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T A B L E

20HYDRONICS

CONTENTS O F

SELECTION STARTS WITH SIZING BUILDING FOR

When choosing the right circulator for a hydronic system, you want a lean, mean, heat delivery machine.

John Barba

BEER 24COVER STORY

2LLWPUN [OL

When Vancouver plumber Barry Murray was given the opportunity to pipe in a new system for Main Street Brewery, the answer was a no-brainer.

Sara Lutz and Andrew Snook

home fires burning 68HEARTH PRODUCT For HVAC contracting firms, the addition of hearth products to their protective maintenance plans is an opportunity to expand the service side of their business, as well as foster their relationship with their customers.

Adam Freill

60CELEBRITY FEATURE www.ciphexwest.ca

52SHOW REPORT

Brent Butt is filling up movie theaters this month with the release of Corner Gas: The Movie, but he hasn’t forgotten his days on construction sites.

Andrew Snook

A look back at Western Canada’s largest trade show for the mechanical trade.

On the cover: Main Street Brewery needed a plumber to get their taps flowing and their kettles brewing. Barry Murray of Neighbourhood Plumbing happily answered that call. Cover Photo: Jimmy Jeong

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T A B L E F E A T U R E S 50ROAD WARRIOR: Michael Killam

M B

CONTENTS O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

26

HYDRONICS The Art of Troubleshooting Dan Holohan Let’s have some fun and look at some fortunate stumbles that changed the art of providing heat and comfort over the years.

30

REFRIGERATION Addressing failure Phil Boudreau A look at some of the more typical failures that contractors may see with reciprocating compressors.

36

HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC Optimizing furnace performance Gord Cooke We need to remind ourselves and our clients of the value of annual maintenance.

40

HYDRONICS Around, and back again Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr An awareness of return fluid temperatures is needed to protect non-condensing boilers.

46

ASK ROGER To own, lease or rent? Roger Grochmal This question should be asked and answered every time you look to acquire a major physical asset.

64

PLUMBING A history of re-circulation Fred Bretzke Looking back at the use of copper piping in re-circulation lines.

84

MARKETING Getting engaged, at the marketing DELI Doug MacMillan Step 2 in the marketing DELI is all about connecting with your customer.

Andrew Snook

62EVENT IN PICTURES MCAC 2014

70HVAC/R Refrigerant phase-down update Jim Thomas and Kevin Gill

72HVAC/R Fleeting footprints The shrinking size of furnaces.

Andrew Snook

74COMMERCIAL PLUMBING Kitchens targeting time, money and space savings Denise Deveau

76HYDRONICS Backwards pump logic Phil Searle

78HYDRONICS Adjusting on the fly A look at variable speed pumping.

Matthew Reid

86COMBOS Condensing combos for consumers Using instantaneous hot water systems.

Andrew Snook

90HVAC/R The changing dynamics of service Working with building automation systems. Leon Hawkins

94HYDRONICS Electricity on the jobsite Eric Riml

98PLUMBING A modern approach to pipe

D E P A R T M E N T S 6From the editor’s desk 10News 18Profile: Robert Flipse 96Find The Fix 110Crossword 110Tool Tip 112The Info Page 113Calendar 114By The Numbers

P R O D U C T S 34,104Plumbing 48,82,100HVAC/R 56,97,106Hydronics 108Stuff you need

CHECK US OUT ONLINE

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FROM Content Media Group Inc. 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road Oakville, ON L6J 0B2 Canada Tel: 905.465.2919 Fax: 905.465.2913 www.mechanicalbusiness.com Nov/Dec 2014 Issue Published 6 times per year.

Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Andrew Snook, ext. 225 andrew.snook@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Business Intern: Brooke Klintworth brooke.klintworth@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online)

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THE

EDITOR’S

DESK

The consistency of change With this being the final issue of 2014, it’s natural to reflect back on the year that has passed, and to look forward at what 2015 has in store.

While none of us are equipped with a crystal ball (at least one that stands a chance at picking off those Lotto Max numbers this Friday) we can say with certainty that things are going to continue on their path of change.

One need only look at a few of the articles in this very edition to see the change that is constant in our industry.

Merry Christmas, from all of us It has been yet another fantastic year for us here at Mechanical Business, and we hope you have had as much fun as we have over the past 12 months.

As 2015 approaches, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support, and to wish you and yours a safe and Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

From higher water heater efficiency ratings that are on the way in the coming weeks (see “Condensing combos for consumers” on page 86), to the next step in the HCFC refrigerant phaseout that hits on January 1 (see “Preparing for the 2015 phase-down” on page 70), the need to stay on top of the regulatory environment in your province or municipality is more important than ever.

And you know those changes are just the tip of the iceberg.

For example, while a number of jurisdictions have already put “lead-free” plumbing product regulations into effect, if such rules are not yet in place or being enforced in your area it would be wise to continue to pay attention to the issue since adoption of the most recent edition of the National Plumbing Code is a trigger that puts these new rules in place.

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

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).

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher. © Copyright 2014. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

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Mechanical Business affect our industry. And I invite you to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for daily news updates and to keep your subscription information up-to-date.

See you in 2015,

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“The strength of buying York from my distributor comes in their response time and their dedication in identifying, dealing with and fulďŹ lling my needs.â€?

- Distinct Heating & Cooling, Calgary, AB

“We are a loyal York dealer because of the unwavering support we receive from our York distributor and York’s continued quest for quality and innovation.�

- Shorty’s Plumbing & Heating, Winnipeg, MB

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“We choose to use York products exclusively due to the fact that we can install a solid system that is backed by a long-standing foundation of top notch products and never have any concerns in regard to warranty issues.”

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“We exclusively sell the complete line of York products because of the versatility, range of product and the obvious quality control implemented in all stages of fabrication. We are proud to have the York brand name associated with our company.”

- Shouldice Mechanical, Ottawa, ON

“York is a great manufacturer to work with.

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- AtlasCare, Toronto/Oakville, ON

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. © NHL 2014. All Rights Reserved.

12.14

News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Swinging for a cure

Supply chain guidelines unveiled

Joe Monaco (right), Goodman’s Ontario area sales manager, poses with Dave Palmer of Palmer Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning shortly before tee-off at the 23rd annual Palmer Bros. Charity Golf Tournament, which took place in September at the Oakridge Golf Club in Port Perry, Ont. The charity event raised $5,000 in support of Acute Myeloid Leukemia research at The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

CIPH and MCA Canada have jointly created best practice guidelines to assist mechanical contractors and wholesale distributors for supply chain management issues, such as procurement. CIPH chairman Paul McDonald said the guidelines are well aligned with the founding principles of both organizations, notably collaboration, integrity and mutual respect, and are designed to recognize the concerns and needs of all parties involved in a transaction. ciph.com mcac.ca

palmerbros.ca goodmanmfg.com

A breath of fresh (make-up) air

A birthday bash in Belleville Approximately 1,000 people packed into Bardon Supplies’ head office in Belleville, Ont., in celebration of the company’s 45th anniversary this past October. The festivities, which included live music, self-portraits from cartoonists, photo booths, and access to the company’s Bathworks showroom, were part of the Groupe Deschenes 75th anniversary celebrations.

Timothy McNeill, application engineering manager for Sterling HVAC Products, discussed the features of the company’s Xcelon Series line of high efficiency hydronic rooftop equipment during the Xcleon product launch, which took place in October. The event drew dozens of interested contractors to the Hilton Garden Inn in Brampton, Ont. xcelonhvac.com

bardonsupplies.com

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

Plumbase Spares

Fredo Santana

Air King Limited

Trane Commercial

@plumbasespares

@Zaia81

@AKventilation

@TraneCommercial

Bleed your radiators with the heating system off, this ensures you do not get scalded with boiling water exiting the system.

Thanks to all those that protected Canada and allowed my family to come to a free country. #RemembranceDay

Stop the shock. Properly humidified air will help reduce static electricity. #airking

Global #EnergyEfficiency market worth $310B per year, according to @IEA. #Trane #HVAC

November 8, 2014

November 4, 2014

November 11, 2014

November 13, 2014

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Marketing to prospective employees and clients Hiring members of Generation Y will be a key part of filling the void left behind by the disproportionate number of employees nearing retirement age, advised industrial recruiter Mark Venters during HRAI GTA Chapter’s October meeting, which took place in Vaughan, Ont. The challenge, he said, will be hiring employees that are the right fit for a particular company.

Also on the agenda was AtlasCare CEO Roger Grochmal. Grochmal, Mechanical Business’ business management columnist, offered tips on marketing strategies.

New water heater efficiencies coming to B.C. Changes to the energy efficiency requirements for service water heaters within the B.C. Building Code (Section 9.36) come into effect on Dec. 19, 2014.

The most relevant information related to water heaters and boilers can be found in Section 9.36.4. Anyone with questions related to the code can email zachary.may@gov.bc.ca.

hrai.ca

gov.bc.ca

Lights, camera, action!

Kitchen range hoods, product speed and the Energy Star program were all on the agenda at the Home Ventilating Institute’s (HVI) annual meeting and conference, which took Russell Pope, vice-chair and treasurer of HVI, narrates a series of consumerplace from Oct. 5 to 7 in Niagara targeted videos.

Falls, Ont. The group discussed establishing a test method and protocol for certifying the performance of capture efficiency in kitchen range hoods, standard definitions for product speeds and the pending changes to the Energy Star program for ventilating fans. HVI’s next meeting for its general membership will take place from Feb. 24 to 27, 2015 at the Marriott Clearwater Suites in Clearwater Beach, Fla. hvi.org

Talking shop in Mississauga Mits Airconditioning held its annual customer appreciation event, with a barbecue and open house, at its Mississauga, Ont., location at the end of September. Here, Harris Hargovan, the residential technical support trainer with Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, discusses ductless split products with a technician following a contractor training session. Technicians had the opportunity to talk with manufacturers’ reps, and to get hands-on demonstrations of products during the event. mitsair.com

Heating show a hit in Vaughan

Caleffi reaches 100K online Caleffi’s YouTube educational videos recently surpassed 100,000 views. The product and application focused educational videos feature Mechanical Business columnist Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr, the company’s manager of training and education, as well as Kevin Freidt, manager of application engineering. Rohr and Freidt address a variety of product and technical questions in the videos.

Noble held its 2014 heating show at the Bellvue Manor exhibit hall in Vaughan, Ont., at the beginning of October. The event, held annually by the wholesaler, attracted more than 800 contractors who took in an array of exhibits by manufacturers, as well as informative seminars, dinner and door prizes. The company also handed out more than $10,000 of door prizes, including eight WeatherKing furnaces from Rheem Canada.

Here, Noble’s Tom Breen (left) congratulates Jim Cuthbertson of D.S. Martin Mechanical on winning one of the furnaces up for grabs. noble.ca

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APP ALERT Pump selection Armstrong Fluid Technology’s Adept Pump Selection app is designed to interface with the company’s design envelope intelligent engineered fluid systems and allow engineers and end-users to select from a variety of HVAC products. The app lists the pumps that meet the users’ specific criteria, as well as the key characteristics of each selection.

It is available for the iPad, iPhone and other mobile devices.

Ipex’s Mike Speziale receives a standing ovation after accepting an award of recognition from OBOA chairman Matt Farrell.

Building a reputation

armstrongfluidtechnology.com

Compressor specs The Copeland Mobile smartphone app is designed to provide on-the-go access to Emerson Climate Technologies online product information database for Copeland compressor specifications. It is free to download and available on Android, Android Tablet, iPhone, iPad or BlackBerry devices. emersonclimate.com

The Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) recently recognized Mike Speziale and his employer, Ipex, for years of service to the industry through participation at the association’s annual general meetings and training sessions. The award was presented to Speziale during the OBOA’s 58th Annual Meeting and Training Sessions at Sheraton on the Falls in Niagara Falls, Ont. ipexinc.com

Compact wall hung and utility electric water heaters from Bradford White save valuable floor space and offer installation flexibility when your options are limited. Perfect for point-of-use or intermittent draw applications; both models feature the quality components you expect in a Bradford White water heater.

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866.690.0961 | www.bradfordwhite.com ©2013, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Built to be the Best ™

Table talk What does a night of music, drinks, casino tables and celebrity look-a-likes of Marilyn Munroe and Humphry Bogart mean to Rick Holman (middle), Saveeta Mahadeo (right) and 500 other lucky guests? It means a fun evening with Desco, of course! The company hosted a 1940’s themed cocktail party at the Toronto Congress Centre in October, matching to the era when Groupe Deschenes launched its business, some 75 years ago. desco.ca

Trane opens doors in B.C Trane Canada hosted its annual B.C. Open Houses event in September, allowing customers to tour its locations in Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria. The three shows attracted 200 customers, who had the opportunity to check out HVAC technology, services and equipment from 12 contributing vendors, as well as hourly seminars hosted by industry experts.

RMC streamlines for growth Despite weathering revenue generation challenges, Refrigerant Management Canada is moving strongly forward as a result of several measures taken to streamline its processes, as well as income from non-levy sources. That was the news delivered during the organization’s annual general meeting, held in Mississauga in November.

Although revenue from levies did not hit targets for the year, by moving to a single supplier for the destruction of surplus ozone-depleting refrigerants RMC has been able to reduce costs associated with storage of the refrigerants, and revenue from the sale of carbon credits, strong investment returns and funds generated by other services provided by RMC were able to help offset the shortfall and leave the organization in a net-gain position on the year. refrigerantmanagement.ca

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

General Pipe celebrating 85 years This November marked the 85th year of service to drain cleaning professionals and plumbing contractors for General Pipe Cleaners. The company was founded by Abe Silverman as General Wire Spring, a manufacturer of springs for various applications. drainbrain.com

Waterline and LynCar complete merger

Watts buys Aerco Watts recently announced that it is acquiring Aerco International from The Riverside Company for $264.5 million in cash, subject to customary working capital adjustments.

Aerco is a manufacturer of high-efficiency commercial boilers and water heaters in North America, ranging from light commercial to large commercial products. watts.ca

Waterline and LynCar, suppliers of plumbing and fire protection products have announced that they have successfully merged. They will continue to operate as standalone companies and brands. Waterline is based out of Mississauga, Ont., and was founded in 1953; while LynCar is based out of Brampton, Ont., and was founded in 1964. waterlineproducts.com lyncar.com

The Schroeter family cut the ribbon to officially open Napoleon’s new logistics centre in Barrie, Ont.

Napoleon opens logistics centre Napoleon’s new logistics centre is open for business.

Dignitaries from across the Barrie, Ont., area came out in celebration of the company’s 270,000 sq. ft. facility in October. The event was attended by a variety of local politicians, as well as Napoleon’s CEO Wolfgang Schroeter, president Ron McArthur, chief financial officer Ingrid Schroeter, senior vicepresident of operations Chris Schroeter and senior vice-president of sales, marketing and administration Stephen Schroeter. napoleonheatingandcooling.com

Desco revamps showroom website Desco’s The Water Closet showroom has redesigned its website with a variety of features, including product sections, images from their Etobicoke, Kitchener, Orillia, Ont. locations, as well as media and events pages.

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com PETER HEAD has been named territory sales manager for Saskatchewan for Goodman Canada.

Peter has nearly 10 years of account management experience. He previously worked in industrial supply and metal fabrication.

AMANDA CUMMINGS has been promoted to branch manager in Edmonton. She has been with Goodman Canada for 11 years, holding a variety of roles including administration, marketing, pricing and customer service.

MATTHEW REID has been hired to the position of hydronics sales specialist for Wolseley Canada. He comes to the company with 13 years of experience in the HVAC/R and hydronics industry and is a regular contributor to Mechanical Business.

Matthew’s responsibilities will include heating and hydronic sales, jobsite support and sales, partnership with inside and outside sales, and identifying needs within the market. He is an active member of CIPH and HRAI.

Rheem recently promoted NATASHA FISEKOVIC to the position of programs manager. Natasha will be responsible for the daily management and administration of all marketing programs including promotions, awareness campaigns and competitive landscape review.

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HTS recently named six new principals at its Ontario and Texas offices. The principals are PAUL POVOLO, (1) senior engineer in the engineering department of the Toronto office; JAMES BRECKENRIDGE, (2) head of automation and controls in Ontario; TERRY ARCESE, (3) engineering sales manager in London; JASON KITCHEN, (4) branch manager of the Ottawa and Sudbury offices; MIKE DONOVAN, (5) president of HTS Texas; and THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN, (6) principal of Direct Expansion Solutions, a sister company of HTS Texas that specializes in variable refrigerant flow implementation and design. All of the above mentioned principles have an ownership stake in the company.

Security Chimneys and M&G DuraVent have promoted KAREN GALAISE to the position of regional sales manager for the Quebec region. She will be responsible for sales of the companies’ products in the province of Quebec and the Ottawa metropolitan area. Karen has been with Security Chimneys for 25 years.

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ECCO Manufacturing has hired PEETER VESIK as its product engineer. Peeter will be responsible for the development of OEM product development, and will handle technical inquiries, internally and externally.

Oatey Canada has hired JOE ANILE as its national sales manager. Joe comes to the company with almost 30 years of industry experience.

DANIAL SHAH has been promoted to branch manager for NEXT’s Scarborough location. Danial has worked in the wholesale plumbing industry for 10 years and joined the company during its inception.

MICHELLE SHIRE has joined Wolseley Canada as the company’s outside sales manager for Wolseley’s pipes, valves and fittings division in Saskatchewan.

She comes to the company with more than 30 years experience in technical sales roles.

Michelle is responsible for achieving provincial sales targets, acquiring new accounts, growing existing accounts, and managing a team of outside sales reps.

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12.14

Profile Rob Flipse: Steward of sustainability

The need to be environmentally responsible is a reality of today’s business world. Companies are expected to be good stewards of the earth, and the mechanical sector is no different.

When Refrigerant Management Canada (RMC) came into existence more than a dozen years ago, its mandate was – and continues to be – to promote the stewardship of ozone depleting refrigerants used in the stationary refrigeration and air conditioning industry in Canada, ensuring that surplus ODS refrigerant is disposed of in a proper manner. That mandate has been advanced by the numerous manufacturers, distributors, contractors and engineering firms who have volunteered time to RMC.

Q A

How did you get started in the refrigeration industry?

I always wanted to be a mechanical engineer, and I ended up working at Lennox Industries for a few summers.

After graduation I worked for a consultant doing energy use analysis for schools before going to work for an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor.

Q A

Tell us a little about what you do at Gordon Latham Ltd.

Q

You’ve been in the industry for more than 25 years. What’s been the biggest change in the refrigeration sector in that time?

A

The change in refrigerants and how we deal with them. There is a lot more awareness of the environment and the requirements to be socially responsible, but we still need to get the word out about how RMC

works, and how great a program it is. I don’t think contractors realize what happens to all those cylinders that they drop off to their favourite wholesaler. The same goes for consultants, builders and homeowners who don’t realize where the CFCs and HCFCs go.

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I oversee the sales, estimating and engineering departments. We have around 90 employees, so that keeps me busy.

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me to get involved in association work.

When Richard Siddall, a contractor who served on the RMC board, retired, I didn’t hesitate to volunteer as Richard had always spoken highly of his involvement.

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One of those volunteers, current RMC chairman Robert Flipse, is an example of why the program has been able to navigate the challenges the organization has faced over the years. As the general manager of a mechanical contracting firm in Vancouver he’s busy, but he still finds time to help the organization navigate the regulatory and financial challenges that are ever changing.

We recently caught up with Rob to talk shop, and to find out what he does when he’s not volunteering – which was a challenge, since the guy does a lot of volunteering (kudos for that Rob).

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CIRCULATORS

continued continued from from page page 20 208

B y Jo h n B a rba

SELECTION STARTS WITH SIZING P

John Barba is the contractor training & trade program manager with Taco, Inc. He can be reached at johbar@taco-hvac.com.

NUMBER CRUNCHING TIME

icking the properly sized circulator for a hydronic system is a bit like losing -J ]SY´VI FYMPHMRK E W]WXIQ JVSQ XLI KVSYRH YT ER EGGYVEXI TIP FROM weight, or gaining weight for that LIEX PSWW EREP]WMW MWR´X ER STXMSR MX´W E QYWX 3RGI ]SY matter – but we want a lean, mean, THE FIELD ORS[ XLI LIEX PSEH ]SY LEZI XS ½RH XLI VIUYMVIH heating machine, so we’ll stick with Often times something that looks ¾S[ VEXI YWMRK XLI YRMZIVWEP L]HVSRMGW JSVQYPE WII like the right, easy or convenient the weight loss analogy.

WMHIFEV choice may actually create problems that you didn’t anticipate. That’s why 0IX´W WE] [I´VI WM^MRK E GMVGYPEXSV JSV E &89, The amount of weight one loses it’s important to dig deeper into the ^SRI ZEPZI NSF JIEXYVMRK XLVII ^SRIW SJ ½R XYFI directly corresponds to calories condifference between estimating head FEWIFSEVH ;I´VI KSMRK XS HIWMKR JSV E (IPXE sumed and calories expended. When loss and actually calculating it, and to 8 ERH WMRGI [I PMOI XS PMZI HERKIVSYWP] PIX´W WE] XLEX you burn more calories than you eat, fully understand the dynamics that [I´PP FI YWMRK TIV GIRX [EXIV you lose weight. go on within a system as zone

valves close. ;LIR ]SY WM^I ]SYV GMVGYPEXSV ]SYV WXEVXMRK TSMRX [MPP To design an effective diet and workout HIPMZIV EX PIEWX +41 [SVXL SJ ¾S[ EX HIWMKR GSRHMXMSRW regimen, you’ve gotta do the math. There’s no /RS[MRK XLI LIEXMRK PSEHW JSV IEGL ^SRI [I GER HIXIVQMRI XLI ¾S[ magic skinny pill. Same goes for sizing a circulator.

VEXIW JSV IEGL ^SRI YWMRK XLI WEQI YRMZIVWEP L]HVSRMGW JSVQYPE There’s no shortcut; no rule of thumb. Just the right way, or the wrong way. Nothing in between. *SV WMQTPMGMX]´W WEOI PIX´W TVIWYQI XLI PEVKIWX ^SRI GEVVMIW E PSEH SJ &89, [LMPI XLI SXLIV X[S GEVV] PSEHW SJ &89, 6MKLX Luckily, there are only four components to this healthy E[E] [I GER HIGMTLIV XLEX XLI VIUYMVIH ¾S[ VEXI JSV XLI FMK ^SRI MW heating exercise; heat loss, flow rate, head loss, and check+41 [LMPI XLI X[S WQEPPIV SRIW VIUYMVI +41 IEGL ing the chart.

In a perfect sunshiney world, you have all the information needed to pick the right circulator. But in the real world, no one offers that info on a silver platter. You have to do a little digging.

The right circulator is big enough without being too big, with the performance curve as close as possible to the flow and head requirement.

FN

&YX +41 MW QIERMRKPIWW YRPIWW ]SY GER SZIVGSQI XLI JVMGXMSR PSWW SV ±LIEH PSWW² SJ XLI W]WXIQ 7MRGI XLMW MW E ^SRI ZEPZI W]WXIQ [I´PP GEPGYPEXI XLI LIEH PSWW MR E ZIV] WTIGM½G QERRIV 0IX´W TVIWYQI SYV QSWX IHYGEXIH IWXMQEXI JSV XLI PIRKXL SJ XLI VYR MRGPYHMRK XLI ½R XYFI MW JIIX 7MRGI [I GER´X EGXYEPP] GSYRX EPP XLI ½XXMRKW [I´PP LEZI XS IWXMQEXI EKEMR ¯ XLI MRHYWXV] WXERHEVH MW XS WMQTP] QYPXMTP] XLI QIEWYVIH PIRKXL F] XS EPPS[ JSV XLI ZEPZIW ERH ½XXMRKW [MXLMR XLI ^SRI 8LEX KMZIW YW JIIX [LMGL MW ORS[R EW XLI ±XSXEP IUYMZEPIRX PIRKXL ²

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

â&#x20AC;˘ Cr unc h i n g t h e n u m b e r s â&#x20AC;˘ E m er gen cies ar e d iffer en t 2I\X XS IWXMQEXI XLI LIEH PSWW XLI OI] [SVH LIVI MW ÂąIWXMQEXI² QYPXMTP] XLI XSXEP IUYMZEPIRX PIRKXL F] 8LEX QYPXMTPMIV VITVIWIRXW JSYV JIIX SJ LIEH JSV IZIV] JIIX SJ WXVEMKLX TVSTIVP] WM^IH TMTI EX XLI QE\MQYQ žS[ VEXI JSV XLEX WM^I SJ TMTI

THE UNIVERSAL HYDRONICS FORMULA GPM =

+YMHIPMRIW JSV ETTVSTVMEXI 8]TI 1 GSTTIV TMTIW EVI EW JSPPS[W +41 ! ܲ +41 ! ²

+41 ! þ² +41 ! ô²

-R SYV I\EQTPI XLI XVYRO [LMGL MW WM^IH XS GEVV] +41 [SYPH FI ² )EGL FVERGL MRGPYHMRK SYV PSRKIWX SRI [SYPH FI ܲ 8S IWXMQEXI XLI LIEH PSWW SJ SYV [SVWX GEWI ^SRI QYPXMTP] JIIX F] [LMGL KMZIW YW RMRI JIIX SJ LIEH 3YV GMVGYPEXSV JSV XLI ^SRI ZEPZI NSF [SYPH RIIH XS TVSHYGI +41 EX RMRI JIIX SJ LIEH 7S [LMGL SRI [SYPH QEOI XLI QSWX WIRWI# 8MQI XS LMX XLI TIVJSVQERGI GYVZI GLEVXW ,IVI EVI E GSYTPI SJ WEQTPI GLEVXW XS XV] SYX

BTUH (6T x 500)

GPM MW XLI VIUYMVIH KEPPSRW TIV QMRYXI žS[ VEXI RIIHIH XS HIPMZIV XLI VIUYMVIH EQSYRX SJ LIEX EX E KMZIR TSMRX MR XMQI BTUH MW XLI VIUYMVIH EQSYRX SJ LIEX EX E KMZIR TSMRX MR XMQI 6T MW (IPXE 8 XLI HIWMKRIH JSV XIQTIVEXYVI HVST MR XLI ^SRI SV W]WXIQ 500 MW E QEXL WLSVXGYX VITVIWIRXMRK XLI [IMKLX SJ SRI KEP PSR SJ [EXIV PF XMQIW XLI RYQFIV SJ QMRYXIW MR ER LSYV XMQIW XLI WTIGM½G KVEZMX] SJ XLI žYMH [EXIV LEW E WTIGM½G KVEZMX] SJ XMQIW XLI WTIGM½G LIEX SJ XLI žYMH

[EXIV LEW E WTIGM½G LIEX SJ -X PSSOW PMOI XLMW \ \ \ !

0IX´W NYWX GEPP MX +P]GSP GLERKIW XLI IUYEXMSR WMRGI MX HSIWR´X XVERWJIV LIEX EW [IPP EW [EXIV HSIW 8LI QSVI KP]GSP XLI PS[IV XLI QYP XMTPMIV FIGSQIW PIEHMRK XS LMKLIV VIUYMVIH žS[ VEXIW

(UK PU [OL 9LHS ^VYSKÂŻ If you can physically measure the installed length of the zone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including the heat emitters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and count the ďŹ ttings installed, you can come up with an accurate â&#x20AC;&#x153;total equivalent lengthâ&#x20AC;? of each zone. That may be possible in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magazine Article Land,â&#x20AC;? but in the real world, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably need to estimate as best you can.

That doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean â&#x20AC;&#x153;guess,â&#x20AC;? but it does mean you should rely on your knowledge of piping and your experience with construction and estimate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as best you can â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how long the run could possibly be without going overboard. As youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of â&#x20AC;&#x153;fudgeâ&#x20AC;? built in.

(0(5*(1&,(6 $5( ',))(5(17

*VSQ XLI PSSOW SJ MX IMXLIV XLI EX QIHMYQ WTIIH SV E [SYPH FI I\GIPPIRX GLSMGIW =SYV KSEP MW XS ½RH E GMVGYPEXSV [LSWI TIVJSVQERGI GYVZI MW EW GPSWI XS XLI TIVJSVQERGI VIUYMVIQIRXW EW TSWWMFPI

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get one thing on the table. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re replacing a dead circulator in an emergency, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be looking for a quick ďŹ x â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably use whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the truck.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still important to know what kind of circulator youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re replacing and to replace it with something similar, but close might work for now. A temporary emergency ďŹ x is temporary, however, be sure to return to do a proper replacement, with a properly matched circulator as soon as possible.

Better than the worst case

In a typical zone valve system, you only need to calculate the head loss through the worst-case (usually the longest) zone. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no need to add the head of each zone together â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a parallel piping system. If your circulator can overcome the head loss of the worst-case zone, it can overcome the head loss of all others. ' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

21

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PIPING

BREWERY BY THE

NUMBERS • 16 – Types of brews available annually • 4 – Number of fermenters • 64 fl. oz. – The most popular size of growler • 60 – Seating capacity at MSB’s tasting lounge • 400 feet – Amount of PP-R piping used in construction of brewery

Þ ->À> ÕÌâ > ` Ƃ `ÀiÜ - The thought of being asked to help construct a brewery would bring tears of joy to some contractors we know.

For Vancouver plumber Barry Murray, owner of Neighbourhood Plumbing, the opportunity was a no-brainer.

Photos: Jimmy Jeong

“I was pretty excited,” he said.

24

If you take a walk down the historic Brewery Creek in Vancouver, B.C., you’ll find a rustic building within the arts community that formerly housed Doering & Marstrand Brewing Co. and then the Vancouver Brewery in the early 1900s. Since that time the facility has been used for a variety of non-brewing businesses, but the building was recently transformed back to its roots – or hops and grains, if you prefer – and the Main Street Brewing Company (MSB) was born.

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

Although the company was officially founded in 2010, MSB did not have a brewery until this year because owners couldn’t find a facility they deemed appropriate. In the meantime, they had Russell Brewing produce their recipes during their search for the right venue.

After finding the right location, construction began on the brewery’s new home in the summer of 2013 and was completed in May 2014. MSB now has a 10,000-sq.ft. facility that features a tasting lounge, brewery and basement, and is equipped with four fermenters. There is also room for expansion. The company currently brews its four year-round beers at the facility, as well as a unique monthly offering.

With diverse piping needs, everything from potable water to glycol solutions, the brewery’s owners decided to use

â&#x20AC;˘ Pipes in action â&#x20AC;˘ Doing a jig a t t h e b r ewer y

a newer piping option, polypropylene-random (PP-R), when specifying the plumbing.

7PWLZ PU HJ[PVU

According to MSBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brewer Jack Bensley, the system was selected for its non-toxic and corrosion-resistant properties and its inherent R-value on the cold water â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which eliminated the need for insulation on the breweryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot and cold water pipes.

Over the course of the project, approximately 400 feet of PP-R pipe was installed, ranging from 1/2â&#x20AC;? to 1-1/2â&#x20AC;? sizes. The piping installations include cold water supplied to the brew house, some hot water piping, glycol supply and return, and reclamation of warm water from heat exchangers which is returned to the hot liquor (brewing water) tank for reuse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the most part, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all high up in the air, hung up on a track system,â&#x20AC;? explains Murray.

After the installation was complete, the pipe was inspected for leaks, and Murray was proud to report that the system did not experience a single leak during the testing period.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had the plumbing inspector come in and had it up to 200 psi and not a drop,â&#x20AC;? adds Bensley.

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' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

25

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC HYDRONICS

B yB yDan Go rHo d Cloohoan ke

Dan Holohan is an author, speaker, steam heating expert, and founder of heatinghelp.com, a highly regarded industry site that shares information about heating systems old and new. He can be reached at dan@heatinghelp.com.

THE ART OF

TROUBLESHOOTING

VENTING FRUSTRATIONS

S

ometimes, you just stumble over an answer when trying to get a system back into proper operational mode. The art comes in recognizing that you got lucky that time.

The challenge is figuring out why you got lucky. And what will make you an expert in your craft is being able to remember how and why you got lucky – because you know this is probably going to happen again.

Let’s have some fun and look at some fortunate stumbles that changed the art of providing heat and comfort over the years.

AN EXPLOSIVE IDEA

In 1933, at Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. in England, scientists were studying the behavior of ethylene and benzaldehyde under high pressure and temperature.

They went a bit too far with the experiment, which caused the autoclave to explode, blowing the lab up.

Happily, none of the scientists were hurt from the explosion, but the event would be life changing.

When they looked inside what was left of the autoclave, they saw a white, plastic residue. After a time, we came to call this residue polyethylene. It, in turn, would evolve into PEX during the 1960s. How’s that for a happy explosion?

But the scientists had a troubleshooting problem. For three years, they tried to recreate that polyethylene but it was no dice. So they asked that key question: What changed?

Eventually they realized that, since all else had failed, they would have to recreate the original experiment. They blew up another autoclave and there it was, polyethylene.

It seems it was the introduction of oxygen to the process when the ethylene and benzaldehyde were at high pressure and temperature that acted as the catalyst and made the polyethylene magic happen.

When all else fails, go back to what you know for sure and ask that first question: “What changed?”

And then follow up with that second question: “What can cause that to happen?”

In the early days of steam heating, installers were making it up as they went along. The English tried using steam first, and then left it to the Americans to develop. I suppose the English did this because gravity hot water heating was far safer than steam heating, and their decision shows their mechanical maturity and, at the time, common sense.

But before they got to that point, there was this delightful story about an unnamed Englishman who was piping what they thought of as a boiler in those days to what we would someday call a radiator. In between those two components was steel pipe, made strong.

The problem, though, was that the steam wouldn’t travel from the boiler to the radiator.

The unnamed Englishman thought there was something wrong with his steel pipe, so he decided to try a pipe made of cast iron instead.

This worked, but not because of the different metals.

It worked because the cast-iron pipe was poorly made and it contained sand holes from the casting process.

Those holes allowed the air to escape. continues on page 28

FJ

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

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T H E

L E A D E R

I N

TDR 15:1 AFUE 95% UP TO

2”– 3” VENTING LONG DISTANCES

ADJUSTABLE DELTA T RANGES INTEGRATED SMART CONTROL Most Efficient

2015

www.energystar.gov

C O N D E N S I N G

T E C H N O L O G Y

HYDRONICS HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke continued from page 26

PROGRESSING

LOGICALLY TO THE SOLUTION 9 Õ½Ài > L > ` > À>` >Ì À Ã Ì i>Ì }° Ì i>Ìi` >ÃÌ Üii LÕÌ Ü Ì½Ã V `° - iÌ } V > }i`] À } ̶ 7 >Ì V> V>ÕÃi Ì >̶ *ÕÌ Ì }iÌ iÀ > ÃÌ° ½` ÃÌ>ÀÌ Ü Ì Ì iÃi Ì Àii Ì }Ã Ì >Ì Ü\

1. There’s no water in the radiator.

2. There’s no flow through the radiator.

3. There’s air trapped in the radiator. v Ì iÀi½Ã Ì i Õ} «ÀiÃÃÕÀi Ì i ÃÞÃÌi Ì vÌ Ü>ÌiÀ Ì Ì i Ì « > ` «ÀiÃÃÕÀ âi Ì >Ì Ì >Ì } « Ì] Ì iÀi } Ì Ì Li > Þ Ü>ÌiÀ Ì i À>` >Ì À° / i ÃÞÃÌi V Õ ` Li i> } À Ì i >ÕÌ >Ì V vii` Û> Ûi >Þ Ì Li Ü À }° 7 Ì ÕÌ Ü>ÌiÀ] Ì iÀi V> Li i>Ì° v Ì iÀi½Ã y Ü Ì À Õ} Ì i À>` >Ì À] Ì Ã V Õ ` Li > L> > Vi «À L i ° 7>ÌiÀ >Þ Li à ÀÌ V ÀVÕ Ì } Ì > Ì iÀ «>ÀÌ v Ì i ÃÞÃÌi ° 7 >̽à V > }i`¶ >À Õ `° ½Ûi à Ûi` «À L i à LÞ V à } > à « i }>Ìi Û> Ûi > LÞ«>ÃÃ Ì >Ì Ã i i i Ãi >` «i i` LÞ ÃÌ> i° ii Þ ÕÀ Ü>Þ Ì À Õ} Ì i ÃÞÃÌi > ` Ì i Ü>ÌiÀ° 7 >Ì Ü Õ ` Þ Õ ` ¶ 7 iÀi Ü Õ ` Þ Õ } ¶ ½Ûi > à Ãii LÃ Ü iÀi à iÌ } } Ì ÃÌÕV Ì i « «i > ` ÃÌ ««i` Ì i y Ü° Vi Ü À i` Ü Ì > V ÌÀ>VÌ À Ü «Õ i` > à ÛiÀ V ÕÌ v > i L Ü° Ü Ì } Ì Ì iÀi Ü > Ü>Þà > i i Ü `iÀ] LÕÌ Ü iÛiÀ v À}iÌ Ì >Ì Ì Ã Ã « Ãà L i] > ` Ü > Ü>Þà >Ûi Ì Þ ÃÌ v Ì }Ã Ì V iV °

Looking at it through our troubleshooting lens, we know that air and steam are both gases, and that steam is lighter than air. We also know that where there is air, steam will not go.

The steel pipe was solid, so the steam just pushed the air down the line like a plunger. Our Englishman didn’t know about radiator air vents because they remained years in the future, so he wasn’t thinking in terms of air.

And now for his troubleshooting epiphany: When steam reached the sand holes in the pipe, it, of course, leaked out. That didn’t seem quite right, so our Englishman sealed the holes tightly with rags and sat back satisfied.

But now that the air couldn’t escape, the steam stopped moving.

Our troubleshooting ancestor scratched his head and considered that it had worked a moment ago. What changed?

He removed the rags and, to his delight, the steam raced toward the radiator. This led (eventually) to the invention of the automatic air vent.

So we learn that “The Art of Troubleshooting” involves first paying attention and then asking that key question: What changed?

THE RIDDLE OF THE

UNINTENDED RADIANT FLOORING If you encounter an air problem, start by wondering where all the air is coming from and ask yourself what changed.

I had this happen in my own house. We have copper-fin-tube baseboard and our house is on a slab. There are places where the pipe dips into the concrete to clear the front and back doors. We suddenly had all this air that was not there last heating season.

Instead of going to the boiler room, I went instead to the tile floor by the front door. This had turned into a radiant floor, but that wasn’t part of the design.

We had to chop up the floor to get at that pipe, and I wasn’t happy with that, but I did feel good about looking in the right place for the cause of the problem.

Always go back to what you know for sure. Ask what changed. Then ask what may have caused that change. Those questions are at the heart of every troubleshooting call you will ever make.

Do these things and you’ll be the hero.

FL

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REFRIGERATION

Lessons in

failure avoidance

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. Phil is also a refrigeration instructor at Humber College in Toronto, Ontario. He can be contacted at pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

T

here are far too many methods available to make a compressor fail to even attempt to tackle them all in a single article, and some methods and conditions that can cause a failure would only be applicable to specific types and models of compressor, so it would be best to start our look at avoiding compressor failure by narrowing the focus of our discussion, so let’s have a look at some common issues that can contribute to the failure of reciprocating compressors.

Before we jump in, however, please keep in mind that the majority of compressor failures occur as a result of system issues, rather than faults in the compressor itself.

When system problems have caused a compressor to fail, it is important to properly diagnose and repair the root cause, otherwise there is a considerable likelihood that the replacement compressor will suffer a similar fate to the one that is being replaced.

Thankfully, that compressor that’s being removed can often help us find the problems in the system that caused the failure.

Avoiding floodback Floodback issues can occur during the running cycle of the compressor. Oil can get diluted with liquid refrigerant, which can result in insufficient lubrication.

FLUID-FILLED STARTS Flooded starts can happen when liquid refrigerant migrates into the compressor oil during the OFF cycle. The oil becomes diluted with condensed liquid and liquid refrigerant will sit at the bottom of the oil. Systems experiencing this may show higher oil levels at the sight glass and foaming during start up.

Since the oil is diluted wih liquid refrigerant that vaporizes at the high friction points, insufficient lubrication can result, which can cause worn running gear, bearings wearing out prematurely, and broken connecting rods.

Flooded starts can be caused by overcharging a system with refrigerant, operating the compressor in low ambient temperatures or when long off-cycle periods occur. The use of a crankcase heater can help prevent this issue, but be sure to check the refrigerant charge, and install a check valve if a condenser is located above the compressor.

This can cause worn and scored internal running gear, seizing or extreme wear on bearings, and broken connecting rods.

A change in weather or other ambient changes that cause low evaporator loads could trigger floodback, as could faulty fans, oil logging in the evaporator, poor evaporator defrosting or problems with the expansion valve – such as the use of the wrong type or size of valve, or bulbs that are loose or in the wrong position.

If a system is experiencing liquid in the compressor, check the superheat setting, as it may be too low. Suction superheat needs to be at least 15°F at the compressor, and

discharge superheat must be at least 40°F (55°F for R-22 and R-407C).

In some systems, a suction accumulator or suction line heat exchanger can be installed to boil off liquid. continued on page 32

30

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top performer

Industry-leading Genetron® Performax™ LT refrigerant is the clear leader in its field.

If your bottom line is a better bottom line, no other supermarket refrigerant comes close. From keeping fresh food fresher longer to energy savings to eco-friendly performance, the list of reasons to choose Genetron® Performax™ LT over R-438A or R-407A refrigerants goes on and on. Genetron Performax LT offers industry-leading capacity, industry-leading efficiency and low GWP values versus other popular supermarket refrigerants. This saves money in new installations and in R-22 retrofit projects. Plus, a mass flow that identically matches R-22, eliminates expensive expansion valve changes and adjustments in retrofit applications while maintaining superheat performance which protects costly compressors. So go with the gold standard. Go with Genetron Performax LT.

Maximize Performance with Performax LT.

Brenntag Canada Inc. Exclusive distributor of Genetron® refrigerants in Canada Ontario & Western Canada: Tel. No. (416) 243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731 Quebec & Maritime Provinces: Tel. No. (514) 636-9230 Fax: (514) 636-8229 To learn more, call 800-631-8138 or visit www.genetronperformaxlt.com. © 2010 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

REFRIGERATION

continued from page 30

Lack of lubrication

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A copper-plated problem When moisture exists in a system, acid can form. This acid strips copper from the inner surfaces of pipe and other copper parts in the system. When this copper lands in the high heat areas of the compressor, such as in and around the bearings, copper plating can result.

As these areas become copper plated, performance tolerances are decreased, which leads to less room for lubrication and, eventually, to heavy scoring and possibly seizure of the moving parts.

Taking a swing at slugging In baseball, a high slugging percentage is a good thing; in the refrigeration trade, not so much.

Slugging may occur in extreme cases of flooded starts and liquid flood back. This is characterized as large quantities of liquid refrigerant or oil entering the compressor, causing the pistons to attempt to compress what is incompressible. This can result in bent or broken valve plate reeds, broken rods and piston heads, and blown gaskets.

WATER IS THE ENEMY POE oils are extremely hygroscopic, meaning that they readily absorb moisture, and moisture left in the system will react with the refrigerant and oil to form an acid, which can contaminate the pipes and possibly attack the windings of the motor.

Water content in oil should be less than 50 ppm.

32

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What One Canadian University Learned About Zuba-Central.

And how this new study can lead to more satisďŹ ed customers.

Every HVAC system claims to be energy efďŹ cient. But how many of these claims are backed by science? Ours is.

An independent study*conducted by Ryerson University in Toronto proves that Zuba-Central: SAVES ENERGY With a COP ranging from 1.4 to 3.19, Zuba-Central delivers energy savings of up to 60% annually over conventional heating and cooling systems.

OPERATES EFFICIENTLY AT LOW TEMPERATURES Our advanced system design and innovative compressor technology ensures effective and efďŹ cient operation in temperatures as low as -30°C. IS MORE AFFORDABLE THAN GEOTHERMAL Zuba-Central delivers similar energy efďŹ ciency at a fraction of the installed cost of a geothermal system.

Get the facts for yourself and see why Zuba-Central by Mitsubishi Electric is the proven choice for energy efďŹ ciency and cost savings. *Study conducted by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and Ryerson University: Performance Assessment of a Variable Capacity Air Source Heat Pump and a Horizontal Loop Coupled Ground Source Heat Pump System

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ZubaHVAC.ca

photo courtesy of TRCA

PLUMBING

Products

Hot water recirculation Taco’s HotLink recirculation system for domestic hot water recirculation is designed for systems without dedicated hot water return lines. The system features a thermal disc that closes when hot water reaches the valve, as well as an integral flow check. w

Freeze protection

ww.

Zurn’s ZWFR backflow preventer freeze protection device threads into a standard 1/4” test cock. It is designed to install onto new and existing installations on the majority of backflow preventers without the need to shut down or drain the system. The unit features a corrosion-resistant bronze body.w

ww. zurn.com

Condensing water heater The Infiniti HE tankless condensing water heater from Bradford White Canada features internal turbulators, dual fan configuration, a copper primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger with an aluminum casing. It has an input range of 19,000 to 199,000 BTUH and has efficiencies up to 0.95 EF. The unit has a flow rate of 8.3 gpm at a 45˚F temperature rise and operates on natural gas or LP.

bradfordwhite.com

UV filter rack system The Gen5 UV filter rack system from Novo is designed to combine ultraviolet disinfection with whole-house filtration.

It is available in four models with flow rates of 8 and 13 gpm. The unit is equipped with a low pressure coated UV lamp with a ceramic base and 9,000-hour life.

www. novowater.com

Victaulic’s Style 422 stainless steel Mechanical-T bolted branch outlet is designed to create a direct branch connection at any location a hole can be cut into pipe without the need to weld. It is available in sizes ranging from 3” x 2” to 8” x 4”.

All sizes have a rated working pressure of 300 psi. The tee comes with a stainless steel outlet housing and galvanized ductile iron strap, and is available with an EPDM or nitrile gasket.

www. victaulic.com

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Shower drain OS&B’s SDB37 side discharge shower drain is designed for preformed shower drains. It features a low profile ABS base, cast brass body, and a polished, stainless steel screw-in grate. It is built with a 1-1/2” copper DWV hub connection.

www. osb.ca

GH

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

W

RHY2-MS Woodford roof hydrant The original!

2')25' +<'5$176 • Reliable, year-round water source for all rooftop water needs.

• Heavy-duty cast iron mounting system can be installed by roofer; hydrant can be installed later. Some competitors provide no mounting system at all!

• RHY2-MS freezeless hydrants automatically drain when shut off— even with hose attached.

• RHY2-MS plumbs to drain; SRH-MS sanitary hydrant requires no drain.

• Easy to repair; all repairs can be made from top of unit without removing hydrant.

• Five-year limited warranty.

Proudly built in the U.S.A.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke

Optimizing performance A

s the snow melted last year, I was asked by a family member if there was any compelling reason to book a preventative maintenance service call for their 10-year-old high efficiency furnace.

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

In today’s world where some cars can go well beyond the traditional 5,000 km between oil changes, the perceived value of the traditional winter furnace tune-up – the one that included the oiling of fan motors, adjustment of fan belts, or even cleaning and adjustment of oil or gas burners – is quickly fading, so we need to remind ourselves and our clients of the value of annual maintenance in the new reality of solid state, self-diagnostic controls, variable speed, direct drive, sealed bearing fans and multi-stage life-time warranty furnaces.

Last year was the coldest winter in about 20 years for most North American markets, which could be an effective call to action to get homeowners thinking proactively about their heating systems this year.

Inspection elements Here are three annual inspection elements which focus specifically on optimizing the energy performance of the system. You will notice that these suggestions generally involve two basic strategies: managing airflow across the system and managing run or cycle times of the system.

1. Measure and adjust fan speed settings to optimize the temperature rise across the system.

In my experience, contractors installing a new furnace sometimes leave the heating fan speed set at its factory setting without checking to verify that the system’s air flow will result in the optimal temperature rise across the furnace.

The value of a basic four-speed PSC fan motor – or better yet, the newer variable or multi-speed motor – is that the fan speed could be adjusted to ensure the manufacturer’s suggested or optimal temperature rise is achieved.

So when technicians are doing an annual inspection they should be encouraged to measure the temperature rise across the furnace and compare it to the recommended value for that specific model of furnace.

Higher air flows that result in lower temperature rises may impact sound levels and lower the discharge temperature at furnace registers, compromising the comfort expectations of clients, so consider these effects when determining the appropriate fan speed.

Be sure to record the temperature rise and fan speed setting in the service records, or even on the furnace, for future service reference. continues on page 38

GJ

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THE TG165 SHOWS WHAT’S HOT FOR INSTANT TROUBLESHOOTING. The FLIR TG165 Imaging IR Thermometer bridges the gap between single spot infrared thermometers and FLIR’s legendary thermal cameras.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

continued from page 36

2. Measure total system air flow and external static pressure.

While system temperature rise optimizes combustion efficiency, knowing and adjusting the airflow and static pressure in the system can improve air distribution, lower electrical consumption and increase comfort.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-2007 assumes an external static pressure of just 50 Pa (0.2 inches of water column) when measuring the AFUE of furnaces.

This is an unrealistically low static pressure for most modern systems that include an air conditioning coil, better filters and extensive ductwork for larger homes. Most furnaces list their rated airflow at 125 Pa (0.5” WC).

Measuring the static pressure across furnaces should be done when a furnace has been installed into an old duct system, and then again, when clients show an interest in better filters. These measurements can indicate recommendations for filters, duct modifications, AC coil changes and fan speed settings.

The following table is a guide to typical pressure drops found in residential systems:

Pressure (resistance) of Return duct (A) Pressure drop across filter (A to B) Pressure drop across AC coil (C to D) Pressure drop of supply duct (D)

0.1”- 0.15” w.c

Focus on the mods Let’s look at the following system modifications or enhancements to key in on this winter:

Using outside air for combustion.

HVAC contractors are often given the option with high efficiency furnaces to directly vent the combustion air supply from outside (two-pipe system) or to use inside air for combustion (one-pipe system).

The benefit of reducing the infiltration of a home by using outside air for combustion usually trumps the slightly increased combustion efficiency that comes from warmer combustion air.

While this effect is not captured in the AFUE ratings of furnaces, there can be as much as a three per cent infiltration penalty when using inside air for combustion.

0.05” – 0.15” w.c.

0.2” – 0.25” w.c.

0.15” – 0.25” w.c.

In general, the lower the static pressure, the higher the airflow. The higher the airflow, the higher the electrical consumption of the fan motor. The fan power consumption, or at least the amperage draw of the fan motor, should be measured to ensure it is within the manufacturer’s suggested range.

3. Check, monitor and adjust cycle times and total run times.

I am an advocate of properly sized furnaces. Short cycling from an oversized furance can impact long-term durability and compromise comfort. Although it doesn’t significantly impact the efficiency of the appliance, it can reduce the overall energy performance of the house.

If homeowners are compensating for cold rooms by increasing the temperature, there could be an energy penalty. Encourage the use of monitoring thermostats – controls that have the ability to track run and cycle times of furnaces over a long period of time.

The history provided can be very useful to technicians in diagnosing comfort issues and equipment failures, as well as replacing existing equipment. It may even prompt a reason for an immediate change by helping with appropriate sizing.

SELLING service While a traditional furnace cleaning or tune-up may no longer bring much perceived value to the owner of a high efficiency furnace, there are a number of diagnostic tests, adjustments and enhancements that can be made by professional HVAC technicians this winter to improve the safety, health, comfort, durability and energy efficiency of high efficiency furnace systems. We just need to make our customers aware of these benefits.

GL

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

Air sealing of ductwork.

Arm your technicians with information and a program for reducing air leakage of ducts that could be sold as an extra service to your clients. This could range from a simple taping or sealing of any exposed ductwork in the basement to a full air seal that injects a sealant into the duct system as a whole.

Zoning opportunities.

Have your technicians sketch up the existing duct system so they can provide homeowners with a plan to improve temperature control throughout the home through the use of zoning options.

Higher energy-efficiency ratings and lower cabinet heights

Goodman® high-efficiency gas furnaces now offer more features and benefits than ever. And all of them help to make Goodman gas furnaces easier to sell and install. Take a look at some of the enhancements you’ll find on select Goodman brand gas furnaces.

- Energy-efficiency performance ratings up to 97% AFUE - Newly designed tubular heat exchanger with wrinkle bend technology - 20,000 BTU firing rate per burner to deliver capacities from 40,000 to 120,000 BTU - Vertical gas valve for easy field connection to either side of the cabinet

30,000 BTU AVAILABLE SOON!

Goodman Locations 1055 Cardiff Blvd., Mississauga, ON L5S 1P4

905-564-9791

1161 Parisien Street, Ottawa, ON K1B 4W4

613-745-3846

15700 Robins Hill Road, London, ON N5V 0A4

519-453-1200

46 Zatonski Avenue, Brantford, ON N3T 5L8

519-757-0965

8305 Jane Street, Unit 3, Vaughan, ON L4K 5Y3

905-760-2737

963 Brock Road, Suite 1-5, Pickering, ON L1W 3A4

905-420-4001

41 Brockley Dr, Unit #8, Hamilton, ON L8E 3C3

905-573-6565

2640 Jacques Cartier-Est, Longueuil, QC J4N 1P8

450-674-3883

- Thumb screws on the cabinet doors for easy access without tools

4313 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval, QC H7L 5W5

450-681-2220

6741 Cariboo Road, Unit 111, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A3

604-420-1331

- Factory installed internal trap for vertical applications

18043 111th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2P2

780-443-3072

7007 54th Street SE, #141, Calgary, AB T2C 3C2

403-250-6579

807 60th Street E, Saskatoon, SK S7K 5Z7

306-651-7350

- Overall cabinet height reduced to 34.5 inches

107 Mountianview Rd., Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6

204-633-9133

®

- ComfortNet communicating control system compatible

Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2014 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. · Houston, Texas

www.goodmanmfg.com

For a closer look at the new line of Goodman high-efficiency gas furnaces, simply visit www.goodmanmfg.com or contact your local Goodman brand distributor.

HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” Rohr

Around Protecting non-condensing equipment

I

f you work with conventional, non-condensing boilers, you have to be aware of return fluid temperatures. Conventional boilers are generally constructed with cast iron, copper tube and steel, but the category really includes any fossil-fuelled boiler that was not designed and built to operate in condensing mode.

Whether intended as part of its operations or not, all boilers have the potential to condense when firing from a cold start condition. And cold is a relative term, so a cold start could be from room temperature, in some cases.

Notice how when you start your car or truck in the morning, sometimes there can be a bit of water dripping from the tailpipe. This is an example of exhaust gas condensation. Until the engine and exhaust piping warms above the dew point of the fuel, condensation will form.

With a boiler, condensation will be forming on the heat exchanger surfaces until the boiler warms above the flue gas temperature. In the business, it is generally agreed that 130 to 140°F return temperature will be adequate to lift the boiler above the condensing mode.

The problems that arise from inadequate return protection can present in as little as a few weeks or months under extreme conditions, or years later. Dangerous conditions can arise if the heat exchangers start to corrode and plug up.

So heed my words, dear contractor, ensure there’s hot water available on your return, or your customer will also be back at ya,

Protective Steps The only way to confirm 100 per cent return protection is to have a device that can monitor and react to that temperature at the return connection to the boiler.

Likewise, a bypass pump alone, even a variable speed type with temperature sensing on the return piping, cannot ensure 100 per cent protection. Until you have a temperature responsive valve or device at the return, the system is unprotected.

Simply put, we need to adjust the flow rate through the boiler to guarantee adequate protection.

40

An inspection camera can be used to check the condition of the flue tiles in a masonry chimney. Consult a chimney specialist for help with inspections; they have the tools and training.

These valves are available packaged with the circulator pump and a gravity gate (a.k.a. a swing check valve). This is the most common product used on woodfired and pellet-fired equipment sold around the world.

There are a number of simple, and inexpensive methods to ensure your boiler is protected.

While some installers will use bypass piping with a manually adjusted valve, this will not, and cannot, guarantee complete protection as it does not have an adequate means to sense and respond to temperature.

TOOLS AND SUPPORT

The most simple return protection device is a three-way thermostatic mixing valve. The valve can be a fixed temperature, non-adjustable style.

The valve needs to be equipped with a thermostatic sensor that allows flow to bypass back to the boiler until the return temperature is reached. Remember, these valves have a differential, or hysteresis, so be sure to calculate that into the temperature selection. For example, a valve with a 120°F sensor and an 18° differential will need to sense 138° to close off the bypass line completely.

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

Another common method of otection used is motorized mixing ee- and four-port valves are sold for this use. These use a motor to spin the spool to the proper mixing temperature. These valves need to connect to a control that is monitoring the return temperature.

Return protection can be accomplished with pumps as well. Variable speed controls can monitor the return and adjust the flow rate. This can be easily accomplished with a two-pump setup. continued on page 42

HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d ” Rohr

continued from page 40

The system distribution pump will decrease speed as the bypass pump increases flow to ensure that the boiler stays above the return temperature.

A variable speed pump on the bypass alone will not ensure that the distribution flow cannot exceed the output of the boiler. Two pumps, both responding to the temperature sensors at the return piping, will provide full protection.

The Influence Of Piping The distribution system and piping connected to the boiler has a major impact on how much time the boiler operates in the condensing mode. A low water content, low mass boiler connected to copper fin tube baseboard will ramp up quickly. A high mass boiler connected to a concrete slab radiant system is an example of the other extreme, taking hours, possibly days to warm above dew point. But it’s the distribution system that drives the thermal equilibrium in the system; the boiler is not in the driver seat.

A competent installer needs to determine the proper piping eate as short a warm up period for te that the entire flue piping sysve dew point, as the condensation rosion in the flue or chimney, and wn into the boiler draft hood or heat exchanger.

On every boiler installation or service that you are involved in, look for signs of corrosion around the flue piping and connections. Check for any rusting and corrosion of the boiler sheet metal jacketing around the flue connection. This is one step to determine the operating conditions of the equipment.

Inspecting the flue piping or masonry chimney is another wise step, especially if you suspect the boiler has been operating for extended periods or seasons in condensing mode.

GET OUT OF CONDENSING MODE, FAST Most boilers operate, for a period of time, in a condensing mode when they first fire up. With a non-condensing piece of equipment, the system designer and installer should provide a means to ensure the boiler warms above condensing mode within the first 10 to 15 minutes of operation, in my opinion. I have not seen an accepted industry standard for that start-up time period, but I suspect that most boiler manufacturers would agree with the suggested timing. And while there may not be an industry standard, your boiler manufacturer may have a guideline for the acceptable time period, so always consult with the installation and operation manual provided with the equipment.

42

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WHAT TO WATCH FOR Boilers that are oversized to the load, or that short cycle, shutting down before they warm above condensing mode, may be showing signs of low return temperature induced problems.

In these situations, you’ll see corrosion, systems clogging up, and poor overall performance.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years.

A long-time columnist and trainer, he is manager of training and education with Caleffi North America. You can reach Hot Rod at bob.rohr@caleffi.com.

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It takes more than just hard work to become part of

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Legend • 300 N. Opdyke Rd. • Auburn Hills, MI 48326 • ph: 800-752-2082 • fax: 800-835-4457 • www.legendvalve.com

Commercial

Planet Dewy 30 BFT

Murelle HE 30

Format.Zip

• 110,000 Btu/h • Condensing 97% AFUE • Built in 3-way valve • DHW controls • Indirect tank sensor included • 10-year warranty on heat exchanger

• Combi: Heating & DHW • 110,000 Btu/h, 97% condensing • 2 zone heating control • Solar ready • 10-year warranty on heat exchanger

• Combi: Heating & DHW • Non-Condensing 85% • 133,000 Btu/h • Co-axle termination kit included • 5-year warranty on heat exchanger

Planet Dewy 60 BFR

Murelle 110R

Cascade System

• 210,000 Btu/h • Cascade up to 12 units • DHW Ready • Ideal for commercial & large residential applications • 10-year warranty on heat exchanger

• 399,000 Btu/h • Cascade up to 12 units • 97% condensing • Building management capable • 10-year warranty on heat exchanger

• Cascade can combine 2 to 12 Planet Dewy 60 or Murelle 110R boilers for outputs up to 2.5 MBH • 34 to 1 turndown ratio offers the ultimate in flexibility

Substation HE/DHW 10/50 LRT • Combi without the boiler • No Vent or Combustion • Heat/DHW on demand • Smart-meter Ready • Ideal for condos

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Every Sime boiler comes complete with circulator, air eliminator and expansion tank.

Plus, a 2-year warranty on all components.

With over 3,000,000 boilers in the marketplace since our founding and 40-years of experience, we are now one of the world’s largest boiler companies. Sime boilers are contractor friendly, easily serviceable and feature 24/7 support.

Increase your sales and increase your profitability with Sime’s Roll-Back Pricing. Find out more at:

Planet Dewy 30/50 • Combi: Heating & DHW • 110,000 Btu/h, 97% condensing • 50 litre built-in storage • Re-circ capable • Luxury of a wall hung, performance of a tank • 10-year warranty on heat exchanger

www.simenorthamerica.com

with Roger Grochmal

7R RZQ OHDVH RU UHQW â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like to own the equipment that I use, and the shop that I have, but am I making the most of my money by doing so?â&#x20AC;? Allan B., Toronto, Ont.

7,3 Keep in mind that owned assets can

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 Magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editor, Adam Freill, adam.freill@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Breakdowns limit growth

T

be a source of cash

his is a question that should be asked and answered every time you look to acquire a major physical asset. The answer changes based on the when business takes amount of cash on hand, your growth plans for the business and where a downturn into a you expect to be when you are finished working. recession.

Over the years, I have acquired plenty of capital assets, everything from tools to trucks to computers. I have often paid cash when the books are healthy and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a better use for the money. I have also financed purchases with banks to build relationships when I am looking to preserve cash. And I have leased trucks both on and off the balance sheet. I have always rented rather than purchased buildings. There really is no simple answer to this question. It is a function of time and money.

Outside of the intricacies of leasing versus buying, an important overriding question you have to ask yourself is where you are in the strategic lifecycle of your business. While businesses are young and growing and cash is scarce, it makes sense to lease or finance an asset like a building or a truck. Just remember that a leasing company will want to look at the financial strength of your business to ensure they have a likelihood of getting repaid.

A lot of contractors build their business to a size they can comfortably manage without bringing additional managers into the picture. They then coast along comfortably at this level for a long time. In this mode, a lot of contractors generate significant cash, which can be put to good use by purchasing assets, especially when returns in the financial markets are as low as they are today.

Contractors may be tempted to squeeze the maximum life out of every asset, but remember there is a best before date on everything.

Tools, trucks and computers must be well maintained and repeated breakdowns can be problematic not only for your staff but also for your customers.

46

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,D=0 H , D , P@ , @+ħ'' ħ= 0 Oħ,@à All-new for 2015, the Ram ProMaster City is the cargo van that’s ready to take your business into the tightest of urban environments. But don’t let its city-perfect size fool you. It packs big power in an available 2.4L TigersharkTM MultiAir® I-4 engine with class-exclusive nine-speed automatic transmission.* It also carries big loads thanks to its generous cargo capacity (3729L), payload (854kg), and cargo width between the wheel wells (1229 mm). And its 180-degree-opening 60/40 split rear doors means unloading on a busy street is no longer a big deal. It all adds up to more capability than any competitor vehicles in its class.* So if you want to give a big boost to your urban operations, look into the all-new Ram ProMaster City, a small revolution in cargo vans.

fleetchrysler.ca *Based on Class 1 Small Cargo Vans. Excludes other vehicles designed and manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC.

1 800 463-3600

HVAC/R Products P Leak detection kit Spectronics’ BigEZ leak detection kit features a rechargeable violet light LED leak detection flashlight with an inspection range of 25 feet. Also included in the kit are a dye injector, universal/POE dye cartridge, hose assembly with check valve and low-loss fitting, a purge fitting, an 8 oz. spray bottle of dye cleaner, three drip plugs, an AC/DC charger, and fluorescence-enhancing glasses.

spectroline.com

Thermostat for zoning Tempstar’s Observer communicating wall control is designed to manage individual zone airflow, temperature, humidity, dehumidification, ventilation and indoor air quality in up to six zones. It features a touch-screen interface, customizable zone names and programmable weekend and weekday schedules.

tempstar.com

CO analyzer The Monoxor Plus carbon monoxide analyzer from Bacharach performs CO measurements in increments of 1 ppm. The unit also measures temperature. It features a display that toggles between real-time CO trending graphs and numerical data readings with a 10-record storage capacity.

mybacharach.com

Heat pump GeoStar’s Aston Compact commercial water source heat pump units offer efficiencies ranging from 3.7 to 4.8 COP and 18.0 to 30.0 EER. They are available in capacities from 0.75 to 6 tons. Features include hot gas bypass and reheat, and a choice of high-efficiency PSC, 5-speed ECM or variable speed ECM blower motors.

The Tranquility Vertical Stack (TSL) Series ducted heat pump unit from ClimateMaster is offered in 0.75- to 3-ton capacities. It comes with a multispeed, PSC direct-drive blower motor, with an optional pre-programmed, variable-speed ECM motor available. The unit offers efficiencies up to 27.2 EER and 4.7 COP for a ground water heat pump system, 19.4 EER and 3.7 COP for a ground loop heat pump system, and 16.4 EER and 5.4 COP for a water loop system.

geostar-geo.com

climatemaster.com

Water-source heat pumps

Residential furnaces

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

Affinity YP9C gas furnaces from York are offered with heating inputs ranging from 60,000 to 120,000 BTUH and efficiencies up to 98% AFUE. Features include fully-gasketed, independent access doors with view ports, aluminized tubular heat exchangers and variable-speed ECM motors. They are built with a fully-supported, slide-out blower assembly.

york.com 48

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- MADE IN CANADA FOR CANADIAN WINTERS -

WKH QHZHVW PHPEHU RI WKH QDSROHRQ IDPLO\

Now a complete line of high efficiency furnaces to suit any residential application. 9200, 9500, 9600 & 9700 Series.

• 9200 Series - 30,000 to 120,000 BTU’s (92.1% AFUE) • 9200 Series - Smallest cabinet available, only 14” wide • 9700 Series - Highest efficiency two stage gas furnace on the market

napoleonheatingandcoooling.com

ROAD WARRIOR

B y A n d r ew S n ook

Name: 4PJOHLS 2PSSHT Company: ;OLYTVRSPUL 4LJOHUPJHS Job title: 7YLZPKLU[ Been in the industry: `LHYZ Age: Born in: 4VU[YLHS 8\L Lives in: )YHTW[VU 6U[

Photos: David Chidley

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50

ichael Killam has always been interested in the world of HVAC and refrigeration. His interest was piqued at the age of 15 while working part-time at a curling club. A few years later, he decided it would be a wise career path for him.

He enrolled in Humber College’s environmental engineering course and took a liking to it quickly. After he completed his apprenticeship, he spent several years working for someone else’s company before branching off and going into business for himself.

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“It’s great,” he says, referring to launching his own firm. “It’s a lot more flexibility for me, and a lot more responsibility.” Although it was tough getting everything together when he started out, Michael has been able to grow his business into a five-truck fleet that has more than 100 service contracts for buildings.

Knowing that 16-hour work days are a regular occurrence in Michael’s busy life, we pulled him away from his business for a few moments to learn a bit more about the brains behind the business…

Favourite tool: My M18 Milwaukee Hackzall. >OH[ÂťZ `V\Y MH]V\YP[L [OPUN HIV\[ [OL QVI& The new technology that presents itself every year. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a constant challenge. ;LSS TL HIV\[ `V\Y SH[LZ[ QVIZP[L Our latest job is for a steel manufacturer; retroďŹ ts for 15 radiant tube heaters inside. >OH[ÂťZ `V\Y MVUKLZ[ TLTVY` VU [OL QVI& Working on Carrierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aquaforce 500 chiller.

-H]V\YP[L YHKPV Z[H[PVU! 97.7 HTZ-FM -H]V\YP[L WLYMVYTLYZ! AC/DC and Godsmack )LZ[ JVUJLY[ L]LY H[[LUKLK& CrĂźe Fest at Darian Lake.

-H]V\YP[L TV]PL! Rounders -H]V\YP[L JHY[VVU HZ H RPK! He-Man and the

-H]V\YP[L THNHaPUL HZPKL MYVT 4LJOHUPJHS )\ZPULZZ ! Maxim -H]V\YP[L ;= ZOV^Z! Sons of Anarchy and Bering Sea Gold. )PNNLZ[ WL[ WLL]L! Apprentices or mechanics that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do up extension cords properly. Everything is tangled up, and then they spend half an hour trying to untangle it.

>OLU 0 ^HZ H RPK 0 ^HU[LK [V IL a hockey player. ;OL ILZ[ HK]PJL ZVTLIVK` OHZ NP]LU `V\ PZ! My father said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just keep working hard and be honest with people.â&#x20AC;?

0M `V\ JV\SK IL HU HUPTHS ^OH[ ^V\SK `V\ IL& A great white shark.

7SHJLZ `V\ ^V\SK SPRL [V ]PZP[! Hawaii or New Zealand -HY[OLZ[ WSHJL L]LY [YH]LSSLK MYVT OVTL! The United Kingdom 6UL ^VYK [OH[ KLZJYPILZ `V\!

Trustworthy

DID YOU KNOW? â&#x20AC;˘ Michael reads a lot of technical literature.

0M `V\ JV\SK TLL[ HU`VUL HSP]L VY KLHK ^OV ^V\SK P[ IL& Wayne Gretzky

â&#x20AC;˘ He likes to be very organized for his jobs.

0M 0 ^HZ 7YPTL 4PUPZ[LY MVY H KH` 0 ^V\SK

â&#x20AC;˘ Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very athletic. When he was younger he played hockey, baseball, soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and more.

š

probably

Favourite car: The new Lamborghini Aventador.

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51

www.ciphexwest.ca CIPHEX West comes to Calgary Ài Ì > Î]äää «i « i >`i Ì i À Ü>Þ Ì > }>À޽à -Ì> «i`i *>À Û° x > ` È Ì V iV ÕÌ * 8 7iÃÌ] 7iÃÌiÀ > >`>½Ã >À}iÃÌ ÌÀ>`i Ã Ü v À Ì i iV > V> ÃiVÌ À° `ÕÃÌÀÞ «À viÃà > à } Ì Ì Ãii Ì i >ÌiÃÌ «À `ÕVÌà vÀ Ì i Óxä « Õà > Õv>VÌÕÀiÀà > ` ÃÕ«« iÀà v « Õ L }] 6Ƃ É,] }i Ì iÀ > ] Þ`À VÃ] wÀi «À ÌiVÌ > ` Ü>ÌiÀ ÌÀi>Ì i Ì «À `ÕVÌà vÀ > >`>] Ì i 1°-° > ` ÛiÀÃi>Ã] V Õ` } > iÜ «À `ÕVÌ }> iÀÞ vi>ÌÕÀ } à i v Ì i `ÕÃÌÀ޽à >ÌiÃÌ Û>Ì Ã° 7iÌ i>`à y V i` Ì Ì i ÌÀ>`i à ܽà Þ`À Và V viÀi Vi] Ü iÀi Ì iÞ ÜiÀi ÌÀi>Ìi` Ì i`ÕV>Ì > ÃiÃà à vÀ à i v Ì i `ÕÃÌÀÞ½Ã Ì « > ià Þ`À VÃ] V Õ` } ÕÀ ÛiÀÞ Ü Mechanical Business

V Õ ÃÌ > > ° > à >Ài` >`Û Vi > ` ÃÌ À ià vÀ à > Þ Þi>ÀÃ Ì i ÌÀ>`i] > ` > ÃÜiÀi` µÕiÃÌ Ã `ÕÀ } > «> i ` ÃVÕÃà ° ƂÌÌi `iià > à >` Ì i «« ÀÌÕ ÌÞ Ì Ì> i Ãi >Àà ÃÕV Ì « Và >à Ü>ÌiÀ ` à viVÌ ] Ã> ià > ` >À iÌ }] ] Ü>ÌiÀ « «i à â }] Õ ` Ài i` >Ì ] > ` V>à y Ü > >}i i Ì° / i Ã Ü Ü>à V V>Ìi` Ü Ì Õ `iÝ > }>ÀÞ] Ü V LÀ Õ} Ì «À `ÕVÌà > ` ÃiÀÛ Vià v À Ì i `ià } ] V ÃÌÀÕVÌ > ` > >}i i Ì v LÕ ` }Ã Ì Ì i à >Ài` >Õ` i Vi° / i iÝÌ * 8 7iÃÌ ÌÀ>`i Ã Ü Ã ÃV i`Õ i` Ì Ì> i « >Vi 6> V ÕÛiÀ Óä£È° continued on page 54

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1. Checking out new technology in the CIPHEX West New Product Gallery. 2. Aaron Biffert of Ecowater Systems Calgary discusses options for water disinfection. 3. Mechanical Business columnist Dan Holohan, a notable author and heating specialist, brought his blend of humour and insight to the Hydronics Conference, offered as part of the CIPHEX West show experience. 4. Registering for the show. 5. Zurn Industries product manager Bryon Keats (right) shares some information about commercial plumbing options with a group of contractors.

IF

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The Evolution of High Efficiency Condensing Boilers High efficiency stainless steel boiler Models from 57,000 to 199,000 BTU/Hr Available in a combi version Fully modulating with 8:1 turndown Advanced outdoor reset control Venting to 150' on most models 2" venting on most models up to 100'

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6. Andy Fretz, the Canadian regional sales manager of commercial product for Apollo Valves discusses elbows and stops at his booth.

7. Mark McGuire, general manager with Mag Tool, attracts an audience to his pipe cutting demonstration. 8. The HBX Control Systems team smiles for the camera. 9. Mike Cantin shows off furnaces at the Napoleon booth. 10. Darryl Singleton (left), Doug Mantik and Frank Hennessy talk shop in the AquaTech booth/Lochinvar trailer. 11. Show attendees check out their loot bags, courtesy of Mechanical Business. 12. Caleb Barthel of Milwaukee Electric Tool sends wood chips flying during an exhibition of his company’s cordless power tools. 13. OS&B’s Brent Cornelissen (middle) receives the product innovation award in the plumbing and piping category for his company’s ITD35 Island Tub Drain Rough-in. 14. Curious attendees swarm the Hilmor booth to check out their latest tools. 15. Dan Holohan attracted a considerable crowd to his session during the Hydronics Conference.

IH

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HYDRONIC

Products

Legend’s Versatherm snap-fit radiant panel system features 3/4” thick panels that are pre-insulated, water resistant and protected by metal.

They are designed for use with 1/2” tubing and offer tube spacing that is 8” on centre. The panels can be cut for tight installations.

Ball valve Webstone’s Isolator Uni-Flange Ball Valve is outfitted with press connections. It is available on rotating flange isolators with or without a drain, in sizes ranging from 3/4” to 2”. The valve is compatible with a wide variety of press tools.

www. webstonevalves.com

www. legendvalve.com

Air and dirt separator Wall-hung boiler The Murelle 110R modulating, condensing boiler from Sime offers thermal efficiencies up to 97%. It has a maximum heating input of 399,000 BTUH and features a built-in circulator, flow switch and air bleeders. It can be cascaded with up to 12 units and is building management capable.

www. simenorthamerica.com

Outdoor reset control The CPU-0550 outdoor reset control from HBX Controls is designed to accommodate staging, mixing, and differential set point and pump sequencer applications. It can operate with up to 3 on/off boilers, or with a single modulating boiler.

Additional features include colour coded and keyed terminals and a multi-colour display.

www. hbxcontrols.com

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CELEBRITY FEATURE

Photos: Steve Wilkie

By Andrew Snook

B

rent Butt is ready to fill up movie theaters this Christmas season.

With the recent release of Corner Gas: The Movie, fans hit theaters across the country to catch a glimpse of the cast of characters from the Saskatchewan-based hit sitcom that entertained millions of Canadian viewers over its six seasons.

After wrapping up the show, Brent worked on several projects, including the television show Hiccups and the film No Clue. He started to get more serious about ideas for a Corner Gas movie with other writers from the show about three years ago, and says it took a long time to come up with a script that he thought would work.

“It was always on my radar, and with my partners as well, it was something we liked the idea of,” he says. “I didn’t want to even pursue the movie if we couldn’t come up with a script that we felt was good.”

In the movie, the people of Dog River, Sask., wind up face to face with their biggest crisis in the town’s history, when Brent and the rest of the cast find out the town has been badly mismanaged, forcing residents to pack up and leave. As the people of Dog River come together in a final attempt to save the town... we won’t give away the ending. The movie will run on television and be available on DVD soon, so watch for it in your neck of the woods.

To keep up to date on all of Brent’s projects, follow him on Twitter @BrentButt.

JN

DIDYOUKNOW?

Brent Butt entertained hundreds of industry CIPH’s gala in support of Habitat

Big screen vs T.V. screen Although the “nuts and bolts” of television and filmmaking are similar to Brent, he found working on the movie had a large number of differences from working on the television series, especially when it came to the writing.

“Writing a 90-minute script that is based on a project that usually lived 22 minutes at a time, that was a tricky thing,” he explains. “That’s why we took two-and-a-half years to get it right.”

Another big difference Brent experienced during the making of the film was that he found his workload was significantly reduced, when compared to filming the television series where production often meant 17-hour work days and juggling multiple projects simultaneously.

“I would be editing the one we had just shot, acting in the one we’re shooting, and writing on the one we would be doing the next week, so there was no downtime,” he explains. “Even when there was a camera turnaround – if there was 10 minutes where would be doing a lighting setup – I would be running somewhere. That’s because you’re feeding the machine. But with a movie it’s a one-off, so all my writing is already done, and I’m not going to be editing for months. So on set, the pace of a movie for me was much lighter.”

Crowdsourcing Although Brent had already obtained the multi-million dollar funding needed for Corner Gas: The Movie, he thought crowdsourcing through a Kickstarter campaign for additional funds for the film would be a fun way to reach out to the show’s fans, while increasing awareness of the film and offering some value-added bonuses to the fans – like making the robot-werewolf fight better.

The response from eager fans was immediate. His goal to raise $100,000 over 30 days was raised in 26 hours.

“We were the No. 1 show for quite a while and whenever I travel people are always talking to me about it, so it felt like the demand was there, but you never really know,” he says. “When the response to the Kickstarter was that immediate, it made as all feel like the time is right to do [the movie] for sure.”

For more information about Corner Gas: The Movie, visit cornergasthemovie.com.

Drywall’s OK, but hands off the plumbing While starting up his career doing stand-up comedy at night, Brent worked as a drywaller during the day.

While he claims he wasn’t particularly good at it, and is not an ‘overly handy guy,’ he did manage to convert his garage into a game room with the help of a friend.

“It was fun without a lot of stress, because at the end of the day if your seam isn’t perfect, it is your garage, it is a game room, and it is going to be a bunch of guys sitting around playing poker. They’re not going to be too fussy about it,” he says. “It’s not like you’re working inside your house where you want everything to be beautiful.”

Still, he’s proud of his handiwork.

Of course, when it comes to the mechanical systems in his home and on his sets, he believes in hiring qualified people.

“I’m a firm believer in hiring a pro. I don’t want people to entertain themselves, I want people to hire me to come entertain you,” he laughs.

“In No Clue, there’s a line in the movie where Amy Smart’s character is trying to hire my character to help her find her brother and she doesn’t want to go to the police.

My character says, ‘That’s never a good idea, because this is like plumbing. You think ‘Oh, I can do this myself’ and the next thing you know you’re up to your neck in water and there’s poop floating by.’

That’s how I feel. I shouldn’t muck around with anything where if it goes sideways I could either ruin my home or be electrocuted and die.”

Success takes planning

Cameos and covers Corner Gas and Mechanical Business magazine have had some of the same famous Canadian faces make an appearance, including Colin Mochrie and Darryl Sittler, to name a few.

“There were a lot of guys that showed up on the set that didn’t have to be there the day Sittler was on,” he laughs.

Brent says the biggest buzz around the studio took place during the filming involving Darryl Sittler and The Tragically Hip. “[The Tragically Hip] shot their scene at 7:30 in the morning and the studio was packed. It was like getting a free concert.”

members with his stand-up comedy at for Humanity Canada in 2008.

DIDYOUKNOW? During the show’s 107 episodes over six seasons, Corner Gas had an average audience of 1.4 million viewers. The series finale from April 2009 still holds the largest audience on record for a Canadian scripted television series with 3.02 million viewers.

JE

Newfoundland brings new found opportunities 1

PHOTOS 2

3

4

A new outlook on training, recognition of the plumbing industry, and rating systems for buildings were all on the agenda of MCACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual general meeting and conference, which took place from Sept. 24 to 27 in St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Nfld.

The Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation (CMCEF) is being absorbed by MCA Canada (MCAC) and will be rebranded. The non-profit training organization will now be known as the Construction Education Council, and will function as a council within MCAC. CMCEF executive director Tania Johnston explained that overlapping administrative costs were a major reason for the change and says she is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the rebranded council. The CEC will be managed by Johnston.

CIPH chairman Paul McDonald sent his greetings on behalf of CIPH and talked about working with MCAC to promote World Plumbing Day. McDonald said he hopes to have World Plumbing Day announced in the House of Commons. Former plumber turned Senator Don Plett also discussed the importance of World Plumbing Day during the AGM.

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“We’ve finally been given the respect we deserve,” Plett told the crowd.

6

7

Conference attendees had the opportunity to attend several educational sessions, including presentations on ASHRAE’s Building Energy Quotient (BEq) rating program, prompt payment legislation in Canada, and business management as it relates to mechanical contracting.

Guest speakers included keynote speaker General Rick Hillier, the former chief of the defence staff for Canadian Forces; award-winning designer and renovation expert Karen Sealy; and psychology professor Brian Little.

Additional events included a suppliers showcase, barhopping down George Street and plenty of local entertainment.

8

9

The 2015 MCAC conference will take place Nov. 16 to 19, in Palm Springs, Calif. mcac.ca

5

1. MCAC Manitoba board member Brad Mason continues a local tradition by kissing the cod during the Rally in the Alley on George Street.

2. Senator Don Plett, a plumber by trade, addresses the crowd during the opening night festivities. 3. Derek Ermen checks out the latest product offerings from Victaulic with Pierre Dandurand during the Suppliers Innovation Showcase. 4. MCAC executive chairman Gaetan Beaulieu welcomes his fellow MCAC members to the conference. 5. CIPH chairman Paul McDonald expresses greetings on behalf of CIPH. 6. MCAC members try to keep pace with tap dancers Erica Fitzergerald (middle) and Chelsea Ash of Dance Studio East. 7. Tim Meadows of Victaulic introduces Rick Hillier during the opening breakfast. 8. During the opening breakfast, keynote speaker Rick Hillier, former chief of the defence staff for Canadian Forces, discusses the importance of strong leadership. 9. Singer and comedian Snook (a.k.a. Pete Soucy) hams it up for the camera during MCAC’s opening night kitchen party.

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63

PLUMBING

B y Fr ed B r et zk e

A HistorY OF re-circulation B

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.

ack in the ’70s, in rural London, Ont., I used to rough-in condos and houses. It was brutally cold in those humid winters. When assembling copper waterlines, Type M copper was heavily used, since it was the cheapest and easiest to solder as it had the thinnest wall of the three major kinds of copper pipe. This became a bit of problem when plumbing companies would use this type of copper for re-circulation lines in large apartment buildings.

Hot water is more corrosive than cold water, and if you recirculate it at a higher velocity than normal it can create problems within the system. Thin-walled copper pipe can wear down more quickly than Type K or Type L, and this caused many a leak back in the ’60s and ’70s.

If you ever walk into an old building where you can see re-painted 12”x12” square access ceiling panels, rest assured that some of those are former re-circulation, Type M copper leaks that have been repaired.

At the time, engineers were recommending the use of Type L copper over Type M copper because of its wall thickness. However it was only a recommendation, so some plumbing companies sacrificed quality by shortcutting the use of Type L copper pipe on downfeed systems and risers for recirculation lines.

Instead of installing Type L copper throughout the recirculation line, some plumbers would alternate between Type M and Type L copper every other length.

After many service calls, plumbing companies and customers were looking for a better fix.

The perception was that the most likely spot for corrosion to occur would be at bends and 90-degree turns, which are basically where a change of velocity and force would occur, so the theory was that if one alternated every other length of copper piping on the long straight runs, it shouldn’t get too many pin holes in the recirculation line.

This worked to a point, however the piping could still wear down and begin leaking. Eventually, engineers became much more stringent with their rules on Type L copper for recirculation lines.

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64

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PLUMBING

continued from page 64 continued from page 32

By the code Section 2.6.1.1. (2) of the 2010 National Plumbing Code dictates that all buildings taller than two storeys, and whenever there is a situation where the furthest fixture is at least 90 metres from the hot water source, a re-circulation line is required.

Plumbing Purposes Type of Copper Tube or Pipe

Water Service Pipe

Water Distribution System Underground

Aboveground

Building Sewer

Drainage System Underground

Aboveground

Venting System Underground

Aboveground

K & L hard temper

N

N

P

P

P

P

P

P

K & L soft temper

P

P

P

N

N

N

N

N

M hard temper

N

N

P

N

N

P

N

P

M soft temper

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

N

DWV

N

N

N

N

N

P

N

P

P = Permitted N = Not Permitted

Special K

Type K copper piping (green coded) is still the best copper to use for water services below ground. Type K is the thickest-walled copper and lasts the longest, especially underground.

Type K copper can also be very easily bent as it is a softer material. This is what makes it perfect for rolling it in a trench underground and making subtle turns with it.

Medical gas lines in hospitals are also made of Type K hard copper. Instead of soldering them, however, we would actually braze them together for a much higher joint stability.

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During The Second World War, copper was being used mainly for weapons, so plumbers back then were using a fifty-fifty mix of soft copper and lead tubing for the underground services to houses. It worked for a while, but 20 years later when they leaked it was impossible to join to them, so we would replace them.

Back in the day – and I mean back in the day, like the 1960s and 1970s – copper was relatively inexpensive in price and used abundantly. This was when a house was typically a one-floor bungalow and a commercial building was square in shape.

I always preferred to solder over assembling black gas pipe fittings together – when you installed a gas line, you looked like a chimney sweep by the end of it. Copper was cleaner and nicer looking. The only drawback was how much the flux would sting, if you had a cut on your hands. =;J ?D JEK9>

66

Throughout time, copper has been used for weapons, pipes, and as a healer for mankind. In the plumbing world, it’s had quite the evolution over the years.

We used copper for all of our waterlines, drainage waste and vents. A journeyman plumber was proud of the art of soldering – we used to brag how clean our fifty-fifty lead-tin joints were, and how you could solder a whole house without a leak after holding a pressure test at 100 psi for two hours.

Stock up now and be ready to respond quickly to your customers’ needs this winter.

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“One of the primary things that a technician should be looking at when doing a maintenance check is the burner itself, and the primary air,” advises Moroz. “You have an air shutter opening. It is subject to getting blocked with dust over time, so you want to make sure that the ports are clean.”

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Log placement may also affect the airflow pattern in the fireplace, which can cause performance issues.

“With a fireplace or hearth product, because you restrict the primary air and depend more on the air around the flame, things like improperly positioned logs can cause a dirty flame, and can cause carboning and cause the glass to soot up,” he explains. “In fact, where it is venting outside you can have carbon deposits on a wall, just because you have mispositioned a log within the flame.”

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CREATING A LOOK

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Maintaining the balance - i v Ì i ÃÌ V «À L i Ã Ü Ì i>ÀÌ «À `ÕVÌà ÃÌi vÀ Ì i Ûi Ì « «ið - i ÃÌ> iÀÃ Þ Ãi> Ì i iÝ >ÕÃÌ « «i] > ` Ì Ì i Ãi> Ã Ì i Ì> i « « }] Ü V V> V>ÕÃi > L> > Vi > Ãi> i` V LÕÃÌ ÃÞÃÌi °

º/ iÞ >Þ Ì Ài> âi Ì >Ì Ì iÞ }iÀ >Ûi > L> > Vi` yÕi]» Ã>Þà À â° º Þ >Û } «i ÌÃ] Ì Ã Ài iÛ } Ì i `À>vÌ > ` > } Ì Ã Ì >Ì Þ Õ V> «Õ Ài > À Ì À Õ} Ì i ÃÞÃÌi Ì > Þ Õ Ã Õ ` >Ûi° / à V> V ÌÀ LÕÌi Ì ÕÌ>}i «À L i Ã] > ` Ì i ÛiÀ i>Ì } v à i V « i Ìð» Ûi Ü i Ìà >Ûi Lii Ãi> i`] à i Ãi> > Ìà V> `iÌiÀ À>Ìi ÛiÀ Ì i] À >Þ Ì >Ûi Lii Õ« Ì Ì i Ì>à v Ì i } i>Ì >«« V>Ì Ì >Ì V> iÝ ÃÌ Ü i V Ì>VÌ Ü Ì Ì i wÀiL Ý° º v Ü>à ëiVÌ } > wÀi« >Vi] Ü Õ ` Li Õà } > V> iÀ> À > ÃV «i ÃÞÃÌi ] «ÕÌÌ } Ì Õ« Ì i yÕi > ` } Ì Ãii v Ì >Ì Ãi> > Ì Ãii à Ì>VÌ° -> i Ì i ÌiÀ >Ì ]» i ÃÕ}}iÃÌð

SENSING THE FLAME

Just one look at the AirEase® line and you’ll see why hundreds of dealers across North America have chosen AirEase for their businesses. Our heating and cooling products are expertly crafted for long-lasting performance, and they’re built with features that meet the unique demands of your market.

Give yourself the AirEase advantage.

Learn more about becoming a dealer at www.alliedaircooling.com. ©2014 Allied Air Enterprises LLC.,a Lennox International Inc. Company

> i Ãi à Àà V> i ` Õ« Ü Ì > w Ì i ] Ü V Ü «>VÌ Ì i À V Ì>VÌ Ü Ì Ì i y> i° º1à } > Þ ÃVÀÕLLÞ Ì LÕvv Ì i ÃÕÀv>Vi à ÀiV i `i`]» Ã>Þà À â° º iÀÞ V Ì Ã vÌi V>ÀÀ i`] LÕÌ Ì >Þ Li Ì >LÀ>à Ûi > ` V Õ ` >VÌÕ> Þ `> >}i Ì i Ãi à À°»

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

JM

REFRIGERANT

B y Jim Th o m as an d K evin G ill Jim Thomas (right) is the owner of Refrigerant Services Inc. He can reached at jthomas@ rscool.com. Kevin Gill is an outside sales rep in Southern Ontario with Master Group L.P. He can be reached at kgill@master.ca.

Preparing for the 2015

phase-down W

ith the recent agreement reached between the U.S. and China on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the focus in the refrigerant sector is now squarely on dealing with products with high global warming potential (GWP).

For our industry, this means a renewed effort to improve the energy efficiencies of mechanical equipment while reducing, or eliminating the use of refrigerants that have high GWP. Some countries have introduced a tax on refrigerants based on their GWP ratings. In the U.S., the EPA recently proposed a ban on certain HFC refrigerants in specific applications, and Canada has recently announced there will be new regulations controlling the import and production of HFCs. Hopefully Canada will find a balanced approach to this latest wave of refrigerant replacements so that further chaos can be avoided. Maybe we can simplify things by looking at the basics. After all, there are really only two types of refrigerants, man-made and natural.

1ER QEHI VIJVMKIVERXW

When it comes to man-made refrigerants, we are generally looking at hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoro-olefins (HFOs).

The most common A1-rated HFCs range between a GWP of 1,400 and 4,000. HFOs with an ASHRAE rating of A2L (low toxicity and low flammability) have GWP ratings in the range of five to 10, but HFO refrigerant development is still in its early stages and the industry is still trying to figure out what special safety features and precautions will be needed to use A2L products safely over a wide variety of applications.

A new twist is research into HFC/HFO blends, which hold the promise of A1 ratings and lower GWPs than any single A1-rated HFC.

70

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

NATURAL REFRIGERANTS / i ÃÌ V >ÌÕÀ> ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ìà >Ài > > ­, ǣǮ] "Ó ­, Ç{{®] Ü>ÌiÀ ­, Ç£n® > ` Þ`À V>ÀL Ã] ÃÕV >à «À «> i ­, Ó ä®] LÕÌ> i ­, Èää®] > ` à LÕÌ> i ­, Èää>®° / iÃi «À `ÕVÌÃ] Vi Ài i>Ãi` Ì Ì i >Ì Ã« iÀi] >Ûi ÛiÀÞ Ü 7*] > ` Ì iÀiv Ài] V> Li Ãii >à > « Ìi Ì > > ÃÜiÀ Ì Ì i V >Ìi V > }i «À L i vÀ > i Û À i Ì> « Ì v Û iÜ° ÜiÛiÀ] Ü i Üi >Ì Ì iÃi «À `ÕVÌà vÀ > >«« V>Ì Ã « Ì v Û iÜ] Ì }à >Ài Ài V « V>Ìi`°

R-717 >à > Ƃ- ,Ƃ Ó Ã>viÌÞ À>Ì }] i> } Ì Ã y> >L i > ` Ì Ý V] Ã Ì Ã «À `ÕVÌ ÀiµÕ Àià ëiV > Ã>viÌÞ V à `iÀ>Ì Ã > ` «ÀiÛi Ì>Ì Ûi i>ÃÕÀiÃ Ì Li ÕÃi` «À «iÀ Þ° R-744 >à > Ƃ- ,Ƃ Ã>viÌÞ À>Ì } v Ƃ£] i> } Ì >à > Ü Ì Ý V ÌÞ > ` à y> >L i] LÕÌ ÀiµÕ Àià > ÛiÀÞ } «ÀiÃÃÕÀi Ì V `i Ãi] > ` Ì iÀiv Ài ÀiµÕ Àià } ÃÌÀi }Ì « « }] «ÀiÃÃÕÀi ÛiÃÃi à > ` V « i Ìð R-718 > à >à > Ƃ- ,Ƃ Ã>viÌÞ À>Ì } v Ƃ£ LÕÌ vÀiiâià à ` >Ì > } Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi] V «>À Ã Ì Ì iÀ ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ìð R-290, R-600 > ` R-600a > >Ûi > Ƃ- ,Ƃ Ã>viÌÞ À>Ì } v ƂÎ] i> } Ì iÞ >Ûi Ü Ì Ý V ÌÞ À>Ì }Ã] LÕÌ >Ài } Þ y> >L i° "Ì iÀ Ì > ÛiÀÞ Ì Þ > Õ ÌÃ] Ì iÃi «À `ÕVÌà ÀiµÕ Ài > ÃÞÃÌi `ià } i` ëiV wV> Þ v À y> >L i ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ìà > ` V> Ì Li V iVÌi` ` ÀiVÌ Þ Ì VVÕ« i` ë>Við

• Na t ura l re f r i g e r a n t s • M a n - mad e r efr iger an t s

R-410, EH? v Þ Õ >Ûi ½Ì > Ài>`Þ i>À`] ÀÕ Àà >Ài >LÕââ Ì >Ì , {£ä> >Þ Li Ìà Ü>Þ Ì Ì i V «« } L V ° Ƃ ÞiÃ] , {£ä>] Ì i > ÃÜiÀ Ì Ài« >V } , ÓÓ Ì Ã } >} ] Ü i > Õv>VÌÕÀiÀà >VÀ Ãà ÀÌ Ƃ iÀ V> ÃÌ ««i` > } , ÓÓ 6Ƃ Õ Ìà > ` Li}> `À>ÃÌ V> Þ Ài`ÕV } Ì i > Õ Ì v , ÓÓ Li } > Õv>VÌÕÀi`] > Ì Li Ài i Û À i Ì> Þ vÀ i ` Þ° ÕV i , ÓÓ] Ì Ü Ã Li Ài« >Vi`] LÕÌ Ì Ì Ã ° 7 Ì , {£ä> Li } > xä\xä Ý LiÌÜii , £Óx > ` , ÎÓ] > ` V>ÀÀÞ } > 7* v Ó]änÇ°x] Ì i yÕ À V>ÀL L i ` Ãii Ã Ì iiÌ Ì i iÜ ÃÌ> `>À`Ã] LÕÌ , ÎÓ Ã i>À Ì i Ì « v Ì i ÃÌ v « Ãà L i Ài« >Vi i Ìà v À , {£ä> Ì i vÕÌÕÀi° ̽à > Ài>`Þ >««À Ûi` Ƃà > v À ÕÃi ` iÃÌ V ÃÞÃÌi Ã] à > Ü ` Ü > À V ` Ì iÀà > ` `ÕVÌ iÃà ÃÞÃÌi Ã] > ` V>ÀÀ ià > 7* v ÈÇx° / iÀi Ã Ì > Ì v v> >À ÌÞ ÀÌ Ƃ iÀ V> Ü Ì , ÎÓ] ÜiÛiÀ] >à Üi Þ ÕÃi Ì L i `ð / >Ì >Þ V > }i Ì Õ} ] >Ã Ì i ivwV i VÞ Ã Ü Ì Ì Àii «iÀ Vi Ì v , {£ä>] Ì i «ÀiÃÃÕÀià >Ài i>À Þ `i Ì V> ] > ` Ì i } `i Ì >Ì Ü Õ ` V i vÀ > L i `i` ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ì Ã Ì > v>VÌ À° / i > À ÕÀ` i Ü Ì , ÎÓ iÃ Ü Ì Ìà V i V> V >Ãà wV>Ì ° , ÎÓ Ã V à `iÀi` Ì Li > V >Ãà ƂÓ ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ì] i> } Ì >à à i y> >L ÌÞ « Ìi Ì > ° ,iµÕ Ài` «À ÌiVÌ Ûi >ÌiÀ > à v À Ü À } Ü Ì Ì i ÀivÀ }iÀ> Ì V Õ`i Üi>À } ÃÌ>Ì V «À v Õ v À à > ` >Û } Ì Ã ÀÌ i½Ã Ãi v Ì }À Õ `] Ì > i LÕÌ > viÜ° / iÀi Ü Õ ` > à Li Ài}Õ >Ì Ã Ì } Ü ÕV , ÎÓ > ÌiV V > V> «ÕÌ Ì > ÃÞÃÌi Ì > >}i `> }iÀ iÛi ð

;LEX XLI JYXYVI LSPHW There is no doubt that changes are coming, and they are coming fast. There will be more natural refrigerants used in our industry, and new technologies will widen the application range for these products.

We will also see the introduction of HFOs and HFC/HFO blends, and more efficient HFC blends with lower GWP, blended specifically to be applied to existing equipment. And the phasing out of higher GWP HFCs, such as R-404A and R-507A, is quite possible as new regulations and agreements are crafted.

As more attention is paid to GWP, energy efficiency and refrigerant emissions, there is new opportunity for contractors, wholesalers and manufacturers who wish to focus their products and services in these areas.

Re-Think Refrigeration.

E

merging technologies. Integrated Systems. Smart Controls... Is your refrigeration OEM up to the task?

Modern refrigeration requires a new kind of OEM partner. An OEM who is as comfortable in a processing plant, as they are in the CAD room. An OEM who understands that “field work” trumps “lab work”. And an OEM who delivers turn-key solutions that have been designed, tested and field proven in the real world.

Oxford Refrigeration can help expand your opportunities and introduce your customers to the most technically advanced systems in North America. Let us show you how.

Never again get lost in the shuffle of a bid that specs the same technology the industry has been using for 30 years. Together we can present custom-built solutions for your processing, industrial, commercial and institutional customers.

• Build/Spec • Design Engineering • Custom Control Systems • Heat Transfer & Recovery Specialists • Engineered Pump Packages

Re-think refrigeration. Re-think with Oxford.

www.oxfordenergy.ca 519-532-6373 ' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

71

HVAC

continued from page 208

B y A n d r ew S n o ok

11624+065 $GYDQWDJHV

72

I

t’s no secret that the footprints of furnaces in homes are getting smaller. As homes are built with tighter envelopes, the heat loss these homes experience continues to decrease. But what are the key drivers pushing

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the manufacturers to create furnaces with smaller footprints?

Contractors should be thanking manufacturers for the shrinking furnace footprints. The smaller units are easier to take down basement steps or to place in tight mechanical rooms.

The smaller furnaces are also easier to transport to jobsites and can offer more duct configuration options, as well as opening the door to more accessories.

“They fit in more homes, can accommodate larger cooling coils because of reduced height and there’s more room to add indoor air quality accessories,” says Gary Emery, senior product manager of heating for Allied Air. Of course, one potential challenge that manufacturers of smaller furnaces might want to consider is service access.

“Designing and building the small cabinet furnace with service friendliness in mind will ensure that technicians have the access they need,” says Adam Wills of Rheem.

“It’s the building codes,” explains Marc Chénier, general

In one word, policy. manager for Dettson. “It’s a mandate of every level of government to have energy conservation in their policies.”

And this trend toward shrinking footprints is not likely to change in the future, says Adam Wills, Rheem’s Canadian general sales manager for HVAC. “As codes and standards continue to develop, and BTU requirements continue to shrink, this will drive smaller footprints, especially cabinet widths,” he says.

Allied Air’s senior marketing manager, Scott

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

MacMurdo, says he doesn’t see the footprint getting much smaller than the smaller units that have been unveiled in the past year or two, unless a new blower or burner technology is developed, but there may be other innovations on the horizon.

“I believe the future is in quick install and startup, diagnostic, prognostics and energy management areas,” he says.

%H FDOFXODWLQJ There are a variety of training options and software programs to help contractors with heat loss and heat gain calculations.

HRAI’s Skilltech training academy, for example, offers in-class training sessions on heat loss and heat gain calculations based

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on CSA Standard F-280-12, Determining the Required

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Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances. This standard is nationally recognized and is referenced by all Canadian building codes and will become the new standard for determining the required

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capacity of residential space heating and cooling

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applications on Jan. 1, 2015.

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Many HVAC manufacturers also offer heat load software

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and apps, and many of these are offered for free, so ask

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your local rep or wholesaler if they have a program that

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might work for you.

50

/

Savings.

100 / Comfort.

Proof that Great Things Come in Small Packages

The Water Savor™ Controller 7i V i Ì / i 7>ÌiÀ ->Û À Ò ÌÀ iÀ vÀ i iÀ> Ƃ Ài] Ì i `ÕÃÌÀ޽à iÜ ÃÌ> `>À` v À Ü>ÌiÀ Ã>Û }Ã] i Û À i Ì> Àië à L ÌÞ > ` V ÃÕ iÀ V v ÀÌ°

ià } i` > ` i } iiÀi` ÀÌ Ƃ iÀ V>] Ì i 7>ÌiÀ ->Û À Ò «À Û `iÃ Þ ÕÀ VÕÃÌ iÀÃ Ü Ì \

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Toll Free: 888-216-9184 www.cgfproducts.com

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73

COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

By D e ni se D e v e a u

KITCHENS TARGETING TIME, MONEY AND SPACE SAVINGS

R

on Dotzko is no stranger to commercial kitchen plumbing. The program coordinator for plumbing apprenticeship at Humber College in Toronto has been in commercial plumbing for 30 years, and a large portion of his work life

has been devoted to commercial kitchen facilities, ranging from stadiums to independent operations.

Hands-free in the kitchen At this point, low-flow faucets and fixtures are pretty much the norm in kitchen operations, notes Dotzko, but there’s still new technology making its way to the kitchen. “One thing that is growing in interest for operators is sensor-activated, hands-free fixtures,” he says.

“It makes sense, as long as you have enough water pressure.”

74

While he has seen a lot of progress when it comes to energy and water conservation, he says the plumbing principles have pretty much remained the same for their installation. The real innovations, he says, often come in the equipment being specified, and how systems are interacting.

Of course, keeping local plumbing inspectors happy with the system being installed is also critical to ensuring that clients will have potable water when it comes time to open the doors of their restaurant, cafeteria or food prep kitchen.

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RECOVERING ENERGY One big push in recent years has to do with the use of hot water in the kitchen, says Dotzko. “Commercial dishwashers used to be designed to operate at 180°F for sterilization.

But a lot of the heat from that process was going down the drain. Manufacturers have realized they can recycle that for domestic hot water systems by incorporating heat reclaim systems.”

From a plumbing perspective, hookups are pretty much the same as any other, he notes.

One popular design enables high temperature waste water to run through a circular series of tubing or piping to heat incoming fresh water – similar to a heat exchanger in design.

A second option is a tank in which an inlet pipe at the top and an outlet pipe at the bottom is teamed with a solenoid valve. “As potable water flows through piping in the tank, the heat energy from the waste water is absorbed into the fresh water and the cooledoff waste water is then sent to drainage.”

COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

DRAIN PLANNING One of the biggest “gotchas” with plumbing in commercial kitchens is with drainage choices in food prep areas, notes Dotzko. While dishwashing areas allow direct hookup to drains, buffet layouts and/or food preparation areas require an indirect waste drain – or air break – for drainage discharge. The same drainage rules apply for compressors used for walk-in freezers and coolers.

“In any food prep area you can’t hook up drainage pipes directly to the sanitary drains or you run the risk of sewage backing up into those pipes.”

Finding the space to set this up can sometimes be a challenge. He advises locating prep functions in the area of floor drains. When creating the air break, the installer drains the pipe to used for food preparation.

“Usually designers try to group food prep functions in the back corner out of the way to avoid tripping hazards,” Dotzko says. “Then it’s easy to run just one hub drain. But it takes a bit of pre-thinking before you locate all your equipment.”

TOPFIVE: 'SQQIVGMEP /MXGLIR (IWMKR 8VIRHW Doug Feltmate, director of foodservice and hospitality for engineering firm WSP Canada in Ottawa, works extensively with mechanical engineering teams and hotel and restaurant owners, so he has a pretty good idea of the innovations that are at the top of everyone’s agendas these days. Here is his take on the top five items mechanical contractors should know about for commercial kitchen projects:

1

Dishwashing systems with condensing and heat recovery

2

Less hot water

“With new equipment, you can use heat exchange to recover all the energy and preheat the incoming water to the dishwasher rather than exhausting it,” Feltmate says. “The old way, contractors would have to exhaust the heat outdoors. With the new systems you just need a cold water connection.”

Other than dishwashing, demand for hot water in restaurants has become relatively low. And with low-flow fixtures everywhere, it’s worth considering tankless water heaters or a smaller tank-type water heater. “The big demand for hot water has literally gone with all the requirements of conservation programs today. Outside of some types of dishwashing, the only areas that demand hot water today are the hand and pot wash sinks. You don’t need huge hot water tanks to support that.”

3

On the drain side, the use of plastics is growing, but some locales have specific rules or restrictions for commercial systems that a plumber would be advised to make themselves aware of, if they want to pass mustard with the local inspector, advises Dotzko.

“Anything relating to drains for commercial installations in the past had to be cast iron or copper. However, some municipal bylaws still don’t allow plastics for drainage unless it’s XFR [extra fire rated] because of concerns over fumes and burning,” he explains.

says. “This is an area where mechanical contractors do require some additional knowledge on controls and sequencing because they require a different type of control mechanism versus an on-off switch.”

As far as variable speed makeup air systems, they have to be installed to meet appropriate specifications. “It’s all tied together. If my kitchen is exhausting 10,000 CFM of exhaust but ramping down to 2,000, the makeup air also has to be able to ramp down to a corresponding volume,” he explains. “Not all equipment does.”

Lighter grease interceptors

Steel and cast iron have been the traditional materials for grease interceptors, but they have a lifespan of about 15 years, and may start to rot because of the grease they process. Plastic and fibreglass are becoming more common choices. “Now contractors can use fiberglass to extend the lifespan on the plumbing system – and it’s cheaper and won’t rot. It’s also a lot easier to install,” Feltmate says. “A plumber doesn’t have to wrestle with a 200 pound grease trap anymore because a fibreglass one is only about 20 pounds. You may be downselling on the one hand, but you make that up on installation time.”

4

WATCH THE BYLAWS

5

Parallel refrigeration systems with secondary refrigerants

“Parallel systems allow you to have fewer compressors running multiple boxes. It’s very commonly used in the grocery store business, but not as common as we’d like to see on the kitchen side,” says Feltmate, adding that these systems also enable a restaurant to reclaim heat from secondary refrigerants to heat water.

Ventilation control While they’re not in use a lot as of yet, demand ventilation systems are growing in popularity so now’s the time to get up to speed, Feltmate

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75

HYDRONICS Q&A

B y P h il S ear le Phil Searle is the market development manager for HVAC building services at Xylem Inc. He can be reached at phil.searle@xyleminc.com.

% ackwards A

reader of Mechanical Business recently posed the question, “What happens when a pump flows backwards in a hydronics system?” The answer is not as simple as the question implies.

Depending on the complexity of the hydronics system, there can be a number of ramifications, ranging from pressure loss to pump cavitation to water hammer — none of which is desirable for efficient operation.

While a contractor would never intentionally install a pump backwards, it can be a useful exercise to examine just what a backwards pump could look like and the effects it could cause. For the purpose of conjecture, let’s examine various systems and the effects of water flowing backwards in a piping system.

Flow or no flow Believe it or not, in a very simple series loop system with one pump and service valve only, the pump can be reversed and will flow exactly the same in either direction.

The problem is the first heat emitter is designed to see the highest supply temperature from the boiler and the last heat emitter will see the lowest temperature. It is likely the individual radiation units are sized with decreasing supply temperatures accordingly.

If you reverse the flow, it is conceivable that the last heat emitter could overheat and the first one could carry a shortfall, which would result in a trickle-down effect.

If there is a check valve on the discharge of the pump, and the pump is reversed but not the check valve, the system will see zero flow. If you rotate both the pump and the check valve, the aforementioned scenario may prevail.

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)ORZ FRQWURO LPSDFW 7]WXIQW XLEX MRGPYHI ¾S[ GSRXVSP ZEPZIW EVI HIWMKRIH XS TVIZIRX KVEZMX] ¾S[ ;LIR [EXIV ¾S[W FEGO[EVHW XLVSYKL XLI ZEPZI MX [MPP EGX PMOI E GLIGO ZEPZI 8LI [IMKLXIH TPYKW [LMGL EVI RSVQEPP] TYWLIH STIR F] XLI W]WXIQ GMVGYPEXMSR TYQT QMKLX GPSWI MJ XLI ¾S[ MW VIZIVWIH 8LI GPSWIH ZEPZI [MPP TVIZIRX LIEXMRK XS XLEX TEVX SJ XLI W]WXIQ

,PSURSHU EOHQGLQJ In large hydronics systems, such as primary-secondary or primarysecondary-tertiary systems, primary pumps service boilers or chillers and the secondary service load is separated by a common pipe.

Water from the two is mixed in this common pipe.

Secondary pumps generally pull water away from the primary system via a pipe T. This pump is typically located in the supply pipe to the secondary system, rather than the return.

If this pump is installed backwards in the supply pipe, it will be pushing cooler return temperature water into the common pipe.

This would mean that all radiation in the secondary system will receive lower than design water temperature.

76

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Two-way problems Most systems today use two-way direct acting valves designed to modulate flow to coils and air-handling units. In typical operation, the pump pushes against the valve actuator and opposes the closing action of the valve.

If the flow is reversed, the pump assists in forcing the valve closed.

The pump will continue to work, but there will be accompanying valve slamming and water hammer.

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VARIABLE SPEED PUMPING

continued from page 208

By M a t the w R e i d

Matthew Reid is a hydronics specialist with Wolseley Canada. He can be reached at matthewreid@wolseleyinc.ca.

on the

Adjusting FLY Three-speed pumps pushed the bar to essentially provide three pumps in one. A variable speed pump takes that advance even further, operating at whatever the system curve needs it to operate at. about delivering a determined amount of BTUs to a specific area. And while the area may not change, the BTU requirement certainly does. So, in my world, there are no ifs, ands or buts about it, variable speed and hydronics go together perfectly.

Whether you want to refer to this technology as variable frequency drives, variable speed pumping or adjustable frequency drives, it all means the same thing. The pump being used has been designed to speed up or slow down based on certain criteria.

And it should be noted that this pump technology is just as efficient for chillers as it is for boilers, so consider the efficiency it brings for all of your fluid-based HVAC applications.

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All of us Wet Heads have the universal hydronics formula tattooed on the inside of our eyelids: GPM = BTUH / (DELTA T X 500). The fact that we now have the technology where we can control the delta T by means of variable speed drives means that a significant portion of our work is being done for us. Nobody wants to make a mistake in a hydronic system, especially since problem sources are hard to determine and may not present themselves until years after the fact.

VFDs take one of the most culpable issues (proper flow) out of the equation.

ÕV i Ì i }Ài>Ì LiiÀ `iL>Ìi v Ì i ½näà >L ÕÌ Ü iÌ iÀ iÀ Ìi Ü>à }Ài>Ì Ì>ÃÌ } À iÃà w }] Ì iÀi½Ã > Ì v `iL>Ìi >L ÕÌ Ü LiÃÌ Ì V ÌÀ Ì i Û>ÀÞ } ëii`] > ` Ì i L } ÌÜ «Ì à L ` Ü Ì Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi > ` «ÀiÃÃÕÀi° ÃÌ V iÀV > 6 à «iÀ>Ìi > ` Ü À vv `i Ì> *° / à à > >` ÕÃÌ>L i i>ÃÕÀi Ì >Ì Ü `iÌiÀ i Ì i «Õ «½Ã ëii` L>Ãi` Ì i Ì ÀµÕi >}> ÃÌ Ì i «i iÀ° / i «Õ « à ÃiÌ Õ« Ã Ì >Ì Ì Ã > Ü>Þà } } Ì Li «iÀ>Ì } >Ì > ViÀÌ> Ì ÀµÕi `i ÛiÀ } > Û>À >L i y Ü° / Ã Ì ÀµÕi ÃiÌ « Ì Ã Ì Ã iÌ } Ì >Ì Ã }ÕiÃÃi` >Ì° Ì Ã i } iiÀi` > ` L>Ãi` > iÝÌiÀ > `ià } i i i ÌÃ Ã Ì >Ì Ì i «Õ « à >ÌÌi «Ì } v À «i> «iÀv À > Vi° ÜiÛiÀ] Ü Ì `i Ì> * Ì i ÃÞÃÌi >Þ Ì Li «iÀ>Ì } >Ì Ì i iÝ>VÌ y Ü À>Ìi v À «i> «iÀv À > Vi° / >Ì½Ã Ì i Ì } >L ÕÌ `i Ì> *° / i «Õ « à Õà } > > } À Ì L>Ãi` ÀÕ Ì i > ` Ì ÀµÕi >}> ÃÌ Ì Ì Û>ÀÞ Ìà ëii`] > ` Ì >Ã Ì ÃÌ «iÀ>Ìi Ìà «Õ « VÕÀÛi° Ƃ Ì Õ} Þ Õ Ài À iÃà V ÌÀ Ì i VÕÀÛi] Ì Ã ÃÌ > wÀ ÃiÌ « Ì° 7 Ì `i Ì> /] Ì i y Ü Ài> Þ Ã µÕ Ìi Û>À >L i° / i «Õ « Ü >` ÕÃÌ ÌÃi v L>Ãi`

Quick Tip: If you are using thermostatic valves to control your system, use delta P. If you are operating off a thermostat, use delta T.

KL

All you need to do is make sure that the flow and head requirements are covered by the pump selected (do the math), then you just plug the pump in and let it go. The pump figures out where it needs to go.

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi yÕVÌÕ>Ì Ã Ì `i ÛiÀ Ì i À } Ì > Õ Ì v y Ü i>À Þ > Ì i Ì i] Õ iÃÃ Þ Õ >Ã Ì Ì «iÀ>Ìi ÕÌà `i v Ì i «Õ «½Ã >Ý Õ i>` > ` y Ü° 7 i Þ Õ «iÀ>Ìi vv v Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi Ì i «Õ « >Þ Ì Ü iÝ>VÌ Þ Ü >Ì Ì i ÃÞÃÌi à ` } «iÀ Ãi] LÕÌ Ì Ü Ãii Ì i Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi ` vviÀi Ì > à > ` Ü >` ÕÃÌ >VV À` } Þ° / iÀi à }ÕiÃÃ Ü À ] ÕÃÌ Ã « i >Ì ° v > â ià >Ài «i > ` V> }] Ì i «Õ « Ã Ü À } >Ì ÃiÌ « Ì > ` Ü Li «À Û ` } >`iµÕ>Ìi y Ü Ì > >Ài>ð / Ã Ã Ì i ÃÞÃÌi à ÌÕ>Ì Ü iÀi Ì i Ì ÀµÕi >}> ÃÌ Ì i «Õ « à >Ì Ìà ÜiÃÌ >Ã Ì i ÃÞÃÌi à vÀii y Ü } v À Ì i `i Ì> * «Õ «° / i `i Ì> / «Õ « Ü ½Ì >Ûi > Þ ÃÃÕià iÀi i Ì iÀ° 7 i > â i V ÃiÃ] Ì i `i Ì> * «Õ « Ãiià > VÀi>Ãi Ì ÀµÕi > ` à Üà ` Ü ° / i `i Ì> / «Õ « Ü Ãii > VÀi>Ãi Ìi «iÀ>ÌÕÀi >à > â i V Ãià > ` Ì Ì Ü Ã Ü ` Ü ° 7 i Ì i «Õ « à Üà ` Ü Ì Ài`ÕVià Ìà i iVÌÀ V> `i > `] Ì> } iÃà « ÜiÀ Ì «iÀ>Ìi > ` Ã>Û } iÞ°

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System considerations On residential applications, I find that the choice of pump type depends on the type of heat emitters in the home.

If I am working on a project that uses radiators I can use the ΔP type pumps and will be confident that the system will work more or less to design. Basic rules apply. If the system uses thermostatic radiator valves, the torque on the pump increases and the pump slows down as they close. And vice versa for when a rad valve opens.

If you are putting together a system where in-floor radiant is going to be the source of heat, then nothing works better than a ΔT pump. You will want to have a small delta T in radiant systems so that there are no wild temperature variations in the floor temperature. I like to use 10 to 15°F, and never more than 20°F.

continued on page 80

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79

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It’s been a while since the forced air market adopted variable speed motor technology, and it has been a great move. Nowadays, if you talk about furnaces and you mention that one has a variable speed drive, the interpretation by contractors and homeowners alike is that it is efficient and high quality – two highly desirable qualities.

In the world of hydronics, the variable term is just now catching on, but it too is going to follow that positive trending. If you are not on board with this technology yet, you should be.

A condensing-friendly choice An advantage of the delta T pump is that you can always ensure that a mod-con boiler will be able to condense.

Flue gas will condense with a return temperature at or below around 135°F. If supply side water enters the system at 160 degrees, perhaps for an air handler, we know we can set our delta T to 30 degrees to make sure the water return temp is in that design temperature to hit maximum efficiency.

Just be sure to check the specs and make sure you are getting the desired BTUs out of the emitter with the design temperature and delta T you want to work with. It’s an extra step, but you can really increase the system’s efficiency by doing so.

SPEND MORE, SAVE MORE Price is always a consideration when it comes to mechanical systems, and variable speed technology does come at a premium, but that’s not the end of the price story.

Do they cost more? Yes. Do they save money? Yes. By bringing the pump operation as close as possible to the most efficient operating point, for as long as possible, it cannot help but make a system more efficient, and therefore, less costly to operate.

LN

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

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ranging from 60,000 to 115,000 BTUH and offers efficiencies up to 96.1% AFUE.

daikincomfort.com The UH Series line of gas-fired, tubular exchanger, induced draft hot air heaters from Brant Radiant have an input range of 30,000 to 75,000 BTUH. They feature a low profile design and come with integrated mounting brackets. Additional features include stainless steel louvres and a black powder-coated enamel exterior.

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Mini-split heat pumps Modulating furnace The AirEase A97MV modulating furnace from Allied Air offers efficiencies up to 97% AFUE and is available with heating inputs of 66,000 to 132,000 BTUH. It has gas/electric dual-fuel compatibility. Additional features include a variable speed fan motor, a ComfortSync thermostat and a stainless steel primary heat exchanger.

Fujitsu’s Halcyon XLTH floor-mounted minisplit heat pump systems operate at ambient temperatures as low as -26°C. They are available in three models with heating input ranges from 3,100 to 20,800 BTUH and heating efficiencies up to 13.6 EER. The units operate in single-zone and multi-zone configurations.

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Gas fireplaces Napoleon’s Ascent 30, 35 and 42 series natural gas fireplaces are offered in input sizes ranging from 15,000 to 25,000 BTUH. They feature a pan style burner, millivolt or electronic ignition, a flex connector and shut off valve and a safety screen. Kits to convert fireplaces to LP are available.

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Proximity sensors Carlo Gavassi Tripleshield CA30CA capacitive proximity sensors have a sensing distance of 2 to 20 mm, flush, or 4 to 30mm, non-flush. They offer chemical resistance and are rated to withstand temperatures up to 248˚F on the sensing face. An optional temperature alarm output warns the user if the sensing face surface exceeds 140˚F. The sensors come with two diagnostic LED lights.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

Getting engaged, at the marketing DELI

L

ast column (September/October 2014,

focus to your branding, communications and

marketplace.

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

This month we’re stopping at the “Engagement” counter – and before you panic as thoughts of ring involved here, but there is communication.

A two-way street: Five steps to dialogue More than ever, and whether we like it or not, marketing is not onedirectional. Today, it’s a two-way street consisting of a dialogue with current and potential customers, as well as suppliers and staff.

The reality of soliciting unfiltered feedback can be daunting, but it’s also good news – I’ve noted before in this column that there is no better way to understand our customers than to have a simple conversation. Their input can inform our approach better than any textbook or – dare I say – magazine columnist.

The other good news is this type of grassroots market research can be inexpensive if you’re ready to invest some time. I sat down with some members of our team, and we’ve come up with “Five steps to dialogue,” five key points to help contractors engage with the market. And best of all, many of these can be done without breaking the bank.

LH

1

Invite feedback after work is done

Many contractors do this with a paper survey or by emailing a link to a quick web survey.

This can provide useful information and over time allows for some quantitative measurement, which is important. It’s also a terrific way to subtly inform customers of the full range of services and products you can provide to them.

On the down side, it’s not very warm or engaging, so why not consider picking up the phone to ask customers how the job went.

In addition to the very authentic gesture you’re making as a business manager or owner, a phone call offers one major advantage: the opportunity to listen, pick up cues, and guide the conversation based on what you hear rather than march your customer through a series of questions.

2

Focus groups

Once a valuable information gathering tool, these are very 1987. I know, it’s true, and fewer focus groups happen in the internet age, but there is still value in bringing

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

people together for a facilitated discussion about their needs and how your company can meet them.

People tend to be more candid when supported in a group of like-minded people. There is a bit of an art to leading a focus group with a firm but gentle hand so you’re not seen as seeding the discussion, but if you or someone on your team can lead this type of discussion there may not be a need for outside consultants, and you’ll learn plenty from the effort.

3

Public seminars

4

Talk to your people

For decades, contractors have hosted free seminars about keeping heating costs low, or what’s new in heating and cooling technology. These are a tried and true PR tactic for a reason – you can bring value to the market while demonstrating your expertise.

Consider putting a twist on the one-way presentation by inviting the audience to be part of the dialogue. Ask them what they expect of a contractor, what frustrates them the most, and where your team could add the most value to them.

Too often we don’t take the time to sit down with our own team to discuss what’s working out there, and how to properly meet marketing targets. Employees should be the first line

of defence when it comes to building an effective marketing plan. They are the only people who understand the two most essential pieces of the puzzle: your business, and your customer.

It can pay to involve them in your marketing planning, and have regular discussions about how you’re doing and what they are hearing.

The more engagement you have, the more empowered they’ll feel to create an exceptional customer experience – and that is the very best marketing you can ask for.

5

Marketing Next issue…

Next time we’re moving along the DELI counter to the “Leverage” section. Lots to talk about there, too... see you then.

Online engagement

Online engagement is happening with and without our permission and control, although there are some rules of the game that can make this an effective marketing strategy rather than a PR nightmare.

You can use social media to engage with techsavvy clients – posting a tweet after a particularly exceptional service experience that tags the business or resident can result in likes, shares and reposts that spread the good word about you.

I recently spoke with a contractor about occasionally requesting “selfies” with customers after an emergency call, then posting these on social media tagging the customer. Engaging with customers online is definitely today’s version of that old, “She told two friends, and so on...” advertising jingle.

Social media is also a fun way to promote your brand. Why not create a contest asking people to post “oldest furnace” photos, pictures or stories of holiday gatherings by the fireplace you installed, or just stories of a time when they received exceptional customer service that will inspire your team?

Address the negative review In the world of 24/7 online media, a satisfied customer might share information about your services, whereas a frustrated customer will be far more proactive and relentless – and they often take to social media to vent. A tweet, post to Facebook or nasty review on a site such as Homestars about a negative experience can be a reputation killer.

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The new rule is to not ignore these posts. Instead, acknowledge them publicly, thank posters for their honestly, apologize if the situation calls for it, and then strive to follow up for more discussion. Avoid being defensive, even if you feel the criticism is unwarranted, and as the situation resolves use your own social media feeds or company blog/website to create a case study out of the experience.

What are your experiences dealing with online negativity? How did you manage it? There’s a whole column in this, and I welcome your feedback. Email me at doug@thelettermmarketing.com.

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LI

hydr oni ca i rha ndl e r . ”

continued from page 86 HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMBOS HVAC

B y Go r d C o o ke

Battling hard water When it comes to maintaining a customer’s instantaneous hot water equipment, water hardness is an important factor.

“If you’re in areas where the grades of hardness are fairly high to severe, then you should be following the manuals and putting service valves with the unit and cleaning them out with a chemical cleaner – or with some units, a food-grade vinegar – to take the liming out of the heat exchanger,” says Rooney. “To meet the needs of the warranty from most manufacturers, in most cases, contractors should be doing this.”

Navien’s Williamson recommends that consumers enter into service agreements with installers to manage hard water issues, so be sure to add this to your service offerings.

“I would do a flush on units once a year,” he says. “Some places, where the water is hard, I would have the service provider look at it even more getting about it is over. You have to maintain it.”

TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS When offering tips to homeowners, the most important piece of advice contractors can offer them is to make sure their venting is clear of debris.

Managing expectations

“That can be an absolute train wreck,” says Rooney. “I’m talking leaves, tennis balls, birds, frozen screens, ice, water, that type of thing. Beyond that, there are other things but they’re not prevalent.

Lime buildup and blocked venting are the two major things I always run into.”

To a consumer, the most appealing part of any system designed to deliver unending and instant hot water, whether from a tankless or tank-style water heater, is the thought of an endless supply of domestic hot water that starts as soon as the faucet is opened, but this belief isn’t entir accurate.

“Perceptions like that get a lot of installing contractors into trouble,” says Sean Giberson, Canadian sales manager for residential products with Taco. “They’re never instantaneous, but it’s been perception since day one.”

To help manage the homeowner’s expectation for endless hot water, Giberson suggests pairing a tankless unit with a re-circulation product and a small storage tank for holding additional hot water that is constantly circulated.

He says this can help prevent the “cold-water sandwich” effect that can take place.

LL

Another tip that can be offered to homeowners is to keep an eye on how their unit’s condensate is being managed. Different manufacturers have different ways of handling the condensate that is produced, including using a drain hose or a condensate pump.

“Make sure that the hose doesn’t move away from the drain and that it’s plumbed in properly and doesn’t get blocked, because it could cause damage to the basement,” explains Rooney.

CODE CHANGES COMING

In B.C., changes to the energy efficiency requirements within Section 9.36 of the B.C. Building Code for service water heaters (including combination space-and-water heating units), boilers, storage tanks and pool heaters are coming into effect on Dec. 19, 2014.

Under the new requirements, combination space-and-water heating service water heaters will require a thermal performance factor of 0.65.

Ontario may also have changes coming down the pipes.

The Ontario Ministry of Energy recently proposed changes to the province’s energy performance regulations that would bring the province’s codes into alignment with U.S. DOE regulations.

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B y L eo n Hawkins Leon Hawkins is the automation and controls business leader with Trane Canada. He can be reached at leon.hawkins@trane.com.

REDUCING SERVICE CALLS As building owners are challenged to do more with less — fewer staff, lower maintenance budgets — they can find help in such technologies as cloud-based remote monitoring.

These systems monitor building performance and send alerts as soon as an issue is detected, resulting in improved response times and minimized associated costs, compared to problems that are solved when discovered by an operator.

7+( &+$1*,1* dynamics of service

A

s building systems become increasingly complex, building automation systems (BAS) are becoming more complex along with them.

At the same time, building managers are taking energy savings seriously, so customers expect to have detailed, up-to-the-minute information about how their system is performing and whether it’s operating within specified parameters.

This need is compounded by the fact that the availability of skilled labour with a combined knowledge of building systems and technology is shrinking. While it is possible to find expertise in a particular area, it is much more difficult to find people with the combined skill set required.

Web-based monitoring systems that allow contractors to remotely monitor building conditions and energy consumption, and which will notify the building operator or service provider of anomalies, can help address these issues.

These systems can help proactively address issues before they arise and reduce the number of on-site, after-hours service calls.

The systems also provide building performance and energy data, allowing customers to look for trends and ways to continually enhance efficiency.

Adjust to change Building automation systems give users access to enormous amounts of performance and energy data. Contractors should be looking to help customers understand and leverage this data to establish a baseline for building performance, while monitoring for spikes and anomalies in the system.

In addition, service providers can help facility operators identify opportunities to proactively improve efficiencies over the life of the building.

Typically, when contractors do a system retrofit or make an energy change, continues on page 92

90

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

This gives operators the flexibility to work on other areas of the building without continuously checking on the system.

The BAS can also predict potential issues or part failure, meaning building owners can schedule pre-emptive maintenance or part replacement to prevent unscheduled downtime. In many cases, web-enabled systems allow service technicians to correct the problem remotely using a PC or mobile device, eliminating the need for a service technician to go on-site.

Remote troubleshooting solves a major challenge in the service industry because it reduces the number of truck rolls — and the associated labour, fuel and maintenance costs. It also saves building owners money, because it helps get systems up and running faster.

As the industry workforce decreases and the average worker age rises, the technology also helps service providers, since new entrants to the market are able to rely on technology to solve problems more efficiently.

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continued from page 90

building owners want to return to the original control design conditions. In many cases, building owners believe the system ran best the ďŹ rst day the building opened. This is often true, but this philosophy may fail to take into account changes in the building environment.

For example, what if the third ďŹ&#x201A;oor that was once used as ofďŹ ce space is now used for data storage, or a commercial building now has new tenants with completely different requirements? Troubleshooting these situations can prove challenging if the goal is making the system run under the original design conditions, since those conditions are no longer valid.

Buildings are ever-changing entities that need to be managed. Contractors can help customers determine if the mechanical systems and control settings need to be re-designed to optimize the building to meet current tenant needs.

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• Getting proactive • Avoiding the unexpected • Effective troubleshooting

More effective troubleshooting Many modern service programs require contractors to take responsibility for the performance of the system, including energy performance. As a result, a BAS contractor may come in to troubleshoot the system, but if the contractor is unaware of the client’s challenges and objectives, a system may be created that, unknowingly, costs the owner money — especially from an energy or penalty/availability perspective.

Some service agreements may require contractors to take on additional risk associated with the performance of the building. If a classroom or hospital suite is unavailable, for example, the contractor responsible for the maintenance of that building gets penalized financially.

These availability-type contracts require the contractor to have a comprehensive view of the building and system over its life cycle, and may also include guarantees around energy performance.

These expectations result in a greater requirement for system and energy monitoring that can notify users of abnormal operating conditions.

Moreover, when contractors look at a single piece of equipment they may actually need to troubleshoot the entire mechanical system. A change to one system may have a compounding effect on other systems, so contractors need to understand how the changes they make affect the entire system.

Computer-based monitoring systems can help them see what affect their adjustments or repairs may have on the entire building system.

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93

HYDRONICS

B y E r ic R iml Eric Riml is a certified hydronic designer working in Calgary, Alta. He can be reached at feedback@hotwaterheating.info.

on the jobsite

E

lectronic controls in the HVAC world, especially in the hydronic sector, have grown exponentially over the past decade, so the more information a contractor has about electricity, the better when it comes to modern system design and installation.

I personally found that my knowledge and comfort with hydronic controls increased dramatically once a few electrical concepts were explained to me, so I’m going to attempt to share what I find helpful, in a straightforward way, with hydronic-related examples.

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7KH %$6,&6 RI D &LUFXLW A basic electrical circuit consists of three things: a power source, a switch, and a load. It looks something like Image 1.

Image 1

For controls in the hydronic world, we are generally looking at the use of a transformer as the power source, and a thermostat as the switch. And the load is often a zone valve or actuator.

Modifying the basic circuit, in a hydronic system the electrical circuit might look something like Image 2.

Image 2

With electricity, you want the load to use the power, or at least some of the power, and not return it all to the power source.

It might be helpful to think of electrical power like a boiler that’s constantly firing. If you don’t use up some of the heat (power) before it returns to the source, then the boiler trips its high limit (blows up the transformer).

Remember that power goes to a load, but through a switch.

That is, the (black/red) line carrying the Hot power is “used up” when it gets to a load, and the “flow” can then return using the Neutral line (white/yellow). Hot power will go through a closed switch, without getting used up.

' % * # 0 + % # . 7 5 + 0 ' 5 5 E F T E H

• The basics of a circuit • All about relays • Open and closed

Voltage and amperage; head and flow The best electrical analogy for people who already understand about head pressure and flow is that voltage (V) is like pipe size, and amperage (A) is like velocity. To use another analogy, voltage is like the mass, and amperage is how fast that mass is travelling.

Volts and amps multiplied together (V x A) make wattage (W), and this can be thought of as “total flow”, or “total force”. This indicates the total electrical power that is available. A transformer, for example, will be listed in VA, indicating how much total power it can supply.

The main reason you need to know about amps, volts and watts is to figure out how many zone valves you can put on a transformer.

In general, a transformer will have a continuous load rating that’s far below its maximum rating. When adding up the zone valves, you’ll be using the continuous load number. Remember that many thermostats use power as well, so you may have to figure them into your transformer sizing.

Watts = Volts x Amps, or W=V*A This can also be shown as: V = W/A or A = W/V For example, let’s say we have a zone valve motor with a current draw of 0.32A and a voltage of 24V, and we have a 24VAC, 40VA transformer. How many zone valves can I put on this one 40VA transformer?

The zone valve motor power consumption will be 24V times 0.32A, which gives us 7.7VA. By dividing the 40VA capacity of the transformer by the power consumption per valve, we get 5.19 (40VA / 7.7VA), or a maximum of five (5).

Open and Closed When it comes to electrical circuits, the terms “open” and “closed” are opposite to how they are used in the fluid side of a hydronic system. In electronics, a closed switch allows flow of power, and an open one stops the flow.

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Putting it all together Looking at the theoretical system below, let’s put some of these concepts into action. Assuming that the zone valve opens instantly, so that we don’t deadhead our pump, we can see that we have a 24V transformer taking 120V power and stepping it down to 24V. The thermostat switches 24V power to the relay coil (terminal 1, returning to common via terminal 2). When the relay is unpowered, the relay switches are open. Powering the relay coil makes both of the relay switches (4 and 6) change from open to closed, allowing power to flow through the relay.

24V Power is switched through the relay (terminal 5 to 6) to power the zone valve motor, and 120V power is switched through the relay (terminal 3 to 4) to power the pump.

There are two different forms of electrical power: AC and DC. Some motors (loads) use alternating current (AC), and other use direct current (DC). For most of our discussion, I will be referring to AC power. A common transformer description you might see is “24VAC, 40VA”. This means that it uses 24 volts of alternating current, at 40 volt-amps.

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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.

Problems a-plenty This month’s edition of Find the Fix is a little different, rather than a multiplechoice quiz, all you need to do is circle what’s wrong in this simplified schematic of a job that was sent to Jeff.

The boiler is a tankless unit, and the pumps are typical three-speed circulators.

The drawing is a stamped BCIN drawing from a consulting firm. The wholesaler called the contractor and said, “I won’t even quote this job if this is what is expected.” Can you see why?

Instead of a Q & A, let’s see how many things you can find wrong with this job. Circle what you spot, take a picture of your page with your smartphone, and email your photo to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com or text your photo (and contact details) to 905-484-0817 or tear out this page and fax it to us at 905-465-2913. The most correct answers will win this month’s prize.

and Circle Win!

And remember, it always comes back to the basics. This job is no different.

We’ve got your back(pack)!

We recently gave away a Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hackzall to Wade Berard. He found the fix; can you? If you do, we have a new Milwaukee Jobsite Backpack loaded with Milwaukee Tool goodies to take to your next jobsite. Send your solution

by January 10th for your chance to win. And be sure to pick up the next edition of Mechanical Business for the next installment of Find the Fix!

FAX YOUR ANSWER TO 905-465-2913

Looking for answers?

The answer key for the Sept/Oct quiz is: 1-D; 2-A; 3-B; 4-A, although other options were possible, with appropriate explanation. If you need the quiz, check it out in our issue archive, available at www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

Name:

*Note: Prize may not match photo.

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Contact Phone #:

HYDRONIC Products Cast-iron boilers Valve control The ETV-Plus electronic tempering valve control from Heat-Timer can operate as a temperature control, alarm condition safeguard, or both. It features a modulating, stainless steel motorized valve for regulating water temperatures for DHW temperature control, heating applications, cooling applications and industrial processes. The control has a manual reset, built-in setback schedule and BACnet communication capability.

www. heat-timer.com

KN-Series cast iron condensing boilers from Advanced Thermal Hydronics offer thermal efďŹ ciencies up to 99% and have a maximum heating output range of 200,000 to 3 million BTUH. They feature a cast-iron heat exchanger and an integrated boiler management system. The units can function as part of a network of upwards of 16 boilers.

www. knseries.com

Stainless steel boiler Crown Boilerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phantom wall-hung condensing boiler has efďŹ ciencies up to 94% AFUE. Available in ďŹ ve sizes ranging from 80,000 to 180,000 BTUH, it features a stainless steel water tube heat exchanger, a pre-installed boiler pump, touchscreen control, and an outdoor reset with sensor. The unit offers 5:1 turndown.

www. crownboiler.com

Zone controls CalefďŹ â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydronic zone controls feature sealed relays designed for quiet operation and large screw terminals. They are compatible with 2-, 3- and 4-wire thermostats or other low voltage controllers with switching action. An option for an unlimited number of zones using 3-wire connection between controls is available.

www. calefďŹ .com

Condensing boiler The Crest condensing boiler from Lochinvar is offered with heating inputs ranging from 1.5 to 5 million BTUH, and thermal efďŹ ciencies up to 99%. The unit is built with a stainless steel heat exchanger and a two-way motor ized valve. It features up to 25:1 turndown, ďŹ&#x201A;ow rates up to 350

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Established in 1981, Hood Chemical supplies Dow Chemical glycol (propylene and ethylene) with inhibitors. We offer free analysis and supply a written report advising the freezing point, pH, concentration of inhibitors, and appearance.

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, able to use transmitters to help find where pipe defects and leaks are in a plumbing system, to today’s technology that allows

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ON THE LEVEL While not standard on all systems yet, a self-levelling feature on a camera will automatically correct the position of the video on screen to ensure that the water flow is always at the bottom of the pipe being filmed.

“Where once it was an unknown feature of a pipe camera, most plumbers looking for a camera today are asking for it,” reports D’Andrea.

“Almost everyone is buying self-levelling cameras, so that’s pretty much become the standard,” agrees Silverman, who added that colour cameras have also followed a similar trend to becoming an unofficial standard among camera buyers, since most users prefer to work with colour images when inspecting pipe.

DID YOU KNOW? 98

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To help protect a camera head and lens, it is recommended to use a camera skid or sleeve.

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Gerty Has A New Hairdo...

And she can’t wait to tell you all about it.

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

You see, Gerty just loves to talk. And talk. And talk.

Whether it’s sharing stories about her latest crumpet and jam social, her beloved Mrs. Muffles or her new “fantabulous” hairdo (her words, not ours), Gerty’s stories will hold you captive. Captive, of course, being the operative word. So, while she gets paid to be on the phone – you don’t. We understand that. That’s why we’ve made our online renewal process easier than ever.

Simply visit our brand new website, click on the Subscribe tab and confirm that you want to continue receiving (or start receiving) Mechanical Business. It’s fast, easy and Gerty free.

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HVAC/R Products P Heat pump The 7 Series variable-capacity geothermal unit from WaterFurnace is offered in 3- to 5-ton capacities and has efficiencies up to 41 EER and 5.3 COP. It features a softstart variable capacity compressor, variable speed ECM blower and variable speed loop pump. The unit uses Aurora two-way communication controls.

Axial impellers

www. waterfurnace.com

Elta axial impellers from Continental Fan feature pressure cast aluminum hubs and adjustable pitch blades. The impellers are designed to deliver airflow up to 200,000 cfm. Custom diameters are available from 12” to 79”. They are available with aluminum or glass reinforced polypropylene blades.

Voice-activated thermostat Honeywell’s Wi-Fi 9000 with voice control allows the user to adjust temperature settings by talking to the thermostat. It is designed to learn a user’s heating and cooling cycling times and it displays indoor and outdoor humidity information on the home screen. The thermostat also allows for remote monitoring of a home’s comfort and energy usage.

www. honeywell.com

www. continentalfan.com

Gas furnace Heil’s G9MVE gas furnace is available in capacities from 40,000 to 120,000 BTUH and offers efficiencies up to 96% AFUE. It is built with a rigid press joint primary heat exchanger, a stainless steel secondary heat exchanger and an ECM variable-speed blower motor. The unit is two-stage heat and two-stage cooling compatible and comes with communication controls.

heil-hvac.com

Ice machine kit The TU ice machine service kit from Danfoss features an exchangeable orifice TU valve, type TUA, designed to replace any OEM thermostatic expansion valve. It also comes with a selection of orifice sizes covering ice machines ranging from 75 to 2,300 lb. of ice. The kit includes elbow connections, a bulb strap and insulation tape.

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Curved impellers Rosenberg’s DKHR series backward curved impellers are equipped with inlet cones designed to optimize airflow. The fans are available in 630 mm and 710 mm sizes. The 630 mm model generates up to 7,600 cfm or static pressure up to 2.6 inches WG; while the 710 mm model delivers up to 11,500 cfm or static pressure up to 3.4 inches WG. Both sizes are available with or without housings.

Designed and tested by experts.

Chosen by professionals.

Appreciated by everyone.

True HVAC professionals know their reputation is made with every sale. Which is why they choose to sell Armstrong Air.™

rosenbergcanada.com

Cleaning products The HVAC Chem product line from Kemper System America includes coil cleaners, coil brighteners, scale removers, metal cleaning detergents, gas leak detectors, electronic cell cleaners, and degreasing solvents. The line also includes concentrated cleaners for ice machines, including metal-compatible products for coils and condensers.

hvacchem.com

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SPOTLIGHT PROFILES

HERU HEAT & ENERGY RECOVERY UNIT The HERU provides exceptional efficiency rates, up to 86%. The moisture produced during the process is recovered up to 50%, eliminating water drains.

Install the HERU in either warm or cold locations. It comes standard with a builtin heater. The use of fine mesh filters, and a MERV13 rating, ensure clean air, exhaust and intake.

www.ostberg.com INTRODUCING THE A962V COMMUNICATING FURNACE We’ve kept everything you love about the A952V gas furnace, but added full communicating capabilities and increased the efficiency to give you the new A962V. Thoughtfully designed for both dealers and homeowners, the A962V is the cornerstone of a complete system or the ideal replacement unit.

www.armstrongair.com CSA CERTIFIED CONTROL PANELS – SHIPPED WITHIN 3 DAYS! Carlo Gavazzi’s new cCSAus certified Panel Shop can design and build custom control solutions, using Carlo Gavazzi and other high quality components to suit your HVAC control needs. Typical products include: Enclosed Motor Starters, Drive Bypasses and Energy Monitoring panels. The control panels can be made in various sizes to meet your requirements. Contact Carlo Gavazzi today to discuss your application needs at 888.575.2275 or Gavazzi@CarloGavazzi.com.

www.gavazzionline.com A MECHANICAL ROOM IN A BOX! Heatlink’s V100 Boiler Panels are pre-engineered to save contractors time and labour costs. They are designed to work with Viessmann’s Vitodens 100-W boilers. Features include: primary piping that matches up to the boiler system’s supply and return; a primary pump, DHW pump, and one or two radiant pumps; isolation valves at every connection and the panel cover’s colour matches the boiler.

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www.hi-velocity.com DEWALT EXTENDS LINE OF HEATED JACKETS DeWalt has extended its line of 12V/20V Heated Jackets, providing hours of core body warmth and continuous heat.

Get up to seven hours of runtime on the low setting using the 20V MAX compact 1.5Ah battery. The jackets feature DEWALTCrdlssAd_12VMAX a durable water and wind resistant cotton twill outer shell, three core heating zones, and an LED controller with three temperature settings and a pre-heat function. Available at home improvement retailers across Canada or www.dewalt.com.

10/27/10

4:22 PM

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PLUMBING

Products

Drain cleaning General Pipe Cleaners’ Speedrooter 92 cable-feed drain cleaning tool features an inner drum that is designed to contain the distributor tube to prevent cable tangling while allowing the operator to see how much cable is left in the drum. The power cable feed drives and retracts 3/4”, 5/8” and 1/2” cables at a rate of up to 20 feet per minute.

www. drainbrain.com

Macerating unit Saniflo’s Saniaccess3 is a pre-assembled three-inlet unit designed for use with a sink, toilet and bathtub/shower. The 0.5-hp pump has a pumping distance of up to 15’ vertically or 150’ horizontally. It has a 3/4” pipe size discharge and is built with two service panels.

www. saniflo.ca

Tankless water heaters Navien’s NPE-A Series tankless water heaters are offered in three models with a maximum input range of 150,000 to 199,900 BTUH and an energy factor of 0.97 EF. They have maximum flow rates upwards of 11.2 gpm at a 35°F temperature rise. The units feature dual stainless steel heat exchangers and are field gas convertible. They operate on natural gas or LP.

www. navienamerica.com

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Ball valve Sharkbite’s Slip Ball Valves feature push-fit connections and are designed for use with copper or CPVC pipe. The full-port ball valves are built with a single level control and are constructed from lead-free DZR brass. They are available in 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” sizes.

Bathtub drain The Innovator Drain from Watco is designed for one-person installation. Features include an integrated strainer body and drain elbow, and removable or replaceable crossbars. The drain is available in high gloss white, biscuit and chrome in corrosion resistant ABS or PVC. The overflow and drain come standard with test membranes that are testable up to five floors.

www. watcomfg.com

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sharkbite.com

Pull-down faucet Delta’s Trinsic kitchen faucet features a pull-down wand with two spray modes and a 54” hose.

It has a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gpm at 60 psi. The faucet is offered in one- or three-hole 8” models. It is available in stainless, chrome and bronze finishes.

deltafaucet.com

THE FASTEST WAY TO

Reduce downtime and increase productivity overnight. Our sleek new CL920 Rugged Platform is a giant leap forward in our CL-Series with faster processing power, enhanced connectivity, increased durability and superior image capture software. The CL920 withstands the rigors of a tough workday – dust proof and shock-proof for uninterrupted reliability – rain or shine.

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www.motioncomputing.com PRESS BALL VALVES NOW AVAILABLE UP TO 4” Webstone’s Pro-Connect™ Press Ball Valves are now available in sizes up to 4”. Models 2-½” and up are available in lead-free brass with XLC connections, compatible with all standard press tools and guaranteed for life. Webstone’s innovative valve designs, used in plumbing, hydronic, radiant, solar and geothermal applications, focus on time and space saving concepts that simplify maintenance and upkeep of all piping systems.

Watch for additional Pro-Connect Press items from this recognized industry leader in the coming months!

The new standard in sink installation 5 times faster, in 2 easy steps

www.webstonevalves.com THE NEW STANDARD IN SINK INSTALLATION 5 TIMES FASTER, IN 2 EASY STEPS The first major change to come along to topmount sink installation in 30 years, EZ TORQUE™ comes pre-installed on Franke topmount sinks. It secures the rim of the sink ledge tight to the countertop, and can be installed with a single hand.

FRANKE

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HYDRONIC

Products

Inline pumps Wilo’s Stratos Giga inline pumps are built with an ECM motor. The units feature sensorless controls. The pump is set up through the use of a single button. They are offered in 1.5” to 2.5” models, with maximum head up to 167 feet and maximum flow of 275 gpm.

www. wilo-canada.com

Stainless steel boiler NTI’s TrinityTx modulating, condensing boiler offers efficiencies up to 94% AFUE and is available with inputs ranging from 57,000 to 199,000 BTUH. It is built with a stainless steel heat exchanger, an outdoor reset control and features 8:1 turndown. The unit is also available as a combination unit for providing DHW and space heating. It can be vented up to 150 ft.

nythermal.com

Electric boilers Dettson’s Hydra Revolution family of electric boilers for hydronic heating systems with dual-energy control have heating capacities of 15-20Kw and 24-29kW. The units have outdoor sensors and come equipped with mounting brackets for installation.

www. dettson.ca

Radiant panel Watts Radiant’s SmartTrac radiant panel with standard 8” spacing is a single-panel modular system designed for use with the company’s 3/8” RadiantPERT tubing. It is compatible with other SDR-9 PEX/PERT tubing, and can be installed under floor, on walls or on ceilings.

www. wattsradiant.ca

Hydronic radiator The Neo from Runtal is built with 24V fans and a heat exchanger, offering outputs up to 13,850 BTUH. It is available in heights of 17.5” and 23.3” and lengths of 31.5”, 39.4”, 47.2” and 59”.

Features include a control panel for controlling fan speed and an alert for filter cleaning and sensor defects. The unit comes standard in white.

Optional colours are available.

www. runtalnorthamerica.com

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Piping system Aquatherm Blue Pipe polypropylene-random piping is designed for hydronic, chilled water, condensing water, and industrial applications. The pipe is designed to handle operating temperatures up to 180˚F. It is rust-proof, scale resistant and is available in sizes ranging from 3/8” to 24”.

www. aquatherm.com

Polyflue is a simple and complete “636” venting system providing ultimate installation flexibility that does not require the use of toxic primers or glues.

Polyflue’s maximum flue gas temperature of 230˚F/110˚C, 0” clearance to combustibles, and 10 year warranty, makes it the safest venting choice for condensing gas fired heating appliances when compared to PVC/CPVC. Polyflue – Your easy, economical, and safe approach to high efficiency appliance venting.

www.polyflue.com A MARVEL OF ENGINEERING That’s how industry is describing the all-stainless-steel heat exchanger found at the heart of the DynaForce gas-fired stainless steel condensing boiler lineup. Able to achieve efficiencies up to 99% and with capacities from 300 to 5,000 MBTUH, these low NOx units are available for both hydronic heating and domestic hot water. They can be fired with natural gas or propane. Camus continues to raise the bar with superior heating systems.

www.camus-hydronics.com THE BRAINS BEHIND THE BRAWN! HeatNet 3.0 is an integrated boiler management system designed to help optimize and maintain peak efficiency. The system continuously monitors system characteristics such as boiler temperatures, limit circuit inputs and overall system demands to modulate boiler-firing rates to maximize turndown ratios and maintain peak efficiency, regardless of the load. HeatNet 3.0 comes standard on every KN Series cast iron condensing boiler.

www.knseries.com GET NOTICED WITH MECHANICAL BUSINESS Reaching over 19,500 qualified subscribers – including over 15,100 mechanical contractors – Mechanical Business is Canada’s largest print magazine serving the HVAC/R and plumbing market. With an average of 5.6 readers per issue, your advertising message reaches more than 109,000 targeted industry professionals every issue. Let this market share leading publication, and its fast-growing digital complements, help your company grow sales in this ever-more competitive market. For more advertising information call Jeff Superle, National Accounts Manager, at 905-465-2919.

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HVAC snips Milwaukee’s Snips are made with forged metal heads and hard chrome plating. The long cut straight snips provide a 3” cut length through 20 gauge cold rolled steel, while the long cut offset snips offer a 2.5” cut length. The long cut offset snips also feature a 45˚ angle, designed to keep users’ hands above the cutting material for added protection and control.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Infrared thermometer Flir Systems’ TG165 imaging IR thermometer combines a single spot IR thermometer with the capabilities of a thermal camera. The unit offers a temperature measurement range of -25˚C to 380°C. It features dual lasers for marking the edges of measurements and crosshairs that pinpoint the centre of the measured area.

www. flir.ca

Deburring tools Reed Manufacturing Company’s DEB1 series of deburring tools for plastic pipe are designed for use on PVC, CPVC, ABS, PE and PP pipes up to 2” in diameter. They are built with internal pipe guides and a slip-resistant grip. Blades can be sharpened or replaced.

www. reedmfgco.com

Mini-brake The Malco MB48B pan-styled Mini-Brake is designed to fabricate drip pans and register boxes, as well as angled corners for flashing and fascia on the jobsite. It produces bends up to 135° in 22-gauge, galvanized steel up to 48” wide. The brake is built with a 5/16” steel plate table apron and has an anvil frame with an adjustable set-back.

www. malcotools.com

Hammerdrill Swage tool Hilmor’s Compact Swage Tool is designed for use in tight spaces. It feabutton for one-handed operation. The tool kit comes with 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4” and 7/8” expander heads, a deburrer, and a compact swage tool.

www. hilmor.com 108

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DeWalt’s 20V MAX DCD995 hammerdrill features a three-speed all-metal transmission and high-efficiency brushless motor that can deliver 650 watts of power. The tool comes with a heavy-duty 1/2” metal ratcheting chuck with carbide inserts and an LED work light with a 20-second trigger release delay. It is 8.4” in length and weighs 4.7 lb.

www. dewalt.com

Measuring tool Bosch’s GLM 100 C laser measure offers a measuring distance of 330 ft., with accuracy up to 1/16”. It has memory storage for up to 50 measurements and can take angle measurements in two axis. The tool is built with an integrated 360-degree tilt sensor and illuminated flip display. It can be used with a smartphone or tablet.

Metal shears The Metal Pecker is designed to cut profiled metal roofing and ductwork. It shears the metal between the anvils and pushes out a 1.7” by 0.24” metal slug with each cutting stroke. It leaves no swarf to rust and there is no sharp blade face to blunt.

www. boschtools.com

Tape measure The 25 foot FatMax auto-locking tape rule from Stanley features a Mylar-coated 1-1/4” blade and offers 11 feet of standout. It also comes with a manual mode setting and an interchangeable hook attachment.

www. metalpecker.com

www. stanleytools.com

;OL right products H[ [OL right time

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Across 2. Trade show referred to as “The World’s Largest HVAC/R Marketplace.”

3. This type of water can create excess calcium buildup in water heaters.

6. This plumbing and heating distributor is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

9. He’s coming to town this December for all the good boys and girls (including all the MB readers, of course.)

11. This is where refrigerant absorbs heat in a refrigeration system.

13. This fungus can contribute to a variety of IAQ-related health concerns.

14. Added to snowmelt systems to prevent freezing.

Down 1. The city where MCEE 2015 is set to take place.

4. Designed to remove air from water and remove the air from a system.

5. A valve intended to prevent flow reversal.

7. An indicator of a fluid’s resistance to flow.

8. Type of water heater that rests on the wall.

10. This type of leak can be detected when a refrigeration unit is at rest.

11. More than six million Canadians take part in this environmental event, celebrated every April 22.

12. The peer-to-peer sharing section of Mechanical Business specialist Dan Holohan’s website, heatinghelp.com.

Belt-line storage

TOOL TIPS

A place for everything

K

eeping your tools safe and secure, whether when climbing a ladder or transporting them in the bed of a truck, not only makes for a safer environment, it also helps ensure that tools are in good working order when you need them. And the options on belts, boxes and buckets have continued to grow over the years – even going beyond boxes and into bags and even backpacks.

Buying a tool box that is large enough to hold most of the tools that you’ll use on the jobsite just

110

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out, and feature impact resistant construction.

A lot of boxes have compartments that help keep the interior area from becoming one giant catch basin for miscellaneous drill bits, hand tools and whatever else happens to fall in (parts of lunch, at times). An organized tool chest will cut down on search time on the job, and it simply shouts professionalism, which counts when the boss or customers are watching.

And maybe one box just isn’t enough. If you have several types Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud of “standard” jobs, or different trade partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tickets, it can help to have a box tips, tools and reviews at for each type of task. A stacking www.milwaukeetool.com.

Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your system can help keep the storage chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and boxes organized in the shop or on merchandise! the truck.

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When he reduced costs by 13% with a new RTU, he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just saving money.

He was setting a precedent.

Once your clients start seeing the benefits of our incentives for upgrading to high efficiency HVAC systems, they will want to look into making other areas of their building like refrigeration and building automation systems more efficient too. When they do, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be joining companies like Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart and Sears who are already enjoying the energy savings that our programs deliver.

Take a look at their stories and our incentives at

saveonenergy.ca/mechanical-business

Subject to additional terms and conditions found at saveonenergy.ca. Subject to change without notice.

OM Official Mark of the Ontario Power Authority.

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113

Compiled by Mechanical Business

POSITIVE PRODUCTION 1.8% Percentage by which labour productivity of Canadian businesses increased in the second quarter of 2014.

CANADIAN TIRE COMMUNITIES

LIGHT IT UP 41 Number of light bulbs used in the average Canadian home.

25,000 Number of imported Italian twinkle lights Clark Griswold uses to decorate his house in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

ALUMIN-ATING 100 KG

90% Population of Canada that lives within 15 minutes of a Canadian Tire store.

The amount of recycled aluminum required to save enough energy to heat a typical home for a year.

EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITY

TURN OFF THE TAP

55-60%

11 LITRES

Approximate operating efficiency of most furnaces that are 15 to 20 years old.

The average amount of water saved when someone shuts off the tap when brushing their teeth or washing their face.

WOMEN WANTED

1.9%

The percentage of plumbing apprentices in Canada who are women.

Sources: Air Canada Centre, RBC, Canadian Tire, CMHC, Statistics Canada, Industry Canada

114

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PM# 41536047 Postmaster: Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to: Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

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