Mechanical Business May/June 2017

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Also in this issue:

Condos: Expanding the VRF Universe

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CONTENTS O F

condos EXPANDING THE VRF UNIVERSE

20HVAC With the costs of VRF technology continuing to come down, the adoption of VRF systems is becoming more widespread.

Case in point: the condo market.

J.S. Rancourt

The School of Cool 38THE COOLING REPORT

52COVER STORY The three-time Grey Cup champion and recordsetting quarterback is used to making adjustments on the fly. He still makes them every day, even with his playing days now behind him.

Greg g Dalgetty g y

As we dive headlong into another cooling season, we take a look at the latest and greatest cooling technologies and ask the experts what the future holds.

Greg Dalgetty

VALUE AND RELIABILITY

LOOKING TO

62RECORDS ABOUND IN MONTREAL If you weren’t in Montreal for the latest edition of MCEE, you missed out on quite a show. But not to worry—we’ve got you covered!

72COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: VANS With changes to commercial vans slowing down from year to year, manufacturers are now emphasizing the reliability and resale value of their vehicles.

Howard J. Elmer

On the cover: With two Grey Cup MVP and Most Outstanding Player awards to his name, Henry Burris has proven that he can rise to the occasion under the brightest of lights. He now finds himself under the bright lights of live television. Cover photo: Courtesy of CFL.

CUTS

THROUGH

CARBIDE TEETH

30X LIFE * *Compared to bi-metal

LEARN MORE E

WOOD NAILS SCREWS DUROCK PLASTER SHINGLES

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T A B L E F E A T U R E S 48PLUMBING ON THE GO

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PLUMBING Vent Stacks and Toilet Volcanoes Fred Bretzke The year was 1980, and a plumbing poltergeist was on the loose in a basement apartment. Who dared to flush the dreaded toilet volcano?

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ASK ROGER What’s in Your Job Description?

Roger Grochmal Outlining the responsibilities of your employees is always important.

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HYDRONICS Finding the Comfort Zone Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr Hydronic systems offer an almost endless list of options and configurations for zoning.

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REFRIGERATION Vacuum Cooling: A Look at the Equipment Phil J. Boudreau Using vacuum chambers and pumps.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Brushing Up on Sizing Calculations Gord Cooke When it comes to calculating heat gain and loss, the old rule-ofthumb measurements have been irrelevant for a long time.

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MARKETING P is for Planning Doug MacMillan Any marketers worth their salt need to know the Ps of marketing.

54HYDRONICS

60ROAD WARRIOR: SUZANNE GRAHAM Greg Dalgetty

64PLUMBING Playing with Point of Use Freddie Molina

68PROJECT PROFILE Geothermal with an Ocean View Denise Deveau

82PLUMBING Picking the Proper Pump Adam Freill

88HYDRONICS Heating Up Small Spaces Denise Deveau

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CONTENTS

A Shipload of Trouble Greg Dalgetty

Communication the Key to Radiant Floor Success Eric Riml

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D E P A R T M E N T S 6From the Editor’s Desk 8News 18Profile: Jacques Deschênes 58Find the FIx 99Tool Tip 100The Info Page 101Calendar 102By the Numbers M e c h a n i c a l

P R O D U C T S 36,86Hydronics 38-42,96,97HVAC/R 66,84Plumbing 95Stuff You Need

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EDITOR’S

DESK

Planning Policy the Right Way The rate of regulatory change in the mechanical sector has never been greater than what today’s industry continues to face. If you are building, installing or maintaining mechanical equipment, I know you’ve had to adjust to these ever-changing rules.

May/June 2017 Issue Published 6 times per year.

Editor: Adam Freill, ext. 224 adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com Associate Editor/Web Editor: Greg Dalgetty, ext. 225 greg.dalgetty@mechanicalbusiness.com National Accounts Manager: Jeff Superle, ext. 221 jeff.superle@mechanicalbusiness.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Office Manager: Caroline Bexfield, ext. 227 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: JJM Graphic Ltd. davem@jjmgraphic.com

It is rare that changes are gladly embraced by all, but they are a little easier to accept when a standard or code has been revised for the right reasons, with an appropriate amount of research and industry stakeholder input.

Keeping the Summer Hot Watch for our WHAT hydronic supplement in the next edition of Mechanical Business, in print and online this July.

Take the changes to refrigerants, for example. I don’t think anyone in the industry felt the adjustments were easy as we moved away from CFCs. Most, however, will accept that the process had been handled with industry involvement and a ton of research and communication, which is helpful as we revise equipment choices and service practices on jobsites.

Unfortunately, that’s not always how things go.

Circulation Manager: Shila Naik (905) 272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, ext. 222 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

THE

I ran into Canadian Hydronics Council chairman David Hughes during the MCEE show. He explained how a simple-looking change to a code is threatening the hydronic industry in Alberta, and could impact other parts of the country as well.

Revisions to minimum under-slab insulation values – a move intended to improve a building’s efficiency – could result in building owners moving away from hydronic systems due to increased total building costs. The end result of this could actually achieve less efficient buildings: talk about creating the opposite of the desired intention.

Another example is out in B.C., where CIPH and other stakeholders have been vocal about some of Vancouver’s energy policies and strategies (see News, page 13).

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Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication.

Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights.

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The association was not included during the city’s industry consultation and research stage when the Green Building Rezoning Policy was drafted. There are several major concerns about the pol o icy, as well w ll as its re we rrelated Renewal City Strategy – everything policy, additional from energy y supply su upp p ly worries worries to ad dditional costs being borne by the end users, as well as the time m frame for iimplementation. timeframe Here’s anotherr example of policy moving ahead without enough research researc and consultation. want to be viewed as green and cutting-edge, Everyone wants and we all want wan to do the right thing, but when policymakers don don’t consider the entire picture – which can include some complex science – decisions are often made that make little or no sense, or worse, have a nega negative net effect on society.

From time to time, Content Media Group Inc. makes subscribers’ names available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to readers. If you would like your name excluded from these mailings, please notify the publisher.

Until next time, U

© Copyright 2017. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher.

Proud members of:

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Printed with bio-renewable vegetable-based inks with less than 3% V.O.C.

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energy saving potential in today’s buildings and industrial processes

is realizing a more energy efficient city infrastructure Canadian infrastructure investments are on the rise, and with ambitious climate and energy targets in place, Danfoss has been helping make Canadian cities more efficient and sustainable for 65 years. Heating and cooling consume as much as 40 percent of a building’s total energy use. Danfoss solutions like AC drives, variable speed compressors and hydronic control valves help cut energy consumption and improve comfort and control. City-wide, Danfoss’ innovative district heating solutions amplify efficiencies — cost-effectively boosting energy productivity, minimizing environmental impacts and helping cities plan for a sustainable future. With Danfoss, our cities can get more out of less without sacrificing performance or reliability.

Discover how we’re Engineering Tomorrow at danfoss.ca

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Daikin Turns Up the Heat in Toronto Daikin debuted new VRV products for the Canadian market at the Direct Expansion Solutions (DXS) “Turn Up the Heat” event, held in April at the Steam Whistle brewery in Toronto. Pictured here, Chris Bellshaw, the director of VRV product marketing for Daikin North America, unveiled the Aurora 575V, Canada’s first -30°C low ambient heating VRV unit. daikincomfort.com

Eden Hosts Siegenthaler Sessions Eden Energy Equipment welcomed 150 hydronic designers and installers to a pair of one-day training seminars in April. Featuring John Siegenthaler’s sixmodule course Contemporary Approaches to Hydronic Heating & Cooling: Part 2, each day’s session was held at Eden Energy’s Advanced Training Lab in Guelph, Ont. In addition to the structured lessons, the always personable Siegenthaler also made time to answer questions from attendees about some of the real-world systems that they have been working on. edenenergy.com

Industry Meets for Another “Day on the Hill”

Jim Pattison Makes RecordBreaking Donation

Executive members of CIPH and MCA Canada met with parliamentarians and senior officials at the associations’ annual Parliamentary Day of Awareness, held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa in April. The meetings, sponsored by former MB cover man Senator Don Plett, focused on passing Bill S-224, the Canada Prompt Payment Act, and the issue of harmonizing standards between Canada and the U.S.

Jim Pattison, the CEO of Jim Pattison Lease, has made history by donating $75 million to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in Vancouver. The donation, announced in March, is the largest contribution made by a private citizen to a single medical facility in Canadian history. “On behalf of the Jim Pattison Foundation, I am proud to donate to St. Paul’s Foundation for a hospital that has been putting people first in our community for more than 120 years,” Pattison said.

mcac.ca ciph.com

jimpattisonlease.com

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

HRAI

CIPH News

Caleffi US

Arlene Dickinson

@HRAI_Canada

@CIPHnews

@Caleffius

@ArleneDickinson

Join us in Old Québec, a UNESCO World Heritage Treasure, for HRAI’s 49th Annual Conference, Aug 16-18.

Register at hrai.ca/agm

Did You Know: Quebec has more dams than any other province with 333 in total. #Canada150Plumbing

Glycol is an oxygen sponge. The oxygen will cause the glycol to degrade. So, be sure to store glycol in a UV container. #Coffee

The most expensive coffee in the world is the coffee served at a lawyer’s office.

May 1, 2017

April 12, 2017

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April 27, 2017

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May 2, 2017

Look for this link on our website!

Worst Washrooms

Cooke Captivates HRAI Members Mechanical Business columnist Gord Cooke gave a lively presentation on building codes, radon and ventilation at the HRAI GTA Chapter meeting in March. Cooke outlined recent changes to the Ontario Building Code, before switching gears to talk about the importance of proper equipment sizing. “It’s time to recalibrate your thinking in terms of equipment sizing,” he noted, stressing the need for HVAC/R contractors to do proper heat gain/heat loss calculations. For more on sizing, check out Gord’s column on page 78. hrai.ca

What’s the Worst Washroom You’ve Ever Seen?

Have you ever been in a washroom so horrible that it defied description? Well, no need to describe it—just send us a picture!

Deschênes Group Honoured The Deschênes Group was honoured at the 37th annual Les Mercuriades business competition in April, taking home an award in the Development of a Web or Mobile Technology – Large Enterprise category. “This recognition reflects the Deschênes Group’s ability and determination to stand out for its commitment to technological development,” said company president and CEO François Deschênes, pictured here (second from left). groupedeschenes.com

Saniflo Expands Training Program Saniflo has expanded its Certified Installer Program across Canada, offering free product installation training on the company’s range of macerating, grinding and pumping systems. Trainees who complete the free in-person program get listed on Saniflo’s website as certified installers.

This photo of a beachside toilet in Cuba was submitted by Benjamignan Garabet of HydroQuebec. What’s a plumber to do when they don’t have an open-front toilet seat? Take a saw to a closedfront one, we guess.

Mechanical Business is collecting photos of some of the worst washrooms from around the world. So next time you run into an unsightly bathroom while you’re on vacation, on the jobsite or out on the town, grab your smartphone and take a picture. Your snapshot could end up in the pages of Mechanical Business!

(Just be careful not to drop your camera on the washroom floor…)

To submit your photo, visit mechanicalbusiness.com and simply follow the WORST WASHROOMS link on the homepage. While you’re there, tell us a bit about the washroom.

Think you can top this? Then visit our website and submit your photo today! mechanicalbusiness.com

saniflo.ca M e c h a n i c a l

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News www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Products A-Plenty in Kitchener Senate Passes Prompt Payment Act Bill S-224, the Canada Prompt Payment Act, passed third reading in the Senate on May 4. Sponsored by Sen. Don Plett, the bill would ensure that contractors and sub-contractors working on federal government construction projects are paid in a timely manner. Plett remains confident that the bill will be passed by the House of Commons. Pictured here, Sen. Plett (centre) on the day the bill was introduced last April.

The aisles were buzzing as Desco held its biennial Parade of Products trade show in Kitchener, Ont., in early May. The event attracted hundreds of contractors from throughout Ontario as more than 70 manufacturers put their wares on display at the Bingemans Conference Centre. Held since 1973, the show mixes food, drink, training and products every second year. Watch for details of the next show, scheduled for 2019. desco.ca

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APP ALERT Faucet Catalogue App Keynote speaker Barry Wright (right) discusses skills training with Dave McPherson of Rheem and Siân Smith of Noble.

Negotiation and Efficiency Hot Topics for HRAI HRAI held its 2017 Spring Meeting at the CISCO Waterpark Place Innovation Centre in early April. The 100 members in attendance were treated to a tour of the facility, as well as discussions about Net Zero, sustainability and energy conservation. Addressing the topic of business negotiation, keynote speaker Barry Wright of Grosvenor Training and Consulting outlined some of the traits exhibited by effective negotiators, as well as several tactics that can help when negotiating deals. “Don’t go into a meeting without good data, and good facts,” he advised, adding that good stories that make connections can give one an upper hand when completing a deal. hrai.ca

Pfister’s mobile app offers a digital version of the company’s Canadian price guide. Users can search item numbers and product categories, or crop and share product images and information.

The app is available for Android and iOS devices.

A desktop version is available through the company’s website. ca.pfisterfaucets.com

Financing Tool for ICP Dealers Dealers representing International Comfort Products (ICP) brands now have access to an online financing tool from Financeit. The app is available in English and French and allows homeowners to complete an online credit application to see if they’re approved for financing. icpusa.com

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News APP ALERT www.mechanicalbusiness.com

Sprinklers Now Compulsory in Ontario The trade of Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer is now compulsory in the province of Ontario. Contractors who install or service sprinkler and ďŹ re protection equipment must now be members in good standing in one of the trade’s three membership classes (apprentice, journeyperson candidate or journeyperson) in order to continue working legally in the province. collegeoftrades.ca

RSES Talks Safety and Systems Just over 30 members of RSES Canada took to Algonquin College in Ottawa during the ďŹ rst week of May for the organization’s 78th Annual General Meeting. Sessions during the event provided a technical look at hydronic heating, CO2-based refrigeration systems, compressors and electrical safety for the HVAC/R sector. “Low voltage does not mean low hazard,â€? advised technical trainer Brynn Cooksey as he outlined best practices when working on equipment.

Pictured here, Mechanical Business columnist Phil Boudreau discusses R-744. rsescanada.com

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Manitoba Launches Race to Reduce Manitoba’s Race to Reduce challenge is currently underway. It aims to reduce energy use in participating ofďŹ ce buildings by 10 per cent. The program is modelled after a similar event run by CivicAction in the Greater Toronto Area from 2011 to 2015 that saw 42 per cent of the region’s commercial ofďŹ ce sector achieve a collective energy savings of 12.1 per cent. Manitoba’s program encourages collaboration between landlords and tenants, and offers a variety of resources and incentives to help them achieve targets. manitobaracetoreduce.ca

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Vancouver Rezoning Policy Causes Stir Vancouver’s Green Building Rezoning Policy came into effect on May 1, targeting a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for new multi-storey buildings when a developer seeks a rezoning.

The policy was met with considerable backlash, with many arguing that it would be impossible to meet the new emissions targets while using natural gas for space and water heating.

“That’s what’s got everyone up in arms—the word on the street is that Vancouver is banning natural gas, which they’re really not doing, but they’re making it so difficult to use it that it’s an effective ban,” explained Rob Waters, CIPH’s technical consultant for codes and standards.

The city maintains that the new GHG targets can still be met using natural gas, and issued a statement noting “How a developer meets those targets is up to them; it can involve a mix of better insulation, thicker windows and better design, as well as opting for renewable energy.”

HRAI Shows off New Digs HRAI hosted an open house for its new office space in Mississauga, Ont., in May. Attendees were treated to tours of the new facility, a variety of giveaways and displays by HRAI’s Member Advantage Program (MAP) partners. The office is located at 2350 Matheson Blvd. East, Suite 101, and can be reached by phone at 905-602-4700. hrai.ca

The policy became an issue in the B.C. provincial election, with the Liberals promising to amend the Vancouver Charter if elected. The charter allows the city to set its own building code policies.

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

vancouver.ca

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Movers & Shakers www.mechanicalbusiness.com

odman on the Move in London

Ontor Adds Lines Ontor has been named the exclusive distributor of Bramec products in Canada. Established in 1973, Bramec is a master distributor of HVAC/R and plumbing accessories, including piping products, venting and controls. Ontor is also now distributing products from KSB Pumps, a supplier of large, specially engineered industrial pumps. ontor.com

Wilo USA Announces Acquisitions Wilo USA has acquired pump manufacturers Weil Pump Co. Inc. and Scot Pump Company, as well as Karak Machine Corporation, a manufacturer of pump components. Weil manufactures wastewater pumps and systems, and Scot offers OEM end suction pumps for the plastics, agricultural and chemical industries and marine pumps for the shipbuilding industry. Karak Machine Corporation offers components used by both manufacturers. wilo-usa.com

One box. Unlimited solutions

Goodman Manufacturing’s London, Ont., branch has moved to a new location. You can now find the branch, managed by Lisa Smelt, at 15835 Robins Hill Road, Unit 2. The branch can be reached by phone at 519-453-1200 or fax at 519-453-1204. goodmanmfg.com

Thermo Adds Canadian Rep Air Force 1 Sales & Marketing is now representing Thermo Manufacturing products in Ontario and Quebec. Based in Canton, Ohio, Thermo manufactures a variety of products designed to facilitate HVAC installations. Their offering includes snap clamps, thimbles, vibration pads and a variety of sealants and foams. thermopan.com airforce1.ca

Hi-Velocity’s small diameter duct zoning systems provide quiet comfort and superior energy TIVJSVQERGI JSV EPP ]SYV VIXVS½X ERH RI[ GSRWXVYGXMSR ,:%' RIIHW 'SQQIVGMEP SV VIWMHIRXMEP IEGL W]WXIQ GSQIW GSQTPIXI [MXL IRIVK] IJ½GMIRX JER GSMP ERH IUYMTTIH [MXL ]SYV WTIGM½GEXMSRW [MXL YRPMQMXIH STXMSRW 'EPP YW XSHE] JSV QSVI MRJSVQEXMSR

1-888-652-2219 www.hi-velocity.com 14

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Uponor Invests in Upgrades Uponor has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Minnesota while continuing to centralize and upgrade its Canadian operations. The company consolidated its Canadian head office with its eastern distribution centre in Mississauga, Ont., in April, and is now expanding its estimation and commercial piping design services, also located in Mississauga. The expansion of the U.S. facility, which will increase the company’s footprint by 58,000 sq. ft., is expected to be completed early next year. uponor.ca

Bradford r White Makes Moves Bradford White Canada commenced operations at its new location in Halton Hills, Ont., in May. The 75,000-sq.-ft. facility, located at 9 Brigden Gate, more than doubles the company’s warehousing space and includes a 1,000-sq.-ft. training area. Bradford White Canada can be reached by phone at 905-203-0600. bradfordwhite.com r

Anvil Acquires AFCON Anvil International has acquired AFCON, a provider of fire protection pipe hangers and seismic bracing products.

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

anvilintl.com

S Saniflo’s p plumbing solutions llet you make more money.

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S Saniflo’s plumbing solutions are ideal for all residential and ccommercial applications and our Certified Training Program will give you the expertise to better serve all of your customers. w Once it is completed, you will be showcased on our website as O a Preferred Installer, giving you access to more customers!

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People in the news www.mechanicalbusiness.com

KEVIN FANCEY has been appointed president of Wolseley Canada.

In this new role, Fancey will oversee the company’s operational management and work with the senior leadership team to plan and execute the company’s business strategy. He will work out of Wolseley Canada’s head office in Burlington, Ont., and report to Simon Oakland, Wolseley plc’s CEO for Canada and Central Europe.

DONALD P. KENNEY has been named the new president of Franklin Electric North American Water Systems (NAWS).

In this role, Kenney will have oversight of all NAWS business supporting the sale of Franklin Electric products in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Central America.

NICKI BOWLING has been named the new marketing communications manager for Caleffi.

In this role, she’ll have oversight of Caleffi’s marketing initiatives in North America.

KAL OSMAN has been named Fujitsu General America’s director of product management. He served previously as the company’s commercial product manager.

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RICK PROULX (1) has been promoted to business development director of Reliance Worldwide Canada, manufacturer of SharkBite and Cash Acme products. Proulx has been with Reliance for over 15 years, and has more than 40 years of industry experience. Also at Reliance, JAMES HUMBER (2) has been hired as the sales account manager for Western Canada. Based in Vancouver, he has extensive experience in the building products industry.

STÉPHANE LANTEIGNE (3) has been named Reliance’s new sales account manager for Quebec and the Ottawa Valley region.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the plumbing industry. BOB SHAW (4) is Reliance’s new sales account manager for the Greater Toronto Area and Eastern Ontario.

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Goodman Canada has appointed GUILLAUME TALBOT (1) manager of the company’s Quebec City branch. Also at Goodman, DARREN THEOPHILE (2) has joined the company as the parts, supplies and accessories manager for Western Canada. The industry veteran has 20 years of experience on the HVAC and plumbing scenes. DEANNA MERCX (3) has been appointed manager of Goodman’s Edmonton branch. Mercx brings a wealth of experience in business operations, customer service and warehouse management to the position.

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JAY HASSEL has been promoted to president and COO of Noritz America, with oversight of the company’s Canadian and U.S. operations. He succeeds Hisashi Uryu, who will remain CEO while returning to Noritz’s parent company in Kobe, Japan, to serve as an officer for Noritz Corporation. Hassel has 23 years of experience in the plumbing industry and has worked at Noritz for 12 years, most recently as vice-president of sales and marketing.

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PATRICK LANTHIER (1) has been promoted to vice-president of procurement for Deschênes Group. He assumed the role on May 1, following the retirement of Guy Tremblay.

Also at Deschênes Group, SYLVAIN VACHON (2) has been named vice-president of operations for the Quebec region, replacing François Deschênes, who was appointed president and CEO of the company earlier this year. LOUIS-PHILIPPE TREMBLAY (3) has been appointed vice-president and general manager of the Montreal division of Deschênes & Fils. DONALD MICHAUD (4) has been hired as the vice-president and general manager of Huot, a Deschênes Group company.

BRENT HEINITZ has joined Canature WaterGroup as the regional sales manager for Manitoba and Saskatchewan for the company’s Professional Plumbing Division. An industry veteran, Heinitz has more than 25 years of experience in the plumbing business.

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06.17

Profile Jacques Deschênes: Balancing the Family Business

Like many in the plumbing, heating and cooling world, Jacques Deschênes got his start in business by joining his father’s company, Deschênes & Fils Ltée, a plumbing and heating wholesaler in Montreal.

Working with his family since the 1950s, Jacques learned about business on the front lines. In the late ’70s, he launched an expansion plan that he and two of his sons, Martin and François, have continued to grow.

Deschenes Group (GDI) now includes nine subsidiary companies operating more than 100 locations throughout Canada.

Q A Q A

Q A

What are some of the keys to success for a family business?

The main thing, I think, is communication. You need to have good communication. This is the same thing within a marriage, or any relationship. And you have to learn when to talk business, and when to not talk about business. You need to make sure that one does not disturb the life of the other.

Are there any guiding principles that have helped as Deschênes Group has grown?

We always believed that the local needs are different, so we did not want to change how, for instance, Boone Plumbing was operating – the kind of service that they were offering. Same thing for Toronto – Bardon is not the same as Desco. They operate differently, and they have their own strengths.

How did you prepare for your succession?

When I reached 55, I decided that I would no longer be president at 65. It was suggested to me at the time that I should have an advisory board, and that I should not select my successor all by myself. The advisory board recommended that the successor should be qualified. So the children knew that if one of them was to be selected, they would have to go through testing and evaluation.

Name: Jacques Deschênes Title: Honorary Chairman of the Board of GDI Age: 82 Joined the industry: 1954

Why do you give back and volunteer as you do?

My mother always taught us to be helpful to other people. Myself, I’ve been lucky. I have always had good people helping me. Now I am working with the University of Montreal’s business school, along with Andrew Molson of the Molson family, and Claude Lesage of Giant Factories. Together, we have created the Deschênes-MolsonLesage Family Business Centre, which is operated by the business school of the University of Montreal.

BIO

FAST FACTS 1. He helped create the François MivilleDeschênes Bursary, which helps with education costs for children of GDI employees.

2. Given his relationship with Andrew Molson, it should come as no surprise that he’s a Montreal Canadiens fan.

3. Jacques enjoys fishing and hunting.

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Photo: Sylain Légaré/Racine Imagine

Q A

Running a successful family business can be a complex puzzle, one that gets evermore complex from generation to generation, so we were grateful to be able to pick Jacques’s brain during the recent MCEE show in Montreal, where he was sharing insights with show attendees.

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J.S. Rancourt is a principal at DXS, a Toronto-based company that specializes exclusively in VRF technology. He can be reached at js.rancourt@dxseng.com.

By J. S. Ra nc o u r t

condos EXPANDING THE VRF UNIVERSE

ariable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC systems are no longer considered a new thing. It has been more than a decade since the first major global alliance was forged between a large Japanese VRF manufacturer and a North American HVAC manufacturer.

Since then, numerous global alliances have been forged, and system offerings have increased throughout North America.

V

As a result, there are now large office buildings, schools, churches, government buildings, medical buildings and, as detailed in my last article (see Mechanical Business Nov./Dec. 2015), a very large hotel in Canada that are using VRF for their main HVAC systems.

There is precedence, there is track record, there is adoption; so what’s next for this technology? How about the condo industry?

As a matter of fact, there are currently a couple of landmark condo projects in the Greater Toronto Area under construction that will be using air-source VRF as their sole means of space heating and cooling.

Why did it take until now to look at the residential market, and why do we now predict that the next big thing for VRF will be in the condo industry? The answer revolves around two main points: reduced capital costs of VRF systems and new energy efficiency requirements.

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THE JACK Set to be completed in the spring of 2018, The Jack is an 11-storey condo from Aspen Ridge Homes located just off of Yonge Street, south of St. Clair.

The architectural beauty will feature a pair of large penthouses on the 11th floor, each served by its own dedicated VRF system. The rest of the spacious 100-plus units will be served by one of 20 heat recovery VRF systems located on the roof.

YEAR-ROUND EFFICIENCY

The VRF units are sized to meet both the cooling load and the heating load at the local design temperature of -20°C, with an assurance that the units can operate down to -25°C. To service the various condominium units, a and vertical VRF mix of horizontal hor will be used. fan coils w

On the cooling side, the efficiency story for VRF technology stems from the part-load efficiency of inverter compressors and in fewer heat exchanges that are present than in traditional HVAC systems.

On the heating side, the COP of VRF averages between 3 and 4 over the winter.

Considering that the COP of a furnace is always below 1, no matter how efficient it is, it should not be surprising that VRF is attracting attention.

A GREEN APPROACH

GETTING THE DEVELOPERS’ ATTENTION Technological advancements that do not result in construction cost savings usually need to have a meaningful impact on the salability or value of the units for a developer to consider them. Since homebuyers are more likely to be swayed by a highend countertop than a high-end HVAC system, the first driver for the general adoption of VRF by condo developers will most likely be based on the capital costs—which were more considerable five or 10 years ago—no longer being a large premium when compared to conventional systems.

The capital cost of a VRF system, or of any HVAC system for that matter, is driven by two main things: equipment cost and installation costs.

With VRF numbers on the rise in Canada, and with more manufacturers offering this type of equipment, the price has dropped significantly. I’d estimate that VRF equipment prices are close to half of where they were just 10 years ago.

Of course, equipment cost was never the primary issue in the salability of VRF in condos. The installation cost and complexity of the systems – or at least, the perceived cost and complexity –was perhaps a bigger road block.

A large proportion of mechanical contractors who install HVAC systems in condos have developed a comfort zone with the standard, water-based heating and cooling systems they have been installing. This can put them in a difficult position if a developer opts for a refrigerant-based VRF system.

This change to the status quo can take a leap of faith for the mechanical contracting firm, and may require some additional training.

As politicians come up with policies aimed at de-carbonizing the Canadian economy, VRF technology could be a viable solution for comfort systems as all space heating can be accomplished without the use of fossil fuels. VRF is a technology that can help us make use of our electrical grid for heating in a very efficient manner, due to the COPs, and this grid continues to get greener as utilities move to green options for generation, like wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. As such, VRF allows us to keep reducing our carbon impact.

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HVAC THE EFFICIENCY PICTURE The VRF story in condos does not only revolve around capital cost savings. What is bringing VRF to the table, and what will continue to bring VRF to the table more and more, are increasing energy efficiency requirements in many parts of the country.

For example, when applying for a building permit in Ontario, there are two general paths that can be followed to ensure that the project is in compliance with the energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario Building Code.

One is based on the energy cost of the building, as compared to a standard building. The other is based on the energy use of the building, again as compared to a standard building.

The latter ignores the sometimes volatile econom-

TRAFALGAR LANDING ics of the energy sector, and simply looks at how many units of energy the building consumes. This is where VRF technology can be attractive, given the COPs that VRF heat pumps deliver.

And some of the newer VRF systems on the market can now operate efficiently at temperatures as low as -30°C, which increases the number of geographic zones where they can be an option for winter operation.

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A short drive from downtown Toronto is Great Gulf’s Trafalgar Landing Condo project in Oakville. This set of three U-shaped four-storey buildings will make use of air-source VRF for all of their space cooling and heating needs.

The structures will be served by three different banks of VRF units placed on the roof; one per wing of each building. And each condo unit will feature a vertical VRV fan coil in a small closet. The project is well underway and will be completed this summer.

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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

By Fred Bretzke

1980

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

I

n 1984, I learned about vent stacks at the Southern Alberta Institute of

Technology and became a Red Seal journeyman before I was thrown back into service work for a brand new

VENT STACKS AND TOILET VOLCANOES

T H E P L U M B I N G P O LT E R G E I S T

Let me set the scene:

There I was, in 1984, armed with all kinds of knowledge gleaned from SAIT, standing in the basement level of this apartment building with the resident manager who claimed that the building had a plumbing poltergeist.

company.

I had always complained in school that they didn’t teach enough service work.

I worked for a service company, and all this new-construction education wasn’t particularly helpful to me. But it wasn’t

Now remember, this was a 10-storey building built in 1980. It was only a few years old, so it should, in theory, have complied with the 1980 code b book. The resident manager began by telling me that he could not rent the basement suite. He then brought me into the bathroom down there to brou sshow me why.

long before I was proven wrong about

I stood there waiting for something to happen, but nothing did.

that.

One of my first service calls in my

T manager asked me to just be patient and The ggive it five minutes.

first week back from school was at a 10-storey building in Calgary. It was our

W While we were waiting, I noticed that the ti tiled walls of the bathroom were broken— there were several 12-inch holes in the walls. He explain explained that over the past eight months several plumb plumbing companies had broken holes in the walls trying to solve the ongoing issue this bathroom had been eexperiencing.

first call from a management company that had several buildings in the downtown core, and I felt like I had to impress. I was on a mission to prove that I was a super plumber who could resolve any service call.

And tthat’s when it happened.

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PLUMBING UP ON THE ROOF I beg began to think that it would be a waste of time breaking more holes in the wall, so I went up on the roof to look for th the vent stack. Luckily for me, the vent stack had been instal installed to the top of the roof instead of tying it directly into tthe stack vent.

All of a sudden, the toilet started erupting like a volcano. A dark brown substance that was deďŹ nitely not lava shot four feet into the air, splattering on the walls and oor.

Back in the day, our minimum roof vent terminations were only one inch higher than the roof. This tended to cause probl problems as most commercial at roofs have gravel on them them. The gravel would eventually fall down the vent stack term termination and collect at the base of the stack, thereby plugg plugging the air vent.

The resident manager explained that this happened several times a day, making it impossible to rent the suite out. (No kidding!) He also noted that none of the four or ďŹ ve plumbing companies that had investigated the suite could ďŹ gure out how to ďŹ x the problem. They’d tried to drain clean it but they couldn’t ďŹ nd a plug in the drain. They’d also looked for a plugged vent stack, which explained the holes in the walls, but they couldn’t even ďŹ nd a vent stack.

So I ccalled in our vacuum truck and we managed to run 300 feet o of hose up to the roof and run it down the vent stack.

It too took a bit of time, but we eventually vacuumed all of the ggravel out of the vent stack and resolved the excessive press pressure problem.

I was also able to charge a fair amount for this job, since the landl landlord was tickled pink that we had solved the problem witho without damaging the property. He could now rent out the basem basement suite for the approximately $800 a month of rent that h he had missed out on for eight months. This made us look pretty good to our new customer, and we ended up main maintaining many of their properties going forward.

That gave me some information to work with, so off I went looking for that elusive vent.

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COMPANY: Kogge Plumbing, Heating and A/C LOCATION: St. Mary’s, Ohio (Columbus area) CONTRACTOR: Rick Kogge FAVORITE PRODUCT: Viper

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL In business since 1952, Kogge Plumbing, Heating and A/C, Inc.’s mission is to ensure comfort for its customers by providing efficient, reliable and fast service. In order to provide a high level of quality, Kogge prefers Gerber® products.

“We only stock Gerber toilets,” said Rick Kogge, owner of Kogge Plumbing, Heating and A/C. “The Viper™ is definitely our number one toilet; it’s an excellent flush for the money.”

Viper toilets offer more than double the flushing capacity of the industry standard.

Standard on every Gerber toilet for reliability is the exclusive Gerber mounting system with six points of tank-to-bowl connection that provide superior stability and allows for easy maintenance.

“The mounting system for Gerber toilets means that I can carry only three designs of bowls and the tanks that I carry are interchangeable, giving me an inventory advantage,” commented Kogge. “I can stock bowls that cover standard, elongated and ADA height, and use different tanks with them, instead of having to keep a large selection of different tanks and bowls to match.”

Rick Kogge APPRECIATES: 1. Gerber’s commitment to only sell through plumbing distributors.

2. Time-tested quality and durability of Gerber products.

3. Unique designs, like the six point tank-to-bowl connection. ™

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Because of the quality and durability of Gerber products and the commitment to plumbers, Kogge stocks Gerber products and is confident in getting them quickly.

“Gerber’s faucets are a quality, cast-brass construction. I am confident that heat and moisture won’t cause them to rot,” Kogge explained. “For the past 35 years we’ve used Gerber and we will only use Gerber bath drains. I know they won’t fail once they’re installed.”

“Any faucet we order arrives in two days, so we don’t need to worry about long shipping wait times,” said Kogge. “We can’t keep every finish in stock, and other brands can take two weeks to come in.”

“Overall, Gerber offers a very good value for the price with a great warranty,” summarized Kogge. “Because Gerber is committed to us and only sells through plumbing distributors, our pricing can be competitive.”

gerberonline.ca

© 2017 Gerber Plumbing Fixtures

PLUMBING

WHAT’S A

VENT STACK? In clause 5.4 of the 1980 NPC, it states that you must have a vent stack on a building that is more than four storeys and has fixtures draining from it. (In the 2015 plumbing code, the clause reference is 2.5.4.2.)

A vent stack is basically an air pipe that ties the base of the soil stack to a vent that is run back up through the roof. The purpose of the vent stack is to relieve pressure at the base of the soil stack. On multi-storey buildings, a lot of head pressure (0.434 lb. per foot) is built up in the stack as waste rushes downward. As soon as it turns horizontal at the base, this excessive pressure needs to go somewhere.

If the vent stack or air vent is working properly, the excessive pressure will release up the vent stack or air vent. If it doesn’t do that, the pressure will be released through the nearest floor-mounted fixture, which, in this case, happened to be the basement toilet.

I can only imagine the surprise someone would have experienced if they’d been sitting on this toilet when one of those eruptions occurred…

d % te s 0 0 te

1

ry o ct fa

KNOW YOUR CODE Since 1980, we have updated the plumbing code for vent terminations under section 2.5.6.5. Vent terminations now have to rise a minimum of six inches above the roof to prevent snow or gravel from entering the vents. There have been changes to the vent stack rules, too. We now recommend tying up to eight fixture units into the base of the vent stack to help scour the bottom wye connection, which helps keep vents from plugging—and also helps reduce the risk of those nasty toilet volcanoes.

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with Roger Grochmal

What’s in Your Job Description?

T

itles and job descriptions can play an essential role in any business. They help define the skills, purpose, responsibilities, decision-making abilities and the brand personality of your company.

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

Despite all of the modern-day business philosophies that claim we don’t need a title to do our jobs, I have learned that organizational charts and job titles speak to the fact that a business needs structure. When you dig deeper, titles can strongly affect the purpose and ambitions of employees, and can be drivers for performance and success, but more important than a title is the job description, since that’s where responsibilities and accountability are outlined.

To be honest, I have found that some use job titles as expressions of ego, rather than as an accurate descriptor of what performance is expected. But when properly applied and managed, titles and job descriptions can set milestones for people to aspire to within your organization while giving customers a clear understanding of a person’s role in the full experience working with your company.

SAME TITLE, DIFFERENT RESULTS Why don’t all employees get it? It usually comes down to us, as leaders.

Have you created a compelling vision for your organization that will get your people out of bed in the morning?

Guidelines, Not Rules Job descriptions are important to identify specific duties – as an example of what an employee will do from day to day – but a job description is never complete, and it’s not a contract. I always add “other duties as may be assigned from time to time” to the end of every job description. This allows you to make changes without having to create a whole new description.

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Do they know why they are doing the things you ask them to do?

Are they empowered to make the decisions they need to make for the business to be successful?

Are they comfortable making mistakes they learn from and don’t repeat, or are they afraid to push themselves for fear of punishment?

Have you built solid processes and procedures for the basic and everyday tasks so that they can focus their time on the things that really matter, like finding a creative solution to a customer’s problem?

The same job description can yield very different results depending on how these questions are answered. These questions – and so many more – are in our job descriptions as leaders.

I was at a conference this spring where a speaker had built rock-solid processes in his business that added $5 million to the purchase price when he sold it. He even had a process for changing a roll of toilet paper because CSRs working on the weekend were more focused on toilet paper than they were about serving customers.

In his company, every activity worth doing had to improve the top line, bottom line or customer experience. He cited an example that they had almost finished loading two tractor trailers full of goods on a Friday when a shipping clerk discovered that one of the address labels did not look right. The bar codes were correct but the names were wrong.

The product would get to the right customers, so not a major concern really, but the customers would think they got the wrong package.

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Provide a Pat on the Back

The owner asked the staff what they felt they should do and the shipping clerk just said one thing, “We do it right, and we do it with style.” (That just happens to also be the company’s vision statement.)

Do you recognize your people for doing things right?

Without any discussion, everyone knew what they had to do. They unloaded, re-labelled and after six hours of overtime from everyone on a Friday night, they got everything done.

That is empowerment, but it also illustrates clarity of focus. Every employee was in tune with the mission and felt empowered to do what they needed to do.

Would that happen in our companies? Do we all have the clarity of a compelling vision and the willingness to empower our employees to deliver on that vision?

At the end of the day, the silver bullet in our organizations is us. We set the vision and mission. A sense of purpose is the strongest motivational force there is. We establish and document the processes and procedures in our companies. Get rid of your organization chart that focuses on job titles and replace it with a responsibility and accountability chart. Then empower your employees to deliver on your mission/vision.

Nothing means more to people than being liked and approved of. Our biggest fear as human beings is that we are not good enough, so a good leader knows when to stand up and applaud.

As owners and managers, we have the ability to influence our people. We must give them clarity of vision. We must provide purpose for meaningful work, so that they can get aligned with their own reasons for getting out of bed in the morning.

Wrap that up with recognition for getting things right and you have a winning formula that will deliver on your company’s vision and value statement – and no one will ever tell you something is not their job.

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS JOB #1 The four worst words in the English language are “it’s not my job.” I’m generally a pretty calm person but that statement can put me over the edge, especially if it is from a management-level employee. In most small- and medium-sized businesses, it is everyone’s job to see that the customer is looked after.

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HYDRONICS

B y B o b “ Ho t R o d” Rohr

Finding the

Comfort Zone We are all in the comfort business, and exploring custom options with your customers will keep you ahead of the competition, not to mention earn you a reputation for being a comfort specialist.

A

popular selling and marketing feature of hydronics is the ability to have unlimited control. With a piped system, the ability to zone individual spaces or rooms is a simple proposition, or it can be with a little bit of prep work.

Most job quotes or bids start with either a site visit with the property owner, or a look at a set of proposed plans from a designer. At this early design stage, involving the owner of the project is a wise step. They are the ones whose idea of comfort will become your target, so speaking to them is one of the best ways to ensure that you have happy, comfortable customers after system zoning is properly applied.

We all have different comfort expectations and wants, so allowing the occupants the ability to customize their environment shows the competency of the installing/designing contractor.

Sorting out how to create and control each zone will lead to an almost endless list of options and configurations, but in a very basic way, we can look at zoning as simply installing “switches” and connecting these to temperature-sensing, user-friendly and adjustable controls in the spaces.

Switching, or controlling fluid flows, to a hydronic pro, will involve the choice of a zone valve or actuator on a manifold, or a zone circulator.

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

CHOOSE WISELY The decision about which control method to use, or is preferred, has been going on for decades. There is no one-sizefits-all choice, so an assessment of the system and where the components will be placed can be very helpful to your planning process.

Look at flow rates and the pressure drop of the circuits as you design the system. Consider where the switches will be located, and how accessible they will be for future service.

Energy costs to power the switches should also be considered.

Today we have both low-energy-consuming circulator pumps as well as zone valves.

Is noise an issue? Some motorized valves create just enough noise to annoy an owner, and switching relays for zone circulators can also click loud enough to bother light sleepers.

Thermal-type actuators on manifolds are about the quietest way to switch flows on and off, so these are often installed when the switch will be located close to sleeping areas.

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In recent years, the selection of circulators has greatly increased.

Smaller-flow circs are widely available, and the industry is shifting toward ECM, low-power consumption offerings. Today’s large selection of pumps makes zoning with circulators or zone valves a workable and efficient choice.

Ideally, you should size circulators to work at mid-range in their pump curve. Adjusting flow rates with balancing valves on an

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HYDRONICS oversized circulator never makes sense. Variable flow circulators rs with automatic balance valves provide an excellent application for large commercial applications. Think: large hotels.

Zone valves have also seen some unique upgrades over the last several years. On the thermal actuators side, virtually all 0 manufacturers offer low-power consumption models, and 250 mA actuators are common now. This allows for more actuatorss per transformer to reduce the power consumption, but be aware that low-power consumption thermal actuators take longer too fully open.

Motorized zone valves continue to be a go-to choice for most systems. g A wide choice of sizes and connections are available,, as are voltages.

Relay boxes that can be used with both pumps and zone valves are also being modernized.

Some of the recent upgrades to xes these workhorse boxes include multiple setss or dry contacts, connection ti ports to link multiple boxes, front-facing indicators, thermal overload protection that replaces fuses, online capability, outdoor reset capability and more. I highly recommend the use of these boxes since they eliminate wiring error, provide fused protection, reduce labour and cleanup the wiring management in the room.

The ball is in your court when it comes to deciding on zoning options.

Look over the choices and offerings, and your system, and put all the choices to the test. And keep in mind that many installers choose products based on local and factory support, which isn’t a bad idea either.

So, talk with your customers, assess both their expectations and the system you are designing, and I look forward to finding you in the comfort zone.

Money-Saving Options The ability to control sleeping areas at different or setback temperatures is a crowd pleaser since reducing temperatures to seldom or less-used spaces can lower system operating costs. And the zoning parameters can be reprogrammed as the need for each room or zone changes. Is the nest emptying?

No problem, just reprogram the zone.

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D DEFINING THE ZONING TARGET Z Wondering what to focus on W w when assessing your customer’s need needs? A good starter is to ask about curre current and anticipated building use and occupancy. o

CAUTION! Extensive zoning, and especially micro zoning, should not be undertaken without some careful consideration.

While zoning a small bathroom space may seem like a great comfort option, it will have an impact on the rest of the system. Even with today’s modulating equipment, it is possible to short cycle the boiler or heat source.

A short cycle is generally thought of as a run cycle of less than 10 minutes, which is rather inefficient. One rule of thumb to combat short cycling is to size the boiler so that the smallest zone matches the lowest turndown rate of the boiler.

While this is a wise guideline, remember that is still based on design day conditions, which represents less than 15 per cent of the heating season in many areas.

As such, a buffer tank may be an option worth considering, since it can smooth out a boiler’s ride. The boiler, or heat source, sees this tank as the load, while the distribution side sees it as a thermal battery. The buffer can supply heat to the small zone several times before the thermal battery needs to call for heat from the boiler.

Online calculators or textbook formulas can help you size a buffer tank to greatly lessen boiler and premature equipment failures caused by frequent cycling.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE All mechanical and electro-mechanical devices fail at some point. Easy access and proper isolation will allow for quick and efficient service in the future. As part of your installation process, document and provide a map of the system to easily identify remote manifolds or valves.

Amazing performance in the corners and perfect on the straightaways.

HeatLink PEX-a tubing is engineered to perform.

Our PEX-a tubing is manufactured using the one step crosslinking extrusion process, creating a superior and more uniform molecular structure, which means increased strength, flexibility and thermal memory. Amazingly, a section of ½” tubing can be bent into a 3” radius without affecting tubing integrity. So you can count on great performance in the corners.

HeatLink PEX-a is highly crush and abrasion resistant and perfect for projects where it’s buried in earth or covered in concrete. It’s built to take the heat, the cold, and the pressure–above and beyond industry specifications–to last a lifetime.

UV stabilized to withstand up to 12 months exposure to sunlight, it’s the reliable tubing choice for your next potable water or radiant heating or cooling project.

HeatLink PEX-a tubing is lightweight, durable and requires fewer fittings–so it’s really quick and easy to install on the straightaways too.

HeatLink PEX-a is certified to meet or exceed industry performance standards and approved for installation across North America. Install our PEX-a tubing with confidence–we cover every inch of it with a worry free 25 year warranty.

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Hydronic Products Oil-Fired Boilers Granby’s Conforto oil-fired boilers are available in sizes ranging from 73,000 to 222,000 BTUH. Offering AFUE efficiencies of up to 87 per cent, they feature a triple-pass design engineered to enhance energy efficiency. An optional outdoor reset control module adjusts the boiler setpoint based on the outdoor temperature.

www. granbyindustries.com

Fire-Tube Boilers Lochinvar’s KHN Knight floor-standing fire tubee residential boilers offer AFUE efficiencies as high gh as 95 per cent. Models range from 55,000 to 285,000 BTUH and offer a turndown ratio of up to 10:1. The boilers feature stainless steel heat exchangers and can be controlled remotely using ng the company’s Con-X-Us app.

Valves with Press Connections Watts offers its hydronic and mixing valves in models designed for press connections. Available in 1/2” and 3/4” sizes, the brass and bronze valves can be joined to copper tubing using a press tool. They are suitable for retrofit and new construction projects and available in pressure ratings up to 150 psi.

www. watts.ca

www. lochinvar.com Oil heat creates a hotter flame than other fuel types.

ECM Circulators Alpha2 circulators from Grundfos feature ECM motors and a factory setting designed to automatically adapt to heating system requirements to maximize energy efficiency. They offer a maximum flow of 21 gpm at 19 feet of head and a maximum working pressure of 150 psi.

www. grundfos.ca

Steam System Couplings Style 870 rigid pipe couplings from Victaulic are designed for use in commercial and industrial saturated steam and condensate piping systems.

They are available in 2" to 8" sizes and are rated for a maximum working pressure of 150 psi. Their working temperature range is -29 to 186°C.

System Water Filtration Caleffi HydroFill units are designed to remove minerals from the process water used in residential and commercial hydronic heating and cooling systems. Each unit comes with replaceable resin bags. Models are available with 6 gpm or 12 gpm filling rates.

www. victaulic.com

www. caleffi.com

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www.ibcboiler.com DĞŶƵ

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2017

Cooling Report

Inverter Technology Amana’s AVXC20 air conditioners are available in sizes ranging from 23,600 to 53,000 BTUH. Capable of efficiencies as high as 24.5 SEER, they use inverter technology and feature condensing coils made with corrugated aluminum fins and refrigeration-grade copper tubing. amana-hac.com

The School of Cool

B y G r e g D a l g eetty tty

I

n Canada, there’s only one guarantee in life outside of death and taxes: the changing of the seasons. And yes, despite an almost balmy winter in some parts of the country, the seasons have changed again. With the dog days of summer fast approaching, we now find ourselves entering cooling season.

As always, new technologies and evolving government regulations leave the cooling market in a constant state of flux. So what can we expect from this year?

We talked to industry experts to find out.

Wall-Mount Mini Splits Fujitsu’s wall-mounted ductless mini split systems are available in three models ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 BTUH. Offering cooling efficiencies as high as 33 SEER, the Wi-Fi enabled systems offer remote operation. One mobile device can be used to control multiple indoor units. fujitsugeneral.com

Embracing IoT The savvy HVAC/R contractor realizes that succeeding in business means keeping your ear to the ground when it comes to consumer trends.

“Homeowners require assurance that their investment is sound from a reliability standpoint, and provides the fundamental needs for improved comfort, humidity control, and inside air quality,” explains David Palazzolo, Daikin’s residential cooling product manager. “Recent industry trends lean toward the Internet of Things and whole-home solutions that provide increased energy savings.”

Indeed, smart thermostats and their integration into IoT continue to drive sales.

Mini VRF Systems Haier’s Mini VRF systems are designed to bridge the gap between small multi-zone residential applications and multi-zone light commercial needs. Available in sizes ranging from three to five tons, they can connect to up to nine indoor units. haierductless.com

Cooling Products 38

“Smart thermostats continue to see robust growth, especially as price points come down for various options and as the thermostats integrate with hardware systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home,” says Jeff Underwood, Goodman’s vice-president of marketing. “We continue to see Wi-Fi enabled thermostats making up a greater portion of our distributors’ sales.”

And the controls aspect of the market only shows signs of growing.

“Some of the latest advancements use voice-activated commands with thirdparty products to control an HVAC system, as well as the lights, sound system, and many other features within a home,” says Palazzolo. “This is creating a higher interest for consumers to interact with their HVAC systems.”

He a t i n g P r od u c ts

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2017

Cooling Report

Governments continue to push for higher minimum efficiencies for cooling equipment, and consumers have responded by adapting their purchasing habits.

“We’ve seen demand for systems stems with higher energy efficiency gradually grow from year to year as homeowners wners search for options that will help lower monthly utility bills, and the overall cost ost to operate their home,” Underwood notes.

Of course, not all homeowners ers will opt for the highest of the high-efficiencyy options available to them. The cost of going ever-more efficient with th equipment can be impacted d by other factors, including how ow long a family plans on living in its current residence.

Wi-Fi-Ready Air Conditioners York’s Affinity YXV air conditioners are available in sizes ranging from two to five tons and offer efficiencies as high as 20 SEER. Communication between indoor and outdoor units allows contractors to quickly identify and diagnose system issues. They can be paired with the Affinity Hx thermostat for Wi-Fi control. york.com

“Consumers are always interested rested in higher efficiency, but they have to choose just how high as compared to the payback they might expect,” Palazzolo says. “People don’t live in the as long as they highly h same house h l h used d to, so a hi hl efficient system with a 10-year payback might not be of interest to many people who know that they will not be in the home that long.”

Climate, too, plays a role in determining what efficiency level best suits a customer. Short cooling seasons mean long payback periods.

“I live in Northern Ontario. If that’s where you live, is a 16 SEER or a new 18 SEER air conditioner really going to save you that much money?” posits Mike Cantin, Napoleon’s director of North America sales for HVAC. “But consumers are still looking for the best value for their dollar. I believe people are willing to pay more if they believe they’re getting more value for what they’re buying.”

Central Air Conditioners Napoleon’s 16 SEER central air conditioners are available in 1.5 to 5 ton sizes. Their fan blades are designed to maximize airflow while reducing unwanted noise. They feature scroll compressors with built-in temperature and pressure protection. napoleonheatingandcooling.com

Heat Pumps Gaining Ground Heat pumps and ductless systems continue to make significant inroads in the Canadian market, notes Nick Shin, Haier America’s vice-president and business unit leader, Ductless and HVAC. “Ductless systems in North America in the past five years have been growing somewhere around 17 to 20 per cent a year, which is tremendous when you consider the housing market is pretty steady,” he says. “A lot of designers and architects are now designing buildings with ductless systems.”

And technological advancements have allowed heat pumps to operate in heating mode when external temperatures dip well below zero, making them an attractive option for year-round heating and cooling for all but the most extreme winter days.

“Heat pump products were once thought of as being used only in the Southern United States,” notes Daikin’s David Palazzolo. “Today, some of the fastest growing heat pump markets are in Northeast and Northwest U.S., and Canada.”

Variable-Speed Heat Pumps KeepRite’s ProComfort Deluxe 18 heat pumps are available in cooling capacities ranging from two to five tons. Providing efficiencies of up to 19 SEER, they offer five stages of variable-speed compressor operation. Units can be controlled remotely via Wi-Fi. gokeeprite.com

39

2017

Cooling Report

Troubleshooting Made Easy The benefits of smart thermostats don’t extend only to home and business owners—they’re a huge help to contractors as well.

“All the commissioning can get done through a lot of the thermostats now,” explains Alain Boudreau, Allied Air’s district sales manager for Eastern Canada.

“So you’re going from spending 25 to 40 minutes commissioning a system to getting it up and running in about eight or 10 minutes now.

“The other big bonus for the contractor is that you can’t miss a step with these thermostats. It walks you through the commissioning process step by step so that when you’re leaving, the system is set up the way it should be.”

Vertical Blower Coil Trane’s BCCD compact vertical blower coils offer cooling capacities ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 BTUH. The single-zone VAV systems are suitable for use in spaces with varying occupancies.

The service panel is located at the front of the unit to facilitate installation and troubleshooting.

Self-diagnostics in modern cooling systems can also save contractors a lot of time.

“Our products have a fault code that can, for example, tell you that your refrigerant is low or that something is wrong with your communication wire,” Shin says. “We’re adding in this technology to help installers and service people.

Contractors can have a great idea of what the problem is before they even get to a home.”

trane.com

And once you’ve got the error code, diagnosing the problem is easier than ever.

Cooling Products

40

M e c h a n i c a l

“The old days of carrying binders with error code information are long gone,” Palazzolo says. “Error codes are easily accessible with simple apps using a cell phone.”

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2017

Cooling Report

Homeowner Interest on the Rise Until recently, many consumers took little interest in how their home’s cooling products worked or looked. But that is starting to change.

“Historically, HVAC systems might have been thought to be low-interest consumer products,” notes Daikin’s David Palazzolo. “However, with advancements in technology, consumers have become more interested in and aware of their HVAC systems and how they are performing.”

He attributes this to the rise of smartphones and apps that allow homeowners to easily access, monitor and control their systems from outside the home.

Single-Zone Heat Pump Systems

Style has also become more of a focus for consumers, with manufacturers of ductless systems making the aesthetics of indoor units a point of emphasis.

Daikin’s Aurora single-zone systems are designed for spaces needing additional comfort conditioning, and can service areas up to 1,460 square feet. Available with wall- or floor-mount indoor units, they offer cooling efficiencies of up to 20 SEER.

“We’re developing a broader array of products,” explains Nick Shin of Haier America. “Before, it used to just be a simple indoor unit hanging on the wall. Now we have cassettes that go up in the ceiling that have a nice, finished look. We even have a hybrid product that is ducted where you can run duct through a couple rooms.

daikincomfort.com

“Because we keep adding these additional capabilities to products, architects and designers are getting more and more interested in them.

The flexibility of design has grown dramatically in the last few years.”

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Air Conditioners Armstrong Air’s 4SCU16LS air conditioners offer maximum cooling capacities of 57,000 BTUH and efficiencies as high as 16 SEER. When paired with the company’s Comfort Sync thermostat, they can be controlled remotely using a mobile device and can notify service technicians when problems occur. armstrongair.com

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Cooling Products

In an otherwise stagnant field, only one brand of furnace is bringing innovation to the HVAC world. Napoleon’s Ultimate 9700 Series looks different because it is different.

The revolutionary Vortex turbulator increases heating efficiency, the ultra violet light purifies air and the SureView burner window shows the flames in operation as the furnace runs whisper quiet. Don’t get boxed in by outdated thinking. ™

napoleonheatingandcooling.com

REFRIGERATION

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

vacuum m

A LOOK AT THE EQUIPMENT

THE VACUUM CHAMBER Many vacuum chambers or vacuum m cells that are used for this cooling application have the same

T

he primary objective of a vacuum cooling system is to form a cold trap to remove excessive moisture from the air before it reaches the vacuum pumps. However, the system configurations that are able to accomplish this vary significantly.

Photos courtesy of 4 Star Ag Refrigeration and Canstock Images.

Direct expansion (DX) or flooded systems may be used, and refrigerant options include ammonia, an HFC or even a hydrocarbon, such as propane.

Generally speaking, flooded systems typically use ammonia and most DX systems installed to date seem to have relied on R-22, although this is not always the case.

look as shipping containers. rable This is because they must be of durable construction and also be able to withstand the pressure difference between the outside and inside when the chamber is in a vacuum.

Generally speaking, flooded systems typically use ammonia and most DX systems installed to date seem to have relied on R-22.

Additionally, vacuum cooler chambers are often installed outdoors. As such, the chamber must be weatherproof.

The chamber must be hermetically sealed in order for it to reach the required vacuum level. To create and maintain a good seal, hydraulically operated doors with seals are commonly used, although there are options on the style of doors. Some chambers use hinges, while others have sliding-type doors.

This is the second of Phil’s multi-part look at vacuum cooling. Visit mechanicalbusiness.com to check out Part 1, where the theory behind vacuum cooling systems was discussed in our March/April edition.

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REFRIGERATION

continued from page 32

THE COIL BOX A coil box is commonly used in both flooded and DX systems. As the name implies, the box is simply an enclosure that surrounds the coils in a way that permits airflow to be directed through the cooling coils with minimal or no bypassing of air around the coils.

THE VACUUM PUMP SECTION

The coil box is placed between the vacuum cooler chamber and the inlet to the vacuum pumps. When the system starts up, air from the sealed vacuum chamber is drawn through the coil box, where the moisture is removed. After the air leaves the coil box, it enters the first stage of the vacuum pump(s).

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To achieve the level of vacuum required, either a two-stage high-vacuum rotary pump module or a module that includes both lowstage pumps and high-stage pumps is used.

The two-stage high-vacuum rotary pump is similar to the two-stage vacuum pumps used in air conditioning and refrigeration service, but they are usually much larger and equipped with built-in oil pumps.

Other systems use separate low and highstage pumps. In these systems, the high-stage pump may be referred to as a “booster,” “dry” or “roots” pump. This typically has a rotarylobe design and will be the first vacuum pump that the air enters.

Only the high-stage pump operates when the system first starts up. These are high-volume pumps designed to reduce the air pressure to a level that will allow the low-stage vacuum to pull the air pressure down to as low as needed.

The low-stage pump is referred to as a “backing” pump. By using the roots pump in the first (high) stage, there will be much less moisture entering the booster pump.

This results in less moisture to contaminate the oil because air from the high stage leaves the pump through a valve that is open to atmosphere.

Once the chamber pressure is reduced to a predefined value, the atmospheric valve is closed and the backing pump starts up. At this point, both pumps operate in series to achieve the final chamber pressure.

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entrainment is greater when the backing pump is exposed to higher inlet pressures.

HOW IT WORKS Looking at a sample system handling produce, the pressure within the chamber would be reduced to 5.82 Torr to induce evaporation of the water within the chamber at a temperature of 36°F. At some point just before the water begins to evaporate, the refrigeration system must be started up. This is important because a relatively large amount of moisture will enter the pump if there is no cold trap to remove it.

The backing pump typically has a muffler at its outlet. This muffler often has an oil drain because oil could be entrained in the air. The possibility of oil

A rapid cooling technique, vacuum cooling works well for porous products with high water content, like leafy vegetables.

The vacuum chamber or pipe feeding the vacuum pumps is usually equipped with an atmospheric vent valve. After sufficient moisture has evaporated from the product to result in the desired final temperature, the vacuum pumps are turned off and the vacuum cooler is vented to atmosphere.

? did you know

1 Torr is approximately 133.3 Pascals.

At this point, the chamber is opened and the product is transferred to a storage cooler or refrigerated truck.

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47

PLUMBING

By Greg Dalgetty

on the go A SHIPLOAD OF

W

hen most of us think about toilets and plumbing, houses and commercial buildings spring to mind, but these fixed structures are not the only locations where nature calls, and is served.

With planes, trains and boats equipped with washrooms standing at the ready for passengers in need, plumbing can be a mobile experience. And, just like the washrooms in your home, they can get backed up from time to time.

Howard Cohen, the owner of Monsieur Drain, a Montrealbased 24-hour drain-clearing service, is no stranger to backed-up toilets and clogged drains. He’s pretty much seen it all throughout his career—but there’s one job in particular that stands out, and not just because it was on the water.

They couldn’t leave port with the drains blocked up, so the guy told me to do whatever I had to do to get it fixed.”

A RACE AGAINST TIME

48

When you’re ship out of luck, try giving Howard Cohen a call.

Most plumbers have a set of “interesting job” stories, but Cohen has one that could even get Mechanical Business plumbing columnist Fred Bretzke to cringe.

This one took place on a cargo ship, where the sewage was so severely backed up that the waste in the pipes had solidified into a granite-like substance, rendering conventional drain-clearing tools useless.

“We went there for just a standard service call to unblock one sink and a shower in one of the cabins,” Cohen recalls. Little did he realize at the time that the job would be much, much more than that.

Cohen’s client was a large ship docked at the Old Port of Montreal, but it wasn’t just any large ship. It was a crane ship that had spent decades cruising the St. Lawrence River, hauling cargo on and off other freight ships.

“It must have been at least a 100-ton ship,” Cohen says. “The crew on the ship wasn’t big—there were maybe 10 or 12 guys who worked on it—

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PLUMBING

on the go

but it was a very long ship. It took time to walk from one end to the other.”

Cohen arrived at the scene to see what he was up against.

“The ship had been sitting in port all winter. When a ship is sitting in port and it’s empty, the bow is up, so the sewage on the ship doesn’t flow properly. It all flows by gravity on those old ships, whereas the new ships use things like suction.”

Cohen investigated the cabin in question, only to find that the sewage problem was worse than the crew had originally thought. “It turned out six cabins were all blocked up,” he explains.

But this wasn’t just a case of unclogging multiple drains—it was also a race against time. The crew was due to set sail in a day and a half, and going to work without properly functioning toilets was simply out of the question.

“They couldn’t leave port with the drains blocked up, so the guy told me to do whatever I had to do to get it fixed,” Cohen recalls.

ROCK-HARD ACCUMULATIONS OF HUMAN WASTE The situation in the ship’s piping was grim, and time most certainly was not on Cohen’s side.

“I actually wanted to leave the job,” he says.

“I didn’t want to take it because it was a big job and it was the first time I had ever worked on a ship.”

But, never one to back down from a challenge, Cohen soldiered on, calling in a six-man crew to help him get the job done.

“We had only a day and a half to do it, but I was told to do what I had to do to get it done, so I called up my guys and we worked through the night.”

However, that night didn’t go exactly as planned.

“We tried to use rooters and pressure to remove the blockages, but it just wasn’t going anywhere,” Cohen

50

IT WAS GROSS Cohen was left with no choice—he’d have to do things the hard way. And besides, who needs an augur when you’ve got a saw and a big piece of steel?

“We cut the pipe with saws, and then just started banging away at the solid waste with a 14-foot steel rod,” he explains. “Every 12 feet, we would cut the pipe and drop it. Then we would bang out all the crap that was inside, and we’d put the pipes back up with mechanical clips.”

It was a crazy idea—but just crazy enough to work. And so it went, all night and all day— cutting out pipe, knocking out crap and moving on to the next section.

Cohen’s son, Maxim Boguslavschii, was a member of the team who worked on the ship.

explains. “We tried passing the rooter through, but it was just spinning. The blockage was solid. In some parts of the pipe there were two or three feet of solid blockage.”

The ship had been docked in port without any cargo for the entire winter, and the bow had risen.

Consequently, the drains had developed a negative slope. But, negative slope or not, the crew still had to go to the bathroom.

Cohen explains.

“They’d be flushing the toilets, but there isn’t a lot of water used when you flush those kinds of toilets, so the waste would go down and just stop in the pipe.

And it would build up and build up until it just got hard like a rock.”

Rooters and pressure blasts were no use against these rockhard accumulations of human waste.

Cohen needed another solution. And he needed it fast.

“They had just kept on using the toilets, and at one point the toilets stopped working,”

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“We banged it all out onto the floor and swept it up, because it was all dry. It was gross, but we got them out on time,” Cohen says. “When we put all the piping back up, we pressure-cleaned the whole line just to get any debris that was left over.”

They not only got the job done, but had some fun along the way.

“I’m a boater, so for me it was fascinating to see the inner workings of this huge ship,” Cohen explains. “It was crazy. I’ve been on cruise ships, but it was cool to go down to go down into the belly of the ship and see all the engines. The diesel engines are huge.”

And after an exhausting all-nighter of manual labour, the crew was able to set sail.

“We wouldn’t let them down. We got them cleared out, and off they went.”

©2017, RIDGID, Inc. The RIDGID logo is a registered trademark of RIDGID, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.

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CELEBRITY ENCOUNTER

By Greg Dalgetty

H

enry Burris is no stranger to performing under pressure. In fact, he excels at it.

The decorated quarterback enjoyed a CFL career that spanned 17 seasons, winning three Grey Cups, two Grey Cup MVPs and two Most Outstanding Player awards along the way. He ranks third all-time in the CFL in passing yards and touchdowns thrown. These are no mean feats, considering the intense pressure quarterbacks face on the gridiron.

Recently retired from pro football, Burris now faces a different kind of pressure—the pressure of live television. After announcing his retirement in January, the Oklahoma native joined the on-air team at CTV Morning Live Ottawa.

Now he starts his days at 3:00 a.m. and greets viewers in the nation’s capital with his boundless energy and trademark smile.

Photos courtesy of Johany Jutras / CFL and CTV

“All the skills I learned from the field—teamwork and how to prepare for game days—have prepared me for this opportunity,” Burris, 42, explains.

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“Playing football—and especially being a quarterback—there’s a lot of pressure on you to make the right decisions on the fly,” he says. “Despite how crazy live TV can get, like when breaking news occurs, you have to stay poised and focused on the job at hand.”

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Going Out on Top

Another Form of Art

The 2016 CFL season was tumultuous for Burris, to say the least.

It’s not so surprising that Burris has ended up on TV.

After being named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2015—a season that saw him break records for most completions in a season and a single game while leading the Ottawa Redblacks to first place in the East Division—Burris was sidelined by an injury to his throwing hand in the first game of 2016.

He was replaced by backup quarterback Trevor Harris, but Burris eventually returned to help the Redblacks back to the top of the East—and back to the Grey Cup—for a second straight year.

After falling to the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2015 Grey Cup, the Redblacks were up against the league-best Calgary Stampeders in 2016. No one gave them much of a chance to win the game and, as if things weren’t looking grim enough, Burris injured his knee just prior to kickoff.

Never one to shy away from adversity, however, he soldiered on, leading the Redblacks to a thrilling 39-33 overtime victory—and their first Grey Cup. With the championship on the line, he passed for 461 yards, threw three touchdowns and was named MVP of the game.

“I’ve always been a guy who wants to be in the underdog scenario,” Burris says. “For me it had been almost 10 years since I had won a Grey Cup, and to be able to finally make it happen again in my last season—my final season, my final game—talk about a blessing coming true.”

Of course, at the time, Burris hadn’t decided whether it would, in fact, be his last season. He attended the Grey Cup parade on crutches—the knee injury he’d suffered before the game was no joke—and told fans in attendance that he’d wait until the New Year to decide on his future.

In January of this year, he finally decided to hang up his cleats. It wasn’t a decision that came easily.

“It’s never as easy as it seems, because once you win, there’s still that competitive side of you that wonders if you could do it back to back,” he explains. “Those thoughts were going through my mind. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t think about it.”

But ultimately, the opportunity to go out on top following one of the best performances of his storied career was too good to pass up.

He studied broadcasting and communications at Temple University in Philadelphia while he was setting records for the school’s football team—and he certainly has the personality and charisma for live television.

But before he started his studies, he worked for his uncle’s residential construction company, helping build houses. He credits the discipline and work ethic he developed on the jobsite with setting him up for his future successes.

“Being able to learn those skills at a young age helped develop me into becoming a quarterback and made me able to do the things I do today,” he says. “It was a lot of hard work and manual labour, but in the end you got to see how it benefited the homeowners when they moved in.”

And along the way, he gained a special appreciation for the trades.

“To me it’s just another form of art. There are many great artists in this world doing different things, from the mechanical side to the homebuilding side, to making music, playing football and doing live TV. It’s all art in its own way. It comes from hard work and preparation.”

Burris with his wife, Nicole, and sons, Armand (left) and Barron.

Making Ottawa Otttawa a Home Home Burris may no longer long ger playy for fo or the Redblacks, Red dblack ks, bu but ut he has no intentio intention on of leaving lea avin ng Ottawa.

Ottawa a. He and Nicole, and Armand his family—wife, N icole, a nd d sons, Arm mand d and d Barron—have made mad de a home ho ome e for themselves them mselve es in their their adopted city.

“To be able to stay sta ay here in a city where whe ere we e helped help ped revitalize football is a dream dre eam m come true tru ue forr me,” he says. “Ottawa is a special specia al city. cit ity. We’re in the e nation’s natiion’s capital, but it’s such succh a community-driven, com mmunity-drivven, safe safe ccity ity that actually feels like a big big town.”

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HYDRONICS

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

THE KEY TO RADIANT FLOOR SUCCESS

T Surprise! It’s Carpet.

One of the largest design dangers I’ve encountered recently is a complete disregard for the specifics of the floor covering in the design. Designers will often pick a default R-value for the flooring, such as 1.4, which is okay for thin carpeting with light padding, most laminates and some hardwood flooring. If the radiant system suddenly faces shag carpeting or solid wood planking, however, the responsiveness or efficacy of the heating system is going to take a nosedive.

I know of a recent project in B.C. where an R-value of 0.4 was used for the flooring, which would work for thin vinyl or similar types of coverings. Unfortunately, a great number of rooms in the suites were specified with carpet, and no one told that to the hydronic system designer.

Based on limited specs, and a maximum temperature specified at 110°F – with boiler, pumps and piping all specified, purchased and installed to suit that requirement – there was no simple way to adjust the system to push more heat upward, and I’m sure the fix was on the pricey side.

here are many things that can get in the way of an otherwise perfect radiant floor installation, but good communication and proper forethought can help keep your customer satisfied for years to come.

To help avoid surprises, here are a few issues to be aware of, so that you can ask the right questions of your customer, and pass the right information along to your designer.

heat he eat gain in the flo floor or One major problem can stem from concrete thickness above a radiant system. Thick concrete doesn’t usually impact a floor’s ability to deliver heat, but it will affect its responsiveness.

The biggest problems with thick floors happen when the room also has solar gain. This can happen with south-facing windows. Not only does a thick slab react slowly, but it also absorbs solar gain, stores the heat and then continues to emit BTUs long after the thermostat has been satisfied.

What’s one of the worst combinations? How about when a homeowner decides to swap out their existing floor for black slate tiles? If that’s above your radiant installation, don’t be surprised if you get call backs about overheating.

So, find out what flooring (and underpadding) the customer has in mind and ensure that the designer knows it!

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HYDRONICS

continued from page 32

Unintended direction of heat delivery can be a problem with staple-up systems. If insufficient insulation is placed beneath the pipes too much heat can go downward rather than upward.

BACK LOSSES AND UPWARD

TRANSMISSION

While this might result in a nice, cozy basement, it could just as easily result in a sauna-like basement and an underperforming main floor.

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Why take the chance? Insulation in the right place, preferably with some reflective foil bubble insulation as the closest layer to the pipe, can help a great deal to make your installation a successful one.

One caution that I’ll add, however, is that if the foil bubble insulation is touching the piping you are allowing the foil to conduct heat downward and through the foil, rather than encouraging heat to bounce upward.

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Modulating Boilers

reduce Wear and Tear

I really (really) think modulating boilers are a good idea. Notice I don’t say “mod-con.” That’s because there are installations where your supply temperature won’t be in the condensing range very often. This can happen, for example, in low-rise apartments with baseboard heating.

In reality, the building will not need the full capacity of the boiler for most of the year, and the more often it cycles, the greater the wear on the ignitor, circuit board, relays, pumps, and – well, you get the picture. That’s why it’s handy to have a boiler that can ramp down its capacity, even if it doesn’t get into condensing range all the time.

Minimizing any replacement and maintenance costs can help our industry continue to sell hydronic systems, so find a modulating boiler that you like and offer it to your customer.

Getting a little

HELP A

loopy Having loops that are slightly longer or shorter overall isn’t usually a large problem.

Pumps and piping can always be adjusted, but piping isn’t something that is going to add any maintenance costs, so I always advocate spending a bit more on piping. Why not add a few more loops and save your customer a pump size or two?

And remember, the more your customer spends on

designer

OUT maintenance over the life of the system the less happy they will be, and the less likely they will be to advocate for radiant.

The other hidden cost with pumps is electrical use. While a single pump doesn’t use much power, in some of the bigger systems, especially commercial ones, the electrical costs start to add up.

It’s also annoying to balance a system where the pipe lengths

are uneven. In practice, you’re going to have rooms that end up hotter or cooler than you expected, and throttling flow is one way to adjust that for the customer. If you haven’t left yourself room to do this because you have already used that wiggle room to adjust for random lengths, you have one less way to satisfy a grumpy customer.

Be aware that the hydronic system designer almost always has imperfect information when working on a layout.

Even if they have tons of information, they may not have tons of time to sift through it all, so they could miss something.

The Hidden Heat Source

Even if you trust your designer, ask a few

LED lighting is starting to save us from overheating surprises, but there are still installations where heat from lighting is a completely unaccounted-for problem – one that’s been known to shut some floor heating systems off. This can leave our customers wondering why their floors are never warm, despite the money they paid.

more questions of your customer, or highlight a few pieces of information for your

Take a glance at the electrical plans when you sign up for a job. Look for areas where there seems to be an unusual amount of lighting and ask the project lead what the customer has in mind for those areas. Ask about the type of lighting and, if it’s not immediately obvious from the room name, you should also ask about the intended use of the room.

designer, and you might just catch that one problem before it costs you.

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1.888.735.5475 SelkirkCorp.com Components Access Doors Products Canada 375 Green Road 2017 Selkirk is a registered trademark of Johnson Controls, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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Jeff House is an experienced industry professional and hydronics trainer.

He handles the sales territory from the Niagara region to the Greater Toronto Area for Jess-Don Dunford, a manufacturers’ rep in Ontario. He can be reached at jhouse@jessdondunford.com.

Find the Fix

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Email your answers to adam.freill@mechanicalbusiness.com.

Please include your name and daytime phone number.

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Looking for the March/April answers?

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Road Warrior

By Greg Dalgetty

Name: Suzanne Graham Age: 37 Company: Echo Solutions Home Services Location: Toronto, Ont. Job Title: Technical Support Expert

Shooting the Breeze with

Suzanne Graham S

ome people struggle to find their calling, flitting around from job to job without any purpose. But that wasn’t the case for Suzanne Graham.

“I always tinkered with things when I was younger,” she says. “I knew I wanted to do something with my hands—I just didn’t know what.”

It didn’t take long for her to figure it out. After considering several trade options, she applied for an HVAC pre-apprenticeship program through UA Local 787’s Joint Training and Apprenticeship Committee in 2003.

“Out of 200 applicants, I was one of 20 people who got chosen to take the course,” she recalls. “It was an extensive interview process, plus we had to do testing to see if we were mechanically inclined. I was the only girl in the class.

There other 19 were guys who ranged from 18 to about 35 years old.”

Photos: David West

The hard work paid off. Graham is now a licenced 313A refrigeration mechanic and Gasfitter 1. After getting her feet wet in the commercial sector, she switched over to the residential market and now works as a technical support expert for Echo Solutions Home Services, specializing in system design and troubleshooting.

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“I’m the go-to girl, the jack of all trades,” she says. “I just found out the other day that they call me The Brain.”

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What’s your favourite area to be dispatched to?

I’m a city girl so I like being in the downtown core. I like the hustle and bustle, although the parking sucks.

Favourite tool in your toolbox: My most prized possession—my favourite thing in my tool bag—are my safety glasses. If I don’t have my safety glasses, I’m not working. As soon as I get out of the truck, I put them on and don’t take them off until I’m done the job.

And I love my drills. I love anything that’ll cut, demolish, break, destroy or dismantle.

What’s your favourite thing about the trade?

It’s the variety, but it’s also the unknown. You get a service call saying a furnace isn’t working.

Finding out why it isn’t working is so intriguing to me. Especially when they’re sending me to a call that no one else can figure out—I’m all over it. The sense of accomplishment when you figure it out is like nothing else.

What do you do for fun?

I go to the gun range a lot. I’ve shot a sniper rifle, an BMG50—those things are huge and they can go a bit crazy. You have to sit down in a chair and prop the gun up nice and tight into your arm and hold on to the thing. You become the gun, pretty much. You can see the air ripple when the bullets rush out. And it’s loud—my god is it loud. You’re probably shifting back a good foot when this thing recoils.

What were you doing before you got into the trade?

I worked at Humpty Dumpty in Brampton, Ont. I was a seasoner for chips. I got hired as a general worker, and I worked my way up to the chip seasoning. It was actually a real cool job. It was night shifts, but I survived.

Favourite TV show: I’ve got two. One that I’ll watch at any point in time is How It’s Made. I think it’s just because I’m mechanically inclined and I like to know how things work. But if I want to decompress, I’ll watch The First 48, or other crime and cold-case shows.

Favourite sport: Basketball Favourite food: I could sit and eat beef ribs forever.

Favourite beverage: I love drinking tea.

Favourite movie: Get Out. That concept is so left-field.

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Records Abound in Montreal MCEE took over Place Bonaventure in beautiful Montreal from April 26 to 27. More than 6,000 industry personnel attended the show, a three per cent jump from the 2015 edition of the biennial event.

In addition to visiting with close to 400 exhibitors showcasing their newest products, attendees set a seminar attendance record across the 23 sessions held during the show, and also took in a full array of new product technology in the New Product Showcase.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth to pick up the March/April issue of Mechanical Business and sign up for a subscription. We gave away a record number of magazines at this year’s event, and we look forward to doing it again at the next MCEE show, scheduled for April 24 and 25, 2019. See you then!

3 2

5 4

6

7 8 1. CIPH’s Elizabeth McCullough was recognized for her 20 years of service to the association. 2. Show attendees came out in droves. 3. CIPH chair Bill Palamar (left) and CMMTQ president Francois Nadeau (right) recognize MCEE 2017 show committee chair Sylvain Fournier. 4. Jacques Deschênes shares insights about family businesses. 5. Sean Giberson (centre) chats about hydronics at the Taco Comfort Solutions booth. 6. The New Product Showcase proved popular with attendees. 7. Kevin Martineau (in red) talks tools at the Milwaukee Tools booth.

8. Siân Smith of Noble Corporation (left) and Barbara O’Reilly of Rheem Canada welcomed guests to the CIPH Women’s Networking Reception. www.mcee.ca

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PUSH FOR EFFICIENCY S H A R K B I T E ® S U P P LY S T O P S

QUICK CONNECTIONS FOR SINKS AND TOILETS SharkBite® supply stops are ideal when installing in tight spaces like under sinks or toilets close to a wall, perfect for adding a dual vanity or supply lines to fixtures. The valve controls water flow with quick shutoff. SharkBite supply stops have the versatility to connect with multiple types of pipe.

PLUMBING

Playing with Point of Use B y Fr ed d ie M o lin a

S

maller than a briefcase and providing hot water right to the source, point-of-use water heaters are a great solution when space is limited or a customer simply wants hot water on demand.

In compact living quarters, such as a kitchenette, in-law suite or half-bathroom, a point-of-use system optimizes the available space. Electric units can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and with extremely high thermal efficiencies, these units hold appeal for energy-conscious customers.

SIZING AND INSTALLING Sizing the unit correctly is one of the most important factors for proper installation.

Because they’re smaller than standard water heaters, point-of-use water heaters have limited capacity and customer call-backs may occur if the amount the unit delivers is not what the user was expecting.

To size a point-of-use water heater, determine the flow rate, or demand, at each fixture, and select the capacity accordingly.

While many will choose to install the water heater directly at the sink, the units may also be installed in-line with a larger hot water source to eliminate waits for hot water.

Of course, point-of-use water heaters are not just for small living spaces. They can also be a fit for large homes where a sink or shower may be located far from the central water heater.

In a large home, it may take a very long time for the hot water to reach a sink, and may not get there before a customer is done at the tap. It could also be that, by the time the hot water from the primary source reaches the farthest washroom, the water has lost a lot of heat and may be at a lower temperature than desired.

These issues can occur when consumers have to choose one temperature on a water heater for all applications in the house. With point-of-use systems, the customer can choose the temperature they want for each specific use.

Maintaining the Unit Proper maintenance will extend the service life of a point-ofuse water heater, and allow it to perform at a higher quality.

Prior to servicing a unit, make sure that you turn off the power supply and drain the water heater beforehand.

A critical maintenance element is the annual inspection of the unit’s anode rod. When water is heated, it becomes slightly acidic. The anode rod will attract minerals and protect the inside of the tank from corrosion. To ensure longevity of the tank and prevent it from failing or leaking, replace the anode rod before it is eaten away. Inspecting it at least once a year will help ensure that it is still in good shape.

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The surface of the anode rod should appear smooth. If the rod is bumpy, rusty or missing completely, it must be replaced.

Certain installations, such as high-flow or recirculation applications, may require more frequent replacements of the rod. Other issues that may affect the anode rod include poor water quality and galvanic corrosion. Not all point-of-use tankless water heaters include anode rods, so inspect and replace only where applicable.

Freddie Molina is a product manager at Bosch Thermotechnology Corp. For more information about point-of-use water heater technology, email Ldy_Marketing@us.bosch.com.

Noisy Other hand dryers can be loud, unhygienic1 and bulky.

Quiet Quiet, hygienic, fast and compact.

The most hygienic hand dryer is now 30% quieter2 Noise from the washroom can be a concern for businesses. But now, there’s a solution.

The Dyson Airblade V hand dryer has reprogrammed digital motor technology and precision air apertures – so it’s 30% quieter2 than its predecessor in loudness testing.

Now available for lease to own Hear it live 1-877-397-6622 www.dysoncanada.ca 1

Dyson Airblade™ hand dryers are the only hand dryers which have HEPA filtration as standard.

2 Loudness reduction compared to the original Dyson Airblade V hand dryer.

PLUMBING

Products

Testable Shower Drains OS&B’s SD35T and SD5135T series testable shower drains for preformed shower bases feature a snap-off test cap, a threadin flange and a 4-1/4” screw-in grate.

Available in ABS or white PVC bodies with a 2” DWV hub connection, they are engineered to allow for air testing from below or water testing from above.

www. osb.ca

Home Urinal The HomeSo home urinal system, currently seeking distribution in Canada, replaces the lid of a toilet seat to convert an ordinary toilet into a urinal. The urinal reservoir can be placed at various angles to accommodate users of all heights. Urine is funnelled into the toilet via a hole at the bottom of the unit.

www. naver.com

Drain Pump Saniflo’s Sanicom 1 drain pump is engineered to pump greywater away from a variety of fixtures in commercial and residential applications. Its 1 hp oil-filled thermally protected motor is capable of pumping fluid 25’ vertically or 250’ horizontally at a maximum operating temperature of 194°F.

Early urinal cakes were made of the same chemicals found in mothballs.

www. saniflo.ca

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To Find a Distributor Near You:

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PROJECT PROFILE

FAST FACTS ABOUT ALT HOTEL ST. JOHN’S

By Denise Deveau

SIZE:

148 rooms St. John’s, N.L.

LOCATION:

TYPE OF SYSTEM:

Open loop sea water geothermal system NUMBER AND SIZE OF WELLS:

One well, 16-inch diameter, 40 feet deep SUPPLY: 240 gallons of sea water per minute to the plate heat exchanger

ALT Hotel St. John’s GEOTHERMAL WITH AN OCEAN VIEW

A

room with an ocean view can be a great selling feature for any hotel, but the appeal of that ocean doesn’t just end at the window or balcony. It can present some interesting engineering opportunities as well. Nestled next to the Atlantic Ocean, overlooking the harbour in St. John’s, N.L., is one such project where the ocean plays a major mechanical role: the recently constructed ALT Hotel.

Opting for a geothermal system to heat and cool the four-storey, 148-room hotel in a location colloquially known as The Rock, the engineering team at Genecor Experts-Conseils had to look for a less traditional way to source the heat energy that would normally come from pipes buried in a geothermal field.

St. John’s was a rare opportunity for the engineering team to do something completely different, says Gaétan Theriault, projects manager for Genecor in Quebec City.

“The hotel is only 75 feet from the harbour, so water is coming in under the hotel every tide. We realized we could use that sea water to handle both heat gain and rejection.

So instead of regular geothermal wells we decided to use sea water wells. In this situation it’s impossible to use regular geothermal wells because there is simply too much water.”

No strangers to geothermal heating, Groupe Germain, owners of the ALT brand, asked about the possibility of

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The hotel is only 75 feet from the harbour, so water is coming in under the hotel every tide.

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Keeping up with DHW While the system is responsible for the building’s heating and cooling needs, Theriault says they had to go with domestic hot water heaters for the hot water supply.

“We need as much heating of the fresh air intake as possible during the winter months, without worrying about the hot water,” he explains.

With no gas services offered in the city, the building is using electric water heaters for the domestic hot water needs.

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Belimo sensors provide the highest quality and are backed by world-class service and support.

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PROJECT PROFILE

AVOIDING SALT WATER SURPRISES

One of the most important considerations for the project – and not a surprising one – was the issue of corrosion from the sea water. To address this, Genecor had to use all stainless steel components for the pumps, pipes and valves upstream to the heat exchanger. “After that point it’s just carbon steel,” Theriault says.

That, of course, came with a cost. He estimates that stainless steel valves are about triple the cost of carbon steel and the pipes were a 15 per cent premium. The heat exchanger itself is titanium at a cost of $30,000, significantly more than the typical $12,000 or so price tag.

EACH UNIQUE, IN ITS OWN RIGHT The ALT Hotel St. John’s is not the only geothermal project in the Groupe Germain portfolio. Genecor has also done geothermal installation for the latest Germain properties in Calgary, Toronto and Halifax. “Each comes with its own design needs,” Theriault says.

Much of the design decisions are based on a property’s overall heating and cooling requirements, the local terrain and available space for the geothermal wells.

At Hotel Le Germain Calgary, a 147-room property with 72,000 sq. ft. of office space and 40 condo units, an 80-well, 600-foot-deep closed loop system was placed under the parkade to provide 384 tons of heating and cooling capacity.

It handles the heating and cooling for the combined hotel, office building and condo property.

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Since the complex requires 650 tons of cooling and heating, a 375-ton evaporative water tower is used for additional cooling and boilers provide 5 million BTUH for additional heating during the winter. Overall the property saves about 30 per cent more energy than the reference for this type of building, according to Theriault.

The ALT Hotel at Toronto’s Pearson Airport has 153 guest rooms and 15,000 sq. ft. of conference rooms and service areas. The closed loop geothermal system there has 18 wells drilled 500 feet deep for 72 tons of cooling or heating capacity, which handles up to half of the building’s load demand. An 80-ton dry cooler and 380,000 BTUH boilers provide additional cooling and heating.

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The geothermal field is installed under the outside parking lot, using one-and-a-half inch piping into the wells where the heat transfer takes place.

Offering 169 guest rooms and 32,000 sq. ft. of conference space, the ALT Hotel at the Halifax International Airport has a geothermal installation that is similar to the Pearson location; the one exception being 745,000 BTUH provided by its boilers for additional heating.

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sea water geothermal system, so the engineering firm researched the option.

“It turns out there were one or two buildings in the city that had used this design,” Theriault says.

The end result was an open loop design, versus the closed loop system that his firm has used on other ALT projects.

In the planning stage they realized an entire field wasn’t needed. “We were originally supposed to have three wells but realized we had sufficient capacity to manage all the heat exchange needed with one,” Theriault says.

The single 16” diameter, 40-foot-deep well was drilled directly under the parkade ramp at the P1 level, and a 240 gpm pump was installed in a room under the ramp to supply sea water to the plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger allows the heat transfer between salt water on one side to the water going into the chiller and the heating/cooling loop.

From there, two pipes run to and from a 130ton water chiller that does the cooling and heating for the property. “If we need to reject heat outside the building for air conditioning, we can do that into the sea water,” Theriault explains.

The water chiller has two different heat exchangers inside for running the cold and hot water loops.

The fresh air entering into the building (800 cfm) is heated with the geothermal system, as is the snow melting system at the hotel entrance and the parkade ramp.

While the system serves most of the property’s heating and cooling needs throughout the year, Genecor also installed a 500 kW electrical boiler to add heating to the loop when needed. The two parkade levels are heated with electrical force flow units.

All rooms in the hotel are equipped with twopipe fan coils and a six-way valve. The cold water and hot water networks go to six-way valves that are positioned according to the heating or cooling demand of the room thermostat.

DDCs (digital direct controllers) are used to manage all the mechanical equipment and for all rooms at the ground floor level. Guest rooms have standalone temperature control systems controlled by thermostats, as the fan coil units are not linked to the DDC controller.

Theriault says it took about six months to install all the mechanical and electrical equipment for the project, with an additional four weeks added for testing and start up.

“We’ve been involved in many geothermal projects, but this was definitely the first time we did anything with sea water. It was a great learning experience.”

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Let’s take your business to profitable new levels together.

To find a local Canadian distributor: www.business.panasonic.ca/hvacrep

COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP

B y Ho war d J. Elmer Howard J. Elmer is a PowerSports editor, writer and author, based in Brampton, Ont. He has a transportation, newspaper and radio background, and is a member of the Truck Writers of North America, the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada and the creator of the Canadian Truck King Challenge. www.canadiantruckkingchallenge.ca.

VALUE AND RELIABILITY

LOOKING TO

A

quick look at most jobsites will attest to the fact that overseas van designs are now part of the North American scene. With these new commercial vans now well es established, the changes from year to year are slowing down.

In fact, the current trend is not to push something new. Rather, it is all about highlighting the value and reliability of the product, Van with most manufacturers offering stats on the 129.9”, 147.6” running costs of their vehicles and the resale values.

Cab Style: Wheelbases: Engine Sizes

2017 FORD TRANSIT

Ford has upgraded its 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 engine, which is now standard across the Transit line. The optional diesel and EcoBoost engines are carry-overs. Also avail-able is a CNG/propane engine prep package. A sidedewind stabilization safety sysystem is standard, and a 6.5” 5” touchscreen display with navigation and SYNC 3 is available. Transit is available ble in three roof heights: 57”, 72” and 82”.

Cab Style:

4,650 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

Where upgrades have happened, electronics and safety systems are most often mentioned for 2017, as the mechanicals are all carry-overs.

7,600 lb. (w/HD tow package)

Van Interior:

487.3 cu.ft. (max.)

Door Opening:

74.3” Rear Height: max 81.5”

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 81.5” max Width: 69.8” Length: 171.5”

Dimensions:

Length: 266.1” max. Width: 82”

2017 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

2 L I-4 turbo-gas

Power (hp/torque):

208/258

Max. Payload:

2,502 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

4,960 lb.

Van Interior Capacity:

186 cu.ft.

Door Openings:

275/260, 310/400, 185/350

Max. Payload:

Van

Engine Size:

3.7L Ti-VCT V6, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, 3.2L Power Stroke diesel

Power (hp/torque):

Side Height: 49” Rear Height: 48.2”

Cargo Space Dimensions:

Height: 53.8” Length: 111.5”

Dimensions:

Length: 202.4” Width: 74.4”

2017 FORD E-SERIES 350-450 CUTAWAY

The E-series continues as a cutaway and stripped chassis only. These include single and dual-rear wheel chassis with GCWRs ranging from 13,000 lb. to 22,000 lb.

Engines include the 6.8L V10 and 6.2L V8 flex fuel, which can also be ordered CNG/propane prep package. as a CN

For 2017, roof rails and a roof rack are available on both XL and XLT series vans. Electronic upgrades include optional SYNC 3 with navigation and 6.5” touchscreen with enhanced voice recognition. Fleet customers can order Ford Telematics – a system that simultaneously monitors several vehicles in real-time for location, speed, excess idling and more, helping track productivity and efficiency. The new standard engine is now the 2.5L I-4.

Cab Style:

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ M METRIS The midsize mid Metris has a 2L engine, uses a sevenseven-speed automatic transmission, and offers u up to 25,000 km between service intervals. The company makes a point of interval showing the Metris in underground garages – it fits in most and has a turning radius of just 38.7 feet. Metris also gets the Mercedes Crosswind Assi Assist system as standard equipment.

Wheelbases:

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104.8”, 120.6”

Engine Size:

2.5L I-4

Power (hp/torque):

169/171

Max. Payload:

1,620 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

2,000 lb.

Van Interior:

130 cu.ft.

Rear Door Height: Cargo Space Dimensions: Dimensions:

72

Van

52.1” Height: 59.1” Width: 48.1” Length: 72.6” Length: 189.7” Width: 72.2”

EXPERTISE. EXPERIENCE. EASE. THAT’S FORD FLEET. When it comes to building the fleet that your success rides on, trust yours to Ford Fleet. Our experts will be by your side before, during and after sale, offering vehicle advice, customized financing and maintenance solutions, and a nationwide network of Ford-approved up-fitters and modifiers. Our mission, is more than just vehicles. We’re driven to make supporting your fleet easier.

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2017 F-150

Vehicles may be shown with optional features. ©2017 Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited. All rights reserved.

COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP Cab Style:

Van

Wheelbases:

144”, 170”

Engine Sizes:

3L V6 turbodiesel, 2.1L I-4 turbodiesel

Power (hp/torque):

188/325, 161/265

Max. Payload:

5,375 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

7,500 lb.

Van Interior:

2017 RAM PROMASTER CITY This small van will accommodate a 48” pallet between the wheel wells; has a class-exclusive nine-speed transmission and also comes in a wagon model that offers nine different seating configurations with rear fold and tumble 60/40 split rear seats.

This year, the shifter illumination is brighter and the rear door gets reflectors inside and on the lower portion of doors. This van has a low rear step-in height of just 21.5” Cab Style:

59.8” Rear Height:60.6”

(Hi-roof) Side Sliding Door:

71.7” Rear Height:72.4”

Cargo Space Dimensions: Width: Length:

122.4”

Engine Size:

2.4L I-4 MultiAir2

Power (hp/torque):

178/174

Max. Payload:

1,900 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

Height: 65” (Std. roof), 77.8” (Hi-roof) 53.1 (between wheel arches) 137.4”

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 1500 TO 3500

Mercedes claims best-in-class payload and best-inclass cargo volume. As for value, Canadian Black Book has awarded the Sprinter the Best Retained Value Award in the full-size van category, again. They have won seven times since 2010.

Length: 289” Width: 79.3”

Dimensions:

Sprinter covers a range of needs with three GVWRs, three roof heights and three cargo lengths. It offers two diesel options: the 2.1L comes with a seven-speed transmission while the 3L continues with the five-speed. Currently it is still the only one to offer a factory 4WD package. Sprinter is also available as a Cab Chassis ready for upfitter solutions with a payload offering of up to 6,401 lb.

2017 CHEVY EXPRESS CUT-AWAY 3500-4500

Van

Wheelbase:

547cu.ft.

Door Openings: (Std.) Side Sliding Door:

Offering a 4500 model with a GVWR of up to 14,200 lb., this is available with OnStar 4G LTE connectivity, which includes a Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected.

2,000 lb. (w/tow package)

Van Interior:

2017 RAM PROMASTER 1500 TO 3500

131.7 cu.ft. (max.)

Door Opening:

26” (side) Rear Height: 49”

Cargo Space Dimensions: Height: 51.8” Width: 60.4” Length: 87.2” Dimensions:

Length: 187.5” Width: 72.1”

Cab Styles:

Van, Cutaway

Wheelbases:

139”, 159”, 177” (single or dual rear wheels)

Engine Sizes:

4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel

Power (hp/torque):

285/295, 329/373, 260/525

Max. Payload:

Cab Style:

Van

Wheelbases:

135”, 155”

Engine Sizes: Power (hp/torque): Max. Payload: Max. Towing Capacity: Van Interior: Door Opening: Cargo Space Dimensions: Dimensions:

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4.8L, 6.0L, 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel 285/295, 329/373, 260/525 4,120 lb.

10,000 lb.

284.4 cu.ft.

20.8” Height: 53.4” Width: 52.7” Length: 155”

9,147 lb

2017 CHEVY EXPRESS 2500 AND 3500 The last of the old-school North American vans, this full-frame, low-roof design offers three engines all using a six-speed tranny.

The Express Cargo crew can seat five.

Electronic upgrades this year include OnStar with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi hotspot as well as six standard air bags: frontal, side curtain and seat-mounted thorax.

Length: 224” to 244” Width: 79.2”

M ee cc hha an ni ci ac l a Bl u Bs iun se is ns e 1s 0s . 0076 . 1 7 M

The ProMaster lineup includes a cargo van, window van, chassis cab and cutaway models. In total, there are 15 unique configurations. It’s available in three weight classes, three wheelbase lengths, four body lengths and two roof heights. Inside nearly vertical side walls easily accommodate shelving.

This front wheel drive platform is unique among vans, offering a low load floor height of just 21”. It’s also worth noting that the diesel offering is currently in its sixth generation.

Cab Style:

Van

Wheelbases:

118”, 136”, 159”

Engine Sizes:

3.6L Pentastar V6 (base), 3L I-4 EcoDiesel

Power (hp/torque):

280/258, 174/295

Max. Payload:

5,189 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

5,090 lb.

Van Interior: Cargo Space Height: Dimensions:

530 cu.ft. (max.)

51” Length: 195” to 250”Width: 82.7”

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COMMERCIAL VAN ROUNDUP 2017 CHEVROLET CITY EXPRESS The City Express is in a carry-over year, so there are no changes in the model.

It is based on the Nissan NV200, but with the Chevy badging, it has an extensive dealer network.

Style:

Van

Wheelbase:

146.1â&#x20AC;?

Engine Sizes:

4L V6, 5.6L V8

Power (hp/torque):

3,858 lb.

Max. Towing Capacity:

9,000 lb.

Van Interior Capacity:

323.1 cu.ft. (max.)

Rear Door Opening:

Van

Wheelbase:

115.2â&#x20AC;?

Engine Size:

2L I-4

Power (hp/torque):

131/139

Max. Payload:

1,500 lb.

Van Interior Capacity:

261/281, 317/385

Max. Payload:

Cab Style:

Cargo Space Dimensions: Dimensions:

122.7 cu.ft.

Width: 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6â&#x20AC;? Length: 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10â&#x20AC;?

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Width: 61.6â&#x20AC;?

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Cab Style:

Van

Wheelbase: Wh

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Engine Size: En

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Power (hp/torque): Pow

131/139

Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workhorse NV remains the same for 2017, but they have added a four-row/12-passenger Nissan NV3500 HD Passenger Van, available for both personal and fleet use.

Ma Max. Payload:

1,500 lb.

2017 NISSAN NV200

Van Interior Capacity:

This small van continues to make inroads, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unchanged for this year.

122.7 cu.ft.

Cargo Space Dimensions: Dimensions:

Width: 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;6â&#x20AC;? Length: 6â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10â&#x20AC;?

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

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

Brushing Up on

SIZING Calculations O

ne of my colleagues was recently shopping around for a replacement furnace for his older home. He had a local HVAC contractor come to his house to quote the job.

BuildingTRUST As I have written before, I am not worried about the impact that grossly oversized systems have on comfort and performance. But I am worried that this sort of thing hurts the integrity and credibility of the HVAC industry specifically, and the building industry as a whole.

We have enough reality show professionals telling homeowners that we don’t know what we as an industry are doing, or worse yet, that we aren’t to be trusted. And we also don’t do ourselves any favours by immediately calling into question the integrity of our colleagues in the industry when we visit a new home to size an air conditioner.

After walking around with a tape measure and calculator for five minutes, the salesman announced that the house would require at least a 60,000 BTUH unit. He acknowledged that a 50,000 BTUH unit like the one that was being replaced would probably do the trick, but seeing as the contractor’s brand of choice only came only in 40, 60 or 80,000 increments, he defaulted up to 60,000 BTUH model.

My colleague raised concerns about this, as his old furnace always seemed to be short-cycling. The salesman insisted that my colleague would be “rolling the dice” going with a smaller unit, and reminded him that he’d been sizing and selling furnaces this way for almost 20 years.

Now, the house in question was indeed quite old, but had been renovated by my colleague with new low-E argon gas windows, additional insulation in the attic and basement, and significant other efforts that cut the tested air leakage rate in half. However, none of these updates made their way into the salesman’s calculations, nor did the homeowner’s observation that his existing furnace, which was both smaller and considerably less efficient than the proposed unit, already seemed to be oversized.

Rule-of-thumb approaches have no place in equipment sizing, or in the HVAC industry at all for that matter. The square-footagebased approach has only ever resulted in an appropriate size recommendation by dumb luck, and is now inexcusable given our current level of knowledge and the technology available to us. HVAC modifications impact the whole house system and must consider a great many more variables than just square footage or bedroom counts.

We need to consider the many factors that determine proper sizing; not just look at one piece of the puzzle.

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B y Go r d C o o ke

B u s i n e s s

A Troubling TREND In recent years, I’ve noticed this troubling trend emerge in new constructions as well – generally when homeowners call up an HVAC contractor to have an air conditioner installed.

Some contractors show up and inform the homeowner that their brand-new home has been fitted with a furnace and ductwork that is too small.

You can imagine how frustrated a builder and the original HVAC contractor would be when a disgruntled homeowner calls to complain. After all, the builder employed a qualified HVAC designer, who used a complete set of plans and

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continued from page 18 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

specifications and the latest CAN/CSA F280-12 Standard Determining the Required Capacity of Residential Space Heating and Cooling Appliances. Then the builder submitted the plans for permit and had a qualified HVAC installer select and install the equipment.

Making the Right CALCULATIONS

All that work, just to be totally discredited in a matter of minutes by someone using incomplete information and 20-year-old sizing standards.

The compelling code changes, plus the fine tuning of the F280 sizing standard, have meant that the design heat loss of homes across Canada has dropped in half compared to homes built as recently as 2005. The design cooling load has dropped by at least 30 per cent, primarily because of better window selections. So let’s ensure we have updated or recalibrated that old rule-of-thumb with the following ideas:

I know of at least four builders who have fallen victim to this frustration. All of them have voluntarily chosen to build Energy Star-qualified homes that are 20 per cent more energy efficient than base code levels and employ third-party evaluators to confirm air tightness, proper window coatings and insulation levels.

1. Purchase and use updated software that is F280-12 compliant, and populate it with modern insulation levels and more realistic air tightness levels.

In all four cases, the design heat loss approved by building permit was under 40,000 BTUH, and heat gains ranged from 2 to 2.5 tons. But when aftermarket contractors assessed the homes, they recommended furnaces ranging in size from 75,000 to 80,000 BTUH and 3- to 3.5-ton air conditioners.

Working Together

As more and more contractors educate themselves and update their practices, this problem should take care of itself. I think that we as an industry—particularly contractors, salespeople and designers—need to recalibrate the way we think about equipment sizing. It’s time we all got on the same page so that we’re not contradicting one another, discrediting each other’s work and misleading our clients.

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3.

If the homeowner can’t get the design calculations, have them pull out the Schedule A from their original purchase agreement. It will show the insulation levels and window types installed in the home. At the very least, educate your sales staff on how better envelope characteristics can impact furnace sizing.

4. Invest in some simple

The bottom line is that the science has come a long way in recent years, and new measurement devices and sizing software are widely available. There is no reason why HVAC contractors should be arriving at widely different equipment size selections and making homeowners question the competency of their builders, previous contractors or our industry as a whole.

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2. Remember that, in most municipalities, if you’re dealing with a house built in the past five to 10 years it is likely that the builder will have a heat loss/gain study available upon request. You should take advantage of this to improve service and reduce your risk.

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measurement tools and use them to help homeowners make better choices. For example: • For about $500 you can buy a simple handheld device that will detect low-E coatings in windows and indicate their solar heat gain coefficient.

• If you have concerns about the size of the ductwork, start using your digital pressure gauge to measure the static pressure across the air handler.

• If you don’t think there is enough airflow capacity in the air handler to deliver the required cooling, measure the flow at the furnace using either a simple temperature rise method or purchase an airflow measuring device.

• Start selling “smart” thermostats on all your service calls, so when it comes time to add or replace a system you have accurate run time data from the existing equipment.

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PLUMBING

PICKING THE PROPER PUMP

By Ada m F r e i l l When it comes to moving unwanted water out or away from buildings, there are several kinds of pumps to choose from, depending on the type of water and the size of any solids that may be present in it.

While some models can be used in multiple applications, each pump is designed with a particular purpose and application in mind, so it is always advisable to review the manufacturer’s literature before swapping out a pump.

“It is important not to apply a pump in an application where there are solids-handling requirements that exceed the pump’s capabilities,” explains Denton Gaiser of Canature WaterGroup.

“In most cases, an effluent or sewage pump can be used in place of a sump pump,” adds Franklin Electric/Little Giant’s Randy Tucker.

“However, a sump pump cannot be used in effluent applications requiring the capability of pumping 3/4” solids, or for sewage applications requiring the capability of pumping two-inch solids.”

When it comes to pumps designed with solid waste in mind, such as the discharge from a toilet, a sewage pump would be an appropriate choice where piping allows for the passage of two-inch solids.

Macerating and grinding pumps may be a consideration when appropriately sized sanitary drainage lines do not exist, or would be costly to install. These pumps make use of smaller-diameter pipe for waste removal. This, says Stuart Saville of Zoeller, may occur when “the fixture is located below, or in an inconvenient location away from, the sanitary pipe of the home or the business.”

When a building has undergone a change in use, perhaps from a commercial warehouse to a residential complex, Saville adds that a grinder pump can help resolve drain-side dilemmas when the structure’s plumbing piping cannot be upgraded.

Both macerating and grinder pumps mechanically reduce raw sewage particle sizes, creating a slurry that can be pumped through piping less than 2” in diameter, explains Michael Carr of Saniflo. One of the main differences, he says, is that a macerating unit will reduce soft sewage particles, while grinders will reduce both sewage and organic materials.

PUMPS AND APPLICATIONS SUMP PUMP: Used for removing water from such areas as basements, French drains and water collection systems. In a residence, it is used to pump water from a collection pit to protect structures below ground from flooding.

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EFFLUENT PUMP: These pumps can be used in a septic system, or to transfer industrial waste water to or from holding tanks and ponds.

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SEWAGE PUMP: Designed with larger flow capacities than sump or effluent pumps, most residential models have the capability of 2” solids handling.

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MACERATING PUMP: These are used to pump a slurry of raw sewage through smalldiameter plumbing lines for transfer out via a building’s sanitary drainage system.

GRINDER PUMP: These are used to create and pump a slurry of raw sewage to the sanitary drainage system via small-diameter pipe. Similar to macerating pumps, models are generally capable of handling more demanding applications.

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PLUMBING

Products

Water Treatment System Novo Water’s SimTan Plus Specialty System is engineered to reduce five major water problems: hardness, iron, manganese, tannins and ammonium. It features quick-connect fittings and a hands-free LED backlit display that shows system information.

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Sectional Drain Cleaner General Pipe Cleaners’ Model 88 sectional drain cleaner features a 3/4 hp motor. The unit is designed to spin eight- or 10-foot quick-coupling cable sections at distances of 200 feet or more to clear drain obstructions.

The self-feeding cables are available with chain or spring centres.

Threaded Adapter Fittings IPEX offers a full lineup of threaded ed adapter fittings in its AquaRise line of CPVC ution potable hot and cold water distribution systems used in commercial and high building construction. Available in 1/2” to 4” sizes, they are designed to provide a Rise pipes transition either to or from AquaRise uch as to metallic threaded accessories such valves and pumps. ipexna.com m

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Grinder Pumps Zoeller’s fractional HP grinder pumps are available in 12 models with motors ranging from 1/2 to 1 hp. Offering performance head of up to 45’, the units are designed to slice solids in the waste stream into particles smaller than 1/4”.

Reed Manufacturing Company Erie, PA USA • www.reedmfgco.com

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7KH 3ULPH 3URÂ&#x152; LV DFWLYDWHG ZKHQ VHQVLQJ SRWDEOH ZDWHU Ă&#x20AC; RZLQJ WR DQ DGMDFHQW SOXPELQJ Âż [WXUH 7KLV WUDS SULPLQJ GHYLFH PXVW EH LQVWDOOHG RQ WKH FROG ZDWHU OLQH OHDGLQJ WR WKH SOXPELQJ Âż [WXUH WKH YDOYH WKHQ HPLWV IUHVK FROG SRWDEOH ZDWHU WR D Ă&#x20AC; RRU GUDLQ WUDS DV ORQJ DV WKH Âż [WXUH LV LQ XVH providing adequate trap seal. Providing potable water to the trap seal is essential in preventing sewer gas escape and bacteria growth.

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Hydronic Products Combination Boilers Viessmann’s Vitodens 100-W combination condensing boilers are available in models with maximum inputs of 91,000 and 118,000 BTUH. With AFUE efficiencies as high as 94 per cent, they offer domestic hot water and feature stainless steel heat exchangers and three-speed pumps.

www. viessmann.ca

PEX Tubing HeatLink’s PEX-a oxygen barrier tubing is designed for use in radiant heating and cooling applications. The UV-stabilized tubing is engineered to withstand up to 12 months of exposure to sunlight. It is available in 1/2” and 5/8” sizes in 250’, 300’, 500’ and 1,000’ lengths. 3/4” tubing is available in 100’ lengths.

www. heatlink.com

Inline Circulators Wilo’s Stratos Giga inline circulators feature ECM motors and stainless steel pump shafts. With a maximum flow of 275 gpm and a maximum head of 167 feet, the circulators have a temperature range of -20°C to 140°C and a maximum operating pressure of 232 psi. i.

www. wilo-canada.com

Reducers for Carbon Steel Piping

Thomas Engel discovered a way to chemically crosslink polyethylene in 1968.

Viega’s MegaPressG P x P reducers are available in 1/2”, 3/4”, 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” and 2” sizes. Suitable for hydronic applications that use schedule 5 to schedule 40 carbon steel piping, the MegaPressG system uses cold press connections for pipe installations.

www. viega.us

System Cleanser Air and Dirt Separators

Fernox’s HVAC Cleaner F3 is designed for use with commercial hydronic heating and cooling systems and is suitable for use with powerflushing machines. It is engineered to remove sludge and scale using a non-acidic, non-hazardous environmentally friendly formula. It is available in 2.6 gallon and 55 gallon sizes.

Spirotherm’s VDR combination air elimination and dirt separators are available in 1”, 1-1/4”, 1-1/2” and 2” sizes in threaded or sweat connections. They feature brass construction, and have a maximum working pressure of 150 psig and a maximum operating temperature of 270°F.

www. spirotherm.com

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Make Anvil International Canada your one-stop shop. Our quality products now come in new brightly colour-coded boxes that help reduce overall costs. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bright idea inside and out.

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ZONING B y D e ni se D e v e a u

Heating Up C

ontractors often come across the challenge of having to heat a small floor space. The decision of which technology to use generally comes down to such factors as up-front and operational costs, location of the space in question and existing systems.

ELECTRIC HEATING

MATS Electric heating mats are a very common choice for heating a smaller area because they are both versatile and easy to install. Wally Lo, product manager for Pentair/Nuheat, says that mats are preferable when extending pipes from existing heating systems is not an option. “They’re great for renovation projects.”

The three most common options for heating small zones are electric heating mats, the extension of an existing hydronic system, or tapping into a combi system or domestic hot water system. Each has its advantages and challenges, depending on the project.

The key question you need to ask a customer is a simple one, says John Goshulak, vicepresident of sales and marketing for WeilMcLain Canada. “Are you trying to warm the room, or just the floor?”

Once you answer that, decisions become easier.

SM AL L SPAC E S

Are you trying to warm the room, or just the floor?

Tracy Hall, national sales manager at SunTouch, a Watts Water Technology Company, says mats make the most sense for areas smaller than 1,200 sq. ft., with master bathroom floors being a prime target.

“Contractors only need to cover the walking area of the floor,” says Hall. “There is no need to go underneath cabinets or toilets.”

Mats come in three different heat outputs: 10, 12 and 15 watts per sq. ft. The standard for doing a bathroom floor over a plywood subfloor is 12 watts.

A standard mat will work well in rooms with square corners. When heating a floor with many angles, or curved wall areas over 100 sq. ft., a custom mat makes more sense, Hall notes.

Custom mats may add to the overall costs of materials, but that is easily made up for in labour savings, Lo explains. They’re also simple to install, since they can be connected to standard electrical systems. All that is required are plastic guides around the room perimeter and manually running the cable system back and forth. However, the job can be made simpler by using prebuilt systems.

Watts

When using mats over a concrete slab, Hall suggests tightening the spacing of the wiring to create higher heat output to combat the heat drain of the concrete. Another option is putting an insulation barrier over the slab, although that will raise the height of the floor.

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Leaders in Magnetic Separation Small and often microscopic magnetic particles, called magnetite, form when iron or steel corrodes. Highly abrasive, the extremely fine sediment is difficult to remove by traditional means. SEP4 ®, DISCALDIRTMAG ® & DIRTMAG ® separators capture magnetite with a concentrated magnetic field. Dirt and magnetite is quickly flushed out of the drain valve when the magnet is removed while the system is operating. DISCALDIRTMAG ® combination air & dirt separator removes micro-bubbles, dirt and magnetite, plus the SEP4 ® provides hydraulic separation. All having 2½ times the magnetite removal performance of standard separators, delivering up to 100% elimination efficiency.

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ZONING

continues from page 88

TAPPING INTO HOT WATER Under the right circumstances, a combi hot water tank system, with an internal heat exchanger certified for combination use, can be a cost-effective way to heat floor surfaces, says Sean Giberson, Canadian sales manager of residential products for Taco Comfort Solutions. These are often used in new construction sites, where floor heating is desired in only some rooms of the home.

Runtal

“Retrofits can be much trickier as the floor surface is raised when the tubing is installed on top of the existing surface and then is over-poured with another lightweight concrete material,” he says.

EXTENDING THE HYDRONICS W

hile it makes sense to extend an existing radiant-based heating system to service a small zone within a home, this type of solution may create some engineering challenges.

“If I were to say use hydronics over electric, the deciding factor would be proximity to the existing mechanical equipment,” Goshaluk says. “The small zone has to be reachable from the hydronic system. If a bathroom is next to a radiant heating system in the basement or accessible through a closet or chaseway, then it’s the right choice. If it’s a foyer two floors away, I wouldn’t necessarily do it that way.”

In terms of temperature parameters, 100°F to 110°F is a good operating range for floor heating, he adds. “Anything over that is too hot.”

Getting to the right temperatures could involve installing mixing valves.

Tubing size also affects performance. “If you try to push water through a 1/2” tube, it will only go so far,” Goshulak says. Longer distances require bigger tubes (e.g., 3/4”) and a bigger pump to ensure proper flow rates in the loop.

Other equipment components should be looked at as well, he says. “Even if it’s a small load, a professional needs to look at what’s required and the potential impact on existing equipment to make sure it doesn’t adversely affect something else.”

There can also be issues with short cycling, says Paul McDonald, general manager for Laars Heating Systems, a division of Bradford White.

“If you have a boiler capable of satisfying very large output and you add a small capacity zone, it will turn on way too much output for that zone, leading to short cycling,” he says.

A buffer tank can help combat short cycling, however.

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On upper floors, additional floor tubing either comes from underneath the subfloor (i.e., a stapleup radiant floor heating system); or is added on top of the finished flooring and over-poured with lightweight concrete. Another alternative is radiant panels that sandwich the tubing inside premanufactured panelling.

Every loop should remain at 250 feet or under when using 1/2” tubing, Giberson adds.

“Always consult the radiant tubing manufacturer about recommended tubing sizes and lengths per loop,” he advises. “If adding onto an existing system, you will likely need more loops at the manifold location. Also bear in mind that as soon as you add loads, you may have to resize equipment such as the pump, the heat source itself and expansion tanks.”

When it comes to combi systems, consider whether you are using an open loop potable system or a water heater with an isolation heat exchanger inside the tank.

“The industry is much more on the side of having separation in a system, so potable water doesn’t stagnate during the off season,” Giberson says.

Where potable water is being used, components must be non-ferrous, he adds. A closed loop heating system with an isolated heat exchanger can use cast iron parts at less cost.

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Marketing with DOUG MACMILLAN

P is for Planning If you took a marketing class in high school or have attended pretty much any marketing seminar, chances are you’ve stumbled upon the eight “Ps.” These are long-held lampposts to light the way to your marketing success.

Companies often make lofty marketing promises (there’s another important “P” word). Whether it is trying to live up to “Lowest prices!” or “We’ll get there right away!” we spend a lot of energy focusing on meeting these promises.

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

A Continuous Effort

However, for any business, the devil is in the details, and so too is your brand. Even if we deliver what we promise, it’s how we meet those expectations that can make or break the customer’s experience along the way, and for that, there are a couple more Ps to discuss.

The Ps of Marketing

• • • • • • • •

Packaging People Performance Place Positioning Price Product Promotion

Processes and Paperwork

Evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of your processes takes continuous effort. This is where quality

The lost P words of marketing, processes and paperwork, are perhaps the most essential and yet often overlooked requirements of any business.

They define the steps we take to provide a seamless and exemplary customer transaction.

engagement with staff and customers comes in. Look past surveys that grade on a scale of 1 to 10 and have actual discussions with your people about what’s working, what’s not so great, and what they would like to see from you. Many of the best ideas about how to improve our businesses are in the minds of the employees and customers who have first-hand knowledge of us.

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We can have the most compelling offer, the most talented techs or exclusive rights to a hot product, all of which is awesome, but if we stumble in the execution, that’s all that people will remember (and talk about).

So, with that in mind, do you have a clearly defined action plan for each of the following business processes?

1 2 3

Responding quickly to inquiries that come in via telephone, email, your website, social media or walk-in. There are many forms of engagement today and our processes need to ensure each receives our equal and full attention.

Understanding and recording your customer’s particular requirements using a standardized questionnaire or form. If you aren’t using a more sophisticated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, even using a simple intake form will ensure all technicians ask the same questions, and that you have a quick-reference record of the discussion.

Providing customers with an accurate, detailed written estimate of the work, so they can approve your costs before you get started. Not only does this protect the customer, it protects your business from “scope creep” that may happen. A decent filing system will ensure that these documents are available when questions arise.

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Best of all, the next generation compressor is available in Goodman 16 and 18 SEER air conditioners and heat pumps. So, high-efficiency systems are more affordable and offer a great step-up opportunity for your customers who want the performance of a high efficiency system but not excessive initial costs. ™

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905-564-9791 613-745-3846 519-453-1200 519-757-0965 905-760-2737 905-420-4001 905-573-6565 450-674-3883

Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2017 Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. Houston, Texas

· USA www.goodmanmfg.com

4313 Autoroute Des Laurentides, Laval, QC H7L 5W5 6741 Cariboo Road, Unit 111, Burnaby, BC V3N 4A3 18043 111th Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2P2 7007 54th Street SE, #141, Calgary, AB T2C 3C2 3918 Burron Ave, Saskatoon, SK S7P 0E3 107 Mountianview Rd., Unit 1, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2E6 155 Fortin St., Ste 140, Quebec QC G1M 3M2

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4

Providing a succinct invoice with all relevant paperwork (such as manuals and warranties) in a well-organized package for the customer. Ensuring quick payment can work wonders for cash flow. cific skill set and Scheduling service calls. It takes a specific sponse while a proper system to provide a quick response d that accommodating emergency calls, and includes effective communications. Ideally, you provide customers with a reminder call or email, and have a protocol for techs to call if they are running late. In nearly all cases, people will be understanding when delays happen, provided we communicate properly about it.

5 6 7

or each Having an accessible service record for tion for customer that provides quick information techs who are returning to the scene. Ideally, this information should be accessible remotely.

Marketing

8

Ensuring that proactive vehicle maintenance is conducted. This reduces the risk that service vans will break down unexpectedly, causing delays, cancellations and unhappy customers. cancella

9

Identifying and cataloguing potential future sales opportunities, such as a furnace switch-out, a customer’s plans to sell or move, or work that might be required as part of a planned renovation. These types of “down the road” conversations are common in the initial sales or service call, and can be a terrific source of future work.

By checking in a year later, you may prompt the sale.

10

Providing an easy-to-use “troubleshooting” database that helps technicians share their prior experiences with your other techs.

There’s nothing worse than trying to figure out a complicated retrofit, likely losing valuable time in the trial and error method, only to learn a colleague overcame a similar challenge recently.

Having an effective follow-up mechanism to make sure your customer is fully satisfied with the work. This can be a quick survey on phone or at the door, but an owner should check in with the pho customers from time to time. The information gained from a direct conversation can be enlightening. Plus, what customer isn’t impressed when the president or CEO calls them to thank them for their business?

IT’S LIKE IT’S NOT

EVEN THERE SpeediDuct™ line set covers, featuring SpinFix,™ provide an aesthetically pleasing and simple installation solution that protects and hides line sets – indoors and out. Paint it to blend in or adjust it around problematic locations. Either way, enjoy the widest selection to cover any installation challenge.

Experience Quality. Experience Franklin. littlegiant.com

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STUFF YOU NEED Moisture Meters

Jobsite Light DeWalt’s 20V MAX Bluetooth LED Large Area Light is designed to illuminate work areas with up to 7,000 lumens. It runs off the company’s 20V MAX or Flexvolt batteries, or using an AC power source.

Multiple lights can be connected for added illumination. The lights can also be used to power a corded tool in a remote setting away from an outlet.

Flir’s MR160 moisture meters feature a built-in thermal camera designed to allow contractors to pinpoint moisture problems. They are capable of non-contact readings and also come with a pin probe for contact measurements. They can store up to 9,999 images at a resolution of 4,800 pixels.

www. flir.ca

www. dewalt.com

Plastic Fitting Reamers Reed’s Clean Ream Plus plastic pipe fitting reamers are designed to allow contractors to clean out and reuse plastic pipe fittings. Reamers come in 1-1/2” and 2” sizes. They are not recommended for pressurized systems.

www. reedmfgco.com

Rotary Hammer Bosch’s GBH18V-26 18V brushless SDS-plus EC rotary hammer weighs 7.7 lb. with the battery installed and delivers 1.9 ft.-lb. of torque. Its ergonomic L-shape is designed to enhance horizontal power transmission.

It features an integrated dust extraction attachment that automatically starts when the rotary hammer is used and continues running for two seconds after drilling.

www. boschtools.com

Digital Box Levels Empire’s e105 Series True Blue digital box levels are equipped with seven measuring modes and an inspect mode for repeat inspection-grade measurements. They feature a digital readout designed to measure accurately when powered on and an IP65 rating for water and dust protection.

www. empirelevel.com

Wide-Blade Tape Measures Available exclusively in Canada, Milwaukee Tool’s wide-blade tape measures come in 5 m (16’) and 8 m (26’) lengths.

They feature a five-point reinforced frame and an abrasionresistant nylon-coated blade. They are ergonomically designed and come with a wire-form belt clip.

www. milwaukeetool.ca

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HVAC/R Products P Rooftop Units Trane’s Foundation light commercial rooftop units are available in 3- to 5-ton sizes. They are designed to fit many existing commercial building roof curbs, and can be installed without an adapter. They feature tubular heat exchangers and are engineered to meet the most recent energy-efficiency standards established by ASHRAE.

HVAC Sensors Belimo’s full range of HVAC sensors include single and multi-range models for pipe and duct applications. They are designed to measure temperature, humidity, pressure, CO2 and VOC (volatile organic compounds). Each sensor features a screwless snap cover and detachable mounting plate.

www.

trane.com

www.

Refrigerant Detectors

belimo.ca

Bacharach’s MVR-300 refrigerant detectors for occupied spaces are engineered to detect refrigerant leaks in high-efficiency systems such as VRFs and VRVs. Designed for use in hotels, dormitories, hospitals and office buildings, they provide audible and visual alarms to occupants and BMS/BAS systems when a leak is detected.

www.

mybacharach.com

Venting Adapters and Elbows IPEX’s System 636 flue gas venting offerings include 2-1/2” by 2” appliance adapters and 2-1/2” 90-degree long elbows. The one-piece appliance adapter replaces a three-piece transition alternative for upsizing to 2-1/2”. The elbow fitting is designed for optimal air flow with minimal frictional loss.

Systems are available in PVC and CPVC.

www.

ipexna.com

Gas-Fired Patio Heaters Brant Radiant’s DST gas-fired lowintensity patio heaters are available with maximum inputs of 60,000 and 80,000 BTUH. The 119”, 150-lb. units can be mounted 8 to 15 feet above ground. Capable of running on natural or propane gas, they feature a BTU selector to toggle between high- and low-fire rates.

Vertical Stack Heat Pumps The Whalen Company’s Whisperline vertical stack heat pumps are available in half- through 3-ton capacities. The units are engineered to provide heating and cooling as part of either geothermal or boiler/cooling tower applications. They use R-410A refrigerant and offer efficiencies of up to 17.7 EER.

www. brantradiant.com

www.

whalencompany.com

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HVAC/R V Productss P Refrigerant Honeywell’s Solstice N40 (R-448A) refrigerant is designed to replace R-404A, R-22, and R-507 in commercial refrigeration systems. The non-ozone-depleting, nonflammable refrigerant has a GWP of 1,273 and is approved for use with major compressor manufacturers.

honeywell.com

Direct Air Heat Pumps Haier’s Arctic series ductless heat pumps are available in 9,000, 12,000 and 19,000 BTUH capacities. The single-zone systems are designed to provide heating in ambient temperatures as low as -30°C. They offer cooling efficiencies as high as 28 SEER.

Aluminum Fans Canarm spun aluminum exhausters are corrosion-proof and feature ECM directdrive motors. Designed for roof- and wall-mounted installations, fans are offered in upblast and downblast airflow designs, as well as belt- and direct-drive configurations.

www.

haierductless.com

www. canarm.com

Follow Us on Twitter @MechBusiness

Compressors Danfoss has expanded its line of TG series compressors to include models for use with HFO-1234ze. The oil-free, variable-speed, magnetic bearing centrifugal compressors are optimized for full and part-load efficiencies. The TG230, TG390, and TG520 are designed for standard temperature air-conditioning applications, while the TG230 MT is suitable for medium temperature applications.

Residential Fans & Air Purifiers

www.

danfoss.com

Bathroom Exhaust

Range Hood Exhaust

Dryer Boosting

Line Set Sleeves Cupro’s spiral tube covers function as a protective sleeve for HVAC/R line sets. They are ideal for use in shallow digs, rocky soil conditions and for protecting risers. The sleeves are engineered for use with copper, coated copper, CSST and poly gas lines.

www.

Continental Fan Canada Inc. www.continentalfan.com | 1-800-779-4021

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Marketplace Ads Ads from $995

MOBILE APPLICATION WITH LIVE LOOK IN!

DUAL-CAPACITY GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS

With a Job Link™ Pro paid subscription you can now get the “Live Look In” feature so technicians in the field can get help from anyone on their team. With a simple screen share, a more seasoned HVAC/R pro instantly sees the live measurements to remotely guide the tech through tricky systems, greatly reducing call backs.

For more information go to www.fieldpiecejoblink.com.

The Aston Series is one of the most efficient dual-capacity geothermal heat pumps available. All units utilize environmentally safe R-410A refrigerant and include durable and efficient Copeland Scroll™ compressors. Dual capacity operation provides the finest in comfort and energy savings. The Aurora family of controls offer twoway communication and energy monitoring.

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VICHY™ ONE-HANDLE ROMAN TUB WITH HANDSHOWER

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When mid-century modern style is at the top of your wish list, the Vichy Collection delivers.

Cylindrical shapes, contoured edges and a slim handle create a look that’s sleek and sophisticated. The Roman tub single-handle design lends itself well to modern design – and small spaces – while offering the functionality consumers need in a tub faucet including a sleek handshower, ideal for washing hair and rinsing the tub.

A high quality non-toxic heavy vy duty heat transfer fluid specifically blended for our harsh Northern climates.

A 100% virgin Propylene Glycol with PDT premier inhibitors to help prevent corrosion. Safe for all metals, including aluminum.

chemfax.com

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SPOTLIGHTS INTRODUCING THE SANINEUTRAL, ACIDIC CONDENSATE NEUTRALIZER Sanineutral is the newest addition to the Saniflo Condensate Pumps lineup. The powerful system neutralizes acidic condensate. It connects to a boiler, tankless water heater or any HVAC component. Easy to install and maintain, it is designed to work alongside pump systems like the Sanicondens Best.

TOOL TIP

Getting a Read on Multimeters

A

ny contractor looking to install, maintain and repair electrical components in a mechanical system — sensors and motors, for example — needs a professional-grade multimeter. These handy devices are great for testing panels and checking current, amps, resistance and capacitance. But not all multimeters work in the same way, or offer the same array of features.

When shopping for a multimeter, look for one that will handle the full voltage range of the equipment you work on. Also consider the IP (Ingress Protection) rating of the device. An IP 54 meter is designed to stand up well in dusty or high-moisture conditions.

saniflo.ca VIEGA MEGAPRESS® SYSTEM BRINGS PRESS TECHNOLOGY TO BLACK IRON PIPE The Viega MegaPress and MegaPressG systems for installing schedule 5 to schedule 40 black iron pipe in sizes ½” to 2” make secure water- and air-tight connections in less than seven seconds. The Viega MegaPress system is ideal for hydronic heat, chilled water, compressed air, fire sprinkler systems, low pressure steam and vacuum lines. Viega MegaPressG fittings are designed for use in fuel oil and natural gas applications. Viega.

Connected in quality.

viega.us

CAT ratings (generally CAT III and CAT IV for the mechanical sector) refer to a multimeter’s ability to resist a voltage spike.

Large LCD screens with good contrast can make working in low light a little easier, and some units afford the ability to work hands-free, thanks to belt clips and mounting magnets.

AVERAGING VS. TRMS While both averaging meters and true root mean square (TRMS) meters will accurately measure sinusoidal AC waveforms, TRMS meters can also read non-sinusoidal AC waveforms, increasing the accuracy of the readout when working on HVAC equipment and variable-speed drives.

Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud partner with Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com.

Visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable Milwaukee products and merchandise!

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M e c h a n i c a l

EVENTS Bardon Supplies Summer Plumbing & Heating Expo June 15, 2017 Barrie, Ont. www.bardonsupplies.com ASHRAE Annual Conference June 24-28, 2017 Long Beach, Calif. ashrae.org CIPH ABC June 25-27, 2017 Ottawa, Ont. www.ciph.com

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bythenumbers

Compiled by Mechanical Business

A GROWING POPULATION Canada has grown quite a bit over the past 10 years. Here are some of the fastest growing regions.

INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION Industrial refrigeration is a big industry, and it’s projected to get even bigger in the years to come.

7.2%

35,151,728 Canada’s population in 2016.

23.6% Population growth in Alberta.

22% Population growth in Nunavut.

13.4% Population growth in Saskatchewan.

11.3% Population growth in Manitoba.

TECH NECK The projected compound annual

growth rate of the global industrial refrigeration market from 2016 to 2022.

$24,083,100,000

The value of

the global market in 2015.

Got a kink in your neck? Well, no surprise there, as many of us spend a considerable portion of each day staring down at our smart phones. But just how often do we look at our phones?

85 The number of times the average person looks at their phone each day.

157 The number of times millennials look at their phones each day.

MANAGING OFFICE TEMPERATURES A recent study found that many women find the average office temperature too cold in the summertime. But why?

90°F Average hand temperature for men.

87.2° Average for women.

72°F (22°C) Average office temperature.

3,000,000 kg

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING? Did you know that 51 per cent of Canadian households filter or treat their drinking water?

Here’s a look at a few select cities.

73% 68% 65% 25%

Winnipeg.

Barrie, Ont. Calgary Sherbrooke, Que.

The amount of refrigerant safely collected and disposed of by Refrigerant Management Canada in its first 12 years of operation. Well done, RMC! PM# 41536047

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TECH SPEC SD35T/SD5135T Series Testable Shower Drains

TES Testing made quicker. Cleaner. Safer.

TAB L

E

Introducing our new SD35T (ABS) or SD5135T (white PVC) Series Testable Shower Drains for Preformed Shower bases.

Featuring a convenient Snap-off Test Cap - now you can air test from below and water test from above.

Your job just got easier.™

Features •

Snap-off Test Cap (convenient venient plier breakoff)

•

Available in ABS (SD35T-XX) 5T-XX) or white PVC (SD5135T-XX) Body dy with 2” DWV Hub Connection

•

4-1/4” Screw-in Grate

•

Thread-in Flange

Benefits •

Saves valuable installation time.

Allows for air testing from below or water testing from above

•

Tab on Snap-off Test Cap sits higher than the Grate Flange to prevent accidental Grate installation without removal of Test Cap

•

Snap-off Test Cap designed not to fall down the drain during removal

•

Snap-off Test Cap makes for safe testing (Factory tested to 30psi)

www.osb.ca

SD35T-SS ABS Model Shown

INNOVATION that works...

Get customers Connected with our WiFi solution •

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

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

Visit tekmarControls.com to learn more

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

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