Mechanical Business July/August 2017 by Mechanical Business

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CONTENTS O F

F E A T U R E S 22COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS

48CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

Time to Customize Howard J. Elmer

HGTV star Mike Holmes, Jr. knows a thing or two about building houses, and he sees a bright future for the skilled trades in Canada. Greg Dalgetty

WHAT

33WHAT SUPPLEMENT

WET HEAT APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES

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August 2017

Wetheads rejoice! Our biannual Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplement is chockfull of the latest in hydronic news, products and features. Turn to page 33 for more!

75PLUMBING How RO Works Peter S. Cartwright

76PLUMBING Digital Mixing for Safe, Consistent Commercial Hot Water Bruce Fathers

82MECHANICAL BUSINESS: THE NEXT GENERATION Greg Dalgetty

MB SPECIALISTS 16PLUMBING Tales from the Code: 1990 Fred Bretzke

PRODUCTS 20,21,32 Plumbing 60,62,63 Hydronics 71,86,87 HVAC/R 88Stuff you need

28HVAC IAQ and Pets Gord Cooke 50HYDRONICS A Tiny Home That’s Simply Radiant Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

65MARKETING Dominating the Digital Domain Doug MacMillan

66REFRIGERATION Starting Single-Phase Compressors Phil Boudreau

72ASK ROGER Cover Photo: The Holmes Group

A SOPPING WET SUPPLEMENT OF MECHANICAL BUSINESS

Building Companies by Building Teams Roger Grochmal

DEPARTMENTS 04From the Editor’s Desk 06News 14Proﬁle: Joe Senese 58Find the Fix 92The Info Page 93Calendar 94By the Numbers CUTS

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EDITOR’S

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More Alike Than Not Bridging the gap between young and experienced employees can pay signiﬁcant dividends to a company, but it takes strong management and an open team to make the most of it.

July/August 2017 Issue Published 6 times per year. Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Office Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com

I know of at least one business owner who tries to pair up young technicians with older journeymen on his team. As it was explained to me, the younger technicians often introduce new technologies and techniques, while the older technicians have a wealth of front-line experience – knowledge that is rarely found in a book or classroom.

Visit Us Online Between issues, while on vacation, or while waiting at the wholesale counter, stay up to date on all the latest industry news and more at mechanicalbusiness.com.

Of course, getting both parties to work together is not always an easy task. The solutions proposed by two technicians can sometimes take on the feel of a negotiation, even needing the input of a mediator from time to time. Most mediators will tell you that the most successful negotiations happen when both parties end up outside their respective comfort zone, with each taking a step (or two) toward appreciating the other’s needs, knowledge and concerns. One of the themes running through this edition of Mechanical Business is a look at the opportunities for millennials in the mechanical trades, as well as what some millennials are already doing in the skilled trades. For example, this month’s cover person, Mike Holmes Jr., fell in love with construction trades on a jobsite at an early age, and he’s using that passion to fuel his success both on and off the job.

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Orest Õh is another young skilled tradesperson who is proving that millennials can be just as passionate about the work they do as any other generation has been before – and his project that’s profiled on page 40 is testament to the abilities of his generation. o the energy g and ambition am m The ability to tap into of young people, while leaning on the and d knowledge kno nowlledge of older olde d r technicians techn experience and takes tact, and the ability to encourage dialogue between betw open dialogue the generations doesn’t hurt either. comm m When we communicate, and actively listen to each other, fi that our various labelled generations fin I think we’ll find h ve more in common ha c have than what makes each of us different. That doesn’t mean that we’ll always agree on all paths forward, but when was the last time you saw two professiona in complete agreement anyway? professionals

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08.17

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Milwaukee Continues to Grow Milwaukee Electric Tool introduced 88 new products during its 2017 New Product Symposium, held at its corporate headquarters in Wisconsin in June. Company president Steve Richman explained that he and his team are looking at the future for the brand, setting sights on the next 10 years to 50 years. “We have to grow… we need to reinvest in what we are doing,” he said as he opened the event. “That is our approach in order to win in the marketplace.” Pictured here, product manager Derek Rose displays the company’s ratcheting pipe cutter. milwaukeetool.ca

Canadian Contractors Enter Circle of Champions Two Canadian contracting ﬁrms have broken new ground, becoming the ﬁrst companies in the country to receive Bryant’s prestigious Circle of Champions award. Rapid Cool Mechanical of Kamloops, B.C., and Superior Home Comfort of Sault Ste Marie, Ont., received the awards at a ceremony in Indianapolis in May. Pictured here is Rapid Cool Mechanical owner Steve Warner (centre) with Glenn Cooke and Paul Davignon of Carrier Enterprise Canada. carrierenterprise.ca

Inspectors Hit K-W The Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association held its Annual Meeting & Educational Seminar event in Kitchener-Waterloo in mid-June, attracting a focused audience of inspectors from across the province. Sessions during the event included a slide show of problem plumbing from building inspector Andrew Quattrociocchi, the ever-popular Cracker Barrel that brings suppliers and inspectors together to share knowledge, and a full-day Plumbing Inspection for the Generalist program presented by Rainier Blundel of George Brown College (pictured).

RMC Increases Refrigerant Levies Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) has increased the environmental levies on the sale of new and reclaimed HCFC and HFC refrigerants sold into the Canadian HVAC/R sector. The HCFC levy has increased by $1.00, bringing the levy rate to $4.50 per kilogram. The HFC levy has increased by $0.50, bringing the rate to $1.00 per kilogram. The increases also apply to HCFC and HFC blends sold into the Canadian market. refrigerantmanagement.ca

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The #RSES Board of Directors is hard at work discussing the future of #HVAC #education.

Did You Know: 25% of Canadians agricultural capacity is supported by the Great Lakes. #Canada150Plumbing #Canada150

Before attempting to hide your air conditioner condenser, read our tips! #HVACTips.

“It’s what you learn after you know everything that makes a difference.”—John Barba

June 14, 2017

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Worst Washrooms

Industry Veteran Loses Battle with Cancer Bob Evans, vice-president of sales at OS&B and friend of Mechanical Business, has passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Evans began his career in the plumbing industry in 1972, working at EMCO’s factory division in London, Ont. Over the years he held a variety of roles with Novanni Stainless, Wolseley Canada, Price Pﬁster and Delta Faucet, among other companies. He spent the past six years with OS&B, where he is remembered as a congenial mentor and a family man who was held in high esteem throughout the industry.

What’s the Worst Washroom You’ve Ever Seen? Have you ever been in a washroom so horrible that it deﬁed description? Well, no need to describe it—just send us a picture!

Fluid Forward Celebrates Second Year The second annual Fluid Forward training and trade show hit the Victoria Park East Golf Club in Guelph, Ont., in May. Put on by Mechanical Business contributor Jeff House and the team at Jess-Don Dunford, the show featured a number of guest speakers, including John Barba (pictured) of Taco Comfort Systems, who advised that not doing the math is the biggest mistake hydronic designers and contractors make. “The rules of thumb are not a replacement for knowing what you are doing,” he said during his “Heart Surgery for Your Hydronic System” training sessions. Attendees were also treated to a tabletop trade show, as well as a variety of presentations put on by vendors from across the region. jessdondunford.ca

Mechanical Business is collecting photos of some of the worst washrooms from around the world. So next time you run into an unsightly bathroom while you’re on vacation, on the jobsite or out on the town, grab your smartphone and take a picture. Your snapshot could end up in the pages of Mechanical Business! (Just be careful not to drop your camera on the washroom ﬂoor…) To submit your photo, visit mechanicalbusiness.com and simply follow the WORST WASHROOMS link on the homepage. While you’re there, tell us a bit about the washroom. This photo of a hotel bathroom in Orlando was submitted by Gail Backman of Cobourg, Ont. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and when the bathroom door doesn’t close properly, you do what you have to do. Thanks, Gail! Think you can top this? Then visit our website and submit your photo today!

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Net Zero Tops HRAI Chapter Meeting Net zero homes topped the agenda of May’s HRAI GTA Chapter meeting. Members were treated to a presentation by Michael Lio, president of buildABILITY, who discussed the challenges involved in designing net zero homes. “It’s relatively easy for a custom builder to build for net zero, but much harder for a production builder,” he said. “Getting to net zero is not a slam dunk for production builders—it will require signiﬁcant training.” hrai.ca

Boone VP Retires

Noble DSC Earns Rheem Recognition

Claude DesRosiers (left) has retired as the vicepresident and general manager of Boone Plumbing and Heating Supply. He is succeeded by Réjean (“Joe”) Desjardins (right), who will report to Sylvain Vachon, vice-president of operations at Groupe Deschenes Inc (GDI).

Noble’s Ilce Kostovski (middle) has become the ﬁrst ever recipient of Rheem’s Canadian Distributor Service Coordinator (DSC) Award. He received the award at Rheem’s annual DSC training experience in June.

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Jim Pattison Donates to Saskatoon Hospital Jim Pattison, the CEO of Jim Pattison Lease, has donated $50 million to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan (CHFS). The money will go toward the construction of Jim Pattison’s Children’s Hospital, located in Saskatoon and scheduled for completion in 2019. The CHFS will also be renamed the Jim Pattison Children’s Foundation. jimpattisonlease.com

Giant Factories Supports Flood Victims Giant Factories donated $250,000 to the Red Cross to support families affected by the ﬂooding in Quebec and Ontario in May. “Giant Factories has grown over the years thanks to the trust and support of our community,” said company president Claude Lesage. “By doing this, we want to give back to our people and help them during these difﬁcult times.” giantinc.com

APP ALERT HVAC Assist App Carrier Enterprise’s HVAC Assist app allows contractors to look up product availability and an equipment parts list. It also allows users to access the new AHRI System Builder, designed to help contractors create matched HVAC systems. Available for Android and iOS devices. carrierenterprise.ca

Refrigerant App Refrigerant Services’ app for Android and iOS devices offers a variety of tools for contractors working with the RS series of refrigerants. Features include pressure and temperature calculations and retroﬁt procedures. The app also gives users access to a variety of informative articles. rscool.com

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08.17

Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

AB Canadian Distribution Opens for Business AB Canadian Distribution, a master distributor of commercial plumbing products to the wholesale market, has opened for business. Founded by industry veteran Paul Breux, the company is currently distributing product lines from Aquanar, BK Resources and Niagara Conservation. AB can be reached at 647-273-7574. canadiandist.ca

Master Group Opens New Branch The Master Group has opened a new branch in Vaughan, Ont., located at 20 Courtland Avenue. The 10,000-sq.-ft. facility features an inventory of HVAC/R products from York, Coleman, Source1, Copeland, Tecumseh and KeepRite. master.ca

RWC Acquires HoldRite Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) has acquired HoldRite, a manufacturer of plumbing and mechanical components for residential and commercial applications. The acquisition complements RWC’s SharkBite and Cash Acme brands of pipes, valves and ﬁttings. rwc.com holdrite.com

Mueller Purchases HeatLink Mueller Industries has acquired HeatLink Group and its afﬁliated PEX-a tubing manufacturing facility, PexCor Manufacturing Company. HeatLink co-owners Manfred and Garry Schmidt will continue to lead the company. muellerindustries.com heatlink.com

E.S. Gallagher Adds New Brand E.S. Gallagher is now distributing YogaPipe, a ﬂexible multi-layer polyethylene (PERT) pipe designed for use in air conditioning and refrigeration applications. Manufactured by WRW, YogaPipe replaces the company’s Multi-Flex brand of pipe. Existing inventories of MultiFlex will continue to be sold through Canadian distribution partners as E.S. Gallagher navigates the transition.

Uponor p Unveils New Canadian HQ Uponor held a grand opening for its new Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ont., on June 1. The company has merged its sales and marketing headquarters at the new location, and expanded its estimation and commercial piping design services group. The facility also features an Uponor Academy space, offering a hands-on showcase of commercial and residential PEX piping systems solutions, as well as a training area that can accommodate 50 people. uponor.ca

esgallagher.com

Equipco q p Now Representing Nest Labs

Marketair Nabs Distribution Rights Marketair has acquired the exclusive North American distribution rights for the RD-Series and PD-Series commercial rooftop enclosure and support systems. Designed by Japanese manufacturer Inaba Denko, the series are engineered to protect multiple linesets used with VRF/VRV multi-split systems. marketair.com

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Equipco is now representing Nest Labs in Canada, excluding Quebec. Nest Labs’ product offering includes a smart thermostat system, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and home security cameras.. equipcoltd.com

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08.17

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Two members of the G.F. Thompson team have been promoted to new roles within the organization. PAUL McKAY (1) is the new company president and JOSH HOPKINS (2) has been promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing. Mike McKay is staying on as chairman of G.F. Thompson.

ANDRÉ MASSÉ (1) has joined Giant Factories as the company’s senior product manager. He brings more than 36 years of experience in the plumbing industry to the position. Also at Giant Factories, PAUL HEBERT (2) has been named the company’s regional sales manager for Ontario. He brings an extensive history of sales experience in the plumbing industry to his new role.

KATHY BOONMAN has joined CIPH as manager, Operations and Ontario Region. In this role she’ll oversee ofﬁce management and assist the Ontario Region president and board in organizing board and business meetings.

CYRIL KOVAL has joined Navien as the sales manager for Eastern Canada. In this newly created position, Koval will be responsible for working with Navien’s agency network, wholesalers, contractors, builders and utility companies in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. HUU-PHUONG DOAN (1) has been appointed territory sales manager of Goodman Canada’s Eastern Quebec region. He has a background in mechanical 1 engineering and brings more than 10 years of B2B sales experience to the position. Also at Goodman, SCOTT CROGHAN (2) has been promoted to manager of the company’s Winnipeg 2 branch. He has considerable customer service and warehouse management experience in the HVAC sector.

M e c h a n i c a l

RUSSELL TAVOLACCI has been promoted to senior vice-president and chief operating ofﬁcer of Samsung HVAC. A 30-year veteran of the HVAC industry, Tavolacci joined Samsung HVAC in 2015.

B u s i n e s s

APRIL McNAIR has joined Ontor Limited as a sales representative for Atlantic Canada. An industry veteran, she brings more than 25 years of experience to her new position.

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KEVIN J. WHEELER has been named the new president and chief operating ofﬁcer of A.O. Smith Corporation. He ﬁrst joined the company in 1994. In his new role, Wheeler will be responsible for A.O. Smith’s global water heater and boiler operations as well as its global water treatment business.

Masco Canada has welcomed two new employees to its Trade Sales team. GILLES ROUSSEAU (1) is the company’s new Eastern Regional sales manager. He’ll be responsible for managing the sales team in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. JAD BADINE (2) is the new director of commercial business development, with responsibility for leading the institutional, commercial, hospitality and property management segments.

JAMES CANNON has been appointed president and CEO of FLIR Systems. He brings more than 16 years of experience in a variety of senior leadership positions to the role and succeeds Andy Teich, who announced his retirement in February.

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08.17

Proﬁle Joe Senese: Embracing Digital

Although he spent summers on his father’s construction sites from an early age, it was actually a 1980s computer-aided bathroom design program that set Joe Senese on the path that has led to his role of vice-president of operations with Deschênes Group. That love of technology has not subsided for Senese, who was named chair of CIPH at last month’s Annual Business Conference in Ottawa. “I believe we will see exponential gains toward the merging of technology with plumbing and heating products,” he said during a recent interview with Mechanical Business.

Q A

An example he cited is the momentum that has been seen over the past few years in the world of e-commerce, for both the business-to-business side as well as consumer-facing sales. “I believe this is an additional service enhancement rather than a threat to existing methods of serving the business,” he explained.

How did you get started in the industry? In 1984 American Standard was looking for someone to operate and develop their computer-aided bathroom design program. My father built homes and owned a mason contracting business, so I was very comfortable in the construction industry.

Q A

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Photos: Ron Kuzyk

I like the fact that we work in a business that still respects and values relationships and partnering. It’s so satisfying to see how passionate most of the people in our industry are about their products or services.

Q A

What are some of the secrets to success in business?

I believe that business is about people. If you want to have satisﬁed customers, you need to have satisﬁed people working in the business.

Q A

What do you do when you are not working?

BIO

I love sports – golﬁng mostly – and ﬁxing things, as well as spending as much time with my family and friends as possible.

Q A

What motivates you to volunteer with CIPH?

Name: Joe Senese Title: Vice-president, Operations Company: Deschênes Group Inc. Corporate Ofﬁce Location: Toronto, Ont. Age: 57 Resides in: Mississauga, Ont. Joined the industry: 1984 Family: Wife Susan and three daughters: Cristina, Cara and Gia

This industry has been great to me and my family, and I take pride in it. I am happy to give back. I’ve learned lot about business and people from the experience of volunteering.

FAST FACTS 1. Joe has been a Bruce Springsteen fan since the late ’70s. “I’ve seen him live many times. He never disappoints,” says Joe. 2. He bleeds Toronto Maple Leaf Blue. “I’ve heard every wisecrack about their sad state. I feel that redemption is near after the success of this past season.” 3. Joe’s parents immigrated to Canada from Italy in the 1950s. “My parents taught my brother, sister and me that Canada is a great country where you can work hard and have opportunities to succeed.”

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By Fred Bretzke

Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary and the general manager of A&B Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

PLUMBING

1990 In this ongoing series, Fred Bretzke plumbs the depths of the evolution of plumbing codes in Canada over the course of his 40+ years in the industry, as well as some of his trials and tribulations from his formative years to now. Keep your eyes peeled for future installments of Tales from the Code!

WATER – BANGED UP A NOTCH

Smack! THEN NOTHING...

for that -20°C wind blowing up against the four-storey condo complex.

It’s humid down here. Now it seems calm...

BANG! There’s a slight vibration— a pebble gets pushed to the side—before things settle. The night passes in this wet place. It seems like there’s a lot of condensation—too much.

After a quick breakfast and coffee, the tenants have their morning showers. More hot water is drawn from the mechanical room. Toilets are ﬂushing, men are shaving, basin faucets are turning on and off.

A slab of mud slides down a steel corrugated sleeve. A small line of water runs down the inner sleeve, puddling ing down onto the concrete thrust block. Small fountainss of water spray in multiple directions. Some of the water swirls il down the rusty steel ready rod, leaking into the base of the concrete… The sun begins to peak out, slowly beaming over Calgary in a typically cold but blue-sky Alberta morning. The building’s tenants are starting to wake up, getting ready for another workday. Some have the day off and head to the laundry facility located on the bottom ﬂoor. Loads of laundry are piled in the washing machines; hot water is supplied from the basement mechanical room’s hot water tanks. The tanks ﬁre up, attempting to keep up with the hot water demand. The boilers kick on to compensate

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The clothes washers have filled up the first rinse cycle. Th Their solenoid valves snap on, stopping the flow of water t to t them. The pressurized water distribution pipes reverberate from the sudden water stoppage. Another pebble gets pushed to the side from the vibrations emanating from the water service riser in the ground. It’s calm again. People are grabbing their keys, getting ready for another workday. Water continues to spray and leak down the six-inch rusty ductile iron condo water feed. Dishes are thrown hastily into the dishwasher, which are soon filling up their rinse cycles. People start leaving the building, unaware that their safe havens may no longer be the warm, cozy condos they’re used to when they return.

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PLUMBING THAR SHE BLOWS!

ll was well until the washing machines reached their second wash cycle, right around the same time the dishwashers reached their ﬁrst wash cycle. The appliances shut off the ﬂow of water suddenly. The water hammer should have been taken care of through the previously installed air chambers; but things were not looking good in the 10-foot-deep underground water feed on the north side of the building. Water hammer vibrations and corrosion were getting the best of it. This water riser was barely a few years old, and yet it felt ancient and abused. A sudden bang followed by several other noises emanated from the mechanical room water feed, rocking the slab-on-grade building. Thrust blew the weakened quarter-inch

rusted steel rodding apart. This continuous rodding was holding the aboveground master control valve to the vertical riser and to the 10-footdeep belowground elbow. As the riser began to literally rise into the mechanical room, the ﬂanged six-inch joints held together long enough to bend the six-inch water meter bypass and sprinkler tree enough to knock over two commercial hot water tanks and two large boilers. Gas lines were severed, water lines burst and hot water tanks emptied.

Worst of all, the water kept rushing into the mechanical room at 80 psi through a six-inch pipe. The flow was so intense that the room was filled with two feet of water within minutes. The fire department was there when I arrived at the building. The firefighters had to swing their axes through the front glass doors, as they were frozen shut. The building was starting to fill up like an aquarium, until the front doors burst open and began to drain the building out onto the front lawn. Over the next few days my job was to begin disaster restoration, and to determine the cause of the water leak for the insurance company.

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PLUMBING

KNOW YOUR CODE The 1990 National Plumbing Code states, “where unusual conditions exist such as excessively corrosive soil or water, only materials suited for use in such locations shall be used.” This remains the same in the 2015 NPC. Most soils are corrosive, being slightly acidic in nature. The installation adhered to the current codes. Municipal codes were updated later on. Half-inch steel continuous rodding is no longer allowed due to its corrosive nature—it must now be half-inch stainless steel. You also need to have yellow-jacket ductile iron as a riser, complete with a proper sleeve and cathodic anode protection cap. Also worth noting in the 1990 code is, “Piping, ﬁttings and joints used in pressure sewer, force main or sump pump discharge applications shall be capable of withstanding at least one and one-half times the maximum potential pressure.”

The 2015 code clause is 2.2.1.5., and it’s still the same except with an additional clause based on the maximum water main pressure at the point of connection. Again, these conditions seemed to have been met. But the 1990 code clause A.6.1.8. states, “Means of preventing water hammer should be installed wherever there are valves or faucets, particularly where they are at the end of long lengths of pipes.” Options were either water hammer arresters or air chambers fabricated from pieces of piping with a closed upper end installed vertically. The water hammer had been dealt with to minimum code standards through the use of air chambers. They had proven ineffective, however, as they were waterlogged.

WATER HAMMER PREVENTION An amendment was made to the 2015 code to address the use of air chambers to combat water hammer. Clause A-2.6.1.9. (1), under Water Hammer Prevention, states: “Since air chambers made from a piece of vertical pipe do not provide acceptable protection, premanufactured water hammer arresters are required to address the potential problem. Water hammer arresters need not to be installed at every valve or faucet, nor in every piping system.”

Get in, get out, and move on to the next big job with Little Giant® VCMX-20 Series Condensate Pumps. Whether it’s a new installation, servicing an existing pump, or a direct replacement, the VCMX was designed for simplicity and speed of installation. Features include a unique mounting bracket, ¼-turn check valve, external overﬂow switch, external test lever, and more. Let the industry leader catch your condensate.

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Products

Filtration System The AquaFlo economy reverse osmosis system from Novo features a sediment filter designed to screen out particulate material. Its activated carbon pre-filter reduces chlorine, and its RO membrane rejects up to 99 per cent of dissolved solids. A polishing filter absorbs residual tastes and odours before the water is delivered through the faucet.

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Water Heaters PVI’s Turbopower 96 gas-fired, fire-tube storage water heaters offer thermal efficiencies of up to 96 per cent. They are available with heat inputs ranging from 500,000 to 1,600,000 BTUH and storage capacities from 250 to 1,500 gallons.

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PEX Plumbing Valves Uponor’s ProPEX lead-free brass straight and angle valves are engineered to connect the company’s 3/4” and 1” AquaPEX pipe to water meters with 5/8”, 3/4” and 1” connections. They feature NPSM swivel connections and come with mounting brackets to support the water meter system.

The average family uses no more than 2 gallons of water a day for drinking and cooking.

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Restroom Faucets The 420-T series restroom faucets from Chicago Faucets feature integrated thermostatic control elements engineered to protect users from scalding. Models feature a solid brass, chromeplated construction and are available with ﬂowrates ranging from 0.35 to 1.5 gpm.

Tub Faucet

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Moen’s Vichy Roman tub faucet offers a ﬂowrate of 7.0 gpm. Available in a chrome ﬁnish, it comes with a hand shower suitable for washing hair and rinsing the tub. It also features a pressure-balancing valve that adjusts automatically to changes in water line pressure.

Hybrid Water Heaters Rheem’s hybrid electric heat pump water heaters are available in 50-, 65- and 80-gallon sizes. The net-zero compliant units have an EF of 3.50 The company’s EcoNet Wi-Fi system can be used to control the water heaters remotely and receive system notiﬁcations.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS

B y Ho war d J. Elmer Howard J. Elmer is an automotive journalist and the founder of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Be sure to check out the test drives of 2017 trucks at www.canadiantruckkingchallenge.ca.

peciality pickups are the big thing this year. Unique trim, interior and colour packages offered by all the manufacturers speak to customers’ desires to personalize their trucks, and it’s not just the consumer market that’s jumping on board – just check out some of the rides at your next industry event and I’ll bet that you’ll see some of these impressive work “toys.”

2017 FORD F150 This is a carryover year for the F150; however, Ford makes a point of always updating the F-series by announcing changes as much as a year in advance. As such, we already know a lot about the 2018 F-150 due out this fall.

Wheelbase:

137”, 142”, 156”, 158”, 172”

Cab Styles:

Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew

Engine Size: Power (hp/torque):

The coming highlights include an all-new 3L Power Stroke V6 turbo diesel (power specs yet to be announced), a standard auto stop/start feature and a new standard engine, the 3.3L V6 EcoBoost (282 hp/253 lb-ft of torque). It will also come ome with a 4G LTE modem and a Wi-Fi hot spot pot that can handle up to 10 mobile devices at one ne time. All Ford’s engines will be matched to its 10-speed auto transmission. Wheelbase:

122”, 141”, 145”, 157”, 163”

Cab Styles:

Regular, SuperCab, SuperCrew

Engine Size:

3.5L V6, 3.5L V6 (EcoBoost), 2.7L V6 (EcoBoost), 5.0L V8

Power (hp/torque):

282/253, 375/470, 325/375, 385/387

Max. Payload:

3,120 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity: Box Sizes:

12,200 lb. 5’5”, 6’5”, 8’

2017 RAM TRUCK HD 2500 AND 3500

Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Box Sizes:

6.2L V8, 6.7L turbo-diesel 385/430, 440/925 7,630 lb. 32,500 (F450)-(5th wheel) 6’8”, 8’

2017 FORD SUPER DUTY F250 TO F450 The SuperDuty line for 2017 is the true second-generation of this truck. Like the F150, the Super Duty is now built with aluminum alloy and truck cabs are shared across both lines. The Super Duty also gets a new fully boxed frame made with 95 per cent high-strength hi igh gh steel. The real changes to this tr tru ruc uc are the driver-assist technologies. truck

2017 FORD RAPTOR Based on the same platform as Ford’s bestseller, this is no typical F150. Standing two inches taller and six inches wider, the Raptor rides on massive 37-inch BF Goodrich KO2 tires. Its terrain management system switches between 2WD, 4WD HI/LO and AWD, and its power output is computer-calibrated, matching the needs of the ground it’s pounding. The 3.5L V6 EcoBoost HO pushes 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ram Heavy Duty is also in a carryover year, but there have been a few adjustments, like pushing its weight rating up again, to 31,210 lb. The high-output version of its 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel makes 385 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque. There are two gas engine options, plus manual and automatic transmissions. It continues to offer some class-exclusive features, like smart diesel exhaust brake, auto-level rear air suspension, or multilink coil spring rear suspension. Also available is the Rambox cargo management system.

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Wheelbase:

141”, 150”, 170”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Crew Cab, Mega Cab

Engine Size: Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Box Sizes:

5.7L V8 Hemi, 6.7L turbo-diesel, 6.4L V8 Hemi 383/400, 385/900, 410/429 7,390 lb. 31,210 lb. 6’4”, 8’

TRANSIT AND TRANSIT CONNECT

THE RIGHT SIZE FOR EVERY BUSINESS. When you have the cargo capacity that À ts your business, there’s no limit to where you can go. Ford Commercial Vehicles have the right one for yours. The full-size Transit offers two wheelbases, three heights and three lengths. The compact and versatile Transit Connect delivers a car-like drive with cargo space to spare. Ford has something more: specialists who can help make choosing and upÀtting the van you need for your business easy. We’re sure you’ll like the sound of that.

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• Max. cargo space 128.6 cu ft‡ • Max. payload 1,630 lbs‡‡ • 2 side door & 2 rear door options • Cargo & passenger conÀgurations

• Max. cargo space 542.2 cu ft* & max. towing 7,500 lbs** • Available 3.5L EcoBoost® & Power Stroke® Diesel engines • 2 wheelbases, 3 heights & 3 lengths • Up to 64 cargo & passenger conÀgurations

Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. *Maximum cargo volume with front passenger seat removed on Transit Long Extended Wheelbase High Roof Van. ** Maximum conventional hitch trailer towing capacity (when properly equipped) for Transit 150 RWB Low Roof Van / 250 RWB Low Roof Van / 150 RWB Medium Roof Van / Transit 250 RWB Medium Roof Van, with 3.2L I5 Diesel engine, 3.73 ratio, and 13,500 lbs GCWR. ‡Maximum cargo volume behind Àrst row with no 2nd or 3rd row seats on Transit Connect Van. ‡‡When properly equipped. Maximum payload with Transit Connect Van. Cargo and load capacities limited by weight and weight distribution. ©2017 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS 2017 HONDA RIDGELINE Last year, the Ridgeline brought its second generation to market, 10 years after its introduction. There are no g this yyear. Some of its car-like features include changes a fold-down tailgate that also opens open sideways and a large, lockable trunk. It has an all-w all-wheel drive system and an automatic six-speed transmission.

Wheelbase:

125”

Cab Styles:

Crew Cab

Engine Size:

3.5L V6

Power (hp/torque):

280/262

Max. Payload:

1,600 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

3,500 lb.

Box Sizes:

5’3”

2017 RAM 1500 Wheelbase:

This is a carryover year for Ram, with little new except editions” they offer. Still, a few things are the “special “s worth mentioning. The SLT, Outdoorsman and Big wort Horn models now come equipped with a 8.4” Uconnect Hor touchscreen and automatic temperature control. The touc Hemi is still mated to the six-speed automatic, while He the V6 works with an eight-speed, as does the diesel.

120.5”, 141”, 150”, 170”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Quad Cab, Crew Cab,

Engine Size:

5.7L V8 Hemi, 3.6L V6, 3.0L EcoDiesel

Power (hp/torque):

395/410, 305/269, 240/420

Max. Towing Capacity: 3L EcoDiesel: 9,200 lb.; 3.6L V6: 7,450 lb.; 5.7L V8: 10,649 lb. Box Sizes:

6’4”, 5’7”, 8’

2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA All remains the same this year, but word is that some updates will be coming in 2018. It’s unlikely that powertrain will be one of them, however. Last year a larger fuel tank and an optional trailer brake controller were added.

Wheelbase:

127”, 146”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, CrewMax

Engine Size:

4.6L V8, 5.7L V8

Power (hp/torque):

310/327, 381/401

Max. Payload:

1,710 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

10,196 lb.

Box Sizes:

5’, 6’5”, 8’

2017 TOYOTA TACOMA 2016 was the big year for Tacoma. This year, it soldiers on with its updates. It now features a 3.5L Atkinson cycle V6. Tacoma is available with a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual, or six-speed automatic Super ECT with lockup torque converter. Wheelbase:

127”

Cab Styles:

Access Cab, Double Cab

Engine Size:

Doing well in the midsize segment, the twins are in a carryover year. Included with the 2.8L is a smartdiesel exhaust brake system.

2.7L I-4, 3.5L V6

Power (hp/torque):

159/180, 278/265

Max. Payload:

1,500 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

6,500 lb.

Box Sizes:

2017 CANYON AND COLORADO

5’, 6’

Wheelbase:

128”, 140.5”

Cab Styles:

Extended Cab, Crew Cab

Engine Size: Wheelbase:

133”, 144”, 154”, 167”

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab

Engine Size: Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Box Sizes:

6L V8, 6.6L turbo-diesel 360/380, 445/910

2.5L I-4, 3.6L V6, 2.8L turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

200/191, 305/269, 181/369

Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity:

1,620 lb. 7,700 lb. (w/diesel)

Box Sizes:

5’2”, 6’2”

7,374 lb. 23,200 lb. 6’5”, 8’

2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD 2500 & 3500 GM’s HD trucks get a number of upgrades this year. A new digital steering assist system improves road handling and an available gooseneck/fifth wheel package will include a spray-in bedliner. Updated for 2017 is the 6.6L V8 turbo-diesel that has been redesigned with a new cylinder block and heads.

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COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: TRUCKS 2017 NISSAN TITAN XD Completely new from the ground up last year, the TitanXD is taking on the establishment with its heavy half-ton, powered by the Cummins 5.L V8 Turbo Diesel, which will tow 12,000 lb. (a gas model is available as well).

Wheelbase:

151.6â&#x20AC;?

Cab Styles:

Crew Cab

Engine Size:

5.6L V8, 5L V8 turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

390/394, 310/555

Max. Payload:

2,004 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

12,038 lb.

Box Sizes: Wheelbase:

119â&#x20AC;?, 133â&#x20AC;?, 158â&#x20AC;?

Cab Styles:

Regular, Double Cab, Crew Cab

Engine Size: Power (hp/torque):

6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6â&#x20AC;?

4.3L V6, 5.3L V8, 6.2L V8

Wheelbase:

139.8â&#x20AC;?

285/305, 355/383, 420/460

Cab Styles:

Regular, Crew Cab

Max Payload:

2,250 lb.

Max Towing Capacity:

12,500 lb.

Box Sizes:

5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;8â&#x20AC;?, 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6â&#x20AC;?, 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

2017 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500

Engine Size:

5.6L V8

Power (hp/torque):

390/394

Max. Payload:

1,610 lb

Max. Towing Capacity:

9,390 lb.

Box Sizes:

6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6â&#x20AC;?

2017 NISSAN TITAN

2017 sees Chevy offering a number of special editions as well as some nice upgrades, like a segment-best 12,500-lb. trailering rating, lowspeed forward automatic braking in the enhanced driver alert package and pairings for both six- and eightspeed transmissions.

This Titan is new for 2017. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a half-ton and, unlike the XD, does not try to be anything else. It rides on a different chassis, is about 15 inches shorter than the XD, does not offer diesel and is available in a two-door regular cab. With its gas engine it offers 9,300 lb. of towing and 1,610 lb. of payload capacity in a full-size four-door pickup.

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B y Go r d C o o ke

IAQ Pets and

Allergens and Odours

have often written about the importance of proper ventilation for the health and safety of occupants – namely, people. But what about our other loved ones – our pets?

With respect to the indoor air quality challenges posed by pets, there are three main concerns: allergens, particulates and odours.

When I was a kid, our beloved black Lab, Rocky, lived in a smelly and dusty dwelling called a doghouse. He came indoors only on extremely cold nights and was never very comfortable in the house. I remember cats as being free ranging, perhaps settling into the garage or barn. But nowadays they, too, more commonly live indoors.

Consider ﬁrst the allergy potential. Some animals produce allergens that will affect some people, and in rare cases affect other animals.

Add to this the menagerie of other pets available to households: birds, hamsters, snakes, mice, rabbits, ferrets, potbelly pigs and more. It should be no surprise, then, that these inhabitants add to the complexity of pollutants in a home

Cat dander is so ﬁne that it can ﬂoat in the air for days before being inhaled and drawn deep into the respiratory system of people with allergies. The dander particulates are “sticky,” so when they do settle on walls, furniture, furnishings or clothing they are hard to clean off and can stay active as an allergen for long periods of time.

FOUR KEY STRATEGIES

While allergens are the most important concern in households where someone suffers from allergies, the added dust load from pets affects all households. The hair, the debris from feathers, dandruff, dander, dirt, food bits and litter are a challenge to maintaining good air quality.

Most pet owners won’t want their dogs or cats removed from the home. When removing a pet isn’t an option, other avenues include the regular cleaning of coils, drain pans, fans, ventilation systems and ducts.

These particulates are also a food source for dust mites and other critters that produce their own smaller particulates. Dust mite droppings are themselves very ﬁne, stay in the air for long periods of time, readily enter the respiratory system and are a known allergen.

A central vacuum system, vented outdoors, is also a powerful way of minimizing fine dust particles when cleaning floors. The dander from cats is so fine that it passes through normal vacuum system filters and gets re-entrained into the air stream, making things worse.

Another concern is odours: the gases from body odour, respiration, droppings and bedding that add to the total chemical load in the air. The human nose acclimatizes quickly to smells, so much so that your clients may not be fully aware of the odours in their own homes. It may be up to you to delicately broach this subject with them.

REMOVE

Clients should be advised to use either a HEPA grade vacuum that can trap particles smaller than 2.5 microns, or to use a CV system that sends dust particles straight to the outside.

ISOLATE OR SEAL

For clients who can’t part ways with their beloved pets, the isolate or seal strategy may be most effective. First, pets should have their own sleeping area or room. Keep that area isolated

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE • A l l e r g e n s & OHVAC d ocontinued u urr s from • page Fo18u r K ey S t r at egies egie the return air system of the furnace before it gets to the p personal breathing zone of th occupants. the

as much as possible by air-sealing walls and penetrations between the house and that area. ea. Block off any return ducts from that area and d keep it under a negative pressure with an exhaust fan or exhaust outlet from an HRV or ERV.

By all means, recommend qu quality filters that can take ou particle sizes less than 2.5 out m microns. Be sure to measure th static pressure across the th filter to ensure it isn’t the in inappropriately affecting a airflow delivery. Couple the fi filter recommendation with an E ECM motor on the air handler to allow for continuous fan o operation with quiet, lowen nergy operation. energy

Litter boxes and other pet accessories should d be away from the mechanical room and, where ere practical, isolated from living areas as well. One client I worked with had the cat litter box in a cabinet with a pet door and then installed a small exhaust fan to keep the cabinet under negative pressure. For allergy sufferers, ensure their bedroom is air sealed from the main house and then supply the room with clean fresh air. The best choice is a supply duct from an energy recovery ventilator that has passed through a HEPA ﬁlter. Even 20 to 30 CFM of clean air can an do wonders for a good night’s sleep.

VENTILATE

Increasing whole-house ventilation rates when your clients have pets is also appropriate. Ventilation rates for homes are determined by occupant loads at approximately 15 CFM per person. The addition of pets should trigger added ventilation for these added occupants. When designing facilities for animals, the design ventilation rate is 30 to 40 CFM per cat and 15 to 25 CFM per dog. Install and operate an HRV or ERV with a capacity equal to the number of human occupants plus dogs times 15 CFM plus cats times 30 CFM. This will help control odours and dust loads for all occupants.

FILTER

Remember, the dust load in homes with pets is higher, so the filters will have to be replaced more often. Put your clients on a filter replacement program, but be cautious about setting expectations for the results of a filter change. It is unlikely to reduce the amount of visible dust on flat surfaces or even in the air, or to alleviate allergy symptoms on its own.

In my opinion, filtration is the fourth most effective strategy when dealing with potential pollutants from pets. Filters are easy to sell and are helpful both in enhancing an isolation strategy and in reducing overall dust loads in the ambient air. However, you will want to be careful about setting unreasonable expectations. It is highly unlikely that homeowners can filter their way out of a cat allergy problem. Most dust in houses is on the floor or sticking to walls and furniture. This dust is re-entrained into the air by occupant activities and it is unlikely that dust will be filtered through

M e c h a n i c a l

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

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WATER IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reason enough for us to make hygienic drinking water our highest priority Clean drinking water is the most valuable asset on Earth; its preservation was, is and always will be one of our most important topics. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not only rising to the challenge that this brings to everyday installation systems, we also accept our responsibility as a global market leader. Viega. Connected in quality.

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Sewage Pumps Zoeller’s 64 HD sewage pumps are available in sizes ranging from 25 to 60 hp. The 4” and 6” discharge units are capable of passing spherical waste measuring 3-1/8” and 4”, respectively. They are available in 4” high head and 6” high ﬂow designs.

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High-Power Drain Cleaning General Pipe Cleaners’ Typhoon trailer jet is designed to deliver 12 gallons a minute at 2,500 psi to blast lines clean of grease, sediment and debris. It features a 200-gallon holding tank and a 690 cc engine. The unit comes with a 400-foot, 1/2” jet hose reel featuring variable speed electric rewind, and a water supply hose reel carrying 150 feet of 3/4" hose.

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Grinder Pump Saniﬂo’s Sanicubic 2 is an above-ﬂoor grinder pump engineered for residential and commercial sewage applications. Its duplex-grinder system is powered by two 1-hp, 240V motors. Its inlets can accommodate 1-1/2” or 4” diameter pipes, and its maximum pumping distances are 36’ vertically or 328’ horizontally, with gravity fall.

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Tankless Water Heaters SE+ series tankless water heaters from Rinnai are available in sizes ranging from 130,000 to 199,000 BTUH. They feature Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing them to be controlled remotely by wireless devices. The ThermaCirc360 feature makes recirculation possible without a dedicated return line.

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L t F Lavatory Faucett Kubik widespread faucets from Riobel offer ﬂowrates of 1.5 gpm. Designed for three-hole installations, they come with rough-ins with quick-connect tees and supply hoses. The spindle assembling nuts are provided with two screws.

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Trap Priming Device The Prime-Pro under lav primer from Precision Plumbing Products is designed to activate when it senses potable water flowing to an adjacent plumbing fixture. It installs on the cold water line leading to the plumbing fixture, and the valve emits fresh cold potable water to a floor drain trap as long as the fixture is in use. It comes equipped with vacuum breaker ports and internal backflow protection.

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F E A T U R E S 38GUEST COMMENTARY The Best Laid Plans Dave Hughes

40PROJECT PROFILE Mechanical monsters are no match for Orest Õh, who has made a name for himself building boutique boiler rooms with Blackrock HVAC. We caught up with him on the site of his latest project. Greg Dalgetty

56ROAD WARRIOR

46CIRCULATORS The Heart and Soul of the System John Barba

Starting your own business requires determination, dedication and a work ethic that knows no limits. These are all qualities Mark Hoover has in abundance. Greg Dalgetty

48CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

42PIPE AND TUBING

Mike Holmes, Jr. on the Future of the Trades Greg Dalgetty

Before you get started on your next PEX project, check out these best practices to ensure your installation is trouble-free. You won’t regret it. Jerry Leyte

50SMALL BUILDS A Tiny Home That’s Simply Radiant Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

54ENERGY EFFICIENCY On the Front Line Patrick Driscoll

D E P A R T M E N T S 36From the Editor’s Desk 58Find the Fix 60,62,63Products

On the cover: Orest Õh got his start in the mechanical trades at an early age, joining his dad on commercial jobsites installing rooftop equipment. He now runs his own business, Blackrock HVAC. Photo: Oleh Bozhyk

WHAT

Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com July/August 2017 Issue Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com

Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Office Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 \Zkhebg^'[^qÛê]9f^\aZgb\Ze[nlbg^ll'\hf Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com

We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

FROM

We’ve seen it all before: the old guard resisting change, insisting that things were done better back in their day. Meanwhile, like it or not, fresh young blood starts to take over the industries that were once the exclusive domain of their forbearers, and business goes on. At 33, I guess you could call me a millennial, although I’d prefer to be called Greg, if that’s all right with you. I don’t identify as a millennial any more than members of previous generations identify as Gen-Xers or baby boomers. It doesn’t matter what you call any of these generations—they’ll all have their time in the sun before passing the torch.

Did You Know? CIPH’s Young Executive Society is open to industry members in Ontario under 40 years of age. It offers training, skills development and networking opportunities.

ciph.com That said, much has been made of the fact that 50 per cent of the workforce will be millennials by the year 2020. This means a significant demographic shift for the plumbing and heating industry as a whole—but it’s not like this kind of thing hasn’t happened before, or won’t happen again. In preparing for this issue, I got a firsthand look at how millennials are moving up in the trade, and—trust me—the industry is in very good hands. I’m writing this fresh off of meeting Orest Õh, a 27-year-old hydronics guru who has created one of the most impressive mechanical rooms I have ever seen. If you’re worried about millennials’ work ethic, you needn’t be—I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone work as hard as Orest. See his latest project on page 40. I understand change can be scary, but so many of the young people coming up in the trades are dedicated and passionate about what they do. As baby boomers navigate issues like succession planning and have to worry about the future of the retirement, they won’t w industry, which looks bright indeed. Until next time, always remember—nothing is finer than hydronic designer. a hydron Sincerely, Sincer

S u p p l e m e n t

DESK

For as long as people have existed, older generations have taken umbrage at the new.

W H A T

EDITOR’S

(Don’t) Get off My Lawn

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).

THE

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The Best Laid Plans S

ometimes plans made with the best of intentions have unintended consequences. That was the case when Section 9.36 of the Alberta Building Code came into force in the province last November. The code aims to tighten the envelope of small buildings, but it also presents a major roadblock to hydronic system designers and installers across the province. There are three ways of complying with the new code requirements: a prescriptive path, a performance path and a trade-off path. The requirements of the prescriptive path are staggering: hydronically heated basement floors in most of the province must now have a minimum R value of 16.1. This means having four inches of slab insulation in a typical home. Compare that to the one inch of insulation that’s currently prescribed by CSA-B214. Based on a 1,600-square-foot home, going from one inch to four inches of insulation reduces heat loss by only 847 BTUH, which translates to an annual savings of about $25 at today’s fuel prices. Jumping up to four inches of insulation costs an additional $3,675. That’s a payback period of 147 years (good luck seeing a return on that investment). This new requirement has had an immediate effect on the hydronic industry in the province. Compared to this time last year, we’ve seen the number of new hydronic floor-heating projects quoted decrease by 77 per cent. The number of projects sold has decreased by 90 per cent. Fortunately, there may be a way forward. I recently met with the building sub-council of Alberta’s Safety Codes Council, and was advised that most builders never see more than an inch and a half of insulation used for hydronically heated basement floors. They advised pursuing a performance-based model to meet the Section 9.36 requirements, rather than using the prescriptive path. We’re now trying to get a variance to the code by modelling a variety of homes across the province. We’ll be comparing forced-air models to hydronic models. We’re hoping to show that a hydronically heated home with an inch or an inch and a half of slab insulation is the equivalent of a forced-air home with no insulation. We understand that insulation is necessary underneath the slab—we’re just hoping for a variance where we’re treated no differently than forced air. If we can get this equivalency, we’ll be in good stead.

Dave Hughes is the Chair of the Canadian Hydronics Council and the Associate Chair (Special Projects) of the Pipe Trades program at NAIT. He’s also Chair of the Plumbing Subcouncil of Alberta’s Safety Codes Council. He can be reached at dhughes@nait.ca.

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Project Profile

Bogeyman

By Greg Dalgetty

BATTLING

e may only be 27, but Orest Õh is no novice when it comes to the mechanical trades.

“When I was in Grade 3, my dad took me out one day after class and we installed a commercial rooftop unit—I was guiding the crane,” he recalls. “So I’ve been in this business for a long, long time.” After going to trade school and getting his professional start in the commercial sector, Õh decided to take the plunge and start up his own company a few years ago. His ﬁrm, Blackrock HVAC, is a Toronto-based heating and air conditioning boutique, specializing in bespoke mechanical systems.

Õh has made a name for himself building highperforming and aesthetically pleasing mechanical rooms that are designed to be unintimidating to homeowners. His work has been so well received that one of his clients invites friends over for beers in his boiler room—a room the homeowner likens to a spaceship. “I’m taking the bogeyman out of the mechanical room,” Õh explains. “I’m trying to make it very homeowner-friendly and friendly for future technicians as well.” We caught up with Õh just as he was completing work on his latest project—one that he says is the most ambitious of his career.

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PROJECT 5606

estled tl d off ff th the b beaten t path th iin th the Village of Hillsburgh, Ont., lies the site of Õh’s latest mechanical marvel, dubbed Project 5606. Tasked with building a heating and cooling system for a 6,000-square-foot addition to a home (yes, an addition) Õh pulled out all the stops for this project. The two-storey house has three separate mechanical rooms and features radiant in-floor heating in the basement, main and upper floors. There are two high-velocity air handlers—one in the basement and another in the attic—which provide cooling during the summer, and are equipped with heating coils for the shoulder seasons. There are also two HRVs that provide ventilation. “The basement and the main level are on one system, and the second floor is on a different system,” Õh explains. “One of the main reasons for doing that was to eliminate bulkheads, but we were also concerned about cooling the second floor. A lot of homes have that problem— the master bedroom is too hot in the summer, because it’s so hard to push air up from the basement.” The forced air runs through whisperquiet seven-inch spiral ductwork throughout the house. “It’s an open-concept home, which makes it difficult to run the ductwork,” Õh notes. “There are supply grilles on the floor of the main level, and upstairs the air is blowing from the ceiling down.”

Photos: Oleh Bozhyk

the

THE THREE Fs

“A big part of Blackrock’s philosophy is the three Fs: function, feasibility and form,” says Õh. “HVAC can be very intimidating for some people. But I want homeowners to at least be able to read the dials. It should be like driving a car—you know which pedals to press and what does what.”

labelling system that shows where all the gas lines are running.

And if it’s dials you’re looking for, it’s dials you’ll get—the boiler room has 17 different gauges monitoring pressure and temperature throughout the system. Õh has also created a custom gold-leaf gas manifold—featuring its own shutoff valve so gas doesn’t have to be turned off at the meter—with a unique

Indeed, 3D-printed elements are used throughout the house, from wall-mounted holsters for compressed air dusters to precisely measured seals for external vent terminations.

“We’ve got 3D-printed appliance tags so you know where each line is going,” he says. “We have an automotive engineer with a 3D printer on our team. I gave him the design and specs of everything we needed, and he printed it off for us.”

But that’s not all. Before the boiler room was built, Õh measured the floor space and got the exact dimensions of every piece of equipment to be installed. His engineer then created a 3D model of the room to ensure the perfect placement of everything. “All the equipment is installed at eye level—there’s a reason it’s at this height. We actually took measurements of the homeowner— his eye level, his reach—to make sure everything was easily reachable.” Õh also added a touch of style everywhere he went. The boiler and buffer tank are wrapped in camouflage vinyl, the water tank is wrapped in blue vinyl, and a section of the upstairs mechanical room is wrapped in vinyl depicting the Canadian Shield—all design elements that fit the homeowner’s personality to a T. “This is all automotive vinyl. I went to a shop that wraps Porsches and other cars. They were so excited to wrap a tank instead of a car—they must have gotten bored of wrapping Lambos. I’m a car guy, so it’s a lot of fun integrating my hobby with my career.” Last but not least—and a staple of every Blackrock boutique project—Õh placed a 130-lb., 1-1/4” slab of granite in the boiler room underneath the water heater. It’s his trademark touch that comes with any custom project he works on. “It’s a symbol of strength and quality. In the Greater Toronto Area

A HYDRONIC HAVEN

250,000 BTUH boiler in the largest of the mechanical rooms powers the in-ﬂoor heating throughout the house and also supplies heat for a 120-gallon indirect hot water tank. The modulating boiler can dial down to 25,000 BTUH, and a 40-gallon buffer tank kicks in to supply smaller heating loads. “The three bathrooms are one zone, which does not

require a lot of BTUs,” Õh says. “So instead of short-cycling the boiler, we have the buffer tank when only that zone is calling for heat.” The in-ﬂoor heating is distributed via PEX-a tubing, which is routed through three manifolds throughout the house. Two of these have magnetic Plexiglas panels that can be easily removed to make adjustments. The panels even

have LEDs so technicians can see what they’re doing. “In these manifolds, every loop is adjustable, so you can alter the heat output for each room,” Õh explains. “We’ve labelled each room on the manifolds and you can see how much ﬂow you’re getting. The master bedroom, bathrooms and spare bedrooms are zoned separately. If you don’t like the temperature you’re getting, you can always control it via the manifold.” W H A T

The house is equipped with ﬁve radiant thermostats with in-slab sensors (there are also two Wi-Fi thermostats with humidity control that handle air conditioning and ventilation). The hydronic system features air and dirt separators, and three ECM circulators that keep things running at maximum efﬁciency. Another ECM pump used for water recirculation automatically adapts to the homeowners’ hot water usage patterns.

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

Pipe and Tubing By Jerry Leyte

TOP TIPS N When Working with

PEX

o longer the new kid on the block for piping projects, PEX tubing has a solid history and strong acceptance in the hydronic marketplace. To date, more than 17 billion feet of PEX has been installed worldwide — that’s enough to stretch to the moon and back almost seven times. Within the category, there are different types of PEX. The primary three are PEX-a, which uses the Engel crosslinking method; PEX-b, which uses the silane method; and PEX-c, which uses the electron-beam or radiation method. PEX-a

Tube Spacing

Typical spacing of tubing for floor-warming applications is 12 inches on-centre, but that’s not a hard and fast figure. While consistent spacing should be used in slabs or under floors, there are times when it can be advantageous to use less or more space between the PEX lines in a layout. For example, tube spacing can be increased to 18” or even 24” on-centre for heated slabs in storage areas and garages. Decreasing the tubing spacing will lower the water temperature needed to supply heat to the floor. It will also provide a more even surface temperature, with less chance of striping, or alternating hot and cool spots, across the floor. It increases the amount of tubing needed for a project, however. It is rarely advisable to exceed 12” on-centre for residential applications. Some projects use 6” tube spacing for the first few feet along perimeter walls, increasing to 8”, 9” or even 12” spacing for the interior. The on-centre distance needs to take into consideration the flow, water temperature and desired delivery temperature in the conditioned space. The key is to match the heat loss.

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is more than 80 per cent crosslinked, compared with 65 to 70 per cent for PEX-b, and 70 to 75 per cent for PEX-c. Also in the PEX family are oxygen-barrier offerings, which are available in each of those three varieties of PEX. Regardless of the type of PEX in the pipe or tubing, the aim of any contractor is to install a trouble-free system, and there are some best practices that should be considered when working with the tubing material. Here’s some advice that might be helpful for your next hydronic project.

Oxygen Barrier

Several PEX manufacturers offer oxygen-barrier tubing. Since all non-metallic (plastic or rubber) pipe is permeable to the passage of dissolved oxygen molecules through its walls, oxygen can corrode ferrous components in the system if there is no barrier. This puts valves, strainers and pump volutes at risk, which could impact the overall life of the system. Built-in oxygen barriers should limit oxygen diffusion to levels below DIN 4726. Variations of tubing offering oxygen resistance typically use either a layer of aluminum between layers of PEX, or a specialized coating that is factory-applied during the manufacturing process. To maintain the integrity of the barrier, no paints, coatings, adhesives or other products that could react with the tubing should be applied. If non-barrier tubing is used, non-ferrous components should also be used.

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Tubing Sizes

Many people assume that more heat will be delivered by larger diameter tubing, but that’s not really the way it works. While larger diameter tubing will allow for more ﬂuid to pass through, the diameter of the tubing has more impact on the loop length than on the BTU delivery. Heat emitter selection, and the delta T, will have much greater impact on the amount of heat delivered to a space.

4 • • • • • • • • • •

PEX Handling Guidelines

While not all manufacturers’ handling and storage instructions are the same, here are some general best practices when working with PEX in a hydronic application: • Follow factory-recommended installation instructions. • Keep pipe in original packaging until ready for install. Do not store outdoors. Do not use PEX pipe where temperatures and pressures exceed ratings. Do not exceed maximum direct ultraviolet exposure. Do not use PEX pipe for an electrical ground. PEX is not a conductive material. Do not weld, glue or use adhesives on PEX pipe. Do not apply open flame to PEX pipe. Do not spray on or allow exposure to any organic chemicals, pesticides, strong acids or strong bases. Do not allow petroleum or solvent-based paints on PEX pipe. Do not install PEX within 12 inches of any recessed light fixture, unless the PEX is protected with suitable insulation or the can light is Insulation Contact-rated. Do not install PEX pipe within five feet of direct view from fluorescent lighting without sleeving the pipe with a UV-blocking material.

On the Bend PEX may kink if it is bent tighter than the manufacturer’s minimum recommended bending radius. It may also break clips and supports if the bends are too tight. Each manufacturer will have a list of recommended minimum bending radii, based on the nominal tube sizing.

Loop Lengths

Tube diameter will dictate the maximum loop length. This is because smaller tubing produces greater pressure loss than larger-diameter tubing. As such, shorter loop lengths are recommended for smaller-diameter tubing. For example, with 1/2” tubing the loops are typically 250 to 300 feet long, whereas 5/8” tubing could be used for loops up to 400 feet, and 3/4” tubing could be as long as 500 feet per loop. Fluid choice can also impact pressure loss, so if you’ve calculated the loops based on water as the process ﬂuid, but that changes to a glycol mix, recalculate and see if you need to adjust the lengths of the loops, or the size of the tubing.

W H A T

Keep in mind that the bend radius will likely be signiﬁcantly higher if tube is in coils and the bends are going against the coil direction. Table 1 shows the recommended radii from my company. Please note that these may be different for other types and brands of PEX. Bending the Tubing: Do not bend PEX tubing tighter than the following minimum recommended bending radii. Note: If using tubing in coils, and bending the tubing against the coil direction, the minimum bending radius is 3 times the radius given above (e.g., 3/8” tubing = 3x4 = 12”)

Minimum Bending Radius (in.) CTS

3/8

1/2

3/4

Square and Proper

As with any pipe or tubing, a square cut will help ensure a quality installation. If the cut is not square, there is an increased risk of leakage as an angled cut could result in a ﬁtting not being seated properly when the compression, PEX ring or crimp is applied. Check and follow the pipe manufacturer’s recommendations about reaming, as well as approved ﬁtting materials. Not all components are cross-compatible between manufacturers.

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Tubing Size (in. nominal)

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Pick a Team

There are numerous PEX manufacturers, many with their own style of ﬁtting system. A disturbing trend of blended systems is becoming all too common. Blended systems that result in leaks could become a challenging situation for the installing contractor if a product failure or a warranty claim is made.

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John Barba is the contractor training & trade program manager with Taco Comfort Systems. He can be reached at johbar@tacocomfort.com.

By John Barba

The heart &

of the System

ith modern residential hydronics, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket items – primarily the boiler and the heat emitters. It’s understandable, really. The boiler is where all the fun is: it makes fire, has the most technology and requires a certain level of expertise to make it sing and dance. The heat emitters, of course, deliver the heat. Be they decorative panel radiators, simple fin-tube baseboard, hydro-air or radiant floor heating, the heat emitters are the most visible and deliver the whole comfort “experience” to the homeowner.

But there’s a third element in the three-legged hydronics barstool. It’s not as slick or as sexy as the other two, and it’s nowhere near as pricey. But a compelling case can be made that when it comes to overall system performance, the circulator is the most important of the three. Sure, the boiler makes the heat and the heat emitters deliver the heat. But it’s the circulator that actually facilitates the journey. How the circulator does its job, how the pump performance curve interacts with system curves and how carefully one matches the curve to the system are all key factors in just how efﬁcient that high-efﬁciency boiler you’re installing will be. And no, “Smart Pumps” do not make it all okay.

For our purposes, let’s say we have a 70,000 BTUH zone valve system that requires 7 gpm with a total head loss of 5 feet. Where things get interesting is when we overlay a system curve on the pump performance curve chart. The system curve is like a unique ﬁngerprint for a piping system. It’s theoretical, and plotting it on the pump performance curve chart requires the kind of math you swore off of back in the 7th grade.

THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF MATH AVOIDANCE It doesn’t take an expert to know circulator sizing begins with flow and head, but it certainly doesn’t end there. Flow is based on heat load and head loss is based on flow rate, pipe size, pipe length, how many and what type of valves and fittings are used, plus anything else that can add pressure drop to the water’s journey.

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At the risk of oversimplifying, a system curve represents the mathematical relationship between the ﬂow head loss in your piping system. We already know two points on this plot: the worst-case requirement of 7 gpm at 5 feet of head, and the starting point of zero gpm at zero head. It’s obvious that when ﬂow increases in a piping system, head loss will go up as well. What’s not obvious is that it’s not a one-to-one relationship. Head will actually increase exponentially, so that a system curve kinda shoots up like a rocket ship. So why care about any of this? Because the system itself will always work at the point where the system curve intersects with the pump performance curve.

Always. In this example, we’ll have to set the circulator to medium speed. Notice that the system curve intersects that speciﬁc performance curve at around 9 gpm at about 8 feet of head. This system will work, and no one will ever call you up screaming that they’re freezing to death and it’s all your fault.

But… On the “coldest day of the year,” we’re delivering 70,000 BTUH not with 7 gpm, but with 9 gpm. That’s nearly 30 per cent more ﬂow than we actually need. When we determine ﬂow, we use the Universal Hydronics Formula. It’s pretty basic math that states:

coldest day of the year – approximately two per cent of the heating season.

So? The smaller the Delta T, the warmer the water will be coming back to the boiler. That means boilers will tend to short-cycle more. Short-cycling boilers are not nearly as efﬁcient as they could or should be, and the warmer the water is that’s returning to a mod-con, the less it will actually “con.” That also limits efﬁciency. Even worse, that’s at full-load conditions. We just kicked the short-cycling into overdrive. And we won’t even discuss the notion that, more often than not, 3-speed circulators are set on high speed.

What does all this mean?

We traditionally use a 20° Delta T when designing residential hydronics. In our example, we want 7 gpm under design conditions, but we’re actually moving 9 gpm. If we deliver 70,000 BTUH with a ﬂow rate of 9 gpm, the Delta T is never going to be 20°. The best it will ever be is 15°, and that’s only on that

It doesn’t mean cold customers, but it does mean that the circulator we’ve installed is limiting the overall efﬁciency of the system. In addition, all that short-cycling is eating into the service life of many of the moving components in the system.

Can We Do Better? We can do better, and the solution starts with your selection of circulator. Variable speed circulators can improve the situation, but to varying degrees. It’s important to know what kind of a variable speed circulator you’re using, what it really does and how it really works. There’s no such thing as a magic button, and no such thing as a pump that will ﬁgure it all out for you. Artiﬁcial intelligence is no match for the natural – and ever-changing – dynamics of a residential hydronics system.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER By Greg Dalgetty

e may be the son of the most famous tradesperson in Canada, but Mike Holmes, Jr. hadn’t planned on following in his father’s footsteps.

“It’s funny—I never intended to get into the trades,” he says. “I think that was mostly because my dad was in the trades and I wanted to go after something on my own.” He originally had his sights set on becoming a firefighter, but things changed when he was 14 and his father invited him to join him on the jobsite. “I worked for him that summer and fell in love with the trades,” he recalls. “Being able to build something and see what I’d accomplished in a day really made me passionate about working with my hands and being a part of the trades.” Holmes, Jr. grew up in front of the camera. He first started appearing on his father’s show, Holmes on Homes, at the tender age of 14. And although he’s a natural in front of the camera now, things weren’t so easy in the beginning.

“There’s a stigma that the trades are for uneducated people,” Holmes notes. “The biggest thing I want to get out there is that the trades are a place for skilled people. There’s a reason we call them the skilled trades.”

Photos courtesy of The Holmes Group

“I was terrified the first time I was on camera,” he says. “I was 14 years old and I had no idea what I was doing—I think I put a screw in my finger.”

But he’s come a long way since then. Now 27, the energetic and amiable carpenter is a veteran of the small screen, and is known to Canadians from coast to coast for his work on Holmes and Holmes and Home to Win. We recently caught up with Holmes, Jr. to get his take on the future of youth in the skilled trades.

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A World of Opportunities With the youngest of the working baby boomers approaching retirement age, the skilled trades could be facing a labour shortage in the near future. “The baby boomer generation is so heavily involved in the trades that when they retire we’re going to see a huge shortage in the skilled trades,” Holmes observes. “But there’s a huge opportunity for anyone looking to get into the skilled trades. If you’ve got drive and passion and you’re a hardworking person, there’s a lot of opportunity and a lot of money to be made.” Millennials are entering a very different job market than their parents did, with full-time work much harder to come by and housing prices far exceeding anything their parents paid, even when adjusting for inflation. But by learning a trade, young people can enjoy a lifestyle few others in their age group can dream of. “I bought my first house at 19, and that was from working in the trades since I was 14,” Holmes says. “At that time a lot of my friends had a huge amount of debt from school and they still didn’t know what they wanted to do for work. I’m not trying to gloat; this is more about the opportunity that comes from working the trades.” In addition to reaping the benefits of working in the trades, young people also bring a lot to the table.

A Place for Skilled People “There’s a stigma that the trades are for uneducated people,” Holmes notes. “The biggest thing I want to get out there is that the trades are a place for skilled people. There’s a reason we call them the skilled trades.” Sadly, some parents have actively discouraged their children from getting into the trades. “I remember this one student saying he wanted to be an HVAC technician, but his mother wouldn’t let him and was forcing him to go to school to be a doctor,” he recalls. “That just reminded me of how poorly some people look at the trades.” Meanwhile, students pressured into getting a university degree they don’t want can ﬁnd themselves buried under insurmountable debt and facing a highly competitive job market. “I’ve watched so many people go to university and get a degree, and then go to another school and get another degree before ending up in a job that doesn’t have anything to do with their degrees,” Holmes says. “I just think how we’re forcing kids to go to high school and then post-secondary is wrong because we’re creating a lot of debt for these students and on top of that, they may end up with a degree they’ll never use.”

“I think millennials are very creative. I feel like they have more of a focus on design and art, and I think there’s going to be a lot more creativity brought to the table with this generation.”

A Celebration Celebration of Skills Sk killls Holmes discovered early in life that woodworking was his passion. He later spent three years at George Brown College in Toronto studying carpentry. But woodworking is a long way off from firefighting, and he fell into it by chance. His advice to young people: Try your hand at a trade. Who knows—you might like it. “I always suggest people try a trade. There are so many people who are looking for apprentices or summer help,” he says. “You can work with someone for a summer, be an apprentice and see if you like it. If you don’t like it, well, guess what—it didn’t cost you $50,000 or $100,000.” He would like to see schools encourage students to get into the trades at an early age. He has been a part of several Skills Canada competitions and seen firsthand the incredible work young people can do in the trades when given the chance to flourish. “It’s the Olympics of skilled trades,” he says of the annual event. “For the average Joe who thinks that skilled trades aren’t important or for the uneducated, if you go to one of these competitions, you see how amazingly talented these young kids are.”

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Small Builds

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

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

A tiny home that’s simply radiant

Join the Movement

have a hard time sitting still for more than 60 minutes. I’m in my sweet spot when I am building or ﬁxing things, or just generally tinkering.

Certainly, my day job as a trainer for a hydronics and plumbing product manufacturer fulﬁlls my need to be “on the move.” I talk, visit and travel. I enjoy the time I spend in front of a group talking plumbing, solar and hydronics. I jump at any chance to visit jobsites and spend a few hours at a counter day’s event chatting with the guys and gals that “get ’er done.” I’m also one of the go-to guys when it comes to updating and expanding our company lab and training facility. On the road, online or on the phone, hearing stories or jobsite tales and adventurers keeps the momentum going for me. Another man or woman might enjoy home time with such leisure activities as golﬁng, touring or sporting events, but for me, my ideal weekend or evening activity includes time in my shop.

The THOW movement is worldwide, and it also includes some truck and bus conversions. If you are interested, search the web for some good ideas on what other folks around the planet are creating to live small, portably and affordably. Regardless of where you live you will ﬁnd a THOW movement close by. Tinyhousetalk.com is one of my favorite sites for ideas and input.

Over my lifetime, I have collected quite an array of odds and ends for project building. I’m mostly drawn to metalworking projects and hobbies. Copper and steel have been my go-to materials. With just a handful of basic metalworking tools you can cut, bend and assemble a wide range of products. (OK, that handful of tools has grown into a full shop over the years, but still, it’s the creating that I enjoy.) The raw materials are easy to come by, cheap and often free. I regularly prowl the Habitat for Humanity retail store and a handful of hip salvage businesses. The creative side of me has had me colouring outside the lines from time to time, taking on things like the odd woodworking project, or even more, so I really shouldn’t be too surprised that a rare moment in front of the television led to one of my more ambitious projects: a Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW).

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GETTING INSPIRED I’m not much of a couch potato. Winter months are about the only time I spend the odd evening in front of a TV screen and it was one of those rare, random channel surfing events that introduced me to the tiny home movement. There are a few tiny home shows on my DVR these days. Tiny homes are described as being less than 400 square feet in size. This could be a cabin or cottage on a piece of property, but a more recent evolution of the concept is the tiny home on wheels, or THOW for short. THOWs are along the lines of travel trailers as far as size and portability goes, but they are built more like actual mini homes. If you have ever spent a winter in an RV you may know how much of a challenge it can be to stay warm and comfortable. (Next time we meet, ask me about a winter in the mid ’80s when I spent the season in a trailer home in the Grand Targhee Ski Area parking lot.) For weight, space and cost reasons, most RVs and mobile homes have minimal insulation in the floors, ceilings and walls. Keeping them warm and comfortable is an energy expensive proposition. The same applies to the cooling season, as RVs are not very energy efficient vessels. As I have watched the builds, I rarely see any mention of the

plumbing or comfort systems. It’s all about the ﬂash factor, and clever (sometimes wastefully expensive) interior decorating. So, knowing what I know about RVs and building sciences, I thought I would give it a try. I decided that I’d build a THOW, but with a plumbing and heating spin. And it didn’t hurt that building the home would also allow me to work on some of the other crafts I enjoy, like woodworking, some ﬁnish carpentry and cabinet building, as well as plumbing, hydronics and some metalworking.

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HOT RODDING A TINY HOME Planning out my build, radiant heating was at the top of the list of must-haves. I had plenty of “seeds and stems” around to complete a 160-sq.-ft. ﬂoorplan. I used some leftover radiant panels, installing two loops with two different brands of PEX. Being able to handle the heating load with only 80 square feet of unencumbered ﬂoor space was not going to happen, so I added some radiant wall heat as well. The key, I found, with just 160 square feet to work with in the home was to utilize every square inch.

FINDING A HOME • As I started

getting calls to purchase the home, I was surprised to find the calls and inquires were mainly retirement age women! I had envisioned this as being a starter home or perhaps appealing to a college student. What can I say? I’m always learning. And I am excited to get started on my next THOW.

I covered the radiant entry wall in 400-grade polished stainless steel. This allows magnetic hooks and attachments to be used, which means it can be customized to the owner’s needs. I used slatwall panels in the mechanical room to provide unlimited flexibility for storage configurations. In a small tight space like this, I decided against any fossilfuel appliances. I chose a small electric boiler to be the heart of the system. The small size and option to mount in almost any position helped minimize the space needed for the mechanicals. I also liked the fit and finish of the jacketing of the unit I used, especially since it is visible in the home. A small 12-gallon electric tank provides DHW. On my next build, I’m thinking that I would like to try to use a solar thermal system, but that’s a story for down the road. On the electrical side, a couple 120W solar PV modules and a solar battery provide a bit of 12-VDC solar energy. All windows are operable and I left a space for a small RV-sized ventilation recovery unit. I also left provisions for a small minisplit or window AC, should the owner require cooling. The entire home is foam-insulated with five inches of insulation in the floor and 3.5 inches in the walls. I could keep it comfortable to work in this past winter with just a 250-watt halogen work lamp, before the heating was completed. Once I had the wiring completed and the floor covering down, I fired up the radiant floor/walls and remembered what it is that we all love about radiant heat. Ahhh.

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Energy Efﬁciency By Patrick Driscoll

Photos: Corey Hochachka

ON THE

Front Line Mechanical contractors are on the front line of energy efﬁciency. No other trades have the ability to make a greater impact on the reduction of energy usage.

hen constructing mechanical systems in either a new build or retrofit, contractors have the ability to greatly influence energy efficiency early on. Working closely with builders during the planning stage offers us the opportunity to make suggestions that can reduce the amount of energy a building consumes. For example, encouraging builders to take a second look at material choices, like upgrading to low-E triple-pane, argon-filled windows with specialized solarreducing film can significantly reduce the mechanical load of a heating and cooling system. This can have a large impact on the ability of a building to retain the desired temperature – the ultimate goal of any mechanical system. Once the builder or general contractor has done their part we can do ours, presenting options to clients that reduce the size and cost of mechanical systems. An oversized or incorrectly installed heating and cooling system can create massive inefficiencies and prove to be a wasted investment.

STAYING CURRENT

Contractors often get comfortable with one or two product lines. The pricing is good, technicians are comfortable installing it, and it has been reliable over the years, but this can mean emerging technologies and products get overlooked.

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Mistakes can happen easily when installing complex systems that integrate boilers, controls and technologies like solar thermal products. It is not uncommon to see a minor piping error drastically reduce or counteract the energy efﬁciency that a system is designed to achieve.

Systems can be basic or complex, but if they are well thought-out and tidy, clients will no longer be afraid to walk into mechanical rooms. This promotes maintenance, visual checks and a healthy system.

It is worth exploring new technologies regularly, even if you choose not to use them. Meeting with suppliers, understanding how energy efﬁciency ratings work, and reading about new innovations and projects is a great way to keep current.

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In many cases, clients don’t realize that energy efﬁciencies only remain high when regular maintenance is performed. It is crucial to make sure they know that upkeep and regular monitoring is what ensures that energy bills remain low, and costly problems don’t arise.

When installing new, complex systems, it can be beneﬁcial to circle back with the client in a month or two. Ask to see their utility bill, and look for spikes in gas or electricity usage. Seeing an abnormality in these documents will be a clue that something may be wrong. When problem solving, evaluate the system, bring in a second set of eyes, and trace back those pipes.

Products like ECM circulators and mod-con boilers have made huge advances in recent years. Not only are they much more affordable, but the return on investment is quicker than ever before. Calculating return on investment, especially in jurisdictions that have a carbon tax, can often be a measure that clients identify with.

MAINTAINING EFFICIENCY

Patrick Driscoll is the CEO of Ironclad Mechanical Plumbing & Heating in Edmonton, Alta. He can be reached at patrickdriscoll@ironcladmechanical.com.

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Road Warrior What’s your service area? We service everywhere from Brighton to Oshawa to south of Peterborough. Our main areas are Port Hope, Newtonville, Newcastle and Bowmanville.

By Greg Dalgetty

What have you been working on lately? A lot of people with oil boilers are wanting to go to propane. We’re getting a lot of people migrating from the city to out our way. So a lot of them will run into an oil boiler, which is like a dinosaur to them, and they want to go to propane so they can have a ﬁreplace and a wall-hung boiler.

Name: Mark Hoover Company: Hoover’s Home Energy

What’s your favourite thing about working in the trade? Being in a different environment every day; meeting people, going to their houses and maybe talking about the fancy cars they’ve got in the garage—that kind of stuff.

Location: Port Hope, Ont. Job Title: Company Owner Age: 38

Mark Hoover: No Guts, No Glory

Photos: Jeannette Breward Photography

eing an entrepreneur isn’t for everyone—it takes guts, determination, dedication and persistence. But don’t take our word for it. Just ask Mark Hoover. “When you’re ﬁrst starting out, you need to be able to stick it out when it’s slow,” he says. “Other guys who’ve been in the business longer may be busier than you are, but you have to stick it out because it will eventually come. It’s not going to happen right away.” Hoover got his start in the industry early, earning his gas and oil licences by the time he was 22 and jumping into business for himself doing mostly residential installations and service work for boilers, furnaces and cooling equipment. Getting his company off the ground required a fair amount of grit—but his perseverance paid off in the end. Hoover’s Home Energy has been in business for 16 years and counting, and Mark hasn’t looked back since.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen on the job? I do remember someone’s little dog once peed in my boots. I’d been cleaning the homeowner’s boiler, and when I came back upstairs I saw the dog just peeing inside of them. Favourite tool in your toolbox: Probably my mini pipe wrench. Sometimes it’s better than a crescent wrench—it’s just a handy tool. What accomplishment are you proudest of? I bought a commercial building to house our business. There are other businesses in the same building, which helps pay for it. That’s really helped our business grow. Favourite car: My dream car would be a Ferrari. What do you listen to in the truck? I listen mostly to talk radio. Favourite sport: Hockey What’s one word that best describes you? Persistent

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

Find the Fix

MIXING VALVE MIX-UP You get a call for help from a homeowner who thinks his boilers aren’t set up and programmed correctly. Once you arrive and hear the rest of the customer’s complaints, you head to the mechanical room to find this schematic. In talking with the homeowner, he tells you that Zone 3 was part of the existing system, and Zones 1, 2 and the domestic hot water were added as part off an addition to this large custom home. While there are several things to work through, for the current edition, let’s focus on the system’s mixing valves. To address operating cost concerns, you swap the five loop pumps for one ECM pump and five zone valves to save 80 per cent of the electricity. 1. The DHW mixing valve is installed correctly. a) Yes b) No c) You don’t need a mixing valve on most jobs. d) You don’t need a thermal trap for mixing valves. 2. The basement Zone 2 is having difficulty maintaining heat on cold days. What is happening with this zone? a) A 1” mixing valve is used with 1” supply/return lines. b) The closely spaced Ts are installed incorrectly. c) The mixing valve is getting the mix water from the coldwater supply line. d) The three-speed circulator can’t deliver enough flow.

Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com. Please include your name and daytime phone number.

Looking for the May/June answers? If you need the answers to last edition’s quiz, you’ll ﬁnd them on our home on the web, www.mechanicalbusiness.com. Just click the “Looking for Answers?” button on our homepage.

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3. The main floor in-joist heating in Zone 1 works when it is not too cold outside, but near design conditions leave the owners cold. You notice the circulator is running and it is hot. What is going on? a) The closely spaced Ts have the return before the supply, so the water temperature is tempered before it enters the floor. b) The supply and return piping is only 3/4” so it can’t deliver enough heat on the colder days. c) The three-speed circulator can’t deliver enough flow as the pressure drop is too high with the 300’ loops. d) You can’t pump toward a mixing valve. e) The cold water feed is on the mixing valve instead of the return from the floor. 4. Mixing valves are meant to be on the suction side of the circulator. a) True b) False

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This Program is available to all eligible homeowners whether they heat their home with gas, electricity, oil, propane or wood. Some conditions apply. Please go to uniongas.com/homerenocontractor for complete terms and conditions.

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Radiant Tubing Legend’s LegendFlex heating tube is a PEX-b pipe with enhanced flexibility for easy handling. It is compatible with a variety of fitting systems, including ASTM F1807, F1960 and F2080 PEX fittings. It is available in 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4” and 1” sizes.

Wood Pellet-Fired Boilers

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Viessmann’s Vitoligno 300-C wood pellet-ﬁred boilers are available with output ranges of 44,000 to 193,000 BTUH. They have a 3:1 turndown ratio and offer an AFUE efﬁciency of up to 85 per cent. Fuel feed for the boiler takes place automatically via the supplied vacuum system.

Combination Boilers Lochinvar’s Noble ﬁre-tube combination boilers are available in three models ranging from 110,000 to 199,999 BTUH. Offering a turndown ratio of 10:1 and AFUE efﬁciencies as high as 95 per cent, the boilers feature a backlit LCD display and a setup wizard designed to guide contractors through programming parameters. They also provide DHW delivery of up to 4.8 gpm.

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Belimo’s energy valves use advanced cloud-based analytics to leverage captured system data to maximize system efficiencies. The pressure independent valves measure and manage coil energy by using an embedded electronic flow meter, along with supply and return water temperature sensors. Maximum flow settings can be programmed from 1.65 to 713 gpm. Valve body sizes range from 1/2” to 6”.

www. belimo.ca HiTech Dispensing Inc.

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SPOTLIGHTS PO T THE Marketplace

Balancing Valve QuickSetter static hydronic balancing valves from Caleffi are available for flanged pipe applications. They feature an integral flowmeter and a non-wetted flow scale that stays clean for easy reading. Flanged models are available in a variety of sizes and flow ranges: 2-1/2” (30 to 105 gpm), 3” (38 to 148 gpm) and 4” (55 to 210 gpm).

www. calefﬁ.com

Heat Transfer Fluid Chem-Frost 35% from Chemfax is a non-toxic heat transfer ﬂuid speciﬁcally blended for cold climates. It is made from virgin propylene glycol with PDT premier inhibitors to help prevent corrosion, and is premixed with deionized water. It can be used as is for a -16°C rating, with burst protection to -50°C.

www. chemfax.com

Modulating Boilers Futera XLF boilers from RBI are available in sizes ranging from 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 BTUH. They have a turndown ratio of 5:1 and offer AFUE efﬁciencies of up to 88 per cent. Their integrated HeatNet 3.0 boiler control software is capable of networking up to sixteen units without requiring any external boiler control panel.

www. ribwaterheaters.com

Dirt Separator The MagnaClean Micro2 from Adey is engineered to capture and remove suspended iron oxide from hydronic systems. It is designed for 3/4” copper and 3/4” NPT iron pipework and suitable for baseboard and smaller residential installations.

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FULLY MODULATING 10:1 TURNDOWN RATIO The Condensing Dynaforce® Series product line with Sola Touchscreen technology is now available with a fully modulating 10:1 turndown ratio. This option has an identical gas train to the standard 5:1 turndown models to further simplify start up and service and is available for models 500 through 1800 exclusively. For more information on this or any other of our product lines, visit our website or call your local Camus Representative.

camus-hydronics.com ISOLATOR E-X-P™ NOW AVAILABLE IN PUSH Patented Isolator E-X-P Service Valve Kits allow for quicker, more consistent quality tankless water heater installations with fewer leak paths. Now available with Pro-Connect Push ends for fully removable connections to copper, CPVC or PEX. Clean, ﬂush or diagnose any tankless water heater with ease. Products are in stock for immediate shipment. Lead Free CleanBrass certiﬁed to meet all low lead laws and guaranteed for life.

webstonevalves.com W H A T

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Condensing Boilers IBC’s SL G3 series boilers come in ﬁve sizes ranging from 14,000 to 399,000 BTUH and offer turndown ratios of 10:1. They feature an integrated four-zone pump control and the ability to connect an indirect water tank directly, without a primary loop. Three models have supply and return connections on both sides of the unit.

Dual-Fuel Boilers Granby’s Conforto boilers can be fuelled by oil, natural gas or propane. Oil models are available in sizes ranging from 73,000 to 222,000 BTUH, and gas models range from 82,000 to 219,000 BTUH. They offer AFUE efﬁciencies of up to 87 per cent and feature a triple-pass design engineered to enhance energy efﬁciency.

www. ibcboiler.com om

ECM Circulators

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Taco’s 0015e3 is a three-setting circulator with an ECM motor. It offers a maximum ﬂowrate of 16 gpm with three maximum-feet-ofhead pressure settings to match system requirements: 5’, 10’ and 18’. ’.

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"BTU" ﬁrst started appearing in engineering publications in the late 1800s.

Water heaters and boilers, residential and commercial, high efﬁciency and high output – Bradford White has the products you can count on for years of reliable service. We build water heaters in Michigan and boilers in New Hampshire. But no matter the location, each manufacturing facility is staffed with a highly skilled and experienced workforce. These people know how to design and build a great water heater and a great boiler. They do it every day. They do it for you. We have exactly what you need, everything you need, to get the job done and help you build a very long list of greatly satisﬁed customers. If what you do for a living involves water heaters and boilers, remember this – Bradford White is an American manufacturer that builds products for wholesale distribution to a dedicated group of professional installers. These are your products. We are your Bradford White. Bradford White is the Official Water Heater and Boiler of the PHCC.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

Dominating the Digital Domain I recently started working with a plumber who explained that he is lagging behind when it comes to digital marketing. In speaking with him, he admitted, “I know I need a website and I should be marketing online, but I don’t really have time to sort out what I should be doing.” He’s not alone. Here’s a little primer for my plumbing friend, and the hundreds of other small business owners looking to start with digital.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - level of importance: 8/10 Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, Ont. To reach him, email doug@thelettermmarketing.com.

SEO refers to the organic, no-cost efforts to put our brands high up in the results of search engines. Analyze the typical search terms used by people looking for a business like yours and use these when crafting your website, so that it aligns with how people search. Type “Google Keywords Finder” into your browser and start learning.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) - level of importance: 7/10 Here, you are paying for searchers to ﬁnd you based on the parameters you set – speciﬁcally your search terms and what you’re willing to pay. Most commonly, this is done with Google’s Adwords program.

Retargeting - level of importance: 3/10 Retargeting is a tracking technology that allows you to push your digital ads to those who recently visited your website when they are surﬁng other sites. It can be effective, but retargeting can also feel a little creepy.

Online Advertising - level of importance: 7/10

Your Website level of importance:

10/10 Yes, you need to be online. No, you don’t need a huge corporate website. Most

All of the major social media sites allow you to sponsor content and most media companies sell digital ads on their websites. The advantage is in the ability to target your audience with great precision. If you are going to invest in web advertising, prepare to test carefully, and analyze the audience thoroughly to match your media buys.

Video/YouTube - level of importance: 7/10 Consumers are 20 to 40 times more likely to click through online video ads than static ads. If someone searches “how to clean a furnace ﬁlter,” having your short video ad run ahead of the tutorial can be very effective.

small contractors just need an online presence so you can be found by people who are searching. Start with the

Consumer Review Websites - level of importance: 8/10 For decades, one of the most reliable marketing tools in the contracting business has been referrals. In the online world, this has exploded well past the “friends and family” level to become aggregated scores about your work provided by hundreds of customers.

basics – what do you do, and how can they contact you – and build over time.

Social Media - level of importance: 5/10 This is a very powerful digital engagement tool, but it’s not the only option and it’s not mandatory. Do it if it comes naturally to you or someone in your business, and if you have the time to commit. And don’t post – engage. Far too many businesses forget to put the “social” in social media.

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REFRIGERATION

B y P h il J. B o u dreau Phil Boudreau is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

WITH POTENTIAL RELAYS

any of the compressors used in commercial refrigeration applications are designed to operate within the 208 to 230 voltage range. Smaller compressors are usually available for a single-phase voltage supply. Since most commercial refrigeration systems use thermostatic or electronic expansion metering devices, the compressor must have a sufficient starting torque requirement. As such, current relays and potential relays are commonly used. Current relays are installed in series with the run winding and open the start contacts that feed the start winding once the motor has reached roughly three-quarters of its rated speed. This technique is limited to smaller fractional horsepower motors, however, where the current is considerably lower compared to larger motors. For larger compressors, a potential relay is used. Unlike the current relay, the coil of the potential relay is not wired in series with the run winding. Instead, the coil is wired in parallel with the start winding. Both relay types use a set of normally closed contacts that are wired in series with the start winding. Motors that use a potential relay along with both a start and a run capacitor are referred to as “capacitor-start, capacitor-run” motors. Common acronyms used in the field to represent these compressor types are CSCR and CSR. In contrast to the run capacitor, the capacitance of the start capacitor is significantly higher in order to provide the necessary starting torque. It is also designed for intermittent duty. On the other hand, the run capacitor is designed to remain in the circuit the entire time that the compressor is in operation. Since motor characteristics vary, it is essential S that the correct potential relay is used. The use of th an incorrect relay could result in relay failure, the inability of the compressor to start or even start ina winding failure. As always, use only components that win been specified or approved by the compressor have b manufacturer. manufactu

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FINDING THE STARTING TORQUE Since three-phase motors use at least three windings to produce a rotating magnetic ﬁeld, considerable torque is available for motor start. As a result, capacitors are not usually required. The start winding is constructed using a high-resistance coil. It is very important that the winding is removed from the circuit once the motor reaches approximately 75 per cent of its rated speed. If this winding is permitted to remain in the circuit, it will overheat and fail. Although the potential relay disconnects the start winding from the start capacitor, a small amount of current continues to pass through the start winding from the run capacitor. This tends to assist the motor in maintaining a constant speed as the load varies as a result of variance in the counterelectromotive force as well as the amount of phase shift. The phase shift tends to decrease at reduced load, while at higher loads this phase shift tends to increase. So when the contactor provides power to the compressor, both the run and start windings are energized, but are out of phase

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REFRIGERATION phase with each other – this is what provides the additional starting torque.

that results in a very high resistance. Therefore, in order to limit the current passing through the coil to a maximum of say 20 mA or so, the DC resistance of this coil may exceed 10 k1.

As the speed of the rotor approaches 75 per cent of the speed of the rotating magnetic ﬁeld, an increasing voltage is generated across the start winding. This voltage can exceed 400 volts and is measured between the common and start terminals of the compressor.

did you know?

This high voltage is applied to the coil of the potential relay. The reason that potential relays have higher coil ratings is that they are not powered up by the compressor supply voltage, but rather by the high voltage that is generated in the start winding. Since the potential relay coil must be able to operate at higher voltages, its coil is wound using a wire thickness and length

? The voltage that is generated within the start winding is known as “counter EMF” or “back EMF.” EMF stands for electromotive force.

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REFRIGERATION BY DEFINITION

TERMINAL I.D. Potential relays use a common terminal identiﬁcation system in order to keep things consistent. The contacts within the relay are connected between terminals 1 and 2. The coil of the potential relay is connected between terminals 2 and 5.

Terms associated with potential relays:

Other terminals may also be available, but these are used simply as connection points that have no connections to the internal components of the relay.

Continuous Coil Voltage

In a potential relay, the contacts are normally closed, and the start capacitor is wired in series with these contacts. Also, because the contacts are initially closed, both the run and start capacitors produce a parallel capacitance between the voltage supply and the start winding. This provides a high starting torque. The higher torque is also due to the fact that the current in the start winding will lag behind the current in the run winding. This produces a rotating magnetic ﬁeld because the windings are out of phase.

The Ultimate R-22 Drop-In

The continuous coil voltage is the nominal voltage rating of the coil. This voltage is generally matched up closely with the voltage produced between the common and start terminals when the compressor is operating at its rated speed.

Pick-Up Voltage The pick-up voltage is usually represented as a range between a minimum and maximum. This voltage range must be less than the continuous voltage, because we want the relay to energize when the motor is at approximately 75 per cent of its rated speed.

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The drop-out voltage is the maximum voltage at which the relay can remain energized. As the compressor shuts down, the counter EMF F drops. As this voltage passes below the dropout point, the potential relay is de-energized and d the contacts will close. At this point the start capacitor will be in the circuit, ready for the next start-up.

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Run capacitors have metal housings, rather than plastic, which allows them to radiate the heat that can build up inside of them.

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with Roger Grochmal

Building Companies by Building Teams

ome of my favourite days at work are when we hold company team events. That’s when I get to learn more about some of the AtlasCare employees that I am not typically able to spend a lot of time with.

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

Team building activities serve a number of very valuable purposes. First and foremost, they bring people together. This is particularly important for employees who spend the majority of their time on the road, in customers’ homes or on jobsites. Not only do they need ways to engage with other people in their departments, but also with their co-workers across the company. They need to be able to put a face to a name, and to gain a better appreciation of what other people do and how it interfaces with their work. Secondly, all of us need to do a better job of recognizing our people. Team building is a good way to do that. Celebrating the hard work they do is vitally important. People like to be where they are appreciated and simple gestures of support and appreciation will validate the work of good people to help them grow. It also keeps great employees from looking around. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s very difficult to find good people – recruitment is expensive and exhausting. When you get good people, you need to keep them. Team building activities go a long way toward accomplishing that.

Building the Culture Every company has a culture. Is yours the one that you want? Teams that come together build rapport, comfort and trust. This shifts a culture from a collection of individual workers to a connected team who will support each other during busy and stressful times. Our culture is based on recognizing that we are all customers for each other, and that our external customer service can never exceed our internal customer service.

M e c h a n i c a l

THE BUSINESS OF FUN At AtlasCare, we take team building seriously. We have a Fun Committee with representatives from every department in the company. We give them a modest budget and let them plan, organize and schedule all of the events. We decorate desks and workspaces to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. I also send out a personal card to each employee who is celebrating a birthday, work anniversary, wedding or birth. Everyone is a part of the AtlasCare family. When we hire new employees the first thing they see is a sign on the front door to welcome them, and we hold a lunch to introduce them to the other people in the company.

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It took over 20 months and hundreds of people to make the first Goodman brand condensing unit at our new facility in the United States. ®

…but it took only a few seconds to make the next one, and the next one, and the next one. This is further proof that an HVAC workforce in the U.S.A. is good for you and your customers. Goodman Locations 1055 Cardiff Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5S 1P4 1161 Parisien Street, Ottawa, ON K1B 4W4 15835 Robins Hill Rd #2, London, ON N5V 0A5 286 Henry St. Unit 4, Brantford, ON N3S 7R5 8305 Jane Street, Unit 3, Vaughan, ON L4K 5Y3 963 Brock Road, Suite 1-5, Pickering, ON L1W 3A4 41 Brockley Dr, Unit #8, Hamilton, ON L8E 3C3 2640 Jacques Cartier-Est, Longueuil, QC J4N 1P8 4313 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval, QC H7L 5W5 6741 Cariboo Road, Unit 111, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A3 18043 111th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2P2 7155 64th St SE #10, Calgary, AB T2C 5C3 3918 Burron Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7P 0E3 107 Mountianview Rd., Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6 155 Fortin St., Ste 140, Quebec QC G1M 3M2 Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2017 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P · Houston, Texas · USA · www.goodmanmfg.com

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Building Companies by Building Teams with Roger Grochmal Individual departments will also have gettogethers of their teams to recognize performance and show appreciation for achieving goals. As you can see, building teams is about a commitment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not necessarily about spending money.

EVENT IDEAS

In addition, we do an annual general meeting to talk about the strategic direction and successes of the company, and monthly â&#x20AC;&#x153;Town Hallâ&#x20AC;? meetings to provide regular updates on how we are doing. These can be at the beginning or end of the day and usually are accompanied with food.

â&#x20AC;˘ Sports themed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jersey Daysâ&#x20AC;?; â&#x20AC;˘ Pot luck lunches; â&#x20AC;˘ Themed online bingo games; â&#x20AC;˘ Halloween costume parties; â&#x20AC;˘ Separate Christmas parties for staff and children; and â&#x20AC;˘ Employee Appreciation Days â&#x20AC;&#x201C; complete with massages and fun contests.

Team building is a never-ending process to build and maintain the type of culture we want in our company. We feel it makes us better. We understand each othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roles and how all of us together can add value and provide outstanding experiences to our customers.

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PLUMBING

How RO Works O

ne of the most effective residential drinking water treatment systems, Reverse Osmosis (RO) will remove over 90 per cent of the salts and minerals (like lead, arsenic and sodium) and almost all of the microorganisms and large organic contaminants in a water sample.

Most residential RO units are designed to fit under a kitchen sink and consist of at least four cartridges: a sediment filter, carbon filter, RO membrane and post-filter. Systems usually have a two- to three-gallon pressure tank to store the purified water and release it to a separate faucet mounted on the sink surface. A valve and tubing attached to the cold water line underr the sink allows he water to enter the manifold, wheree it flows through the filters and then into ane the RO membrane cartridge. As thiss m pretreated stream flows across the ce, membrane surface, the household water pressure forces a portion of the water through the membrane, producing purified permeate. Meanwhile, the rest of the water continues across the surface, discharging most of the contaminants into the drain. As the storage tank fills with water, the increasing pressure ultimately activates an automatic shutoff valve that shuts off both the incoming water as well as the discharge water. When the RO faucet on the sink is opened, the pressure in the storage tank delivers water to this faucet. As water is removed and pressure in the tank drops, the automatic shutoff valve opens, and the unit begins to refill the tank with purified water. If the household water is softened, this must be used for the RO unit.

Purification, Not Filtration Sometimes referred to as filtration, reverse osmosis is actually a water purification technology that is closely related to filtration. The primary difference is the use of a membrane that basically holds back sediment, microorganisms, and even salts and minerals, while allowing purified water to pass through.

RO REALITIES As with many successful technologies, RO has its detractors. Here are some of the common claims, along with some food for thought that might help should a homeowner inquire. Claim: We need the beneﬁcial minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.) in our drinking water. Response: In reality, any person on a normal, healthy diet ingests much more of these minerals than the body requires, and the excess is discharged into the sewer. Claim: RO produces water of such high purity, it will harm the body. Response: While ultra-high purity water would be too aggressive to drink, residential RO units cannot produce water of this purity. Claim: RO wastes too much water. Response: Most units discharge two or three gallons for every gallon of drinking water produced. A normal family rarely uses more than two gallons per day for drinking and cooking, so this means that, at most, six gallons of water is discharged per day. That is much less than what a toilet discharges. Peter S. Cartwright, PE, is the principal at Cartwright Consulting Co., and has been the technical consultant to the Canadian Water Quality Association since 2006. He can be reached at peterscartwright@gmail.com.

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PLUMBING

Bruce Fathers is the vertical market manager for hospitality with Watts. He can be reached at bruce.fathers@wattswater.com.

B y Br uc e F a t h e r s

digital mixing FOR SAFE, CONSISTENT COMMERCIAL HOT WATER

WOES AT AIRPORT HOTELS

any commercial facilities today, especially larger, multi-storey facilities with plumbing and mechanical systems that may date back 10 or 20 years, have domestic water systems with a consistency problem.

At hotels, where the challenge tends to be magniﬁed by the number of guest rooms, facility managers and maintenance staff are sometimes able to temporarily solve the headache this creates, but the problems tend to return unless a more permanent solution is implemented. Sadly, the digital mixing technology that can solve these temperature and pressure challenges faced by many sensitive domestic water systems simply wasn’t available a decade or more ago, so issues are common in the hospitality sector. Older domestic water systems installed just 10 or 15 years ago were good; just not good enough. Weaknesses in the systems would gradually develop, creating a perfect storm for guest complaints. So, while small, select service hotels or large upscale luxury brands may have won 4- or 5-star ratings, managers are not always able to assure customers that they’ll have a warm shower when they want it.

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Any hotel can experience the challenge of providing a consistent ﬂow of hot water when guests want it, but airport hotels are especially susceptible to the issue, since they have a steady stream of ﬂyers, many of whom arrive late for overnight stays or leave early to get on their way. Greg Brinkerhoff, the director of engineering of a busy airport hotel, reports that staff faced complaints regularly as a result of the domestic water pressure and temperature problems. The hotel battled domestic hot water issues for more than two years. Late arrivers and early risers were pushing the limits of the 384-room hotel’s water heaters and plumbing systems. In checking user habits, Brinkerhoff found that the peak demand for hot water came between 5 and 6 a.m., and again between 10 p.m. and midnight. Looking deeper into the root of the problem, it was found that a large

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PLUMBING with the pumps and water pressures,” said Brinkerhoff. “We knew what the hotel needed was a smarter, more responsive valve – especially considering that the guests in all 384 rooms had very different schedules.” hydronic valve was used for the original system. The misapplied valve had a 120-second response time and couldn’t actuate quickly enough to keep up with the changing water pressures present within the hotel. Brinkerhoff enlisted the help of Ian Walters, a project manager for a local mechanical contracting ﬁrm specializing in commercial and industrial work. “Ian and I had this discussion about the hotel’s domestic water system, and that there are just so many dynamic changes

Months earlier, Walters had learned about a digital mixing valve that he felt might be a good ﬁt. “Shortly after learning about the valve from our rep, we installed one at large hotel on the other side of town,” explained Walters. “There, we exceeded the expectations of facility managers – a strong conﬁrmation that the technology worked well.”

nance quick and easy. But Walters didn’t want Brinkerhoff to just take his word for it. He wanted to show him ﬁrst-hand. “I went with Ian to another hotel that had similar hot water issues,” Brinkerhoff said. “They’d installed a digital mixing system there, and I was able to see it in operation and speak to facility managers who more than vouched for the system.”

This particular digital mixing solution features an intuitive, touchscreen display, and has modular construction designed to make repair and mainte-

What he learned was that the hotel, which had experienced similar hot water issues, now had a fast-responding, safe and clean domestic hot water system that delivered hot water on demand. “After hearing maintenance managers validate the technology – testifying that it only took seconds for hot water to get to taps – I was sold,” added Brinkerhoff.

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1010

Rev 03/17

PLUMBING

LARGE DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM RISKS

HOW IT WORKS

Legionella

Digital water mixing represents a signiﬁcant leap in the technology used to control hot water delivery. The approach incorporates a programmable valve that quickly processes temperature, ﬂow and pressure data that is obtained from the hot and cold water inlets, mixed outlet and sensors on the mixed-water return. High-speed, responsive electronic actuation modulates a simple valve that allows the setpoint to be electronically controlled and maintained. An integral recirculation pump can be programmed to turn on or off to a target set point and temperature variance. Digital mixing allows engineers or facility managers to select a desired hot water temperature and to control and monitor the entire water distribution system. Some systems can also be connected to a building automation system (BAS) to provide read access to a range of temperature and pressure measurements, and allow adjustment of the outlet temperature setting within a pre-programmed range.

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ry o ct a f

Proper maintenance of water distribution systems is one of the keys to preventing illness from water-borne bacteria such as Legionella. Literally thousands of people are hospitalized with legionnaires’ disease in North America each year. Managers of commercial and institutional facilities know that selecting and controlling proper water temperature in their storage and delivery systems plays an important part in preventing germ growth. Scalding

Uncontrolled and unmonitored water distribution systems can create high-temperature scalding hazards in bathtubs, sinks and showers. Digital mixing systems make it easy to select and maintain safe water temperatures for large domestic water systems. Thermal Shock

The thermal shock of a rapid and uncomfortable change in shower water temperature can cause a fall or serious injury. With digital mixing, stable mixed water is delivered to ASSE-listed thermostatic point-of-use devices (shower or sink valves) to minimize this risk.

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BUSINESS

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The Next Generation

You’ve heard the stereotypes about millennials—they’re lazy, self-important, fragile little snowﬂakes who grew up receiving participation awards just for showing up at school. They think the world owes them something. Well, in just three years, millennials will make up 50 per cent of the workforce. This not only means a demographic shift, but a paradigm shift in the way businesses are run. But are millennials really the self-entitled brats some people think they are? Perhaps, but that may not be all that different from prior generations – let’s face it, parents have always complained about the music, clothing and work ethic of their kids. “Baby boomers don’t recognize it, but they’re very entitled,” says Sean Lyons, a professor with the University of Guelph’s Department of Management. “They have the same idea that life owes them something.” Could it be possible that these generations are not so different after all? Lyons has spent years studying inter-generational differences and the impact they have on workplace dynamics. He notes that boomers grew up in a unique geopolitical and economic climate that allowed them to enjoy a high level of prosperity. “They enjoyed a period of no world wars, no depression, economic growth and a boom of young people all coming up at the same time,” he says. “For a lot of millennials, their parents have far less education than they do. Maybe a bit of university or college, or none at all, but they still did quite well for themselves.” It makes sense, then, that millennials would expect to do at least as well as their parents.

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FINDING STABILITY Lyons’s research indicates that millennials change jobs more frequently than previous generations. But before you call them jobhoppers, the statistics also suggest they would actually prefer to stay with one employer. “As an employer, you have to understand what your value proposition is, knowing that stability and advancement are the keys for millennials,” Lyons notes. The fact that millennials are looking for stability is great news for the mechanical industry. “It’s a fantastic industry and it’s not going anywhere,” says Brad Cornelissen, 35, OS&B’s national sales manager. “It’s practically recession-proof.” Indeed, whether the economy is booming or in recession, people will always need heating, cooling and plumbing—and they’ll need technicians capable of installing equipment. “It’s not only recession-proof, but robot-proof as well,” notes Curtis Linsdell, a 31-year-old senior service technician with Canco ClimateCare. “There aren’t any robots that can go into customers’ homes and figure all of this out, so the job security is pretty good.”

In an otherwise stagnant field, only one brand of furnace is bringing innovation to the HVAC world. Napoleon’s Ultimate 9700 Series looks different because it is different. The revolutionary Vortex turbulator increases heating efficiency, the ultra violet light purifies air and the SureView burner window shows the flames in operation as the furnace runs whisper quiet. Don’t get boxed in by outdated thinking. ™

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BUSINESS

smart, NOT HARD

Some boomers may think millennials are lazy, but Lyons sees things differently. “I think there’s a perception they’re lazy because they don’t want to put in unnecessary time,” he observes. “Computers have taught everyone in school that if you’re doing something tedious, there’s usually a faster way to do it.” Indeed, many millennials thrive on finding efficiencies in workflows— and time saved is money earned. “There’s a lot of opportunity in this industry to change how people are doing business and how businesses are operating,” notes Kamila Stefanska, a 30-year-old ERP/process specialist with Marks Supply. “As a millennial, I like seeing myself make an impact and effect positive change and growth. Because there’s so much room for that in this industry, that is going to be a key selling factor in getting more young people on board.” Josh Hopkins, the 34-yearold vice-president of sales and marketing for G.F. Thompson, says millennials are more than capable of rising above the stereotypes associated with their generation. “A lot of young people know that they’ve been painted with the same brush—they’re soft, or they need hand-holding,” he says. “They don’t. They’ll pick things up much faster than more senior employees would.” Will Gonnell was named Custom Builder of the Year by the Canadian Homebuilders

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THE YOUNG EXECS Established in 2013, CIPH Ontario Region’s Young Executive Society—or the YES Committee, for short— offers business training, skills development and networking opportunities for association members under 40 years of age.

Jeff Superle, Kamila Stefanska and Josh Hoplins.

“Yes, we’re young, but we are the future leaders,” says YES chair Josh Hopkins. “We want to showcase what we can do and what we can accomplish on our own, and prove that the industry is in good hands.” Hopkins is joined on the YES Committee by two other people we interviewed for this story— Kamila Stefanska and Brad Cornelissen—as well as MB’s own Jeff Superle. Prior to Hopkins, Cornelissen served as the YES Committee chair. “Part of the YES Committee mandate was making sure our voice was heard and letting young people know there are opportunities in this industry,” he explains. “There are marketing opportunities, media opportunities, sales and management roles.” The committee also serves as a platform for members to expand their professional horizons. Ontario was the first region to form a YES Committee chapter, but since then B.C. has formed its own, with Saskatchewan and the Maritimes expressing interest in following suit. Members of the Ontario chapter hope to see YES become a national initiative in the near future.

ADDRESSING A

NEED

“There’s this horrible trend in the education system pushing everyone toward a university education,” Lyons notes. “Some people look down at the trades, saying, ‘That’s not something I want for my kid.’”

Association earlier this year—no mean feat for a 35-year-old. “I’ve been in a lot of rooms with a lot of older builders,” he reﬂects. “The minute they see me, they wonder who this young buck is without knowing anything about me, just judging me based on stereotypes. That’s my springboard to push me forward, and it’s a lot of the reason for my drive. I love proving people wrong.” B u s i n e s s

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This unfair stigma may be partly responsible for the shortage of talent in the industry, but that only means millennials who are willing to put in the work will reap the rewards of working in the trades—as will the employers who invest in young talent. “I knew there would always be a demand for people in the trades,” says Matthew Backman, a 20-year-old HVAC installer and technician with Belyea Bros. Heating & Cooling. “There’s a shortage of young people for sure. Belyea have gone out of their way to hire younger people in order to build them up under their senior techs.”

Photo: Ron Kuzyk

WORKING

TOOL TIP

HVAC/R Products P A Pressingg Matter

Wi-Fi Control Systems Fujitsu’s Airstage VRF units now have Wi-Fi controls that allow installers to operate and monitor systems from anywhere with a smartphone. The controls allow for multiple user level access accounts, making it possible for building managers to view and operate all systems in a building where individual tenants have access to only their systems.

h number he b off methods h d available l bl ffor connecting pipes and fittings has never been greater, and yet improper joints can still be found on jobsites. So, with perfection in mind, let’s take a look at a few best practices for using one of the newest connection options, press fitting. Several manufacturers have press-fitting tools available, but not all tools have interchangeable jaws, so the first step when working with any press-fit system is to ensure that the jaws being used are certified for the connector or fittings being used. Also check the size of the jaw, to match to the size of the fitting. Good pipe preparation is still a must, so cut pipes square and don’t forget to ream. And, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, it does pay to read the tool and fitting manufacturers’ directions, since each has its own standards and instructions for its products. Many systems have a visual indicator that will show whether a press fitting has been successfully completed. Knowing what to look for can save you from call-backs later.

www.

fujitsugeneral.com

Venting Systems DuraVent’s PolyPro single-wall all polypropylene venting systems ms have been approved for use with Modine PTC/BTC unit heaters. The systems can accommodate maximum ﬂue gas temperatures of 230°F and offer zero clearance to combustibles.

www.

duravent.com

WORKING WET

Duct Insulation

One of the big selling features of press ﬁttings is that repair work can be done when the system is depressurised, but not dried out completely. This comes in handy on commercial sites, since leaking pipes can be ﬁxed quickly. On the residential side, the ability to work wet can help with such things as water heater repairs.

Ripplepak’s Insulapack is suitable for insulating mechanical ductwork and piping, ceilings and walls. Its outer metallic foil layer is designed to prevent up to 99.5 per cent of radiant heat transfer. It is engineered to be resistant to mould and mildew.

www.

ripplepak.ca

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

Little Giant’s VCMX-20 condensate pumps offer a pumping performance of up to 84 gallons per hour. They feature an external overﬂow switch for automatic high level water detection. An optional anti-sweat ere sleeve is available for applications where high humidity causes condensation on the outside of the tank.

www.

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ECM Fans

Multi-Zone Leak Detection Bacharach’s multi-zone refrigerant gas leak detection system is designed to monitor refrigerant leaks throughout an entire grocery store. It is engineered to monitor up to 16 remote zones and is expandable up to 48 points. The system can be integrated into a BM/ BAS system via 4-20 mA or ModBus output.

Continental Fan’s DXG and DXP motorized axials feature ECM external rotor motors designed to minimize energy consumption. Available in capacities up to 3,469 CFM, they feature IP44 motor protection and are available in housed or nonhoused units.

www.

continentalfan.com

www.

mybacharach.com Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

Pre-Packaged Zoning Capabilities Hi-Velocity’s HE-Z series fan coils come equipped with a zoning package that includes a pre-installed zone panel. The package is designed for continuous circulation, allowing for increased ﬁltration and fresh makeup air at all times. Models are available in two-, three- and four-zone conﬁgurations.

www.

hi-velocity.com

Universal Capacitor System The Universal Cool-Run Capacitor from Bramec is designed to replace more than 200 hard-toﬁnd single- and dual-value capacitors. It features a jumper system for reaching correct capacitance in seconds.

www.

bramec.com

Inline Duct Blowers

Current/Power Meter

Canarm’s IDL series inline duct blowers are suitable for commercial HVAC applications. They are available in ﬁve models with maximum ﬂowrates ranging from 1,400 to 5,700 CFM at static pressure. They are made of galvanized steel and come in sizes ranging from 3/4 to 3 hp.

Testo’s 770-3 600A hook-clamp power meter with Bluetooth is engineered to allow contractors to separate and grab wires without using their hands. Its retractable jaw allows it to be used in tight spaces. It provides readings on inrush current, temperature, microamps for ﬂame sensors, and frequency measurement.

www. canarm.ca

testo.com

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STUFF YOU NEED Thermal Sensor Flir’s AX8 thermal sensor with imaging capabilities is designed to provide continuous temperature monitoring of critical mechanical and electrical equipment. It has an IR resolution of 80 × 60 pixels and a 48° × 37° ﬁeld of view.

www. ﬂir.ca

Laser Distance Meters Milwaukee Tool’s laser distance meters are available in models with 150’ or 330’ ranges. Both have 2” colour screens, while the 330’ model has a digital auto-level feature that allows for a measurement to be automatically taken when the meter reaches a level position, increasing accuracy when measuring long distances.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Deburring Tool Reed’s DEB200 is designed to deburr both the inside and outside of copper, aluminum, steel and stainless tubing from 3/8” to 2” (10 to 54 mm). It features multiple cutting edges on the inside of each end and knurled rings on the surface that allow for a ﬁrm grip during use.

PEX Ring Crimpers

www. reedmfgco.com

Masters’ PEX ring crimpers can be used with copper rings and fittings, as well as brass and plastic fittings. Single-stroke models are available for 1/2” and 3/4” rings/fittings. A dual-stroke model is available for 1” rings/fittings. And a single-stroke combination tool is available for 1/2” and 3/4” rings/fittings.

www. gfthompson.com

Tape Measure with Note Pad Malco’s 1” by 25’ measuring tape is available with the company’s Quick-Note feature, allowing contractors to note measurements or calculations on the case surface. The tape comes with two carpenter’s pencils and features four hook points and a magnetic tip.

Equipment Pad Bramec’s equipment pads are constructed from high-density polyethylene. Measuring 30” x 30” x 3” and weighing 9 lb., the top of each pad is textured to help prevent slipping. The corners of each pad have tabs that assist with stacking.

www. bramec.com

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The Marketplace Ads from $995

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The new MR45 Recovery very Machine features a smart, variable speed one-horsepower DC motor that minimizess liquid slugging and maximizes vapour recovery. The digital display is precise and easy to see, see and the electronics are well protected for use in the rain, cold and heat. Lightweight at only 22 lb., the MR45 is also rugged, with a rubberized housing and rail slides for extra protection.

We are the specialists. Find out how extending product protection coverage on the equipment you sell can increase your profitability – without taking on financial risk. Give prospective buyers confidence and protect your customers against unexpected parts and labour repair costs for up to 10 years. Our Canadian-made HVAC warranties give you a distinct competitive advantage. Increase sales to your residential, commercial and industrial customers and realize the value-added benefits of retaining customers for the duration of equipment coverage.

fieldpiece.com INDUSTRY’S FIRST CPVC GROOVED SOLUTION Available this summer, a complete grooved solution for chlorinated polyvinyl chorlide (CPVC) pipe. Featuring Victaulic’s new PGS-300 groove proﬁle, this is the y fastest and cleanest way to install. Eliminate cure ti time, chemicals and odours associated with traditional installation methods. To request more information and be notiﬁed when this solution is available please visit our website.

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primewarranty.ca fieldpiece.com ZONE-READY FAN COILS HE-Z multi-positional fan coils provide up to 5 tons of airﬂow, with independent cooling, heating and constant fan speed controls. Our VFD motor and control automatically adjust fan speed to maintain constant supply static pressure. Now available with multiple outlets (2, 3 or 4) with pre-installed zone dampers, controls and actuators. Zoning made easy!

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Marketplace Ads Ads from $995

SPOTLIGHTS REVOLUTIONARY WAREHOUSE GROOVED FIRE SYSTEM SLIDELOK®

VERSATILE ACO DRAIN K100 TRENCH DRAIN The ACO K100 trench drain is the ideal solution for any general purpose surface drainage needs. Robust polymer concrete body construction ensures long life and a wide variety of grates provides options from highly sophisticated pedestrian applications to heavy industrial use. K100 is easy to install and stocked across the country for fast delivery to any Canadian construction site.

Anvil introduces the he SlideLOK® 74FP rigid coupling: the most rigid readydyfor-installation coupling pling designed to reduce e installation time time. The coupling is truly unique, offering the safest procedure for installation. It features an all-in-one design that requires no disassembly and a pre-lubricated gasket. It offers the highest pressure ratings, a patented gasket and coupling technology and compatibility with Gruvlok and SPF ﬁttings. Suitable for wet, dry and freezer applications.

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acocan.ca GERBER VIPER TOILET: HIGH PERFORMING & EFFICIENT Gerber’s new high efficiency Viper® toilet, which operates at 3.8 liters per flush and is WaterSense® approved, is among the top performing toilets on the market. Perfect for multifamily, commercial and hospitality applications, the Viper toilet is easy to install and can withstand the rigours of high flushing demand by multiple users.

EXPANDED SHARK® SERIES The dependable Shark® grinder series now offers 1.0 and 1.5 HP models 818 and 819. Zoeller’s dual-bladed, angled cutter shreds difﬁcult wastewater materials down to 1/8”. This improved cutter delivers more torque per blade, which lowers amp spikes and extends pump life. These pumps are available in automatic and non-automatic models. 100% factory tested.

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SPOTLIGHTS HIGH-DEMAND EMAND GREYWATER SYSTEM M

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The Sanicom 1® is ed a pre-assembled in pump greywater drain ed system designed g for demanding commercial applications, handling temperatures up to 90oC. It pumps ps waste water away from a ures such as commercial sinks, dishwashers, variety of ﬁxtures hines and more washing machines more. It is an easy solution for commercial kitchen applications where dishwashers must operate at exceptionally high temperatures to meet sanitation standards.

Other hand dryers can be loud, unhygienic and bulky. Our engineers didn’t think that was good enough. So with the new Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer, they ey invented one that’s quiet, hygienic, c, fast and compact. Loudness testing shows that it’s 30% quieter than its predecessor. The Noise Abatement Society tested and nd approved the decibel levels and sound ound quality of the Dyson Airblade™ V hand dryer, awarding it the Quiet Mark.

saniflo.ca RIDGID CS65x: WI-FI & BLUETOOTH CAPABILITIES Provide immediate drain ain line inspection footage with th the hanced RIDGID® CS65x, an enhanced tor, featuring digital reporting monitor, apabilities to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities ng and simplify footage viewing ng transfer while improving workflow efficiency. e The CS65x features the y of same great technology viding onethe earlier model, providing touch image recording g for fast, efficient documentation, along with a new, faster processer and solid state hard drive. The HQx companion app is available for download and is compatible with Android and iOS devices.

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dysonairblade.ca GRAB & GO BEVELER This cordless power tool deburrs and bevels plastic pipe quickly. Compatible with most PVC glued joints and q ssome sizes of bell and gasket joints. Options include a 15-degree bevel up to 5/8” long or a longer bit for a 1 12-degree bevel up to 1” long. 1 IIt features a long-lasting carbide rrouter bit with four ﬂutes and high RPMs for fast, smooth cuts. Ideal R ffor large-diameter plastic pipe.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L

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HRAI Conference August 16-18, 2017 Quebec City, Que. www.hrai.ca

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Ratech Charity Golf Tournament August 25, 2017 Richmond Hill, Ont. www.ratechgolf.com

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CIPHEX Roadshow September 21, 2017 St. John’s, N.L. www.ciphexroadshow.ca Bardon Supplies Fall Plumbing & Heating Expo September 28, 2017 Belleville, Ont. www.bardonsupplies.com Interior Design Show West September 28-October 1, 2017 Vancouver, B.C. www.idswest.com Canadian Hydronics Conference October 16-17, 2017 Edmonton, Alta. www.ciph.com CIPHEX Roadshow October 17, 2017 Edmonton, Alta. www.ciphexroadshow.ca

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bythenumbers

Compiled by Mechanical Business

WATER CONSERVATION We’ve heard a lot about the importance of water conservation over the years— and it turns out people are changing their habits.

69.3 gallons Average daily amount of water used by a person in 1999.

A WHOLE LOTTA OTTAWA

58.6 gallons Average amount used in 2016.

Canada’s 150th birthday was celebrated in style in Ottawa on July 1. Here are some fast facts about the nation’s capital.

970,000

The population of Ottawa.

KICKING BACK WITH A COLD ONE

2,796 km

2 The size of Ottawa.

44%

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy an ice-cold beer, and craft beers are becoming more popular than ever.

The bilingual rate in Ottawa.

1927

The year the Peace Tower was completed, giving Parliament Hill its now familiar look.

10% Market share for craft beer in the Canadian beer market.

520 The number of craft breweries operating in Canada.

SUMMER SCORCHERS FIGURING OUT FURNACE FILTERS Furnaces: many people have them, but how often do they change the ﬁlters?

52% Canadian households with furnaces. 87% Clean or replace ﬁlters at least once a year.

25% Clean or replace every 6 months.

7,300,000

With summer in full swing, Canadians from coast to coast are feeling the heat. But if you thought 2017 has been hot, just take a look at some of these record-setting temperatures the country has seen over the years.

45.0°C 44.4°C 44.4°C 43.9°C

Yellow Grass and Midale, Sask.; July 5, 1937 St. Albans and Emerson, Man.; July 11 and 12, 1936 Lillooet and Lytton, B.C.; July 16 and 17, 1941 Regina, Sask.; July 5, 1937

The average number of tourists who visit Ottawa each year. Given this year’s 150th festivities, we’re guessing there may have been a few extra visitors! PM# 41536047

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Introducing the QM Delmar Series Drains from bronte™ Collection. Available in Centre Point and Linear style in D ZLGH VHOHFWLRQ RI ÀQLVKHV DQG GHVLJQV

www.brontecollection.ca

Get customers Connected with our WiFi solution •

Access tekmar WiFi thermostats & controls remotely with tekmar Connect mobile app

Hydronic Zoning Just Got Smarter Zoning with RoomResponse™ Zone Valve Controls 304V & 306V Switching Relays 304P & 306P Automatically adjust the boiler temperature based on feedback from ANY brand of low voltage thermostat to: • Improve comfort & efficiency • Avoid service calls

Visit tekmarControls.com to learn more

WiFi thermostats with optional floor sensor WiFi The Thermostat 561 One Stag Stage Heat

WiFi The Thermostat 562 Two Stag Stage Heat, One Stage Cool, Co Fan