Mechanical Business January/February 2021

JAN/FEB 2021 $6.95

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

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2021

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PATRICK ROTH:

SWISS PRECISION AT ITS FINEST • • • • RESOLVING HEAT COMPLAINTS •

TAKE THE HYDRONIC CHALLENGE

SNOWMELTING: BEYOND THE DOLLARS, IT JUST MAKES SENSE PRODUCT SHOWCASE

VALVE SELECTION: GETTING IT RIGHT

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

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CONTENTS O F

Get the flow and location right 68VALVES

Depending on the application, check valves can get a bad rap.

Bob Rudman

Nav Bhatia kitchen COVID impacts and bathroom 38DESIGN TRENDS

Easy-to-clean surfaces and flexible, large living spaces are on consumers’ wish lists.

trends

ON BEING BETTER THAN GOOD

30COVER STORY

Best known as the Raptors “Superfan,” Nav Bhatia sees speedbumps where most would see roadblocks.

From hoops to loos, Bhatia’s success in business has allowed him to pursue his passions.

Kerry Turner

41WET HEAT SUPPLEMENT

The world of hydronics is ever evolving. To help stay in the loop when it comes to boilers, pumps, piping, rads and more, we present the first of our semiannual Wet Heat Applications & Technology supplements in 2021. If you’re into wet heat (and cooling) be sure to turn to page 41 for the latest news, features and technology, all with a hydronic edge!

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

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T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2021

PATRICK ROTH:

SWISS PRECISION AT ITS FINEST • • • • RESOLVING HEAT COMPLAINTS •

TAKE THE HYDRONIC CHALLENGE

SNOWMELTING: BEYOND THE DOLLARS, IT JUST MAKES SENSE PRODUCT SHOWCASE

VALVE SELECTION: GETTING IT RIGHT

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

On the cover: Nav Bhatia’s most ambitious endeavour: to fund washrooms in schools in India as a means to overcome a major impediment to girls’ education. Cover photo courtesy: Push Marketing Group; Championship ring photo Colin McTaggart

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Denise Deveau

68PLUMBING

HOW NOT TO BREAK YOUR STUFF Practical things you can do to prolong the life of drain cleaning equipment Marty Silverman

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34 72HEAT PUMPS

LOOK BEYOND COOLING FOR SIZING By calculating actual heat loss, using a heat pump for heating becomes a straightforward process Mark Parliament and Alexandra Parliament

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A PRIMER ON GLYCOL – PART II Jonathon Harp

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CONTENTS

50ROAD WARRIOR: PATRICK ROTH

76FREEZE PROTECTION

B u s i n e s s

REFRIGERATION Achieving ultra-low temperatures Phil J. Boudreau Vaccine storage has drawn attention to ultra-low temperature refrigeration and the challenges it can present.

PLUMBING Technology changes the game Fred Bretzke Mixed reality in the real world is happening and it is a game changer.

ASK ROGER Top 10 financial leak points in a contracting business Roger Grochmal How to keep expenses from sinking the ship.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY Keep radon on your radar Gord Cooke Recognize the importance of the radon issue and work with qualified radon professionals.

MARKETING What is your brand personality?

Doug MacMillan Personality traits define service brands in 2021 and beyond.

TROUBLESHOOTING Go with the flow when resolving heat complaints Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr Where to start on a suspected no- or low-flow condition.

D E PA R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

6Worth a look

18,20,21HVAC/R

8News

26-28Plumbing

74The Info Page

40Stuff You Need

76By the Numbers

54-59Hydronics

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THE CHOICE IS SIMPLE ENDLESS HEAT & HOT WATER

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Discover more at ibcboiler.com

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Editor: Kerry Turner, C 416-435-1193 kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Jeff Superle, C 416-577-7687 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield, C 647-217-2076 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: Fourteen Orange Graphic Design Inc. davem@fourteenorange.com Circulation Manager: Shila Naik 905-272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, C 416-457-9563 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

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LOOK

Intelligent Buildings and COVID-19 Impact Review The coronavirus has brought fundamental change to businesses, including the intelligent buildings industry.

Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) commissioned Frost & Sullivan to evaluate the sector’s key challenges and opportunities and identify response measures. The first part of that research, Intelligent Buildings and COVID-19, was sponsored by a number of CABA members and is available for free. It focuses on immediate implications, key regulatory guidance, and forward-looking mitigation measures and is the first of three modules.

“Early in the pandemic, organizations across the industry were seeing a profound shift taking place in their business, and they identified an urgent need to bring together actionable data, best practices, and lessons learned to take account of the changes under way,” said Ron Zimmer, CABA’s president and CEO. “As the research is showing − and the experience of the pandemic is proving − there are distinct pockets of opportunity the emerging future scenario could deliver,” said Konkana Khaud, director of consulting, energy and environment with Frost & Sullivan.

The current focus on Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled sensors, AI-driven building solutions, and cloud-based remote services represents the first area of opportunity.

Each has become a crucial component of engineering control strategies, both to meet workplace safety standards, and to maintain business continuity.

Attention is turning to the technologies and services that support a phased workforce re-entry, as well as to the key components and disciplines that must guide implementation efforts. These include facility management, workforce productivity, mechanical, electrical and plumbing safe-start strategies, building sensors, health building standards, standalone, equipment-level technologies and services, and government regulations.

Imminent changes for building management are predicted. Future-proofing buildings to combat pandemics and natural disasters will be of prime importance for building owners and construction firms, with digitalization and remote monitoring of HVAC systems taking centre stage to ensure indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Convergence of intelligent building technologies will become increasingly significant.

Networks of low-cost, wireless sensors that detect occupancy, temperature, air quality, and other parameters could enable multiple building systems to communicate with one another.

Finally, international healthy building standards such as WELL and RESET will take on heightened importance. Facility managers and other third-party certification providers are working to ensure accredited professionals can assess and certify the health performance of buildings against these new standards. caba.org/product/intelligent-buildings-covid-19/ This column features the editor’s picks for “must read” resources for stakeholders in the HVAC/R industry.

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News

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ERA earmarks $55 million in emission reduction incentives Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) new Energy Savings for Business program is awarding up to $55 million for costsaving and emissions reducing projects.

The program is focused on providing funding opportunities to support small- and medium-scale industrial and commercial businesses. The goal is to help Alberta businesses reduce emissions, decrease operating costs, grow their operations and become more competitive, while creating skilled jobs and boosting economic recovery.

Danfoss Industrial Automation is now Danfoss Sensing Solutions Danfoss Industrial Automation has been renamed Danfoss Sensing Solutions. The new name signifies a move by the company to strengthen its portfolio and services through more advanced application-driven sensor technologies and solutions. danfoss.com

Products eligible for incentives include: compressed air measures, process heating, geothermal, refrigeration, foodservice, HVAC, motors and drives, water heating, solar photovoltaic (PV), combined heat and power (CHP), lighting systems, and building envelope and windows.

All business and non-profits serviced by an Alberta electric utility are eligible, except for residences, new construction projects, municipally, federally and provincially owned buildings, publicly funded institutions and large emitters – as defined under Alberta’s TIER regulation.

The program is now open for application submissions and contractor registration. Up to $250,000 is available per project, and up to $500,000 per parent company. eralberta.ca

MEET postponed to 2022 Organizers of the Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology (MEET) Show have postponed the event to May 4-5, 2022 at the Moncton Coliseum Complex, returning it to its regular biennial cycle. The show was previously slated for May 6-7, 2020. With close to 400 exhibitors and more than 6,000 attendees from throughout Canada and the U.S., MEET is the largest trade event east of Montreal. meetshow.ca

On the lookout for the oldest Bitzer compressors Bitzer has launched a competition to find its oldest reciprocating and screw compressors that are still in operation.

Participants have the chance to win a webinar of their choosing from the Schaufler Academy, a wireless Jabra headset and a Bitzer office package. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2021. bitzer-compact.de

TSSA introducing new funding schedule The Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) is introducing a streamlined approach to collecting fees under its new business model.

The restructured fee schedule, which will start this spring, will be based on annual fixed fees that won’t vary from year to year. tssa.org

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CIPH AGM to feature Chantal Hébert

PPI technical report on PEX resistance to breaking

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) board has voted to cancel the Annual Business Conference (ABC) slated for June 27-29, 2021 in St. Andrews, NB. The annual general meeting will now be held virtually on Tuesday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. (EST), followed by a keynote session by Chantal Hébert, national affairs columnist with the Toronto Star. The next ABC event will be held June 19-21, 2022 at Jasper Park Lodge, AB.

PPI’s Building & Construction Division has released TR-52 Resistance of PEX Pipe and Tubing to Breakage When Frozen (FreezeBreak Resistance). The technical report explains how proper installation and protection can prevent freezing of water or other fluids inside PEX, how the inherent material properties of PEX can delay freezing of water, and how PEX can resist breaking if the fluid inside does freeze. plasticpipe.org

ciph.com

Barclay Sales marks 50 years in business Plumbing and HVAC specialist Barclay Sales in Port Coquitlam, BC is celebrating its 50th year in business. According to Jeff Blair, president, “Fifty years ago Barclay Sales began as a oneman agency. Starting with a smile and a briefcase with not much to sell, we have persevered to survive and thrive through recessions, and even a pandemic! Thank you to all our industry partners and friends for helping us grow to what we are today.” barclaysales.com

Skills Ontario’s Jennifer Green receives WXN Top 100 Award Jennifer Green, director of Competitions and Young Women’s Initiatives at Skills Ontario, has received a Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award in the CP Skilled Trades category.

The annual awards are presented by Women’s Executive Network (WXN). The category recognizes women who contribute value and demonstrate excellence in skilled trades, product or service innovation, and community involvement. Green is also an industrial mechanic millwright by trade, and an apprenticeship youth advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. skillsontario.com

Pandemic expected to cause stress on labour force numbers According to preliminary findings of provincial and territorial data partners and Employment and Social Development Canada, new registrations and certifications in the trades have decreased by almost half in the first nine months of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. Declines began in mid-March, as governments temporarily closed all non-essential businesses and facilities. New registrations (-71.2%) reached their lowest levels in April, while June marked the lowest point for certifications (-76.4%). August and September showed some signs of recovery as restrictions began to ease, however, these measures remained well below 2019 levels. Final estimates will be released in the fall of 2021. statcan.gc.ca

New year, new offices for HRAI HRAI has moved its offices to a new location in response to changing market needs. The new address is 2680 Matheson Blvd.

E., Suite 100, Mississauga, ON, L4W 0A5. The contact number is 800-267-2231. hrai.ca

National Building Code now digital The federal government has published a digital version of the National Building Code (NBC) to make building codes and practices more accessible to everyone. The NBC sets out technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings. It also applies to the alteration, change of use and demolition of existing buildings, as well as established requirements to address five objectives: safety, health, accessibility for persons with disabilities, fire and structural protection of buildings, and the environment. nrccanada.ca

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HRAI presents HVAC/R awards The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) presented Canada’s Outstanding HVAC/R Industry Achiever awards to Sandy Barber and John Marshall (President’s Award), Stuart Smith (Warren Heeley Environmental Award), David Weishuhn (Merit Award), Dennis Kozina (Chair’s Recognition Award), Alan Turner (Gerald Inch Award), and Brad Mavin (Craig McCarty Memorial Award). John Marshall was presented with the President’s Award to honour his outstanding contributions to the HVAC industry, including his work with TSSA. Marshall joined TSSA 14 years ago as director of its Fuels Safety Program. He is also a two-time recipient of the Canadian Standards Association’s Award of Merit for his extensive contribution to the development of codes and standards, as well as a 2020 CASE Service Recognition award winner. Retiring director awards were presented to Mark Boncardo, Stuart Smith, John Bonus, Rick Gosselin, Doug Goetz, and Marc-Andre Girard. hrai.ca

Recognizing outstanding service CIPH Québec Region presented awards to (l to r in photo): Daniel Bégin (Les Agences Lambert et Bégin), Denis Montour (Uponor), presenter Martin Gagnon, CIPH region president, and Sylvain Perrault (Anvil International).

CIPH also presented outstanding service awards to multiple recipients in December. They include Tom Gervais (Bradford White Canada), Phil Gamache (Plazr Sales Inc.), Doug DeViney (Watts), and John Cardiff (Canature Water Group). ciph.com

NRCan launches new Hydrogen Strategy Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, has launched the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, an ambitious framework that seeks to position Canada as a global hydrogen leader, cementing this low-carbon and zero-emission fuel technology as a key part of its path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Strategy is underpinned by a federal investment of $1.5 billion in a Low-carbon and Zero-emissions Fuels Fund to increase the production and use of low-carbon fuels, including hydrogen. canada.ca

ASHRAE releases Alternate Care Site HVAC Guidebook

THE CHOICE IS CLEAR Rising prices and unstable supply. That’s the future of R-22.

But it doesn’t have to be your future.

RS-70 is readily available, stably sourced and has the lowest GWP of all R-22 drop-ins. It is suitable for low, medium and high temperature applications in refrigeration and AC systems, and requires no oil change or system modifications.

The ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force has released the Alternate Care Site HVAC Guidebook. Developed by the ASHRAE Alternate Care Sites (ACS) task force, it provides engineering recommendations, solutions, and guidance to address HVAC systems for ACS. It also provides recommendations for applying standards which are used for permanent facilities to temporary sites under less than ideal conditions or with time, budget and technical feasibility constraints. ashrae.org/COVID-19

Talk to us today.

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DIGITAL ALERT Construction management software Procore Technologies has added Real-time Labour Productivity, and Time and Material Tickets features to its construction management software platform. These tools allow users to identify at-risk scopes of work and determine the ďŹ nancial impact, as well as document out-of-scope work requests, log labour and equipment, and track ticket status. procore.com

Moe Fanous receives the 2020 OPIASO Bumble Bee Award Moe Fanous of Watts Canada has received the 2020 Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association Sponsors Organization (OPIASO) Bumble Bee award. The award is given each year to a sponsor who has dedicated their time and effort to help with the organization’s annual meeting and education seminar (AMES). opia.info

Building automation system Johnson Controls’ Metasys Release 11.0 building automation system (BAS) offers new and updated features, including new cyber security capabilities and a licensable fault detection and fault triage feature suite. It helps owners and operators identify and solve issues to avoid equipment failure and energy waste, while also providing a exible modernization path for aging system components. johnsoncontrols.com

Where Design & (IĂ€FLHQF\ Meat Oxford Energy Solutions pairs its leading-edge control platform with low-pressure refrigerants and scroll technology to transform a traditional mid-sized deli operation into an expansion UHDG\ ZRUOG FODVV HQHUJ\ HIĂ€FLHQW showcase.

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Zurn offering full washroom solutions Zurn has acquired Hadrian Inc., a provider of washroom partitions and lockers. The move enables Zurn to offer building owners a complete washroom solution and accelerate its position in the smart building solution market. zurn.ca

Montgomery expands its services portfolio

Noble opens new Collingwood Branch Noble has opened a branch in Collingwood, ON, expanding its network of over 45 branches in Ontario. The site carries more than 3,800 in-stock SKUs of plumbing, HVAC and industrial supplies, and is located at 199 Mountain Road.

They can be reached at 705-915-3575. noble.ca

Emke Schaab Enterprises Inc., an HVAC contracting company based in Hanover, ON, has been acquired by Montgomery Industrial Services Ltd., of Wingham, ON, a provider of plumbing and HVAC services to commercial and industrial customers. comfortcentre.com

Bartle & Gibson expanding distribution

Navien rebrands for 2021 Navien Inc. has introduced a new logo and visual identity for the brand. The updated look offers a different take on the orange and blue colours that have been a staple of the brand in North America for over 14 years. Navien is presenting a live interactive virtual event on March 16, 2021 to introduce its latest water heater innovations. navieninc.com

Plumbing, heating and electrical distributor Bartle & Gibson Co. Ltd. has entered new regional partnerships with Toto and ABB to expand distribution of their plumbing, electrical, controls and power solutions across Western Canada. Bartle & Gibson has 31 branches in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. bartlegibson.com

Lajoie new rep for InSinkErator in Quebec

RectorSeal and TRUaire combine forces

Lajoie Inc. is now representing InSinkErator food waste disposal and hot water technologies in Québec. Lajoie offers extensive experience in the plumbing and building industry. lajoie.co insinkerator.ca

Bradford White purchases Keltech Bradford White Corporation has concluded the asset purchase of Keltech, Inc. The acquisition will expand Bradford White’s portfolio of commercial electric products to reach a wider variety of customers and prepare for the on-going adoption of electrification initiatives by communities throughout North America. bradfordwhitecorporation.com

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RectorSeal has expanded its product line for professional contractors by acquiring TRUaire, a provider of residential and commercial grilles, registers and diffusers. The combined organization will unify its market approach, giving distributors access to RectorSeal and TRUaire products. rectorseal.com

DiversiTech adds SpeedClean to its portfolio DiversiTech Corp. has added maintenance solutions SpeedClean from Goodway Technologies to its product offerings. SpeedClean’s innovations include portable and rechargeable coil cleaning systems, tablet-based coil cleaners, and portable cleaning systems for tankless water heaters and mini-splits. diversitech.com speedclean.com

What’s Hot? tan nkless water heaters and boilers doe es it again n Things are really heating up this year with an exciting new line up.

Live on March 16th at 4pm EST We will introduce our new water heaters.

Session will be a live interactive broadcast and we look forward to your questions.

Sign up today at NavienInc.com/live You won’t want to miss what’s hot at Navien.

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02.21

People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Mike Miller has been promoted to vice president of sales for Canada at TACO COMFORT SOLUTIONS. An industry veteran of almost 30 years, Miller has lead Taco’s commercial business in Canada for the last seven years. In other Taco news, vice president of sales and general manager Jim Garrett will run a number of strategic and high profile projects within the company until his official retirement at the end of May. REHAU has promoted Dr. Thomas Troeger from chief marketing officer to CEO of the Americas region.

Troeger has spent 14 years with the company, primarily in marketing and sales.

The CONTINENTAL AUTOMATED BUILDINGS ASSOCIATION (CABA) has appointed Tom Daenzer, manager of digital business development for Belimo Americas, to its board of directors. Daenzer has extensive expertise in building automation, construction and smart/connected technologies.

Chris Faulds is joining FOREMOST INTERNATIONAL LTD. in Mississauga, ON, as Ontario sales director. He will be reporting to Doug Sloan, VP sales – wholesale.

Faulds has had a longstanding career in various sectors of the plumbing industry.

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DAIKIN has named Greg Butt (1) division vice president for Canada. In this role, he will be responsible for all Daikin North America sales throughout 3 the country. Butt brings years of experience working with wholesalers and the engineering community for both original equipment and component manufacturers.

Doug Widenmann (2) has been appointed senior vice president and president of DAIKIN NORTH AMERICA LLC. Widenmann has more than three decades of experience in the HVAC manufacturing industry in various sales and market leadership roles.

At GOODMAN/DAIKIN NORTH AMERICA, Ardee Toppe (3) was named senior vice president and president for the Goodman, Quietflex and PTAC business units. Toppe oversees company-operated and independent distributor relationships for the Quietflex, Goodman and Amana brand product lines.

Patrick Skuse has joined WEIL-MCLAIN CANADA as its new territory sales manager in the KitchenerWaterloo and Niagara Peninsula regions. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the plumbing and heating industry, and certifications for pipe fitting, HVAC and hydronic product training.

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Dave Holek, has been re-elected to the role of president for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC). The president and general manager of Lekter Industrial Services Inc. in Lakeshore, ON was first elected president in 2019.

SLUYTER COMPANY LTD. in Markham, ON, has named Michael Santos as vice president. Santos is responsible for driving the company’s growth plan and has more than 20 years of experience in regulatory, quality assurance and operations.

Nadeem Mirza has joined WATTS as senior product manager, backflow and risers. He has overall responsibility for the strategy, new product development, and product management of Watts, Ames Fire & Waterworks, and FEBCO brand backflow and riser solutions for Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

THE MASTER GROUP has appointed Keith Strachan as senior vice president of distribution.

He is responsible for leading and developing expansion strategies for Master’s distribution across Canada.

Strachan was previously regional director Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and has been in wholesale distribution for the past 17 years.

REFRIGERATION

ACHIEVING ULTRA-LOW TEMPERATURES TWO-STAGE RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS ARE DESIGNED FOR AN EXTENSIVE APPLICATION RANGE

A

ttention in the refrigeration industry has recently turned to ultra-low temperature refrigeration and the challenges it can present. According to ASHRAE, ultra-low temperature refrigeration includes refrigeration temperatures between -50°C (-58°F) and -100°C (-148°F). Some applications include the conditioning and processing of petrochemicals, pharmaceutical products, and other specialized processes.

Single-stage vapour compression systems can produce evaporating temperatures down to approximately -43°C (-45°F). Suction pressure and discharge temperature are two limiting factors that prevent the use of these systems at lower temperatures.

At lower temperatures, the saturation pressure may be below atmospheric pressure. In the event of a leak, contaminants will be drawn into the system. It is extremely important that the system is always leak-free to prevent air and moisture ingress. Operation in a vacuum is also dangerous for the motor in a semi-hermetic compressor. Doing so will usually result in permanent motor damage.

The approximate upper limit for compression ratio in a singlestage compressor is 20:1. This corresponds to operating conditions of -43°C (-45°F) saturated suction temperature SST and approximately 120°F (49°C) saturated discharge temperature SDT using R404A refrigerant. As the compression ratio increases, the mass flow rate decreases.

There are two reasons for this. First, the volume of each kilogram or pound of refrigerant returning to the compressor increases at lower pressures. Second, high-pressure vapour remaining above the pistons after compression will re-expand, preventing suction gas from entering the cylinder until the vapour re-expands to a point where the cylinder pressure is slightly below suction line pressure.

At higher compression ratios the discharge temperature increases primarily due to the re-expansion of vapour and the higher heat

Phil Boudreau 16

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of compression. If the discharge temperature gets too high, this will result in lubricant failure, compressor overheating and accelerated wear.

When it comes to achieving temperatures below the limits of a standard single-stage refrigeration cycle, two or more additional compression stages are required.

TWO-STAGE OPTIONS One approach to supporting two-stage compression is to use a single compressor that dedicates some cylinders to the low stage and dedicates others for the high stage.

Although this type of compressor is sometimes referred to as an internally compounded compressor, it is typically referred to as a two-stage compressor.

When using a two-stage compressor, the refrigerant type must be the same in both stages. This presents a challenge with two-stage compression processes that involve a single compressor. To provide refrigeration in the ultra-low temperature range, the evaporator and suction line will operate in a vacuum. For example, based on an SDT of 43.3°C (110°F), a two-stage compressor may be approved for operation down to 62.2°C (-80°F) SST. However, at this SST, the suction pressure is only 6.06 psia or 12.3 in. Hg, which of course is in a vacuum.

Phil is the Ontario sales manager for Bitzer Canada Inc. and provides training and technical support for Bitzer’s clientele. He can be contacted at: pboudreau@bitzer.ca.

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Of course, it is always best to maintain suction pressures that are above atmospheric pressure. This is a mandatory requirement with single-stage semihermetic compressors but not with two-stage semi-hermetic compressors. If a two-stage compressor will operate in a vacuum, it becomes even more imperative that the system is leak-free.

In a two-stage semi-hermetic compressor, the motor is cooled at an intermediate pressure. The intermediate pressure of some six-cylinder compressors is approximately equal to the square root of the absolute suction and discharge pressures after they are multiplied together.

For example, with a 20 psia suction and 325 psia discharge, the interstage pressure will be approximately 3(20 x 325) or 80.6 psia. This corresponds to -2.4°C (27.7°F) with R404A. With smaller four-cylinder compressors however, the intermediate pressure will likely be even lower.

Due to the direct-staging inside a twostage compressor, high suction pressures may overload the compressor during pulldown. The reed valves can be damaged with prolonged operation at high suction pressure. Therefore, two-stage compressors often require some form of suction pressure regulation.

To avoid operating in a vacuum at lower SSTs, it is necessary to split the compression process into two stages where each stage uses a different refrigerant type. In this case, the high-stage system will generally operate with R404A, R507A, R448A, R449A, R407A/F or other refrigerant that has similar pressure-temperature characteristics.

The high stage will generally operate at conditions similar to a low-temperature freezer for food storage. The refrigerant used in the low stage, however, will be one with a higher saturation pressure value for a given temperature. The type of system described here is commonly known as a cascade system.

HIGH PRESSURE REFRIGERANT IN A SINGLE-STAGE COMPRESSOR One example of a refrigerant used in the low stage is R508B. Note that at 0 psig or 14.7 psia, the saturation temperature for R508B is -87.2°C (-124.9°F). Therefore, it is possible to achieve some very low SSTs using a refrigerant such as R508B. However, before using a high-pressure refrigerant such as R508B in a single-stage compressor, the compressor manufacturer must be contacted for advice and guidance. This is to ensure the compressor will be suitable for the application. If the compressor manufacturer authorizes the use of the refrigerant, they may also provide other recommendations such as limiting the suction pressure during pulldown and during standstill, keeping the suction temperature above a certain limit, recommending a lubricant and control strategy, to name a few.

When the cascade system is not running, the pressure within the system will increase until the saturation temperature is equal to the average equipment ambient temperature. So, if the ambient temperature is 25°C (77°F), the pressure of R508B will increase significantly and will even exceed the critical pressure of the refrigerant. In this situation, the low stage needs to be designed to withstand these high pressures, or a fade-out vessel must be used. A fade-out vessel is simply a vapour storage tank sized to allow the volume of the system to increase when necessary. On start-up, there will need to be some control of the pull-down so the low stage compressor is not overloaded.

If the system holds a relatively large amount of refrigerant, it may even be necessary to use a small standby condensing unit to recondense the vapour in the low stage receiver as it forms. This effectively reduces the pressure inside the low stage. The condensing unit could simply be cycled based on the pressure of the refrigerant in the low stage.

A cascade heat exchanger, in the form of a plate type, tube-in tube or other type is used to transfer heat from the low-stage condenser to the high-stage evaporator.

This counterflow heat exchanger must be sized to allow for pull-down o of the low side and the metering device used to feed the evaporator side of the cascade heat exchanger must be able to maintain a very stable superheat.

During system start-up, it is important to get the high stage up and running first so a good heat sink is available for the low stage. Once the high stage suction pressure decreases to a low enough value, the low stage can then be energized.

The low stage may also need to have some form of suction pressure regulation also. This is to prevent operation outside the co compressor envelope, which could result in compressor overload.

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HVAC/R Products P Mixed flow in-line fan Continental Fans’ MID mixed flow in-line fans are designed for process ventilation and cabinet cooling applications. They are available in diameters from 12-in. to 24-in., with capacities up to 5,340 cfm. Features include a pre-wired and mounted NEMA A 4 junction box and baked polyester powder wder coat finish.

Soil gas venting system

www.

continentalfan.com

Air treatment system The APCO-X air treatment system from Carrier features a V-Twin element with over 65 per cent more effective carbon surface area, EverCarbon cells with antimicrobial nanotechnology, a three-year UVClamp, and LED status and lamp fault indicator. It has a translucent polycarbonate housing, and a rotating faceplate for vertical or horizontal installation.

RadonX from IPEX is an engineered PVC soil gas venting system designed and tested to address the need for collecting and venting radon gas from low-rise construction. The system consists of perforated and solid wall pipes, fittings, cement and termination accessories manufactured to strict quality, performance and dimensional standards, and building codes.

www.

ipexna.com

www.

carrierenterprise.ca

Automatic oil de-aerator The OptiFuel automatic oil-de-aerator from Granby is UL/ULC certified and CAN/CSA and NFPA-31 code compliant. Available in three models that are also B-100 ready for biodiesel operation, they feature a fusible link oil safety device, 1/4-in. NPT connections, and a 26GPH H nozzle oil flow capacity.

Cable Hangers Anvil International’s C200 Series of cable hangers are designed for various structural attachments for wood, concrete and steel applications in plumbing, mechanical and HVAC/R systems. They are available in four diameters for specific loads (from 100 lbs. to 715 lbs.) and in four lengths from 5 ft. to 20 ft.

www.

granbyindustries.com

www.

Condensate pumps

anvilintl.com

The Gobi II and Combi condensate pumps from Refco are manufactured for use in duct-free air conditioning split systems. Both allow use from 6,000 BTU/H up to 120,000 BTU/H. They feature a digital water sensor, universal voltage (100-240V), four-setting quiet mode, diagnostic LED, and user configurable e flow.

Single stage heat pump AirEase’s 4SHP16LE single stage heat pump with up to 16 SEER/13 EER/9.5 HSPF features a highefficiency scroll compressor, aluminum alloy Omniguard coil technology, 45-degree offset gauge ports, a factory installed crankcase heater, high- and low-pressure switches, thread-on pressure switches, and a removable panel. Seven models are available.

www.

refcoswiss.com

www.

airease.com 18

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Canadian refillable cylinders available

Make the Switch to Solstice® N40

Solstice N40 (R-448A) offers 5-10% lower energy consumption, a 68% reduction in global-warming-potential and lower environmental impact on the planet. Solstice N40 is approved for use by all major compressor and component manufacturers, and is a near-drop-in replacement for R-404A, allowing for easier installations and conversions. Talk to us today to find out more.

For more information visit: https:www.honeywell-refrigerants.com or Call 800-631-8138

© 2019 Honeywell International. All Rights Reserved.

HVAC/R Products P Airflow regulators The CAR3 constant airflow regulators from Aldes feature dual-side airflow that allow for setting or changing airflow quickly in supply or exhaust applications without removing the unit from the duct. Rated for use in air temperatures ranging from -25°F to 140°F (-32°C to 60°C), they feature enhanced antimicrobial, anti-static, and flame-retardant additives.

www.

aldes.ca

Ceiling exhaust fan The CEP series of ceiling exhaust fans from Canarm feature a 6-inch poly collar with built-in backdraft damper and plug and play accessories. The HVI and Energy Star approved fans are ETL listed for tub and shower when connected to a GFCI.

Air source heat pump The CPS Capsule from Aermec is a multi-purpose plug and play unit with various temperature levels: chilled water to 39°F, medium temperature hot water up to 131°F, and high temperature hot water up to 176°F. Cooling capacity is 47 to 140 tons. Heating capacity is 600,536 to 1,723,131 BTUH.

www.

aermec.us

www.

canarm.com

Temperature condition monitoring kit The FLIR SV87-KIT is a 24/7 remote vibration and temperature sensing solution for industrial inspections. Its Wi-Fi connectivity provides the ability to track and record changes in vibration and heat in real time and over time. Features include four wireless SV87 vibration and temperature remote sensors and a wireless FLIR GW65 Gateway for continuous monitoring.

www.

flir.ca

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HVAC/R Products P Electronic air measuring station

UV light gas furnace Homeshield is a virus-killing ultraviolet-C sanitization system in Napoleon 9700 gas furnaces designed to eliminate viruses and bacteria inside the furnace that works 24/7 while heating, cooling or circulating air. The hospital-grade technology sterilizes the air to stop the spread of harmful viruses, moulds, bacteria, parasites and allergens.

The Airflow-IQ from Ruskin provides setpoint airflow control from 0 to 5,000 FPM (0 to 25 m/s). The class 1A-rated CD50 damper meets International Energy Conservation Code leakage requirements and ASHRAE 62.1, 90.1 and 189.1 minimum outside air requirements. Features include thermal dispersion flow and temperature sensors, and factory-mounted 24-volt modulating actuators.

www.

ruskin.com

www.

napoleon.com

In-floor convector The THX Series in-floor convection perimeter trench heater from Marley Engineered Products is designed to provide supplemental heat against curtain walls and glazing. The vertical profile eliminates visual disruptions while preserving the building’s heat envelope and reclaiming floor space. Units are UL approved.

www.

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By Fred Bretzke

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

PLUMBING

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE G GAME MIXED REALITY IN THE REAL WORLD

Photo credit: Trimble

THE LINGO

I

remember back in 1977 when I was a kid in London, ON: Dad was on a mission to keep the family happy, and once again he was telling us the story of something he dreamt up. My dad was a visual man who would draw a lot, layer on layer of detail; this time it was his plans for a new backyard pool. No matter what construction project Dad thought of, he loved to visualize it and draw it out. I inherited that from him, which is what makes Microsoft’s mixed reality (MR) device a dream come true for me.

I first began learning how to design 3D models back in 2008, with SketchUp Version 7, which is now owned by Trimble and is on to Version 21. My boss at the time, Daryl Hilman of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), offered SketchUp as an addition to my PowerPoint knowledge, to keep my design side busy. I loved it because I could finally design the 3D mechanicals I could see in my mind’s eye.

I’d studied plumbing code long enough that I could walk into pretty much any building and visualize the mechanical bein built from the ground up, complete with any being code co clauses accompanying each pipe. I worked in i SketchUp for hours, learning how to design and edit models, just like a kid playing with Lego. I could put together a fully-plumbed model and then demo it in class through a YouTube video.

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Virtual reality (VR) is a fully artificial environment where the user is fully immersed in the virtual environment.

Augmented reality (AR) involves virtual objects overlaid in a realworld environment; essentially the real world is enhanced with digital objects.

When the user is interacting with both the real world and the virtual environment, it is known as mixed reality (MR).

Delighting Homeowners

•

L

•

THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL PLUMBING NETWORK

EADER

Canadians are at home more than ever, and they are ready to invest in making their kitchens as functional as possible. As a plumbing professional, you can provide your customers with a smarter, hygienic, and more sustainable way to manage their food waste.

Contact your local plumbing wholesaler to find out how you can help homeowners “Kitchen Better”. www.insinkerator.ca

© 2021 InSinkErator, InSinkErator® is a business unit of Emerson Electric Co. All Rights Reserved.

PLUMBING EXPERIENCING IMMERSIVE MIXED REALITY Plumbers and other trades tend to be hands-on learners and of a visual mind set. The closest thing to actually doing it, is doing it in 3D (or at least, seeing it as a 3D model). While SketchUp was an improvement, I was waiting for the day we could actually interact with the technology, which was coming closer all the time.

Photo credit: Trimble

Finally, in 2019, a fellow SAIT instructor, William Thompson, of the architecture department, gave me a demo of the new Microsoft HoloLens2 Trimble, Hard Hat version. It blew my mind!

The headset has been touted as the most comfortable, immersive mixed reality experience ever made. Activating several computer screens at once can be done by voice or flip of the hand.

The interface provides menus of apps or icons, mixing into the reality around you as you move about a room, seeing reality and the gridlines overlaid by the Hololens. Microsoft has developed several 3D objects that can be placed throughout the field of view; the HoloLens creates a grid map (called spatial mapping), which provides a detailed representation of the real-world surfaces in the environment. The device produces a convincing MR, and allows you to place 3D models in the real world, using cameras and the lens inside the glasses. It has a simultaneous processing ability far superior to a typical computer.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIELD How can this technology be used in the plumbing industry other than education? Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the leaders in the digital world of design build with 3D and HoloLens.

Although the technology is still in its infancy, the device is being made available to developers 24

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AUGMENTED LEARNING This device has limitless applications for my fellow plumbers, and others in the trades.

I’ve recently been involved with 3D printing and SketchUp viewer. We are currently designing and planning to build a 3D model and HoloLens lab for SAIT’s Pipe Trades and Construction department and will be using HoloLens and 3D printers to augment student learning in a practical way.

Having designed approximately 40 fully piped in, 3D SketchUp models for the third- and fourth-year plumbing curriculum, we can now start 3D WYPU[PUN ZTHSS ZJHSL Ä[[PUNZ [V IL SH[LY HZZLTISLK I` Z[\KLU[Z [V SLHYU residential and commercial circuit venting in a lab experience, before the rough-in shop. >L»]L ILN\U [V \ZL H OVSVNYHT VM + Ä_[\YLZ V]LYSHWWLK PU[V [OL ZOVW J\IPJSLZ [V PSS\Z[YH[L [OL YLZPKLU[PHS VY JVTTLYJPHS SH`V\[ VM Ä_[\YLZ (U HWWYLU[PJL JHU ^LHY [OL /VSV3LUZ KL]PJL HUK ZLL [OL SH`V\[ VM Ä_[\YLZ that he or she is roughing in. Instead of purchasing commercial kitchen equipment for the shops, we can now augment them into each framed-in cubicle. We can also overlap the 3D piping to scale, right into the framedin cubicle for a student to see, measure the pipe, and then install it in reality.

and businesses for use in the construction industry. Engineers and foreman are using mixed reality devices to overlap plans onto on-site construction. The HoloLens has the ability to map out almost any area, particularly indoors, and the memory capability to save any 3D objects you place into a room.

One of the best uses for the MR device I’ve seen is when a plumber needs to map out gridlines and piping for the underground of a large commercial area. When the gridlines are mapped out in real, scaled 3D, a plumber can use the HoloLens to see them while on site, and plan piping around all of the rebar with ease (instead of mapping it out manually). This can lead to huge time savings, and fewer costly mistakes. Inspectors and engineers wearing HoloLens Hard Hats can inspect roughed-in mechanical, find mistakes on-site and from the blueprints, and make changes in the 3D blueprint as they go. This is not the future, it’s happening now, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.

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PLUMBING

Products

Closet auger The Teletube Flexicore heavy-duty closet auger from General Pipe Cleaners is designed to clear stoppages beyond the toilet bowl. The system features three extra feet of Flexicore cable telescoped inside the guide tube. Flexicore is comprised of two layers of tempered spring steel coiled over a 49-strand wire rope core. The optional down head safely follows bowl contours and springs through sharply angled passages. A closet auger bag is optional.

www. drainbrain.com

Ceramic bathroom collection Grohe’s Chinaware collection includes sinks and toilets that coordinate with its Essence and Eurocube faucet lines. Components include basins with various mounting options and water-conserving toilets made from vitreous china and InfinaBright technology that inhibits the growth of stains and odour causing bacteria, mould and mildew on the surface.

www. grohe.ca he.ca

Cordless pipe beveler er Reed Bevel Boss cordless pipe bevelers provide a safe way for operators to bevel pipe in the field.

They can be used to trim small to large diameter plastic pipe, including ng pipe already in the ditch. It is adjustable for bevel lengths up to 1 in.

It also adapts to cut pipe interiors.

Pressure releasing valve valv

www. reedmfgco.com

The 535H from Caleffi is a pre-adjustable pressure reducing valve featuring a DZR low lead body. Maximum working pressure is 300 psi. Maximum working temperature is 180°F (80°C), with a pressure setting range of 15 to 90 psi. It complies with IPC, IRC, UPC and NPC for use in accordance with U.S. and Canadian plumbing codes.

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www. caleffi.com

Solar faucets and flush valves Delta solar faucets and flush valves are designed for commercial, public and institutional applications.

The top-mounted solar energy modules harness ambient light energy to assist the batteries in operation of the unit, allowing the faucet or flush valve to respond in natural, artificial, minimal, occupancy lighting – or none at all. They also feature a variety of vandalresistant features.

Touchless washbars The WashBar series from Bradley Corp. is available in six finishes for its completely touchfree clean+rinse+dry fixtures. The physical vapour depositionproduced finishes create a molecular bond for a resilient coating.

Brushed finish options include black stainless, nickel, stainless, brass, and bronze, as well as the original polished chrome.

www. deltacommercialfaucets.ca

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PLUMBING

Products

Plumbing smoke blower ower

Adjustable floor drain and cleanout Watts' Pronto! adjustable floor drains and cleanouts are designed for pre-pour and post-pour adjustment. They feature a patented built-in bubble level. A complete drainage solution that ships as a fully assembled system, stem, they provide maximum flexibility bility in light to medium commercial cial and residential applications.

The Cherne residential plumbing smoke moke blower from Oatey pumps exhaust through h plumbing to detect leaks. Features include a 122-CC, 2.5-HP, 4-strokee Honda engine that provides over 700 CFM; and vibration damping to help minimize noise. It comes with a 5-ft. hose that fits a 4-in. cleanout tee, and a top-mounted carrying handle.

www. oatey.ca

Transition fittings SharkBite’s brass push transition fittings are designed for working with multiple pipe types and tight spaces.

They can be installed in wet lines and transition between PEX, copper, CPVC, PVC, polybutylene, HDPE and PE-RT pipes. They come with colour-coordinated collars for each specific pipe material.

www. watts.ca

www. sharkbite.com

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PLUMBING

Products

Water line guide The System XFR water line guide from IPEX Inc. securely fastens and guides 1/2-in. CTS water lines. Suited to all building types for basin or sink roughins, it creates evenly-spaced water lines at a uniform height in proportion to the drain fitting. It has flame spread and smoke development ratings of 25/50 as 2. per CAN/ULC S102.2.

www. ipexna.com

In-spout technology

www. sloan.com dobbinsales.com

Transition ansition tee products produ DEB1IPS

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Knurled Grip

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A smooth pipe end helps solvent spread evenly as pipe is joined.

Deburr and chamfer in seconds.

DEB1 SERIES • Simultaneously deburr and chamfer PVC, CPVC, ABS, PP and PE. • Accommodates three sizes of pipe per tool: ½", ¾", 1" or 1-¼", 1-½", 2".

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www.reedmfgco.com

M e c h a n i c a l

The Nibco Press x FIP transition tee product includes the Pro-Pal T-Valve for isolating a line or device for service.

Featuring a full port ball valve with an integrated tee fitting, sizes range from 1/2-in. to 1-in., including reducing branch options. Press x PEX transition elbows and couplings are also available in 5/8 in. and 1 in. reducing sizes.

www. nibco.com

DEBURRING TOOLS

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Bell & Gossett’s e-82 twin vertical in-line centrifugal pump provides space-saving, energy-efficient pumping for commercial HVAC and plumbing applications. Its compact size makes it suitable for parallel staging or back-up capacity. Features include sensorless control and variable speed integrated drive options, stainless steel impellers, and a built-in mechanical seal chamber.

www. bellgossett.com

Optimix-enabled faucets from Sloan, available through Dobbin bbin hnology Sales, offer in-spout ASSE 1070 compliant anti-scald technology nvenfor applications including healthcare facilities, schools, convention centres and airports. The integrated thermostatic mixing ing valve is incorporated directly into the faucet spout for easyy installation. The technology is available in hardwired, battery ery and solar-powered faucets and meets UPC and IPC code requirements.

• Reed Exclusive Tool!

• Fits six sizes of 1-¼" to 4" PVC, CPVC, PP and ABS. • Fits comfortably in operator’s hand for secure grip.

In-line centrifugal pump

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Products’ PR-500 automatic pressure drop activated trap primer valve requires a 3 psi (21 kpa) pressure drop across the valve to activate and deliver a metered amount of water to the floor drain. The system operating range is 20 psi minimum to 80 psi (138 to 552 kpa) maximum. It will prime up to two floor drains.

www. pppinc.net

The Perfect System for Chlorinated Municipal Hard Water

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Regina, SK

COVER STORY

By Kerry Turner

Nav Bhatia, best known as the Raptors “Superfan,” sees speedbumps where most would see roadblocks. A resolute and optimistic outlook has allowed him to come out ahead, in spite of facing discrimination and a rocky start to life in Canada. His great success as a businessperson has afforded him the resources to pursue his real passion: Bhatia never misses a Raptors home game, or any opportunity to gather with others and share in his love of basketball. From buying thousands of tickets to bring children and minorities to Raptors games, to organizing the Raptors’ annual Sikh New Year celebrations at Scotia Bank Arena (previously the Air Canada Centre) in Toronto, changing perceptions about the Sikh community remains a priority for Bhatia.

“All that matters to me is our youth and the examples we set for them.”

Nav Bhatia

ON BEING BETTER THAN GOOD COVID coping strategy

Photos: courtesy Push Marketing Group

“You know, the second day [of lockdown] I thought, I’m “stuck” at home. I mean, that’s not good. So, I bought a food truck. I said, I’m going to have to start getting food and delivering it to frontline workers. In three months, we delivered 13,000 hot meals to the frontline workers, police, fire, nurses, hospitals, and long-term care centres.”

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Sanitation for a nation

Coming to Canada Trained as a mechanical engineer, he worked in the family business in India. “It was one of the largest manufacturers of sunglasses and frames for the optical niche. We were also the supplier for the Indian army and government,” says Bhatia. But everything changed in 1984 when the anti-Sikh massacres left between 3,000 and 7,000 Sikhs dead. Bhatia left India to start a life in Canada. His entire family joined him, one by one, over the course of five years. “We started life again in this beautiful country, Canada.”

When he arrived, he searched for work as a mechanical engineer without any luck. “I got the message after a couple of months, after knocking on a lot of doors. I wouldn’t get a reply back on my resumes, and I figured out I was not going to get a job in engineering with my beard and turban.”

Determined to earn a living he did odd jobs – janitorial, landscaping and painting – anything to pay the bills. “I finally ended up with a full-time job at Rexdale Hyundai in car sales,” recounts Bhatia. The job was not without its challenges. “Everybody used to call me names and make fun of me. On the first day I decided, I’m not getting an engineering job, so this is going to be my job. I told myself, if you want to survive in this environment, you have to be better than good. I went on the floor and sold 127 cars in three months,” says Bhatia.

That number of car sales is still impressive today. What is Bhatia’s secret? “You should know your product; being an engineer, I knew a little bit of the technical stuff and that was an advantage. But you know what? In the end, treat people like you want to be treated yourself. That’s the key to success.”

Today Bhatia owns five Hyundai dealerships, including the dealership where he started his career.

Putting the fun in fundraising

On the home court

Bhatia recently celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary. “Perfect arranged marriage,” he chuckles. “We met and were only given 10 minutes before each had to say yes or no … I think it worked out pretty good.”

Photo: Colin McTaggert

In 1991, Bhatia and his wife Arvinder adopted their daughter Tia from an orphanage in India, when she was just one year old.

Over the years Bhatia has accumulated an impressive collection of basketball memorabilia, which he decided to gift to others. While he is keeping some favourites, including the championship ring gifted to him in October 2019 by the Toronto NBA champions, other merchandise will be displayed in the new Superfan Gallery in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame where Bhatia will be featured.

Bhatia’s roots in India and love of children inspired his most ambitious endeavour: to fund washrooms in schools, as a means to overcome a major impediment to girls’ education. Approximately 47 per cent of schools in India do not have separate washrooms for females.

The Superfan Nav Bhatia Foundation, in partnership with World Vision Canada’s Rise Up Daughters of India Initiative, set out to change that.

Bhatia traveled to India for the first project. “I gave them the money, but because it’s a third world country, I wanted to make sure that these washrooms were actually being built. My faith and trust in World Vision India went sky high: they were honouring our agreement, and no money was being wasted,” says Bhatia. To date, over 180 washrooms have been built or renovated across 36 schools in Faridkot, Punjab, improving the lives of more than 4,000 girls. The next project will be in another impoverished area, and involves the construction of 100 washrooms and two basketball courts.

Much of the financing for Bhatia’s foundation comes from his commercials and cameo appearances. You can find Bhatia in any number of videos on social media, whether he is in the drive through at his favourite coffee spot (Tim Hortons) or in his kitchen unloading a grocery delivery (Voilá by Sobeys) or even frantically trying to transfer money at his wife’s request so he can get to … what else, a basketball game (Xoom app).

When companies approach him, Bhatia first and foremost considers whether the product or service he is promoting is in keeping with his values. If it passes that test, he views every gig as “one more, or many more bathrooms” and perhaps even a new basketball court for marginalized youth here or in India.

His next venture is with Zerv’s Home Run fitness app: Bhatia will lead family-oriented workouts, which he laughingly suggested the company make “light,” given his age. During these troubling times, it is a joy to see Bhatia’s youthful enthusiasm and smiling face, whatever role he is taking on.

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with Roger Grochmal

Top 10 financial leak points in a contracting business How to keep expenses from sinking the ship

W

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 email to Mechanical Business Magazine’s editor, Kerry Turner, kerry.turner@ mechanicalbusiness.com.

Leak points and how to plug them

1

Smartphone bills – rather than reimburse employees who need to use their phone on the job, see if you can negotiate group data plans and hardware purchases, which can amount to thousands in savings.

2

Toll highways – this can run away quickly.

There is no doubt that time is money and toll roads can reduce driving time considerably. Spend

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e have all put a lot of energy into trying to keep the pipeline busy lately: as more customers postponed non-urgent HVAC work during the pandemic, we have had to work much harder to keep things moving.

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that keeping an eye on expenses is every bit as important as driving sales. The larger the company is, the harder it can be to scrutinize every last line item in your budget and seemingly small leaks can add up to quite a bit of money over time. Anyone from the smallest contractor to a large operation can lose sight of less obvious cost centres in their business.

Neil Smith, my former business partner and one of the most practical businesspeople I’ve known, gave me a simple but crucial piece of advice back in the 1980s: always sign your cheques. Even today, despite our growth over 35 years, we always ensure an owner or senior manager personally authorizes all payments. It’s not about trust – we couldn’t trust our people more – but it is about awareness. When we are constantly reminded of business costs, they remain at the top of our minds. In the digital age, this is even more essential: electronic transfers and automatic payments can be invisible if we aren’t watching closely.

This year will be better than 2020, that much I hope we can predict. It will take time for the economy and our markets to recover. My advice: spend some time poring over your cost centres now. Get ahead of these leaks and keep your ship afloat.

some time analyzing the cost-benefit of toll highways on your routes, and carefully monitor use or requests from employees for reimbursement.

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Digital marketing – this is a must have in our world, no doubt, and Google Adwords, display ads, Facebook and other targeted digital channels pay off in valuable leads. You need an expert hand on the wheel who can analyse and calibrate campaigns to make the most of advertising investments.

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Subscriptions – there’s a reason so many HVAC contractors have gone with a monthly membership service model. Those monthly payments are easily ignored because there isn’t a large annual invoice to pay. This is a prime example of an invisible monthly expense that can pile up without careful analysis into usefulness. Reviewing payment items for monthly items, from software packages to online training, will ensure fees aren’t destroying your bottom line.

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5

Inventory – managing inventory is valuable expertise to have in any enterprise. Stocking what you anticipate needing in a short period of time keeps business moving and customers paying since there is no downtime waiting for a part to come in. But having too much inventory can be deadly for cash flow; it requires storage (another cost), and supplies may become outdated or unsellable. Designating a set time each month or quarter for inventory management will help keep you on track.

Price increases – in addition to inventory management, learn to proactively ask about potential price increases on frequently used parts and materials, and watch closely for notifications about pending increases. Stock up on those items in advance and get ahead of cost increases. This will either give you a cost advantage against competitors, or allow you a higher margin on those items.

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7

Mistakes on the job – of course, we all try to avoid them. Going back out to

a customer’s home to fix a poor installation or repair is costly and can be damaging to a company’s reputation. I believe mistakes are the responsibility of managers, not technicians. Investing in continuing training and education is key, as is an allowance for employees to spend the proper amount of time on each call. People generally want to take the time to do the best job they can, but they rush through work when pressured to get to the next appointment. Keep this in mind when scheduling; small windows of extra time can prevent costly errors.

Credit card fees – these can be a necessary evil for many cash-on-demand businesses like ours, and yes, it can mean getting paid right away instead of waiting a month or more. It can also mean you aren’t left wondering if a cheque will bounce. Nonetheless, it pays to look at alternatives to offer customers, such as financing through partners, which may cost you and your customers much less in the long run.

8

Interest on credit and late fees – as much as our customers may need to live on credit, at times we do as well.

What business doesn’t have a line of credit with the bank, or a credit card or two? Managed well and paid off properly, credit can make a big difference in your ability to manage inventory and cost centres such as

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marketing. Letting the interest pile up or making late payments can add up quickly and have long-term implications. Keen oversight over credit is key.

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Staffing – the toughest point of all.

When it comes time for cost-cutting, consider options such as trimming a benefit plan, the staff appreciation budget, or salary reductions before letting someone go. But know this – if you are keeping employees who are underperforming because you like them, or feel awful for thinking of axing them, you are making one of the most common and most costly mistakes in business. Some people may need to be moved to a different role, or trained, while others should simply be let go. I’ve had people thank me several years later for “helping” them realize they weren’t where they should be. Remember, the longer they stay, the more expensive they are to release.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

KEEP

RADON ON YOUR RADAR F

amilies who are hunkered down in their homes have air quality on their minds. While the pandemic may be seen as a short-term challenge, we can all foresee that the way we live and work in our homes will be affected for years to come.

I was recently asked to review proposals a friend had received from a couple of HVAC contractors for a furnace, air conditioner and hot water heating system update. Both contractors added options for addressing air quality in my friend’s home. One of the proposals included an option to check radon levels in the basement.

In speaking with my friend, he said he told the contractors his home office was in the basement.

A primary concern in upgrading his system was to ensure the office was comfortable and healthy. I was encouraged, that for at least one contractor, radon was on their radar as one of the most important indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters in Canadian basements.

the air quality lity needs of a home, an office and a school. That hat air quality risk assessment must include radon, sincee according to Health Canada, nada, “Long-term exposure to o radon is the second leading ding cause of lung cancer afterr smoking and the leading cause se of lung cancer for people who have never smoked.” Moreover, the longer the exposure, re, the greater the risk.

As our customers tomers have changed the way they live, work and play in their ir homes, be sure to recalibrate your assessment of their needs in llight best available information. h off the h b l bl industry d f Balanced ventilation is a key component in ensuring the healthiest possible air during the shorter-term pandemic, and it is one of the appropriate strategies for the much longer-term concern of radon mitigation. Recognize the importance of the radon issue and work with qualified radon professionals to ensure your customers are breathing the healthiest possible air.

Be mindful that in every house you visit this spring, you may actually be assessing and servicing simultaneously

Gord Cooke

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Gord 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 airflow management in houses, and can be contacted at gordc@buildingknowledge.ca.

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STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING RISK The strategies for mitigating a building with high radon levels are also well defined and the test results will help determine which strategy is most appropriate for each building. The most effective strategy that is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is sub-slab depressurization (SSD). This is where air is drawn from under and around the slab via a pipe and inline fan and exhausted outside. In more and more municipalities, a rough-in for sub-slab depressurization is now required in new buildings. The rough-in consists of a perforated pipe embedded in the stone drainage layer over which a sealed sheet of polyethylene or another approved radon barrier is applied before the concrete floor is poured.

The collection pipe, which is usually fou four-inches in diameter for residential applications is stubbed up above the app slab and capped off. If after the building is ccompleted, long term testing shows rad radon levels are above the 200 Bq/ m3 then an exhaust fan approved for radon mitigation applications is installed rad on tthe rough-in pipe and vented to the outside. outs

To create a sub-slab depressurization system in an existing home it may be possible to utilize the existing sump-pump pit and associated drainage pipes. To test the effectiveness of this strategy, small 3/16-in. to ½ in. diameter test holes can be drilled through the slab in a few locations. An exhaust fan is then connected, either to a sealed cover of the sump pit or directly to the drainpipe. The hope is the fan will create a slight suction/negative pressure beneath the slab to capture the radon gas and eject it outside the home.

The effect can be validated with a manometer to detect even a slight negative pressure in each of the test holes.

While sub-slab depressurization is considered the most effective approach, professional contractors can imagine how obtrusive or disruptive an SSD approach could be in existing buildings.

Fresh air ventilation systems can also be effective in mitigating radon, specifically in newer, tighter homes, as the process of exhausting stale, radon-filled air and diluting the air in the building with fresh air lowers overall concentration levels. It is important to recognize that building codes in Canada changed in the early 1990s to include the requirement for a continuous or “principal” ventilation system. The most common strategy used was an “exhaust-only” system; an exhaust fan running more or less continuously. This strategy induces a slight negative pressure on the whole house and could draw soil gases into a basement. For radon mitigation, a balanced ventilation strategy such as heat or energy recovery ventilation (HRV or ERV) systems are recommended.

A DIFFERENT STRATEGY Furnaces and air conditioners in 20- to 30-yearold houses are nearing the end of their service life. This is an opportunity for HVAC contractors to upgrade the ventilation strategy to a balanced system when upgrading the system.

This method is actually more common than sub-slab depressurization in much of Europe. A control called a radostat detector measures the radon level in real time. The control closes a set of contacts when radon levels rise above 150 Bq/m3. This contact could be wired to the highspeed override circuit on HRVs and ERVs to pull the radon level back down to a safe level.

Sub-slab depressurization is considered the most effective approach and will be recommended by qualified radon mitigation professionals in buildings where radon levels far exceed the 200 Bq/m3 action level.

However, a balanced ventilation strategy may be appropriate, and less disruptive than applying a subslab strategy, for radon control in many homes.

M e c h a n i c a l

ASSESSING RADON RISK Radon is a gas formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in all soil and rock. Without measurement it is impossible to know or predict the level of radon in any specific home. However, it may surprise you that assessing radon risk is about as definitive as it gets in the IAQ world. There are well defined test protocols, measurement tools and action recommendations promoted

by Health Canada. There are recognized training and certification programs for professionals wanting to measure or mitigate radon in Canadian buildings. Visit the Health Canada website (www.canada. ca/en/health-canada/services/health-riskssafety/radiation/radon.html) where you will find links to a radon certification process offered by the Canadian-National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). C-NRPP offers certification for radon measurement and mitigation professionals. Mechanical contractors should have at least a referral relationship with radon professionals in your area (see https://c-nrpp.ca/find-aprofessional/).

We measure radon concentration in becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3).

In Canada the average home contains concentration levels of approximately 42 Bq/m3 of radon, and the average outdoor concentration is around 10 Bq/m3.

The current actionable level (the point at which mitigation measures are recommended) set by Health Canada is 200 Bq/m3 or more, lowered from 800 Bq/m3 in 2007. For comparison, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s actionable level is 148 Bq/m3, and the World Health Organization’s is 100 Bq/m3 – half that of Health Canada.

A 2014 study concluded that approximately 233 lung cancer deaths per year could be prevented in Ontario if all houses with concentrations above 100 Bq/m3 were remediated. According to Health Canada Guidelines, mitigation decisions should be based on measurements taken over the course of 91 to 365 days because of the potential for false-low/high depictions of radon concentration inherent in short-term tests. This is a key point as you consider investing in the radon opportunity; it involves a long-term customer relationship.

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Marketing

with DOUG MACMILLAN

Doug MacMillan is president of The Letter M Marketing in Guelph, ON. To reach him, email doug@letterm.ca.

Personality traits define service brands in 2021 and beyond What is your brand personality?

A

s consumers’ expectations of brands change in the postCOVID landscape, we can anticipate a shift in the brand adjectives that will be most resonant and effective. While oftenused attributes such as innovative, state-of-the-art, prestigious, luxurious, progressive and bold will still play an important role in brand positioning, brands will need to be humanized to a degree we haven’t seen in decades. Companies will associate real people with their products and services: business owners are developing their personal brands, establishing a trusted voice in the market, and celebrating their staff and the strengths they contribute.

Service companies dependent on establishing the trust needed when entering people’s homes are especially susceptible to these changes.

Even technology companies are on the bandwagon. A recent IBM thought leadership study reported: “While executives plan to expand almost all tech competencies during their future digital transformations … the business competencies that account for the largest part of an organization’s expected growth are those centred around employees and customers, such as workforce training and customer experience management.”

More than ever, customers wield their power to influence your business through online reviews, social media and the growing number of local “Best Of” awards that are based on consumer votes. Clearly, customer experiences rule the day.

We’re are in the midst of an interesting time from a branding perspective; from every perspective actually. Brands need to revert to simpler days when leaders were present and companies showed the same commitment to their internal values as they did to promoting the value they provided. Challenging on its own, this must all be achieved while demonstrating we have our finger on the pulse of what’s ‘next’ by embracing progressive solutions and successfully adopting technologies.

Eight brand personality traits for service companies to explore in 2021:

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Transparent: The businesses that connected best with their customers during the pandemic were honest and consistent communicators. Personal letters from company owners were effective, while any advertising they did reinforced safety and support, not bargains and BOGO deals. This has raised the bar and buyers will look for honest, consistent and simple communications from the leaders in the companies they do business with.

2

Kind: Genuine interest in supporting staff, customers and

community is now an essential attribute for most brands.

Numerous studies show Canadians favour caring companies.

Kindness needs to be more than a promise: it should be baked into every activity in the business. A caution, though: walk a fine line between telling customers about these commitments and “humble bragging” to the point it seems disingenuous.

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Nimble: Yes, “pivot” was perhaps the most overused word of 2020, however a brand’s ability to be agile will be a measure of strength and stability for customers. This might include quickly adopting different technologies to support a contactless and safer experience or introducing new services that align with changing needs in the marketplace, such as air cleaning.

4

Collaborative: Building new partnerships will emerge as

a key advantage. Trust has become an important asset as people more critically evaluate who they allow in their homes or businesses. Smart businesses will leverage this by introducing other service partners who have passed their screening and can be trusted to provide the same level of reliable service.

5

Safe: It seems obvious these days to tout our commitment to safety, and this expectation will likely remain essential with customers when we’ve returned to normal. Service companies have an opportunity to lead here with exemplary practices including sanitizing, sending advance texts introducing technicians before they arrive, properly using PPE, and leaving the work area sparkling clean.

6

Resilient: Sadly, many businesses will be on

thin ice as we come out of the pandemic. Some will not make it. A survive-at-all-costs mindset can lead to rash decisions that communicate fragility and desperation. While some customers will go out of their way to support an underdog, the majority will be more comfortable doing business with a stable, steady company they know will be around for the long haul.

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Local: With a push to support local businesses through and after the pandemic, smaller, independent contractors will have a strong card to play next to larger corporations. This attribute needs to reach beyond simply saying you’re small and local to demonstrating a commitment to supporting your community’s recovery in any way you can.

Tech savvy: Remaining modern and connected to progressive technologies will continue to be important given the growth in use of digital tools that allow for contactless and efficient interactions.

Adopting user friendly interfaces and technology solutions that help customers feel comfortable and safe will be a primary commitment, while maintaining the brand’s humanity and personality.

Reference: www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/covid-19-future-business

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Mechanical Business Magazine 7x4.875 Feb. 2021_CRHEX SLIM.indd 1

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DESIGN TRENDS

COVID impacts kitchen and bathroom trends T

he National Kitchen & Bath Association 2021 Design Trends Research reveals the COVID-19 pandemic will have a substantial lasting impact on kitchen and bath design. As homeowners spend more time at home, kitchens and primary bathrooms are getting larger, the volume of outdoor living projects is increasing significantly, and there is a need for easyto-clean surfaces, flexible living spaces and seamless technology integration for added convenience and peace of mind.

Aesthetically, design preferences in both kitchen and bath will continue to be more contemporary and transitional in style, with the added influence of a new leading trend of “natural/ organic.” This combination feels more European in style and scale, with clean lines, minimal detailing, the warmth and texture of natural finishes, and larger windows to bring the feeling of the outdoors inside.

The influence of natural/organic catapulted into the top three design styles respondents expect to increase in popularity in the kitchen and bath over the next three years. This is a significant shift from the NKBA 2019 study, where this same design style ranked 10th. Conversely, traditional design, which consistently had been one of the top three kitchen and bath styles for more than a decade, is now anticipated to be one of the least popular.

“We expect designs for both the kitchen and bath to continue trending toward a more modern, organic feel that is both streamlined and adaptable,” said Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO. “The kitchen has long been the heart of the home. But especially during the pandemic, it has emerged as the most prominent, multitasking room as well. We see this continuing with more open-space concepts, an extension into multi-season outdoor living spaces, larger kitchen island hubs and increased

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KITCHEN TECHNOLOGY

functionality and storage to allow homeowners to cook, eat, work, home-school and play, all in the same vicinity.”

The results of the study are based on data collected in Q3 2020 from more than 700 design professionals in North America, representing industry segments including designers, showrooms, dealers, manufacturers, remodelers and architects. Of the respondents, 78 per cent are NKBA members.

NKBA has tracked the shift in design trends to forecast styles, features and materials for almost 60 years. www.nkba.org

Photo Courtesy: Dvira Ovadia

Photography: Eric Rotter Photography

Extracted with permission from materials provided by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Emerging Bathroom Trends • Radiant floor heating • Larger freestanding showers to accommodate two people with zero-clearance entry, integrated seating and grab bars • Larger-format surrounds with fewer grout lines • Linear drains • Voice-activated or hands-free faucets • Leak detection with mobile alerts • Black and nickel in matte or brushed faucet/fixture finishes • Bidets • Self-closing toilet lids • Motion-sensor lighting • Temperature control

In addition to being hands-free, faucets and fixtures must stand up to more intense cleaning and disinfecting.

Photography: Jeffrey A. Davis Photography

American Standard

NKBA expects the kitchen and bath to continue trending toward a more modern feel and look.

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Designer: Elma Gardner, CMKBD, By Design Studio, Inc.

Photography: Jeffrey A. Davis Photography Designer: Elma Gardner, CMKBD, By Design Studio, Inc.

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STUFF YOU NEED Hand cleaner Ogena Shield hand cleaner is designed for use in commercial and industrial settings. It provides a deep clean while moisturizing and protecting skin from damage. The cleaner is formulated with lanolin and glycerin, and is fragrancefree, biodegradable and environmentally-friendly.

www. ogenasolutions.com

Cordless oscillating multi-tool The M18 FUEL cordless oscillating multi-tool from Milwaukee Tool allows users to cut, sand or scrape in tight spaces. The device features a brushless motor, intelligent hardware and software, and a lithium battery pack. The motor pairs with an oscillation angle of 4.2 degrees and 10,000 to 20,000 OPM settings.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

Borescope Klein Tools ET16 Borescope available e through m camera Ontor, features a waterproof IP67 mm red for 640x480 pixel images, an armoured 10-foot gooseneck cable, six LEDs with adjustable brightness control, and the Klein Tools app for capturing and sharing images.

-go The unit connects to Android on-the-go version 4.0 or higher devices.

www. ontor.com

kleintools.com

Silicone firestop sealant

Forged wire stripper

HoldRite HydroFlame 300 selflevelling (HF300SL), and caulk-grade (HF300CG) silicone firestop sealants are designed for areas subjected to high levels of moisture or when UL listed W ratings are required. These quick curing and moisture-resistant sealants can be used across a variety of pipe types for improved installation efficiency.

Knipex Tools’ forged wire stripper is designed for stripping and cutting solid and stranded wire between 10 and 20 AWG. It is equipped with screw cutting holes for 6-32 and 8-32 screws.

Additional features include locating ridges between stripping holes, wide knurled gripping jaws, induction-hardened shear cutting blades, and a right/left-handed lock.

www. knipextools.com

www. holdrite.com

Compact thermal camera The Flir C3-X is a compact thermal camera to help users find faults in close range. Features include a five-megapixel visual inspection camera, 128x96 resolution, a temperature range up to 300°C, built-in LED light, and 3.5-in. touchscreen. The IP54 enclosure provides high level protection against dust and water, and can withstand a two-meter drop.

www. flir.ca 40

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

|

T E C H N O L O G I E S FEBRUARY 2021

PATRICK ROTH:

SWISS PRECISION AT ITS FINEST • • PRODUCT SHOWCASE • VALVE SELECTION: GETTING IT RIGHT • RESOLVING HEAT COMPLAINTS • TAKE THE HYDRONIC CHALLENGE

SNOWMELTING: BEYOND THE DOLLARS, IT JUST MAKES SENSE

A sopping wet supplement of Mechanical Business

www.mechanicalbusiness.com

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ANGLEMIX

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The AngleMix thermostatic mixing valve has an industry-exclusive angled geometry that saves installation time by allowing the DHW tank outlet to be piped in-line with the valve’s mixed water outlet, reducing the number of required fittings. Additional features include accurate control down to 0.5 GPM for today’s low flow fixtures, tight close-off capability to eliminate recirculation “temperature creep,” and an integral temperature gauge. Now available in larger sizes and with more connection choices. The winner of the 2021 AHR Innovation Awards in the plumbing category.

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

|

su p p le m e n t

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

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64 50

FEATURES

OTHER

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60TROUBLESHOOTING

50 52

PUMPS: CAVITATION AND OTHER ODDITIES Mechanical Business turned to Ben Needham, field applications engineer, and Jim Garrett, vice president of sales and general manager for Canada, Taco Comfort Solutions, to answer some questions about the importance of routine pump maintenance.

ROAD WARRIOR: SWISS PRECISION AT ITS FINEST Ask Patrick Roth how he became a hydronic specialist, and he’ll tell you it wasn’t planned. When he was in his native Switzerland he wanted to go into the hospitality industry but just two weeks into his apprenticeship he decided he didn’t like it. As luck would have it, a friend’s dad owned a plumbing business and asked Roth to help out. He’s been doing it ever since.

Denise Deveau

Q&A: TAKE THE HYDRONIC CHALLENGE From reverse-return piping, to balancing, to tubing sizing, test your hydronic smarts with this quick quiz.

Lance MacNevin

Cover Photo: Lionel Trudel Photography

FEATURES

Go with the flow when resolving heat complaints Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

64SNOWMELTING

Beyond the dollars, it just makes sense Kolyn Marshall and Mike Breault

68VALVES

Get the flow and location right Bob Rudman

DE P AR TME NT S

44GUEST COMMENTARY Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

54-59PRODUCTS

A showcase of hydronic technology

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

GUEST COMMENTARY

Manager of training and education with Caleffi North America

We are the final piece of the puzzle Tof lives has forced a change in how we

he COVID-19 outbreak and resultant loss

live, work and play. I do not know of any contractor, manufacturer or business that has not been affected in a profound way by this virus. We can hope though that we’ve learned some lessons along the way to help us better cope with outbreaks in the future.

On the positive side, there have been some interesting things going on that have kept business rolling in the construction trades. As of the time of writing, CBC News has a story online about mortgage rates dropping as low as one per cent. So, lenders have a lot to do with the new construction industry staying active. And housebound homeowners seem very motivated in keeping remodeling contractors working. If you are in the service and repair business, this market seems to be growing exponentially. With more families hunkering down at home, drains are plugging, disposers are jamming, and mechanical systems are seeing increased use and wear. Yet again, all eyes turn towards the plumbers and heating professionals in times of crisis.

What can we do to keep our communities running, our families healthy and our team members working? Material shortages are causing issues, and our biggest, seemingly never-ending problem with a lack of skilled labour persists. Worker shortages are exacerbated when contractors are exposed or become ill and have to quarantine. The issue now becomes, “how do we keep ourselves and team members safe and working?”

It’s our responsibility to equip and train front line workers. In addition to COVID-19, many very real health threats have been with us for a long time: E. coli, hepatitis (the full line up), and a multitude of other viruses are real dangers lurking in our buildings. It falls to us to be prepared and educate ourselves about response options.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is more important now than ever. If you are working in the field, assume you are risking exposure to all of the above-mentioned diseases. Be aware that you have to train team members on processes and equipment.

I’ve seen dozens of service providers wearing masks incorrectly and using gloves improperly. And just because someone has a face shield doesn’t mean they know when and how to use it. A good site for PPE lists, training resources and safety procedures

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W E T

H EA T

02. 21

can be found at www.ccohs.ca. Also, check out www.iapmo.org/ibu/whats-new/coronavirusresources.

These sites, as well as chat rooms, social media and industry magazines, provide a multitude of proactive responses to these health risks from our plumbing and HVAC brethren, such as legionella prevention mixing valves, and UV and ozone air cleaning systems. Recently, I learned about probiotic air treatment.

Now is the best time to research the facts, features and benefits of those systems. We have legionella guidelines and equipment to help mitigate concerns in DHW systems. Research shows that properly elevating DHW temperatures can destroy the virus in our piping systems. Now more than ever, we must keep up to date to ensure our own safety.

Along with learning how to best protect ourselves comes the opportunity for us to share this knowledge and help our customers. We will need to weed through a barrage of “miracle cure products,” learn what really works, and be able to knowledgeably present options to our clients. Progressive wholesalers and reps are already stepping up with training specific to COVID mitigation and prevention.

Just as vaccines have been fast tracked to deal with this virus, so should responses and guidelines from the safety and health authorities. Vaccines need refrigeration, and the labs developing them need specialized HVAC and mechanical systems.

Manufacturers will need to step up with new products to address the ongoing threat. And contractors will be the final piece of the puzzle, ensuring equipment has been accurately sized, selected and properly installed. Sharing data from across the world to work together as a whole would be helpful, and perhaps should be mandatory.

There will likely be new industries that develop from this crisis, and new markets for tradesfolk. Who knew you could track and trace COVID-19 infections via septage? The contractor or engineer who identifies a fast, simple, safe and cost-effective way to do that is sitting on a grand business concept.

Everyone reading this has a part to play to help put this episode of our lives behind us. We have a rare opportunity to use the hard lessons we have learned and become better and smarter as a global family, and I think we will … call me an optimist.

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NTI Net features on board Wi-Fi for remote monitoring, diagnostics and adjustments. ProvideV unparalleled service and protects the health and safety of your customers and your employees

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PUMPS

Cavitation and other oddities Mechanical Business recently turned to two pump/ circulator experts to answer some questions about the importance of routine maintenance. The issue of pump cavitation came up, so we took a closer look at that troublesome condition. Insights and recommendations come from Ben Needham, field applications engineer, and Jim Garrett, vice president of sales and general manager for Canada, Taco Comfort Solutions.

MB: Is regular maintenance of pumps or circulators important? How does maintenance impact pump performance in residential/light commercial applications? Can preventive maintenance prevent failures, and if so, how?

Needham: Regular maintenance of traditional commercial pumps will contribute to better performance, but more so when paired with a proper pump assessment, which will vary by application. A typical pump assessment includes an inspection of the pump followed by gathering, analyzing, and comparing electrical and hydraulic performance readings to a manufacturer’s published performance data and system design requirements.

To ensure good mechanical performance, maintenance may entail greasing bearings and realignment, whenever applicable.

Greasing pump and motor bearings will prevent bearing failures. Bearing failures can lead to other damage in the pump such as shaft or seal damage.

Performing an alignment (if applicable) ensures efficient power transmission and also prevents unwanted vibration that can lead to failures in couplings, seals, and bearings. Base plate movements can also cause alignment issues.

Visual inspection of suction/discharge flanges for leaks, as well as the pump volute, are important. Hydraulic and electrical readings should confirm that the pump is operating in accordance to the system design.

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element to the system will greatly aid in preventing the buildup of oxide debris inside the pump assembly. In-line filtration systems are constantly at work, filtering hydronic system fluids, and are designed specifically to remove iron oxide that may be suspended within circulated fluids.

It’s worth mentioning, too, that keeping proper system water quality levels will go a long way toward extending the longevity of cartridge or seal life.

MB: What sort of maintenance are we talking about, and how often should it occur?

Garrett: For traditional commercial pumps, regular maintenance should include a pump assessment, greasing of bearings, and alignment where applicable. Grease should be added to bearings in accordance to the manufacturer’s recommended run hour interval. Regular pump maintenance and assessment can occur annually with the system maintenance, or more frequently.

Larger ECM pumps have been in the commercial market for a few years now. Many of these are built to be maintenancefree; though systems, including all pumps, should be inspected routinely.

MB: What procedures or tests do technicians tend to overlook during routine/seasonal maintenance?

ECM pumps often feature strong magnets in their construction.

These magnets are known to attract iron oxide debris into the pump. Installing and regularly servicing a magnetic filtering

Needham: A hydraulic assessment is sometimes overlooked.

Proper pump operation at design conditions should be

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40 YEARS

IN CANADA

PUMPS

Continued from page 46

MB: What causes pump cavitation?

Garrett: Pump cavitation happens when piped fluids in motion have a local pressure that’s lower than the vapour pressure of the liquid, causing vacuum pockets to form.

The implosion of these vacuum pockets against the impeller generates a shock wave, eroding the impeller, often sounding something like a gravel mixer. If you hear that, you know you have a problem. This will also cause severe vibration in the pump.

Cavitation with closed-loop residential or light commercial systems is rare. If it happens, it’s most often caused by installing the pump prior to the expansion tank – the point of no pressure change – which can cause insufficient NPSH (net positive suction head), and cavitation.

verified against the manufacturer’s published curve. Pumps are typically selected as close to the best efficiency point (BEP) as possible. Hydraulic readings should confirm that the pump is operating in accordance to system design. A proper pump assessment will prevent failures – such as cavitation, suction recirculation, insufficient flow conditions, and vibration – by ensuring the pump is not operating outside of a manufacturer’s recommended operating range.

However, cavitation isn’t uncommon with large, piped, open-loop HVAC systems, such as condenser water loops between the cooling tower that’s open to the atmosphere, and a chiller. Insufficient static head above the pump leading to insufficient NPSH could be a cause of this. Or, there may be air entrained in system fluids as air is pulled in from a shallow cooling tower tray.

MB: What are the usual reasons for a failing (or failed) pump?

When this happens, air displaces the pumped fluid causing the pump to vibrate, in some cases violently, along with a drop in pump performance. Very large radial loads (from both water, and air) are exerted on the impeller and rotating assembly. The pump operation is very noisy with characteristics similar to pump cavitation. In instances like this, seal failure will occur with possible impeller and shaft damage.

Needham: Operating in a poor area on the pump curve (too far to the left or right) can be the beginning of the end for a pump. This is typically caused by one of the following factors: poor pump selection, a system that has not been properly balanced, or a system that needs to be rebalanced due to a change in the system.

Common effects of operating in a poor area of the curve, such as suction recirculation and cavitation, can often be heard audibly. However, these effects should be verified by a pump assessment.

It’s important for installers to know how to balance a system hydraulically or adjust a control curve so efficient design conditions are achieved.

48

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KPA

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Needham: Installation and service technicians should learn how to perform a proper hydraulic pump assessment. Commercial contractors should become comfortable taking a differential pressure or flow reading, and reviewing readings to a manufacturer’s published curve.

REQUIRED NPSH

20

0 0 L/SEC 140

HEAD IN FEET

MB: What should contractors do to ensure that their technicians are performing the proper maintenance to keep pumps running efficiently?

FEET

Misapplication is another common cause for premature failure. Some examples could include using a pump designed for closed loop applications in an open system, or installing a pump rated for indoor use outside. Another factor may be poor water quality. This is less apparent unless tested during commissioning. Often a water quality problem is not caught until a few seals, or wet rotor cartridges, have been replaced.

METERS

Cavitation is likely when a pump is operating toward the end of its performance curve. All pumps require specific NPSH and have a NPSH required curve – similar to the ‘performance curve’ most installers are familiar with.

However, a performance curve slopes down as flow increases, the NPSH required curve rises as flow increases; where they intersect is where cavitation will occur.

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ROAD WARRIOR Patrick Roth

Weirdest story from on the job: Won’t say on the grounds it might incriminate me Canadian certifications: Red Seal in 2004, TECA Hydronic System Design from BCIT in 2010

Best Concert: John Hyatt

Favourite class: Geography

Favourite actor: Kevin Costner

Service area: Okanagan region

Favourite movie of all time: Braveheart

Most useful tool in his toolbox: Love pliers - I have a bunch for sure

Favourite sport: Soccer

Favourite tool: ProPress system – definitely the best invention ever Tool you wish you had: Battery-operated Milwaukee cutter Favourite band: Guns N’ Roses

Lionel Trudel Photography

The European connection

50

3 albums that you’d take with you to a desert island: Use Your Illusion II (Guns N’Roses), What’s the Story Morning Glory (Oasis) and Carolina (Eric Church)

It seems only natural Patrick Roth would take to hydronic installation and design. “Hydronics is pretty big in Europe. They’re not used to using forced air.”

So how did a Swiss hydronic specialist end up designing systems in British Columbia? “I met my wife at a fishing lodge where she was working, while on holiday with my parents in Lac la Hache (BC). We became good friends.” And the rest is history.

While waiting the year for his Canadian certification, Roth filled the time doing emergency plumbing service calls. House calls weren’t exactly his cup of tea, he says, but “coming here as an immigrant, I had to find some work to get going.”

Being Swiss and having solid hydronic credentials has proven to be a big advantage since he joined Ace 15 years ago. “I’m the only one in the office, other than my boss, that works on hydronic design. It’s been like coming home.”

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Favourite season: Summer, without a doubt bt Favourite car of all time: My next F-350 Favourite place to hang out: An Anywhere nyw whe h re o outdoors utdo ut do d oor orss Favourite activity: Hiking Favourite restaurant: The Train Station Pub in Kelowna Favourite drive-thru restaurant: Timmy’s to pick up a steeped tea double double Favourite local lunch haunt: Helmuts Sausage Kitchen Last book read: Swiss Watching Favourite website: Gotta be Google…right?

Biggest pet peeves: People who are late Pets: A labradoodle called Louis, like the French king If you could be an animal, what would you be and why? A dog – they’ve got it pretty good One word that describes you: Dependable If you could meet anyone who would it be?

Barrack Obama My rule of thumb is: Do it right If I had a million dollars: I would invest in my children’s education

By Denise Deveau

Name: Patrick Roth Employer: Ace Plumbing & Heating, Kelowna, BC Job Title: Project manager Born in: Olten, Switzerland Age: 43 Wife: Mimi Children: Ella (13) and Alina (10) In the industry since: 1996

Patrick Roth:

Swiss Precision at its Finest

A

sk k Patrick Pattri r ck kR Roth otth ho h how w he became bec e am me a hydronic and he’ll hy yd dron dr on nicc sspecialist, peci pe c al ci a isstt,, a nd dh e ll ttell e’ e l yo el yyou u itt wass a decision wa deci de d eci c si sion n that tha hatt took t ok to k him him m by by surprise. surp su rprrriise rp e.

Back Ba ck kw hen he h h w a iin as n his h s native hi na attiive v SSwitzerland witz wi t errla and d when was he wanted wan a te t d to t g go o into in nto t tthe he h hospitality ossp piitta ali lity ty in industry. ndu d sttry ry. “ “II w was a ttwo as w w wo weeks eeks ee k iinto ks ntto myy apprenticeship and decided didn’t like ap ppr pren e ttiice en esh hip pa nd dd e id ec ded I d id dn’ n t li lik ke iit.” ke tt..”

he’s had he’ss h ad his hiss fair fai a r share sh harre off onsite ons nsit itte experience. ex xpe perri rien ence ce e.

“Every plumber gets wett att “E Eve v ryy p lu umb mber err g etts so ssoaking ak kin ng we w le least eas a t once on nce e in in their t ei th eir lives live li ive v s − that’s t att’ss certainly th cer erta t in ta nly y happ ha happened ppen pp e ed to en to me! me! I also a so al s remember rem mem embe berr a great be grea gr eatt ea project Revelstoke had practically proj pr ojec oj e t in ec nR evvel e sttok ke th tthat att h ad p ract ra ctticcal a lyy everything evver eryt ythi yt h ng hi g for forr a huge hug ge hydronic hy ydr dron on nicc system. sys y te t m. m. It It w s a beautiful wa was beau be a ti au t fu f l job job to t work worrk on.” on n.” ”

A luck As luc u k would w ul wo uld have have v it, it, t a friend’s fri rien e d’ d s dad d d owned da ow wne ned d a pl p plumbing um mb bing g business bus u in nes e s and and asked aske as k d him ke h m to hi t help hel ep ou out. ut. t “ “And An A nd I’ve I’’ve v b been een ee n do d doing in ng itt ever eve v r since.” sin si ncce. e.”

He’s projects He e’ss happiest hap appi p es pi e t ta ttackling ck kli ling ing rresidential e id es den enti ttiial al p r je ro ectts beca be because ca aus use e itt gives givves e him him m the the opportunity opp ppor orrtu t ni n ty to to design exact way he likes.

“In desi de s gn ssystems si y te ys tems m tthe ms he e x ctt w xa ayy h e li like k s. ke s “ In n commercial give designs comm co mmer mm e ci er c al a jjobs ob bs th tthey eyy jjust ustt gi us g v tthe ve h d he e ig es gns n t you.” to you u.” ”

He e worked worrke k d in n Switzerland Swi w tz t erla and d ffor orr ffour ou ur ye yyears, a s, ar s a an d came ca am me to to Canada Ca ana nada da on on September Sept Se pttem ptem embe berr 1, be 1, 2 000.

00 0 0. and 2000.

SSince Si inc n e th tthen, hen en,, he he’s ’ss m an nag ged a nd ccompleted om mpl p etted managed and hy hydronic ydr dron on niicc iinstallations n ta ns t ll llattio llat ons a all ll o ll over v r th ve tthe e Ok Okanagan kan a ag agan a an rregion. re g on gi n. Hi H Hiss pa pass passion ssio ss io on iss iin n th tthe e de desi design ssiign g a and nd d coor co coordination orrdi dn na attiion no off hy hydronic ydr dron on nicc p projects. rro oje ectts. s. “ “II li like ke k e a al alll aspects aspe as pe ectts off b building uild ui din ng th tthese e e fu es ffunky nk ky p pi piping ip piing sy systems ysttem emss an a and d se seeing eei eing g tthem hem he m wo w work.” rk k.” ” These Th hes e e days da d a ays y as ys as a project proj pr ojec oj e t manager, ec mana ma nage na ger, ge r Roth r, Rotth iss sp spending pen e di din ng g lless esss ti es ttime ime ime m o on n th tthe e ro rroad, ad,, al ad a although lth t ou ugh

Roth describes himself ass a co constant R th Ro t d e crrib es bes e h im mse elff a cons nsta ns t ntt llearner. ta earn ea rner rn er.. er “When new “W Whe hen n ne n w th tthings in ngs g ccome om me on n tthe he market mar arke k t ke that t att I think th thi h nk k I can can a use, use se,, I will w ll try wi tryy it it iff there’s the here re’s re ’ss a benefit bene be ne efit tto o the t e customer. th cu usttom mer er.. So SSometimes meti me ttiime mess th tthings in ngs g really work, other real re a ly al yw orrk, k o t er ttimes th im mes e yyou ou u fall fal a l flat fl t on fla n your you ur nose.” n se no e.” ”

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51

HYDRONIC IQ

By Lance MacNevin

TAKE THE HYDRONIC CHALLENGE 1. A radiant heating zone that exhibits a Delta T between supply and return fluid temperatures in excess of 20°F probably has: A. a floor covering with excessive R-value B. a zone valve too large for the zone C. a zone pump too large for the zone D. inadequate flow through that zone

6. The purpose of a heat transfer plate in a joist space radiant heating application is to: A. reflect heat up into the air cavity B. exchange heat between the primary loop and the secondary loop C. conduct heat from the surface of the tube to the bottom of the subfloor D. provide high limit protection to the floor

2. Outdoor reset controls typically adjust: A. the system supply fluid temperature based on outdoor temperature B. flow rates through low-temperature zones C. the DHW temperature setting based on usage D. the low-pressure cut-off based on system temperature 3. Reverse-return piping is: A. a method of piping that helps balance flow through various paths, without balancing valves, sometimes utilizing multiple pipe diameters B. the use of a bi-directional valve to change direction of flow in circuits C. required when using condensing boilers in radiant systems D. not recommended for use in radiant heating systems 4. A differential pressure bypass valve is usually used for: A. a floor covering with excessive R-value B. a zone valve that is too large for the zone C. a zone pump that is too large for the zone D. inadequate flow through that zone 5. Installing multiple radiant distribution circuits (loops) with the same tubing diameter and equal circuit lengths on a single distribution manifold ensures: A. equal temperature drop across each circuit B. equal heat delivery of each circuit C. equal flow rate across each circuit D. equal return temperature from each circuit

52

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7. A radiant floor heating system with tighter tube spacing will usually: A. not increase heat output because the floor remains the same temperature B. increase the efficiency of the heat source and improve response time C. require higher supply temperature and decrease efficiency of a boiler D. cause the zone to run longer to satisfy the heating load 8. By definition, a radiant heating system transfers heat into a room: A. entirely by radiant transfer B. entirely by convection C. more than half by infrared radiant transfer, with some convection and conduction D. primarily through conduction of short-wave energy waves 9. To estimate the required flow rate in GPM required for a hydronic system using water, with a maximum allowed temperature drop of 20°F, the required heat loss is divided by: A. 10,000 C. 15,000

B. 12,500 D. 20,000

10. Which oor covering will provide the most heat in a given room?

13. Which type of information is necessary to properly size a circulator for a hydronic system?

A. the minimum ow rate and system operating pressure B. the required ow rate and expected head loss in feet of head C. heat demand in BTUH/sq ft and ow rate in GPM D. the system operating pressure and head pressure in feet of head

A. ceramic tile over thinset, with a 27ËšC surface temperature B. engineered hardwood, with a 27ËšC surface temperature C. marble tile, with a 27ËšC surface temperature D. they will all provide the same amount of heat

14. When describing tubing sizes for PEX, PE-RT, or copper, what does the description ½ in. refer to?

11. A ground source earth energy heat pump is a good match with radiant heating distribution because its COP (coefďŹ cient of performance): A. increases with higher system delivery temperatures B. is unaffected by radiant uid temperatures C. increases with lower system delivery temperatures D. decreases with lower system delivery temperatures

A. the actual outside diameter when measured at the widest point B. the actual inside diameter when measured at the narrowest point C. the minimum ow rate to prevent laminar ow D. the nominal tubing diameter, while the actual diameter is 1/8 in. larger than nominal

12. The objective of hydronic balancing is to:

How did you do?

1. D, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B ,5. C , 6. C, 7. B, 8. C, 9. A, 10. D, 11. C, 12. D, 13. B, 14. D

A. match the injection system to the boiler output B. assure proper head pressure for the zone pump C. eliminate the need for a pressure differential bypass valve D. provide correct heat supply to each distribution circuit in the system

Lance MacNevin is director of engineering for the Building & Construction Division of The Plastics Pipe Institute. He can be reached at lmacnevin@plasticpipe.org.

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53

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Mixed fuel boilers I-Series boilers from Rinnai have been tested and approved for use with hydrogen-enriched natural gas, using up to 30% hydrogen blends without the need for a product upgrade or modification.

Cleaner burning HENG safely leverages existing natural gas infrastructure to reduce CO2 emissions when added to air handlers with heat pump technology.

www. rinnai.ca

Commercial condensing boiler AERCO’s compact Benchmark Platinum 4000 and 5000N commercial condensing boilers fit a small 4000/5000 MBH footprint, measuring 78.2 in. H x 34 in. W x 63.5 in. D. Features include a durable 439 stainless steel, fire-tube heat exchanger, self-adjusting combustion to optimize O2 levels, Edge Controller and mobile app, and dual returns.

Digital pumps The Wilo-Stratos MAXO digital, connected smart-pump series features energy-saving functions such as dynamic adapt that automatically adjusts the delivery ahead to the hydraulic demand without having to specify a setpoint.

Other features include multi-flow adaptation and no-flow stop, as well as EEI of )0.17 to )0.19.

The control panel, terminal box and power board are fitted behind each other for smallconnection spaces.

www. wilo-canada.com

www. aerco.com

Hydronic simulator The Hydronic Simulator from Belimo illustrates when a hydronic system needs to be balanced and how a valve adjustment could impact the entire system. It simulates a hydronic system in a 4-storey building with five terminal units on each floor. All terminal units, branches, and the raiser have a manual balancing valve.

www. belimo.ca

Potable water circulators The Bell & Gossett ecocirc e3 series of whole house potable water circulators feature a highly efficient electronically commutated motor (ECM) design, permanent magnet motor, and a spherical rotor/impeller unit suspended on a wear-resistant ceramic ball. Adjustable thermostat models are available with a set point range of 68°F to 158°F (20°C to 70°C).

www. bellgossett.com

54

W E T

Replacement radiators Classic Radiators by U.S. Boiler Company are suited for replacement applications in period-specific older homes. With durable cast iron construction and ornate styling, these radiators efficiently transfer heat and prevent cold air infiltration under windows and outside walls.The radiators are paintable, and decorative brass valves are also available.

www. usboiler.net H E A T

0 2 . 2 1

It’s All About Speed.

Take on emergency plumbing repairs with speed and confidence.

Learn more at sharkbite.com

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS NTI FTVN boiler line The FTVN from NTI is a high efficiency, wall hung boiler for home heating applications. The system features a vertical downfired stainless steel heat exchanger, 10:1 modulation and 96% AFU, an integrated ECM pump and DHW diverter, and WiFi connectivity for remote monitoring. It is available in three combi sizes and four heat-only options.

www. ntiboilers.com

Combi boilers SFC Superflow high-efficiency combii boilers from IBC feature a two-in-one e labyrinth heat exchanger, and are available in three models (SFC 99, SFC 125, SFC 199). Features include de up to 96% AFUE, interactive illuminatnated touch panel control, variable speed ed circulator, and up to 5.6 gpm DHW at a 70° temperature rise. An LP converersion kit is included.

Air to water inverter heat pump GeoSmart NetZero + Air combination features a fully modulating inverter driven system and is available in 1-9, 3-12, and 5-22 kw capacities for radiant heating, chilled water cooling, and 100% DHW production. Run up to four outdoor reset curves with the built in hydronic controller. It integrates with traditional gas fired boilers and operates in hybridization mode when Solar PV is available.

www. geosmartenergy.com

www. ibcboiler.com

Boiler room IoT technology Cleaver-Brooks’ Prometha is an IoT solution for boiler rooms that offers real-time data analytics and system intelligence to enable boiler system optimization. The system collects a minimum of 250 data points on each monitored asset in the boiler room 10 times per minute, and remotely displays key performance indicators on a dashboard.

www. prometha.com

W E T

Hydronic fan coils Briza hydronic fan coils from Jaga are designed to deliver flexible heating and cooling without the environmental footprint. Easy to install and only 9 in. deep, the fan coil can be placed on or in the wall or ceiling to save space.

The EC motors generate next to no motor noise.

H E A T

The 1600 series rFOIL Ultra Concrete Barrier Foil (CBF) from Covertech is a patented, puncture-proof, under-concrete reflective insulation product for radiant heat applications. It features a multi-layer vapour and radon barrier (14.2 mil), conforms to uneven grades, and is available in 48 in. X 125 ft. and 16 in. X 125 ft. sizes.

www. covertechfab.com

www. jaga-canada.com 56

Concrete barrier insulation

0 2 . 2 1

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HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Commercial 4-way mixing panels HeatLink's pre-fabricated mixing panels are designed to control a building’s radiant heating system supply water temperature. Multiple panels may be used to segment large heating areas, or maintain different supply water temperatures for areas with differing heating requirements. Components include a 4-way mixing valve, motor, pump, circuit setter, thermometers, isolation valves and cover.

www. heatlink.com

Bypass balancing valves TacoSetter balancing valves allow for adjusting flow rates through closed-loop hydronic heating and cooling systems. The inline balancing valves can be installed in tight spaces and continuously deliver a direct flow reading in gpm. They provide minimal pressure loss with a convenient flow rate memory stop.

High-temperature condensate pumps Little Giant HT-VCL high-temperature condensate pumps for commercial applications are available in 1/8 and 1/3 hp models with flows up to 575 gph at 5 ft. and a maximum 63 ft. of head. Each features an external switch test lever to ensure the pump is functioning without having to fill it.

www. littlegiant.com

www. tacocomfort.com

Sludge eliminator

In-slab tubing support

The Drago uses an ionization process to eliminate oxidation sludge in closed loop hot or chilled water systems. Because the sludge is eliminated and not filtered, the water progressively clears up and returns to its natural state. The system requires no additional maintenance, chemicals, additives, or electrical supply.

HoldRite’s 703 in-slab tubing g support pp helps protect stub-ups from potential damage. Available for single or double pipe runs, it protects one orr two 1/2 in.

PEX tubes or 3/4 in. electrical cal conduit and features a protective cover ver plate with patented locator whiskers for or finding it after a concrete pour.

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Condensing boilers The Vitodens 100-W, B1HA/B1KA stainless steel condensing boilers from Viessmann are 95% AFUE. They feature a titanium stabilized stainless steel Inox-Radial heat exchanger and MatriX cylinder burner. The provide on-demand DHW up to 3.7 gpm with B1KA combi version, and 21 to 125 MB/H for heating and 21 to 149 MB/H for DHW. The compact design is suitable for limited space installations.

www. viessmann.com 58

W E T

H E A T

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www. holdrite.com

Static balancing valves The Watts iDroset CSD series of static balancing valves for hydronic heating and cooling systems use a patented flow measuring technology that enables readings without any additional tools.

The gauge continuously indicates flow without having to actuate a bypass circuit. The hand wheel for setting flow can be locked when the desired flow rate is set.

www. watts.ca

HYDRONIC PRODUCTS Press ball valves

Four-pass wetback boiler The Hurst Performance Series 500 Scotch marine boilers for commercial and industrial applications are available in capacities from 30 to 2,000 HP and 670 to 3,348 MBTU/H. Units are delivered prewired, pre-piped and tested, so no field assembly is required. They comply with ASME, UL, CSD-1 and ASHRAE standards.

Easy-to-remove rear cover plates enable access to the tubes.

Webstone’s Pro-Pal T-union ball drain, T-union ball,, and L-union ball valves feature integrated union tee or union elbow fittings. Suited for branch connections and shutoffs in tight locations, they are available in an array of sizes including reducing options suitable for manifold/zone assemblies. The valves feature dual stem seals and press connections.

www. webstonevalves.com

www. hurstboiler.com

Pre-packaged boiler plant The Riello Array condensing boiler is designed for use in commercial and institutional facilities. With inputs from 1 to 4 million BTUH and the ability to cascade up to eight boilers, it uses up to eight heat exchanger modules to provide redundancy and a turndown ratio of up to 40:1. The boiler has a 96.1% AHRI thermal efficiency rating and produces NOx emissions of less than 9 ppm at 3% O².

Pressguns Viega is introducing two of its own branded pressing tools. The Pressgun 6 can press up to 4-in. ProPress copper and stainless and 2-in. MegaPress with V2 actuator and rings, and 2-in. PureFlow PEX. Features include an 8-second press cycle and a 270° rotating cylinder head. The Picco model can press up to 1 1/4in. ProPress with the C1 actuator and rings, 1 1/2in. PureFlow and 3/4-in. MegaPress. Viega recently extended the limited warranty on MegaPress and MegaPressG fittings to 15 years for most applications.

h www. viega.usatlink.com

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59

SYSTEM DESIGN

By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

Go with the flow

when resolving heat complaints W

hen we use hydronic systems to move energy around, flow is one of the drivers. Think of hydronics as a fluid-based energy transfer system. As such, hydronics is used to heat, cool, provide DHW, and many processes in commercial applications. In many cases, a circulator pump is the “motor” that moves the fluid around the loop or circuits. As a troubleshooter, a common call is for a lack of heat or hot water in a home or building. My modus operandi was to start thinking of possible causes as I drove to the call. If it was a job I had installed, or had been to before, I would start running through the layout in my mind.

To move or transfer heat energy we need both flow and a temperature difference (note, there are still some gravity powered systems out there, however, this article will focus on pumped systems). We do not always have the luxury of a system design or mechanical schedule indicating the equipment that is supposed to be installed. I would venture to guess most residential systems do not have adequate, if any documentation. So, we must make some assumptions based on practical experience and an overview of the system.

It does not take a lot of effort to determine a lack of flow condition. It could be as simple as laying hands on the piping to determine if fluid is moving. Most volt ohm meters (VOM) have temperature differential heads for taking temperature readings. Contact thermometers are helpful and if you have one, an infrared camera is an ideal troubleshooting tool.

If in fact you are using a circulator to move flow, it needs to be sized to the job at hand. Learn the steps to properly size the circulator. There is plenty of online training to help you acquire appropriate sizing skills. Being old fashioned, I still use the Bell & Gossett System Syzer tool. B&G also offers version 4 of its System Syzer program for PCs.

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Properly-sized circulator, so what’s next?

Assuming the circulator has been sized properly, next up is a review of the installation.

There are arrows cast into most every circulator.

Many circulators have checks installed or in the box and those too are directional. Make sure these components have been installed properly; if that is not the case make it so as you update the system. You’ll appreciate it if the installer (maybe you) included isolation valves in the original installation.

Note the “what not to do” graphic − these are best practice recommendations.

You and I have seen these suggestions ignored and surprisingly the system may still work. It just may not work as well as it should and you might be able to improve it.

You could pipe in a workable purge arrangement. There are pump iso-valves with purge ports built in. It is well worth the money to have a quick, easy and defined way to purge a loop. Many no- or low-flow conditions can be traced to inadequate purging.

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SYSTEM DESIGN WHERE TO START ON A SUSPECTED NO- OR LOW-FLOW CONDITION

Partially filled pipe will cause foaming in circulator

Suppose you’ve confirmed as much as you are able that the pump, pipe and components are sized correctly. Some of the common suspects are: a valve that is partially closed, a plugged Y strainer, or an air pocket. A good troubleshooter then asks a few important questions of the system owner or caretaker: Has anything changed in the system? Have there been any recent modifications? Have any valves been turned off? Was the circulator pump replaced?

It is time to pull out a few tools. Is the circulator powered and is it actually spinning? If it is smoking hot, it could be stuck or jammed. Occasionally shafts break. A voltmeter or even a spinner tool will not tell you that.

You may need to pull the motor from the volute to confirm the shaft and impeller are functional.

Low head circulator may not be able to “lift” fluid over a tall air pocket. This blocks all system flow

Sloping pipe can create intermediate high points in system

A dual temperature gauge allows you to read the differential across the circulator. A flowmeter is ideal in every pumped circuit. There are various quick read versions available from ½ in. to 4 in. These have a pin or handle you turn to get an instant reading without needing to connect a pressure differential gauge.

Flowmeters can also serve as an isolation device.

GET THE AIR OUT If you hear air in the system, there is a good chance you have some flow. Find a way to purge the air out, flow until it is silent. Even if the air does not stop the flow completely, it certainly can hamper heat exchange. For a large piping system purge, you may need more flow than what a fill valve can provide.

A ½-in. fill line might get you in fast fill mode. It can provide around a 5-gpm fill rate, depending on the available inlet pressure. Fast fill features on ¾-in. fill valves deliver 5 to 9 gpm.

boiler

secondary circuits

boiler circulator combination purge valve on each secondary circuit

dirt separator

closely spaced tees

STEP 1: Purge primary loop

series primary loop primary circulator

STEPS 2,3,...

Purge secondary circuits, one at a time (including boiler circuit)

VENT

A transfer pump or purge cart can speed up the purge process. A ½ hp fill pump should get you up around 10 gpm. Flow drops as pressure increases, so try and purge just below the relief valve setting − about 28 psi.

If you work on larger piping, you may need more hp to get a good purge; ¾ hp and larger purge carts are available or you could build your own.

There are specialty purge companies that can purge up to 24-in. diameter systems.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to purging a system to assure flow. The piping layout, size of pipes and connection points all need to be taken into account. In some cases, you may need to add some valves to isolate and purge the system, and break it into smaller subsections. A fill valve and auto air vent may not cut it for a large complex system. Remote air vents, both manual and automatic, may need to be located at high points.

On a job with a chronic air problem, you may boost the fill pressure a few psi. This may be enough to squeeze out some of those air bubbles so the GETTING flow can carry them back to a vent. You will need to check and adjust the expansion tank pre-charge if you increase the fill pressure. It is not a bad idea to check the tank pre-charge occasionally. Invest in quality microbubble type air purgers. They work faster and handle the tiny bubbles best.

I feel confident that most qualified, experienced hydronics installers or designers can plan and pipe a system so that a limited number of purge points would provide a system free from any noise issues. The components are available and many schematics exist to show piping options. Talk to your manufacturer’s reps, check out the installation sheets, and search on YouTube for examples.

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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SNOWMELTING

Kolyn Marshall is the systems engineering manager for Watts Radiant. Mike Breault is technical support specialist at tekmar. Prior to that, he held the position of senior instructional designer/trainer focusing on HVAC, drainage and thermostatics, for Watts.

By Kolyn Marshall and Mike Breault

Beyond the dollars, it just makes sense WALK LIKE A PENGUIN? HELL NO, INSTALL A SNOW AND ICE MELT SYSTEM – IT’S FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AND FAR LESS EMBARRASSING

I

t happens every year. We slip so easily from summer’s warm embrace into winter’s cold grip.

By the time we realize what’s happening it is usually too late: the snow’s flying as driveways and walkways ice up.

At that point, we’re helpless but to admit Old Man Winter’s got us, again, in his cold, icy grasp. Sleet, snow, ice and freezing rain dictate the boundaries for safe movement outside. It is during these moments when most of us truly see the value of snowmelt systems.

Why aren’t there more of these brilliant, oh-so-practical mechanical systems installed during those lazy summer days? What are the influences that push building owners or facility managers so quickly past this option on the annual to-do list?

The first issue is simply timing. Most construction projects take place during the summer months. Who is thinking about snowmelting during the summer, anyway? I should say: who, other than us?

There are challenges to considering the impact 20 cm. of snow has on daily operations when it’s 85°F outside. When an interior or exterior project is being considered, take a few moments to simply ask the building maintenance person what they think. This team is the first line of defence when something goes wrong, or when it’s necessary to take additional steps to keep a facility operational. When asked, snowmelt is generally toward the top of the wished-for add-ons at facilities where winter conditions must be dealt with.

For the bloke having to don winter gear and brave the elements, it’s a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t want simply to watch 10,000 sq. ft. of parking lot clear all by itself? Whether you’re seeing an occasional need to eliminate snow in Halifax, NS, or warming an emergency room entrance in Calgary, AB, a snowmelt system, properly installed, will readily answer the call.

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Follow the money There are several factors to consider when evaluating any major project.

One of these is cost, which is broken down into three main categories: initial, operational, and ROI (or Return on Investment – allowing us to follow the money), and finally, another key facet of the ROI – safety.

The first factor, initial cost, is an easy one. How much will this hit the wallet? Almost every project has a budget. The bigger the project the bigger the budget, but also the more complicated it is to figure out where those funds should be used.

Project designers weigh the purpose of a project with the budget and do the best they can to deliver the most cost-effective solution possible. It’s generally this phase where snowmelt systems are considered and too often rejected. No one is going to deny the simple fact snowmelt systems can impact project cost. Any “add” will have to be vetted by the designer, then the owner, or board.

Initial cost has to be balanced by the return. So, how do they do that?

How does one justify a substantial added cost such as a snowmelt system? To do this requires looking at the next factor of cost.

With operation and ROI, there are a few hard cost factors associated with snow removal. There’s the material to remove snow. This can include simple items such as ice melt and shovels, to more complicated items such as snowblowers, tractors with blades, and trucks to haul the stuff away. Anything mechanical adds initial and maintenance costs.

SNOWMELTING

Continued from page 64

Offset project costs Commercial equipment generates heat as a by-product of operation. Cooling towers, by design, generate waste heat, which is usually simply vented to the atmosphere. Large refrigeration or cold storage units usually vent heat extracted from the enclosure.

Instead of letting these BTUs literally evaporate into thin air, why not put them to use? After all, snowmelt systems can reclaim those rogue BTUs, turning them into hard labour with no complaints from the “work crew!�

Don’t forget the soft stuff

While these options help offset project dollars, the one factor rarely given the level of importance it should have is operational safety.

The cost to the building itself is a soft cost, which is generally overlooked. Take a hotel entry for instance. Maintenance personnel blade the walk and then spread de-icer. This helps melt the walk but leaves behind a residue, or in some case, undissolved pellets.

Consider the cost of a single – or worse – multiple slip-and-fall occurrences by customers.

What’s the potential cost of a bad accident to the company whose property this happens on? If an employee falls how much do lost man-hours impact future revenue?

Table 1 Hospitalizations related to falls on ice, Canada, 2016–2017

Credit: Table 1 courtesy CIHI

When people walk along the sidewalk, their shoes pick up the pellets and [YHUZWVY[ [OLT PUZPKL ^OLYL [OL` KYVW VɈ and get ground into the carpet. In some cases, they sit on top of tile where the pellets act like a low-level acid. Over time this solution causes the tile to etch and fade, and mortar gradually deteriorates.

All of this causes damage to the interior, which drives up operational costs and reduces customer satisfaction.

Another important “soft cost,â€? is impact to the environment. We rarely consider [OL Ă„UHS KLZ[PUH[PVU VM [OVZL ZHS[Z HUK de-icing chemicals, tossed so blithely on the sidewalk and entryway. Eventually these chemicals get washed into the sewer or into local creeks and lakes; some make it all the way to major waterways and bays.

Despite the strong case for snowmelt solutions: the convenience, ecoMYPLUKSPULZZ HUK LɈLJ[P]LULZZ JVTWHYLK to traditional snow removal methods, at the end of the day, things almost always come down to hard costs.

It is important to make the case that TH[LYPHS JVZ[Z HYL UV[ VUS` VɈZL[ I` [OL soft savings noted above, but also hard costs related to operation. Snowmelt systems provide a unique ability to use resources normally overlooked.

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Falls on ice are the number one cause of winter injuries in Canada. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information there were nearly 9,000 hospitalizations nationally in 2016-2017 that were attributed to ice and/or snow hazards.

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Data courtesy CIHI Credit:

The costs of injuries related to accidental falls due to ice are signiďŹ cant. In Alberta the Injury Prevention Centre estimates that falls cost the province $1.2 billion annually. In terms of liability, Robinson LLP reports that most slip and fall claims in Alberta are related to snow and ice. Property owners and homeowners are particularly vulnerable to litigation, where it is only necessary to prove negligence. In the case of cities and municipalities gross negligence must be proven.

For a business owner, each slip and fall incident may mean instant costs out of pocket as well as the potential for increased insurance fees over time.

Overall, snowmelt systems are one of the few project-adders that can quickly enhance savings over the life of the project.

Common snowmelt applications Sidewalks. Convenient and more inviting to passerby, sidewalk snowmelts can increase business and decrease liability. Customers are more likely to shop stores with clear sidewalks, free from ice and snow and chemicals.

Car washes. Water is always present in car washes. Using snowmelt, property owners can keep car washes open and ice-free. The control strategy for car washes is simple. Either air temperature or slab temperature is monitored. If the temperature of the slab or the air drops below 35°F, the system is activated. When temperatures exceed 35°F, the system is disabled.

Large area “hot pads.” Instead of melting an entire area, which can be too large and cost prohibitive, smaller areas are melted where snow can be deposited. This technique is often used for airport runways and large parking lots. Typically, tubing for hot pad slabs is spaced at 4- to 6-in. OC to accommodate a large amount of snow. Remember, snow from a runway or parking lot will be collected and deposited on the pad. It’s not uncommon to have a hot pad of perhaps 30 ft. by 30 ft. with snow piled 4- to 6-ft. high. Hot pads are usually operated manually and activated whenever the need arises. ;^PZ[ [PTLYZ JHU IL \ZLK PU WSHJL VM VU VɈ Z^P[JOLZ ZV [OL VWLYH[VY KVLZU»[ OH]L [V YLTLTILY [V Z^P[JO [OL Z`Z[LT VɈ Helipads. Hospital helipads are excellent examples of what snowmelt can do. With space becoming more precious, many hospitals are forced to install helipads on building roofs. These rooftop helipads can become extremely dangerous when coated with ice and snow. Snowmelt systems keep them LɈVY[SLZZS` MYLL VM ZUV^ HUK PJL LUOHUJPUN [YH\TH care, not causing it.

Parking garage ramps. Snowmelt systems ensure JHYZ KYP]PUN PU VɈ [OL Z[YLL[ JHU ZHMLS` ULNV[PH[L parking garage ramps. One note of caution: be sure to place sensors for these controls where they can detect snowfall, or precipitation and temperature.

Loading docks. Moving goods is important work, even during winter months.

Stairs. Of course, stairs can be dangerous. With snowmelt systems in place, pedestrians can use steps safely. The spacing of tubes for stairs varies according to application, but they’re usually installed with two lengths of tubing in the tread and one in the riser.

Hospital entrances. Because they are usually considered Class III systems, tube spacing for hospital entrance ramps are usually set closely at 6-in. OC. Further, these systems are idled, or operated at a reduced output, to decrease system lag time. When sensors detect precipitation, the system is then operated at full output.

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SYSTEM DESIGN

By Bob Rudman Bob Rudman is commercial products manager with Milwaukee Valve.

Get the ow and location right D

epending on the application, check valves can n get a bad rap. Blame can include problems such ch as water hammer, vibration, reverse ow, leakage, or component p wear and damage g – all of which are harmful to downstream syst tem ms. H ow systems.

However, the real cause of these problems usually us stems from poor sizing stem zing the application.. and selecting of the check valve for th Most check valves valve are selected on linee size and the t desire for the h largest l t Cv C available. availabl Swing checks require a minimum rate of ow for the valve to function. If the ow is not no sufďŹ cient to hold the disc in a full open and a stable position, the disc and associated internal parts will be in a constant a in state of InsufďŹ cient ow results in o motion (wobble). ( premature wear, noisy operation, and vibration. w

The a line size that produces Th he solution to to this problem probleem is selecting select sufďŹ cient ow. ow A general rule ru of thumb for water systems is to maintain a minimum of 7.5 ft./sec. ow rate. If the system struggles to maintain that ow rate, it is sometimes recommended that the line size be reduced.

In piping systems containing other types of uids, the ow requirements vary with the speciďŹ c gravity of the media. Formula 1 can be used to approximate the minimum ow rates.

Quick work makes for happy customers All check valve valves val should be installed has smooth and in a location n that t laminar lami la mina narr o ow w conditions. The following general genera al rrules exist for check valve installations: inst tal

1)) IIf installing downstream of reciprocating pump or other a re turrb turbulence-inducing device (elbow, (elb bow tee, etc.):

Swing Type: Lo Locate oca the valve a minimum of 10-12 diameters do dow downstream of the device.

Silent Type: Locate the valve a minimum of 4-5 diameters downstream of the device.

2) If pipe ďŹ ttings, elbows, reductions, etc. are downstream of the valve:

Swing Type: Locate the elbow a minimum of 5-7 diameters downstream of the valve.

Silent Type: Locate the elbow a minimum of 2-3 3 diameters downstream of the valve.

Formula 1

Flowmin (ft./sec.) = 60 Š V = $ ZWLJPÄJ ]VS\TL VM Å\PK M[3/lb.)

Sile check valves have slightly different ow requirements.

Silent Spring-loaded silent check valves are designed to provide a Sp cracking pressure of 0.5 psi and to fully open at a 4 ft./sec. cra ow velocity.

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QUALITY, SATISFACTION, DELIVERY.

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PLUMBING B y M a rty Si l v e r m a n

HOW NOT TO BREAK YOUR STUFF

L

et’s face it, drain cleaning is plenty hard enough without having to deal with equipment failures. When a drain cleaning machine breaks on the job it can be dangerous, expensive, and an enormous waste of your time.

During the 90 years that General has been in business, we’ve noticed that some contractors suffer far less equipment failures than others. So, what’s their secret?

It’s pretty simple really.

Contractors who are patient and careful on the job, and who practice preventive maintenance after every job, tend to break their stuff less often. Funny how that happens. In addition, we find that investing in more durable equipment pays off in longevity.

Common sense, right? And there’s more: contractors who break their stuff less tend to make better decisions and have better work habits on the job. Let’s talk about practical things you can do every day to prolong the life of the most common drain cleaning equipment being used in the field.

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CARING AND FEEDING OF YOUR SNAKE One of the most common drain cleaning tools is the drum style cable, or snake machine. We’ve met contractors who have used this style of machine every day for a decade and never broken a cable. What’s their secret? First, they don’t force the cable down the drain, they let the rotation of the cable do the work. They use it like a drill − not a battering ram. Also, after every job they drain the water out of the drum and then spray or pour lubricant into the drum and rotate it for a minute so the oil becomes evenly distributed on the cable. What kills cables fastest?

Rust, acid and strong bases. Water is everywhere in a sewer and your customer probably poured Drano or some other corrosive substance down the pipes before you arrived.

All of these products can weaken the molecular structure of your cables and make them more likely to kink or break.

Always use a lubricant on your cable after a job to preserve and protect it.

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coming soon choose

developed for professionals, by professionals.

PLUMBING

CUTTERS People tend to use too large a cutter for the job. This can lead to kinked cables, as well as lost or broken cutters. We recommend starting with a smaller cutter, such as a spearhead, arrowhead, or clogchopper; something that will negotiate the twists and turns of the pipe and at least poke a hole through the obstruction. Once you get the water moving again, go down the drain with a larger cutter using a u-cutter or side cutter blade, to scrape the sides of the pipe and finish the job. If you think the obstruction may be due to a root incursion, begin with a saw blade that is considerably smaller than the diameter of the pipe. After you get the water moving, go back in with a larger sawblade to finish the job. By starting small, you can do a better job, reduce the number of cutters that you break and preserve the life of your cable.

JETTER HOSES Most jetter hoses have a thermoplastic or rubber plastic composite coating. Although this gives them the flexibility to do their job, it can make them susceptible to cuts and abrasion. Take care to keep jetter hoses away from sharp edges, even before they go down the drain. Many of the hoses returned to our factory were cut while going around a corner several feet away from the clean out or drain.

Be aware of your surroundings. Be careful not to scrape the hose as you feed it down the pipe.

The rough edges on cast iron pipes can be very unforgiving to jetter hoses. Manufacturers sell small, plastic, adjustable sleeves designed to fit into the drain and smooth the way for jetter hoses and camera system pushrods. We recommend using a sleeve whenever the entry point of the pipe has a rough edge that might cut or make an abrasion on your hose.

LESSONS LEARNED You might notice some common threads here in what we’ve learned over the years from colleagues who don’t break their stuff:

1. Slow down. Your drain cleaning and sewer inspection equipment are money making machines − treat them with respect.

2. Have situational awareness. Each job and each job site is different: look around and adjust accordingly.

3. Make time to do preventive maintenance immediately after every job.

We understand time is money and that every day can end up feeling like a race to bill as much work as possible. Think about it though − how often do you break a cable?

When you do, what happens next? Either you have to stop and fix it in the field or take it back to the shop. How much time and money are lost by your company because of equipment failures every year? How much time and money would it save your company if you broke half as many cables this year? Or half as many jetter hoses or pushrods? The small amount of time spent on maintenance after each job pays for itself. Do the math and you will see that a little patience and care is money in your pocket.

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INSPECTION CAMERA PUSHRODS Since they can be tremendously expensive to repair, learning how to safely use your pipe inspection pushrods can have a major, positive impact on your bottom line.

There are two main ways that pushrods get damaged. First, they can be cut, scraped, or suffer abrasions similar to jetter hoses. Although the outside coating on most pushrods is much tougher than a jetter hose, we see cuts and slices in our repair shops all the time. These cuts and abrasions can lead to bigger problems that can be quite expensive to

repair. To avoid cutting or slicing your pushrod, make sure that the operator always has eyes on the monitor. Never try to push the camera head past any jagged pieces of damaged pipe or other sharp obstructions.

Keeping your eyes on the monitor will also prevent damage to camera heads that can occur when they are smashed into solid obstructions in the pipe. Do not use your camera system as a drain cleaning tool!

Remember to use the adjustable plastic sleeves to protect the pushrods’ access into the pipe.

Another common way pushrods can be damaged is by kinking. A kinked pushrod usually requires a re-termination to repair, which takes time, and can cost you anywhere from $250 to $650. Kinks are usually the result of forcing a pushrod down a line. We recommend using short, fast motions, instead of prolonged pressure, to bounce pushrods around bends. Keep one hand low, close to where the push rod is entering the pipe. And most importantly, be patient! Keep your eyes on the monitor, don’t force the rod, and slow down.

Marty Silverman, who is vice president of marketing with General Pipe Cleaners, can be reached at mjs@generalpipecleaners.com.

THE INFO PAGE I N T E R N AT I O N A L

CANADA

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HVAC

By M a r k a nd A l e x a n d r a P a r l i a m en t

Looking beyond

cooling for sizing T

raditionally, one of the biggest obstacles contractors faced when selecting heat pumps was the belief that the heat pump had to be sized to the cooling load of the house. Now, modern units and modern calculation theory are opening the door to allow for more properly-sized units to be installed, delivering more comfort to homeowners.

If one uses the old theory of sizing the heat pump based strictly on cooling load, if the cooling load was for example only two tons, then the heat pump’s heating capacity would be limited by that figure − regardless of the heat loss of the home. By calculating actual heat loss, using a heat pump for heating becomes a straightforward process: all you need to do is pick a piece of equipment that will put the heat back into the structure.

Further, with the introduction of two-stage and variable capacity units, sizing standards have been modified and now state that the unit on the lowest operating state should not exceed 125 per cent of the cooling load.

This makes it possible to offer larger heat pumps, and provides customers with the best bang for their buck.

HELP WITH COMPARISONS In the U.S., the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute te (AHRI) has implemented a set of standards for performance ratingss of heat pumps. These standardize the test conditions under which h the heating capacity of heat pumps is reported, and use outdoor temperatures of 47ºF and 17ºF, and an indoor temperature of 70ºF, ºF, to allow for more even comparisons between units. Using these numbers mbers alongside the manufacturer’s data should make sizing a heat pump p for your geographical area fairly easy, or so the theory goes.

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START WITH RULE 1 We all know how well heat pumps work for the Canadian market, but ensuring that we give the customer the best value for the dollars invested has to start with the proper sizing, which takes us to Rule 1 of all HVAC system designs.

Whether we are considering ductless, conventional or modulating equipment, it is imperative that we begin with a correct and complete heat load and heat gain calculation.

Without properly calculating how much the structure loses in the winter and gains in the summer, it is not possible to properly size the equipment.

It is amazing that there are still contractors who use the old rule of thumb of “500 sq. ft. of floor area per ton of cooling.” If we use the old method of sizing a heat pump for the cooling load, and the rule of thumb, a 3,500 sq. ft. house would need seven tons of cooling. While this would be great for heating, it would be oversized for cooling.

SEEKING BALANCE

CALCULATING THE COP

For accurate calculations, it’s necessary to consider the thermal balance point. What is that you ask?

As the outdoor temperature drops, the amount of heat a conventional air source heat pump can produce tends to decrease. At some point, the amount of heat it can produce matches the structure’s heat loss. This is the thermal balance point, shown in Chart 1.

At any point above the thermal balance point, the heat pump has an increased capability of exceeding the heat loss of the house. As the mercury falls, the heating capacity of the heat pump continues to drop, until it is no longer able to supply enough heat to compensate for the heat loss. This is the point where we traditionally need supplemental heating to provide seamless heat to the house.

This is one of the most important reasons to follow the manufacturer’s exact recommendations when sizing a heat pump, and to use the appropriate equipment. Without using matched equipment, it’s not possible to know what the capacity of the heat pump will be.

EVOLVING FOR EFFICIENCY

One of the main benefits that comes from using matched equipment is the ability to offer the homeowner definite numbers on the coefficient of performance (COP). COP compares the heat generated by the heat pump and how much heat an electric resistance strip element would produce using the same amount of electricity. The formula is: A heat pump COP = amount HP heat/electric heat comparison For example, at 47ºF, if a heat pump would produce 21,200 BTUH whereas an electric heater would produce 5,955 BTUH, we can determine the COP to be 3.56. Knowing this, we can state that at a 47ºF outdoor temperature, the heat pump puts out 3.56 times what it would for the same electricity if resistance strip heat was being used, or that, at 47ºF this heat pump is 3.56 times or 356 per cent as efficient to run.

These calculations are based on optimal environments, but of course there are a number of common obstacles that can affect conditions. For instance, if a homeowner closes clo off unused areas of h home h d does d not run ru some heads, it can the and capa downsize the capacity of the unit.

Heat load is not all that a contractor needs to consider de er when sizing heat pumps. They also must ensure that the air conditioning side is never compromised. d.

Contractors need to be familiar with all aspects of the job and choose the appropriate equipment for every application. Investigating new products will help keep them ahead of their customers’ needs.

New technologies are constantly being introduced to the market, so keeping up to date ou u and open to new equipment options will prevent you traactor being left behind. One of the worst things any contractor This newcan do is look at something new and tell themself, “T “This dg gement and learn fangled stuff won’t last.” Take the time to pause judgement bout it. it The fact more about is that manufacturers are at almost 100 per cent efficiency with gas-fired heating technology, so we must all be aware that air conditioners and heat pumps are their next evolutionary step in progress and focus.

c When certain rooms are t turned off, the fact that interior walls have no insulation could cause a even bigger load on an he e heads that are working whe there are heads shut when aag off, again, compromising ovve performance of the the overall un n entire unit. modulaat As modulating technology o evolve, e continues to and contractors c become more comfortable with it, siiz some of these sizing issues will begin to diminish. In fact, some of the inverter technology on the market today already boasts only a minor difference in heating capacities at 47ºF and 17ºF, which, in the end, will help homeowners heat their homes more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Mark Parliament is a senior training consultant with Lennox Learning Solutions. Alexandra Wennberg Parliament is the founder of Maven Marketing & Communications, an agency with specialized focus on the construction, real estate, HVAC/R and non-profit sectors. To reach the authors, email awennberg@mavencommunications.ca.

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FREEZE PROTECTION

By Jonathon Harp

P

art I of this primer, in the November/December 2020 issue, dealt with glycol types, uses and mixtures. In Part II, we review how glycol affects the operation of HVAC systems and provide tips for contractors on key factors, that can ensure systems perform well throughout their usable lives.

“Contractors play an important role in the use of glycol systems,” said Neil Bingham of Hood Chemical, a manufacturer of glycol. “Building owners know very little about glycol and its value to their equipment. Contractors who work with glycol systems can act as an information bridge and educate customers about the importance of protecting their investments.”

A primer on

glycol Part II

Glycol can have significant effect on performance and potential need for maintenance. The typical concerns are freezing and bursting of pipes in water-based systems; however, glycol also affects the way pumps, pipes and other components operate in systems.

Consider the following when looking at system operations:

• While the right mixture of glycol in a system

can prevent freezing and bursting, too much glycol can affect its performance, efficiency and longevity.

From a performance standpoint, it is important to understand that water is a much better heat transfer fluid than glycol. For example, a 50-50 water/glycol mixture has 16 per cent lower heat transfer capacity than water alone.

Keeping it clean Cleaning and flushing are essential when adding glycol to both new and existing systems. Existing systems accumulate a number of contaminants such as rust, scale and sediment that must be removed before glycol is introduced. In the case of large systems, professional industrial cleaning companies may be needed to ensure the cleaning process is done correctly.

• Performance and efficiency are going to decrease

This glycol primer is a general overview of the key factors associated with the use of glycol in waterbased HVAC systems. These articles are not intended as exhaustive field guides. The objective is to help contractors better understand glycol use and prompt you to obtain more specific technical information from wholesalers and/or glycol suppliers about specific systems. The more information you have, the better your design decisions will be.

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Photo Adey Innovation, Morrison Mechanical, BC

as the amount of glycol in the system increases, and the ambient temperature at which the system is operating decreases. The glycol mixture must be carefully determined to ensure freezing and bursting will not occur and the glycol percentage used is not excessive, which can cause performance to drop unnecessarily. Excessive glycol in a system increases costs and may increase maintenance requirements.

With new systems, there are typically contaminants such as oil, grease and protective substances, as well as welding and pipe scale, that remain in the system from the fabrication or construction processes. Again, a thorough cleaning and flushing is needed to remove these contaminants.

There are a variety of commercial cleaning products available to accomplish this task.

As evidenced by the magnetite capture here, installing a magnetic dirt filter is a vital step in protecting system components.

0 2 . 2 1

To protect against corrosion and degradation, glycol systems require inhibitors and buffers to be added to the mixture.

These inhibitors are usually premixed with the glycol by the supplier. Inhibited glycol typically contains four to six per cent inhibitors. Many suppliers

Tips and cautions for contractors Keep the following advice provided by the glycol supply chain in mind:

1 2 3

Properly design the HVAC system, and determine the proper mixture of glycol to provide the necessary freeze and burst protection. Remember, wholesalers and glycol suppliers can help with system design.

Choose a reputable glycol supplier and determine the proper fluid specification for the design and use of the system. Again, your wholesaler can typically assist with this process.

4

A number of boilers have aluminum heat exchangers with special glycol requirements. Be sure to check with the boiler manufacturer’s specifications for using glycol with this type of equipment.

5

Unless you have experience putting together glycol/water mixtures for HVAC systems, contractors should obtain glycol products already mixed to the levels determined for the system. This will ensure the glycol concentration, water purity, and inhibitors are all at proper levels when added to the system.

6

Take the time to determine the fluid mixture for the system accurately. Don’t take shortcuts. Do not mix different types or brands of glycol in the same system whether it is the initial fill or a top up.

When filling or refilling a system, remember to eliminate any air that has entered the system during this step.

7

Have regular maintenance checks of the glycol/water concentration in HVAC systems (at least annually). These “checkups” should establish that the concentration, including inhibitors, is at the designed levels and the pH level remains within the range specified by the equipment manufacturer.

Be cautious of using recycled glycol. It is sometimes difficult to determine the specs on recycled product and this could cause system problems down the road.

recommend a minimum of 25 per cent glycol be used to ensure proper inhibitor levels are achieved in the mixture.

Uninhibited glycol mixtures are extremely corrosive and need additional maintenance of the inhibitor and buffer levels to prevent corrosion and degradation. For example, an uninhibited ethylene glycol solution is nearly five times more corrosive towards carbon steel than water. As glycol degradation increases, corrosion and associated issues become more severe.

Contractors who decide to go the uninhibited mixture route must carefully take into account the introduction of inhibitors and buffers throughout the life of the system. Without proper treatment measures, the systems can have serious and long-term maintenance problems.

Proper maintenance of glycol-water mixtures requires regular testing of glycol mixtures as well as pH, reserve alkalinity, inhibitor and contamination levels. Glycol degradation is a serious problem that can be difficult to address once it has begun; regular testing of glycol mixtures will assist in identifying degradation symptoms such as pH reduction, presence of a septic odour and severe steel corrosion.

A laboratory analysis of the glycol mixtures at regular intervals is also recommended. Periodic testing and monitoring of the inhibited glycol solution will keep the system’s operating maintenance at a minimum.

Readers can reach Jonathon Harp at editorial@mechanicalbusiness.com.

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BTN

Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

GETTING HOTTER BY THE MINUTE 134°F The hottest natural temperature ever recorded in Death Valley, CA.

7.2 trillion °F The hottest man-made temperature ever recorded was at Brookhaven Natural Laboratory in New York.

TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME ON THE JOB? You’re not alone.

45% of teams use video calling tools daily or weekly.

80% of employees use video calling for 1:1 meetings.

33% of people actually attend a webinar after signing up.

95°F

Point where work output drops by 45%.

LOW GRADES FOR SCHOOL RESTROOMS Students asked to rate their school restrooms think there’s room for improvement:

63% worry about coming into contact with germs in a restroom.

76% believe it’s important to have touchless fixtures.

50% rate their school restrooms as ‘poor’ or ‘fair’.

6% rate them as excellent.

ARE YOU LISTENING? With everyone having devices in hand, it’s harder than ever to stay focussed on what’s in front of you.

9 out of 10 people daydream in meetings.

73% of people work on other activities during meetings.

AFTER THE COVID BALL

OUT IN THE COLD

It’s looking like remote work will stay after the pandemic dust has settled. Here’s what businesses have to say:

10% Land surfaces covered by ice.

7% Ocean surfaces covered by ice.

1 million years The estimated oldest

25% expect 10% or more of their workforce will

ice core in Antarctica.

continue to telework.

100,000 years The oldest ice core in

73% will likely offer employees the option to work

Greenland.

remotely.

14% will make remote work a requirement.

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

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(or 2 septillion or 1 trillion trillion): the number of ice crystals that fall from the sky in the U.S. each winter.

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