Clean machines PROJECT PROFILE |

When the Great White Car & Truck Wash owners StoreWest planned its first location in Edmonton, AB, the company turned to Waterhouse Mechanical to install its water system. “Engineered Air referred us, and we do quite a few carwashes,” says Kyle Waterhouse, co-owner, project estimator and supervisor at Waterhouse Mechanical, an Edmonton-based plumbing and heating contractor. Great White Car & Truck Wash has two locations in Calgary, which include a colourful express automatic tunnel, multiple self-serve bays, oversized bays for trucks and other vehicles, emphasis on saving water, and biodegradable cleaning detergents. The Calgary locations also feature water reclamation systems.

The 63,701 sq.-ft. Edmonton site (with a floor area of 11,560 sq. ft.) is a standalone new build that opened in January 2023, with six self-serve indoor bays, 11 free vacuum stalls, and a 145-ft. express tunnel. The outside entrance and exit pads for the tunnel include hydronic heating to prevent doors and windows from icing up during the winter. All car wash equipment was provided and installed by Calgary’s Rockyview Industries Inc., a vehicle wash specialist that Waterhouse has worked with for many years. “It made this project a lot smoother,” he says. “The nice thing about working with Rockyview over the years, is we had some coordination. So before we did any of this piping on the wall, we asked Rockyview to go in and take painter’s tape and mark out where each piece of equipment goes. That way the end product looks like you care, and it’s done right.”

Because of its size and water demands, the car wash’s hot water system includes an IBC boiler and nine Rheem tankless water heaters hooked up in a series. “Most car washes we do are either boilers or wall-hung condensing boilers,” says Waterhouse. “If you’re only using so much water for one wash, maybe only one

• 63,701 sq.-ft. Edmonton site

• 6 self-serve indoor bays

• 11 free vacuum stalls

• 145-ft. express tunnel or two will ramp up. But when the car wash is fully in use, all nine would be ramping up.” While Waterhouse says it’s a more efficient system, “a lot of times companies don’t have the room to put nine or 10 units in – they probably took up 30 ft. of wall.”

Waterhouse installed nine Rheem tankless water heaters, with Centrotherm common venting.

The other challenge with the units, he says “is that each of these tankless units would have one intake and one fresh air, so that would have been 18 separate pipes that go up through the roof.” Waterhouse solved this issue with common venting. “This is the first time that we ever common vented these units. We ended up using Centrotherm and it actually was a pretty slick system. It’s lightweight, it’s nice to work with. And now I pretty much use it on all my boilers.” Once the system was complete and being testing, Waterhouse realized the water pressure was quite low. The team ended up reconfiguring the piping for incoming water to allow for two VFD Grundfos booster pumps to increase the water pressure from 40 psi to the 65 psi needed to operate the car wash.

Waterhouse says the system is user-friendly and easy to maintain, with routine descaling for the tankless units. “And you’ve got to test your glycol every once in a while just to make sure it’s still good for up to -40⁰C temperatures.”

AQUV Systems: k For home, farm or cottage k Proven to control microbiological (bacteria & virus) issues in water k High-quality, competitively priced k Available exclusively through professional channels only k

Mecanex/Climatex/Électricité/Éclairage (MCEE) returns after a four-year hiatus

Organizers expect more than 6,000 plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R, and electrical and lighting professionals to attend MCEE at the Palais des congrès de Montréal on April 19 and 20. The show floor (see pg64), which features more than 250 exhibitors (see pg66), and educational sessions (see pg74), offers the opportunity to discover new products and new technologies, obtain technical information from specialists, and become familiar with proven management tools.

Offered free of charge to MCEE visitors, some educational sessions can meet continuing education requirements. Unless otherwise specified, all sessions are presented in French. MCEE is produced by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH), the Corporation of Master Pipe Mechanics of Quebec (CMMTQ), the Corporation of Master Electricians of Quebec (CMEQ), and the Corporation des entreprises en traitement de l’air et du froid (CETAF) with support from Electro Federation Canada (EFC). mcee.ca

Hundreds of products to discover

As the name suggests, the New Products Contest presents innovative technology for the mechanical, electrical and lighting sectors. Entries in nine categories are on display in the New Products Showcase, located in the entrance hall. To be eligible for the contest, products must have been available on the Canadian market within the last 24 months, be innovative, and provide at least three advantages. The winning products will be announced on April 19, the first day of the show.

Show Hours

April 19 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

April 20 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

APRIL 19 9 A.M.6 P.M. APRIL 20 9 A.M.4 P.M.

Belimo Sensors/Meters and Gas Monitors Improve Indoor Air Quality

Accuracy and Reliability

HVAC system operation is critical for maintaining adequate safe indoor air quality (IAQ). Belimo sensor, meter, and gas monitor technology offer accuracy, reliability, easy installation, and seamless integration with major Building Automation Systems (BAS). Measurement Canada approves Belimo’s Energy Valve and Thermal Energy Meter under AV2478C and CSA900/EN1434 standards, ensuring high accuracy and reliability, allowing for efficient, transparent tenant billing. Belimo is stepping into a new era of integrated thermal energy management and bringing together what belongs together.

Discover the advantages www.belimo.ca

LIST OF EXHIBITORS (As of press time)

*HIGHLIGHTED EXHIBITORS HAVE ADS IN THIS ISSUE

See page 64 for floor plan