Mechanical Business January/February 2024

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 $6.95

Dave Merry:

Magician/comedian/writer

Also in this issue: A P P L I C A T I O N S

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What you need to know about refrigerants Embracing residential geoexchange Counteract drafts in building access points AI’s impact on the mechanicals industry Residential plumbing trends Improve your bottom line

T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2024

PM #41536047

TYLER LEIGHTON:

THE WOW FACTOR • • • • • HISTORIC NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL RECEIVES A MAKEOVER • WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO CORRECTLY SIZE A CIRCULATOR?

MEGA PRODUCT SHOWCASE

JOBSITE JARGON: TEST YOUR HYDRONIC IQ

CONTROL VALVE SIZING AND SELECTION THE ART OF HYDRONIC BALANCING

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business Wetheat Cover02.24.indd 1

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“ I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE JM-2900 JETTER! IT’S A DEFINITE GAME CHANGER FOR DRAIN CLEANING!” - Mary-Anne Bowcott, Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd., The Lady Plumber

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See Mary-Anne’s profile in the Sept/Oct 2021 digital edition of Mechanical Business at mechanicalbusiness.com/the-lady-plumber

Call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com/jetters

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CONTENTS O F

32COVER STORY

Dave Merry has been Canada’s leading comic magician for the last 35 years.

When the curtain rises at the 2024 CIPH Gala in Support of Habitat for Humanity he’ll be ready to entertain.

Kerry Turner

How AI is revolutionizing the mechanicals industry

76 TECHNOLOGY

Artificial Intelligence is changing a wide variety of things we do on a personal and career level.

Jonathan Harp

Dave Merry:

Making magic with a unique skill set

Smarter solutions 35 WET HEAT SUPPLEMENT

Start 2024 with a deep dive into the world of hydronics in our first edition of the semi-annual Wet Heat Applications & Technology.

Learn about trends, the latest technology, and benefit from the experience of hydronics experts.

A P P L I C A T I O N S

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T E C H N O L O G I E S

FEBRUARY 2024

26 RESIDENTIAL

PLUMBING TRENDS Residential plumbing products are becoming increasingly complex, but installation and maintenance is becoming more efficient as technology advances.

Carolyn Cooper

TYLER LEIGHTON:

THE WOW FACTOR • • • • THE ART OF HYDRONIC BALANCING • HISTORIC NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL RECEIVES A MAKEOVER • WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO CORRECTLY SIZE A CIRCULATOR?

MEGA PRODUCT SHOWCASE

JOBSITE JARGON: TEST YOUR HYDRONIC IQ

CONTROL VALVE SIZING AND SELECTION

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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On the cover: When he’s not performing, Dave Merry is busy writing scripts and creating television and film projects.

Cover photo: davidmerry.com

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T A B L E ­F E A T U R E S

M B

CONTENTS O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

6WORTH A LOOK

22 PLUMBING

HRAI tackles industry threats Kerry Turner

30HVAC

Keep cold winds at bay Eliminate drafts and cool air in heated spaces Andrew Martin

Top 3 ways to make money on residential projects Fred Bretzke Recommendations on how to make your business more profitable based on a lifetime in the industry.

40 HYDRONICS The Art of Hydronic Balancing Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr There is no one size fits all with balance valves. Really, that could be said for any valve used to control flow. Valves such as zone valves, mixing valves, service valves, and check valves all need to be sized properly.

68 REFRIGERATION

Refrigerants evolve with safety and environmental concerns Mike Squires We are right in the thick of a changing world of refrigerant management. The constant change is creating new issues and new opportunities to evolve and learn.

74 M ARKETING

62JOBSITE JARGON

Growth hacking in the digital age Paul Bies Success in the era of Google is a strategic endeavour that involves a balanced focus on multiple digital strategies. It’s about marketing better to grow your business.

63HVAC RETROFIT

Historic site receives $25-million upgrade Carolyn Cooper

64 HVAC

Embracing residential geoexchange Accelerating efficient electrification in Canada Jeff Hunter

D E P A R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

8-14News

28Plumbing

16,17Movers & Shakers

31HVAC/R

18,20People

48-54Hydronics

72The Info Page 73Events 73EMBRACING THE PAST

Cool discovery is food for thought 1949 Annual Report from Loblaws announces addition of air conditioning Kerry Turner

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73In the Next Issue 78By the Numbers

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WORTH

Content Media Group Inc. 2 Campbell Dr., Suite 807 Uxbridge, ON L9P 0A3 Tel: 905.465.2919 www.mechanicalbusiness.com

For All Subscription Inquiries Shila Naik Circulation Director 905-272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Editor: Kerry Turner, C 416-435-1193 kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Kyle Badder, C 416-735-1375 kyle.badder@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield, C 647-217-2076 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Contributing Editor Carolyn Cooper editorial@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: Fourteen Orange Graphic Design Inc. davem@fourteenorange.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, C 416-457-9563 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

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Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy). © Copyright 2024. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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HRAI’s GTA Chapter AGM and dinner, held November 28, 2023 in Concord, ON, saw attendance numbers not seen since the HVAC Coalition took up the cause of HVAC contractors to defend against inappropriate encroachments by regulated utilities. The Coalition would later take on a watchdog approach but has recently been reincarnated as the Utility Action Committee.

The chapter addressed the current competitive climate in its event description: “The quest to address growing public concerns about (L-R) Peter Messenger and Martin Luymes explain the strategies to climate change is resulting in new programs, address Enbridge Sustain’s entry policies, and regulations, many of which into the marketplace. are helpful to the HVAC/R industry – provided industry has a say in them. It has also attracted some new entrants into the marketplace, including a new utility-backed company that is generating some serious concern from the industry.”

“As a utility offshoot and unregulated business within a regulated utility, Enbridge Sustain, which launched in December 2022, has its sights on the full scope of the HVAC/R marketplace. It has some distinct advantages that will allow the company to win over customers, as it has in the past,” explained Martin Luymes, HRAI vice president of government and stakeholder relations.

“The threat to the industry in Ontario is very real. Enbridge Sustain is about planning for a world without natural gas. The service cuts across the whole sector – Enbridge is looking to replace its core business,” added Luymes.

One advantage Enbridge has is common public perception that it is a publicly owned company, but it is not. It has shareholders and as such must find a profitable path forward in a gas-free world by leveraging the utility brand.

Proudly created and printed in Canada.

6

LOOK

HRAI tackles industry threats once again

January/February 2024 Issue Published 6 times per year.

Proud members of:

A

As several attendees at the meeting noted, the Enbridge Sustain video* is appealing. In fact, if they weren’t in the industry, they would be calling Sustain themselves to find out more.

Luymes and Jay Shepherd, energy lawyer and former counsel for the HVAC Coalition, also discussed what steps are being taken to attempt to maintain a level playing field that ensures open and fair competition for all players, including raising industry funding of $100,000. HRAI GTA has set out a sliding funding scale based on company type and size. Contact Martin Luymes for more information at mluymes@hrai.ca.

Kerry *Link to video: https://www.enbridgesustain.com/enbsustainwebsite/videos/homeVideo.mp4

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The next level of comfort in forced-air heating

NEW NPF Hydro-furnace The NPF Advantage: The NPF heats water by burning the gas in a sealed combustion heat exchanger, completely isolated from the airstream. The heated water is then pumped through a hydronic heat exchanger that gently transfers the heat into the air.

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Canada Greener Homes Grant intake to end, paused in Ontario

Ontario announces funding to train younger skilled workers

The federal government announced at the end of 2023 that the Canada Greener Homes Grant program would stop accepting new applicants in March 2024. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) reported that the uptake of the program exceeded forecasts, while the average grant amount per application is higher than expected.

NRCan confirmed that program participants and those who apply before March 2024 would be protected. In Ontario, Enbridge announced that effective January 19, 2024, it had temporarily paused the intake of new applicants to its Home Efficiency Rebate Plus (HER+) program, delivered in partnership with the Canada Greener Homes Grant. The company says the program has been overwhelmingly successful and the pause will allow it time to reconcile the system “to ensure that all current Ontario customer commitments will be met with the available funding.” Enbridge added that rebates will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Applicants who had already completed a pre-retrofit energy assessment, or who had booked a pre-retrofit energy assessment to be completed by February 29, 2024, will not be affected by the pause in the program.

The government of Ontario has announced an investment of more than $62.9 million in two programs designed to help young people explore careers in the skilled trades. $21.1 million in funding will go to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), a high school initiative that gives students who have completed grade 10 the opportunity to explore the skilled trades through cooperative education courses. The program is being expanded to help more students explore the trades and accumulate hours toward an apprenticeship while completing their high school diploma. Ontario will also send 72 OYAP recruiters into secondary schools to compete with colleges and universities. In addition, the government is investing $41.8 million to launch approximately 100 free pre-apprenticeship training projects across the province to help young workers gain experience in the skilled trades.

natural-resources.canada.ca enbridgegas.com

Canada’s Most Powerful Women list includes skilled trades professionals

ontario.ca

The Women’s Executive Network (WXN) has announced the winners of the 2023 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 awards, which includes the CPKC Skilled Trades category.

Winners were recognized during the organization’s Top 100 Gala in Toronto, ON for their contributions to build a more robust and diversified industry sector and workforce. They include Patricia Bouchard, specialist OC training, placement & development, Canadian Pacific Kansas City; Brandi Ferenc, HVAC mechanic, Southlake Regional Health Centre, HVAC instructor, Georgian College, and HVAC mentor, Support Ontario Youth; Cheyenne Lakatos, locomotive engineer, CN, program coordinator, Common Connections Program, and health and safety legislative representative, Teamsters Division 898; and Elizabeth Moses, machinist and sheet metal apprentice, SMART Local Union #280.

Government doubles down on heat pump affordability program

wxnetwork.com

VISIT CMPX ON US! COURTESY OF MECHANICAL BUSINESS!

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The federal government has announced changes to the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program in Newfoundland and Labrador to help more low-to-medianincome households switch to heat pumps. Under the program eligible homeowners can receive up to $22,000 in funding to cover the full average cost of switching from oil to a heat pump, including federal and provincial funds.

Successful applicants will also receive a one-time upfront $250 payment from the federal government. The new grants are available to households in jurisdictions that are or intend to offer further provincial or territorial funding to help residents switch to heat pumps where the government has a co-delivery agreement in place, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI. Additional grants for residents in Nova Scotia and PEI are expected to be announced soon. natural-resources.canada.ca

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opentech.eco saskatoon.ca

Register today for CMPX 2024 on Mechanical Business The Canadian Mechanical and Plumbing Expo (CMPX) takes place March 20 to 22, 2024 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, ON. The biennial show is produced by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) and the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), and brings together manufacturers, contractors, wholesalers, engineers, educators, students, and more. The show has moved from the North Building to the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and will feature more than 500 exhibitors showing HVAC/R equipment, building automation and control systems, sustainability solutions, software, tools and instruments. The event will also include the CMPX Learning Forum highlighting trends and best practices; the New Product Showcase and Demo Stage highlighting new equipment, tools and technology; and the HVAC/R Skills Competition for students to showcase their skills.

Use promo code MECHBIZ for free admission. cmpxshow.com

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The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) has announced its 2023 – 2024 Board of Directors. The board includes one Canadian, Gary Struhar, who retired from Honeywell in 2019. Struhar has been named international vice president and an RSES regional director for Region 16 and 17, which includes Canada. rses.org

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OPEN Technologies, in partnership with the City of Saskatoon, has launched the Home Energy Map, an online retrofit roadmap tool.

The tool assigns an energy score to 70,000 homes in Saskatoon, and creates a roadmap to improving efficiency and comfort in those homes in order to reduce residential energy and carbon emissions.

It also connects homeowners with Saskatoon’s Energy Coaching service. Homeowners can also use the tool to see the overall distribution of energy use by neighbourhood, housing type and house age. Owners can “claim” their home on the tool to receive a personalized retrofit roadmap, which includes energy-saving measures and costs including federal rebates. Look for more details on this innovative tool in MB March 2024.

RSES Board of Directors includes Canadian

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Indigenous Leadership Fund to support energy efficiency projects

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) is offering a new online course called PEX tubing for water service line applications on its PPI eLearn platform. The course PPI’s new eLearn course and the updated AWWA C904-22 can help is self-directed, installers meet the rapidly growing and intended for need to replace lead pipes with PEX. professionals in plumbing and underground infrastructure industries.

Those who complete the course, accredited by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), will receive a CEU credit. The one-hour course is based on requirements of the updated industry standard AWWA C904-22 Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Tube, 1/2 Inch Through 3 Inch for Water Service, the ANSI-approved standard for PEX tubing intended to deliver potable water into homes and buildings.

The ministry of environment and climate change has introduced the Indigenous Leadership Fund providing up to $180 million to support Indigenous-owned and led renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon heating projects. The program was developed in collaboration with First Nations representatives, Inuit organizations and Metis governments. Up to $73.9 million is currently available for First Nations-led projects through a continuous intake process open until March 31, 2027. Metis and Inuit funding is being delivered over six years, starting in 2023, in a directed intake process. Two projects that have received federal funding include $8.5 million to the Peavine Community Solar Farm Project to install a solar system, which will be tied to the Alberta grid, and which will offset a portion of the Peavine Metis Settlement’s electricity requirements; and more than $1.8 million to the Tl’etinqox Community Bioheat Project to install a biomass heating system to displace propane used in eight community buildings, a church, and a healing centre.

Photo REHAU

PPI offers online course on PEX water service lines

canada.ca

plasticpipe.org

Burlington tests AI-driven platform for building permits Last year the City of Burlington, ON piloted a platform featuring AI-powered technology designed to accelerate the permitting process for industrial-commercial buildings.

The platform used in the pilot digitized Burlington’s zoning bylaws for industrial-commercial buildings, so that once applicants submitted a proposed design it automatically evaluated the design’s compliance, and ensured requirements such as setbacks, heights, floor area ratios, landscape areas and parking ratios. The tool then generated a compliance report and detailed summary. As well as making the process of obtaining a building permit faster, the technology gave applicants immediate feedback on proposals, allowed them to make modifications before submitting designs, and made the city’s development review process more transparent. The pilot, which concluded in December 2023, was intended to evaluate the value of the technology for meeting Burlington’s housing goals of 29,000 residential units by 2031. The city has indicated that further pilots covering all building types, or a larger-scale rollout, are also possible.

Iconic Fort William Gardens undergoes extensive retrofit Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, ON has received more than $2.3 million from the federal government and the City of Thunder Bay for a retrofit designed to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and save energy. The iconic facility was built in 1951 and is used for skating, hockey, curling events, concerts and cultural events. The extensive retrofit includes: replacing dressing rooms and washroom fixtures; installing a new ice-making process to store the heat produced for use in heating the building and melting excess snow from cleaning the rink; upgrading the ventilation systems in the building offices; and replacing the cooling tower and condensing unit.

The upgrades are expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 29.4 per cent and GHG emissions by 164 tonnes per year. infrastructure.gc.ca

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Prompt payment legislation now law The Federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act came into force on December 9, 2023 to address construction industry concerns about the timeliness of payments when doing business with the government. Under the legislation, the federal government has 28 calendar days to pay contractor invoices after they are submitted.

Contractors will then have seven days to pay subcontractors, and subcontractors will have another seven days to pay their sub-contractors, and so on in the contracting payment in the chain. The legislation ensures that each party in the chain receives payment in a timely manner. All existing construction contracts have one year as of December 9, 2023 to comply with the Act. canada.ca

Fashion show highlights women’s PPE In early December 2023 the Ottawa Construction Association’s (OCA) Women in Construction (WIC) Committee, in partnership with Women on Site (WoS), presented the SheBuilds SheWears: PPE Made for Her Fashion Show. The event showcased work wear and personal protective equipment (PPE) made OCA’s SheBuilds SheWears specifically for women, while show included work highlighting the importance of properly fashion wear from Covergalls. fitting clothing for safety and inclusivity in the workplace. It also featured a presentation by Jodi Huettner, founder of Helga Wear. “Overall we had 132 attendees at the event with over 148 registrations,” says Stephanie Wallace, assistant general manager and membership director for the OCA. oca.ca womenonsite.ca

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IT’S YOUR TURN TO BE ON THE COVER!

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Ontario updates digital building code and inspector guidelines

REHAU marks its 75th anniversary in 2024

The ministry of municipal affairs and housing has released an updated Digital 2012 Building Code Compendium, and new guidelines for building inspector internship programs. The 2012 Building Code Compendium has been updated in the digital English version to include Building Code amendments recently made through Ontario regulations. Request updated digital versions of the Code at ontario.ca. Hard copies of the Code can be updated by obtaining the Amendment Package 11 from Publications Ontario. The province has also developed guidelines to support new municipal internship programs for building inspectors under the Building Code internship provisions made in April 2022.

REHAU Group is commemorating 75 years of business with a year-long celebration dedicated to exploring the company’s slogan “Engineering progress.

Enhancing lives.” The Rehau, Germany-based company Helmet Wagner (right) established manufactures a wide range REHAU in Rehau, Germany in 1948 replacing conventional materials with of industrial polymer-based polymers to improve a range products, including mechanical of products. and plumbing solutions such as PEXa hydronic piping systems for radiant heating and cooling. REHAU has 190 locations worldwide, and more than 20,000 employees. Its North American division is headquartered in Leesburg, VA.

ontario.ca

rehau.com

Eight Canadian teams participate in 2024 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge

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The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge has attracted 105 participating teams from 93 collegiate institutions worldwide, including eight teams from Canadian universities. Canadian participants include Concordia University in Montreal, QC; Queen’s University in Kingston, ON; University of BC in Vancouver, BC; UBCOkanagan in Kelowna, BC; Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC; University of Victoria in Victoria, BC; University of Waterloo in Waterloo, ON; and York University in Toronto, ON. Teams will create efficient, lowcarbon building designs that address issues such as climate resilience, embodied carbon, existing building retrofits and community impact, for new or existing buildings in either single-family housing, attached housing, multi-family building or education building categories. The zero-energy building designs will be presented at a virtual semi-final event in February 2024. Finalist teams will compete in an event in April 2024 hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO. solardecathlon.gov

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BIBBY STE CROIX

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Watts Water finalizes Josam acquisition

MFE Inspection Solutions partners with dnota

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has completed its purchase of Josam Company. Michigan City, IN-based Josam Company provides drainage and plumbing products for the commercial, industrial, and multi-family end markets.

Edmonton, AB-based MFE Inspection Solutions has announced an exclusive partnership with dnota to distribute dnota’s Bettair device through its suite of inspection tools. The Bettair Node is a multi-sensory device that measures a range of pollutants and environmental parameters for real-time monitoring and large-scale mapping of pollution in cities or industrial environments.

josam.com watts.com

Honeywell acquires Carrier’s Global Access Solutions

dnota.com mfe-is.ca

Charlotte, NC-based Honeywell has acquired the Global Access Solutions business of Palm Beach Gardens, FL-based Carrier Global Corporation. Carrier’s Global Access Solutions business provides advanced access and security solutions, electronic locking systems, and contactless mobile key solutions. The acquisition supports Honeywell’s plan to align its portfolio with three trends: automation, aviation, and energy transition.

The deal adds the brands LenelS2, Onity and Supra to Honeywell’s portfolio and is expected to close during Q3 2024. honeywell.com corporate.carrier.com

Laars purchases Electro Industries Laars Heating Systems, a subsidiary of Bradford White Corporation, has acquired Monticello, MN-based Electro Industries, Inc. Electro Industries manufactures electric boilers, air-towater heat pumps, and electric duct heaters and controls for the residential and commercial markets. The acquisition expands Laars' residential, commercial and industrial space heating portfolio, and its manufacturing facilities. Electro Industries will become a division of Laars Heating Systems. electromn.com laars.com

Mysa Smart Thermostats and Copeland form distribution partnership St. John’s, NL-based Mysa has partnered with Copeland to market the Mysa thermostat line through Copeland’s national HVAC/R and electrical distribution network. Mysa produces smart thermostats for high voltage electric heating and cooling. The smart thermostats allow homeowners to track energy use and estimate heating costs, can integrate with various smart home technology, and can be controlled through a smartphone app.

MechCan announces first acquisition in BC Toronto, ON-based MechCan Inc. has purchased Vancouver, BC’s Pro Ace Heating & Air Conditioning, the company’s first acquisition in BC. MechCan, which has acquired seven companies since launching in January 2022, was founded to help owneroperators of HVAC, plumbing and electrical contractor companies to position their businesses for sustainable growth. Pro Ace will continue to maintain its local brand and will operate independently. mechcan.ca acecare.ca

copeland.com getmysa.com

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Vigmark becomes Flexcon sales rep in Quebec

Savard & Associates reps Granby in Western Canada

Montreal, QC-based Vigmark Inc. is now representing Flexcon products in Quebec. Flexcon makes products for residential, commercial and industrial applications, including ASME and non-ASME expansion tanks – heating and domestic, buffer tanks, pressure tanks and storage tanks.

Edmonton, AB-based Savard & Associates is now a sales representative for Granby Industries in Alberta, BC, Northwest Territories and Yukon. Granby’s heating products include boilers, furnaces, panel radiators and towel warmers under the Conforto and Pensotti brands. confortohvac.com granbyindustries.com

flexconind.com vigmark.com

Rideau Supply expands with hydronics branch Stratford, ON-based Rideau Supply has opened a hydronics-only branch at 89 Galaxy Blvd. in Etobicoke, ON. The branch offers a range of hydronics products, including pumps, boilers, controls and pipe, as well as guidance on design, product The Lowest GWP R-22 Drop-in Replacement on Earth. selection, and technical support for customers in the Greater Toronto Area. rideausupply.com

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Kristy Ryan has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing at Oakville, ON-based OS&B. Ryan joined OS&B in 2019, and was most recently national sales manager for Canada.

Fujitsu General America, Inc. has promoted Tomokazu Hosoi to president. Hosoi joined Fujitsu in 2001, and has spent the last six months as interim president and COO. He was previously vice president of business development.

Caleffi North America has named Rolf Fischer national sales manager for Canada, based in Toronto, ON. Fischer will play a key role in driving business growth in the plumbing and hydronic industries, while strengthening Caleffi’s presence in Canada.

Wallaceburg, ON-based Morden National Sales and Marketing Inc. has hired Luke Sim as director of sales.

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Maple Ridge, BC-based Equipco, Ltd. has hired Ronald Rouse (1) as outside sales representative, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and Jasmeet Singh (2) as technical sales specialist. Rouse is a trade plumber and member of Local 46. Singh will be located in London, ON. Danny Morrow has joined the technical sales team for Saskatchewan and Manitoba at Port Coquitlam, BC-based Barclay Sales Ltd.

Ara Yazedjian has been promoted to procurement manager – plumbing at Noble Corporation. Yazedjian joined Noble in 2013, and most recently held the position of procurement associate.

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DAB Pumps has hired Sean Welsh as Eastern Canada sales manager. Welsh will be responsible for building the DAB brand in the Eastern Canadian market, new business development, growing sales, product launches and product training/development from Ontario to Atlantic Canada.

Toronto, ON-based Independent Mechanical Supply Inc. (IMS) has promoted Dinesh Sethi to hydronic and HVAC technical support specialist.

This is a newly-created role at IMS.

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Burlington, ON-based Wolseley Canada has named Al Elliott (1) director of sales support, Ontario. Elliott has been with Wolseley since February 2013 as director, W-Tech, Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Bella Marshall (2) has joined Wolseley as senior business development manager in a newly-created role for Western Canada.

The Master Group has hired Ahmed Keshta as outside sales representative.

Bardon Supplies has hired Stephen McGann in an outside sales role, based in Belleville, ON.

Madison Air has appointed Joe Patterson vice president and general manager of the newly formed Heat Group, a partnership between Reznor and RobertsGordon LLC. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America has hired Glen Bates as manager of its Ottawa, ON location.

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02.24

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com Canature WaterGroup has hired three employees for its wholesale division.

Mike Crepeault (1) is now regional sales manager for Southwest Ontario, wholesale division; Kevin Lott (2) is regional sales manager for Southern Alberta, wholesale division; and Tyler Measner (3) is regional sales manager for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Thunder Bay, ON, wholesale division.

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Eric Luk has joined Hisense HVAC Americas as regional sales manager – Western Canada, based in Vancouver, BC.

The Master Group has named Dan Powers as business development manager, based in Calgary, AB.

Chad Neil is now Canadian national sales manager for PRIER products, Inc., Fiat Products, LLC, and SternWilliams Products, LLC. The three plumbing manufacturers are owned by GWBD Operations, a holding company based in Grandview, MO.

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HIRED ent

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To have your company’s personnel announcements included, free of charge, in an upcoming edition of Mechanical Business, simply send a photo and a few details, to kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com.

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and connected.

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The Amana brand S-series system wouldn’t be complete without a smart thermostat to support control and comfort. The new Amana brand smart thermostat does just that!

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2024-01-12 1:49 PM

Fred’s hands-on field experience and passion for new technology have served him well in the role of pipe trades instructor with Calgary’s SAIT Polytechnic. He was the 2020-2021 Innovation of The Year Award Winner: SAIT for digitizing the project-based learning approach that apprenticeship training is known for. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

PLUMBING

By Fred Bretzke

TOP 3 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ON RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

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always talk about the best ways to make money with my fourth year students. They claim that money does not buy happiness, however my plumbing business guru (the late Paul Andrews) definitely did disagree with that phrase. He added a slight edit, which was money buys the freedom to be happy. There is no doubt in my mind this is accurate in this complicated world.

On social media there are memes on “this is what plumbing bought me.” It mentions plumbers who bought boats, houses, lake properties, many toys, etc. Money makes the world go around. Even if you live in a log cabin in the mountains you still need money.

Many years ago, the comedy The Money Pit (1986) with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long had a couple of interesting plumbing scenes including a classic scene where a high-priced plumber drives up to do a residential renovation quote in a very expensive car, a Lincoln, I believe.

When we started A&B plumbing about 40 years ago, my business partner would drive up with me in his Lincoln to do a residential renovation quote. I used to beg him to park a block away so the customer didn’t see his car. He never would. He would explain to me that we shouldn’t be afraid to show we had UNIQUE PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS money. The funny part is we actually Attract the right customers. The customers who buy high ticket did not have much money back then. items, usually have custom-built homes. Hence, one would We paused paying our lawyer, who need a showroom was also a customer, and he stopped to show off all the billing us because it became an latest and greatest exchange of extremely high bills. We in plumbing high settled on a truce of lower bills. Is it tech hardware. Some really true that a plumber can make examples would as much as a lawyer? How can a be digital showers, plumbing company make a nice fair digital water meters, digital bidet seats, profit? high tech faucets, There are more ways than the and so on. The mark following suggestions to make up on these high-end money in the residential plumbing plumbing fixtures business, such as having a very is not as good as it efficient office staff, and high-tech used to be as there computer programs to monitor is major competition vehicles and inventory, but that is a from large retail Credit RainStick topic for another day. hardware stores, so the more unique the The following are my top three The more unique the product offering the better in the product the better. recommendations based on what I custom-built market. have learned over the years.

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WHENEVER PIPING IS INVOLVED FLOCOR

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Credit Studio S Kitchen collection, American Standard

PLUMBING Cont’d from pg. 22

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Large custom-built houses have challenging rough-ins.

CREATIVE FLOOR PLANS FOR MECHANICAL ROUGH-INS

Have you ever driven down a suburban street and noticed that most of the houses look similar? As a plumber I can sometimes figure out where all the bathrooms and kitchen are by looking at the roof plumbing stack vents. That means the house is basic, particularly bungalows. This is the way I rate plumbing rough-ins from easiest to hardest.

Residential houses have more plumbing than they used to. Today most new houses have at least 2.5 bathrooms.

In the 1950s to 1960s, it was one bathroom and a future vent. Even so the easiest plumbing (least profit) is an infill or small house. The next easiest rough-in is a standard commercial building where every floor is the same.

The hardest rough-in is a major big old house renovation or just a huge new house. You may ask why so? Huge custom-built houses are meant to have a unique floor plan. Nothing can be the same. There may be as many as five to 10 bathrooms all over each of the three floors in what I call an SUV house.

An SUV house is the one with two 30- to 40-year-old parents with kids living in it. Both parents have careers and SUVs. Their combined income before taxes is usually $250,000, or more. The residential lot does not have much grass. The house usually has two bay garage doors and a front driveway that consumes most of the yard.

The backyard is usually all deck. Inside, the basement has at least a three-piece bathroom and entertainment sink. The main floor has a big kitchen, a mud room, and a two-piece bathroom. The upstairs has a three-piece main bathroom, and a huge ensuite master five- or sixpiece bathroom. There might even be a bar sink upstairs.

These plumbing fixtures are not generally above each other, that would be boring. They are all over the place.

This of course makes for creative plumbing rough-ins, or lots of residential circuit venting if the joists run parallel to the 3-in. circuit vent branches. In other words, the

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Custom-built houses typically have a unique floor plan which generally includes a large kitchen with multiple fixtures. bigger, more original the house, the more complicated the mechanical, the more money is made. These houses usually have high ceilings and the client wants you to hide your vents, once again this takes creative venting. This leads me to the final of my three money makers.

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CREATIVE CODE, HOSPITAL PLUMBERS

Creative code hospital plumbers may sound weird, but it’s my code name for plumbers who really know the code and are great finish plumbers. The first part (creative code) is a plumber who knows the code so well they can use the least amount of pipe and fittings, and drill the fewest holes, and take the least amount of time roughing-in a huge house. This plumber must do all this safely and within the code. As a 17-year-old naïve apprentice I was told by an experienced plumber that anyone can be a plumber if they individually vent every fixture. It would cost a fortune and you wouldn’t be employed long, but you could do it. I always say if I sent three different plumbers to do the same house layout, they would all do it differently, but only one of them would do it the most creatively and economically. It’s important you have a group of very codesavvy rough-in plumbers.

Now here is the second part – it’s hard to find plumbers that are great money makers for rough-ins as well as plumbing finishing. If you have found them, you are probably already rich. Otherwise, you need a separate crew to do the finishing.

I call these plumbers hospital plumbers. The reason being is that whenever we had a plumber screw up plumbing, I would send over my guys I would designate as hospital plumbers to fix it up. These plumbers have to be meticulous and when they finish there are no customer complaints. These plumbers were few and far between, they usually take a little longer to do finishes, but there are very few callbacks.

Today’s world of expensive plumbing certainly requires a lot more skill and precision than when I was installing $59, 8-in. kitchen deck faucets.

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PLUMBING

B y C aro l yn Cooper

Smarter solutions

Residential plumbing products are becoming increasingly complex, but installation and maintenance is becoming more efficient as technology advances

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omeowners today want it all when it comes to plumbing choices – style, superior performance, enhanced functionality, energy and water efficiency, sustainability, and smart features such as connectivity.

As manufacturers meet this demand with residential plumbing products that combine form with multiple functions, they’re also focusing on technology that is quicker, easier and more economical to install and maintain.

“Over the past few years, the residential plumbing scene has seen some pretty cool innovations and trends. Smart plumbing technology has taken off, with things like smart faucets and touchless toilets becoming more mainstream,” says Parniian Frozan, leader, brand activation, for American Standard North America. “Another trend is eco-friendly plumbing solutions.

Low-flow toilets and high-efficiency fixtures are gaining popularity, helping users reduce their water consumption and lower their environmental impact. All in all, the world of residential plumbing is evolving, embracing technology, sustainability, and style to make our homes not only functional but also smarter and more efficient.”

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American Standard’s Aspirations EcoStrength Toilet offers water-savings and flushing power.

By combining 3L of water with advanced vacuum-assisted technology to clear the bowl with one flush, the EcoStrength toilet cuts water use in half, and meets demands for efficiency, performance, style and sustainability.

The EverClean surface inhibits the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew.

“From smart showers to connected leak detection devices, there is more opportunity than ever for customers to upgrade their products to include more tech-savvy options, providing greater convenience, security and wellness,” says Anny Ang, director, wholesale marketing for Moen Canada. “Many smart home offerings feature a range of benefits – from touchless technology to protect hygiene and health, enhanced sustainability to reduce water waste, and automation and integration to provide peace of mind. We’re also seeing an increased interest in customization options, which is why our products often come in a variety of finishes and styles. We want contractors to be able to offer products that don’t compromise form for function.”

B u s i n e s s

The Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff attaches to the home’s main water supply line to monitor every drop of water, 24/7. If it detects an abnormality, it can automatically shut off the water supply to protect the home and help prevent catastrophic damage. Homeowners are alerted of any issues and can monitor and control their home’s water in the Moen Smart Water App.

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PLUMBING Cont’d from pg. 26 Jason King, Northwest regional manager for Duravit US, agrees that integrated innovative technologies are producing plumbing products with expanded solutions for both homeowners and contractors. He cites “features such as seat heating, odour extraction, nightlight features, automatic seat opening, and more, which can be controlled to the user’s sensory preferences from a remote or on an app.”

At the same time, says King, “contractors are looking for quality products that require less labour to install and less maintenance overall, along with smart features that can enhance functionality.”

Because of the complexity of new innovations, manufacturers including Duravit and American Standard offer training on a variety of products. “Whether it’s smart plumbing systems, eco-friendly solutions, or cutting-edge fixtures, our training sessions are designed to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and excel in the world of modern plumbing,” says Frozan.

“Looking ahead, the next 18 months in residential plumbing promise some exciting developments,” says Frozan.

“We anticipate a continued surge in smart home integration within plumbing systems, with even more intuitive and interconnected features that make daily tasks more convenient and environmentally conscious.

Eco-friendly solutions will likely take centre stage, with a heightened focus on sustainable materials, water-saving technologies, and energy-efficient fixtures.

Faster, cleaner changeouts and “white glove service,” are becoming a must in residential applications. The Sanipit 24GR retrofit pump kit from Saniflo provides a hassle-free, high-performance sewage pump replacement solution that fits most 24-in. basins and is compatible with existing pump systems.

The Duravit No.1 Pro toilet has 1,000g flushing power. The toilet is HET rated at 1.28 gpf, ensuring efficient water usage while delivering exceptional flushing capabilities. The rimless design ensures easy cleaning, eliminating hidden dirt and bacteria. The toilet is ADA compliant and features a universal seat design with right-hand and left-hand tank lever options.

“In terms of design, we foresee a rise in minimalist and adaptable styles, catering to the demand for fixtures that seamlessly blend with various interior aesthetics,” adds Frozan. “Sleek lines, versatile finishes, and customizable features are likely to dominate the residential plumbing landscape, creating a balance between functionality and visual appeal.”

The Watco Universal NuFit Tub Trim Kits make highvolume installations or replacing any bathtub drain trim quick and easy, without needing tools. Kits install with an included silicone adhesive or optional bonding strip.

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The Hot-Shot 320 and Hot-Shot 400 pipe thawing machines from General Pipe Cleaners safely thaw pipes in minutes without tearing up floors or walls, digging around pipes in frozen ground, or using hazardous blow torches. The compact units plug into any 115 V outlet and generate 320 amps (Hot-Shot 320) to thaw up to 100 ft. of 1 1/2-in. pipe, or 400 amps (Hot-Shot 400) to thaw up 175 ft. of 1 1/2-in. pipe.

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THE WOODFORD MODEL 22 HOT/COLD ANTI-BURST FAUCET:

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HEATING

By Andrew Martin Andrew Martin is senior product manager with Marley Engineered Products. He can be reached at andrew.martin@marleymep.com.

KEEP COLD WINDS AT BAY:

Fan-forced wall heaters provide continuous comfort through optimized airflow.

Eliminate drafts and cool air in heated spaces

I

n facilities with high volumes of foot traffic, the constant opening and closing of doors not only lets in chilly air but can cause heating problems for the entire building. Cold drafts bring the temperatures down, so while main rooms benefit from the warmth of the building’s primary heating system, many other areas are left to deal with the cold side effects. Vestibules, lobbies, entrance ways and hallways are frequently populated, so it’s imperative that facilities hunker down and counteract the cold drafts left behind by those entering and leaving buildings.

To help neutralize these blustery winds, consider fan-forced wall heaters that provide continuous comfort through optimized airflow. Such units are ideal for entryways and other spaces where short bursts of heat are needed – providing an advantage over gentle heating sources that may not be powerful enough to provide the desired amount of warmth.

However, if wall and floor space is minimal, facilities can instead opt for electric ceiling heaters.

Mounted flat or recessed to the ceiling, these heaters are ideal for not only entryways but also in conference rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms and lobbies. No matter the case, both products move heated air with a fan to quickly heat the room from the wall or ceiling. Once the heater turns on, air is moved over a heating element and circulated into the space.

Electric ceiling heaters are suited to conference rooms, waiting areas, bathrooms and lobbies.

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SPECIALIZED PERFORMANCE Whether it’s through vents, unsealed windows or cracks and crevices in the building’s foundation, cold air will creep into facilities any way it can. This cool air can make indoor temperatures uncomfortable for occupants and reduces the overall heating efficiency of the facility. Specialized heating units are designed to stop drafts in their tracks before they spread throughout a building.

Fan-forced wall and ceiling heaters with an automatic delay feature eliminate cold drafts on start-up and discharge residual heat from the heater body during shut down, helping attack drafts at their source, making the best use of available heat and prolonging the life of the heater. To maintain desirable comfort levels, facilities should consider fan-forced wall or ceiling heaters equipped with integrated thermostats or BMS connections for easy adjustment of room temperatures.

SAFETY AND STYLE GO HAND-IN-HAND While selecting a heater that fits a building’s aesthetic is important, opting for a high-quality product that protects against common safety risks should be a topof-mind priority. Fan-forced wall or ceiling heaters are built with easily accessible power on/off switches for added safety during maintenance. Tamper-proof plugs for thermostat holes prevent unwanted changes to the temperature and keep children and pets from getting into places they shouldn’t.

All fan-forced units also come with thermal overheat protectors that disconnect power in the event of accidental dust or debris blockages to mitigate risk of injury. Additionally, heaters that include permanently lubricated and enclosed fan motors are shown to have longer lives, require less maintenance and gently administer heat throughout a space. Keep in mind that some heaters are noisier than others, so choose one powerful enough to negate drafts but quiet enough to prevent disturbances from interrupting daily activities.

B u s i n e s s

Thermal overheat protectors in fanforced heaters disconnect power in the event of accidental dust or debris blockages.

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HVAC/R Products Premium EVRs Centrifugal heat pump Johnson Controls has reengineered the YORK CYK water-to-water compound centrifugal heat pump to deliver operational savings and meet sustainability goals. The heat pump delivers water up to 170⁰F using two electric motor-driven centrifugal compressors arranged in series. Features include turndown of up to 30 per cent, and double bundle condenser technology to manage unbalanced load conditions in a more compact footprint. The unit is available in a smaller, 400-ton capacity, as well as with optional ultra-low GWP refrigerants R-1234ze and R-515b.

RenewAire’s residential and light commercial energy recovery ventilators (ERV), the EV Premium Series, use energy efficient electronically commutated motors to replace indoor air with outdoor air. Static plate enthalpy cores transfer energy from exhaust air to precondition outdoor air for cooling, heating and humidity control. The variable speed fan automatically adjusts to remove airborne contaminants. The Dial-A-Flow digital controller facilitates quick and easy outdoor/indoor air balance and system airflow adjustments.

www. renewaire.com

Multi-zone heat pump The Carrier 38MGR8 multi-zone heat pump for residential applications has an energy-efficiency rating of up to 23.9 SEER2, and a heating efficiency of up to 10.5 HSPF2. The heat pump can support up to five multiple-style indoor units with just one outdoor inverter compressor unit, and has a sound level as low as 59 decibels.

www. york.com

www. carrier.com

Water-cooled chiller Daikin Applied introduces Magnitude WMT, a magnetic bearing water-cooled, centrifugal chiller for use with ultra-low GWP refrigerant R-1233zd(E). It features oil-free magnetic bearing technology and a two-stage compressor. With only one main moving component, the oil-free design reduces friction and potential points of failure, simplifying maintenance while extending the life of the equipment. The chiller has full-load efficiency of 0.50 kW/ ton and part-load efficiency of 0.30 kW/ton.

www. daikinapplied.com

IAQ test kit Poppy has released BreatheScore Kits, a portable instant air tracer and sensor system test kit for HVAC service providers and building owners. The kit covers up to 5,000-sq. ft. of building space, and allows operators to measure indoor air changes and ventilation performance, save energy, and comply with ASHRAE Standard 241-2023 to reduce the spread of airborne diseases in buildings. A digital real-time automated process tests a 10-storey building and provides results within a day.

www. poppy.com

Digital Alert

Pricing software

The New Flat Rate has launched the HVAC Lite price book, a pricing menu designed to allow technicians to confidently present pricing options to customers. Like the company’s original menu pricing system, HVAC Lite helps techs bundle and upsell service, repair and equipment, but offers easier readability, with tasks written in everyday conversational language for increased service sales, a higher average service ticket price, and reduced customer resistance.

thenewflatrate.com

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COVER STORY

Dave Merry:

By Kerry Turner

Making magic with a unique skill set Dave Merry has been Canada’s leading comic magician and has travelled the globe making people laugh for the last 35 years. When the curtain rises at the 2024 CIPH Gala in Support of Habitat for Humanity in Toronto on March 19, he’ll be ready to entertain. “A nice big corporate job like that is right in my wheelhouse,” says Merry. “It’s going to be a nice gig.”

A seasoned professional, the larger events still get his heart going, such as opening for a big band or working in a very large venue. “I opened for the Beach Boys not that long ago and we had almost 18,000 people in the audience. That gets the heart going and requires a little bit of extra preparation.”

KUDOS Merry has a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Comedy Magic Seminar and has been nominated at the Canadian Comedy Awards for Best One Man Show and Best Variety Act. He is an award-winning writer and member of the Writers Guild of Canada. He writes all of his own material and over the years has written jokes for legendary comedians, including Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield.

Photos: davidmerry.com

In January of 2018, Merry and his business partners established Home Invasion Studios, where he has written television pilots and feature-length films. Since then, his projects have featured prominently at film festivals. He was the director and executive producer of Off the Hozzle, a comedy golf travel show on CBS Sports Network. Merry has written for the Canadian Comedy Awards, was a writer and host of Global TV’s sports trivia show Game On and Get a Grip on Golf, and in 2017 was a cast member and writer on Super Channel’s Too Much Information.

“When I lived in Las Vegas I’d go by all these fancy casinos that would have a comedian performing.

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ng.

My mind was working too quickly, as they told me,” recalls Merry.

Fast forward and today he has added motivational speaking to his repertoire. “One of my managers knew that I stuttered very badly as a kid. She was fascinated that later in life I ended up making a living speaking and suggested motivational speaking. I talk about following your goals and taking risks. Things can change in life.

Don’t get stuck in your ways because if you’re clever about stuff, you can make things happen.”

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE SCRIPT? PACKAGING TALENT The question that springs to mind is, how does anyone have such a diverse resume? But Merry’s career trajectory makes perfect sense. From heading to Vegas in his twenties to play blackjack professionally, to reaching for a pen in between gigs, using time wisely has provided the foundation for the next business venture. While in Vegas he would watch comedic icons perform when he wasn’t at the card table. That prompted him to give standup a try.

“When I lived in Las Vegas I’d go by all these fancy casinos that would have a comedian performing. I saw Rich Little, Johnny Carson and Don Rickles. That’s when I found my first love of comedy. I realized I was going to stop playing cards for a living and go into comedy full time.”

When he was on the road Merry spent his days playing golf, eventually becoming a golf pro. He would later combine those skills and offer more than 1,400 corporate golf events with clinics through the day and a comedy/magic show in the evening.

“With so many years on the road as a career comedian, first of all, I tried to use my time wisely. If I was on a weekend gig, I would bring my golf clubs so I could do something healthy and constructive during the day instead of sitting in a hotel room.

That’s where the golf came in.

“By playing so much golf I actually became pretty good. When I was in my twenties, I decided to take a run at a Canadian qualifying school. I didn’t make the tour full-time, but I made both cuts. And with that I became a golf professional.

“In the ‘80s when people were doing so many corporate golf tournaments, I decided to package it as such; where you could get one person who was a comedian, a golf professional, and a magician to come out to your corporate golf tournaments to entertain in three different ways. I was lucky enough to have several different talents,” recalls Merry. “When I was on cruise ships, I couldn’t golf, so I wrote movies.”

During his childhood, Merry had a serious speech impediment.

“I learned how to mask it. I also slowed my talking down.

Merry has three adult children. “People ask if the kids have any interest in doing it − my kids all are very, very funny. They come by it naturally. But when someone goes into comedy that is not a multi-generational career. It’s a very peculiar line of work to go into. Even though they’re all very funny, it’s one thing to be funny, it’s another to take it to the stage and then be able to carry it off for 35 years.”

Over the course of his own career, which has included more than 7,000 shows, Merry spent most of the year away from his family on the road or in the air. “I wanted to do comedy. I practiced it and practice it very hard and became quite busy and good at it. And I did that for 35 years. As an exit strategy, I didn’t want to be full time on an airplane, so I opened a TV and film company. My biggest challenge was making the transition from only stand-up comedy to entertainment on a larger basis. That’s what my TV and film company is all about.

“I’m launching my new movie called Switched at Death. We filmed it in March and into the summer, and now we’re actively selling my first feature-length film.” This career step has proven to be a success. Merry recently won the New York International Film Awards for Best Movie and Best First-Time Director.

Editor’s note: Since this interview, Home Invasion Studios has a distributer in Hollywood actively selling Switched at Death and Merry expects it to be streaming soon. The film has also done very well at film festivals in the last four weeks.

I saw Rich Little, Johnny Carson and Don Rickles. That’s when I found my first love of comedy.”

M e c h a n i c a l

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A P P L I C A T I O N S

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2024

TYLER LEIGHTON:

THE WOW FACTOR • MEGA PRODUCT SHOWCASE • JOBSITE JARGON: TEST YOUR HYDRONIC IQ • CONTROL VALVE SIZING AND SELECTION • THE ART OF HYDRONIC BALANCING • HISTORIC NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL RECEIVES A MAKEOVER • WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO CORRECTLY SIZE A CIRCULATOR?

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business Wetheat Cover02.24.indd 1

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CONTENTS A P P L I C A T I O N S

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T E C H N O L O G I E S

02.24

48

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58 56

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PROJECT PROFILE: HISTORIC NEW BRUNSWICK SCHOOL RECEIVES A MAKEOVER When the oldest publicly-funded high school in Canada required energy efficiency upgrades last year, there were challenges including the age of the mechanical room, and timing and delivery.

Carolyn Cooper

OTHER

FEATURES

40SYSTEM DESIGN The art of hydronic balancing.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

44BOILERS How to fight corrosion.

Tim Seberger

56

ROAD WARRIOR: THE WOW FACTOR As owner and operator of TJL Mechanical, Tyler Leighton draws on his years of experience in different areas of the skilled trades, including his time spent working as a finish carpenter before entering the HVAC/R industry.

Carolyn Cooper

DEPART MENTS

48PRODUCTS A showcase of hydronic technology.

58

PUMPS WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO CORRECTLY SIZE A CIRCULATOR? If you take your time, do the math, and are not afraid to ask questions you will always size your circulator correctly the first time without that second trip to the wholesaler for the “bigger pump.”

Matthew Reid

62JOBSITE JARGON Match the correct definition or meaning to the terminology you hear in the field and enter for your chance to win a $150 gift card.

Cover Photo: Becky Laing of Becky Lynne Photography

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PROJECT PROFILE

By Carolyn Cooper

Historic New Brunswick school receives energy efficiency makeover W

hen the oldest publicly-funded high school in Canada required energy efficiency upgrades last year, it turned to Thomas Industrial Sales.

Saint John High School was founded in 1805 in Saint John, NB as a boys grammar school, and merged with a newly created girls high school in 1874. A fire in 1876 destroyed those schools, but the building that would become the current school opened in 1897.

ordering and delivering the equipment, startup and commissioning. The project was engineered by Dillon Consulting Ltd. and completed by George’s Plumbing & Heating.

Additional buildings were added to the facility in 1932 and in 1964, and in 1986 when the school completed a major renovation, which included updating electrical systems. Heating systems varied throughout the years, ranging from coal steam boilers to different oil boilers.

“The heating system was the third heating system since the school was built, and the boilers were from the 1960s era,” says Daron Thomas, president of Fredericton, NB-based Thomas Industrial Sales Ltd., a manufacturer’s representative responsible for

The heating system was the third heating system since the school was built and the boilers were from the 1960s era.

Today the school is heated by two Viessmann natural gas condensing boilers with 2,500 MBH input each, says Thomas. “Natural gas was available and the province was changing from oil heating to natural gas heating. The entire boiler room mechanical system was upgraded

Saint John High School, Saint John, NB.

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loops, where all the flow goes through the boilers, rather than closely spaced tees or a low loss header, was unique,” says Thomas. “The piping system, headers and other components remained in place, when the pumps were replaced – so the overall piping system did not change.”

Viessmann 300 CA3B 2.5 natural gas condensing boilers being installed and finished.

The Renovation Project

The upgrade included the installation of six Wilo pumps with smart drives

with six Wilo pumps with smart drives, Security Chimneys International Duravent Group venting system, a Viessmann BacNet integration panel, Wessels Company air scoop and expansion tank, and Neutra-Safe condensate neutralizer tanks.”

The renovation project, which also included the installation of new windows and upgrades to the roof, will allow the school to save energy and money.

“The previous oil boilers were non-condensing and had limited controls,” says Thomas. “Although the combustion efficiency was probably in the low 80s, the new boilers will be up to 20 per cent more efficient and utilize space input to limit the water temperature to enhance condensing. The variable speed pumps are utilized for a greater system delta T. Although the radiation remained, requiring high temperatures under design, opportunities were utilized to influence the boilers’ condensing capabilities.”

Thomas says the project presented some challenges due to the age of the building. “The existing mechanical room was built in the 1960s. Prior to that the mechanical system was in the basement, originally being coal-fired steam. Newer steam boilers were installed in the basement but when the system was converted to hot water, everything moved to the first floor.”

However, Thomas says the real difficulty “was the timing and delivery, so we worked closely with Viessmann, George’s and the school to ensure the project could be completed in a timely manner for school to open in the fall. The project was awarded late in the school year, but with shop drawings and other general hurdles there were significant pressures on ensuring the delivery of the components. The school and mechanical contractor had to devise plans should a temporary boiler be required. We worked closely with our suppliers to ensure we had the product and could deliver when expected.”

The project also included some unique innovations, including several smart systems. “The use of smart pumps and primary

A view of the upgraded boiler room and mechanical system.

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SYSTEM DESIGN

The Art of Hydronic Balancing: No one size fits all solution

W

e commonly see hydronic systems designed and installed with multiple zones. Perhaps one of the biggest selling features of hydronic systems is the ease of zoning various floors, areas, or rooms of the building. Hydronics also allows us to match multiple types of heat emitters. Some rooms could benefit from a radiant floor, while others might be best served by panel radiators. Spaces requiring cooling may have an air handling unit with a hot water coil.

The amount of flow each branch or heat emitter receives in a zoned hydronic system depends on the flow resistance or hydraulic resistance of each loop or circuit. An example would be a radiant manifold that A direct-reading has multiple loops of various lengths. A balancing valve has a bathroom loop could be 100 ft. or less self-contained flow of tube; a large great room could have meter and a flowmultiple loops of 250 ft. or longer. We regulating plug. would expect the shorter, less flow-resistant loops to get the higher percentage of flow.

If we install such a system, and enable a circulator, we undoubtedly will end up with an unbalanced system. We may not be able to deliver the energy required to each loop or section to cover the load of that space.

Unbalanced systems can lead to uncomfortable areas, and excessive flow velocity in shorter loops. Excessive velocity can lead to noise and undo wear of the components. Proper balance eliminates these concerns, and assures the most efficient system operation.

If you specify or install balancing valves, learn more about the features and benefits of each type of valve. Most manufacturers of balancing valves have online or in-person training available. Hands on training at a manufacturer’s lab would help you learn how to size, apply and dial in the various types of valves.

There is no one size fits all with balance valves. Really, that could be said for any valve used to control flow. Valves such as zone valves, mixing valves, service valves, and check valves all need to be sized properly. Spend some time brushing up on proper sizing and selection of valves used in the art of hydronics to assure the systems you work on are in balance.

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By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr Bob Hot Rod Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30+ years. A long-time columnist, he is involved with training and education at Caleffi North America.

You can reach him at bob.rohr@caleffi.com.

In a perfect world Radiant manifolds are available with integral balancing valves to allow the installer to “fine tune” the flow rates. In a perfect hydronic world, the installer would have a detailed design list indicating the flow rate required in every branch on the manifold. They could quickly and easily dial in the flow rates required. Additionally, corrections could be made to areas that need more or less flow due to a building design change. Manifold distribution could be optimized on any homerun distribution − it is not limited to radiant. Panel radiators, air handler coils, fin tube, and any group of heat emitters could be based on a balance enabled homerun distribution manifold.

Many other piping arrangements are available to designers and installers. In a larger building or multistorey building you could have a loop around the perimeter of the floor and branch off to each room. In this case, we would look at installing a balancing device at the loop where we have the piping take-off to the heat emitter. The balancing act would also apply to chilled water systems.

There are a wide range of balance valves available in our industry. Selecting the best valve can become complicated. Choices are sometimes driven by the designer’s experience or familiarity with one specific type or brand of valve. Cost could be a factor in deciding what type of valve is installed. Brand preference, and in some cases availability, are driving factors in valve selection.

Most commonly we consider two categories of hydronic balance valves: manual valves, also known as static valves, and an automatic or dynamic valve.

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SYSTEM DESIGN Cont’d from pg. 40

Some limitations The manual valve could be as simple as a ball valve or globe valve. A lever, wheel or stem is adjusted until the desired result is achieved.

We could balance based on a temperature drop around the circuit, or by reading a flow rate. The more engineered manual balance valves will have a specific valve design including a fine adjusting mechanism, and two ports to attach a manometer or differential pressure gauge.

An engineered hydronic design will often include a balancing contractor. This tradesperson would be responsible for adjusting, confirming and documenting the valves were all set to the engineers’ specification. Balance valves can be locked in place and are often tagged for easy adjustment verification. If an adjustment change is made to one manual balance valve, all the other manual valves in the building will now need to be readjusted. So, the manual valve does have some limitations in that regard. If one zone of the system is under-heating or overheating, the balancing contractor would need to readjust and re-document the entire project.

The manual valve could be as simple as a ball valve or globe valve (shown here).

Sensing and Adjusting The second option uses a valve that can sense and adjust itself within a certain range. The automatic or dynamic valves may have a spring-loaded cartridge that moves open or closed as it senses varying flow changes. The engineer will specify the exact flow requirement for the various valves. So, these valves need to be matched to the heat emitters in the building. If any flow corrections are required, either the entire valve, or the internal cartridge, would need to be replaced.

This type of valve is often designated on a mechanical plan as a pressure independent valve (PIV). Additionally, this valve could have an on/off function or modulating function included. This is commonly referred to as a PICV pressure independent control valve. This type of valve would also have the pressure ports to confirm the settings with the manometer or pressure differential gauge.

Valve manufacturers will often combine all the necessary components into a kit form. A coil kit for example would include the control valve, balance valve, and strainer protection. Some kits go a step further and include a bypass and purge function, and have a rated, insulated shell to surround it. Coil kits may also include hoses to make the connections quick and easy.

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Valve manufacturers will often combine all the necessary components into a kit form.

The PIV valve could have an on/off function or modulating function included.

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BOILERS

Tim Seberger is chief support officer at Rasmussen Mechanical Services.

By Tim Seberger

How to fight corrosion I

f you are working with boilers, you know that boiler corrosion is the enemy.

Exposure of iron in the system to water and oxygen creates corrosion. The metal reacts chemically and disintegrates, forming rust.

The science of corrosion When iron is in contact with water, they combine to form ferrous hydroxide.

Fe + 2H2O  Fe(OH)2 + H2 Iron + Water = Ferrous Hydroxide + Hydrogen This top layer of ferrous hydroxide protects the remaining iron.

If dissolved oxygen is present, it combines with the ferrous hydroxide to form an insoluble compound, ferric hydroxide, which is rust.

4Fe (OH)2 + O2 + H2O  4Fe(OH)3 Ferrous Hydroxide + Oxygen = Ferric Hydroxide (Rust) If the system continuously cycles dissolved oxygen, it will continuously remove ferrous hydroxide from the system until the metal has completely dissolved.

This can create holes in economizers, boiler tubes or feedwater piping resulting in boiler leaks and even break downs. But not every form of corrosion is equal.

Types of corrosion Caustic Corrosion This occurs when a concentrated caustic substance dissolves the protective magnetite layer of a boiler. It commonly occurs when the boiler water pH is too high, when there is steam blanketing (poor circulation), or during local “film boiling.” If the boiler has a porous scale, then under deposit corrosion is also possible. Boiler water pH should be a part of the logbook.

Acidic Corrosion This occurs due to mishandling of chemicals during acid cleaning or running the boiler pH too low. This will passivate the carbon steel surfaces of the boiler. Again, boiler water pH should be a part of the logbook.

Pitting Corrosion This is one of the most destructive types of boiler corrosion, as it can be hard to predict before a leak forms. Pitting is a localized form of

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There are several types of corrosion that can occur in boilers. corrosion. Either a local anodic point or more commonly a cathodic point, forms a small corrosion cell within the surrounding normal surface. Oxygen in feedwater is a common cause of boiler tube pitting. If the boiler is pitting, investigate the proper operation of the deaerator or feedwater tank and chemical treatment. If there is a hot water system, oxygen pitting can occur if the system has a leak and is bringing in freshwater.

Crevice Corrosion This localized form of corrosion usually results from a crack in the boiler that does not get good circulation to rinse away caustic corrosion.

Galvanic Corrosion Galvanic corrosion is the degradation of one metal near a joint or juncture. This occurs when two electrochemically dissimilar metals are in electrical contact in an electrolytic environment. So, dissimilar metals may need a special dielectric joint, sacrificial anode, or active cathodic protection system to prevent this phenomenon.

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BOILERS Cont’d from pg. 44 What can you do about boiler corrosion?

Even the most aggressive forms of prevention can’t stop minor corrosion from eventually happening. But with the right approach, the effects of corrosion can be minimized to extend boiler life.

Here’s what to do to minimize the effect of corrosion before it happens: Use a boiler logbook. Regularly tracking the normal operation of the boiler room equipment makes it easy to spot when something critical changes. Deaerator pressure or feed-tank temperature changes will give advance warning of a more expensive corrosion problem. pH changes could indicate problems with water treatment or process contamination.

Treat feedwater. Additives can ensure that any oxygen that makes its way to the boiler in the feedwater is rapidly absorbed. These additives remove oxygen before it has the opportunity to form corrosive cells and blisters. Work with a good water chemistry company to stay on top of boiler water.

Implement a regular service program to ensure the boiler stays clean and free of scale and corrosion problems. This will allow you to catch problems early before they turn into costly repairs.

Install a deaerator to help remove gasses from feed water prior to entering the boiler.

Check for leaks and monitor the quantity of make-up water.

Hot water heating systems shouldn’t need make-up water unless something is wrong. Fix the leak right away, or your customer may be replacing the boiler next year.

Here’s what to use after corrosion has already reared its ugly head: Oxygen scavengers to prevent pitting Scale inhibitors to prevent deposits Alkalinity to control pH Condensate line protection to control condensate pH Train crew on boiler preventive maintenance and water chemistry tests Ensure your customer documents and reports any signs of corrosion to you and the water chemical company.

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Corrosion caused by poor feedwater.

FAQS about boiler corrosion 1. Can a corroded boiler be repaired?

Yes, you can often repair a corroded boiler, but the extent of the repair depends on the severity of the corrosion. You can address minor corrosion by cleaning and treating affected areas. Extensive corrosion on the other hand may require the replacement of damaged components or even the entire boiler. Regular inspections and maintenance can help identify corrosion early, increasing the chances of successful repairs.

2. How do you treat corrosion in a boiler?

Boiler corrosion treatment involves using a combination of preventive measures and corrective actions. Prevention involves maintaining proper water chemistry, using corrosion inhibitors, and ensuring the pH levels of the water are within the recommended range. Corrective actions include cleaning and passivating the boiler’s interior surfaces, replacing corroded parts, and implementing water treatment programs to mitigate further corrosion.

3. How does corrosion affect the heat exchanger?

Corrosion can have a detrimental impact on the heat exchanger of a boiler. It can lead to the formation of rust and scale on the heat exchanger surfaces, reducing its efficiency.

Over time, corrosion can cause leaks and cracks in the heat exchanger, leading to safety hazards and decreased heating

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performance. Regular maintenance and corrosion prevention measures are essential to prolong the life of the heat exchanger.

4. What are the signs of boiler failure?

If you observe any of these signs, conducting a thorough inspection becomes crucial. Address the underlying issues promptly to prevent further damage and ensure boiler safety and efficiency.

Several signs may indicate impending boiler failure, including: Reduced heating efficiency: A sudden drop in heating performance or increased energy consumption.

Unusual noises: Loud banging, hissing, or popping sounds coming from the boiler.

Rust-colored water: Discoloured or rusty water in the system or on the boiler’s exterior.

Leaks: Visible water or steam leaks around the boiler or its piping.

Pressure fluctuations: Frequent pressure fluctuations or irregular pressure readings.

Decreased heat output: Inadequate heating or inconsistent temperature control.

Frequent breakdowns: Repeated malfunctions or boiler shutdowns.

Minor corrosion can often be resolved by cleaning and treating affected areas.

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Magnetic filter The Caleffi 577 Series XF Xtra filtration filter has an internal cleaning brush mechanism coupled with magnetic/non-magnetic impurity separation to facilitate removal of debris at the first pass. The unit is suitable for heat pump and condensing boiler applications. The “triple pass” XF separator-filter ensures initial and sustained system cleaning via three filtering elements.

Hydronic fluid enters the low velocity zone body, contacting the concentric mesh filters and the XF’s magnetic core. Coarse impurities contact the mesh and fall, while any magnetic material is captured by the core. Fluid flows through a fine mesh filtering 160 μm impurities and larger.

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Pre-packaged boiler plant Aerco’s AM Series boilers consist of between two and four individual modules for the reliability of a multi-unit system. Each unit has its own combustion chamber, burner, gas valve, and combustion controls and safeguards, which are tied together to common water connections and assembled in a single enclosure. The boilers feature a noise level below 70 dBA, high-efficiency, condensing technology for systems operating from 399 to 1,000 MBH. Output ranges from 395 to 990 MBH, making it suitable for smaller commercial applications. Flowrates range from 22 to 40 GPM and up to 48 to 80 GPM.

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Leak detector sensor Belimo’s leak detector sensor, encased in an IP65/NEMA 4 rated enclosure with a 1/2-in. NPT conduit connector, is engineered to detect liquid leaks in containers, drain pans, false floors, suspended ceilings, and rooms. It features a single relay contact that can be wired to alert a control system, trigger an alarm, or close a valve to halt the flow of liquid. It has easy to read green/red “traffic light” status LEDs for clear visual indication of leaks. Adjustable feet allow it to be raised off the floor, level in all situations, and configured to detect the specified liquid level.

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Balancing valves Fire tube boiler Aqua-Tech and Lochinvar present the Knight Fire Tube floor mount boiler and Fire Tube wall mount boiler for residential applications. With six floor mount models ranging from 80,000 to 199,999 BTU/hr, and seven wall mount models ranging from 110,000 to 199,999 BTU/hr, the units offer instantaneous response time and a userfriendly interface. In addition to 10:1 turndown and 95 per cent AFUE, the boilers are equipped with Lochinvar’s Smart Control and feature an intuitive setup wizard. The boiler’s patented control technology features pre-heat and domestic hot water response. EPIC Combi’s air handler interlock switches 95% AFUE Efficiency Capable from space heating to domestic hot water mode.

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iDROSET CSD calibrated flow measuring and balancing valves are designed for potable water systems. Features include patented integrated flow measurement technology, large dial for direct reading of flow, hand wheel for setting flow rate without the need for tools, and positive shut-off ball valve. The valves also feature leadfree construction to comply with installation requirements, and a balancing turn-down ratio of up to 25:1 to cover a range of design flow requirements. Models are available in 1/2- to 1-in. sizes.

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Hydraulic separator Webstone, a NIBCO brand, introduces a hydraulic separator that combines multiple components to balance flow between primary and secondary piping, while protecting systems from debris, and eliminating accumulated trapped air. The unit includes a 12,000 gauss magnet, an air separator, a dual-scale temperature/pressure gauge, mounting brackets, and hardware. It is available in Press, SWT, FIP, and MIP G-union connections, in 1- to 1 1/2-in. sizes.

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Condensing boilers King Heating Product’s Eco-King is the revised residential range of high-efficient condensing boilers with capacities of 99, 140 and 200,000 BTU. The made-in-Canada boilers come in H or Combi models. H models use an indirect tank to produce domestic hot water, while the Combi models are tankless, producing domestic hot water on demand. The boilers share universal parts and have quick connect connections.

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OEM manifolds Manifolds from Precision Plumbing Products are made from type L or type K copper, and are pressure tested in the company’s ISO certified facility. They are available in a multitude of custom sizes and fittings, as well as special orders of 1- and 2-in. header with 1/2- and 3/4in. drop up to 72 in.

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Indirect water heater Triangle Tube introduces the Cardinal, a stainless-steel indirect water heater for residential and commercial applications.

The unit is available in several sizes ranging from 30 to 120 gallons. Additional features include a stainless-steel coil tank, 1-in. boiler connections and top DHW connections.

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Air-to-water heat pump Radiant heating system SharkBite’s PEX pipe has an oxygen-diffusion barrier applied to its exterior to limit oxygen permeation through the piping wall in hydronic heating applications. Available in coils up to 1,000 ft. long, it comes in ½- to 1-in. sizes. Install an entire PEX radiant system with EvoPEX push fittings or use SharkBite brass fittings to connect copper, CPVC, PEX, PE-RT and/or SDR-9 HDPE pipe in any combination without needing special tools. Approved for underground and behind-the-wall applications, brass fittings come in 1/4- to 2-in. sizes, while EvoPEX fittings come in 1/2- to 1-in. sizes.

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The IBC HPX air-to-water heat pump is a high-efficiency monobloc heat pump for residential and light commercial applications. It features a selfcontained, refrigerant-based monobloc unit that is easy to install and service without the need for refrigeration licences. It connects to thermostats with a 24V AC interface and offers up to a 400 per cent efficiency (COP up to 4) and quiet operation. The HPX is available in 3- and 5-ton models.

www. ibcboiler.ca H E A T

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS High-mass boiler The Cleaver-Brooks ClearFire-CE (CFC-E) boiler is a compact, fully condensing boiler, featuring patented TurboFer tube technology and integrated controls.

It is available in 11 sizes (500 MBH to 6,000 MBH), with features including built-in BMS integration with BACnet, true delta-T pump speed control, hydrogenblend firing capability, and inherent O2 trim.

Constructed with duplex stainless steel, it has a large water-volume pressure vessel, and is capable of wide delta-T systems, offering up to 99 per cent efficiency and 10:1 turndown.

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Combi gas boilers Conforto’s high-efficiency condensing MAC wallmounted or MACH floor standing combi gas boilers from Granby are controlled with Adaptive Intelligence. The units automatically modulate the gas input, using more gas when needed to provide heat or domestic hot water and less gas when usage is low. The boilers have a 95 per cent AFUE rating and are ENERGY STAR certified. Net outputs range from 73,000 to 222,000 BTU/hr.

Press tool kit The M12 Force Logic press tool kit with Jaws is a light press tool for portability and accessibility around installed pipe.

The cordless M12 features a one-handed, in-line design. Built-in Redlink technology enables the tool to monitor the force output, while a visual indicator alerts the user when a secure connection has been achieved and when the tool needs calibration. When used with Milwaukee press jaws, the tool delivers quality press connections on all major fitting brands.

The press tool is powered by Milwaukee M12 RedLithium batteries.

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Geothermal heat pump Enertech’s WV variable speed water-to-water geothermal heat pump is available in a compact 5-ton model with a COP of 3.9. The WV can provide radiant heating, forced air heating and cooling, and 100 per cent of a home’s domestic hot water. It features outdoor reset, triple compressor isolation with elastomeric vibration absorption pads, a heavy gauge compressor isolation plate, and high-density rubber grommets, as well as high-density cabinet insulation for quiet operation.

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Composite buffer tank Flexcon’s Argosy is lightweight and works well for hot or chilled potable and non-potable water, while improving system efficiency by reducing heat pump short cycling during low load periods. The buffer tank features threaded stainless steel water connections, a reinforced continuous strand fiberglass inner tank, and stainless steel reinforced thermal well port. Injected closed cell foam creates an insulated thermal blanket that completely surrounds the tank. The tank is available in five sizes ranging from 22 to 119 gallons.

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Hydronic tubing VIPERT potable and radiant PE-RT Tubing from CB Supplies offers improved flexibility, and is 100 per cent recyclable. The tubing is compatible with various joining methods, including crimp, push fit, and cold expansion fittings, and demonstrates impressive hydrostatic strength at high temperatures and burst pressures. Tubing is tailored specifically for hydronic systems, and is available in 100-, 250-, 300-, 400-, 500-, 1,000-, 1,200-ft. coils in 3/8-, 1/2-, 3/4-, 5/8-, 1- and 2-in. diameters.

www. cbsupplies.ca H E A T

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Hose bibs and mounting brackets are included. PEX to manifold connectors, sold separately, are available in 5/8- and 3/4-in. compression sizes and 5/8-, 3/4-, and 1-in. F1960 expansion sizes.

The Hybrid Hot Series for commercial applications from Noritz combines a high-efficiency, commercial condensing tankless water heater with a corrosion-resistant, cementlined, 119-gallon storage tank. The Hybrid Hot mounts the Noritz NCC199CDV commercial condensing tankless water heater onto the cement-lined storage tank, which is equipped with integrated heat traps to reduce heat loss.

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Dirt separator The Spirotrap Magnet from Spirotherm, available through Ontor, is a dirt separator for removing magnetic and non-magnetic dirt particles from system water using magnets around the flow path.

Made with sturdy brass housing and neodymium magnets, the unit features a swivel connection to make installation and cleaning easier. The unit can be installed horizontally or vertically, and comes in 3/4-, 1-, 1 1/4-, 1 1/2- and 2-in. sizes, with NPT, sweat and press fit connections.

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2024-01-26 11:07 AM

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Commercial boilers Weil-McLain Canada adds five sizes to its SVF (Stainless Vertical Firetube) commercial condensing boiler lineup: 500, 600, 725, 850 and 1,000 MBH. These join the existing 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 and 3,000 MBH sizes, and deliver up to 12:1 turndown, and up to 98 per cent thermal efficiency. New sizes are 25 to 30-in. wide and 49 3/16 to 79-in. tall and are equipped with industrial grade casters. Eight boilers of any size can be sequenced together offering lead-lag and rotate function, and both Cat. 2 and 4 venting can be used.

www. weil-mclain.ca

Compact heat source The RCB-Series boiler is a compact building heat source with a hydroformed coil design to maximize heat transmission while reducing overall weight and footprint. Available in a 301,000 BTU/hr and 399,000 BTU/hr wall-hung model that can provide heating to the building as well as connect to an indirect tank for domestic hot water production. The units offer a 10:1 turndown ratio, 97 per cent thermal efficiency, and an intuitive 7-in. LCD touchscreen display.

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HIGH EFFICIENCY CONDENSING BOILERS

Condensate pumps Little Giant’s HT-VCL Series are low-profile, high-temp condensate pumps rated up to 212⁰F. Designed for use in plenum applications, these pumps are suitable for steam humidifiers and boiler applications. They also boast a higher flow rating and increased shut-off. The series is compliant with UL standard UL2043 and is equipped with a 1/8 hp motor, 1-gallon collection tank, and stainlesssteel motor shaft.

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2024-01-20 10:25 AM

ROAD WARRIOR Tyler Leighton

Name: Tyler Leighton Nickname: Ty Company: TJL Mechanical Job title: Owner/operator Born/Lives in: Fergus, ON Age: 38 Spouse: Elissa Son: Casey Pet: Pippa, a Boston Terrier

Tyler Leighton: The Wow Factor A

Becky Laing, of Becky Lynne Photography.

s owner and operator of Fergus, ON’s TJL Mechanical, Tyler Leighton draws on his years of experience in different areas of the skilled trades, including his time spent working as a finish carpenter before entering the HVAC/R industry.

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his own business, specializing in geothermal and hydronics.

“My father, who was a sheet metal tradesman, encouraged me to do trades, so I did sheet metal as my co-op in grade 12, and then out of high school I didn’t know exactly what trade I wanted to do,” recalls Leighton. “My homeroom teacher had a neighbour, Joe Smeltzer, who was a carpenter who was looking for help, so I started working for him. He taught me a lot of skills that I still have today. That’s also how I got my perfectionist mentality.”

With help from two part-time techs, TJL Mechanical serves the Wellington County area, doing residential and commercial installations and servicing, as well as “trouble calls” that companies subcontract to Leighton to solve issues with hydronic, geothermal or rooftop units. Although hydronics isn’t a dominant heating choice in the region, he says it’s becoming a musthave option in high-end homes. The company recently completed a project for a 3,000-sq.-ft. addition to a century farmhouse, which also included in-floor heating for two upstairs bathrooms and a 1,000-sq.-ft. garage, with geothermal forced air throughout.

It was after working in carpentry for several years in Ontario and Alberta, that Leighton began to tire of the repetitive nature of the business, and consider other trades. He joined Bush Enterprises as a refrigeration apprentice, working primarily with geothermal systems, and received his Red Seal certification in 2012. After rounding out his experience with a stint at a refrigeration company working with large-scale grocery refrigerators, Leighton decided to open

“What I really like about hydronics is that the finished product is something my customers comment on when they see it, they’re like ‘Wow!’” says Leighton.

“That’s one thing I miss about carpentry. I wouldn’t change the experience I gained because that’s what gives me the eye to make things look clean, tidy, easy to figure out. When something’s messy and all of the pipes are mismatched around, the wiring is like a bird’s nest, peoples’ heads just explode.”

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By Carolyn Cooper Leighton says one challenge is educating customers to see hydronic systems as long-term investments.

“Some of my customers will say I want it to look top shelf, but a lot don’t care as long as it works. So you’ve got to convince them that this is going to be in place for 20 plus years, and you want it to work properly from the start.” Water quality is another area customers often forget. “People think, it’s on a well, it’s good water, but they don’t test the water, and then it wrecks components in the system,” he adds.

“At the start it’s hard to know your value, you worry that this person’s going to be mad at my bill, but that goes away. It’s part of business.

But the right customers come my way. And I’ve also learned to say no to projects. Now I kind of stick to what I’m good at, and what I like to do, and it’s going really well,” he says. “I absolutely love my job. Even if I won the lottery I would probably still do it.”

Your favourite tool in your toolbox: Cordless bandsaw Tool that you wish you had: Handheld plasma cutter If you were granted one wish: To end poverty Favourite band/performer: Tragically Hip Best concert you ever attended: SARS-stock Favourite magazine: Mechanical Business Favourite book: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

by Don Miguel Ruiz Favourite TV show: Yellowstone Favourite movie: Waterworld Favourite sport: Hockey Favourite car of all time: 1955 Ford F100 Favourite restaurant or local lunch hang out: Bread Bar

In the mechanical industry since: 2007

Favourite food: Shawarma Favourite season: Winter

Schools and programs: Mohawk College, 313A Refrigeration mechanic and gas fitter Favourite teacher: Mrs. Mowat Favourite class: Tech Best advice you’ve ever received: Do your best, your best will change daily Advice for young people considering entering the trades: Pick a trade that interests you and it won’t feel like work The current work ride: 2020 Sprinter Service area: Wellington County, tri-cities and beyond Favourite part of the job: Figuring out complicated issues others have already tried fixing The most useful tool in your toolbox: Fluke multi-meter

Favourite outdoor activity: Snowboarding Last movie you saw: Leave the World Behind 3 albums that you’d take to a desert island: 1. Fully Completely – Tragically Hip 2. Full Moon Fever – Tom Petty 3. Greatest Hits – Queen Hobbies: Carpentry, hockey, ATVs, old trucks Last book you read: Surrounded by Idiots: The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life), by Thomas Erikson Biggest pet peeves: Entitlement One place in the world you would like to visit: Iceland Favourite place to be: Bruce County W E T

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PUMPS

Matthew Reid is an outside sales representative at Smith Energy’s Richmond Hill, ON office. He can be reached at mreid@smithenergy.com.

By Matthew Reid

What are the steps to correctly size a circulator?

C

irculators can be sized by using one of two methods. The wrong way and the right way. I’ll quickly detail the wrong way first since unfortunately that is the most common way it gets done. You go to the wholesaler to ask for the small three-speed pump, install it and if it works, great! If that doesn’t work, you go back to the wholesaler and ask for the large three-speed pump, install it and see if that works.

The correct way has a little bit of math involved but when done properly you can be assured that you are saving yourself and your client time and money every single time

FACTORS TO CONSIDER There are a few factors in play when sizing circulators and no matter what anyone tells you, colour really isn’t a factor. What you do need are the flow requirements in gallons per minute (GPM) and the head loss (usually shown in feet of head or ft/h).

Let’s go over GPM first. GPM is calculated using a beautiful mathematical formula.

GPM = BTU/hr/(Delta T x 500), provided your fluid is 100 per cent water – we’ll come back to that in a minute. To start off with circ sizing you must know the heating loads (BTU/hr) required. There are several ways to do this. In design situations, you can use the heat loss provided by the designer. In remove and replace (RE&RE) applications you can calculate the BTU/hr output of various heat emitters and size from there. For the RE&RE you will also need to know the supply temperature and Delta T.

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Radiators usually have an extremely low pressure drop.

Let’s say for this example you are going to provide a new circulator for five steel panel radiators all being fed with 140⁰F temp and you want a 20⁰F Delta T. Using the charts provided by the radiator manufacturer you calculate that each radiator has an output of 2000 BTU/hr. Then you can do that math.

GPM = 2000/(20 x 500). That calculates to 0.2 GPM. But we’re not finished yet. When calculating flow, we add up all the loads this circulator is going to be providing flow to. In this example we have five identical radiators and all will get the same flow.

0.2 x 5 = 1. The circulator you select must provide 1GPM. The next step is calculating the head loss. This one is a bit more math heavy but worth it to size the circulator correctly. Most heat emitter charts will show their head loss either in feet of heat (ft/h) or PSI (note: 1PSI = 2.31 ft/h). Radiators usually have an extremely low pressure drop. For this example, we are going to say each radiator has a head loss of 0.05 ft/h. What changes here is that you don’t add up your head loss values. If you provide a circulator with enough power to overcome your maximum head loss load, you can overcome them all.

So far, our application requires a pump that can provide 1GPM @ 0.05ft/h but we must still consider the piping and “trim.” Piping shows its head loss again through charts. Most manufacturers publish this data on their websites so it’s easy to find. When using 1/2 in. PEX(A) to move 1GPM @ 140⁰F a reasonable pressure loss is about 1.5 PSI per 100 ft. of pipe.

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PUMPS Cont’d from pg.58 Let’s say the five pipe runs to and from each radiator are as follows: radiators 1 and 2 = 200 ft., radiator 3 = 220 ft., radiator 4 is 150 ft., and radiator 5 is 250 ft. Radiator 5 with 250 ft. of pipe is our furthest run and that’s the loss we need to overcome. (2.5 X 1.5) X 2.31 = 8.66 ft. (ft/h), then we add in the 0.05 ft/h from the radiator. We now know we need a circulator that can provide 1GPM @ 8.71 ft/h. That is all the information necessary to determine sizing using the pump manufacturer’s pump curve (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 Integral flowcheck models pump curve

Performance Field – 60 HZ

BRINGING FITTINGS, TRIM AND HEAD LOSS INTO THE PICTURE

8 12

The next tricky part is dealing with fittings and trim while calculating head loss. This is where Cv comes into play.

10 13

6

11

7 3 2 1

9

5

by 60 (minutes in an hour). You are basically converting BTU/hr into minutes.

Multiply that by the specific heat of water which is 1. Glycol concentrations have different specific heat calculations. Thirty per cent glycol has a specific heat of 0.913.

Forty per cent glycol has a specific heat of 0.895. Glycol reduces the amount of heat available in the fluid for heat transfer. If you were to redo the calculations above for 30 per cent glycol, the formula would be GPM = BTU/hr(Delta T x 456). You would need a higher flow rate to transfer the BTU/hr into the zone when using glycol.

4

Credit: Figure 1 courtesy Taco

Flow is shown at the bottom (FLOW-GPM) and head loss shown in head feet is shown along the side of Figure 1. We need 1GPM @ 8.71 ft. The first few options (1,3 and 4) do not provide enough power to overcome the head loss of our project. Selection 5 though falls very nicely on the line for what we need. It can produce just under 10 ft. of head while providing the 1GPM that we need. That would be the circulator to select for this project.

Cv isn’t terrifying and isn’t hard to work with once you understand how it works and what it means. Cv is an expression of pressure drop based on flow. Simply put if you have a Cv of 1 on a fitting such as a mixing valve you would see a pressure drop of 1PSI for 1GPM flow through the mixing valve.

Unfortunately, that number doesn’t scale. What I mean is if you flow 2GPM through a valve with a 1Cv you don’t just get a 2PSI drop. Rather you need to do some math when a known Cv is involved, and this formula can be quite intimidating.

With all of that said there are a few tips and tricks we can use to simplify this process. Based on the formula shown above we can show and prove that with 100 per cent water, 1GPM will always carry 10,000 BTU/hr. Let’s look at the math for that.

GPM = 10,000 (20 x 500). If you do that math, you will get 1. From that we can simply adjust up and down to get a rough idea of how many GPMs we need based on the BTU/hrs required in a system. If we have a house heated via one single circulator and the heat loss of the whole home is 50,000 BTU/hr, then we start with a pump that can deliver 5GPM. If we are heating a commercial building with a heat loss of 1,000,000 BTU/hr, then we know the total flow requirements are going to be 100GPM. Things only change when glycol enters the mix.

How does that change our formula? It’s all about the 500 number in our formula, which we get to by using the specific heat of 100 per cent water. This is the math: 8.33 (the weight of 1 gallon of water) multiplied

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There are numerous online tools to assist with calculations.

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2 SG x Q p=

Cv2

Let’s break it down:

∆P = pressure drop across the valve SG = specific gravity of the fluid Q = rate of flow Cv = flow coefficient For example, let’s say we are flowing 7GPM of 100 per cent water through a valve with a Cv of 5, meaning ∆P = (1 X 72)/52. That works out to 1.96 PSI pressure drop. Notice that even though we only increased flow slightly above the Cv of the valve, it almost doubled the pressure drop. This is why it’s important to try and size trim Cv as close to the flow requirements as possible.

Luckily there are numerous online calculators to avoid doing the above math all together, which I highly recommend. On the other hand if you take your time, do the math, and are not afraid to ask questions you will always size your circulator correctly the first time without that second trip to the wholesaler for the “bigger pump.”

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2024-01-17 5:33 PM

JOBSITE JARGON WIN! Match the terminology you hear in the field to the correct definition or function by March 1, 2024 and enter for your chance to win a $150 Visa gift card. This contest is open to Mechanical Business subscribers in Canada. Send your answers to kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com or enter online at mechanicalbusiness.com.

JOBSITE JARGON

EXAMPLE: 3) Outlet Valve A) An isolation device that controls substances leaving an appliance  Answer 3,A

1) Positive displacement pump

A) Isolation device that controls substances leaving an appliance B) Removes water from a cavetti or cylinder by directly applying

2) Slug

pressure to a diaphragm or piston or a flexible impeller and cam

3) Outlet valve

C) The inability of a circulator to dislodge a large air pocket at a

4) Circulation pipes

D) Measurement of the energy of water due to pressure

high point in a piping system

E) Reductions in flow due to turbulence as water passes through

5) Pressure head

hoses, pipes, valves, and fittings F) The rapid change when a liquid will turn into gas form

6) Flashing

G) The moving element in a pump that drives the fluid

7) Priming H) The casing surrounding the impeller in a centrifugal pump that collects the liquid discharged from the impeller

8) Friction loss

I) Term used when water in a pump starts its cycle

9) Impeller J) A solid body of boiler water passed into the steam flow by priming or picked up from a pocket of condensate in the steam

10) Volute

line

Congratulations to Darrin Guegan of Dordan Mechanical, winner of the Nov/Dec contest.

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IMPROVING AUTOMATION 2

HVAC RETROFIT | Carolyn Cooper

Historic site receives $25-million upgrade

A

he federal government is making a $25-million investment in infrastructure upgrades to the Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site and Fundy National Park, in St. John, NB, including new heating equipment and a humidity control system.

1

1. General view of Carleton Martello Tower on a steep rocky site with an unobstructed view of downtown Saint John.

2. Interior view of Carleton Martello Tower, showing the functional layout.

The funding will go towards projects including roadway improvements, recovery work from Hurricane Fiona in September 2022 that caused damage in the park, and phase two of conservation efforts to the Carleton Marello Tower National Historic Site.

Visit us at Booth #240 March 20-22

According to Julie Ouellette, partnering, engagement and communications officer, New Brunswick South Field Unit for Parks Canada, the contractor for the project is Maxim Construction Inc. Ouellette says, “While some of the contracts for sub-trades are in place, details for manufacturers and suppliers are being outlined and are expected to be approved in the coming months.

“Work in the second phase of the restoration project will include the replacement of the fire command post, which sits atop the tower, with a light-weight replica of the original, the construction of a new roof, and the installation of a new heating and humidity control system. Some of the equipment/ trades required for this phase include site work, scaffolding erection, electrical, masonry and roofing, window fabrication, and metal conservation,” explains Ouellette.

Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site overlooks Saint John, NB. It was built by the British during the War of 1812, and played a pivotal role in conflicts leading up to World War II. Phase one of rehabilitation work was completed in 2021.

Work on the site is expected to be completed by summer 2025. parks.canada.ca

“Being great means always being ready to learn and share, leading by example, and celebrating success with others.

The essence of greatness lies in continuous improvement — striving to be better today than yesterday.”

NEXSTAR

CONNECTIONS ARE POWERFUL Never, ever underestimate them. In the home services industry, we connect with our customers to add value and offer comfort; we connect with our teams to strengthen and grow; and we connect with our peers to level up. Nexstar Network is built on connections. In 1992 Nexstar founders – like-minded contractors – forged relationships focused on success through education and sharing. They changed our industry for better. This small group has evolved into a network of more than 1,000 of the most successful home service companies in North America and beyond.

If you’re interested in learning how Nexstar can supercharge your professional and personal growth, visit us at CMPX, booth #240, March 20-22, 2024. Some of our Canadian Nexstar Members and our employee team will be waiting to connect and help share more about our mission to turn the world’s best tradespeople into the world’s best businesspeople.

Call us today at 888-240-7827, or visit us at nexstarnetwork.com/contact

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Brian Williams, Founder & Visionary Ashton Service Group Nexstar Member since 2011

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HVAC

EMBRACING RESIDENTIAL GEOEXCHANGE IN 2024:

Photo PPI

Accelerating efficient electrification in Canada

I

n 2018, Natural Resources Canada released the space and water heating market transformation roadmap. This document galvanized Canada’s HVAC industry by outlining ambitious goals for energy-efficient heating, cooling, and DHW technologies. It established a comprehensive road map to address market barriers like availability, consumer awareness, and affordability. This charted a decisive path towards a low-carbon future in the HVAC sector with a stated long-term goal. By 2035, all space heating technologies for sale in Canada will meet an energy performance greater than 100 per cent.

We have just learned of the cancellation or “pause” of the Canada Greener Homes rebate program for new applicants. This is due to the funding being exhausted sooner than expected. Did it have a measurable impact on our emissions reductions, electrification, and market transformation goals? A recent Green Communities Canada report on the Greener Homes program suggested that “although retrofit activity was high with 188,000 retrofits completed to end of 2022, average energy savings increased much more modestly from 17% to 21%.” The report goes on to suggest that “At this rate it will take more than a century to retrofit the more than 11 million houses in Canada that require upgrades.”

The steady increase in Google searches in Canada for “heat pumps” and related phrases over the past five years may hint at the effectiveness of implementing the market transformation strategy so far. As the installation numbers for heat pumps improve, it becomes vital for all stakeholders, including HVAC service providers, government bodies, utilities, and communities at large, to occasionally step back and assess the progress from a broader viewpoint. Are we on track to reach our objectives? How can we adjust the strategy to accelerate our progress if we aren’t?

This pace must accelerate if we are serious about energy savings, emissions reductions, and actual market transformation.

GSHPs can play a pivotal role in helping to improve this by “leapfrogging” hybrid and less efficient solutions where practical, by fully electrifying home heating and hot water with the least burden on our electric grids. However, this requires a concerted effort by policymakers and program designers at all levels to recognize the GSHP opportunity and work with industry stakeholders to fine-tune the approach.

Google Trend: Heat Pumps

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B y J eff Hunt er Jeff Hunter is co-founder and president of Evolved Thermal Energy Inc. and is president of the Ontario Geothermal Association.

Photo PPI

Proven savings In 2020, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors released a report outlining the GSHP opportunity for policymakers. The findings have been similarly echoed in other regions. In the Canadian context, if GSHPs can achieve a reasonable market penetration of 10 to 30 per cent adoption, we Figure 1. Estimate of cost savings under GSHP market adoption scenarios relative to original study’s can expect in the order ASHP-only cost estimates (renewables-only generation scenario) of “$40,000 in savings per installed system.”

If the performance and The savings are towards the overall availability of the renewable cost of electrification of space and thermal energy source is water heating at a national (societal) not predictable, the quality scale. They are relative to a base is therefore low. To be clear, case of just installing air source heat $40K savings per system pumps (ASHPs). It goes without means that the ground loops saying that with 30 per cent GSHP could essentially be given adoption, the remaining 70 per cent away to homeowners for is reserved for ASHPs and other free, and we (Canadians as related electrification strategies a whole) would still be net mixed with a declining number of positive in savings on the cost fossil fuel systems. of electrification relative to the In the broader context, there are base case. This is attributed many technologies comprising a to the decrease in peak complementary solution to the power demand facilitated by overall challenge of electrification GSHPs, which results in lower of buildings. GSHP’s critical investment requirements for contribution is its unique ability electricity generation and to maintain capacity and elevated transmission infrastructure. performance in conditions that Undoubtedly, those responsible for designing the policies and programs to utility grid operators call “peak implement this transition face a significant challenge. For example, the Canada demand.” That capacity and Greener Homes rebate program is at risk of ending up as another cautionary tale performance are primarily a result of in a list of incentive programs that have left some HVAC industry stakeholders with the dispatchable on-site renewable a sour impression. Incentive programs bring ahead significant demand, requiring thermal energy provided via the businesses to scale up investment. When those programs are cancelled (usually with ground heat exchanger (GHEX). limited notice), the companies that stepped up to the challenge are left holding the Daily fluctuations in outdoor proverbial “bag.” ambient conditions do not impact GHEX performance. In my view, All that investment is at risk of being stranded as demand falls off a cliff following the this makes the watts sourced from end of the program unless there is a continuity plan in place. That boom-and-bust the GHEX of the highest quality cycle is tough for businesses to navigate. Policymakers and program designers must available from any distributed consider other opportunities to provide better, longer-term support for such an energy resource. industry to transition. Ideally this support would survive an election or two.

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HVAC Cont’d from pg. 65

HELPFUL POLICY MECHANISMS Another Dunsky report released in 2021 highlighted some more effective policy mechanisms like preferred power rates, innovative financing, tax credits (national/sub-national), building codes, and green building standards.

These tools can enhance the effectiveness of upfront rebates to incentivize transition in the marketplace. Some of these tools are already in action, though upfront rebates tend to take centre stage. More progress is needed.

So, what potential does 2024 hold for residential geothermal? Ground source heat pumps can dramatically influence endeavours in electrifying space and water heating in homes and buildings.

With time of the essence and a surge in initiatives from various government bodies and utilities aimed at decarbonizing the buildings sector while at the same time managing peak demand efficiently, the prospects are significant.

Figure 2. Heating electrification: Policies to drive ground source heat pump adoption

private investors are paying attention to the regulatory indicators, given the long-term projection of our commitment (at all levels) to reducing carbon emissions in energy systems.

As we move into the future, the amount of useful As the pressure increases, all involved parties will seek improved heat generated per watt consumed will carry solutions for rapidly approaching targets. GSHP systems and the supply greater and greater significance with stakeholders chain responsible for the training, design, installation, and service of and policymakers. In that context, GSHPs stand these systems will be ready to deliver the high-performance, clean above all others. Both utility companies and renewable thermal energy Canadian buildings demand.

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REFRIGERATION

REFRIGERANTS EVOLVE WITH SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

T

here have been many changes in the world of refrigerants since I started my career in 1997, not long after the phase out of popular refrigerants containing CFCs. R-12, R-22, and R502 were commonly used in mechanical refrigeration systems and R-11 was commonly used in low pressure centrifugal chiller systems. These refrigerants were a mainstay in the industry for many years.

Prior to synthetic refrigerant usage there were other natural refrigerants such as ammonia (R-717), sulfur dioxide (R-764) and carbon dioxide (R-744). These refrigerants were considered dangerous in common applications and were replaced mainly by CFC synthetic refrigerants in applications where safety was a concern. Flammability and/or toxicity were not very desirable characteristics. So, in the late 1920s to the 1930s a phase out of the previously used natural refrigerants came about.

After decades of sharing his refrigeration expertise with industry readers, Phil Boudreau has decided to pass his columnist reins to Mike Squires (see below). It has been a pleasure working with Phil, as we are sure it has been a pleasure for our readers to benefit from his expertise. Phil, we at MB wish you all the best and thank you so much!

Some refrigerants identified in the early years included fluids with thermodynamic characteristics that make them excellent refrigerants to this day.

SYNTHETIC HEYDAYS Times were good in the world of synthetic refrigerants such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbon).

There was exponential use of these refrigerants in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. There was also widespread use of these refrigerants in the making of products such as Styrofoam and as propellent in spray aerosol cans until the 1980s when a hole in the ozone layer in the Earth’s atmosphere was discovered. CFCs played a large part in the deteriorating ozone layer, leading to an international treaty signed by all UN nations and several other nations to reduce and phase out the production and use of these ozone depleting chemicals. This treaty, called the Montreal Protocol, was ratified in 1987.

Changes in the refrigeration industry that followed included the expedited phase out of R-12 and R-502, which were both

Mike Squires

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classified as the harsher of chemicals in the plethora of ozone depleting substances.

As of 1996 these refrigerants were no longer allowed to be produced in North America and other areas in the world.

The HCFC refrigerant R-22, the world’s most common refrigerant for use in air conditioning equipment, is classified as an ozone depleting substance but its chemical composition as a HCFC is such that it is not considered as harmful to the ozone layer. Its phase out plan was over a longer period of time; in fact its original phase out date was extended. You can still buy new R-22 today for use with repairs on older systems. You could not purchase new equipment in North America with R-22 as of 2010, and earlier with some manufacturers.

Mike Squires, RSE, is manager, service accounts and technical training at Neelands Group Ltd. in Burlington, ON where he works with customers, and in-house staff on all matters relating to refrigeration. He can be reached at mike.squires@neelands.com.

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REFRIGERATION Cont’d from pg. 68 NEW CHALLENGES Optimally refrigerants in the industry would be nontoxic and nonflammable, in addition to being ozone friendly as a requirement for common use. The usage of another type of synthetic refrigerant known as a HFC became commonplace in the industry. Early on there were HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants such as R-134a/R-404A. The introduction of these HFC refrigerants brought another hurdle. They were not recommended as being compatible with the compressor oils used in refrigeration compressors for many years, the result being a new product to the industry − polyolester oil, commonly known as POE oil. This POE oil created another learning curve for the industry.

With the challenges the requirement for POE oil in compressors introduced there was a demand for so called “drop-in” refrigerants to take the place of the recently phased out CFC refrigerants. Mixtures of HCFC/HFC blended refrigerants such as R-401A − a R-12 substitute, and R-402A − a R-502 substitute, along with many others came to be. The requirements to keep legacy systems operational meant these blended refrigerants gained popularity in the industry. This marked the beginning of the era when three refrigerant types in a commercial refrigeration mechanic’s van no longer cut it. Gone were the days of R-22/R-12/R-502 being all you needed to stock.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK The introduction of HFC refrigerant R-410A came with its own set of issues. R-410A requires POE oil in the compressor and also has higher operational pressures when running. Not only was the higher pressure an issue with component and part manufacturers, it called for a new level of understanding for the individuals who had to work with it. Maximum operating pressures were higher but with that came a requirement for components to have a higher safety factor for approvals for use with R-410A. Parts of the system, such as solenoid valves, which previously had a maximum operation pressure of 500 psi, would now require a maximum operation pressure of 800 psi.

In the beginning manufacturers had separate lines of products, one they had been producing for years and years and a new line of products specific to R-410A. What a time to be alive! It did not take long for most A/C techs to get familiar and comfortable with the nuance of higher pressures and different components.

By 2010 R-410A was no longer an uncomfortable new kid on the block.

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HFCs from the days gone by are now villains in terms of GHG emissions.

ENTER GLOBAL WARMING The escalating issue of global warming and climate change prompted governments to control/reduce the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Unfortunately, the ozone saving refrigerants of the 1990s are considered large contributors to GHG in the atmosphere. This awareness of GHG created another rating to observe with these refrigerants, Global Warming Potential or GWP. A GWP rating is a measure of how potent a GHG is in relation to how long it will take to break down in the atmosphere. GWP ratings are based on emissions of CO2, which is a GHG. The GWP rating of CO2 is a measure of 1. For comparison, refrigerant R-404A has a GWP rating of 3,920. Simply speaking a leak of 1 lb. of R-404A would have the same environmental impact as a leak of 3,920 lbs. of CO2. As you can see, these HFCs from the days gone by are now villains in terms of GHG emissions.

HFO/HFC BLENDS AND NATURAL OPTIONS GAIN POPULARITY With the regulations imposed on GHGs, system owners and system designers are tasked with finding ways to build and buy systems that are more environmentally friendly. Today this is achieved mainly with the use of more modern synthetic refrigerants and use of natural refrigerants. The newer synthetic refrigerants are HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins), which are used on their own or blended with other HFC refrigerants, such as R-32, to create new refrigerant blends. In many countries R-32 is the choice to replace R-410A and it is actively promoted and adopted by many HVAC OEMs. Blends can be functional in many types of existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Examples of these HFO/HFC blends would be R-448A (GWP=1387) and R-449A (GWP=1397) for refrigeration applications, and R452B (GWP=698) R-454B (GWP=467) for air conditioning applications.

These types of refrigerants are becoming commonplace in refrigerant retrofits in existing equipment. An equipment owner that has a system with a refrigerant charge of 1,000 lbs. or R-404A would drastically reduce their operational carbon footprint if they retrofitted to a refrigerant such as R-448A, assuming they went through the proper steps to have the recovered R-404A refrigerant properly destroyed or disposed of in an environmentally-friendly fashion.

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Natural refrigerants have been on the rise for the past number of years. These would include but not be limited to R-744 (CO2/ GWP =1), R-290 (Propane/GWP =0) and R600a (Isobutane/ GWP =0). Another natural refrigerant, R-717 (Ammonia /GWP =0), which has been widely used for well over 100 years in larger commercial systems, is finding its way into some smaller applications where synthetic refrigerants were previously explicitly used.

There have been advances in the use of natural refrigerants such as R-290 propane and R600a isobutane, which are highly flammable. The refrigerant charge is kept very low and the electrical components are all solid state or sealed to eliminate the possibility to have an open spark within the electrical components, which was never a factor before.

Another natural refrigerant that has been gaining popularity in the past 10 years in North America is R-744 (CO2/GWP =1). This natural refrigerant fell out of the mainstream use with the advent of synthetic refrigerants due to its characteristics. R-744 does come with new challenges but with development and adoption of the refrigerant it has become a widely used refrigerant in medium to large commercial systems in North America.

There have been plenty of developments of smaller R-744 throughout the world, which may eventually be commonplace in time.

We are in the thick of a changing world of refrigerant management. The constant change is creating new issues and new opportunities to evolve and learn. The challenges many of us have faced through these transitions are sure to pop up every now and again, but the bright side is that we now have the luxury of help in our pockets if we say “OK Google” or “Hey Siri.”

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E MB MBRACING RACING the past

By Kerry Turner

COOL DISCOVERY IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT My work colleagues were cleaning out some boxes over the holidays and came across the 1949 Annual Report from Loblaws with what they thought was a cool announcement about Loblaws’ new stores. In the announcement Loblaws claims to be the first food store to embrace air conditioning utilizing refrigerants. Further, the company noted that it spared no expense in the process.

No doubt the air conditioning improved product quality while improving the customer experience. But the concept was not new to customers and no doubt the addition of air conditioning to the grocer’s new stores was a necessity rather than an innovation.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, early air conditioners were found in theatres, department stores, office buildings, and even train cars. The world’s first nonflammable refrigerating fluids, chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, were created in 1928 (decades later, the chemicals are linked to ozone depletion; see pg. 68 for more on refrigerants).

By 1947 the technology was such that homeowners could enjoy air conditioning without having to make expensive upgrades. Also in 1947, textile workers in North Carolina went on strike because of stressful heat and humidity in the workplace.

There was an expectation of comfort.

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To learn more about the history of air conditioning visit energy.gov/articles/history-air-conditioning.

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MARKETING

GROWTH HACKING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO ELEVATE BUSINESS SUCCESS .

W

elcome to the vibrant digital age, where success demands a nuanced approach. In today’s landscape, excelling goes beyond providing top-notch services; it involves a strategic dance with various elements that play pivotal roles in your business’s growth. To truly stand out, it’s essential that potential customers actively seeking your services can effortlessly engage with your business across different channels.

Success in the digital era is akin to a synchronized performance with algorithms – a strategic collaboration that positions your business at the forefront of the digital stage. Here, the quality of your online presence is as crucial as the excellence of your service

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Diversifying digital strategies for holistic growth In this new paradigm, a successful digital strategy requires equal emphasis on various fronts.

Let’s delve into the key pillars that contribute to the holistic growth of your business.

Organic SEO: The Linchpin for Visibility: Organic search engine optimization (SEO) acts as the linchpin, propelling your business into the line of sight of potential customers actively seeking your services. It’s a cost-effective vehicle that amplifies your visibility in a crowded digital landscape. Achieving high search rankings through organic SEO not only makes your business visible but also builds trust, credibility, and authority.

While SEO is a crucial long-term investment, some businesses opt for the immediacy of PPC to expedite visibility.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Strategies: Targeted Visibility PPC stands out as a powerful tool for businesses seeking instant exposure. It enables precise audience targeting, ensuring that your message reaches those actively seeking your products or services. Unlike the gradual progress of SEO, PPC campaigns deliver immediate results, strategically placing your business in front of potential customers at the right moment. However, approaching PPC strategically is the key to success, requiring continuous monitoring and optimization for cost-effectiveness and relevance. Balancing the immediate impact of PPC with the long-term benefits of SEO is crucial for optimizing online visibility in the competitive digital landscape.

Review Management: Elevating Credibility, Driving Growth, and Converting Prospects Mastering the art of review management is essential in the digital realm. Positive reviews are more than testimonials; they are the currency of trust, providing genuine insights that give your business a competitive edge. This trust shapes your online credibility and becomes a key factor in converting prospects into satisfied customers.

Paul Bies, co-founder and president of Mystique Brand Communications in Toronto,

ON, brings a wealth of marketing expertise to his role as Mechanical Business marketing columnist. His mission is to empower businesses and to share insights that provide valuable perspectives for their success. As the son of an HVAC entrepreneur, he understands the business landscape and is committed to helping MB readers thrive.

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ting

Positive reviews also contribute to your business’s SEO efforts, enhancing online visibility for customers actively seeking your services.

Beyond that, prompt and thoughtful engagement with customer feedback demonstrates a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction, fostering lasting connections with your audience.

Social Media: The Town Square of the Digital Era Social media is the town square of the digital era. Engage with your audience, respond to inquiries, and showcase your business prowess. Create a dynamic and ongoing conversation with customers. Social media is not just a promotional tool; it’s a platform for building relationships.

The growth proposition The journey toward growth is not an abstract concept; it’s a tangible reality that unfolds through the strategic integration of various digital strategies.

Interactive Website: The Hub of Digital Presence Your website is not merely a digital brochure; it’s the hub of your business. Design it with user-centricity in mind. A seamless and intuitive design ensures every visitor actively engages with your offerings. Incorporate interactive features such as live chats, appointment scheduling, and informative videos to enhance the customer experience.

• Holistic business growth: In this era where the digital and physical worlds intersect, a combination of organic SEO, review management, PPC strategies, and a robust website catalyzes holistic business growth.

• Strategic budget allocation: Your marketing budget is a resource, not an endless well. Allocate it strategically across various digital strategies to ensure sustainable returns and continuous growth.

Crafting a holistic digital presence Embark on a strategic journey toward visibility and growth, where each digital strategy plays a pivotal role.

• Competitive advantage in the digital arena: Success isn’t just about being good; it’s about being better. Each digital strategy provides a unique competitive advantage that sets your business apart in the digital arena.

• Keyword mastery: Understand the digital language your customers speak by diving into the depths of keyword research.

Integrate these keywords seamlessly into your online content to ensure your business is the immediate solution to their searches.

• Content as the voice: Craft content that resonates with your audience. Blogs, guides, and FAQs become the chapters of your narrative, showcasing your expertise and addressing the questions your customers haven’t even articulated.

• Mobile-friendly evolution: Adapt to the mobile preferences of your audience. Ensure your website is not just compatible but optimized for mobile users. This evolution aligns with the preferences of your digital audience.

• Local dominance: Strengthen your presence in local searches through Google My Business, customer reviews, and consistent business information across directories. It’s about being the go-to-choice for local needs, not just being found.

• Backlinks as recommendations: Cultivate relationships with local businesses, industry publications, and influencers to earn virtual recommendations. Backlinks aren’t just links; they’re votes of confidence in your expertise.

Success in the era of Google is a strategic endeavour that involves a balanced focus on multiple digital strategies. It’s about marketing better to grow your business. Each strategy mentioned – organic SEO, review management, PPC, social media, and a user-centric website – contributes significantly to the holistic growth of your business.

Step into the digital dance, and let your business not just be visible but a force to be reckoned with in the dynamic digital landscape.

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TECHNOLOGY

How AI is revolutionizing the mechanicals industry

A

rtificial intelligence (AI) is changing a wide variety of things we do on a personal and career level. IBM defines AI as “a field, which combines computer science and robust datasets, to enable problem-solving. It also encompasses sub-fields of machine learning and deep learning, which are frequently mentioned in conjunction with artificial intelligence. These disciplines are comprised of AI algorithms which seek to create expert systems which make predictions or classifications based on input data.”

Common AI applications include search engines (Google), recommendation systems (YouTube, Amazon, Netflix), understanding human speech (Siri, Alexa), and competing in strategic games (chess).

AI dates back to the 1950s. However, after years of being ignored by much of industry and society, the development of AI for deep learning in 2012 resulted in a renaissance of AI that has been increasing exponentially since then. Its goals include reasoning, knowledge, learning, language processing and support for robotics, as well as the long-term goal of being able to solve an arbitrary problem.

On the industry side, it is most often described as “the ability of machines to efficiently perform tasks that would typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and decision-making.” AI’s integration into certain aspects of an industry’s processes is being explored to achieve greater efficiency, accuracy and sustainability.

A good question is whether the HVAC and plumbing industries can use AI. The answer is yes. Change happening as a result of AI is only beginning. HVAC and plumbing are perfect industries to take advantage of AI. These industries have historically used a lot of manual labour, repetitive steps, and trial and error. Using AI technology is and will continue to change the way industry processes are performed.

So what impact is it having or will it have on the mechanicals sector? The answer is many industries are now operating differently because of AI and the mechanicals sector is part of this change.

Whether it’s optimization of energy use in HVAC systems or leak detection and prevention in plumbing systems, AI is quickly moving into and transforming the mechanicals sector.

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SMART TECHNOLOGIES Probably the most recognizable AI-driven processes in the HVAC/R and plumbing industries are smart technology systems. For example, AI-enabled smart HVAC systems can adjust heating or cooling systems during times of peak usage and prioritize specific zones of a building based on occupancy patterns to optimize comfort at the same time as it is conserving energy.

The win-win is occupancy satisfaction while lowering energy costs.

On the plumbing side, AI-enabled smart water management systems use sensors and software to monitor water usage, optimize water flow and detect potential problems. As an example, these systems can detect leaks and modulate water flow based on usage patterns. They can also assist homeowners and businesses to more effectively manage their water consumption.

AI-enabled smart water management systems use sensors and software to monitor water usage, optimize water flow and detect potential problems.

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B y J o n ath o n H arp Data Generation − A second area of AI use in both HVAC/R and plumbing systems is data generation and managing maintenance issues. These systems generate a great deal of data from sensors located throughout the building. AI-driven software analyzes the data and uses it to make decisions about how to operate the system and predict breakdowns, sometimes before they happen.

AI is also used in manufacturing to aid production facilities in running their processes as well as determining whether future failures of the machinery are likely and initiating preventive maintenance proactively.

These AI-driven processes can reduce maintenance costs, system downtime, and increase building and equipment lifespans.

Chatbots – Chatbots using natural language processing (NLP) can provide help to HVAC and plumbing trades people on the jobsite in real time. They can be asked questions, provide help on a specific problem or offer recommendations on how to use certain tools.

Chatbots can provide quick answers and even correct errors or misinterpretations of technology use.

Automating Repetitive Tasks − AI and machine learning can also be used to automate HVAC and plumbing tasks that are repetitive in nature. As an example, AI analysis of data from HVAC and plumbing systems can decide what maintenance and repairs need to be made. In the long run, AI assistance can save trades people precious time and eliminate errors.

Comprehensive training programs and ongoing updates will be needed as AI technology moves forward.

Looking at the future Bringing AI technology into the HVAC and plumbing industries is (and will) significantly change how these industries operate now and in the future. The reality is that AI is only starting to be integrated into the mechanicals sector. However, its use is rapidly increasing as companies discover the benefits to their businesses.

Efficiency, accuracy and data collection are tangible improvements that AI can bring to these businesses.

The AI area that is probably the most interesting to explore is training and the impact AI will have on the HVAC and plumbing trades (see more on this topic in Mechanical Business Nov/Dec 2023, pg. 26, Embrace the Chat). In addition to improving efficiency and sustainability of the business, AI will assist trade professionals to easily determine system problems and help reduce system failures and repair costs.

This will also reflect well on a company’s ability to serve and build relationships with their customers. With AI it is simply an issue of change for the better and an area HVAC and plumbing contractors need to start exploring before they get left behind.

The challenges of AI Realizing the benefits of AI has certain challenges. One significant issue is training of HVAC/R and plumbing trades people. Comprehensive training programs and ongoing updates will be needed to keep technical staff ahead of the curve on operation and maintenance of AI integrated equipment and software.

Other AI challenges include security and privacy issues associated with data collection and the ethical issue of having AI enhance the work of humans rather than replacing it.

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Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

HEATING WITH PROPANE 200,000 Number of households using propane to heat their homes, says the Canadian Propane Association.

30,000

RENEWABLE ENERGY 70 Percentage of energy mix that must be renewable energy if the world is to become net zero and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2050, according to the report Engineering the future energy system by Danfoss Climate Solutions.

79 Per cent of the energy globally produced from fossil fuel sources in 2021. That number has to be cut to at least 18 per cent by 2050, with eight per cent abated through carbon capture and storage.

40 Per cent of final energy consumption that could be cut by transitioning from a fossil energy system to a fully electrified one.

Number of homes in Atlantic Canada heated by propane, more than any other region of the country as a percentage of the population.

NOT ACCESSIBLE 126,000 Number of data points collected by AccessNow for its Mapping Our Cities for All project, a research initiative to benchmark accessibility in buildings across Canada, and determine the accessibility of Canadian cities from a disability perspective.

60 Per cent of public-facing spaces mapped in Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa that are not fully accessible.

35 Per cent of businesses in Calgary perceived as fully accessible, the lowest rating of the three cities. Vancouver was seen as 48 per cent accessible, and Ottawa as 53 per cent accessible.

44 Per cent of businesses in urban areas seen as fully accessible, compared to 39 per cent in rural areas.

2024 GOALS 48 Per cent of people who say improving their fitness is a top priority for 2024, according to an October 2023 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey.

GREENER HOMES 381,000 Number of grant applications received by the Canada Greener Home Initiative as of August 31, 2023, according to NRCan.

62

375 million

80

Dollars in grants provided by the program to more than 93,600 homeowners nationally.

Per cent of people who break their New Year’s resolutions by mid-February, reports ABC News.

Per cent of survey respondents who said they feel pressured to set a New Year’s resolution.

of housing units that need to be built by the end of 2030 to restore housing affordability, 5.8 MILLION Number according to Efficiency Canada’s Building for Tomorrow report.

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