000 sq. ft. showroom with expanded office space and large warehouse. And upstairs, 6,000 sq. ft. is dedicated to flexible meeting and training spaces. rsl.ca
“Success doesn’t happen between 9 am and 5 pm, it happens between 6 am and midnight. It happens when the love of what you do overcomes the fatigue of doing it,” says Jack Armstrong, voice of the Toronto Raptors and a guest speaker at the April business meeting for the Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating.
Armstrong delivered a passionate and inspiring talk sharing many experiences during his life as a child, parent, coach and broadcaster.
He reinforced the message that excellence is a habit, not an act. “From my experience, being around the greatest players in the world, watching great coaches and great executives, as well as seeing lousy players, lousy coaches and lousy executives — why can one figure it out and the other not plan a one-car parade? For me it comes down to people who are very detail oriented.”
He shared the five Ps: proper planning prevents poor performance.
Part of the success comes from having a game plan and being focused on your goals. He believes our modern society is too distracted, and digital media and mobile phones are productivity killers, keeping people from connecting on a human level. People build trust through personal relationships and respect, says Armstrong.
New Brunswick’s NTI Boilers continues to be recognized for its efforts integrating Canadian newcomers into the workforce, with the company receiving the Outstanding Business Partnership Award from the Saint John Newcomer Centre (SJNC).
SJNC is a non-profit organization, and with this award recognizes NTI Boilers’ mentorship and training initiatives to help newcomers to the local economy.
This past March, NTI Boilers’ newcomer integration efforts also received the second-place prize from the YMCA of Southern New Brunswick’s Newcomer & Community Connections program and Working NB “Newcomer Employment Champions: Engagement Award.” ntiboilers.com
He recommends bringing passion to whatever you’re doing, both at work and with your family, and surround yourself with positive people and focus on creating stronger human connections.
The second speaker at the event, Kathleen Wang of McMillan, delivered a presentation on U.S. Tariffs, and from a legal and contractual perspective she provided some potential mitigation strategies to the manufacturers and distributors in the crowd. Her insights were well received and extremely timely.
The April chapter meeting also included the annual general meeting for the group. CIPH national CEO, Satinder Chera, shared some insights into the current economic conditions highlighting the roller coaster of the trade tariff issues with the U.S. “Buckle up,” was his advice.
The Ontario Chapter welcomed Mike Weiss, vice president Canadian Sales with IPEX, as the new president for the next year, and congratulated Dave Walker of Independent Mechanical Supply as the outgoing Chapter president. ciph.com
Oakville Stamping and Bending, based in Oakville, Ontario, has rolled out an allnew brand identity and corporate logo.
The company is moving to teal and dark green colouring with lower-case lettering for its logo, removing the “&” for a “+” at the beginning, along with the tag line: “and done.”
+osb is a Canadian manufacturer and distributor of waste and overflows, traps, lavatory drains, tubular brass fittings and various other plumbing parts. osb.ca
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas, manufacturer of Uponor products, has promoted John Reutter to president. Reutter joined the organization in 2018 as vice president of finance, He is based out of headquarters in Minnesota.
Wolseley Canada has named Laureen Cushing as vice president, human resources. Cushing returns to Wolseley from Savaria Corp., where she served as global vice president, HR. She previously spent 17 years at Wolseley Canada.
Rinnai America has appointed James Woodruff to vice president of commercial business and McKinley James as vice president of operations. Both join the executive leadership. Rinnai Canada welcomes Nelson Menezes as a commercial sales manager, bringing over 30 years of related experience.
A-Gas has named Andrew Stride as general manager for Canadian operations including the expanded business in Nova Scotia. Stride joined A-Gas in the fall of 2021 and became director of operations in Canada in late 2023 leading operations in Hamilton the start-up facility in Stoney Creek, Ont.
Google Nest will discontinue support and connectivity for the first and second generations of its Learning Thermostats on October 25, 2025.
Users will still be able to use their devices to control, set preset schedules, and switch between temperature modes on the smart thermostats, third-party features and other programs such as Nest Protects, home/away assist and emergency shutoff will be disabled.
Affected devices include the first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat from 2011 and the second-generation model from 2012.
As part of the end-of-life transition, Google will issue a special offer for its fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat to affected users. home.nest.com
Global HVAC tools and instruments maker NAVAC has named ITM Instruments as its new authorized repair facility for the Canadian market. ITM Instruments provides test and measurement solutions with locations in Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. navacglobal.com itm.com
Barclay Sales has added Travis Militzer as a sales representative. Based in Port Coquitlam, Militzer holds a business degree specializing in strategic analysis and operations management from Simon Fraser University.
Ryan McCammon has joined Alltemp as national sales manager for HVAC/R. Previously, McCammon served as the Eastern Canadian regional sales manager for Southwire.
Viega North America named Todd Schwarzenbach as the new chief customer officer. He brings more than 24 years of commercial leadership experience and seven years as a captain in the U.S. Air Force.
It’s time to take a second look at HPWH technology. BY DOUG
PICKLYK
Heat pumps are making front page news across the country, but it’s the ducted or ductless systems used for seasonal space heating or cooling grabbing all the headlines. The real heat pump warriors that deserve to be recognized are the money saving and environmentally friendly systems that are giving homeowners and building operators hot water every day of the year.
Heat pump water heater systems were first introduced in North America in the 1980s, but not unlike heat pumps for home heating/cooling the technology needed to mature. The combination of poor performance and lack of demand for the solution kept adoption very low.
The design of most residential heat pump water heaters (HPWH) positions a small heat pump system on the top of an insulated water tank. To explain how the heat pump works, Steve Goldie,
HPAC plumbing contributor who works with Ontario plumbing and hydronics wholesaler Next Supply, compares it to appliances we already have in our homes. “When I do training sessions and we talk about heat pumps I always ask people, ‘Does anyone have a heat pump in their house?’ And then I often get blank stares.
“Then I ask, ‘How do you keep your beer cold?’ And I explain that your refrigerator is a heat pump, using the refrigeration [or vapour compression] cycle to move (or pump) heat out of the fridge.
“With a heat pump water heater, we’re doing the same thing in reverse. We’re pumping, or moving, heat that we’re extracting from the ambient air of the room and we’re using it to heat the water in the tank.”
Aside from the design difference, heat pump water heaters distinguish
themselves from traditional gas and electric tank water heaters through their improved energy efficiency, which can be illustrated through the uniform energy factor (UEF) rating given to water heating appliances. The higher the UEF rating for a device, the higher its energy efficiency will be.
As described by Goldie, on average a conventional gas or electric water heater will have a UEF rating of between 0.65 and 0.95. The UEF range for heat pump water heaters is between 2.3 and 4.
Most heat pump water heaters on the market are also called “hybrid” electric water heaters, because the units can switch between heat pump mode and standard electric resistance water heater mode. “The primary reason is to ensure consistent hot water delivery during periods of high demand, very low ambient
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temperatures, or if the heat pump components do not operate as expected,” explains David Neufeld, senior product manager with A.O. Smith. All A.O. Smith residential heat pump water heaters are hybrids.
While HPWHs excel at energy efficiency, their water heating performance needs to measure up. A unit’s recovery rate refers to how quickly it can heat a full tank of cold water, measured in gallons per hour (GPH) at a specific temperature rise. “HPWHs typically have a lower recovery rate than standard electric units,” notes Neufeld.
“In heat pump-only mode, recovery is slow — often half or less than a standard electric. In hybrid mode (using both the heat pump and backup resistance elements), recovery can match or slightly exceed standard electric models,” he says. Standard gas tank water heaters deliver a better recovery rate.
As all heat pumps use the vapour compression cycle to “pump” heat from one place to another, like an air conditioner or dehumidifier, they also require a condensate drain line. “As they pull heat from the surrounding air, they also extract moisture, which condenses on the coils inside the unit,” says Neufeld. “This non-acidic condensate needs to be drained away to prevent water damage and ensure proper operation.”
He notes that as a replacement unit in some basements, garages, or utility rooms, there may be no floor drain or plumbing nearby to handle condensate, so this may require running a new drain line, installing a condensate pump, or drilling into a floor or wall. “Most installation challenges can be managed and often resolved with pre-planning during installation,” he says.
As for electricity draw, Neufeld explains that a HPWH use less power overall, but the full 240V/30A service is still
needed for backup elements and peak demand.
And because heat pumps require air flow to extract heat out of the air there are space requirements. He notes that HPWHs typically require a minimum of 450 cubic feet of air space and they need to be in a relatively warm room to operate effectively, but they can be installed in smaller areas if ducted.
If a HPWH is operating in a space that’s too small or enclosed it can lead to reduced efficiency and possible short cycling. In which case the unit may switch to less-efficient electric-only mode.
On the maintenance side, one often neglected item in conventional electric and gas tank water heaters is the anode rod, and yes, most HPWHs do have anode rods and for the same reason: corrosion protection of the tank.
Of course, the introduction of a heat
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were introduced at AHR 2025 in Orlando and are launching with 40- and 50-gallon units in June and 65- and 80-gallon models at the end of the year.
pump also adds more complex components including the compressor, evaporator, fan, sensors, and control board. This in turn requires more diagnostics and digital interfaces with error codes— this is not your father’s water heater.
Other maintenance issues include regular air filter cleaning and checking that condensate line for clogs or leaks. So, while water heater installations have long been the domain of plumbers, the integration of heat pumps with water heaters is also causing some hesitation in the market.
“When training sessions are offered, the majority of contractors that express an interest are HVAC installers, as opposed to plumbers,” says Graham Gilbert, business development manager, national accounts, with Bradford White. “I believe the words “heat pump” to a
Continued on p48
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plumber makes them assume the product is exclusively HVAC related. Since the actual products are hybrid electric/heat pump water heaters I believe promoting the correct category name “hybrid” would create more interest with plumbers. Some plumbers have also assumed you need a refrigeration ticket to install [you don’t]. Finally, being a conservative trade, plumbers will not promote or pursue a technology they are unfamiliar with.”
Gilbert’s colleague Damon Williamson, district sales manager, Ontario with Bradford White agrees, “The serviceability piece is huge … this might dissuade a plumber from promoting this as an option to homeowners. That’s where manufacture training kicks in to assist in the education of HPWH technologies, installation and service best practices.”
That thought is echoed by Mike Heeps, regional sales manager, western Canada at Bradford White, “Residential retrofits, in my experience so far, don’t have the interest from the trades. These are most often urgent replacements and trades so far aren’t comfortable recommending a HPWH as a replacement. Skilled trades need to be as comfortable and confident putting in a HPWH as other technologies.”
The HPWH has been around for a couple of decades, but today’s models are significantly better in several key areas including more user-friendly compared to earlier generations.
For homeowners, newer models are quieter running at less than 45 dB (like a refrigerator), and the effienciency keeps improving with UEF ratings regularly up to four times better than standard electric-only units.
Concerns about how the HPWH will affect indoor air temperature is also being mitigated with the ability to duct the intake and exhaust outside so no air inside the home is used if necessary.
Available in 50, 65 and 80-gallon capacities, the Midea HPWH offers automatic shut-off valve, a 91-gallon first-hour rating, and a 49.5 dBA inverter fan for quiet operation.
The Rheem ProTerra hybrid electric water heater has universal side and top water connections, zero side clearance and a duct-ready design to simplify installation.
The Rinnai electric heat pump water heaters REHP series come in 50, 65 and 80-gallon options. With a first hour rating (FHR) of up 91 gallons (80-gallon unit).
And more units are able to connect via Wi-Fi to phone apps allowing users to control settings, track energy usage and receive alerts.
Plus, for installers, the HPWH unit designs allow for more flexible installations, better condensate management, slimmer profiles, simple setup instructions and easier servicing.
Along with improved technology from existing manufacturers, new competitors are also entering the HPWH market. At the recent AHR Expo 2025 in Orlando there were new residential introductions from GE, LG and Navien.
Navien is manufacturing its own HPWH and differentiating it from most of the market by offering a stainless steel tank. “This allows our unit to not require an anode rod,” notes Adam Wills, director for Navien in Canada. The unit is also among the lighter products on the market, he says.
With more products coming online, is there a growing market to match?
Looking to introduce an all-new product to the Canadian market, Wills is optimistic that the opportunites are out there. “I personally feel there are two specific areas that fit best for this product. Consumers that wish to move away from fossil fuel usage—so this would address the water heating in an extremely efficient manner—and new construction projects that wish to achieve Net Zero designation.”
Over the past few years, despite government incentives it appears market growth hasn’t been surging. “The Greener Homes Grant, which ended last year, offering $1,000 for a hybrid [HPWH], raised awareness and interest (much like rebates for EV and hybrid cars), but once removed the level of interest declined,” suggests Gilbert from Bradford White.
Williamson noticed a slightly unique trend in Ontario, “We saw an uptick of interest because of the Greener Homes
For commercial applications, the Mitsubishi QAHV modular HPWH system uses CO2 as refrigerant and can supply water up to 80C/176F.
Grant. Surprisingly, when the rebate was terminated we saw a higher level of sales. In Ontario we sold more Aerotherm units in 2024 without a rebate than we did in 2023 with a rebate. It made up only 5% of total residential electrics sold in Ontario in
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2024, up from 3% the previous year.” He notes that nationally the percentage is only about 1%. “The market is small today, but interest is growing. The re-introduction of incentives and rebates hopefully will grow this product segment.”
One of the more unique heat pump water heater products that has been on the market for a while is the Sanden SANCO2, a split system with the heat pump located separately from the tank. The heat pump also uses CO2 as its refrigerant, producing hotter water than other heat pump units, and the heat pump can operate outside in colder ambient conditions. With its capabilities this product crosses the line between residential and light commercial.
“The customer, especially in the residential market, does vary,” says John Miles, managing director at ECO2 Systems, the system supplier in North America. “Some are looking at the environmental side of the product with the lowest GWP refrigerant, CO2, where others prefer the performance level of the SANCO2, as we can offer more hot water performance as the tank will be full of 140/145F hot water and this will mix down to handle the family DHW use.”
On the commercial side, Miles sees customers seeking to decarbonize and move from gas to heat pumps for water heating, and his product’s ability handle the colder ambient tem -
Continued on p50
Continued from p49
peratures along with a variety of installation options when it comes to matching up the heat pumps with a variety of tank sizes makes it appealing.
For buildings and businesses with high-volume hot water demands, the economics of reducing energy demand and cost using heat pumps together with the environmental benefits of replacing gas-fired systems seems like a no brainer.
The commercial solutions available for heat pump water heaters generally involves an outdoor heat pump supplying high heat to large volume tanks indoors to store and distribute the hot water as required.
“I have seen a few hybrid applications where heat pumps have been mixed with traditional gas, or electric water heaters,” says Grant Erickson P.Eng., vice president, sales and marketing, with Aqua-Tech, representatives for the Lochinvar Veritus commercial HPWH.
“Ambient temperature is very important. The colder the temperature, the less efficient the heat pump will be,” says Erickson. “The lowest ambient temperature the Veritus can operate at is -5C, so if installed outdoors, a backup system will be required.”
For the commercial market, Erickson sees HPWHs working in both retrofit and new construction applications. “I believe you will see more heat pumps specified on new construction projects than retrofits, with government projects representing many of the retrofits.”
There are a growing number of HPWH’s addressing the commercial market including the Mitsubishi QAHV, the LAARs E-Therm, and the unique Intellihot iE1 (a tankless heat pump water heater). All of these systems also use CO2 as their refrigerant, and they’re not alone.
“The Aegis domestic heat pump water heater is a commercial product that is ideal for multi-family housing, dormitories, hospitals, hotels, and commercial kitchens with room for the heat pump(s) and storage tank(s) or anywhere large amounts of potable water are needed up to 170F,” says Jake Bucklin, product manager with Lync, a Watts company.
The Aegis HPWH line uses CO2 refrigerant which, as explained earlier, allows for a higher stored water temperature, this allows the storage tanks to be smaller to meet the same demand because they have a higher energy density per gallon and can be mixed to satisfy DHW use.
Bucklin agrees that commercial HPWHs are finding homes in both new build and retrofit applications. “Building codes and new housing developments are mostly focused on decarbonizing new construction which makes up the majority of Aegis installations,” he says. “Retrofit solutions are often looking for
its refrigerant.
air source
pump water heater from Lochinvar is a modular commercial product delivering a COP up to 4.61 and operating in ambient temperatures down to 23F/-5C.
The Lync Aegis A, air source heat pump operates at temperatures as low as -4F/-20C and uses the natural refrigerant, CO 2
lower operating cost equipment where electricity is cheaper than fossil fuels, or they have building owners and/or local code requirements that are pushing for decarbonization.”
Bucklin notes that Lync has numerous commissioned installations of the Aegis air source heat pump product in B.C. and Ontario. “The Canadian market has accepted this product without issue. On days below -4F(-20C) ambient temperature the domestic hot water system would have an electric tank or other means of water heating backup equipment that will run in place of the Aegis heat pump.”
The commercial market in Canada does seem to be warming to HPWHs. “I am finding the engineering community is more interested in commercial applications especially with many municipal and provincial jurisdictions passing rules and regulations banning gas and oil-fired appliance new installations,” says Gilbert from Bradford White.
And Williamson is also seeing greater interest among builders in the high-rise market who are looking to differentiate themselves. “One said to me: “If my competitors and I both have a condo for sale, both at $850,000 each, but mine is a Net Zero building, that might be the difference maker for a buyer to look at mine versus others.”
As the global warming headlines continue to drive the push for decarbonization, the rallying cry for heat pumps as the solution for space and water heating will get louder.
“I am asked quite regularly what Navien’s plans are to support electrification and this NWP500 is our first product to meet this demand,” says Wills. “While our fossil fuel products offer tremendous stepping stones with Energy Star ratings and ultra-low NOx exhausts, the HPWH allows us to have a Navien-manufactured solution for applications that are looking for all-electric.”
Growth in the residential market will depend on greater awareness among consumers to drive the replacement market, and in jurisdictions where water heater rental contracts dominate it could take a while for those service companies to recommend a product that requires additional installation steps and maintenance demands.
According to John Miles, market growth for HPWHs is being driven by regions where rebate programs are promoting decarbonization, but the efficiency message should be a selling point. “There are close to 9 or 10 million water heaters sold annually across North America, so this is a significant opportunity for HPWHs especially if you look at realistically 50% of that market is electric water heaters that deliver hot water using 4.5kw of electricity versus the 0.5 to 1kw of electricity use from a HPWH, so the annual cost savings are massive despite the initial capital cost
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investment to have a HPWH.”
And those savings are compounded when looking at commercial applications, where demand is growing. “The Veritus is currently being specified and fills this growing need. I do believe the future is bright for heat pump water heaters in Canada,” says Erickson.
And despite recent pullbacks on the environmental front in the U.S., momentum for HPWHs remains on track. “Based on market trends over the last decade the domestic heat pump water heating market has been growing at an accelerated rate,” says Bucklin. “Lync has seen very large increases in sold equipment year over year, and we do not anticipate it to slow down. Heat pump water heaters are incentivised and driven at a local level in cities and states [and provinces] all over North America that value renewable energy, this has been stable despite the economic and political landscape changes.” <>
AA review of common areas of concern and new technologies to become familiar with. BY DAVE DEMMA Figure 1. This is a Copeland ACC refrigerant charge compensator, a unique device designed for heat pump applications.
few years ago, in a prior edition of HPAC, I explained the basics of how a heat pump operates, and I followed that up with another article on some first-level troubleshooting advice for heat pumps. That was almost three years ago now (check the archives online hpacmag.com), so it’s time for an update.
Like any mechanical system, the heat pump will experience periodic performance issues, some due to lack of maintenance and some due to mechanical/electrical components failing.
Given that a heat pump is really an air conditioning system (which is providing cooling capacity to remove heat from the outdoor space), when troubleshooting a heat pump system which is under-
performing the same basic methods used in air conditioning would apply. Some common concerns include:
• Voltage issues (low voltage, tripped breaker, blown fuses) .
• Thermostat issues.
• Plugged air filters or dirty indoor coil restricting the air.
• A system leak resulting in the loss of refrigerant.
• Contactor, relay and capacitor failures.
• Four-way reversing valve not shifting to the heat mode.
• Four-way valve partially stuck in one mode or the other.
• Outdoor coil iced up.
In addition to these common issues, there are a few additional concerns
Continued on p54
• Restricted flow controls (solenoid valves, thermostatic expansion valve, filter drier) .
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Continued from p52
completely specific to heat pumps; providing cooling capacity for the indoor space during periods of peak load, and providing cooling capacity for the outdoor space during periods of relatively low load.
As such, the system parameters and design conditions for each mode are drastically different. The system is normally selected to provide the required cooling capacity to maintain the minimum space temperature during the peak load conditions of the summer.
While important, the outdoor cooling capacity (providing indoor heating capacity during the colder months), is not the main parameter used in selecting heat pumps.
Due to the lower load requirement during the heating cycle, the refrigerant mass flow requirement will be less. In a system without a liquid receiver, this will result in the excess refrigerant (due to the reduced mass flow requirement) backing up in the condenser. This can result in higher discharge pressure.
On the surface this might seem ideal, as a higher discharge pressure would mean a higher discharge temperature, resulting in higher heat output. However, it must be remembered that the condenser’s function is to transfer heat from the superheated discharge vapour, and facilitate the refrigerant undergoing a change of state from vapour to liquid. So, as the requirement for refrigerant mass flow reduces, and the expansion valve starts throttling closed, it is “liquid” refrigerant that begins backing up in the condenser.
As this begins happening, it results in a reduction in the useful condenser surface area necessary to transfer heat from the superheated discharge vapour to the air in the conditioned space, which translates to a reduction in heating capacity.
An added component in the system to nullify this condition is a “Refrigerant
Charge Compensator” (RCC). Its function is to divert the excess refrigerant charge from the system during the heating mode and temporarily store it.
While the appearance of this component is similar to that of a suction filterdrier (see Figure 1, page 52), internally it is quite different. The dotted red lines in Figure 1 illustrate the vapour flowing though the shell in a straight piping run, which prevents any suction vapour from accumulating inside the shell. There is a single liquid connection, which allows liquid to enter the shell when it isn’t required during periods of reduced mass
flow in the heating mode.
The diagram in Figure 2 is a system schematic showing the refrigerant flow during the heating mode. The RCC is located near the outlet of the evaporator (outdoor coil), with the liquid connection coming from the inlet of the evaporator (outdoor coil).
The excess liquid refrigerant will be attracted to flow towards the coolest temperature. The cool suction line running through the shell provides this cooler temperature, with the excess liquid refrigerant flowing to the internal volume of the RCC.
To prevent too much liquid refrigerant from migrating to the RCC, these components must be sized according to the system capacity and estimated excessive refrigerant charge
During the cooling mode the liquid refrigerant will not be attracted to flow into the RCC, as it is now discharge vapour flowing through the RCC.
Again, one of the deficiencies in heat pump applications is the somewhat limited heating capacity available. Copeland has been manufacturing vapour injection scroll compressors for some time now and there are now many others on the market. These compressors have a secondary suction port, which allows vapour to enter the scroll set at some intermediate position (and corresponding intermediate suction pressure). This provides cooling capac -
ity for a liquid subcooler (sometimes referred to as a system economizer). As applied on heat pumps, it will provide a dual purpose. The subcooled liquid results in increased system performance. More importantly, during the lower load condition during the heating mode, it provides additional load for the compressor, which results in an increased amount of heat content in the discharge vapour, so more heating capacity in colder temperatures.
The schematic in Figure 3 shows the flow of an air-to-water heat pump system with the vapour injection compressor providing capacity for the subcooling circuit.
Another advancement in technology has heat pumps using variable speed compressors. They are powered by direct current (DC) inverters, and this allows the compressor to operate continuously, matching the compressor capacity (speed) to the required capac -
ity at any given moment. The compressor speed is modulated using a variable speed drive. As the compressor speed is modulated, there will be a corresponding modulation in the refrigerant mass flow and compressor capacity. Rather than the conventional heat pump, operating at two speeds (100% or 0%), now the system can operate anywhere from 15%/25% to 100%, better matching the required capacity during varying conditions.
Advancements in technology are great, right! <>
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.
Strategic planning for sustainable success. BY
MATTHEW BIRCH
Mike Saunders had always prided himself on being prepared. As the owner of Clearline Plumbing and Heating, he had seen it all—burst pipes in January, frantic furnace replacements in November, and the scramble of last-minute AC installs as June temperatures soared.
But no matter how many years he had under his belt, Mike couldn’t escape the roller coaster. The phone wouldn’t stop ringing during cold snaps and summer heatwaves. His crews logged long days, overtime hours stacked up, and cash flowed in fast. Spirits were high. Expansion plans seemed easy to justify. New trucks, new tools, bigger marketing pushes—Mike felt confident he was investing in the future.
Then September hit. Calls slowed to a trickle. By October, schedules were light, and by November—just weeks before furnace season peaked—cash flow had tightened. How had the high of July turned into the anxiety of fall so quickly?
Looking back, the pattern was obvious.
• Winter’s emergencies had fueled a busy start to the year.
• Spring brought a lull—service done, no new installs yet.
• Summer boomed with AC work, only to cool off by early fall.
• Late fall and early winter saw another surge, mostly furnace maintenance and installs.
The highs and lows were predictable. The problem wasn’t that Mike faced slow periods; it was that he hadn’t structured his finances or his strategy to ride them out smoothly.
Mike’s story isn’t unique. For plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical business owners across Canada, the challenge is the same: seasonality isn’t the exception—it’s the rule. Success isn’t about avoiding slow periods—it’s about managing them intentionally. And the most powerful tool in that effort is cash flow planning.
Strong cash flow management is not merely important—it is vital for businesses that navigate highs and lows. A successful peak season is not just about generating sales; it’s about converting those sales into sustainable cash reserves that carry
the company through slower periods.
Many business owners wait until the slow season arrives to start tightening budgets or applying for financing. By then, options are limited, and negotiating leverage is reduced. Strategic companies, however, prepare their finances during their strongest months, while cash flow is at its peak and confidence is high.
Best practice: During peak seasons, allocate a specific percentage of monthly profits directly into a “seasonal reserve” fund. These reserves are not bonus cash to spend freely; they are the working capital that ensures stability when call volumes predictably drop.
Rather than viewing peak season profits as “excess,” reframe them as fuel for the slower months ahead. Building discipline into savings habits during strong months protects your ability to maintain staff, invest in your business, and serve customers consistently—even when the phone isn’t ringing off the hook.
A strong business does not hope to survive the off-season—it plans to.
A common trap is the reactive spending that occurs during peak seasons. When the phones are ringing and the crews are busy, it’s easy to authorize new truck purchases, expanded advertising campaigns, or go on hiring sprees.
Instead, budget for peak season before it arrives. Design spending plans in advance that are tied directly to projected cash flows and specific strategic goals.
If the business expects $400K in revenue during the summer, set clear allocations:
• A percentage reserved for off-season operations.
• A defined budget for marketing, equipment upgrades, and training.
• A controlled hiring plan aligned to forecasted volume, not hopes. Effective budgeting during the good times helps avoid the financial hangover that can follow when a busy season winds down. It brings focus to
spending priorities and ensures you’re investing in assets that will continue generating returns long after the peak has passed.
The goal is to avoid emotional decision-making when cash feels abundant. Peak season is the time to execute a pre-approved growth plan—not to create one on the fly.
Busy seasons are a rare window when customers are ready to buy, often with less price sensitivity than usual. Businesses that plan ahead can capitalize even further by setting stretch targets for their teams.
Rather than simply riding the wave of inbound demand, aim to exceed revenue goals by:
• Training teams in upselling valueadded services.
• Pre-booking maintenance plans during install visits.
• Offering seasonal package deals that encourage higher average transaction values.
Creating stretch targets well ahead of peak season allows time to coach staff, adjust pricing strategies, and prepare offers that drive added revenue without sacrificing customer satisfaction.
Even a 10% increase in peak-season revenue can create a critical financial buffer to soften the off-season blow. This requires deliberate preparation: identifying upsell opportunities, training staff, and setting measurable and motivational targets before the rush begins.
One of the most overlooked disciplines in seasonal businesses is calculating the minimum cash position required to survive the slow months comfortably. Start by identifying:
• Fixed monthly expenses (wages, rent, insurance, loan payments)
• Estimated off-season revenue
• Cash reserves needed
Knowing your number provides clar-
ity. It turns slow seasons from uncertain threats into manageable intervals. If you know you need $80,000 to comfortably cover December through March, and you build that reserve during peak months, the slower season becomes an opportunity to fine-tune the business— not a scramble for survival.
Having a clear off-season number also enables better decision-making around marketing, staffing, and business development during slower times.
When strong cash flow planning is in place, slow periods become strategic windows for investment:
• Staff training programs to elevate technical and customer service skills.
• Deep maintenance on equipment.
• Website upgrades.
Rather than layoffs and retrenchment, companies that plan can build stronger teams and better systems while competitors sit idle.
Seasonal cycles are part of the plumbing and HVAC landscape. Businesses that pretend they can ignore these patterns find themselves stressed, undercapitalized, and reactive. Those that embrace them—building cash reserves, setting thoughtful budgets, maximizing peak revenue, and preparing stretch targets—enter the off-season in control.
The strongest companies don’t merely survive the slow months. They build momentum while others stall. <>
Matthew Birch is the founder of Legacy Profit Solutions, dedicated to helping business owners in the trades build stronger financial foundations through strategic bookkeeping partnerships and accounting advisory services. Matthew@ LegacyProfit.ca.
Progressive companies are taking steps to attract and retain good talent. BY
ADAM FREILL
It is no secret that the construction sector is experiencing a labour crunch, and it is one that’s projected to get more difficult to navigate as the current Canadian workforce gets closer to retirement. To help navigate the need to attract the next generation of workers to the industry, and to share some of the things top Canadian companies are doing to attract and retain their workers, HPAC Magazine, On-Site Magazine, and Electrical Business Magazine teamed up to present WorkForce ’25 this past May.
The virtual event, sponsored by GCPay, a cloud-based construction software developer whose platform helps construction companies manage pay applications, lien waivers, electronic payments, and other accounting needs, brought together industry speakers to share insights and experiences with the aim of exploring real strategies for attracting, developing and retaining the skilled workforce companies need.
With the construction sector expected to grow over the next several years there is a need to add more workers to the sector, but keynote speaker Bill Ferreira, executive director of BuildForce Canada, illustrated that the real the labour challenge for the industry will be keeping pace with retirements.
“We’re going to need to find an additional 111,000 individuals to join the construction workforce over the next 10
years [due to industry growth],” he stated. “When we take into account the 268,000 individuals that we anticipate will retire over that period, the industry will need to hire an additional 380,000 people.”
A bright spot has been growth in apprenticeship programs in Canada. “We have seen a significant increase in registrations. In 2023 new registrations were just under 72,000 and women now represent just slightly over 8% of the overall registrations into the industry, which is good news,” said Ferreira.
“This is not a time to ease up,” he advised. “The industry is going to have to remain quite active and promoting careers in construction ... to ensure we can meet future labour force demands.”
With the challenge laid bare, a panel dove into the topic of marketing construction to a new generation.
“Young people think differently, access media and access information in a very different way that those of us of a slightly older generation. And we have to adjust,” stated Anna Lary, a master electrician and project lead of the ConnectHER Hub at BCIT. “When I launched the ConnectHER Hub, I had a panel of tradeswomen influencers. They showcased the work they do in a very authentic way, showing their daily lives, and the young people really connect with that.”
Lea Valcourt, senior director of workforce development with Support Ontario Youth supported those thoughts. “You have kids that are coming out of high school that went through their entire school years using technology. This is where their media platforms lie. They’re going to be on Instagram, they’re going
to be on TikTok,” added Valcourt, who suggested that organizations seeking to employ youth create an Instagram account to reach them on their level. “It’s free. You can have it under your business, and you can showcase things you’re doing [through jobsite pictures and videos].”
And good, positive videos can help mitiage some of the negative stereotypes often associated with construction.
His company was one of a dozen general contractors who helped form the Canadian Construction Safety Council.
Continued on p61
“One of the things we like to work with is as a shadow program bringing people in and come walk with the journeyman and see how they control the things, how they use the tools, how they mitigate those hazards and how they control them,” explained Jim Barry, vice-president, health, safety and environment with PCL construction.
25_004314_HPAC_JUN_CN Mod: April 28, 2025 12:37 PM Print: 05/07/25 page 1 v2.5
Safety in construction has been identified as a protentional deterrent for people seeking careers in the industry.
Finding workers is one thing; keeping them is another challenge leading companies are tackling head-on.
Skilled employees want more than just a job: they want stable and inspiring management, opportunities for advancement, and purpose.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a lot of people reprioritizing and looking for a greater level of flexibility and work life balance,” explained Sarah Harkness, director of people and culture at EllisDon. “It isn’t just about a salary anymore. People are looking for more.”
“People want to have opportunity to grow, to have opportunity to develop,” added Ravi Tangri, chief cultural officer
for Simul Corp., who uses the term “lifework balance,” since he feels life should come before work. “I’ve seen so many cases where people will turn down more money … there’s a different trade off here, and there’s a different value that people are looking at.”
Alicia Maxim-Welsh, organizational development manager at Graham, explained that a large part of the retention puzzle is personal development, and growing people as they fill and advance in their roles. Those efforts are having solid impact, with her company reporting an 85% retention rate in program participants.
And retention efforts are not just for large companies. Jay Mallan, owner of JJM Mechanical Group in Burnaby, B.C., has grown his company through doing the little things that matter, like listening, and ensuring they have training opportunities, as well as team events.
“We don’t want to throw people in the
Adrian Steel adriansteel.com p.13
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AO Smith ...............................hotwatercanada.ca .................... p.49
Bardon Supplies bardonsupplies.com p.29
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deep end; we want them to feel supported throughout the year,” he explained.
The final session of the day provided insights into one of the tools that a company can use to show the kind of flexibility that new workers often desire from their employer — their benefits plans.
Pascale Mapleston, founder and CEO of The Benefit Code, spoke about the need to evolve so that companies are providing what today’s workers view as relevant to them.
“Benefits aren’t just perks,” she stated, explaining how they are tools to compete for new workers, and to retain good people once they are in your company. <> (To see videos of the WorkForce 25 virtual event vist youtube.com/@hpacmag)
Adam Freill is the Editor of On-Site magazine.
ASHRAE Annual Conference
June 21-25
The global Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers will be holding its five-day annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Both in-person and virtual registration options are available. ashrae.org
IAPMO Business Conference
September 14-18
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
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
June 26
World refrigeration day is an international awareness campaign established by the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat to raise the profile of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sector and focus on the significant role the industry and technology play in modern life. worldrefrigerationday.org
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
September 24-26
Organized by ASHRAE and the Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre (AIVC), the IEQ 2025 Conference will take place in Montreal and provide an opportunity to learn, network and engage with professionals dedicated to advancing the fields of indoor environmental quality.
ashrae.org
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. ciph.com
CIPH Annual Conference
June 29-July 1
The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating annual business conference is taking place at the Fairmont Tremblant, in Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Senior executives from major manufacturers, distributors and agents will gather for networking and educational sessions. ciph.com
September 21-23
The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada 2025 Annual Conference will take place in Halifax. As always, the yearly gathering will include social and networking events along with informative and thoughtprovoking sessions. hrai.ca
September
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
MCAC Annual Conference
November 26-29
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada will be 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
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