green grows up - plumbing & hvacplumbinghvac.dgtlpub.com/2009/2009-12-31/pdf/... ·...

NOV/DEC 2009

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Green Grows UpAlternative technologies

moving into mainstream

INSIDE■ Retail refrigerant sales cause alarm

■ Contractors agonize over high efficiency venting

■ Selling heating equipment requires a new approach

■ New trucks for 2010

PHVAC Nov-Decembertn.qxp:Layout 1 11/26/09 1:45 PM

iSeriesMixing Valves

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www.plumbingandhvac.ca November/December 2009 – Plumbing & HVAC 3

New trucks for 2010 Manufacturers make small improvements

Drill your own holes! 30A drilling rig geared to small geothermalcontractors

HRAI conference report 9Contractors worried about venting greenequipment

Green technologies mature 10“New” ideas begin to enter mainstream

Builders Issue■ Contents

Features

New home builders are learning that green technologies sell.

DepartmentsHot Seat .........................................5Turning a blind eye

Industry News ..............................7Retail refrigerant sales alarm industry

Coming Events ............................35ASHRAE show visits Orlando

People & Places............................37Boiler manufacturer celebrates 50 years

Shop Management......................38Mentoring key to bringing new employeesaboard

Products & TechnologiesHeating ........................................13

Hot Water Heating ......................17

Cooling.........................................21

Ventilation ...................................23

Pipes, Valves & Fittings ...............25

Faucets & Fixtures .......................27

Trucks for the Trade.....................30

Tools & Instruments ....................33


Vitodens 100 - New.ai 1 11/3/2009 9:43:01 AM


Vitodens 100 - New.ai 1 11/3/2009 9:43:01 AM

Bob BettlesHVAC author and trainer Robert(Bob) Bettles is lead technicalservice adviser and trainer forWolseley HVAC/R GroupCanada. He can be reached [email protected].

Jerry Boulanger is a graduateof the Mechanical EngineeringTechnology program at KelseyInstitute in Saskatoon and is aspecialist in flow control inhydronic systems. He is salesmanager for Axiom IndustriesLtd. He can be reached [email protected]

Ronald Coleman is aVancouver-based accountant,management con sultant, authorand educator spe cializing in theconstruction industry. He can be reached by e-mail atronald@ronald coleman.ca.

Roy Collver is an author andconsultant on hydronic heatingbased in Peachland, B.C. He can be reached [email protected].

Mark Evans is a licensedplumber in Waterloo, Ont. He can be reached [email protected]

Ed Gravelle is a consultant on refrigeration, air conditioningand heating systems based inBrentwood Bay, B.C. He can be reached [email protected].

Brian GuttormsonHVAC author and trainer BrianGuttormson is technical serviceadvisor for Trent Metals Ltd.(Supply). He can be reached [email protected].

Bruce Nagy is a Toronto-based freelance writer thatreports on green technologiesand solutions. He can be reachedat [email protected].

Publisher

Mark Vreugdenhil(416) 614-5819

[email protected]

Editor

Simon Blake(416) 614-5820

[email protected]

Design and Production

Tim [email protected]

National Sales Manager

Jordan Chong(416) 614-5832

[email protected]

Production Manager

Lilianna Kantor(416) 614-5815

[email protected]

Circulation Manager

Pat Glionna

Corporate Services

Anthony Evangelista

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published eight times annually by NEWCOM Business MediaInc. and is written for individuals who purchase/ specify/approve the selection of plumbing, piping, hot water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and related systems and products throughout Canada.

NEWCOM Business Media Inc.451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4Tel: (416) 242-8088 • Fax (416) 242-8085

POSTMASTER: Send all address changes and circulation inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Product News magazine, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4. CanadianPublications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063170. Postage paid at Toronto, ON.Annual Subscription: $34.00 plus $1.70 GST, single copy $5.00 plus $0.25 GST inCanada; United States $40.00 U.S. One year subscription in U.S.: $40.00 US. One year subscription foreign: $65.00 U.S.

Copyright 2009. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any mannerwithout the prior written permission of the Publisher.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through thePublications Assistance Program toward our mailing costs. PAP Registration No. 10796

A member of: Canadian Institute of Plumbing & HeatingCanadian Circulation Audit BoardMechanical Contractors Assoc. of CanadaOntario Plumbing Inspectors AssociationAmerican Society of Heating Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers

Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada

November/December 2009Volume 19, Number 8

ISSN 1919-0395

www.plumbingandhvac.ca

■ Hot Seat

These are frustrating times for legitimate trade contractors. While facing an ever increasing number of rules,fees and paperwork in all aspects of business, the do-it-yourselfers and non-licensed home renovators seemto have access to a constantly growing array of “trade-only” products and equipment through retail stores.

Government agencies, that are so diligent in ensuring that contractors keep their licenses up to date and follow astrict set of procedures in everything they do, seem to turn a blind eye to the sale of products by big box retailers thatshould only be installed by qualified tradesmen.

This has been going on for some years now. Initially many in the industry saw it as competition, particularlywhen plumbing faucets and fixtures started showing up in retail stores. However, it quickly became a safety issue,particularly when gas appliances like water heaters became widely available just about everywhere. Today, if onetakes a walk through their local big box renovation retailer, one sees all sorts of HVAC equipment. Now we can addto the list R22 replacement refrigerant that comes in kits complete with gauges and instructions.

These are flammable hydrocarbon refrigerants and therefore, if the home or building owner “tops off” his systeman explosion could result the next time a technician fires up a torch to work on the system, not to mention thepotential damage to equipment from using a refrigerant not approved for the system. (The manufacturers of theseproducts do state in their instructions and on their web sites that the user should evacuate the system. However,that requires specialized skills and equipment...)

It’s time that governments and the agencies responsible for keeping tradesmen safe did just that. And that doesn’tmean dreaming up more rules and fees to put on the professional trades. What it does require are strict rules aboutwhat can and cannot be sold over the retail counter. If something requires special training and qualifications to installwithout creating a safety hazard, it should not be available to the DIY market.

Governments have been ignoring this ever-growing problem for years. It’s time they faced it head on.On a more pleasant note, I would like to wish all of our readers and advertisers a wonderful Christmas and all

the best in the New Year!

■ This Month’s Contributors

Turning a blind eye


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■ Industry News

Areplacement for R22 refrigerantbeing sold by retail stores acrossCanada is causing alarm in the

HVAC/R industry.“This is probably one of the biggest

safety concerns the industry has had inyears – if the next guy on the roof or thenext guy working on the residentialsplit system doesn’t know there’s ahydrocarbon in there, a serious accidentcould occur,” remarked Warren Heeley,president of the Heating, Refrigerationand Air Conditioning Institute ofCanada (HRAI).

“Nowhere on the packaging does itadvise the user to mark the system tonotify the technician that there’s aflammable refrigerant in it,” he added.“We use torches and a whole raft ofother potential ignition sources thatcould lead to a catastrophic situation.”

At the heart of the issue arehydrocarbon refrigerant kits thatinclude gauges and instructions so thatthe home or building owner can “topup” their own systems.

Canadian Tire, for example, marketsa product called Red Tek 22a.Advertised on the Canadian Tire website (www.canadiantire.ca) as: “A costeffective and efficient option forretrofit/replacement option (sic) forhome and commercial air conditioningsystems,” Red Tek 22a is “designed as adirect replacement for R22 refrigerant.”

“There are at least three regulationsin most provinces that thismanufacturer is contravening,” Heeleytold the annual meeting of the HRAIManufacturers Division at the group’sannual conference in St. John’s, Nfld.,on Sept. 18.

For example, under the OntarioRefrigerant Regulation, part of theEnvironmental Protection Act, arefrigeration system must be evacuatedbefore new refrigerant can be addedand checked for leaks, something thatcan only be done by a licensedrefrigeration mechanic or apprenticeusing specialized equipment.

No ratings with equipment“We are not aware of any residential orcommercial air conditioningequipment that is approved forflammable hydrocarbon refrigerants,”added Heeley. “All refrigerants must be

rated and certified for use in coolingequipment before they can be sold inthe market.”

As a result, the manufacturer’swarranty and likely the buildingowners’ insurance policy would be void

if the system was filled with ahydrocarbon refrigerant. And thenthere’s the potential of damage tocompressors and other componentsbecause an uncertified refrigerant isbeing used, noted Heeley.

HRAI is preparing a letter expressingthe industry’s concerns. As a first step, itwill be sent to the Ontario ministers ofenvironment, training, colleges anduniversities and the minister ofconsumer and business services. Thesame letter will be forwarded to similarministers in other provinces.

As well, HRAI plans to send copies tothe president of Canadian Tire and anyother retailers that are carryingrefrigerant kits. “We will give theretailers a heads up that they are dealingwith a product that maybe they don’twant to deal with,” remarked Heeley.

Rigid approval processHeeley added that hydrocarbonrefrigerants may have their place, butevery refrigerant used in HVAC/Rsystems must go through a rigorousapproval process. Refrigerants have tobe rated by the American Society ofHeating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).Only then can the refrigerant beapproved for certain applicationsdepending on its rating.

“When it comes to a flammablerefrigerant, the only product standardthat allows its use is the domesticrefrigerator/freezer standard, whichrequires that the charge is kept below

350 grams (12.5 ounces). Obviously,the charge for building cooling systemsis much higher. Even the smallest mostefficient residential systems uses threeto four pounds.

“If the hydrocarbon industry wants

to get their refrigerant into themainstream, they’ve got to go throughthe same certification steps thateveryone else has. They seem to just

want to sell it to anyone who wants tobuy it. And that’s dangerous,particularly in the hands of unqualifiedpeople such as homeowners…”

Refrigerant kits have been sold forseveral years as an automotive product,but the regulations are different. “I amnot aware of any regulations (inautomotive) that say you can’t use acertain kind of refrigerant,” said Heeley.

“What they have done is crossed thatline in their advertising to say that ifyou have a residential or commercial airconditioning unit, you can use it in thatapplication too…the reality is verysimple and straightforward – youcan’t.”

Calls to the Canadian Tire headoffice in Toronto and to Red TekCanada-USA, a division ofThermofluid Technologies Inc. inAlcoa, Tennessee, were not returned bypress time.

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Retail retrofit refrigerant triggers industry alarmBy Simon Blake

This is probably one of thebiggest safety concerns theindustry has had in years…


■ Industry News

Green building standardThe American Society of Heating, Refrigerating

and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the

U.S. Green Building Council and the

Illuminating Engineering Society of North

America are developing a standard for green

buildings. Standard 189.1P — the Standard

for the Design of High-Performance Green

Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

– will define minimum performance

requirements. ASHRAE will also develop a users

manual to accompany the standard.

Rebates extendedOn Oct. 14 Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

announced that it would re-instate its policy of

allowing furnace replacements prior to having

an energy audit done. This was also extended

to cover central air conditioning systems and

DHW heaters at the urging of the Heating,

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of

Canada (HRAI).

Low flush onlyProposed changes to the Ontario Building

Code include a requirement that all toilets be

six-litre flush (maximum) and 3.8 litres for

urinals. Previously, this was required for new

construction only, reports the Canadian Water

& Wastewater Association.

R134a price increaseRefrigeration and air conditioning contractors

will see an increase in the price of refrigerant

after DuPont Fluoroproducts announced a 10

percent global price increase for bulk R-134a,

effective Dec. 1. Higher raw material costs are

being blamed.

In Brief

8 Plumbing & HVAC – November/December 2009 www.plumbingandhvac.ca

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wholesaler. The ICON System sets a new standard in

gas water heater control technology and is standard

equipment on Bradford White Residential and Light

Duty Commercial products* at no extra cost!

• Advanced Temperature Control System -Microprocessor constantly monitors and controls burner

operation to maintain consistent and accurate water

temperature levels.

• Exclusive Performance Software - Propriety

algorithms provide enhanced First Hour Delivery ratings

and tighter temperature differentials.

• Intelligent Diagnostics - An exclusive green LED

light prompts the installer during start-up and provides ten

different diagnostic codes to assist in troubleshooting.

• Pilot-On-Indication - Flashing green LED provides positive

indication that pilot is on.

• Millivolt Powered - An off-the-shelf thermopile converts heat

energy from the pilot flame into electrical energy to operate the gas

valve and electronics. No external electricity required.

• Separate Immersed Thermowell - High strength advanced

polymer composite thermowell provides isolation between electronic

temperature sensor and surrounding water. No need to drain the tank

when removing, or replacing the gas valve.

• Integrated Piezo Igniter - Built into the control itself, the igniter

eliminates the need to open the combustion chamber to light the pilot.

• Universal Replacement - The Bradford White ICON System™

service kits are available for direct replacement, or for the replacement

of Robertshaw or White-Rodgers gas valves on most older Bradford

White models.

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Over 300 delegates enjoyed The MechanicalContractors Association of Canada (MCAC) 2009Annual National Conference held in San FranciscoSept. 26-29.

A record 80-plus new delegates attended. Theyenjoyed a “pre-game tailgate party” as part of theirFirst-Timer’s Reception. That included a night at aSan Francisco Giants baseball game whereparticipants were divided into teams and facedGiants alumni Bill Lasky in the batting cage.

Education seminars focused on the movement

towards green buildings and, in particular,“turning green to gold.” A number ofmanufacturers participated in the SupplierShowcase tabletop show.

The closing Chairman’s Banquet celebrated the“summer of love” with a number of participantsdecked out in their best hippie duds.

MCAC presented a number of awards at a specialbreakfast. The Lloyd MacLean Memorial Award for“unselfishly giving to the national association” wentto Brad Diggens.

The late Doug Crawford, former AssociatesCouncil chairman, was posthumously awarded theGary Grieg Memorial Award for “an individual whocontributes toward the success of our conferencesin a volunteer capacity.”

MCAC chairman Bob Hoare made a specialpresentation to MCAC president RichardMcKeagan recognizing his 20 years commitment toMCAC and the mechanical contracting industry.

The next MCAC conference will take place inHalifax Sept. 22-25, 2010.

San Francisco hosts MCAC conference


Contractors are worrying about venting highefficiency heating equipment in difficultresidential locations when the manufacture of

mid-efficiency heating equipment ends Dec. 31 andexisting stocks are used up. They can no longer“default to a mid” and they want some help frommanufacturers.

“It’s becoming harder and harder to vent,” RonRobinson (AtlasCare, Oakville, Ont.) told contractorsat the 41st Annual General Meeting of the Heating,Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute ofCanada (HRAI) held in St. John’s, Nfld. Sept. 17-19.

Venting must be certified to the Ulc S636 standard,but neither the CSA B149 gas code nor themanufacturer’s instructions areclear when a contractor tries tovent an appliance in less thanideal locations, such as thoseoften found in tight inner cityneighborhoods.

Bob McKeraghan (CancoClimateCare Heating & AirConditioning, Newmarket,Ont.) said manufacturers mustchallenge their engineers tocome up with more innovativeventing solutions. These includethings like using the existingchimney for exhaust butbringing in combustion airfrom a different location.

The mid-efficiency phase-out was also a key topic ofdiscussion at the HRAIheating/air conditioning manufacturers’ meeting. Theimportant thing, noted AC/heating division chairDavid Morden (ECR International), is to get the wordout. “There will be a rash of people coming to yourcounters saying: ‘What the heck’s going on?’”

That minimum efficiency boost to 90 AFUE Jan.1 may also mean the end for programs like EnergyStar, remarked manufacturer’s division managerCaroline Czajko. Because the Energy Star rating forforced air furnaces will remain at 90 percent, “ineffect, we will no longer have an Energy Star ratingfor furnaces in Canada.”

Well attendedInitial fears that few would attend this year’s HRAIAnnual General Meeting due to the tough economyproved unfounded, although many registered at thelast minute. In the end 215 attendees heard youthfulkeynote speaker Craig Kielburger, who foundedSave the Children in Toronto as a 12-year-old, kickoff the event.

He advised that one of the biggest mistakescompanies make when hiring is failing to explain toprospective employees the importance of what theydo. “It’s about respect. People want to see the meaningbehind the work they do.”

And while Kielburger was warmly received, someof the other speakers got a rougher ride from the

inquisitive HRAI audience.Take Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) scientist

Martin Thomas, for example. He tried to convincecontractors that replacing PSC furnace motors withDC versions to save energy was a good idea, addingthat NRCan plans a rebate program encouraginghomeowners to make the switch. “Using a PSC motoris like using a resistance heating element in yourfurnace,” he said.

However, a number of contractors questionedwhether this was legal, given that furnaces arecertified with a particular motor. Ed Seaward(Union Gas) advised Thomas and NRCan: “Don’tgo down this road until you have consulted with

people on real world issues,”adding that NRCan needs totalk to HRAI, manufacturersand contractors.

Energy audit debateA few years ago the industrylobbied the government to allowcontractors to do energy auditsfor the ecoEnergy Retrofitprogram. However, this hasproven problematic for smallercontractors – it was tooexpensive to bring in house,customers didn’t trust them ifthey did the audit and tried tosell equipment, and largercompanies – like Enwise PowerSolutions Inc. in Ontario – aredoing just that.

The HRAI Contractors Division votedoverwhelmingly to ask NRCan to go back to requiringindependent auditors.

Re-branding HRAI“HRAI’s current low brand awareness is a liabilityfor us,” remarked HRAI vice president MartinLuymes in a report on the organization’s re-branding efforts. A member survey showed that 83percent believe HRAI should promote itself to

consumers and yet few HRAI contractors, so far,identify themselves as HRAI contractors.

In the past year, HRAI has spent $35,000 on truckdecals, developed brochures for contractors to give totheir customers and created a new web site(www.hrai.ca).

However, one contractor told P&HVAC thatthere is some confusion over the concept ofpromoting HRAI while contractors are trying topromote their own companies.

Annual meetingHRAI is working to have the CSA F280 codeupgraded to make sizing calculations more in tunewith today’s high efficiency equipment and tighterhomes, members heard at the annual meeting.

Members also approved a motion that HRAIgather statistics on the number of homes in Canadawith air conditioning systems of less than 13 SEER.HRAI expects those figures will help in lobbyinggreen-minded governments to continue their energyefficiency rebates.

As well, a motion that would see HRAI work tobecome more involved in government discussions onrebate programs passed. “We need sufficient time torespond to rebate programs,” remarked Tom Boutette(B&B Trade Distribution Centre, London, Ont.)

“HRAI needs to be in the discussion before thediscussion starts,” added Seaward.

New executiveGerry Cellucci (Yorkland Controls, Toronto) waselected chairman of HRAI. Mark Boncardo (IneosFluor Canada, Toronto) moves into the past chair’srole. Mike Latreille (Holmes Heating, Ottawa)remains chair of the Contractors Division with RonRobinson (AtlasCare, Oakville, Ont.) as vice chair.Colin (Rusty) Jennings (Carrier Canada,Mississauga) is chair of the Manufacturer’s Divisionwith David Morden (ECR International,Wallaceburg, Ont.) as vice chair. Keith Werner(Independent Supply Co., Burnaby, B.C.) is chair ofthe Wholesalers Division.

It wasn’t all business and many delegates and theirfamilies were anxious to get out and explore beautifulSt. John’s. Over 100 delegates took part in the “Rally inthe Ally” (pub crawl).

The 2010 HRAI Annual General Meeting will takeplace at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, Alberta nextAug. 19-21.


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HRAI contractors concerned over high efficiency venting By Simon Blake

New chairman Gerry Cellucci, left, accepts the gavel from Mark Boncardo.


By Bruce Nagy

You don’t often interview aprovincial cabinet minister nextto a boiler in someone’s home

basement, but it can happen. Duringearly November, Ontario EnvironmentMinister George Smitherman attendedthe official opening of a smalldevelopment by Rodeo Fine Homes inNewmarket, Ontario to celebrate theachievement of about 60 percent energysavings in each of its 34 units.

It was an obscure photo opportunity,but almost as significant for a Canadianindustry in transition is the OntarioGreen Energy Act the same ministerrammed through during March of thisyear. Politicians facing periods of intensecriticism need good reasons to come outof doors; or good events that symbolizehistoric change.

Facing economic difficulties in hisprovince that demand industrialtransformation, Smitherman noted:“These alternative technology projectsallow our contractors, engineers andarchitects to get ahead of the curve interms of expertise in a rapidly growingsector.”

Diverse industry expertiseAs alternative mechanicals become“business-as-usual” for major buildersacross the country, the phrase ‘greenbuilding’ will outlive its usefulness. Theywill all be green, at least greener. Thehistoric change in direction is clear; evenif at this point the systems, labels andstandards differ from builder to builderand from region to region.

Some build to LEED standards(Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design), others followBuilt Green, Energy Star, Greenhouseand other programs. Some remaincommitted to dual flush toilets and the

improving natural gas furnace, whileothers collect rainwater and energy fromthe sun – or combine many “green”features.

Systems can even differ from oneproject to the next, executed by the samebuilder. Windmill Developments hascreated LEED Platinum mixed-useresidential/commercial projects inVictoria, Calgary and Ottawa. They allfocus on significant energy savings, whileemploying different energy solutions.

In Calgary and Ottawa it is high

efficiency natural gas. In B.C. it’sbiomass. The newest project will featuregeothermal (ground source) heating andcooling. In this case one company mustcultivate expertise across a range oftechnologies. For others it’s a questionnavigating the speed bumps on one newsystem as they focus on that.

Different builders are replicating theRodeo Homes system, a blend ofdiverse equipment more or less, inhundreds of homes across southernOntario. It includes a dual-purpose

high efficiency natural gas boiler forradiant floor space heating anddomestic hot water along with anintegrated HRV and Air Handler withan ECM Motor for ventilation and airconditioning. Solar thermal is used topre-heat the water on some homes, andalso to pre-heat incoming fresh air.

For water conservation, low-flow, dualflush toilets, low-flow faucets andaerators are used, plus a below-graderainwater cistern that supplies toilets andan irrigation system.


■ Today’s Builders

Still green,Alternative energy technologies mature

but no longer young

The system brings a number of green technologies together.


Common groundThis configuration begins with something that doesseem to be a common theme nationally: seeing thewhole house as a system and incorporating high levelconservation efforts into the building envelope, powerplanning and homeowner education tools. Theseinclude insulation, argon gas-filled windows, roofoverhangs, efficient lighting, EnergyStar appliances,power pipe drains, smart thermostats, energy meters anda myriad of air quality measures such as HEPA filtrationunits.

Although the people behind a spate of thesedevelopments in southern Ontario seem to have hit ahigh number in terms of energy savings, builders inother provinces have been building green for seeminglylonger on the larger scales.

Jayman Homes in Calgary and Edmonton has beenat it for years and has registered thousands of homesto the Built Green standard. EcoCité in Montreal

started building small condos with urban geothermallong ago. Avalon Central Alberta of Red Deer pushesfor Built Green Gold and has registered more than 500homes. They are well along the learning curve in termsof ironing out technical surprises such as exhaustfreeze-ups and tankless DHW heater flow rateproblems.

Selling greenThey have also learned a good deal about how to sellgreen features to homeowners. “The market responsehas been great,” says Avalon president Jonas Neidert,who estimates that these ‘green’ houses cost $7,000-

$10,000 more to build, but offer home owners utilitysavings and greater comfort.

“Our customers are very concerned with health,” saysJonathan Westeinde, Managing Partner for WindmillDevelopment Group. “All our projects have sold outbefore they were finished. At first our customers were alittle wealthier, but now we think we are reaching themainstream.”

Windmill projects are condominiums and thecompany wraps the three percent extra cost for its LEEDPlatinum initiatives into a shared capital expenditurearrangement with the customer. After seven years theextra payment disappears while the homeownercontinues to enjoy reduced utility bills. Tridel of Torontohas a similar arrangement.

“To attract homebuyers we emphasize features thatsave money on utilities or improve health rather thanthose that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says VinceNacaratto from Rodeo Fine Homes. Greendevelopments are selling out in Ontario.

Says Smitherman: “There is a major transformationtaking place here. At the college level, Durham had morethan 200 applicants for 40 placements in its energyprogram. There are similar situations at Cambridge,Ryerson and elsewhere. There has been an explosiveincrease in home energy audits. The evidence is clear thatinterest in sustainable home systems is very high.”

Of course that’s what you would expect a politicianto say, while standing next to a dual-purpose boiler. ✚


George Smitherman addresses the crowd at another “green” opening.

A heat recovering ventilator and air handler provide ventilation and air conditioning.

A high efficiency gas boiler provides space heating and DHW.

Codes and regulations are a provincial responsibility, sowith mechanical systems undergoing transformationconsiderable activity is taking place at that level. Some of itis supported by funding from the National Energy Board,with a view toward comprehensive changes for a newNational Building Code planned for publication in 2012.

British ColumbiaDuring 2008 British Columbia passed new building coderequirements to increase energy and water efficiency.Insulation specifics are provided for walls, attics, radiantheating slabs and so on. A standard minimum has beenset for efficiency of 77 under the EnerGuide system.Faucet flows should max out at 8.3 l/m andshowerheads at 9.5. Maximum flush cycles for waterclosets are six litres and 5.7 for urinals.

AlbertaMulti-family homes in Alberta already require sprinklersystems, but additional sprinklers may be mandated forbalconies, attics and crawl spaces that were previouslyexempt. There are also expected to be new rules aroundfire safety during construction, following a fire thatdamaged or destroyed 94 new homes last year.

OntarioIn May of this year Ontario passed the Green Energy

Act and is now following it up with specific regulations.The act makes energy efficiency a key purpose ofOntario’s building code and requires establishment of anadvisory panel for changes to the code. Mechanicalsystems will be affected, as part of a holistic approach tobuilding efficiency. Proposed regulations specificallyaddress the energy efficiencies of buildings, mechanicalappliances and grey water systems. In addition there is acontinuing effort to clarify standards and approvalprocedures for alternative systems involving solar, wind,

biomass and biogas. Safety concerns mean sprinklers could become

mandatory in new multi-family residential buildingshigher than three storeys. Proponents say the move islong overdue and has been in place in more than 200other Canadian and U.S. municipalities. There is someopposition that suggests existing buildings withoutsmoke alarms pose the greatest risk of fire casualties.

QuebecQuebec published an update its building code in 2008containing about 300 changes related to sprinklersystems, accessibility to buildings, and ventilation; plus aBuilding Chapter for designers, contractors and owner-builders. Quebec is now working on changes to furtherimprove safety, as well as new rules for pressure vessels,public baths and further clarification on energyconservation.

Changing rules



The term ‘Sales and Service’ on the end of abusiness name is quite a statement. Mostcompanies do their own service, but some also

will sell their services out through maintenancecontracts and have a sales team dedicated to sellingyearly contracts.

Service contracts are sold in a number of differentways: There are straight services where the customercalls when a problem occurs. The contractor chargesfor parts and service time. This type may include filterchanges for a fee four times a year. This is a popularcontract; it can be a lower cost to a person orcompany with newer equipment.

Comprehensive contractsAnother popular contract is the comprehensive typewhere the equipment is evaluated yearly. The termsof the contract are based on the condition of theequipment and an educated guess on what couldpossibly fail and need replacement.

When a problem occurs, the contractor repairs theequipment from the funds that were collected as thecontract fee at the beginning of the year. As a result, theprofit is unknown until the end of the contractual year.

Service contracts do not usually include heatexchangers or compressors. These are maintainedduring the service year and added costs are chargedout if a failure arises; they are considered as a normalwear and tear item.

Most commercial companies have a real handle onthe service and maintenance market. Most of thebuilding lease agreements will require the tenant toprovide proof of a minimum annual maintenancecontract.

Residential service contractsOn the other hand, the residential market is lost.HVAC equipment manufacturers typically include aparagraph within residential and commercial

warranty documents stating: “As a condition towarranty coverage, the unit must receive yearlymaintenance, as described in the owner’s manual, bya dealer. Satisfactory proof of yearly service may berequired.”

Very few residential companies sell their owncomprehensive policies; some may sell the addedbonus of one of the parts and labour insurancepolicies. These are a great comfort to homeowners inproviding cost-free repairs for a predeterminedamount of time. Usually sold upon the purchase ofnew equipment, these parts and labour policies aretypically five or ten-year programs with a renewaloption at the end of the term.

The labour coverage of this policymay come into effect as early as 30or 60 days depending on theunderwriter. As mosthomeowners expect the first12 months of labour to beincluded, the insurancecompany rather than theinstalling contractor usuallyadministers this portion. Theyare very inexpensive and arebeneficial to both the homeowner andthe installers. These insurance policies areavailable, if you are considering including a policy aspart of your sales, through the wholesale markets orthe equipment distributor.

A thing to remember when you sell this benefit is toremind your customer of the “Annual Service”requirement of the manufacturer’s warranty and theinsurance company.

No two sales persons in the HVAC business will sellthe same. Advertising, flyers, sales and gimmickgiveaways are all used and often determine the waythe sales person sells the system. But to get the sale,the purchaser must first feel confident with the sales

person before they will commit to the installation.

Brand confusionIn today’s marketplace, brand recognition at timescan be confusing. Almost all equipmentmanufacturers go to market with their primeequipment that is only available through protecteddealer networks.

They also have a builder product line, which mayalso be a protected dealer brand. And then there maybe the over-the-counter brand available to individualsmaller contractors. Also thrown into the mix aresome big box department store branded products,

just to add more confusion. The customer knows that he

wants the best for his home;the marketing by the “ABC

HVAC” company has himconvinced this is theproduct he wants! A tourthrough the phone bookreveals several dealers

with the logo he has cometo believe in. The various

sales people arrive with theirglossy pictures and extol how they

are the best! At this point, our homeownerrealizes there may be a better price if he expands hisvision.

Effective sales tacticsThe sales person is the first contact the homeownerwill have with the equipment and company.Sometimes it is the sales person that is more of theattraction than the equipment’s brand name.

However, sales people who use high-pressure salestactics to close their deals are finding that the dealdoes not always stick. Homeowners are smarter todayand have so much information available to them from

■ Heating

Finding the right mix and best tactics is never easy

&Salesservice

By Bob Bettles and Brian Guttormson

Homeowners are learning about new “green”technologies, like this Olsen FreeWatt system, onthe internet. The HVAC contractor needs to keepup to date too.

Sales people whouse high-pressure sales tactics to close their dealsare finding that the dealdoes not always stick.



the internet that they may have second thoughts andcall back to cancel.

Another type of sales person is the smallindependent that does both sales and installations.

Some of these smaller companies, in order to getthe sale, will reduce the price just to keep busy! Someare legitimate contractors; others disappear by thetime the homeowner calls for after-sales service orrepairs, leaving phone numbers changed orunanswered.

Funny things can happen when the market is slow;there are usually price battles between contractors toget the sale, and the property owner may benefit.However, sometimes the owner gets more or less thanthey bargained for.

For example, we had a site visit with a contractorone day for a customer complaint on a new airconditioner installation. The homeowner stated thatthe system would never satisfy the desiredtemperature set point for the home.

After walking the site, it was obvious that the A/Csystem was too small for the size of the home (2950sq. ft.). At this point, the homeowner and thecontractor began to argue about the sizing of theequipment.

When the dust had settled, the contractorexplained to me: “What does the man want from atwo-ton machine? That was all the money that hewanted to spend, so that is what I sold him.”

Now, after that, you just know that both parties have

a bad taste about what has conspired and there is noway that the homeowner and the contractor are goingbe able to get through this – and the civil suit begins!

(Editor’s note: This should never happen – thecontractor is the expert and thus knows what it takesto cool a home; the homeowner certainly doesn’t!)

Sales aidsManufacturers and wholesalers, among others,provide heat loss, heat gain programs for sales staff touse in the field to help them size and price jobsaccurately. The sheer guesswork of the past – likewalking backwards to the curb from the home withthe cutout of a house until the home fits the box – justdoesn’t cut it today.

What it boils down to is that there are many toolsavailable for the sales person to use to gain theconfidence of the consumer to develop a relationshipthat continues into the future.

With respect to service, there are courses toconstantly upgrade the service technicians andinstallers in keeping current and up to date with theproper use of the tools of the industry to advancetheir businesses and increase their productivity.

With today’s economy, your customers in thefuture will be looking for more grants, betterwarranties, longer relationships, and labour policies.

Sales persons will be looking for customers withmore product knowledge for smoother deals and tohave their names passed to others to gain contacts.

Contractors simply look for long lastingrelationships, fair pay for jobs well done and tocontinue to thrive in business… ✚

■ Heating

Saniflo…all you need is water and an electrical power supply, get the job done in a day! Saniflo systems are installed above the floor.All units are pre assembled and suitable for:

The original plumbing solution

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Efficient gas furnaceThe new Aire-Flo CG gas furnace line from Lennox achieves up to95 percent AFUE. Retrofitting and accessory fit-up are easy thanksto standard top venting and standard furnace widths. High-efficiency models are qualified for one or two-pipe installation. Ahorizontal drain kit is standard. Tool-less entry and self-diagnosticsallow quick service. A multi-speed blower motor can be tuned tothe homeowner’s needs.Lennox �www.lennox.com

Compact and efficientThe new Coleman LX Series multi-position gas furnaces achieveAFUE ratings as high as 96 percent. Single-stage models featurea five-speed, direct-drive DC motor that increases SEER ratingsin the cooling mode while two-stage models feature a variable-speed ECM motor to circulate air for longer periods. At just 33inches high, they are easy to install in tight spaces.Coleman �www.colemanhvacdealer.com

Portable patio heaterThe portable EvenGLO patio heater from SuperiorRadiant features commercial grade construction for rugged

use. It combines the ambiance of an exotic open‘torch’ flame with a uniquely improved radiant heat pattern

covering an area 58 percent greater than standard heaters, reports themanufacturer. Wheels, table and a base door for easy access to thepropane tank are standard.Superior Radiant �www.superiorradiant.com

■ Heating

The lightweight Marathon two-port thermal storage tank from Rheemis well suited for solar, geothermal or hydronic applications.

These non-metallic tanks are available in 50-, 85- and 105-gallonsizes. They consist of a seamless blow-molded polybuteneinner wrapped in multiple layers of fiberglass, 2.5 inches

of polyurethane foam insulation, and a molded-polyethylene outer jacket. A full-port brass drain isrecessed into the bowl-shaped bottom. Collectorfeed and return fittings are located at the front ofthe tank, simplifying installation for solar andgeothermal applications

Temperature, pressure relief and vacuum reliefvalves are factory installed.

Thermostatically controlled electrical elements for supplemental heating are available on four-porttanks.

The Marathon carries a watertight lifetimewarranty — guaranteed not to leak for as long asthe consumer owns his or her home. In addition, allmodels are protected by a six-year parts warranty.Rheem Canada�www.canada.rheem.com

Product ProfileLightweight thermal storage tank

The Rheem Marathon is ideal for hydronic,solar or geothermal applications.


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09 Ram 1500 Ad_11x13.25.indd 1 11/24/09 3:53:34 PM


Your customer calls you up and complains thatevery time their boiler heats up, the relief valvestarts to leak. They ignore it for awhile, but

eventually it doesn’t stop, and you get the call. This is acommon occurrence with hydronic systems, and usuallysignals the need to have a look at the expansion tank.How the relief valve and expansion tank are related isquite simple.

Water expands when it is heated. The volume of waterin a system, and the difference between the coldesttemperature (usually at time of fill) and the hottest, willdetermine how much expansion you need to accountfor. Because water does not compress much at all, it willrip your piping system apart if it wasn’t for the pressurerelief valve.

Since we don’t want to be blowing water out of ourpressure relief valve every time the boiler cycles on, wegive the water something to expand into as it warms up– a tank full of air (because air is easily compressed).Here are some drawings showing how they work. Thesedepict an old-fashioned “open type” expansion tank,which has to be placed above the boiler.

A future article will go into some details of diaphragmand bladder type tanks, which work much the same anddo the same job, but take up less real estate in the boilerroom and can be placed pretty much anywhere.

I recently talked a friend down from a bad experiencewith his boiler due to a waterlogged expansion tank (e-mailed actually), so I thought it would be a good story torelate. He had the old-fashioned kind – there arethousands still out there, and they normally work just fine.

In an old house, with an old boiler, if you look up intothe joist space in the basement and see what looks like atorpedo tucked up in there – well, that would be theexpansion tank. The illustration below shows a typicalolder system – many of you young bucks out there don’tknow this, so pay attention!

These tanks can get flooded for a number of reasons(another article some day), and some have to be drainedannually. When the relief valve starts leaking, you haveno choice but to drain and recharge the tank.

Relieving the floodHere is the procedure (it differs from flooded diaphragmand bladder type tanks). Refer to Fig. 5.First, check to see that the tank is not leaking from a weldor air vent. If it is, you have to repair the leak, or replace

the tank (usually with a more up-to-date one).There should be a drain tap, with a threaded hose

attachment, on the bottom of the tank (#3).There should be a shut off valve to isolate the

expansion tank from the rest of the piping so you candrain it completely without losing the water in the restof the system (Fig.2).Step 1 - turn the power switch off so the boiler shutsdown (turn to “pilot” if it’s a millivolt valve).Step 2 - turn off the water feed to the system (Fig.1).Step 3- turn off the isolation valve to the expansion tank(Fig.2). If there is no isolation valve (not an uncommonsituation), make sure all of the zone valves (Fig.6) are closedand try to avoid draining the whole house. If you have todrain and refill the whole system, you might want to talk tothe customer about installing an isolation valve on the tank.Step 4 - hook a hose up to the expansion tank drainvalve (Fig.3) and run it to a drain.Step 5 - open the drain valve with the hose attached


■ Hot Water Heating

EXPANSIONTANK WOES

FRESHWATERSUPPLY

SHUT OFFVALVE

OPENED

WATER AT FILL PRESSURE (12 PSIG)AND AT FILL TEMPERATURE (60ϒF)

EXPANSION TANK

AFTER COLD FILLFROM

BOILER

AIR IS COMPRESSED AT FILLPRESSURE OF (12 PSIG)

FRESHWATERSUPPLY

SHUT OFFVALVE

OPENED

WATER AT FILL PRESSURE + (12.5 PSIG)AT DESIGN TEMPERATURE (180ϒF)

EXPANSION TANK

NORMAL OPERATION AT DESIGN

FROMBOILER

AIR IS COMPRESSED AT HIGH TEMPERATUREPRESSURE OF (12.5 PSIG)

FRESHWATERSUPPLY

SHUT OFFVALVE

OPENED

NO AIR - TANK IS FLOODEDWATER IS LEAKING OUT AT RELIEF VALVE

SET PRESSURE OF (30 PSIG)AT DESIGN TEMPERATURE (180ϒF)

EXPANSION TANK

FLOODED EXPANSION TANK

FROMBOILER

FRESHWATERSUPPLY

SHUTOFF

VALVECLOSED

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE(0 PSIG)

EXPANSION TANK

PRIOR TO FILLFROM

BOILER

By Roy Collver

Yikes! It’s a bomb! Well, maybe not – it’s just anantique expansion tank!

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

09 Ram 1500 Ad_11x13.25.indd 1 11/24/09 3:53:34 PM

Continued on page 19


and drain the expansion tank completely.At first the water will rush out, but as thepressure drops, it will start to slow down.Now you have two choices - you can lookfor an air vent at the top of the expansiontank to open so the water will run outmore quickly, or you can go for a beer orthree and let the water slowly glug, glug,glug out until the tank is dry. To check,remove the hose and see that no more

water is draining (sometimes you have toremove the drain valve completelybecause it won’t open).Step 6 - reverse steps 5, 4, 3, 2. (if youopened an air vent in step five to help thetank drain MAKE SURE you tighten itup again, or you will have to start all over.Close the drain tap, open the tankisolation valve (you will hear some waterrush in and the boiler pressure gauge

should drop to almost zero).Open the boiler fill valve, and more

water should rush in until the pressurestabilizes (should be 12-15 psig in a twostorey house). If the pressure starts toclimb over 15 psig, turn off the feed andloosen the adjustment screw on the topof the boiler fill regulator until it is slack.Then open the fill valve again. No watershould rush in. Slowly screw down theadjustment screw until you hear a smallflow of water and the pressure gaugestarts to rise again.

At this point you want to see thepressure stabilize. If the pressure stopsrising before it gets to 15 psig, that’s agood thing. Tighten the adjustmentscrew 1/4 turn at a time until thepressure stabilizes at 15 psig.

If the boiler fill regulator is notstopping the pressure rise - turn off the fillvalve - the system will still operate, butyou will have to check the pressureregularly to make sure it stays at or slightly

above 15 psig, and then decide if you wantto replace it. Most manufacturers of boilerfill valves tell you to turn them off afterthe fill is done anyways.Step 7 - check around for leaks at all ofthe valves you were playing with and atthe expansion tank - fix where required.Step 8 - turn the power switch back onand turn up the thermostat to fire up theboiler. Watch the pressure gauge to makesure it doesn’t creep up more than apound or two

You should be good to go. If yoursystem was at 30 psig before and is nowstable at 15 to 18 psig, the relief valvemay even stop leaking on its own. If not,you will have to replace it.

As usual, this article raises manyquestions. Why does an expansion tankwater-log in the first place? How do yousize a replacement tank? What differencesare there between the old style tanks andthe newer pre-pressurized ones?

Stay tuned! ✚

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“CLASSIC” SOUTHERN ONTARIO 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’sRESIDENTIAL HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM

ISOLATIONVALVE(IF YOU’RELUCKY)

HOSECONNECTIONDRAIN VALVE

AIR VENT ORSIGHT GLASS(MAYBE)

6

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32

1

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Because water does not compress much at all,it will rip your piping system apart if it wasn’t

for the pressure relief valve.

■ Hot Water Heating


Continued from page 17


the colors of cool

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As mentioned in the first article in this series,cooling loads can be broken down into latent(dehumidification) and sensible portions, with

the latter accounting for about 70-75 percent of thetotal in typical comfort cooling applications.

Most of the latent load in conventional buildingsis required to dehumidify ventilation air and thesensible loads originate in the space – conductive heatgains through the structure, solar gain, heat gainwithin the space from lights, people, etc.

Conventional all-air systems look after the entirecooling load and have to deliver high volumes of air ata temperature cool enough to get the job done.Dehumidification requires cold water, usuallybelow about 7°C (45°F), andsupply air temperatures belowabout 12.8°C (55°F). Thismeans large fans and ducts,and supply air temperaturesthat can be un com fort ably lowfor some occupants.

Breaking down the coolingsystems into smaller airsystems designed to handleonly the latent load andhydronic dis tribution systemsto independently handle thesensible loads can improvecomfort and reduce energyconsumption. And, as all ofus wet heads know, morehydronics is always a goodthing!

Radiant cooling is a generalterm that is applied tosensible-only cooling systems,even though many of themtransfer some or all of the heat through convection.Like a lot of things related to hydronics, radiantcooling has been more widely used in Europe than inNorth America. I was at an American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air ConditioningEngineers (ASHRAE) regional conference in Spokanelast spring where one of the speakers informed us thatin Sweden they have banned recirculated air.

Ventilation is provided by dedicated outside airsystems (DOAS) and both heating and sensible coolingloads are handled by radiant systems. We are starting tosee the same approach being applied here, so it’simportant for hydronics professionals to understandhow these systems work.

A new approachAssuming that the latent load is being adequately

handled by the dedicated outside air system (and this iscritical), we can now apply the reverse of radiant heatingto get the sensible load out of the space. If we canprovide an adequate amount of surface area that iscooler than the desired space temperature, heat willmove from warm objects in the room, like people, tothe cool surfaces where it will be absorbed and removed.

Any conventional radiant heating surface can beused for sensible cooling as well, so it’s possible to usethe same equipment for heating and cooling. Aradiant floor panel, because of its large surface area,may be able to handle the sensible loads in a space

when supplied with water at temperatures as high as18 °C (65 °F). There can be issues with changeoverfrom heating to cooling in high mass panels likeconcrete floors, especially in shoulder seasons whensystems may be switching from heating to cooling andback a couple of times a day. That’s not too practicalwhen it might take several hours just to change thetemperature of the slab.

It’s important in any sensible cooling applicationto prevent condensation on the heat transfer surfaces.Imagine sitting at a desk underneath a radiant coolingpanel and having raindrops falling on your head. Thetemperature of the chilled fluid supplied to theradiant cooling equipment must be maintained at atemperature higher than the dewpoint temperaturein the room. As a reference point, a space temperatureof 24 °C (75 °F) and relative humidity of 50 percent

equates to a dewpoint temperature of 12.8 °C (55 °F),so supply temperatures for sensible only coolingequip ment usually run from a minimum of about14°C (57 °F) up to about 17 °C (63 °F). This stillallows radiant cooling surfaces to remove significantamounts of heat per square unit of area.

The control required to maintain the chilled watersupply higher than the space dewpoint temperaturerequires the addition of some components that wedon’t normally see. A dewpoint sensor in the spacein combination with a controller and a mixing valveare a common solution.

Alternatively, or perhaps additionally, condensatesensors can be placed on the chilled water supply pipeor on the radiant panel surfaces to detect moisture andincrease the water supply temperature. However it’sdone, maintaining accurate control of the chilled watersupply temperature is fundamental for radiant cooling.

Terminal units for coolingAs mentioned above, any surface can be used forradiant cooling, but the most common terminal unitsused are radiant ceiling panels and chilled beams.

Ceiling cooling panels are no different thanceiling heating panels in construction,

but are slightly morecomplicated to select.

The amount of energythey can absorb is affectedby the type of room theyare in, e.g. an interior spaceversus an exterior spacewith some portion of thewall being glass. Chilledbeams are available inpassive and active styles.They use finned coil heattransfer surfaces similar toa conventional cooling coiland surrounded by aplenum. Air cooled by thissurface increases in densityand drops into the space,drawing air into theplenum to replace it andsetting up a convectiveairflow in the room.

Passive beams operateindependently of the ventil ation airflow. Active beamshave the ventilation airflow blown through jets orventuris in the plenum to induce airflow from thespace into the beam.

Retrofitting older buildingsRadiant cooling can be particularly attractive whenretrofitting older buildings because of spaceconsiderations. Ductwork only has to be large enoughto handle ventilation airflow rates, which will almostalways be considerably lower than conventional airconditioning system airflows. Radiant coolingequipment takes up less space in the ceiling thaneither fan-coil units or VAV boxes, and there is noneed to run condensate drains from the space as therewould be with fan-coil units. Tenants will appreciatethe quiet operation. ✚

■ Cooling

Radiant cooling panels

Conditioned ventilationair supply fom DOASExhaust air

Space thermostat

Dewpoint temperature sensor

Space boundary

CHWS

CHWR

Space thermostat modulates flow of chilled water tocontrol temperature in space

Dewpoint sensor resets CHWS temperature tomaintain it higher than dewpoint in space

SensibleHeat

Hydronic cooling Part IIIBreaking down the systemSmaller loads reduce energy consumption By Jerry Boulanger

In this example of a space with radiant cooling, the ventilation air issupplied by a dedicated outside air system with matching exhaust and

sensible cooling load removed through radiant ceiling panels.


Irecently received a call from a refrigerationcontractor asking how to determine the size andlength of copper pipe in a tank of water he wanted

to cool. I explained that the co-efficient factor forcopper was 216 BTU’ per degree temperaturedifference per square foot. However, for this to beapplied, more than the heat transferco-efficient and area had to beconsidered. The water movementover the pipe surface has a great dealof impact on the performance of anycoil immersed in water.

The project came about from acall from his customer who had afast food outlet. The establishmenthad a number of water cooledrefrigeration units for freezers,

walk-in coolers and ice cream making. Water waspumped though a storage tank to the units. A secondpump moved tank water to a roof top fluid cooler,with thermostatic control of fan cycling.

The storage tank had a float valve to control citymakeup water, and tank overflow to waste. There was

a tank temperature water control valve that fed citywater into the storage tank for backup should thecooling system fail to keep up to the load.

The fluid cooler appeared to have been selected tomeet the capacity up to an ambient of 80ºF (27C).City water was to be used to make up any coolingshortfall during days above 80ºF.

Initially water to the store was not metered, but onflat rate. Recently, meters were installed and thisresulted in water costs up to $1400 per month duringthe summer.

The storage tank had a removable top so it was easyto drop a coil of copper into the tank and connect itto a cooling unit. And while the refrigeration unit’swater demand could be calculated, how much coil inthe tank wasn’t as easily determined.

The total ejected heat was calculated and it lookedlike a four-ton heat pump unit would do the job (setfor cooling only) as it was well suited for theapplication. A 50 ft. coil of 3/4-inch copper and an icebank thermostat were used to create an ice bank toprovide for the shortfall of the fluid cooler duringwarmer days.

Fig. 1 shows the general layout of the system whileFig. 2 shows the control system.

While the “fix” worked well, one has to ask if itwas to be done over again, from scratch, would theyhave been better to select a fluid cooler large enoughto handle the load year round, or just use a coolingunit and let it build up an ice bank overnight tohandle the ejected heat load of the various watercooled units? ■


■ Refrigeration

Saving water and costsSmall changes make less than ideal system run more efficiently By Ed Gravelle

Would they have been better

to select a fluid cooler large enough

to handle the load year round?



Close clearance stovepipeModel DCC Double Wall Stove Pipefrom Selkirk is designed withprofessional features exclusively for thehearth market. It is UL/CUL and ULC S-

641 (Canada) listed as a connector pipebetween a wood stove and chimney. Thesmooth lines of the black outer wallallow for slip connectors and easyinstallation. It is listed for six-inchclearance on all diameters and in allinstallation configurations – making itthe closest clearance of all stove pipes onthe market, reports the manufacturer.Selkirk Canada �www.selkirkcorp.com

Chimney top fanTjernlund Auto-Draft chimney fans help

fires start quickly and eliminate smokepuff back during refueling. Designed forwood or gas fireplaces, they mount on topof either tile lined or metal flues andfeature a base plate with removable hingepin for easy installation. Once installed, thefan assembly can be swung away from thebase for direct access to the chimneyinterior during inspection and cleaning.CGF Products �www.cgfproducts.com

In-line duct fanThe Continental Fan AXC model offersventilation solutions for residential, lightcommercial and industrial applications. Itcan be used for bathroom exhaust, rangehood exhaust and duct boosting(residential) along with light dust, fumes,and general ventilation (commercial).Sizes vary from four to 14” with airflows

from 106 cfm to 1400 cfm. A shielded ballbearing motor in a rugged galvanizedhousing results in a maintenance-free fan.Aeroflo �www.aeroflo.com

Fire/smoke dampersGreenheck Model GFSD-211 andGFSD-212 out-of-wall combinationfire smoke dampers are designed foreasy access through the grille to thedamper, closure device and actuator. A

separate compartmenthouses the actuator,allowing for a shallowoperating depth of13.5 inches. Bothmodels are qualified tovelocities up to 2000

fpm and pressure ratings up to fourinches wg. They are available invertical or horizontal mountswith a maximum size of 48inches x 48 inches.Greenheck �www.greenheck.com

■ Ventilation

Tel: 905-890-6192 Toll: 800-779-4021 Web: www.aeroflo.com

Questioning yourDryer Exhaust?

Aeroflo has the answers! DVK Dryer Vent Kits help boost dryer exhaust to overcome long and complex duct runs that are found in many of today’s homes. DVK kits provide powerful, yet quiet exhaust, reduce drying times and save energy costs.

Aeroflo offers a superior line of ventilation products and air purification systems, providing .....better AIRFLOW by DESIGN!TM

The Series 40 single packaged unit from Johnson Controls is designed tomeet unique comfort and efficiency needs with expanded options anddesign flexibility.

Featuring a cooling capacity of 25-40 tons with HFC-410A refrigerant,this unit can provide heating and cooling in a number of differentmodes, including:■ Cooling only■ Cooling/gas heating (natural gas or propane)■ Cooling/electric heat■ Cooling/hot water heat■ Cooling/steam heat

A number of factory-installed options are available includingeconomizers, power exhaust, high-efficiency motors, high-efficiency

filtration, high-capacity evaporator coils, and single-point power.Integrated, pre-engineered and installed controls make startup and

commissioning of the Series 40 straightforward.Johnson Controls �www.johnsoncontrols.com

Product ProfileFlexibility in a single package

This rooftop unit can be set up with forced air, hydronic or steam heatingalong with high efficiency cooling.


THE HEART

ALWAYS USES

ENERGY

EFFICIENTLYThe heart never uses more energy

than necessary

up to energy savings when you use

Visit grundfos.ca/handbook to order a FREE copy of

the Grundfos Handbook. Use Promo Code: 47131J

Fighting climate changeIt’s no secret that reducing energy consumption is an important step in reducing the CO

2 emissions

responsible for global warming. And lower energy consumption means lower energy bills. Choosing an ALPHA™ in domestic applications or a MAGNA in commercial buildings saves the earth and money at the same time.

The energy-optimized ALPHA™ is so efficient, it can operate on as little as 5 Watts. This amazingly low power consumption is always visible on the

easy-to-read real-time display, showing customers just how much energy they are saving.

To find out just how much energy Grundfos energy-efficient circulators could really save your customers, you can both visit us at:

poweredby.grundfos.ca

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Positive shut-offBelimo HD Series ductile iron butterflyvalves are designed for HVAC andcommercial applications requiring positiveshut-off for liquids at higher pressures andtemperatures. Typical applications includechiller isolation, cooling tower isolation,change-over systems, large air handler coilcontrol, bypass and process control. Atough new ductile iron cast body andupgraded internal components ensurereliable operation.Belimo � www.belimo.ca

Expanded PICV lineDanfoss has expanded its AB-QM line ofpressure independent control valves(PICVs). It includes new 1½-inch andtwo-inch valves that offer maximumflows of 35 gpm and 55 gpm,respectively. Six-inch valves are also inthe works. These units combine a controlvalve with a differential pressurecontroller, ensuring that the requiredvolumetric flow always reaches the heatexchanger.Danfoss � www.ABQM.us

■ Pipes, Valves & Fittings

Washingmachine boxWashing machine andice maker boxes from OS&B simplifyinstallation for the plumber.Constructed of high impact plastic,these new boxes are available in thefollowing configurations: box only, box

with ¼-turnbrass ball valve(s),

and box with ¼-turnbrass ball valve(s) and copper waterhammer arrestor(s). Styles available arecopper/MIP, CPVC, Wirsbo and PEX.Oakville Stamping & Bending�www.osb.ca

Delta-T circulatorsVariable Speed Delta-T circulators by Taco combinea microprocessor-based variablespeed differential controller withTaco’s 00 cartridge circulators. Thetradesman dials in the design delta-Tof the system or zone (from 5 - 50°F)and the circulator automaticallyadjusts its performance to match thesystem’s ideal BTU/hr output, whilereducing fuel consumption four tofive percent and eliminating velocitynoise.Taco Canada � www.taco-hvac.com

Residential & Commercial Air Movement Products

Make Fantech your source for high quality residential and commercial ventilation products. You’ll find a wide range of products to fit any application. Each one engineered for quality and dependability. Fans range in size from 50 CFM to 76,000 CFM.

Superior Products. Superior Warranties. We guarantee it.

Trust Fantech For All Your Ventilation Needs

Now Offering a Full Line of Power Roof Ventilators, Wall Fans & Air Circulators

1.800.565.3548


NEOTHERM FEATURES• Natural or propane gas, many

factory-mounted options• 10 Boiler sizes from 80,000

to 850,000 BTU/h• 5 Water heater sizes from

150,000 to 500,000 BTU/h• Suitable for large residential and

small commercial applications• All connections are on top of unit• Stainless steel heat exchanger• Rated for alcove and closet installations

• Large user interface and display• Qualifies for energy rebates• 12-year limited warranty

(boiler)

• 5-year limited warranty (water heater)

NeoTherm is a direct vent, sealed

combustion, condensing product

boasting 95% efficiency that modulates

with a 5 to 1 turndown. Zero clearance

to combustibles tolerance, and the

convenient top connections (horizontal or

vertical direct vent) make NeoTherm

perfect for tight installations.

Featuring an ASME stainless steel heat

exchanger, and low NOx emissions,

NeoTherm's easy to use, and easy on

the environment. Built standard with the

new LAARS Integrated Control SystemSM

means the ignition control, temperature

control and high limit are contained in

one user-friendly device.

The modulating PID control has outdoor

reset, indirect water heater priority

(boilers only) and frost protection.

It works with building automation systems

and with other controls to become part

of a multiple unit sequencing control.

When you put it all together,

NeoTherm is everything a modern

product should be…

easy-to-use, easy on

the environment,

powerful and

compact.


www.Laars.com866.690.0961

©2009, Laars® Heating Systems. All rights reserved.

1869 Sismet Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L4W 1W8

905 238-0100 • 905 366-0130 Fax


■ Faucets & Fixtures

Japanese Technology at Work

AutomaticPipe Threading Machines

Pipe & HVAC Tools Contact us for a wholesaler near you. Raptor Cutting Tools Inc. 1-877-727-2888 Email: [email protected] Web: www.raptorcutting.com Western Sales:Delaney & Associates Tel: 403-589-6565

Asada Threader Features • ½"-2" Ridgid® Style Dies • Light Weight • Automatic Die Head • Built In Reamer • Through Head Oiling • Built in Pipe Cutter • 2 Year Warranty

B25 ( ½"-1"-Cap.)

Model B100 (½"- 4" Cap.)

Model B80 (½"- 3" Cap.)

Internal Nipple Chucks

B50 ( ½"-2"-Cap.)

Asada Automatic Die Head

Roll Grooving Attachment

Green kitchen faucetThe new Dorsey Eco-Performance kitchenfaucet from Moen allows users to easily switchbetween three unique water-flow settings. Theseinclude a reduced flow rate of 6.6 litres perminute in “eco-performance standard” oraerated modes for washing dishes, etc. and 8.3L/min rate for filling pots. The traditionallystyled faucets are available in chrome and MoenLifeshine Classic Stainless finishes.Moen Canada � www.moen.ca

Italian lookThe Corsa line from PricePfister showcases a cleanand sleek Italian styling that is designed to suit anystyle bathroom. All faucets feature the Italian valvingsystem, which meets the strictest noise standards toensure quiet and effective performance in multi-family or commercial settings. Construction is solidbrass to ensure durability and functionality.Price Pfister � www.pricepfister.com

Faucet designers often struggle to find the rightbalance between style and practical requirements. The new Pekoe kitchen faucet collection fromAmerican Standard brings a stylish high-arch presenceto the kitchen while offering a number of practicaldown-to-earth features.

“When American Standard launches a new design,it has to embody three essential qualities,” saysGraeme Lennox, marketing manager for AmericanStandard Brands, Canada. “It must be practical for theway Canadians live today; it must embody a visualstyle that looks good now and into the future forsome time to come; and it must offer the higheststandards of performance.”

Pekoe offers six different ways of putting water towork. The Pekoe Extender Faucet includes a short pop-out spout that lets the user direct the water flowanywhere in the sink area, as a stream or spray. The Pekoe Pull-down Faucet and the Pekoe Pull-outFaucet each have a hidden spout with an adjustable spray pattern. The Pekoe Bar Faucet and thePekoe Kitchen Faucet are good-looking basic units, while the Pekoe Semi-Professional Faucet willappeal to the kitchen-savvy user who demands a trendy style with outstanding performance.American Standard � www.americanstandard.ca

Pekoe kitchen faucets offer style withoutcompromising on the practical.

Product ProfileMulti-tasking faucets

www.plumbingandhvac.ca November/December 2009 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 27

High style bathThe Viaggi Bath from MAAX is an unconventionaldesign that features a seamless, egg-shaped bath atopa thick, wooden frame featuring geometric shapes.Available in a 70x36 size, the extreme textures andrich earth tones of the Viaggi tub bring fine art tothe bathroom.MAAX � www.MAAX.com

Urinal advertisingThe new Falcon F7000 waterfree urinal from FalconWaterfree provideswater and odor-freeoperation whilegenerating advertisingrevenue for the buildingowner. Featuring asplash-free bowl, thisurinal includes a specialarea for advertisingmessages. Advertising onthe F7000 is easy toupdate, easy to clean,and eliminates the needto install advertisingframes on restroomwalls, maintains the manufacturer.Falcon Waterfree � www.falconwaterfree.com


SMART LIVES HERE.

deltafaucet.com

Now that’s smart. So many intelligent innovations.

Packed into one beautiful faucet. Leave it to Delta®

to bring such a high level of functionality and ingenuity

to its faucets. It’s just the kind of innovative thinking

homeowners are looking for to enhance the routines

of everyday life. Learn more about these and other

smart features at our user-friendly deltafaucet.com.

Smart technology. Another way that Delta is more

than just a faucet.

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Iran into the man that was my very first journeymanyesterday and I could tell that Ludwig was as happyto see me as I was to see him. It’s been more than

twenty years since we last saw each other and the onlything that was different was the color of our hair.

Ludwig taught me a lot of valuable lessons, but onething he said that really stuck with me is that a goodplumber always keeps a pair of pliers in his pocket. He’sa smart man and I thought I should follow his advice.At first they felt awkward but then I switched to carryingthem in my back pocket and found that far morecomfortable. Now I don’t leave home without them.

I’m not talking about channel locks here either; I meana good pair of water-pump pliers. Even the term “pair” ofpliers proclaims their value. There’s only one tool that isreferred to in the plural ...they’re simply that awesome.

Of course I couldn’t get the job done without my tapemeasure or my level and a day without my cordless drillwould be a long day indeed, but if I don’t have my pliersI’m just another guy with dirty hands. With them I aman iron man with cyborg hands that have super strengthand feel no pain – they handle freshly soldered pipessafely, overpower solvent weld fittings, forcing them intoposition before they set and can crank rusty old boltsinto submission. “Surrender cast iron clean-out cover,resistance is futile,” says I.

The ultimate tool?My intention here is to suggest that if there is one toolthat might be considered as “The” tool of the trade, Iwould recommend a pair of pliers. Because of its acrossthe board versatility from rough-in to finishing,residential, commercial or industrial, it’s the tool I reachfor most.

You can pound in and wrench out a spike with thiswonder tool, but its usefulness is not limited to just brute

strength and power. Not by a long shot. With experience,a skilled operator can manipulate the tool to performdelicate tasks gracefully as well. Removing a retainer clipin a tight spot, reforming a bent copper fitting, pullingup a stubborn zipper or popping a bottle cap can bedone with ease. I have even repaired jewelry with myfavorite tool…

Relationship booster?Now these amazing abilities are all well and good, youmight be thinking, but what can this incredible tool do toimprove my love life? Well, imagine if you will the followingsituation. With the lights down low and the music playingsoftly, any sophisticated lady would be powerless to resistthe charms of a handy man with his pliers at the ready,cleaned and shined for the occasion of course.

“Would you like some wine dear” he would whisper ashe deftly adjusts the jaw width to fit snugly over the re-sealable cap. “Oh yes kind sir” the fine lady might reply“and it seems one of the tines on my fondue fork is bent...is there anything a big strong pair of pliers could do tohelp a fair maiden in distress?” Well you don’t have to bea genius to see where this scene is heading. And this isjust one of a million romantic scenarios available to theamorous pliersman; the potential for a daytime soap isa real possibility.

Not for every taskIt wouldn’t be fair or accurate to say that this one tool iscapable of performing every task, certainly not. In fact,

there are situationswhere a pair of pliers isdefinitely not the toolof choice... installingchrome, polished brassor brushed nickel piecesfor example. This amazing

tool may have its weakpoints, but even Superman

has Kryptonite.Of course the pipe wrench is more commonly

recognized as being the plumbers’ main tool. I’m surethat if tests were held to determine symbol/occupationassociation, most people would guess ‘plumber’ whenshown a picture of a pipe wrench.

Realistically though, with today’s modern materials,the pipe wrench rarely makes an appearance on thejobsite and it doesn’t fit into my pocket very well. A pairof pliers, on the other hand, fits perfectly and on colddays I heat them with my torch to keep me warm too.No other tool provides such comfort, versatility andconvenience. Even unused in your pocket they’re helpfulin maintaining the image the world expects of us.... thosepants aren’t going to hang low by themselves you know.

So with thanks to Ludwig for his insightful advice, itgives me great pleasure to nominate the pair of pliers as“The” tool of the trade! ✚

Mark Evans is a licensed plumber in Waterloo, Ont. Hecan be reached at [email protected].

www.plumbingandhvac.ca November/December 2009 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 29

■ The Pipeline

By Mark Evans

Sales Representative Required for Toronto TerritoryThe successful candidate will be calling on Mechanical Contractorsand Engineers in Toronto. The candidate will possess the following:

■ A proven track record of 3-4 years in outside sales■ Reliable transportation■ Exceptional communication and organization skills■ Basic computer skills (MS Office)■ Plumbing industry experience an asset

All interested applicants are invited to express their interest in confidence,via email to [email protected]

Sometimes the best methods are low-tech

ultimate tool

Realistically though, withtoday’s modern materials, thepipe wrench rarely makes an appearance on the jobsite…



One wouldn’t expect major changes for the2010 model year vans and trucks giventhe current economic downturn and auto

industry woes. But that’s not quite the case for thevehicles that plumbing and HVAC/R tradesmenuse in their day-to-day business.

ChryslerFor the first time since 1964 when it launched itsDodge and Fargo A100-models, Chrysler will notoffer a full-sized cargo van. The Sprinter – aproduct of the Mercedes-Benz/Chryslerpartnership – has been dropped now that therelationship has been dissolved.

Chrysler is now owned by Italian car maker Fiatand plans to launch Fiat-based trade vans into theNorth American market “in a couple of years,”reported Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff.

So, what of the Sprinter, which has gained asignificant following in Canada since its launch in2004? It will be offered exclusively throughMercedes-Benz Canada dealers, reported companyspokesperson JoAnne Caza. Details on the newmodels were unavailable at press time. (Watch fora full report in the January issue.) The Sprinter willnot be available through Freightliner heavy truckdealers in Canada as it is in the U.S., she added.

As a result, the only commercial van offeringfrom Chrysler is the Dodge Grand Caravan CargoVan. Its payload has been boosted from 1,500 to1,800 lbs. for 2010.

Chrysler has gone to considerable effort tomake the front-wheel drive Caravan appeal to thetrades, but its smaller size and Minivan-style doorshave prevented it from really catching on. A raisedroof and swing-out rear doors could change that.

On the pickup side, towing capability of theDodge RAM 1500 has been increased to 10,450 lbs.while a new multi-link coil spring rear suspensionprovides a smoother ride without sacrificingpayload (1,900 lbs.).

The RamBox cargo management systemprovides secure storage for tools and supplies.

The heavy-duty pickups – the 2500 and 3500 –will be available for the first time in a crew cab model.Re-tuned suspension components greatly improve

the ride over previous generations, reports Chrysler.The smaller Dakota pickup also gets improved

ride and handling with new front shock modulesand springs along with new rear springs.

FordThe Ford Transit Connect small van is a new modelfor 2010 that appeared in dealer showrooms thispast summer. Designed from the ground up as acommercial van, it has gained a following inEurope since it was introduced there in 2003.

Available cargo space is 135 sq. ft. while thepayload is 1,600 lbs. A two-litre four-cylinder enginewith front-wheel drive provides the go power.

It is available with Ford’s Work Solutions in-dash computer system, which provides Internetaccess, productivity software, printing capabilitiesalong with tool and fleet tracking.

For those who need a larger van, Ford’s popularE-Series remains largely unchanged for 2010. It toois available with Work Solutions.

Access to the interior has been enhanced with aflexible door system that permits doors to beopened to 105 degrees and then opened further to178 degrees with a simple push.

Ford has incorporated a number of high-techoptions into its E-Series, including a speed limiterto control lead-footed employees on the highway,rear backup camera, Sirius Travel Link navigationsystem that provides real-time traffic and weatherdata along with other information.

Ford has announced new power trains for its2011 Super Duty pickup trucks. Leading the wayis Ford’s 6.7-litire Power Stroke turbocharged V-8 diesel. A new six-speed automatic TorqShifttransmission features Ford’s SelectShifttechnology that allows the driver to switch tomanual mode if needed. It is also available withLive Drive Power Take Off (PTO) to driveauxiliary equipment.

Also new is a 6.2-litre V-8 gasoline engine withimproved torque and fuel economy. For safer towing,Ford has added its Trailer Sway Control system.

Ford completely redesigned its popular F150pickup in 2009. As a result, changes for 2010 arerelatively small. The fuel economy features of the2009 SFE F-150 have been applied to all two-wheel-

■ Trucks for the Trade

The Ford E-Series gains a number of high-tech options.

Ford’s Transit Connect offers a new approach in cargo vans.

An increase in payload makes the Dodge Grand Caravan more practical.

By Simon Blake

The NEW TRUCKSfor2010



drive trucks with the 4.6 litre 3-valve V-8, allowing themto achieve 15 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway.

On its small Ranger pickup, Ford offers itsAdvanceTrac system with Roll Stability Control, alongwith a standard Class 3 trailer hitch.

Pickups are also available with Work Solutions andnumerous other features geared towards theconstruction trades.

General MotorsWith the exception of the 2010 Silverado hybrid, changesamong General Motors Chevrolet and GMC trucks andvans are relatively small.

A remote starter will be available on theExpress/Savanna cargo vans. The 2500 and 3500 modelsreceive a new Hydra-Matic six-speed automatictransmission along with revised rear axles, all of whichadd up to improved low-end torque, better highwaymileage and improved drivability.

The small HHR panel van returns largely unchanged.The GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado pickups

with the 5.3-litre V-8 get a six-speed automatictransmission. Both the half-ton and Super Duty modelsget USB connections in the centre consol to plug invarious hand-held devices. The StabiliTrak electroniccontrol system is now standard on 1500 models.

A hybrid pickupThe 2010 Silverado/Sierra hybrid pickups offersubstantially improved fuel mileage for city driving over aconventional pickup. In fact, they start and drive up to 48km-h on the electric motor alone – even when fully loadedor towing a trailer.

GM’s two-mode hybrid system combines thecompany’s Electrically Variable Transmission and 300-voltnickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System (battery) witha Vortec 6.0 litre gas engine. The electric motor becomes agenerator when the vehicle is coasting or braking,recharging the battery.

The gas engine features GM’s Active Fuel Managementand Late Intake Valve Closing technology, allowing theengine to operate on four cylinders under partial load.

The two-mode system allows the vehicle to switch backand forth seamlessly between electric and gas operation.

ToyotaToyota has upgraded its Tundra full-sized pickup with a

4.6-litre V-8 that achieves 12 percent more horsepower(310 hp) and an 11 percent improvement in average fuelmileage (12.1 litres per 100 km) than the previous 4.7-litreV-8. Or, in other words, 60 litres of gasoline will get about500 km of mixed city and highway driving – very good fora full-sized pickup. A 5.7 litre 381 hp V-8 is also available.

There are 15 models in three cab configurations andthree bed lengths. Safety equipment has been improvedwith a driver side knee airbag now standard.

As well, more models have been fitted with anautomatic headlight leveling system, fog lamps, towingmirrors, integrated garage door opener and folddown

seatback table as standard equipment.The smaller Tacoma pickup is little changed for 2010.

NissanNissan’s new NV200 cargo van, profiled last Januaryin P&HVAC, will now be offered as a 2012 model,reports Nissan spokesperson Alexandra Cygal.Meanwhile, Nissan has made a number of upgrades toits full-sized Titan pickup for 2010 including standardside-impact and side curtain air bags and thecompany’s Vehicle Dynamic Control, an electronicstability control system.✚

A commercial plumbing system that offers time and cost-

savings without sacrificing strength and performance.

Hot & Cold Water Systems1-866-473-9462 www.ipexinc.com

Products manufactured by IPEX Inc. AquaRise® is a trademark of IPEX Branding Inc.

The Silverado hybrid is a powerful pickup in a fuel miser package. A new engine gives the Toyota Tundra more horsepower and better mileage.


Let’s jump to$1.75 Million

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating – L’institut

canadien de plomberie et de chauffage, Invites you to attend the

CIPH Gala Evening insupport of Habitat for

Humanity Canada

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

At the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, TorontoFeaturing

RonJames


The new lightweight Gen-Eye POD and MINI-POD inspection systems from General PipeCleaners combine a camera, reel, and monitor inone package.

This includes a large 5.6” LCD color monitorprotected by a padded case. It’s mounted on asturdy but flexible gooseneck that swivels to givethe user the best viewing angle.

The full size Gen-Eye POD features a self-leveling camera and 200 ft. of General’sGel-Rod push rod for trouble-shooting three to10” drain lines.

It includes a rugged frame and reel withdrag brake and reel lock. It can be operatedvertically or horizontally.

The MINI-POD carries 125 ft. or 175 ft.of push rod and the color mini-camera issmall enough to trouble shoot 2” to 4” lines.

Both systems include a video outconnection that lets the technician record to anexternal device. Other features include a pictureinverter, AC and DC power cords, LED dimmercontrol, a three-inch trap skid, and a 512 Hz transmitter(optional with MINI-POD).General Pipe Cleaners � www.drainbrain.com


■ Tools & Instruments

Aeroflo ........................................................23Bradford White ..............................................8Chrysler .......................................................16CIPH ............................................................32CMX-CIPHEX ...............................................34Delta Faucet.................................................28Fantech........................................................25Ford ...............................................................6Fujitsu ..........................................................39General Pipe Cleaners ..................................12Grundfos Canada.........................................24Honeywell Genetron ....................................20IPEX .............................................................31LAARS Heating.............................................26Madok Mfg..................................................19Mobilio ..........................................................9P&HVAC ......................................................35Pipe Tools Supply..........................................35RaptorCutting Tools .....................................27RIDGID.........................................................40Saniflo .........................................................14SelkirkCanada ..............................................15Stanley Tools ................................................18Taco Canada ..................................................2Viessmann .....................................................4Watts Industries ..........................................36Zurn Industries ...............................................7

ADVERTISERSINDEXto

Product ProfileResidential geothermal drilling rigkits designed for small contractorsOne of the biggest struggles for any contractor entering the geothermalheating/cooling business can often be finding a drilling company to drillthe necessary holes in the ground.

A new drilling rig, available in kit form and specifically geared to thegeothermal industry, is designed to allow contractors to bring that difficulttask in house.

The K60 Geothermal Drilling Rig from RigKits LLC is designed forrestricted access residential retrofit of geothermal ground loops.

At just five feet wide (1.5m), the unit can get into most back yards. Ithas an onboard rod rack that can hold 380 feet of 10’ rods and is capableof drilling over 500 feet deep. Loop installation is as simple as it gets withthis machine.

“The K60 represents the latest in technology for low environmentalimpact drilling rigs… A clean work site is essential in residentialapplications, that was one of the major factors in designing thisequipment,” says RigKits’ Elliott Duck.

What separates RigKits from other manufacturers is that the equipmentis sold in kit form, drastically reducing the cost, he added. All thefabrication is done, leaving the owner to bolt the unit together, fit thehydraulics and paint it.

It may just make a nice project for that mid-winter slowdown!RigKits LLC � www.rigkits.com

Small and quiet, these drilling rigs are designed for installing residentialgeothermal systems.

Both the Gen-EYE POD and Mini-POD are on thecutting edge of today’s drain inspection technol-ogy that is seeing cameras get smaller, lighterand easier to use.

Compact and economicalvideo inspection system


Payment By Mail: Make cheques payable to CMX·CIPHEX and mail to:

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Don’t miss the Learning Forum - the hot topics, the best advice and the real know-how from the pro’s who know.

What Best Describes Your Company's Business?Choose One Only( ) Contractor( ) Architect( ) Building/Construction( ) Building Management( ) Consulting( ) Consulting Engineering( ) Manufacturer/Manufacturer's Agent( ) Service/Maintenance( ) Home Builder( ) Government( ) Wholesaler( ) Other (specify) ____________________________

Which Best Describes Your Job Function? Choose One Only( ) Owner/Partner

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Check One( ) Please send my completed badge via mail( ) Hold my badge for pick-up at the show

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■ Coming Events


A recovering U.S. economy bodes well for NorthAmerica’s largest HVAC/R trade show.

“We definitely believe that the steadily improvingeconomy is a key factor in the surge of companiessigning up to exhibit,” said Clay Stevens, president ofInternational Exposition Company. It produces theAHR Expo, scheduled to place at the Orange CountyConvention Centre in Orlando, Florida Jan. 25-27.

In fact, 165 companies that didn’t participate in the2009 event in Chicago have signed up for the Orlandoshow. Close to 100 of those have never previouslyexhibited at AHR Expo, he added.

Stevens said he believes many companies werewaiting to see how prospects for their fourth quarterwere looking before committing to the event, whichtypically attracts more than 1,700 exhibitingcompanies and over 40,000 HVAC/R professionalsevery year. So far, 310 exhibitors are from outside theU.S. Typically about 100 of those are Canadian.

Of course, for contractors and engineers, the widearray of heating, ventilation, air conditioning andrefrigeration equipment on display at the show is a

major draw. And for engineers, the American Societyof Heating, Refrigerating and Air ConditioningEngineers (ASHRAE) Winter Meeting, occurringduring the same week, is also a key attraction.Numerous manufacturers hold educational sessionsduring the Expo itself.

And then there’s the opportunity to go to Orlandoat the end of January – that too is a big draw! Manyshow visitors bring their families and extend the tripto include a holiday. Disney World and UniversalStudios are nearby and Daytona Beach is 40 minutesaway.

The 2010 AHR Expo is co-sponsored by theAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and theAir-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute(AHRI). The Heating. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is anhonorary sponsor.

For more information on the AHR Expo, visitwww.ahrexpo.com. For more on the ASHRAE WinterMeeting, please visit www.ashrae.org.

Pipe Tools Supply has been proudly providing tools for the trades since 1918 and selling Ridgid Tools for over 70 years. A Canadian owned business we invite you to visit our Showroom and see the new Ridgid Micro Drain camera.

Pipe Tools Supply Limited114 Rivalda Road, Weston Ontario

416 749-5835www.pipetoolssupply.com

has been proudly providing tools for the trades since 1918 and selling Ridgid Tools for over 70 years. A Canadian owned business we invite you to visit our Showroom and see the new Ridgid Micro Drain camera.

Pipe Tools Supply Limited114 Rivalda Road, Weston Ontario

416 749-5835www.pipetoolssupply.com

2010JAN 23-27

ASHRAE Winter Conference, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida. Visit www.ashrae.org.

JAN. 25-27AHR Expo, Orange County ConventionCentre, Orlando, Florida. Visit www.AHRExpo.com.

MAR. 24Canadian Institute of Plumbing &Heating Gala Evening for Habitat forHumanity, Royal York Hotel, Toronto.Contact Nancy Barden at (416) 695-0447or [email protected]. www.ciph.com.

MAR. 25-27CMX-CIPHEX 2010, Metro TorontoConvention Centre, Toronto, Ont. Call (416) 444-5225,www.cmxciphexshow.com.

CalendarEventsRecovering U.S. economy

boosts HVAC/R exhibition


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■ People & Places

■ Ash Sahi has been appointedpresident and chief executive officer ofthe Canadian Standards Association(CSA Group), Etobicoke, Ont. Hesucceeds Robert M. Griffin, who isretiring. Sahi started his career at DuPontCanada Inc. and managed a number ofglobal businesses for the firm during 25years as general manager and CEO. Hislast role was CEO of DuPont LiquidPackaging Systems. Sahi has also heldsenior level positions in the federalgovernment, served as president andCEO of Hartmann North America andis chairman of a prepared foodscompany, Chef Bombay.

■ Crossroads C&I Distributors,Edmonton, Alta., has named JohnsManville, Denver, Colorado, as itsprimary supplier of mechanical insulationproducts and accessories.■ Bord na Mona EnvironmentalProducts U.S. Inc., Greensboro, NorthCarolina, announces that it has enteredinto a pan-Canadian product distributionagreement with EMCO Corporation,London, Ont., for its Peat Fiber Biofilterwastewater treatment system in branchesin Northwestern Ontario and the West.■ Jaga Climate Systems, Waterloo,Ont., has announced to completion of itsCanadian distribution network for itshigh efficiency radiator systems. Jaga’sCanadian distribution network includes:

• Hydronic Heating, Inc., Cambridge,Ont.

• Mech Tech MKTG, Inc., Toronto• Distech HVAC, Inc., Brockville, Ont.• Distech HVAC, Inc., Repentigny,

Que.• Fred’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc.,

White Horse, Yukon• RAM Marketing, Inc., Regina, Sask.• RAM Marketing, Inc., Saskatoon,

Sask.• RAM Marketing, Inc., Winnipeg,

Man.• Points West Marketing, Inc.,

Edmonton, Alta.• Thomas Industrial Sales, Inc.,

Fredericton, N.B.■ ESI International, Arlington, Virginia,will now deliver its management trainingprograms directly to Canada. It previouslyoffered its programs through NexientLearning Inc., Toronto.

When Weil-McLain sold its first boiler in Canada, Elviswas topping the charts and the average cost of a new carwas $2,200. Plenty else has changed in the five decadessince, including how Canadians heat their homes, butWeil-McLain Canada has held fast to commitments ofexceptional service, innovative products and puttingcustomers first, report co-owners John Goshulak andBill Palamar.

1959 to 2002Paul McKay has watched the company grow from modestdistributor roots to a successful national company. Hislong and varied tenure with Weil-McLain Canada spansthe company’s entire half-century history, starting in 1959.

At the time he worked forFerrous Products, a divisionof Emco Ltd., overseeingheating layouts acrossCanada. “This was when I wasfirst introduced to Weil-McLain pro ducts,” says Paul. “Ibelieve Emco and Weil-McLain had a work ingagreement that lasted up untilabout 1962 or 1963.”

At that time, thecompany’s name changed toWeil-McLain Canada Limit -ed and the partnership withEmco ended. The companyitself was strictly distri -bution-focused until the late1960s/early 70s when it tookon some man ufacturing andmachine work andassembled residen tial boilers.

“The company wascertainly much smaller thanit is now – a close-knitfamily. It was the people whomade it a family…”

Filling in whenever he wasneeded, Paul became, inturn, a sales rep, salesrep/manager, manager ofmarketing and customer services, and oversaw shipping,receiving and production. In 1997, he became second-in-command of Canadian operations until a corporatedownsizing occurred in 2001 and he retired.

The downsizing also marked a new beginning for thecom pany; in 2002 Weil-McLain struck up a master dis -tribution agreement with Bill Palamar and John Goshulakto form Weil-McLain Canada Sales Inc. Paul continues towork part-time, consulting on a number of projects.

2002 to present“Our Canadian headquarters are staffed by those who liveand work in this country and have first-hand knowledgeof Canada’s demanding weather,” says John Goshulak,vice-president, sales and marketing. A passion for listen -ing to customers and delivering what they need is a majorpart of Weil-McLain Canada’s ongoing success, he added.

The company also keeps an eye on industry dev -elopments, actively participating in industry associationslike CIPH, HRAI, and COHA, as well as various CSAtechnical committees, and represents the boiler industryto the rest of the heating industry.

“One of our core strengths is the depth of ourresources and personnel. The majority of our team has20-plus years of experience. Paul himself has 50 years andI recently surpassed 25 years. That is an incredibleknowledge resource for our customers – a lot ofcompetency in technical support, product integrationand system understanding.”

Product developmentSince joining Weil-McLainin 2002, Goshulak has alsowatched the company growand adapt to changing needs– particularly the shift inproduct efficiencies frommid to high-efficiency, andfrom non-condensing tocondensing technology.

Over the last 50 years, thecompany has strived to be atthe forefront of productdevelopment, says Goshulak.“We were among the first tolaunch high-efficiencyproducts. And we’re alwaysright in the thick of thingslike steering through codes,building requirements andcertifications. We meet withthe federal government onefficiency guidelines and theprovincial governments ontheir specific requirements.It can be daunting at times,but it’s always rewarding.”

In addition to expandedtraining capabilities at theWeil-McLain head office inthe United States, Weil-McLain Canada has opened a

new training facility at their Burling ton office to offerhands-on, live-fire training sessions.

“We’re constantly looking for new ways to add value forthose who choose Weil-McLain. We hold customerappreciation events, luncheons and yearly promotions likethe free boots program that is currently running. We alsoset sail earlier this year on our first Canadian customerappreciation cruise celebrating 50 years in Canada, with50 of our top contractors and representatives.”

Next year is already shaping up to be a busy one forWeil-McLain Canada. The Ultra commercial boiler will belaunched shortly, as will a retooled Ultra Series 3 residentialboiler with significant efficiency improve ments. “We’realready in step with delivering the newest technology andwe’re not looking to slow down – the last 50 years have seentremendous growth and we’re looking to keep that goingfor the next 50 years,” says Goshulak. ■

PeopleThe

CompaniesThe

Weil-McLain and many of its customers celebratedthe 50th with a cruise.

Weil-McLain celebrates 50 years in Canada


It is a cold and wet spring morning, and you have a tee-off time at 6:30 a.m.: 1. Your golfbuddy has cancelled and you’re considering going

on your own, or 2. Your golf buddy phones you at5:30 a.m. to make sure you’re still on and can’t waitto meet you in the parking lot.

Which date are you more likely to keep?The commitments we make to others are far more

powerful than those we make to ourselves. Theproliferation of fitness centres, groups like AlcoholicsAnonymous and other support groups, is due to thefact that our success rate is far greater when wecommit to otheras. We get support andencouragement from them, and we don’t want tolet them down. When we feel like giving up, oursupport system helps us find hidden reservesto get us over the hurdles.

Actively participating in your localassociation is a great start, but to be reallysuccessful you should take it to the nextlevel. It’s time you created, or participatedin, your own support system.

The best insights you can get on yourbusiness are likely from other contractorsrather than an independent consultant.Most of my business is consulting and Icertainly believe (and so do my clients) thatI add value, but in many cases there is greatinformation available from othercontractors who face similar issues to you.Here is how you could benefit substantiallyfrom one of these processes:

Mentoring programA mentoring program could be as simple asestablishing some goals then deciding on actions withtimelines. Give a copy to your mentor, so he can holdyou to those deadlines.

Example: your goal is to reduce your work weekfrom 60 hours to 40 hours over 180 days.

Your plan of action:■ Identify what you do during each of the 60 hours.

Complete in 30 days.■ Identify tasks that you can immediately delegate to

others. Complete in 45 days.■ Identify tasks that you can document into systems

before hiring and training others to do them for you.Complete in 75 days (total tasks identified shouldeliminate 25 hours of work).

■ Hire part-time staff to perform the menial tasksthat take up time for you or your employees.Complete in 90 days.

■ Start training and delegating the tasks you wantassigned. Complete in 120 days.

■ Develop monitoring system to ensure all the tasksare getting done. Complete in 150 days.

■ Implement monitoring system and tweak asneeded so that you’re now spending just five hours

monitoring the 25 hours worth of tasks you haddelegated. Complete in 180 days.You will likely fall off the wagon if you try this

whole process on your own, but with a mentor byyour side, you are more likely to reach each and everymilestone on time.

Peer programA peer program tends to be a lot more sophisticatedand time consuming, but at the same time veryrewarding. Many of these programs have been startedby contractors for contractors and tend to attract

progressive members who understand the value thatcan be derived.

You see, if I give you a dollar and you give mea dollar, we both still end up with just onedollar; but if I give you an idea and you giveme one, we both walk away with two ideas.

A number of years ago, I worked with apeer group in the U.S. that limited itself tosix contractors; they met every threemonths at one of the members’ locationsand did a total analysis of his business fortwo days, then spent the third dayreviewing their findings with him.Everyone got great ideas. The groupdeveloped a formal binder of policies andprocedures, with sections on each of themain areas of their businesses that each

contractor had to complete over a 12-month period.

I have worked with three peer groups here inCanada and they are a joy to work with. They are

motivated and successful. They all have their ownunique approaches. They have the same bottom line

– they want more money and more fun.Again, it is very time-consuming for them but very

rewarding.

It need not be lonelyIt can be lonely as the owner of your own business.Who can you talk to? Your partner might get spooked,your spouse likely doesn’t understand your businessenough and your employees have their own concerns.Could you talk to your banker or your suppliers?

Your accountant often doesn’t have a real grasp ofthe issues you face, but another contractor—one whohas gone (or is going) through similar scenarios—notonly understands, but is able offer ideas and, in alllikelihood, solutions.

The smaller your business is the lonelier it can be.It doesn’t have to be that way. Forge alliances! ■


■ Shop Management

The best insights you can

get on your business are likely from

other contractors rather than an

independent consultant.

A BUDDY SYSTEMfor your business

Taking part in mentor/peer programs

By Ron Coleman


It’s Easy Being Green… and Warm!

With today’s economy in turmoil, green is the “in” colour. Most people don’t realize that as much as half of the energy used in their home goes to heating and cooling. Fujitsu’s energy efficient ductless mini-split heat pumps can save homeowners up to 50% on their heating and cooling bill.*

Homeowners can claim 15% of the equipment and labour costs (up to a $1,350 limit) through February 1, 2010.

Fujitsu has the most efficient heat pump in North America — 26-SEER. Homeowners get an ecoENERGY grant of up to $500 for installing one of the 10 Fujitsu ENERGY STAR® qualified systems by March 2011.

Heat pumps provide year round heating and cooling solutions. If winter temperatures in your area drop below 14°F�, heat pumps can be combined with fossil fuel equipment to create a dual-fuel system (part electric, part oil, gas or propane), minimizing expensive fossil fuel costs.

To find out how you can become a Halcyon Dealer and how being green can

make you more green, visit

www.fujitsugeneral.com

26-SEER12-HSPF

Fujitsu makes it hard not to be green with a Home Renovation Tax Credit of 15%�, an ecoENERGY grant of up to $500� and utility bill savings of up to 50%*.

� Limitations apply. For more details please visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2009 � Limitations apply. For more details please visit http://ecoaction.gc.ca/* Savings may vary based on model selected, hours of operation and geographical location. Example given based on 26-SEER system versus 13-SEER system.


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