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C O N T E N T ST A B L E O F

M e c h a n i c a l B u s i n e s s 1 0 . 1 0

On the cover: Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary is one of the Dragons on CBC's hit show Dragons' Den, whereaspiring entrepreneurs pitch business ideas in the hopes of securing financial backing. Photo: CBC

90YOUR LEGACY IN COPPER Make every installation thebest it can be, both technicallyand visually.Bob ‘Hot Rod’ Rohr

62CIPHEX WEST PREVIEWSpecial guest Richard Trethewey, ofThis Old House and Ask This OldHouse, and hundreds of exhibitorsare raring to go in Calgary.

D O N ’ T M I S S T H E S E

102HVAC/R CASE STUDYFinding savings through energymanagement Stuart Lombard

106VEHICLE UPFITTINGCustom options abound Adam Pletsch

112HYDRONICS5 steps to happy hydronic customersPaul Williamson

2010: Focus on efficiency & service26HEATING REPORT

It’s been a year since the 90+ AFUE standards for residential gas furnaces tookeffect, and high efficiency continues to make waves. In order to keep customershappy and warm, the verdict is in: proper maintenance is absolutely vital.

Putting your local showroom to work for you

98SALESFor a plumbingcontractor, aproperly managedshowroomrelationship shouldmean happierclients and a biggerbottom line. Don Bottrell

60COVER We braved a dragon tobring you this month’scover story, exchangingbusiness thoughts withCanadian economicjuggernaut KevinO’Leary. One of theDragons on CBC’sDragons’ Den, O’Learymay know more aboutyour company, or atleast its valuation, thanyou.Adam Freill

7M e c h a n i c a l B u s i n e s s 1 0 . 1 0

C O N T E N T ST A B L E O F

P E R S O N A L I T I E S

38 HYDRONICS Expanded thoughts on piping possibilities. Bob “Hot Rod” RohrPart 2 of Hot Rod’s discussion on piping options, this time out wetackle primary/secondary, reverse return and home runconfigurations.

42 REFRIGERATION Diagnosing and preventing compressor failures. Phil BoudreauThere are numerous reasons why compressors fail, and manyfailures can be prevented if the proper steps are taken.

46 ASK ROGERPayment is part of the job. Roger Grochmal The job isn’t over until you get paid, and you should not feel badabout having to ask for payment.

48 MARKETING What do you have to say for yourself? Doug MacMillan Connecting people to your story humanizes your company, but how do you figure out what to write about?

82 HIGH PERFORMANCE HVACIAQ & Duct Cleaning. Gord CookeTackling the concerns of using poorly sealed floor cavities and wallspaces as return air plenums, and when to make use of ductcleaning options.

117WORLD VIEWYellow plumbing the next green? Jeff Patchell Environmental concerns and climate change have brought aboutmany changes, including at the toilet.

. D E P A R T M E N T S

08From the editor’s desk

13News

22Profile: Russ Morgan

108The Info Page

113Calendar

118By the numbers

M O R E F E A T U R E S

32PLUMBINGMaking the most of your vent optionsRainier Bratsch-Blundel

36ELECTRICITY FOR HVAC/RRunning with relays Carol Fey

50HYDRONICSOptimizing underfloor radiant heatDan Vastyan

52HVAC/RThe sales appeal of modulation Bryan Rockyand John Vella

58FIND THE FIX

66PLUMBINGKitchen Trends Adam Freill

70ROAD WARRIORBritish Columbia’s Brian Williams

72HYDRONICSGuarding your gold: The fluids ofhydronics Jerry Boulanger

76PLUMBINGUnique shower designs Dave Bowden

80,96EVENTS IN PICTURES CIPH ABC 2010 and HRAI Conference

86INFRAREDDesigning for successful installationsDave MacKenzie

88REFRIGERATIONPioneering Canada’s first industrialammonia/CO2 brine systemHernan Hidalgo

94LITERATURE REVIEWS

97THE BOTTOM LINESavers vs. Spenders David Cooke

P R O D U C T S

56,105HVAC/R

114Hydronics

68,100Plumbing

116Stuff you need

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Sept/Oct 2010 IssuePublished 6 times per year.

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F R O M T H E E D I T O R ’ S D E S K

Learning opportunities come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they areformalized – you sign up for courses, perhaps with the goal of landing a piece ofpaper to show off your newly earned knowledge. Other times it comes in a farless formal setting. At times, all it takes is being observant enough to pick up ahint, tip or trick along the way.

Much like learning, mentoring can also be formal or informal, and sometimes thepassing of knowledge can happen long after the lesson has passed – sometimesthe teacher has no idea about impact they’ve had on others.

Not too long ago my mother-in-law needed the faucet in her kitchen swappedout, and being involved in the plumbing sector, I could not help but check a fewthings out under the sink. While I was down there, I noticed a foot-long piece ofcopper pipe that had been screwed to the wall. Curious, I had to know what itwas there for.

Turns out that piece of copper pipe was in fact used to install the original faucetsome 25+ years earlier. I haven’t a clue who the responsible plumber was, but Ido know he was wise enough to save this handy little item. I was extremelyimpressed with his foresight. That little step saved the installer of the new faucetfrom having to locate his basin wrench, making the swap-out a breeze.

These little tips and hints are out there, and they are shared from journeyman toapprentice, and from pro to pro. It can be of great benefit to get out and meetwith your peers, either at a local chapter meeting or a conference – perhaps evenat the upcoming CIPHEX West trade show (see preview on page 62).

So what time-saving tricks do you have up your sleeve? Care to share? I’d love tohear about the tips you’ve discovered over the years, so please drop me a line, orbetter yet, stop by our booth at the CIPHEX West show. We’llbe in booth 153.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Until next time,

Adam Freill, Editor

Learning from experience

8 M e c h a n i c a l B u s i n e s s 1 0 . 1 0

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Only the fi ttest survive and thrive. And the fi ttest fi ttings. Th at’s why SharkBite push-fi t fi ttings have quickly evolved from our fi rst 1/2" coupling to the industry’s only Total Rough-In Solution.™ With a fast-growing full line of 1/4" to 1"

push-fi t fi ttings and PEX tubing, and a wide range of valves with integral SharkBite connectors. Speed, depth and dominance. It all makes SharkBite the natural selection.

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Gerty, the Goddess of the nasal whistle, is our telemarketer. Technically speaking, her job is to talk to you to update yourfree yearly subscription (our auditors require an update from you every 12 months). Realistically, however,

Gerty just likes to talk. And talk. And talk. Oh, she eventually gets around to renewing your free subscription, but it sometimes just takes a while. You see, she has somuch to share – her latest needlepoint project, Mrs. Muffles adventures at the Vets, her television ‘stories’ – and so muchmore. While she’d love to talk to you, we understand that you just might not have as much time. That’s why we include a

handy tear-out subscription renewal card in every issue and provide an easy-to-use online form atwww.mechanicalbusiness.com.

Renew Today: Online. Mail. Gerty.It’s your choice.


Gerty’s Got Her Eye On You! (well, at least her good eye).

10.10

Newsw w w . m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m


McKeough Supply helpsCancer kids

McKeough Supply recently held its 12th Annual BillPorteous Memorial Golf Tournament at the Burford Golf

Links. The tournament raised $32,500 in support of CampTrillium. The donation will enable more than 40 families

affected by childhood Cancer to spend a week at the camp.

mckeoughsupply.com

Cool new websiteWith the theme, Cooler For The Earth, Cooler For

You, Honeywell launched a new website tocommunicate the benefits of low-global-warming-

potential technologiesthe company is

developing. The sitecontains facts about both

fluorocarbons, and low-GWP technologies.

abettercool.com

Armstrong wins prestigious awardOnce again, S. A. Armstrong Limited has been honoured withre-qualification as one of Canada’s 50 Best ManagedCompanies. Keith Kwan,senior manager of privatecompany services forDeloitte, presentedCharles Armstrong,president, with a plaqueduring an all-staff meetingheld at S.A. Armstrong’sToronto facility. This is thefifth year the company hasbeen recognized throughthis program.

armstrongpumps.com

CIPH builds home on the Rock The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH)turned the sod of its seventh Habitat for Humanity Home

Build, this one in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The sodturning ceremony was held in conjunction with CIPH’s

recent Annual Business Conference (see page 80 forphotos from the event).

Newly-elected CIPH chairman of the board Russ Morgan(IPEX) greeted the Alvarez family, who are looking

forward to the completion of their new home.

ciph.com

Russ Morgan (IPEX) turns the sod as the Alvarez family,Tony Noonan (Emco Ltd.) and Carl Burt (Par Four Plumbing

Products) look on.

Front row from left: Bruce Passmore (general manager,McKeough Supply); Sandra McDonald (Camp Trillium); andRhonda Craft (tournament coordinator). Back row from left:Jean-Guy Marchand (Venmar); Brent McFadden (Deflecto);

Scott Waters (ICP/Keeprite/Tempstar); Rick Little(York/Luxaire); Richard Simpson (Rheem); Warren Berlin

(Honeywell); and Michael Kurawski (Wardflex).

10.10


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Refrigeration hits the desertThe 73rd annual RSES conference takes place at the Hilton Tucson ElConquistador Golf & Tennis Resort in Tucson, Arizona on November 9 to 13, 2010.

Among the educational sessions being offered at the conference is“Operation and Maintenance of Centrifugal Compressors,” led by GarthDenison, CMS. Denison will focus on the engineering principles and variousapplication practices involved in the proper operation and maintenance ofboth high- and low-pressure centrifugal compressor chillers.

rses.org

Banking on the booksBenjamin Oliver, a mechanical engineering

and management student at McMasterUniversity in Hamilton, Ont., has been

awarded the $10,000 Reuben Tranescholarship from ASHRAE, which he’ll receive

over two years. To qualify, he needed to demonstrateleadership abilities and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0

or higher. Benjamin is the only Canadian student toreceive a scholarship from ASHRAE this year. The

organization is awarding more than $80,000 tostudents for the 2010 – 2011 academic year.

ashrae.org

Coleman fires up BBQ

The 18th annual Coleman Heating &Air Conditioning dealer appreciation

day was held recently at the company’sheadquarters in Oakville, Ont. The

event featured a suppliers’ mini-tradeshow and barbeque lunch with special

prize draws. Suppliers, such as WhiteRodgers (Emerson Climate

Technologies) and CGF Products tookpart in the event.

colemanac.com

Supporting localinitiativesAtlasCare recently announced a pair of$1,000 recipients as part of its Care toShare program, which helps charitieslocated within the AtlasCare servicearea. The July winner was the OakvilleY, and its Strong Kids Campaign. TheAugust winner was Jewish WomenInternational of Canada, a groupdedicated to ending violence againstwomen.

The company has set up a Facebookpage for discussion about its Care toShare program, and people can nominatea charity through its corporate website.

atlascare.ca

Canada toamendregulations forchillersThe Office of EnergyEfficiency (OEE) ofNatural Resources Canada(NRCan) has issued abulletin proposing toamend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations. Theproposed change calls for more stringent minimumefficiency demands for every chiller size and type, ascompared to the current NRCan regulation levels.

nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

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Rick Little, branch manager,Coleman Heating & Air

Conditioning, flips burgers at thecompany’s dealer appreciation day

in Oakville, Ont.

Roger and Michael Grochmal present acheque to Penny Krowitz of Jewish Women

International of Canada.


Top-10 for HolmarDriving the Holmar Plumbing Supplies Ford, BradGraham put on a good show at the Jumpstart 100Nascar Canadian Tire Series race in downtownToronto in July. He moved up from the 22nd spot onthe starting grid to finish in 10th place. In doing so,he earned the Coca-Cola Move of the Race, and anextra $1,000 for his efforts. Andrew Ranger won therace, his 10th victory on the circuit this year.

hometracks.nascar.com

Taco offers interactive online learningTaco’s new FloPro University (FloPro U) premiered its

first-term classes in September.FloPro U includes live webinars andarchived video e-learning sessions.

The first courses available include:Universal Hydronics Formula,Variable-Speed Pumping, Hydronics:Step-by-Step, and Anatomy of aCirculator.

Additional FloPro University classeswill appear throughout the balanceof the year.

The webinars, which are aboutaround an hour in length, are currently held bi-monthly.Up to 100 contractors from across Canada and the U.S.can join any of the sessions.

taco-hvac.com

Did you get your T-shirt?Noble held its annual Customer Appreciation BBQ at its head

office in Concord, Ont., in July, handing out hundreds of thecompany’s famous Noble T-shirts during the event. In addition

to good food and free swag, the event also featured supplierdisplays, and allowed staff to interact with customers.

Noble.ca

CIPHmembersbike forcharity Several CIPHmembers organizedthe first CIPH Ridefor Habitat onSeptember 19. Co-sponsored by CIPHand Habitat forHumanity Canada,the motorcycle ride

started in Vaughan, Ont., then wound its way throughseveral communities north of Toronto before finishingup in Newmarket.

“We had a great ride. The weather was fantastic, we hadmore than 30 riders, and we managed to raise morethan $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity,” said SeanGiberson of Taco, one of the event organizers. “It was agreat way to spend a Sunday.” The ride coincided withCIPH’s Habitat for Humanity Week.

ciph.com

Handing out T-shirts were Brahm Swirsky, vice-president of procurement (top), Jim Anderson,

senior director of sales (left) and Noble presidentMichael Storfer.

Rya

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Nicole Hrinco of Habitat for HumanityCanada, Lew Bannerman of Waterline

Products Company, Elizabeth McCullough ofCIPH and Sean Giberson of Taco Canada.

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NEWSw w w . m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m


Terasen Gas offers rebatesBritish Columbia’s minimum energyefficiency standard requiring storage tankwater heaters to have an EF of at least 0.62 recently came into effect, and tohelp foster the transition to the more efficient equipment, Terasen Gas isoffering a $50 rebate. The storage tank water heaters must be on theTerasen Gas list or be Energy Star rated to be eligible for the rebate. Thetank has to be purchased or installed by December 31, 2010.

terasengas.com

Canadian takes top spot at AWWA conference

Shoeleh Shams, research assistant for the University ofWaterloo’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Chair in Water Treatment, earned first-place honours for herwork on nitrate removal technology at the seventh annual

Fresh Ideas Poster session during the American Water WorksAssociation’s annual conference and exposition in Chicago.

awwa.org

UN calls for cleanwater and sanitationChairman of the World PlumbingCouncil, Robert Burgon, haswelcomed the recentadoption by the UnitedNations General Assemblyof a resolution recognizingaccess to clean water andsanitation as a humanright. The resolution iscalling on countries andinternational organizations toprovide financial resources, buildcapacity and transfer technology,particularly to developing countries, in scalingup efforts to provide safe, clean, accessibleand affordable drinking water and sanitation.

worldplumbing.org

AquaTech Sales & Marketing Inc.Burlington, Ont. (866) 594-0767

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What is this?This miniature piece ofabstract art is actually aQR (Quick Response)

code, or matrix barcode.Denso-Wave, a Toyota subsidiary, launched theconcept in 1994 as a way to track vehicle parts.

With the onset of camera phones and their ability tobe used as scanners, QR codes have cropped up in allkinds of places. The user simply takes a picture of the

code with their cell phone and the browser on themobile device automatically takes them to more

information on the web.

They’re a convenient way to link the physical world toa digital destination. Just think, attach a QR code to acustomer’s furnace and with a simple scan the entire

service record of the appliance is at your fingertips.

If you’ve never seen or used one before, now is yourchance. Download a QR code reader for your mobile

device at Scanlife.com and give this one a try. (Hint: Fill the frame with the code.)

See you on the web!

Bell & Gossett offerstraining seminars Bell & Gossett has announced its trainingcourse schedule for the fourth quarter of 2010. The free trainingseminars are open to engineers, contractors and facility maintenanceprofessionals and cover a wide range of topics. Upon completion of thethree-day seminars, CEU credits are awarded to graduates.

schoolhouse.itt.com

B.C. announces energy retrofitsSchools, universities, colleges, hospitals and Crown corporations in B.C. willshare up to $25 million in energy retrofit funding from the provincialgovernment to cut carbon pollution.

“We know this investment will immediately translate into a lower energyfootprint for public sector buildings, less carbon pollution, and savings totaxpayers,” said B.C.’s minister of state for Climate Action, John Yap.“Equally important, these investments will spur public sector organizationsand B.C. businesses to find innovative ways to tackle climate change.”

livesmartbc.ca

Eden Energy’s 30th Anniversary Blue Mountain Giveaway!

* Draw will be held on January 7, 2011 at Eden’s office and announced in upcoming promo material.

1-800-665-3336 • www.edenenergy.com

vanEE's very first distributor is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

All vanEE units purchased from Eden Energy between October 1 and December 31, 2010 will enter you in a draw to win a luxurious weekend for two at Blue Mountain Ski Resort.*

The more you buy, the better your chances of winning!

And that’s not all – there’s a mystery prize that will be awarded to one lucky customer!

10.10

Movers and Shakersw w w . m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m


Trimble acquires Accubid SystemsTrimble has acquired the assets of Accubid Systems based in Concord, Ont.Accubid's software solutions are used in over 5,400 companies across NorthAmerica. The acquisition of Accubid broadens Trimble’s "BIM-to-field"solutions for mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors to automateproject estimating andmanagement, modeling,detailing, layout andconstruction.

trimble.com

Don Park named exclusive distributor Don Park has announcedan exclusive partnershipwith Scranton, PA-basedOlympia Chimney SupplyInc. Don Park is the soledistributor of Olympia Chimney in Eastern Canada. The company manufacturesstainless components under the Forever Flex brand name.

donpark.com Wolseley opens newshowroom

Wolseley Canada has opened a Vague & Vogueshowroom in Rouyn-Noranda, Que. The

showroom, located at 1095 Abitibi Avenue,joins seven other Vague & Vogue locations

throughout the province.

wolseleyinc.ca

OS&B acquires CeraluxIndustries

OS&B has acquired Ceralux Industries Inc.,which has become an OS&B partner

company. The acquisition combines theexperience of Brent Cornelissen of OS&B

and that of Bob Fler, who remains as apartner and vice-president of sales and

marketing for Ceralux Industries.

osb.caceralux.com

Granby Industries purchases company Granby Industries Limited Partnership(Granby) has purchased Parrsboro MetalFabricators Limited (PMFL), amanufacturer of oil, pellet and wood-firedfurnaces and boilers. Included in the dealare PMFL’s buildings and equipment,employees and relationships with customers and suppliers.

granbytanks.com

Royal Group expands pipe division Royal Group Inc., a division of Georgia Gulf Corporation, recently

expanded its Royal Pipe Systems division with the addition of a newpipe facility in Woodbridge, Ont. Now operational, the new facility

produces high-performance pressure and sewer pipe up to 24”.

royalbuildingproducts.com

TM

From left: Rob Julien, project manager; LucianoVitone, supervisor; and Claudio Ardolei, vice-

president manufacturing, Royal Pipe Systems atthe new facility in Woodbridge, Ont.

©2010 Thomas & Betts

Patent Pending

Another Sweet Combination...Introducing a NEW innovation for building ventilation. The Z.62e series integrates an energy recovery device into a modulating heat pump system in one rooftop packaged unit. This unique hybrid provides:

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To schedule your FREE“Lunch-and-Learn,”contact us today at:

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10.10

People in the newsw w w . m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m


Mechanical Business is pleased to welcomeassistant editor DAVID JANZEN and officemanager CHRIS MCKAY to its team.

A graduate of the Niagara College journalismprogram, Dave has a keen interest in renewablesand is looking forward to attending industry eventsand expanding his knowledge of the mechanicalsector. When David isn’t at his computer, he enjoystravelling with his wife Nadine, photography androoting for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they vie foryet another Stanley Cup (oh, did we mention Davehas an optimistic outlook on life?).

Chris is the lively, courteous voice you’ll encounterwhen you call us. She has extensive administrativeexperience, and she and her husband, Paul, havetwo children, Jennifer and Ryan, as well as a three-year-old golden retriever named Chevy.

Barclay Sales Ltd.recently announcedtwo sales personnelpromotions.SYDNEY IRVINE,currently a retailmerchandiser, willalso take on the roleof outside sales forthe Vancouvermarket. CHRISFLYNN, formerlywith Barclay SalesAlberta’s Calgaryoffice, is returning tothe position ofoutside sales for theSouthern Albertaregion.

S.A. Armstrong recentlyannounced a number ofappointments. GRANTHILLIARD (Centre) isnow director, NorthAmerican sales.MALCOLM GURLEY(Right) is director, globalsales support. HANS KIRCHER has rejoined the company as OEM businessdevelopment manager. ASHISH SAXENA (Left) joins the company as an outside salesengineer for Ontario.

BRENDA OGDEN has joined theBarrie, Ont. branch of WolseleyCanada as part of its sales team.Ogden brings 16 years of wholesaleexperience in addition to four yearsof contracting experience installingresidential equipment.

DAVID MORDEN is nowpresident and CEO of MordenNational Sales and Marketing, amaster sales rep distributionagency handling ECRInternational products in Canada.Morden was formerly with ECRand will continue to work fromhis office in Wallaceburg, Ont.

MICHAEL J. WARNErecently joined Mech TechMktg. Inc., a manufacturers’representativeagency in theplumbing andheatingsector. Aformerchairman ofthe Associates Council ofMCAC, as well as a memberof CIPH and CASA, hebrings 20 years experienceto his new role.

Triangle Tube has appointedGERRY CLISHAM, directorof marketing.

Goodman has appointed JIM MUNRO as territorysales manager for the greaterVancouver area. Jim comes toGoodman with five yearsexperience in the commercialand residential HVACindustry.

Novo Water Conditioning has announced itsCanadian sales and customer support team. Joiningpresident DON FETTES are, DALE LEWGOOD,executive vice-president sales; JOHN CARDIFF, vice-president sales Canada; DEAN DALRYMPLE,customer service manager; BILL BEEDLE, districtsales manager Ontario; DAVE PITMAN, commercialengineering manager and DENTON GAISER, vice-president, water systems.

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10.10

Profilew w w . m e c h a n i c a l b u s i n e s s . c o m

Nice guys do finish first A genuinely nice guy in the industry, Russ Morgan was recently introduced as the Chair of the Board of Directors of CIPH. The vice-presidentof sales and marketing for Ipex’s Canadian operations, he joined the industry 25 years ago building on experience gained as part of a post-secondary co-op program, making him an ideal ambassador for the CIPH plan to market the plumbing industry to students across the country.

QHow did you get started in theindustry?

A When I was going through myschooling, I ended up doing my co-opterm at BF Goodrich – at that time,the largest vinyl supplier in NorthAmerica. They were building a newhead office, and they wanted to use asmuch PVC as possible in theconstruction of the building. My project was to look at theopportunities and limitations, basedon feedback from the marketplaceand code issues. One of the companies I was dealingwith was Scepter. They were lookingfor someone to help bring along aCPVC sprinkler system that was alicensed product from BF Goodrich. Ijoined Scepter in 1985.

QWhat do you do at Ipex?

A I am responsible for sales for allbusiness segments: electrical,plumbing and industrial, andmunicipal. I have regional managersreporting into me. We are constantlylooking at ways to bring value to ourmarkets, find growth opportunities,and spend time working with ourproduct development group on newproducts and opportunities.

QWhat do you enjoy most about theindustry

A The easy answer is the people. It isvery people oriented, and I like thepeople. The construction industry is awonderful placeto have a career.When I see whatwe contribute tothis wonderfulcountry, and thestandard of living,it is impressive.

QWho have beensome of your mentors over the years?

A Alain Lanthier. I worked with him for18 years. He’s my mentor. He mademe a better person, and certainly abetter business person, but I wouldnot restrict it to business only. He wasa man of integrity and core values,and I am a better person today, forworking with him.

QWhat activities are keeping you busywith CIPH? What are the priorityitems for your tenure as chair?

A The strength of CIPH lies withinits regions, so I definitelywant to get to eachone of the regions

across the country, and get involved inat least one activity in each.We are also trying to be active inraising industry awareness, and to do abetter job in branding what we do. Ifwe are effective in getting our

message out about whatour industry is abouttoday, then we will do amuch better job ofattracting youth to comework in this industry. Wehave a great story to tell,but we need to do abetter job of telling it.

Name: Russ MorganTitles: Vice-president, sales and marketing, Canada, Ipex

CIPH Chair of the Board of DirectorsAge: 50 on October 17 Born in: Kitchener, Ont.Resides in: Oakville, Ont.Family: Wife, Lori; children Melissa and Jake

Bio

• Russ is a self-confessed gadget guy. Anything that’s new that comes up, he says he needs to get one. This has included the iPod, iPad and numerous other gadgets.

• A sports junkie, Russ is a hockey fan; baseball fan; basketball fan; a golfer and a viewer of golf, and is a die-hard Toronto fan. “So I’m suffering tremendously,” he says.

FAST FACTS

Ipex formed as the result of the1992 merger of two Canadianplastics piping companies,Scepter and Canron.

DID YOU KNOW?


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HEATING REPORT By MB Staf f

With falling leaves andtemperatures, Canadians areonce again cranking up the

thermostat. Yes, the cold weather is onits way. But that doesn’t mean there’sgoing to be a chill on business thisheating season. The economic climatemeans consumers are demanding morevalue for their dollar, and are seekingoptions which provide long-termsavings. And while residential sales levelsare expected remain fairly constant,commercial sales are still on the rise.

“From a commercial perspective, the2010-2011 heating season is going to bebusy,” says Erin Sperry, commercialheating product manager, The FultonCompanies. “HVAC is one of the more

recession-proof markets; everyone needsheating (and cooling) regardless of theeconomy.”

The commercial boiler sector, in

2010: Weathering the storm

Focus on efficiency & service

While the industry may have grownsomewhat more competitive, don’t give upon your guiding principles and stick to yourguns in terms of product, says JohnGoshulak, Weil-McLain Canada. “Don’t buyinto the next greatest thing that shows upon your doorstep that’s a $100 cheaper ifyou don’t know anything about it. If you’veused a specific product for years and it’sworked for you, stick with it.”

particular, won’t be quite as hard hit asothers, says John Goshulak, vice-president, sales and marketing withWeil-McLain Canada.

“With the commercial side, there’s alonger sales cycle. As a residentialconsumer, you get your products, moreor less, right away. However, if you needa new boiler for a school or hospital,generally you are going to put that inyour budget and get it replaced 18months later,” he explains. “There areprojects out there that preceded theeconomic downturn that are just comingabout now. In effect, they kind of‘hovered’ above the downturn.”

Two-stage gas furnace

With an AFUE rating of 95 per cent, thetwo-stage, variable speed G95V high-efficiency furnace from Olsen canoperate with natural gas or propane.When set to continuous fan mode, theECM motor onlyconsumes 60-80watts of power,compared to400 watts of aconventionalmotor.

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Energy Efficient Boiler

The Pulse boiler from Fulton is designedto consume 0.75 amps of electricity duringrun mode. An assist fan is used forpre/post purge only and turns off oncecombustion has been established. Theboilers are available in models rangingfrom 300,000 to 2 million BTUH input.

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Two-stagegas furnace

The gas-firedresidential YorkLX TM9V two-stage, variable-speed, multi-position furnaceranges in sizefrom 60,000 to120,000 BTUHand has anAFUE rating of 96 per cent. The furnacestands 33” tall, allowing for installation intight spaces. It is equipped with a variable-speed ECM motor.

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• Weathering the storm • Guide customer understanding

Coupled with workforce education,comes knowledge transfer tocustomers. Helping themunderstand the best fit for theirsituation, and making them awareof financial options can often be thedifference between them placing anorder, or continuing to look foranother service provider.

“The consumer wants tounderstand from the dealer

just what the benefits areof these new units. Ifthey do not understandthem, they will notpurchase a new unit and

either opt to repair orturn to another dealer

who will explain what theproduct offers. Educating the

consumer is key,” says Joe Brandt ofNordyne. “Show the consumer that it is aninvestment in their comfort and thatenergy costs are only going to go higher.Now is a good time to take advantage oflow interest rates and finance thepurchase.”

continued on page 28

With the collective belt-tightening inCanada, a number of governmentprograms have been eliminated, whichcontinues to drive customers towardssmarter spending decisions.

“With the elimination of the homerenovation tax credit and federal rebates,we are all moving into the unknown. Ihave a feeling that a ‘repair versusreplace’ philosophy is going to be quiteprevalent over the next 12 months,” saysRick Little, Toronto branch manager ofJohnson Controls L.P.

“The best advice for the contractor is tohelp the consumer understandeverything involved with their furnacepurchase – from the incentives availablefrom the public and private sectors to

how the equipment will help theconsumer enjoy the time they

spend inside,” explainsJoe Brandt, vice-

president ofsales atNordyne.

“This alsoincludes IAQ

products. Thedealer who can

provide solutions to

the consumer will do very well inthis environment.”

No matter the economicforecast, one thing’s forcertain; the push for high-efficiency grows stronger astechnology continues toimprove. And that’s anexciting prospect says Sperry.

“A growing trend right now is gasabsorption heat pumps, which are a gas-fired hydronic heat pump that userenewable energy from the outside air, abody of water, or underground, in

Guide customer understanding

Condensing boilers

The KN-series of condensing boilersfrom Hydrotherm offer high-efficiency(up to 99 per cent) witha small footprint.The units usecondensingcast iron heatexchangers. Theboilers have noinlet watertemperaturelimitations.Sizes rangefrom 200,000 to 2million BTUHwith a 5:1 continuousturndown ratio.

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High-efficiencygas boiler

The Trinity Lxhigh efficiencygas boiler fromNTI has a 5.7”colour touchscreen displayand is rated upto 97 per centAFUE. TheLx200 andLx400 are also certified forinstantaneous potable hot water.

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Radiant Heat

With a thermal efficiency rating of up to94 per cent, the VS-VH high efficiency,infra-red heating system from SuperiorRadiant Products provides up to 600,000BTUH. Designs can be customengineered to suit long or short,condensing or non-condensing options.

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HEATING REPORT CON’T

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conjunction with the energy that is made available from combustion.This technology offers thermal efficiencies up to 149 per cent,” she says.

Changes in grantofferings do haveconsumers looking atother heat pumptechnology says AntonWolmarans, vice-president and generalmanager of HVAC atMitsubishi ElectricSales Canada Inc.“Since thegovernment'sincentives on thegeothermal side have recentlybeen reduced, the first cost of low-ambient heat pump systems isbecoming more attractive.”

It’s one thing to purchase a high-efficiency appliance; it’s anotherto keep it running at optimallevels, providing the much-touted energy savings. Servicingequipment not only ensures thecustomer is enjoying thosebenefits, but service calls are alsoan important time to buildcustomer relations.

“Regular maintenance is key,”says Rusty Jennings, vice-president of residential sales withCarrier Canada Ltd. “Keep thesystem clean, making sure filtersare changed regularly. Drains for condensation need to be clear.Do a visual on major components such as heat exchangers andmotors, etc. Don’t assume because it’s running today everythingis fine. If a contractor gets the opportunity to go into a house todo maintenance on a heating appliance, they can look for newopportunities such as IAQ products or water heaters. There couldbe a goldmine.”

Maintaining the customerrelationship


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HEATING REPORT 2010 CON’T

The use of heat pumps as a year-round optionfor the Canadian marketplace is an emergingtrend. Customers may not always have theoption to excavate for geothermal systems, butthat doesn’t mean that heat pumps are out ofthe picture. “The fact that split system heatpumps rival the energy savings of geothermalsystems – without the high installation cost ofeither a loop or deep well – and operate in amanner that is similar to their previous system isa plus,” says Joe Brandt of Nordyne.

While ambient temperatures are a considerationwith heat pumps, recent advances do allow fortheir use to temperatures as low as -30°C.

These systems, which make use of invertercompressors, are pushing efficiency ratingsupwards and are opening new markets for heatpump technology. “When compared to othermeans of heating, heat pumps offer large energysavings. It makes so much sense for retrofittingand replacing older, inefficient systems,” saysAnton Wolmarans at Mitsubishi Electric SalesCanada Inc. “The low ambient forced-air heatpump system continues to be our main focus.”

Heat pump systems

Low-ambient heat pump

Designed for use in temperaturesdown to minus 30°C and beyond,Mitsubishi Electric's Energy Star-rated Zuba-Central low-ambientheat pump will function at over 100per cent efficiency with 75 per centcapacity even at such a lowambient temperature. The systemis equipped with an invertercompressor, which modulates itscapacity based on the indoor load.Units offer heating capacities from18,000 to 40,000 BTUH, andcooling capacities from 18,000 to36,000 BTUH.

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Condensingfurnace

The Payne modelPG9MXA is a two-

stage, high-efficiency

condensing furnacethat features anECM motor and

annual fuelutilization efficiency(AFUE) of up to 92

per cent. Thefurnace stores fault codes during poweroutages and offers LED diagnostics anda self-test feature. The furnace is Energy

Star rated and is available in sizes from39,000 to 120,000 BTUH.

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• Heat pump systems • Venting options

Multi-position gasfurnace

The TM9M, partof the ColemanLX series ofmodulatingresidential multi-position gasfurnaces rangesin size from60,000 to120,000 BTUH and has an AFUE rating of97 per cent. The unit is 33” tall. It usesstandard two- or three-inch-diameter pipeand components for venting.

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If the various appliances in a customer’shome aren’t able to draw sufficientcombustion air, they can pose a serioussafety risk, says John Goshulak of Weil-McLain Canada. Goshulak sits on a CSAdepressurization committee. “I cannotstress enough the importance of venting,”he says. “We now have higher temperatureplastics and venting material requirements,

while at thesame time,there aremoreconvolutedventingoptions thanever before.There’s a realwild westattitude going

on, and everyone is coming up with 101ways to vent these products. I envision overthe next two years the industry will finallystandardize itself on how to deal with this.”

Venting options

Efficiency marches onAccording to JohnGoshulak of Weil-McLainCanada, 50 per cent oftoday’s boilers are highefficiency models. “Twoyears ago, about 30 percent were high efficiency,and two years from now, itwill be closer to 65 or 70per cent.”

PLUMBING By Rainier Bratsch-Blundel


The Principle: How a circuit vent works

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VENT OPTIONS Want to save material, labour and, of course, theenvironment? Circuit venting is where engineering,physics and a well-trained plumber meet.

Circuit venting is used almost exclusively incommercial applications where multiple fixtures aregrouped, draining to a single horizontal branch. Thistype of group venting has had many names over theyears. Once known as “commercial wet venting” inWestern Canada, and as “loop and circuit venting” inOntario, it is now just simply referred to as circuitventing.

The design can beconfusing, as it isvery similar to wetventing, but itmaintainsatmosphericpressure using ahorizontal branchto serve as thevent for manyfixturesdownstream ofthe upstreamcircuit ventconnection.

A horizontal branch is designed to allow a maximumof 65 per cent of its capacity to be occupied by waste

water, leaving the top of thepipe free to be used tocirculate atmospheric

pressure. A single circuitvent “drop” connectiondownstream of the most

upstream fixturemaintains atmosphericpressure for all fixtures

vented by the horizontalbranch. A single relief vent

connects downstream of the mostdownstream fixture helping

create the circuit of air.Circuit vented systems are quite

an engineering marvel. Tofunction properly, they must

have cleanouts the same size asthe piping served, up to four-inches in size. Building codes

require that all drainage beaccessible for maintenance and

inspection, so it is recommendedthat a cleanout be installed at the

most upstream end of thehorizontal branch of a circuit vent.

Only the fixtures connecting to the horizontal branchthat are being circuit vented are used to calculate thetotal hydraulic load expressed in fixture-units.The developed length of the circuit vent, expressed in

• Total hydraulic load;• Developed length; and• Minimum size of vent.

Sizing the Circuit VentThree factors determine the sizeof the circuit vent:


Ask Jean Desjardins, P. Eng. of Desjardins Expert Conseil“I prefer the process involved in assembling AquaRise® over weldingcopper because we don’t have to deal with fire or safety issues. Andunlike copper, when we put the solvent material around the joints,we’re sure it’s going to be sealed. AquaRise® is a great alternative – it’s about time someone introduced this type of product.”

The colour of the AquaRise® pipes and f itt ings is a trade-mark of IPEX Branding Inc.

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PLUMBING continued from page 32

metres, starts at the horizontal branch up to a vent stack, stack vent,header or open air, whichever is reached first. The total fixture unitsand developed length are then applied to Table 1.The circuit vent, relief vent and any additional circuit vents may notbe smaller than the minimum size of any fixture’s vent served bythe circuit vent.

The size of a relief vent and additional circuit vent is one size smallerthan the size of the circuit vent, but may not be smaller than theminimum size of the vent for any fixture served by the horizontalbranch.

The size of the circuit vent must conform to National PlumbingCode of Canada (NPC) Table 2.5.8.3., Ontario Building Code (OBC)Table 7.5.8.3 or British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) Table7.5.8.3. A reduced portion of the table is shown here as Table 1.The table is divided into multiple columns. The first column states the maximum hydraulic load in fixture units. The other columnsstate the maximum distance of the circuit vent in metres, based on the corresponding size of the vent pipe.The size of the horizontal branch is determined by the trap size of the fixture served, therefore we find a minimum three-inchhorizontal branch for trap sizes two-inch and larger, and a minimum two-inch horizontal branch for trap sizes smaller than two-inch. Fixtures withtrap sizes smaller than two-inch can connect to the three-inch, providedeach fixture is separately vented.

All fixtures connecting to the horizontal branch must be onthe same floor level.

No soil or waste stack can discharge through thecircuit vented branch.

The circuit vent must connect downstream of themost upstream fixture and is sized based on all fixturesserved by the circuit vent.

The relief vent must accompany a circuit vent connectingdownstream of the most downstream fixture.

Fixtures with fixture outlet pipes smaller than two-inch mustbe separately vented or separately circuit vented.

ADDITIONAL CIRCUIT VENTSAdditional circuit vents assist with thecirculation of air through the horizontalbranch and are required when there are

more than eight circuit vented fixturesbetween the vents serving the

horizontal branch, or when there isany cumulative change of directionto the horizontal branch greaterthan 45 degrees.

FIXTURESCONNECTING INTOTHE VENT PIPESFixtures may connect to the circuit vent, theadditional circuit vent and the relief ventsforming a wet vent, but must be sized as a wetvent (two-inch minimum if a toilet isinvolved). A maximum of two fixtures mayconnect to the vertical section, with not morethan 1.5 fixture units each. Only the relief ventmay have a maximum of six fixture units dischargeinto it, but it must conform to the above mentioned verticalsection requirements in Alberta (this mostly likely willbecome part of the NPC in the next code cycle).

Rainier Bratsch-Blundel is a plumbing professor and the

plumbing and steamfitting programs coordinator for

apprenticeship and skilled trades at George Brown College. He

is also an executive committee member with the Ontario

Plumbing Inspectors Association. He can be contacted at

[email protected], or visit OPIA online at

www.opia.info.

Circuit venting Restrictions

TABLE 1

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ELECTRICITY 101 FOR HVAC/R TECHS By Carol Fey


Arelay is just a switch. The purpose of any switch is to turn something onand off. So, a relay turns on or off a piece of HVAC equipment. It’s just

that easy. But that’s not all there is to the story. We need to know how to work with these little devices. RUNNING

Why use a relay?A thermostat is just a switch that turns HVAC equipment on and off. So why would webother to add a relay to a system when we already have a thermostat?

A relay gets us around therequirement that everydevice in an electrical circuithas to be the same volt-age. A thermostat is usual-ly low voltage, 24V (seeexplanation below). TheHVAC equipment that thethermostat controls isgenerally operating at linevoltage. They can’t be inthe same circuit. It’s as ifthey speak two differentlanguages, but a relay canbe the translator betweenthe two.

A relay can have more thanone voltage going through it becausethere is no electrical connection among the parts of a relay. A 24V thermostat circuit sends electricity to the relay coil. That coil changes the 24V into magnetism.Inside the relay, that magnetism flips the switches to turn line voltage HVAC equipment on and off.

The N.O. or N.C. designation

Right out of the box, with noelectricity going through the coil,the relay switches are designatedas either open or closed. Noelectricity is called “normally.”Every relay switch is either nor-mally open (N.O.) or normallyclosed (N.C.) before electricity isapplied to the coil.

The switch position is marked onthe relay with these designationsor with the switch symbol. Twoparallel lines is normally open.That same symbol with a diago-nal line is normally closed. Again,it is important here to know thatwe’re talking about the electricityapplied to the coil, not aboutelectricity applied to switches.

Making it workIf you want to turn on a blower only when the thermo-stat calls for heat, what do you do? You wire the blower to anormally open (off) switch in the relay. The blower stays offunless the thermostat calls for heat. This closes the thermostat switch and allows electricity to flow to the relay coil. The coil createsmagnetism from that electricity. The magnetism changes the switchfrom open to closed (on).

The 24V thermostat

When a thermostat calls forheat or cool, it simply closesa switch inside the thermo-stat. For living space heatingor cooling, the thermostat isalmost always 24V because a24V thermostat is more sen-sitive to temperature change.A line voltage thermostat canbe used in an area where a10-degree or more tempera-ture swing is acceptable,such as in a warehouse.

A relay or a contactor?

A contactor is the same as a relay, but bigger. It ismore often used with air conditioning, whereas arelay is used with heating. Contactor switch terminalsare often coated with silver so that they can with-stand switching higher current.

• Why use a relay? • Making i t work • Wir ing i t up

M e c h a n i c a l B u s i n e s s 1 0 . 1 0 37

Carol Fey is a technical

trainer who has been

in the HVAC and

hydronics industries

for over 20 years. To see

her recent adventures

as a heating mechanic

in Antarctica, go to

www.carolfey09.com

She can be reached at

[email protected].

WITH RELAYS

Wiring it upIf you look at the wiring terminals on a relay, you will find that two of them are connected to theends of the wire that make up the coil. There may be a label on the relay as well. We can connectthese two terminals into a circuit made up of a 24V transformer, the thermostat, and this relay coil.

Each switch has two terminals. Wire each switch into a circuit with the piece of equipment that isto be turned off and on, and whatever power supply that equipment requires.

Remember, the voltage wired to each switch can becompletely different from the voltage wired into thecoil or other switch.

Troubleshooting and

testing your relay

Since there are two parts of a relay, you need to troubleshoot both. To test the coil, remove power from the coil. Set your multimeter to continuity or resistance ( ). Put a meter probe on each of the coil terminals. If there is continuity (the meter beeps) or resistance (there is a digital reading), the coil

is good.

To test the switches, remove power from all parts of the relay. Notice if the switch youare about to test is marked normally open or normally closed. With the meter set oncontinuity or resistance, put a meter probe on each of the switch terminals. If there iscontinuity or resistance, the switch is closed. If that is not what the switch is labeled,then the switch is bad.

If the switch tests good with the coil unpowered, then power the coil. Again test theswitch. This time it should be in the opposite position from its label. That is, if the labelsays the switch is normally open, it should be closed when the relay coil is powered.

Switching relay vs.Isolation relayThese components canbe exactly the samerelay, but they are usedfor different purposes.

The relay allows a lowvoltage thermostat tocontrol a line voltageload. An isolation relayprotects one circuitfrom the electricaleffects of another byproviding the magnet-ism of the coil as anintermediary.

Afew months ago we started thisconversation regarding system piping

options. Two of the most common principles -series and parallel - were examined (seeJuly/August 2010, page 38), but there areeven more choices to be considered.

Other options include primary/secondary,reverse return, and home run configurations.As with most choices there are pros and consand decisions to be made when determiningwhich is the best fit. The goal is to match thepiping to the task you wish to accomplish.Ideally, you are aiming for the energy to bemoved efficiently, quietly, and with an easilyinstalled layout.

PIPING PART 2 By Bob ‘Hot Rod’ Rohr


<< PRIMARY/SECONDARYThis is sometimes referred to as simply P/S.The best understanding I have is, if youdon’t have closely spaced tees, you don’thave P/S piping. While true in principle,sometimes P/S can be disguised, such ascan be seen when using a low-loss headeror hydro separation device.

If you are not sure if a system equippedwith a low-loss header or hydro separationdevice is P/S, take a look at how it wouldbe assembled with piping.

Water tends to flow in the path of leastresistance. If you have a section of pipingwith two branches teeing off, the flow willtend to go straight across the branches ofthe tees as long as there is no restriction inthat path.

Little, if any, flow will happen in thesecondary circuit if those tees are pipedclose together. The pipe between themdoes create some resistance so it is criticalto keep the piping as short as possible. Twotees with a short nipple works, and severalmanufacturers sell a specially designed P/Stee or fitting.

I have seen installers insert a ball valvebetween those two tees. The intent is to aidin purging the system by forcing all the flowthrough the tee branches, flushing thatsecondary loop of air. I’d prefer to see thatdistance between the tees be a clean fullsize, properly reamed nipple no more than10 cm apart. A commonly used metric: Thedistance between the tees should be asclose as possible, a close nipple is ideal.

If you study the design of the low-lossheaders and hydro separation devicesavailable today, you will see the P/Stheme incorporated in a nicely packaged,insulated, plug-and-play component.

P/S is an important piping strategy whenyou start installing boilers with highpressure drop heat exchangers, forexample. The piping principles of P/S, whenproperly sized and installed, ensures thatthe boiler sees the correct flow while notupsetting flow in the secondary circuit.Injection mixing with variable speedcirculators is another appropriateapplication of P/S.

Sizing and flow formulas are importantwhen you start sizing pipes, fittings andcirculators in a P/S system. The stars maylie, but the numbers never do. Look to yoursizing manuals and manufacturer’sinstructions for the answers.

Gil at the Little Red Schoolhouse

Often when we talk about P/S the name GilCarlson comes up. Gil was a true hydronicvisionary. While working for Bell & Gossett,

he put some of these concepts intodesigns and got the P/S ball rolling (or the

P/S puck sliding where Canadians are involved).


Bob ‘Hot Rod’ Rohr has been aplumbing, radiant heat and solarcontractor and installer for 30 years. Along-time RPA member and columnist,he is manager of training & educationwith Caleffi North America. You canreach Hot Rod at [email protected].

Expanded thoughtson piping possibilities

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REVERSE RETURN (R/R) This is another simple flow balancing piping technique. With large solar thermal arrayssprouting across the continent, R/R piping is starting to become more common.

Basically, R/R piping attempts to achieve equal flowby balancing the piping path to each device.

Looking at the drawing, you can see that the firstdevice supplied, be it a solar collector, radiator orlevel of a building, is the last to return. By piping thisway, it ensures the flow through each device is closeto equal. This equal flow will only be seen if the flowresistance in each device is equal.

This would be the case when collecting multiple solarcollectors all of the same size and flow characteristic.Hydronic baseboard and panel radiators may be a bitmore challenging. Ideally the baseboard length orpanel radiator size would be similar.

As you can see by the illustration,this piping method does requiremore pipe, and more pipe wouldrequire more insulation, hangers,fittings, solder, etc., and additionallabour hours need to be factoredin, but it does simplify balancing inthe right application.

As with any piping design, pipesizing would need to be calculatedto ensure sufficient GPM to eachdevice. Designing around a fourfeet per second velocity isconsidered an industry standard.This not-to-exceed number ensuresgood air removal and eliminatesvelocity-induced noise.

R/R works best in applicationswhere the piping starts and endsback at the same location. If youhave a building or applicationwhere the loop ends a distancefrom the mechanical room, the costof the additional third line back tothe mechanical room would needto be considered.

<< HOME RUN (H/R)This is an easy one to explain. Basically everyload, or emitter, gets its own supply andreturn piping. Probably the best applicationfor this method would be panel radiators.

A good approach would be to mount aradiant manifold back in the mechanicalroom. Then run PEX tubing out to the loads.This gives you the ability to have flowadjustment easily accessible.

Having the manifold readily accessible alsoallows you to isolate and individually purgeeach loop. Or, you could shut down a loopfor maintenance or modification withoutshutting down the entire system.

Zoning can be accomplished by adding anactuator to the manifold. In many cases, 3/8”or 1/2” PEX is sufficient to handle small- tomedium-sized panel radiator zones. Mostradiator manufacturers have sizing chartsbased on panel size and supply temperature.I like the H/R method for retrofit jobs. Beingable to fish small diameter PEX tubingthrough a building with minimal disruption isa big selling feature. Bore a large enough hole so you can installthe pipe insulation as you feed the tubinginto the wall or ceiling. This not only lessensthe heat loss but also cushions the tubingwhere you are unable to get supporthangers.

PIPING PART 2


continued from page 38

Radiant floor loops wouldbe another use of R/R. The

same concept applies as faras keeping all the loop

lengths close to the samelength. Within 10 per cent

would be a good guidelinefor loop length.

>>

Want more Hot Rod?

turn to page 90

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In this first installment of a short series of articles, we willexplore various compressor failure types and discuss the

ways of remedying and even preventing these failures.


It is important to ensure thatthe refrigerant type and oilused are compatible with thecompressor, and are suitablefor a particular application.

REFRIGERATION By Phil J . Boudreau

COMPRESSORFAILURES

Diagnosing and preventing

First and foremost, compressors should only be operated withinthe operating envelope determined by the compressormanufacturer. When servicing systems, the technician should

be familiar with the operating envelope in order to ensure that thecompressor is operating within this envelope. If a compressor hasfailed, check the envelope. A previous technician may haveinstalled the incorrect compressor for an application, so the failedcompressor may be replaced only to find out that the replacementcompressor fails as well.

For a given displacement, the horsepower (HP) requirement for acompressor varies with the application. In higher suction pressureapplications such as medium- and high-temperature refrigeration,the HP will be greater than it is for low temperature. On occasion,technicians have installed low-temperature compressors onmedium-temperature loads. The results are usually noticed veryquickly as the amperage reaches a point where the motor becomesoverloaded.

Tighten the electricalconnectionsCare must always be takenwhen making electricalconnections. Connectionsmust be properly preparedand tightened. Looseconnections will result inarcing, overheating of the wire and possible single-phasing ofthree-phase motors.

Signs of arcing, burning and discolouration at electricalconnection points are usually an indication of poorconnections. These must be corrected.

Be sure that contact screws are not tightened onto theinsulation itself. The insulation must be stripped far enoughback to permit proper positioning of the wire in theconnector. This will ensure good contact.

All inductive loads generate highcurrents while starting. This is themost likely timing for failure as thedemand for power is at its highest.

When tightening the motor terminal connections, refer to themanufacturer’s literature for the correct torque values. Loose

Tech TipWhenever thecompressor is changed,the contactor(s) shouldalso be replaced. Theunfortunate reality is thatthe contactor candamage a compressorbeyond repair. Yes, ourinexpensive contactorcan take out acompressor that is worththousands of dollars!

A collection of failed loose teminals.

Monitoring the power supply

There are three-phasemonitors that willmonitor not only theincoming supply tothe contactor, but also the power supply leavingthe contactor. Then, if the contactor single-phasesfor some reason, the compressor will be taken off-line. These are relatively inexpensive devices. Someeven have an infrared communication link whereyou can use a device to read voltage variations.


REFRIGERATION


Phil Boudreau provides sales, training and technical support for

Bitzer Canada Inc., and is the instructor of a refrigeration course at

Humber College in Toronto. He can be contacted at [email protected].

connections will overheat and place the compressor at risk. Ifthese terminals are over-tightened, however, they may bedamaged. At this point, the entire compressor terminal blockmay have to be replaced.

Like most things, contactors will not last indefinitely. These areelectromechanical devices that tend to wear. Occasionally, the“pull-in” mechanisms can jam and contacts become worn. Burnsand/or pitting of the contacts increase the resistance across thecontacts and can eventually result in overheating. This is a very

dangerous scenario for a motor as it will inevitably lead to increased operatingamps, and possible single-phase supply to a three-phase motor.

When full voltage is applied to a motor in one step, it is referred to as direct-on-line (DOL) start. This is the simplest way to start a motor and is usually limited tosmaller compressors. In DOL applications, the in-rush current may be as much sixtimes the rated load amps (RLA).

With larger motors, larger in-rush currents are developed as they try to start. Toreduce this starting current and to ensure that they can start up properly, part-start windings or soft starting equipment is often used.

In part-start applications, there are two windings energized in sequenceusing two contactors. The compressor manufacturer can provide theappropriate timing between winding starts. Ensure that this timing iscorrect. Typically it will be less than a half second.

Once the first contactor is energized, the second contactor isenergized through a delay timer or auxiliary contact on the firstcontactor. With a 50/50 winding split, the contactors are sizedto carry 50 per cent of the total load. In some cases,windings may also have to be energized in specificsequence.

The soft-starter is an electronic programmable device that isdesigned to start the motor at reduced amperage. The motoris gradually brought up to speed.

Consult with the motor or compressor manufacturer for thecorrect ramp-up speed. It will usually be less than fiveseconds.

Soft-starters are very effective at reducing motor start-upamperage and even protecting the motor from power supplyproblems. However, the installing technician must ensure thatit is installed and set-up correctly.

Determiningcorrect operatingamperage

Nameplate amperagesshould never be used as a

means to determine thecorrect operating amperage of a

compressor. In the past, Full Load Amps(FLA) was often listed on equipment labels.However, this was misleading because compressorscan typically handle a wide range of evaporatingand condensing temperatures. Some compressormanufacturers may even list the Rated LoadAmperage (RLA) on the compressor nameplate.

What amperage should a compressor manufacturerlist on the nameplate? The Locked Rotor Amps (LRA)must be on the plate, as this is required by UL. Thisis the current that the motor draws just before itstarts to turn.

Some equipment manufacturers publish the (RLA)which UL says is optional. The RLA is often displayedon the condensing unit or system nameplate and isused to determine the minimum circuit amps (MCA)for a particular system or installation. This shouldnot be used by the service technician to verifycompressor amperage during commissioning ortroubleshooting a system. The RLA is used whensizing electrical supply wiring to the unit.

All compressors must undergo a MaximumContinuous Current Test (MCC test). This is a physicaltest to determine at what point the motor will tripon its overload. The RLA value is simply a calculatedvalue that is derived from the MCC value.

With a 50/50 winding split, it isgood practice to size each contactorto carry 60% of the total motoramperage, to ensure an adequatesafety margin.

Technician’sTips

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Payment is part of the job


Bill C., Laval, Que.

I’m tired of dealing with customers who don’t want to pay theirbills. My guys provide great service. The projects are always ontime and on budget, but I still get the run around when it comestime to get paid. What do you do to ensure prompt payment?

I wondered how deep we would get into the recession beforesomeone asked me this question. Good economic times make usa little careless as cash grows in our bank account. As credit tight-ens and fewer projects at tighter margins come at us, it is impera-tive we get paid promptly for everything we do.

At AtlasCare, we have a culture where the expectation is, rightfrom the get-go, we will be paid upon completion of the job.Before we do any work,our people ask on thephone or in person howthe customer plans to pay.If it seems like paymentcould be a problem, wehave great financingoptions we can offer. Ifthey don’t qualify forfinancing, then we are offthe hook and can walkaway without having putourselves at risk.

Our technicians areexpected to collect pay-ment upon completion ofevery sale or service call.We monitor collections ona daily basis and if a tech-nician failed to bring backmoney, we contact thecustomer that day to col-lect. Taking credit cardshelps a lot.

One side benefit of being on top of collec-tions is that you will flush out warrantyproblems before they become majorissues. This is one of the biggest reasonswe find people don’t pay.

As hard as it will be, you will occasionallyneed to fire a customer for poor payment.If they ask to come back then you will bein a much better position to negotiatefirm payment terms. If they drag their feetagain, let them go.

Getting

Have the cash talkPayment is not a dirty word. Many con-tractors take the moral high ground andbelieve if they do good work they will berewarded with prompt payment. Someget embarrassed about having to ask formoney.

We pay our bills promptly, so whyshouldn’t our customers?

Unfortunately, that’s just simply not theway that all customers act, but don’t beembarrassed. You have a business to runand employees who count on you. Yourjob is not complete until you have themoney in the bank. The greatest sin inbusiness is running out of cash, so don’tsidestep the dollars discussion.

Get squeakyA key part of getting paid is having oneperson in your office dedicated to callingcustomers every week. Customers will paythe squeaky wheel.

The result is that our overdue accountstend to average no more than 10 days.

Another effective collection tactic is show-ing up in person. It’s pretty easy to blowsomeone off over the phone; not so easywhen they are standing in front of you.


We have also had some success in chargingextra to customers whom we know will payslowly. This could work if an account isstrategic to your business, but it can tie upfinancial resources, so make sure you arestructured to handle those arrangements.

Don’t ever get the reputation as being apushover about collecting. Word will getaround as these unscrupulous people willtell their friends and they will call and beatyou up. Do you want to be known as thebusiness owner who fights forpayment, or a pushover? Yourcall, but I know which one myemployees would prefer me tobe. After all, their paycheque(and mine) is affected if wedon’t have money comingin the door.

Roger Grochmalis the president ofAtlasCare inOakville, Ont. To submit a ques-

tion about your company,business practices, or theindustry in general, send ane-mail to MechanicalBusiness Magazine’s editor,Adam Freill, [email protected].

?

Break it up We occasionally will break up a larg-er contract into multiple contracts,particularly when the bulk of thework is done quickly and we have along lead time on a particular item,such as custom grilles and registers.This allows us to get paid for thebulk of the work on time while wait-ing for delivery for an outstandingcomponent of the job.

Doug MacMillan is president of MacMillan Marketing Group in Guelph, Ont. To reach him, e-mail [email protected].

by Doug MacMillan

Whenever I talk to industry folks, be they manufactur-ers or contractors, the fire in their eye is usually litwhen they talk about a creative or innovative solutionor idea. What are you doing that’s new and different?

Product innovations are the stories most typically toldin our industry, and they are certainly worth telling.They help position the HVAC industry as sophisticat-ed, technologically advanced and cutting-edge.However, there are all sorts of innovation angles youcan share. Perhaps a recent installation posed a

specific challenge and demanded a creative,sophisticated approach to make it work. Or, itcould be that a new product helped make acustomer’s life easier.

Even business operations ideas are worthtalking about. Regardless of the innovation –if it changes the way you serve your cus-

tomers, and benefits them in some capaci-ty, it’s a story worth telling.

Connecting people to your storyhumanizes your company. Rather

than make it about yourself or yourcompany, make it about the human

experience. Promote the efforts of a team

who worked over Christmas to give heat to a familyin need. Capture the story from the perspective ofthe real people – employees, customers, communitymembers – who were involved.

At first glance it may seem like the next trendy thingto do, but corporate social responsibility (CSR) is fastbecoming a critical consideration for consumerswhen choosing what companies they want to dobusiness with. Talk about the ways you are helpingyour community.

People are often intrigued and surprised to hear thetales and trials of how a business came to grow andprosper over the years. Every company’s history storyis unique, and if you’re reaching a major milestone,such as an anniversary or merger with another com-pany, use the opportunity to dust off the old storiesand pictures of the owners back when it all began,when they had more hair and less of a belly.Everyone loves old pictures!

A HISTORY LESSON


Innovations

People, people, people

Most business owners can be split into two categories –they either think everything they do is exciting and wor-

thy of shouting from the rooftops, or they are extremely modest.

Finding a balance between boastful and bashful is important to keep your cus-tomers (and the media) engaged. Whether you regularly update your website, write ablog, or want to send a news release to local reporters, telling your stories well is a fundamentalpart of marketing.

In a recent column, I talked about the structural aspects of storytelling. We touched on the importance of establish-ing key messages, adding credibility with case studies and testimonials and connecting your tone/writing style with theapplication. So now you know how to write your story, but how do you decide what to write about?

What are you doing that’s making a difference?

49

Ask the right questions


Initiate contact

Media relations should play an importantpart of your overall marketing efforts. Aim tosend out a press release every six to eightweeks to stay in front of your audience.

How will you spread the word?Once you have a story, it’s important to determinethe best way to share it. Here are some options to consider:

• Sometimes a simple letter makes a huge impression.

• Create media buzz. If your story is of particular interest to your community and/or your customers, send it out to radio stations and newspapers in your area.

• Don’t forget your website. News items are natural updates for your website and help keep it fresh. If it goes out to the media, it should go on your website.

• If your company has a Facebook page or Twitter account (if it doesn’t, look into it – and watch for my next column) use these tools to get the gist of the story out. Then direct your followers to your website for more information.

Heat transfer platesA variety of traditional aluminum heat transfer platesare available for use with PEX and PEX-AL-PEX tubingproducts. The plates are highly conductive and pro-vide a larger pipe-to-floor contact area. This in turnallows heat to migrate more rapidly across the floor.Plates are generally stapled or nailed over the tubing,holding it to the underside of the subfloor.

Heat transfer plates are not limited to aluminum any-more. Recently-introduced products include plates con-structed with layers of graphite-based material. Like alu-minum, these are stapled or nailed to the subfloor. Unlike tra-ditional aluminum heat transfer plates, however, they can becut with a pair of scissors or utility knife. Plus, with a wider widththan many aluminum options, the graphite-based plates delivermore BTUs with a lower supply water temperature, which can workwell with such technologies as geothermal and solar.

HYDRONICS By Dan Vastyan


Optimizing

A SIMPLE SOLUTION“Underfloor radiant systems work the same as above-floor, or thin slab systems,”says Kolyn Marshall, director of product applications and customer support atWatts Radiant in the U.S. “Not only is an underfloor installation more cost effective, but it saves floor height and reduces weight as well.”

Underfloor installations were initially used for radiant retrofits when renovatingold homes and buildings. Using the existing construction profile is a lot lesscomplicated than requiring concrete over-pours or placing the tubing into wallsand ceilings. If there is ready access to joist bays from below, it’s a relatively easytask. Tubing is installed without adding any additional floor height, concernsabout structural loading, or disturbing existing floor coverings.

underfloor radiant heat

Journalist Dan Vastyan writes

for trade professionals. He is

employed by Common

Ground, a Manheim, PA-

based trade communications

firm with clients in the radi-

ant heat, hydronic, geother-

mal, HVAC and solar heat

industries.

Some purists consider underfloor radiant heat a bit like exchanging newly-ground, fresh-brewed coffee . . . for a cup of the instant stuff. Well, an underfloor

approach is the quickest way to install a radiant system, and it’s less expensive, too.But, when you consider its merits, there’s a lot to be said for a cup o’ “insta-Joe.”

In its earlier years, the joke used to be with an underfloor application you’d get a “snap,crackle, and pop” as you ate your morning cereal. That familiar melody wasn’t coming fromyour bowl, however, but rather from your floor as a call for more heat expanded the tubing.Using old school aluminum heat transfer plates only served to amplify the noise.

Thankfully those days are mostly a thing of the past with the advent of better heat transfer technology, tubing advances, and outdoor reset controls.

No matter what tubing and accessories are used for an underfloor radiant system, the materials usedtoday make this kind of system a very attractive option for retrofit and new construction alike.

INSULATE generouslyAfter the job is done, installers naturally pressurizeall loops to test for leaks. Air is eliminated entirelywhen the loops are filled, and then it’s time to circulate fluids to distribute heat.

That’s it, right?

Not so fast.

Where’s your traffic cop? What’s in place to directthose BTUs where you want ‘em to go? Withoutsmartly-placed insulation, and enough of it, it’s justanarchy! Those BTUs will scatter in every direction.

Joist bays will leak heat like a sieve if you don’t care-fully insulate the ends of each bay, and from below. To make the most of the installation, it’s recommend-ed to use a foil-faced insulation under the tubing, preserving a two-inch air gap below. The foil helpsdirect the energy that would have normally been lostdownward back into the floor – where it needs to be.

• Insulate generously • Pex Tubing: I t ’s ubiquitous


PEX TUBING: It’s ubiquitousPEX tubing is the most commonly used conveyorof radiant heat. Almost always used with heattransfer plates when installed in a frame floor, thistubing is all too often associated with system noisedue to tubing expansion. Many companies nowhave products and technology designed to elimi-nate the problem.

A recent advancement is the addition of a low-fric-tion external layer in some PEX tubing products.This outer layer relieves the friction between thetubing, the floor and fasteners. As an addedbonus, this layer helps with installation by allowingthe tubing to slide more easily through the joists.

Another tubing developmental was the introduc-tion of PEX-AL-PEX. Originally designed as analternative to copper tubing for use in potablewater systems, PEX-AL-PEX has an aluminum layerthick enough to provide rigidity, yet allows thepipe to hold its shape after being bent. This alu-minum layer helps reduce expansion.

STONE COLD . . . no moreRadiant floor heat costs less to operate than other forms of heat, andmost people find that they’re more comfortable at lower room temperatures with a radiant floor.

As an added bonus, radiant floor heat doesn’t stratify at the ceiling,meaning less heat loss through the ceilings. Couple this with the added advantage of zoneability, and the end result is comfort withoutcompromise.

Radiant heat from a floor warms all objects within a room (yes, eventhat old Barcalounger), giving every surface a warm, inviting sensation.Surprisingly, surfaces that tend to be the most uncomfortable withoutradiant heat – stone, tile and hardwood floors – become the most comfortable with radiant because they transfer heat so well.

With radiant, there are no air grates,radiators, or thermal baseboards tofactor-in – there’s no interference withroom function or furniture layout.

It’s underfloor, not staple-up

Many installers still refer toPEX underfloor installationsas “staple-up.” With plates, itreally isn’t that.

Today, we use the term “sta-ple-up” strictly for stapled-upEPDM tubing.


For many consumers, the anxiety over fuel costs extendswell beyond the price they’re paying at the gas pump. It’salso affecting them on the home front.

Some consumers will sacrifice their personal comfort bylowering their thermostat to realize lower utility bills. Thevolatile energy market, compounded by consumers’ desire for asuperior heating comfort solution, makes modulating gasfurnace technology more appealing than ever.


HVAC By Bryan Rocky and John Vel la

MODULATIONThe sales appeal of

Modulating gas valve: The modulating gas valveprovides variable capacity and adjusts the firing rate using asignal from the integrated furnace control board, dependingupon the heating demand. In most cases, but not all, a valvechange will be required if modulating technology is used in apropane gas application.

Integrated furnace control board:Modulating gas furnaces have an advanced integratedfurnace control board that directs and monitors thefunctions associated with the furnace operation. Thesefunctions include gas valve control, operation of thecombustion inducer and circulating air blower motors,management of all safety functions and reporting ofdiagnostic information.

Inducer combustion motor: Modulatinggas furnaces use an inducer that is either a variable-speed electrically commutated motor (ECM) or apermanent split capacitor motor (PSC). The integratedfurnace control will precisely vary the speed of theinducer to match the required firing rate and gas output.The control also varies the inducer speed to overcomeany combustion air intake or exhaust vent conditionscaused by restrictions or vent system designs.

Air circulation blower motor: Similar tothe inducer combustion motor, the integrated furnacecontrol precisely varies the speed of the air circulationblower to match the required firing rate and controls airtemperature rise (ATR) across the heat exchanger. This isextremely important when applications are subject topoor filter maintenance or inadequate duct design.

Modulating technology explainedModulating gas furnace technology allows for the optimal andincremental varying of the furnace firing rate as determined by theheating load demand requirements for the home. Besides the gasvalve, the furnace inducer motor and air distribution blower motorchange speeds to provide required airflow. Furnace run times aretypically extended with lower input rates to meet the thermostatdemand. The result isreduced fuelconsumption, extremelyquiet operation and moreconsistent and eventemperatures, resulting insuperior comfort.

Modulating gas furnaceplatforms are similar totraditional furnacedesigns. However, thereare several obviousdifferences:

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HVAC •Sell ing the technology • Basic setupcontinued from page 52

Bryan Rocky is product manager, Heating Products North

America, with Johnson Controls Building Efficiency.

www.johnsoncontrols.com

John Vella is the Canadian national sales manager - UPG,

Johnson Controls LP. He can be reached at

[email protected].

Understanding modulating gasfurnace technology from a technicaland operational standpoint iscertainly an advantage whendiscussing a potential equipmentreplacement with the consumer.There are many features and benefitsthat shouldn’t be overlooked whilepresenting your “home comfort” proposition.

When a consumer expresses interest in lower utility costs, theproduct offering will typically equate to a high-efficiency model.Most modulating gas furnaces are condensing models withefficiencies ranging from 90% to 98% AFUE. The precise control ofthe gas valve in modulating furnace technology allows the furnaceto run in lower operating input ranges, thus maximizing energysavings.

One of the big reasons consumers decide to replace agingequipment is to improve their overall comfort. Modulating gasfurnace technology can maintain the desired space temperature towithin one-half degree of the wall thermostat set point as a resultof longer run times at lower inputs. Variable speed motors provideairflow to match the required heat input with electricity used. Anddon’t forget the emotional comfort aspect. Reduced sound goeshand in hand with modulating technology due to the lowerinputs and appropriate airflow, and a quieter environment oftenequates to ideal emotional comfort.

Sustainability certainly applies to the HVAC/R industry, in furnacesas well as from the condensing unit side of the business withalternate refrigerants. However, don’t overlook its potential powerin the sales dialogue – it may be very important to your customer.Some obvious points of discussion include high efficiency, reducedfuel consumption, lower electrical usage, recycled packaging andfewer raw materials used to build the product.

Operational setup of a modulating gas furnacesystem is very similar to traditional designs.

Since modulating gas valves have variousoperating ranges, the contractor must place thevalve to a known firing rate in order to set themanifold gas pressure. Most designs will providea function that forces the furnace to operate atthe full firing rate using a test or setup mode.

Because modulating furnace controlsconsistently monitor the air temperature rise,critical attention should be paid to setting up theairflow. Again, most designs will provide a testmode or setup button that forces the furnaceblower motor to achieve full airflow so thattemperature rise can be measured and adjustedaccordingly. Heating, cooling and continuousfan circulating speeds may need to be configured.

Equipment selection for modulating gas furnace technology issimilar to that for standard furnace equipment.

It’s always best to start with a heat load calculation on thestructure. In most situations, the original equipment may beoversized. Load calculation tools range from a basic written form toadvanced computer software. A load calculation will not onlyensure maximum operational efficiency, it will also add value tothe “home comfort” proposition.

Don’t forget that where the furnace is installed can dictate whatefficiency model can be used.Venting requirements must beconsidered, especially if you’rereplacing a non-condensingfurnace with a condensing model.Also consider how condensate willbe removed, as you have to provideproper condensate drainage. Thesize of the furnace and the spacerequired must be looked at for newequipment, particularly if a high-efficiency evaporator coil or indoorair quality component is part ofthe installation.

Discharge air sensor: Modulating furnacesincorporate a discharge air sensor that typically monitorsdischarge air temperature rise. If themonitored temperature is differentthan what the integrated furnacecontrol is anticipating, either the aircirculation blower speed or themodulating gas valve input rate willbe adjusted to bring operation backinto proper alignment.

TECHNOLOGYSelling the

SETUPBasic

FURNACESSelecting Modulating Gas

HVAC/R

Heat pump Modulating anywherefrom 40 to 118 per centof capacity, the FrigidaireiQ Drive heat pumpoffers cooling capacitiesof 10,000 to 52,000BTUH at 35°C (95°F)and heating capacities of6,000 to 49,200 BTUHat 8°C (47°F). Usinginverter-driven rotarytechnology to achieve upto 22 SEER, it operatesat sound levels as low as59 decibels.

frigidaire.net The new Altair 4X multi-gas detector fromMSA operates with the company’s XCell sen-sors for combustible gas, O2, H2S and CO.The detector is compatible with the Altair 4Galaxy test stand, and provides optionalmotion-alert and instant-alert features.

msanet.com

High-efficiency gas furnace

The two-stage, upflowClassic Series fromRheem offers 95 percent AFUE or above andare compatible with sin-gle or two-stage thermo-stats. The furnaces areavailable with input rat-ings ranging from45,000 to 105,000BTUH.

rheem.com


Aluminum ductDeflecto Air Distribution Products offers UL-approved, semi-rigidaluminum duct with a full offering of configurations, including prod-uct with connecting collars attached, collar and exhaust hoodattached, crimped and standard formats. They are in all diametersfrom three to 16”. The latest addition augments Deflecto’s full lineof insulated and un-insulated flexible ductwork.

deflecto.com

See us at

High-efficiency furnaces

Napoleon’s 95 per cent AFUE,two-stage gas furnaces haveECM blower motors and siliconnitride hot surface igniters.Models are available with outputratings ranging from 30,780 to114,000 BTUH.

napoleonheatingandair.com

GoKeepRite.com

When you’re looking for exceptional comfort, reliability and high efficiency, trust the KeepRite® family of heating and cooling products.

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© 2010 International Comfort Products, LLCMany KeepRite® models are ENERGY STAR® qualifed. For details, visit www.energystar.gov.


This Month’s Quiz: THE PROBLEM INSTALLATION

What should have been a simple conversion of elec-tric baseboard to hot water baseboard turned into asmall nightmare.The contractor installed five new zones of baseboard,and piped it with 1/2" PEX to minimize the amount ofretrofit damage. Three of the new zones worked fine, but two of themjust never seemed comfortable to the owners. Thebasement zone was the coldest, so the contractoradded 10 feet more baseboard to the 54 feet alreadyinstalled on that zone. That didn’t help the comfort, and the boiler systemwasn’t saving any energy. The near-boiler piping was3/4" to a five-loop 3/4" manifold, with actuators tothe 1/2" lines going to each zone. How would you fixthis job? Andcould you do itwhile giving theowners DHW aswell?

www.madok.com

We take the guess work and manifold fabricationtime out of every job, leaving you time to get the

system up and running smoothly ... and on to thenext project. Every CSA-certified HPSI panel is pre-

designed, pre-assembled and fully tested to meetyour specifications. Whether you choose one of our many standard-engineered stations, or a custom design, our panel systems give you professional looking results and no manifold-

related call-backs to worry about.

HPSI – Hydronic Panel Systems Inc.12A – 50 Paxman Rd.Toronto, ON M9C 1B7Tel: (416) 845-2587 Fax: (416) 622-5127

Save time and save money. That’s what HPSI hydronic manifolds do.

Talk to us before your next project,and be sure to visit us online.

Answer and win!

For more puzzles from our archives,visit us on the web,

www.mechanicalbusiness.com.

Get your fix online

CAN YOU USE AN IMAGE UPGRADE?Send us your solution to this month’s puzzle by November 15 and you could find yourself with some-thing to help your imaging abilities – An M12 Cordless M-Spector AV with still picture, video and audio recordingcapabilities, courtesy of Milwaukee Electric Tool. Send your solution to [email protected].


The July/August Fix:

THE FIX: Here is how our quizmaster, Jeff House,would set things up: Since the boiler fittings were 1-1/4”, thenear-boiler piping should have been donein 1-1/4” piping. This size piping will carry14 gpm or 140,000 BTUHs with a 20 de-gree delta T. Reducing or restricting the boiler pipingreduced the boiler performance. Althoughthe manufacturer said the coil would de-liver five gallons per minute, what theyshould have said is, “Up to five gallons perminute.” A five gallon per minute flowwould require a boiler net output of250,000 BTUHs. According to the universalhydronics formula, BTUH will equal theflow rate in gallons per minute, multipliedby the delta T, multiplied by 500. The 500in the equation approximates the coeffi-cient of the fluid, which, in this case,is water (the weight of one gallon ofwater, 8.33 pounds, multiplied by 60minutes in an hour, and then multi-plied by a specific heat characteristicof the fluid – 1 for 100% water.)

A simple balancing valve on theCWS to the tankless coil would en-sure the 2.8 gpm available from theboiler, working with a small storage

THE PROBLEM: It all seemed so simple. A new house, equippedwith a boiler plus a hot water air handler with airconditioning, and DHW supplied from the tank-less coil inside the boiler. The boiler was rated at 140,000 BTUH, and themanufacturer said the tankless coil would deliverfive gallons per minute. The heat loss was 86,567 BTUH, so the 93,000BTUH air handler was a perfect fit. The boiler fittings were 1-1/4”, and the air han-dler fittings were 3/4”. It was simple, just run 3/4” piping to and fromthe air handler, and run 1/2” cold water supply(CWS) and 1/2” hot water supply for the DHW.The system didn’t deliver enough heat, nor did itdeliver five gallons per minute of hot water.Sometimes, simple isn’t the answer. What hap-pened? (Hint: Do the math.)

Congratulations to Stojan Trajceskof Tesla HVAC/R in Toronto, our July/August winner.He's the proud new owner of an M12 cordless PVCshear from Milwaukee Electric Tool, perfect for cut-ting PVC, CPVC and PEX. Want to be in on theprizes? Then drop us a line with your solution to thismonth's quiz. And don't forget to pick up the nextedition of Mechanical Business to see who claims thenext prize, and for the next edition of Find the Fix!

equipped with re-circ pump, wouldsupply lots of domestic hot water. Also adding to the problems was thatthe air handler fittings were only 3/4".A minimum of one-inch piping shouldhave been used to deliver the 93,000BTUHs. If we look at the math, 3/4" pipe willcarry four gallons per minute quietly,so the air handler would have to have a46+ degree delta T to achieve the93,000 BTUH output the system needs.Most air handlers are only designed todeliver 10 to 15 degree delta Ts.

One last piping note, a simple pri-mary/ secondary piping arrangementwould go a long way to ensuring thatyou’ll orchestrate great performancefrom the system.

Jeff House is an experienced industry pro-fessional and hydronics trainer, and han-dles the Golden Horseshoe territory forJess-Don Dunford, a manufacturers’ repin Ontario. He can be reached [email protected].

BTUH = GPM X 500 X DELTA T

1 1/4”Boiler Fitting

140,000 btu High Mass boilerc/w Tankless DHW Coil

93,000 btuAir Handler

1 1/4”Boiler Fitting

140,000 btu High Mass boilerc/w Tankless DHW Coil

93,000 btuAir Handler


Kevin O’Leary’s passion for money is unwa-vering. He’ll even tell you to fire your moth-er if it would help the value of your busi-

ness – and perhaps his investment. The “cruel tobe kind” business mogul, and one of the Dragonson CBC’s Dragons’ Den, does not mince wordswhen it comes to being approached by entrepre-neurs with over-valued companies looking for aninfusion of money to help with growth or productdevelopment. His message is clear. When it comesto business, “the only thing that matters in thelong run is money.”

That does not mean that he’s only on the show forhis wit and charm. He is always on the lookout fora good deal. What does he look for when investi-gating potential companies to investment in?

“The only thing I care about is cashflow. That’s all.Everything else is meaningless to me,” he says. “Ican hear the most optimistic story; I don’t care. Iwant to know, ‘What’s the plan to generate cash?’”

As he is apt to point out from his pulpit in theDragons’ Den, the combination of stupidity andgreed is what cause businesses to take wrongpaths, and for investors to lose interest.

“Telling me that their business, which is doing$100,000 in sales, is worth $10 million, that hap-pens all the time. It is a huge mistake that entre-preneurs make,” he says. “No investor is going toover pay for a small business – no matter what the

growth potential is – because the pitfalls of run-ning a business are well known. It is very chal-lenging and the probability of success is low.”

So, why can’t a company with zero in sales andno assets sell him a three per cent stake for$100,000? “Because I’m not an idiot. That’s why.I hear that all the time too, and while I think it isamusing, it is not going to get them anywhere.”

He prefers to work with entrepreneurs who havefailed a few times, viewing the failures as learningopportunities. “Everybody who comes in with abushy tail and just assumes they are going tomake a million dollars hasn’t dealt with the reali-ties of business. You have to sacrifice everythingto be successful.”

Cover Story

By Adam Freill

On the TubeThe Lang & O’Leary ExchangeMonday to Friday @ 7 p.m. ET

on CBC News Network

CONTROLLING THE UNCONTROLLED

“What I have learned,” explains Kevin O’Leary, “is that there are twotypes of investments. There is one where you havecontrol, and there is one where you don’t. Let’s sayI’m investing $250,000 into a business and onlygetting 33 per cent. There’s no way on earth thatI’m going to do that deal without getting somesort of royalty stream cash-back to me so that I canrecoup my principal at my own schedule, not thatof the business’ owners. “I don’t want to be tied up into perpetuity withouthaving any liquidity. So that kind of deal is going tohave a royalty on it, maybe two-and-a-half or threeper cent of sales, so that I am getting acheque every month. That’s the only way that I will do a deal like that with a private company.“If I can get 51 per cent control, I won’t put thatroyalty in place because Icontrol the business and itis different.”

TURNED OFF BY THETAP OF GRANTS

If you want one of the most clearly defined opinions ongrants that you will ever get, just ask Kevin O’Leary his what

he thinks of government incentive and rebate programs.“I think it is a complete waste of money,” he says. “If a mar-ket cannot support a real business and a real return, then it

is not a market, so having the government arbitrarily picksome sector, like wind or solar, and support it for a short

period of time is just stupid for all taxpayers because it cre-ates a whole lot of uneconomic business models for peoplewho come into it to take advantage of the subsidies. And ofcourse, they collapse after the subsidies disappear. So I am

totally against that.“If a great technology comes along that can actually changethe economics of heating a home or air conditioning it, it is

going to survive in the market because it provides greateconomics, not because there’s some government sitting

there giving a subsidy. If I were in government, I would makeall these subsidies illegal.”

According to venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary, whether a companyis trying to get into financial shape as its owner prepares for retire-ment, or just to ensure that its valuation is in top financial shape,there are several ways that a company can increase its value:

First is to diversify the income so that no one client representsmore than 20 per cent of the business. A business is more valuableif it garners its sales from a wide range of clients.

Number 2, cut to the bone on costs. There is so much waste inbusiness. That goes right to the bottom line.

Make sure that you are using the most advanced technologies thatare available, because some competitor will be if you are not.

Don’t put a lot of debt on the business. That is a huge risk.

Cash is king. If you can have a cash balance and no debt, that’sgoing to make the company far more valuable. And one of theoptions you have when you sell it is that you can take some of thecash out of it at that point.

Investment reality

Kevin O’Leary

Want to increase your company’s value?


On the TubeDragons’ Den Wednesdays @ 8 p.m. ETon CBC Television

“At the end of the day, many, many, many businesses aregoing to fail. I look at venture investing through thetruth, which is one in 17 deals work. One in 17.”

Launching SoftKey Software Products from his basement on a $10,000 investment from his mother in the early ’80s, Kevin O’Leary started his

ascent up the corporate ladder through strategic acquisitions of competi-tors throughout the 1990s. He eventually sold his company to the Mattel

Toy Company for a staggering $3.7 billion.Since then, he has emerged as a notable venture capitalist, investing in

numerous companies and even taking control of his wealth by founding hisown mutual fund company, O’Leary Funds. He has raised hundreds of mil-

lions of dollars from investors who share his “get paid while you wait” yield oriented value investing philosophy.

He has a cottage in Muskoka, Ont., and divides his time between his homesin Toronto, Boston and West Palm Beach, Fla.

CIPHEX West Seminar ScheduleLocation: Palomino RoomWednesday, November 3


Industry roundup coming to CalgaryWestern Canada’s largest trade show for plumbing, hydronics,

heating, air conditioning and refrigeration and water treatmentprofessionals, CIPHEX West, returns to the BMO Centre at

Stampede Park in Calgary November 3 to 4, 2010.This year’s showwill feature Richard Trethewey of TV’s This Old House, as well as

product displays, seminars and technical workshops.

CIPHEX West is produced by theCanadian Institute of Plumbing &

Heating (CIPH) and supported by theCanadian Water Quality Association,

the Mechanical ContractorsAssociation of Canada, MCA Albertaand the Canadian Hydronics Council,

as well as numerous other industryassociations available in

North America.

WHAT: CIPHEX West

www.ciphexwest.ca

WHEN: November 3-4, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHO: More than 200 exhibitors and 2,500 delegates, along withseminar presenters Richard Trethewey (RST Thermal and This Old House/Ask This Old House), John Siegenthaler P.E. (Appropriate Designs andMohawk Valley Community College), Mechanical Business columnistCarol Fey (Carol Fey & Associates), Arnold Knapp (CCBDA), SidneyManning (Alberta Municipal Affairs) and Chris Thompson (CWQA).

8:00 Solar Combisystems forspace heating and domestic hotwater - A fusion of renewable ener-gy and state-of-the-art hydronics

Hydronics expert John Siegenthaler P.E. will address proper heatconveyance and the importance of understanding modern hydron-ics to improve performance of renewable energy heat sources

11:30 Residential greywater:collection, treatment and reuse Location: Palomino F

Chris Thompson, Canadian Water Quality Association and ProjectInnovations will discuss common sources of greywater, define the characteristics of each, and outline the treatment technologies for arange of end uses.

1:00 Copper’s role in renewableenergy applications for C-I-I projects

Arnold Knapp, Canadian Copper and BrassDevelopment, will discuss the advantage of cop-per’s thermal conductivity and methods to increaseenergy efficiency.

2:30 Natural gas and propaneinstallation code — B149

Sidney Manning, Alberta Municipal Affairs, will provide an updateon implementation of B149, discuss ongoing challenges, and clarifylocal code interpretations as we move into the heating season.


WHERE: BMO Centre at Stampede Park, Calgary, Alberta

DOUBLE THE GIFT CARD VALUE! by replacing a competitor’s model

RULES: Offer valid on commercial gas or electric models purchased between October 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Light Duty Electric Models not included. Offer not valid on products replaced under warranty. Competitor's ratingplate must be submitted along with entry to qualify for double value gift card. No mechanically reproduced invoices will be accepted. Only original invoices, submitted in their entirety, will be accepted. Original invoices can be usedone time only. Incomplete orders will not be processed. Bradford White-Canada Inc. is not responsible for the lost, late, misdirected, damaged, illegible, incomplete or postage due mail or orders. Sponsor reserves the right to offersubstitution of item of equal or greater value if item specified by sponsor becomes unavailable. Please allow 3 to 6 weeks for shipment. Forms must be received by January 14, 2011. Forms received after this date will be void and willnot be honored. Offer void where prohibited. Bradford White-Canada Inc. reserves the right to audit all invoices and order forms submitted to question, and/or disqualify purchases/sales made or claimed that are not in accordance withprogram rules. Any submitted form or order, as determined by Bradford White-Canada Inc., that is not compliant with the rules of this program will not be honored. The decisions of Bradford White-Canada Inc. are final in all mattersrelating to this program. Copyright 2010, Bradford White Corporation. All Rights Reserved. *Light Duty Electric Models not included.

Name

Company

Shipping Address

City Province Postal Code

Phone Email

Invoice # Model # Serial #

SUBMIT FORMS BY JANUARY 14, 2011Send this completed coupon along with the original invoices to:

Bradford White-Canada Inc. | 1869 Sismet Road | Mississauga ON, L4W 1W8

Competitor’s rating plate must be submitted along with entry to qualify for double value gift card. *Light Duty Electric Models not included.

INSTALL A BRADFORD WHITE MAGNUM SERIES®

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From October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, for every Bradford White Commercial Water Heateryou install we’ll send you a Best Buy or Future Shop

Gift Card.* And when you replace a competitorsmodel, we’ll DOUBLE the value of your gift card!


8:00 Interfacing geothermal heatpumps with modern hydronics -what are the best combinations?

John Siegenthaler P.E. leads another in-depth workshop addressingthe best combinations to improve the performance of renewable ener-gy heat sources.

11:30 National Plumbing CodeChanges

Learn about changes to the National Plumbing Code that are expectedto be adopted in July 2011 with Sidney Manning, chief plumbing andgas administrator/inspector with Alberta Municipal Affairs.

1:00 Richard Trethewey on“Lessons in a lifetime of heatingand cooling”

Since This Old House began broadcasting in 1979,Richard Trethewey has become an industry voice that’strusted. After years in the building trades, Richard contin-ues to share his knowledge and advocate professionalism.

2:30 Making complex controlssimple: the quick & basic approach

Mechanical Business contributor Carol Feyspecializes in making complex topics engag-ing and easy to understand. This session aimsto take the confusion out of electrical controlwiring for hydronic systems.

3 inlets (toilet, shower/bath and sink)

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CIPHEX West Seminar ScheduleThursday, November 4 Location: Palomino F


A two-season Antarctica veteran (that’sdown by the South Pole), Carol hasbeen both a heating technician and anemergency communications operator.Before venturing to Antarctica, shespent more than 25 years in the con-trols industry as a territory manager forHoneywell. Besides writing books, Carolis also a Mechanical Business columnist.She is known for her unusual classroomapproach to teaching electricity andcontrols to HVAC technicians.

Presenters Up Close

Carol Fey

Sidney is chief plumbing and gasadministrator/inspector with Alberta MunicipalAffairs. He is the past-president of the AlbertaMechanical Officials Society. He has worked in theconstruction industry for 20 years, with a focus onlarge construction mechanical systems.

John has more than 25 years of experience indesigning modern hydronic heating systems. He isan associate professor of engineering technologyat Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica,N.Y., and is the author of the text “Modern Hydronic Heating,”and numerous other publications dealing with hydronic heating.He also runs Appropriate Designs, a team of engineering profes-sionals dedicated to modern hydronic heating.

Sidney Manning

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

Richard has been an integral part of the ThisOld House team since the home improvementshow's debut in 1979. Today, he also appearson the Emmy Award-winning show's sisterseries, Ask This Old House. He is a licensedmaster and journeyman plumber in theCommonwealth of Massachusetts and is presi-dent of RST Thermal. Richard was also thevery first person to be featured on the coverof Mechanical Business. Thanks Richard!

Richard Trethewey

Arnold is a consultant with theCanadian Copper & BrassDevelopment Association. He hasextensive experience in the develop-ment of applications for copper andcopper-alloy products in Canada.Arnold’s work involves participation oncode and standards-writing commit-tees in Canada and the U.S.

Arnold Knapp

Kitchen faucetFeaturing Delta’s touchtechnology, the Pilarkitchen faucetincorporates a two-function, pull-down sprayhead that switches fromstream to spray with theclick of a diverterbutton. It usesMagnaTite, theexclusive magnetic closure technology toengage the spray head to its dockedposition, helping to keep both the faucetand kitchen looking neat and orderly.

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TouchfaucetAvailable inpolishedchrome orstainless steel,Brizo’sSmartTouchVenuto kitchenfaucet can be turned on or off by tappinganywhere on the handle or spout, inaddition to the traditional handle pullmethod. The faucet also features thecompany’s magnetic docking technology,which uses a magnet to lock the wand intothe faucet spout.

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KITCHEN TRENDS By Adam Frei l l

Getting a handle on faucets

On the finish front, “stainlessis still king,” says Maeve

Grady. “It co-ordinates withstainless appliances, which are

still really popular. Andchrome is next. These are

really easy to clean, and youdon’t see the finger prints.”

Modern, traditional or transitional

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The technology found in today’s kitchens has come a long way overthe past few years, with companies focusing research and designefforts on addressing the needs of multiple users, while still

providing the style that matches homeowner preferences and buildingarchitecture. Getting the little things right can make all the differencewhen it comes to the competitive world of faucet design.

Pull-outfaucetThe Elatepullout kitchenfaucet fromKohler has aone-piece, self-containedceramic discvalve and a three-function spray head.With temperature memory allowing it tobe turned off and on at any setting, thefaucet is available in polished chrome orstainless steel finishes.

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Single-lever pull-downThe Arbor pull-downkitchen faucet fromMoen features a multi-function pull-downwand and dockingsystem that allowsusers to switchbetween several waterflow patterns with the touch of a button,including aerated spray, stream or pause.The faucet also includes a fibre pull-downhose with a ball joint at the end of thewand designed for easier maneuverabilitywhen rinsing hard to reach corners of the sink.

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• Modern, t radit ional , or t ransit ional • Pul l-outs, pul l downs & more

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“People are still just getting their first pull-out, but it’s beenaround for 10 years,” says Tim McDonough, vice-presidentwholesale marketing and brand development with MoenCanada. He explained that one of the many benefits overside-sprays, which have been around for much longer, is thatthe spray control has been moved from the rear of the sinkto be much closer to the middle of the sink, making it mucheasier for the user to access the sprayer.

“Even more important than that, is the way that the pull-outand pull-down wands are ergonomically designed so that

even someone with only one free arm can use them. If youare holding a dish or a rag in one hand, you can control the water flow with the other hand,” he adds.

Touch technology is also making inroads on the kitchen faucet front, bringing with it benefits for theentire family. “With kids, you don’t have to worry about them leaving the faucet running, since the faucetsturn off automatically after four minutes,” says Maeve Grady, marketing communications specialist withDelta Faucet Canada. “When it comes to seniors or people with limited dexterity, they can tap anywhereon the faucet. They don’t have to grasp anything.”

Of course one of the criticisms ofsome early pull-out and pull-downdesigns stemmed from faucetmodels with docking mechanismsthat did not function very well. Assuch, many companies have put afocus on this small, yet vitalfeature.

“That docking collar has beenredesigned, and it has a nice solidlocking feature to it now,” saysMcDonough. “That, to us, isthoughtful design.”

Pull-outs, pull-downs and more “Canada is still more modernin design than the U.S.,” says

Tim McDonough of MoenCanada. “Within the kitchen,

it tends to go one way or theother, either modern or

traditional. We are, however,seeing more transitional

design, where you can dressthem one way and make them

modern, or another way andmake it more traditional.”

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PLUMBING


TempTAP faucets from Powers are avail-able in standard and gooseneck models.TempTAP faucets feature ceramic disc mix-ing, integral checks and filters, ADA-com-pliant handles, and are certified lead-free.Low-flow models are available between 0.5and 1.5 GPM.

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Taco’s Hot-Link system for hot water re-circulation is a retrofit solutionfor homes without a dedicated return line. The system includes a com-posite bypass valve and stainless steel circulator with a timer and linecord. The one-pump, one-valve combo is easily installed and does awaywith the need to run a dedicated return line back to the water heater.

taco-hvac.com

If power is lost, Delta’s hardwire converter with battery back-upallows electronic faucets, flush valves and urinals to keep running untilpower has been fully restored. The unit is equipped with a battery

strength indicator.

deltacommercialfaucets.com

The Little Giant Inline CP constant pressure systemfrom Franklin Electric installs into an existing watersystem and monitors a homes’ water usage, provid-ing increased and consistent waterpressure without fluctuation.The system can be usedwith city water or aprivate well system,and it allows home-owners to boost andmaintain pressure,regardless of waterusage.

constantpressure.com

Rothbury, Eva and Brantford single-handle lavatoryfaucets from Moen Canada have been certified tomeet WaterSense criteria. Each faucet features aflow-optimized aerator that allows water to flow at5.7 litres per minute (L/min), versus traditional aera-tors that flow at 8.3 L/min, reducing water usage byup to 32 per cent.

moen.ca

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When you purchase a Little Giant GP Series grinder pump from Franklin Electric, you’re getting an industry-proven product, trusted by professionals. With a unique patented cutter assembly, the GP Series shreds materials

ROAD WARRIOR By Robert Robertson


Name: Brian WilliamsCompany: Ashton Service GroupTitle: President Resides in: South Surrey, B.C.Trade School: British Columbia Institute ofTechnology (BCIT)Age: 47Family: Wife, Julie; Children: Connor, Ashley and AbbyService Area: B.C.'s Lower MainlandIn the mechanical industry since: 1980

Favourite car of all time:1967 Ford Mustang Fastback

GTA 390

After 23 years in the business, Brian Williams knowswhat a plumber’s life is all about. "You’re really

on call at all times," he says. Williams’ compa-ny, Richmond, B.C.-based Ashton ServiceGroup, is a full-service contracting firm thatprimarily provides plumbing, heating andair conditioning service in both residentialand commercial buildings. When not ply-ing the trade, Williams is an active com-munity volunteer. He founded the BrianWhatley Foundation, a fund for kidswho can’t afford to participate insports programs, and sponsors andhelps coach local hockey and soccerteams. Williams also drives a 2009Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Hisinterest in bikes goes back toWilliams’ best friend who passedaway from cancer. "He sold mehis Harley," says Williams. "Wewere going to ride all the time,so that’s why I followed throughwith the new Harley. It kind of

reminds me of him."

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What brought you to the plumbing and heating trade? "Myfather was a plumber and my first job was unloading box-cars for BC Plumbing Supplies."

Favourite thing about your current job: "Seeing our Ashtonemployees succeed and having fun.”

Kilometres logged per day: 40 to 45

Favourite place to get dispatched to: "DowntownVancouver, so I can stop in at GM Place and watch theCanucks practice or take in a game at night."

The most useful tool in your toolbox: "Definitely a flashlight."

Tool that you wish you had: "I have lots of tools, but I coulduse a mini-excavator. With a place up-country, I would useit to clear the snow."

If you were granted one wish: "Finding a home for all thechildren in the world."

Favourite outdoor activity: "Getting on my Hog and head-ing out on the highway."

Favourite magazine: "Mechanical Business, along withHOG (Harley Owners Group) magazine."

Where have you taken your Hog? "We went to Sturgis,North Dakota in 2009. This year, we rode to Laughlin,Nevada."

Favourite performer: AlanJackson

Best concert: "The Eagles atGM Place. AC/DC was alsogood, but my ears are still ring-ing."

Favourite TV show: "The Late LateShow on CBS with comedian Craig Ferguson."

Favourite TV station: "Global BC and the News Hour coverage."

Favourite actor: Harrison Ford

Favourite movie of all time: On Golden Pond

Favourite sport: “Hockey and the Vancouver Canucks."

Favourite season: Summer

Place on your wish list to visit: “I would like to go to Asia,especially Tahiti."

Blackberry oriPhone:Blackberry

VancouverOlympics: "We didall the plumbing, airconditioning andheating for the U.S.hockey team's dressingroom. That was pretty sweet.The work was done from scratch andwithin a two-week time window. We also did plumbingand gas fitting for food and beverage hook ups."

Community volunteering: "There's nothing like the warmfeeling you get driving home at four in the morning, andknowing you have made a difference with a person on thestreet who needs help.”

Place to hang out: "Bikram Yoga studios in Richmond orWhite Rock, B.C."

Favourite restaurant: "SW Steakhouse, Las Vegas, Nevada."

Favourite food: Vietnamese

Favourite snack: Fruit

What do you usually have for breakfast? "Oatmeal and berries."

Drive-thru restaurant: "I usually avoid drive-thru. When Istarted out in the business, I promised myself that I wouldeat out for lunch as a treat. The Cactus Club is my topchoice. They serve everything there."

Where do you order pizza? "A place called Emilio's."

What toppings do you like on your pizza? “Chicken, garlic,green onions and artichokes.”

Favourite hobbies: "Looking to buy real estate and collect-ing old cars, but I don't refurbish them."

Last book read: The E-Myth, by Michael Gerber

Last movie you saw: The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock

Favourite web site: Volo Auto Museum in Chicago [Classicand Muscle cars for sale]

What has been the weirdest thing that has happened toyou on the job? "How about pulling a Grand Marnier bottlefrom a toilet? Under a sink, I also found a bag that hadabout $80,000 in it. I gave the money to the people, and itwas like they didn't even miss it."


Without a heat transfer medium, like water or glycol, ahydronic system is just a collection of pipes andcomponents that sit in the boiler room and behind the

walls. It takes liquid to deliver the heat when and where youwant it, so it pays to have the right fluid for your application, toknow how to protect this liquid gold, and to get the most fromit in your system.


At 50 F and 60 psig, anair/water solution cancontain about 11% air byvolume.

Guarding your gold:

Make sure the system is clean before the glycol is installed.

Use high quality mix water or buy a pre-mixed solution.

Use a packaged feeder rather than a raw water connection for makeup

and pressurization.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for minimum

concentrations. Very low concentrations may not provide adequate

inhibitor strength.

Check the concentration, pH, and inhibitor strength annually.

HYDRONICS By Jerry Boulanger

Liquid Gold

Not working with water?


After water has been in a closed hydronicsystem for a while, it gives up all its nastiness.The oxygen in the entrained air oxidizes withthe ferrous components, and any othercontaminants get used up as they form scaleor otherwise react with the system. The waterbecomes “dead,” and in many instances will

also have been chemically treated. It maylook bad when it’s drained out, but as

far as the system is concerned, that“dead” water is liquid gold.

If it’s not contaminated in someway, any of this fluid that is

drained for service reasons shouldbe put back into the systeminstead of being dumped and

replaced with “live,” untreatedraw water. This is particularlyimportant if the system fluid isan anti-freeze solution, or if

treatment chemicals in the fluidrepresent an environmental hazard.

Installing a packaged system feeder for systempressurization will make re-injecting yourliquid gold easy. Just pour it back into thefeeder tank and let the system take care ofitself.

Not all systems work on straight water.Sometimes we need to play with other fluids,like glycol. Automobile manufacturers useglycol solutions in their engine coolingsystems, regardless of where their vehicles aresold, for two main reasons – corrosion protectionand a higher boiling point. Freeze protection is abonus.

In HVAC systems, freeze protection is the primary reasonwe use glycol, but there are important guidelines thatshould be followed for a successful glycol installation:


Jerry Boulanger is the sales manager at Axiom Industries

Ltd. He can be reached at [email protected].

A leak of one drop per second represents a loss ofabout 200 U.S. gallons of fluid per month (about2.6 million drops). It’s not hard to imagine aleakage rate of that magnitude in large systemsthat have lots of valve packing, pump seals andmechanical piping connections.

In addition to the cost of the fluid, this canadd up to a lot of wasted energy in any systemwhere the fluid is being heated or cooled.

There is another impact in closed systems – aslow death from corrosion and scale causedby raw water makeup required to maintainsystem pressurization. Raw water makeup,with its oxygen and other undesirables, isusually the only source of contaminationavailable to closed hydronic systems. That’s whyit is so important to keep closed systems tight,and to quickly detect and repair leaks when theydevelop – and they will develop.

Unfortunately, small leaks can be very hard todetect. Packaged system feeders provide excellentleak detection; if the fluid level in the reservoir isgoing down, the system is taking fluid. Apackaged feeder also gives the operator controlover what is used for makeup fluid, which can bea big advantage in areas where the raw watersupply should not be used for makeup.

Because water and other fluids used in closed systems areincompressible, a very small loss of fluid can result in acomplete loss of pressure. For example, in order to add oneper cent more water to a full, closed vessel, you would haveto apply a pressure of about 3,000 psig. Conversely, if you

were able to accomplish that, you could drop thepressure in the vessel from 3,000 psig to 0 psig by

releasing only one per cent of the water. Note: Donot try this at home!

The cold water in a freshly purged and filledheating system will be about two to three per

cent dissolved air by volume. Added to that willbe any trapped free air that was not caught by

the purging process.

These systems, then, may require as much as three to fiveper cent of their total volume made up to get through theventing process.

Once all of the air is vented, the pressure loss andrequirement for makeup fluid in a tight system should bevery low. However, loss of pressure can cause severalundesirable things to happen, so it’s important thatadequate pressurization be maintained.

A SLOW DEATH

HYDRONICS continued from page 72

PRESSURE LOSSIN CLOSEDSYSTEMS

TECHTIPSWater stored in a feeder tank can be pre-treated, so there need not be aconnection between the hydronic andpotable water systems, eliminating anypotential for cross-connection and therequirement for backflow prevention.

Closed hydronic systems lose pressure for one ofthree reasons:

• Venting air – this is normal in systems with automatic air vents, primarily during startup.

• Leaks – this is not normal and should be avoided.

• Fluid is drained for service or some other reason.

Pressure Loss

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The days of high-design residential showers that offer littleby way of utility or performance are behind us. Gone tooare the days of dull, institutional, dime-a-dozen showers incommercial installations. In today’s landscape, clients expect showers that combineunique design with top notch features – in bothresidential and commercial settings. “There is a definite crossover between residential andcommercial,” says Nunzio Di Cesare, product manager forAmerican Standard (Canada).


SHOWERS By Dave Bowden

IntersectingsectorsTHE LINE BETWEEN COMMERCIALAND RESIDENTIAL SHOWERSCONTINUES TO BLUR

In residential installations, the emphasis has traditionallybeen on aesthetics. But with technology improving, andits price declining, homeowners are starting to expecttheir showers to be nearly as advanced as their TVs,computers and other digital devices. Spa-like features, likeoverhead showers or full-body sprays, remain soughtafter in the home, but manufacturers are now looking toimprove the ways these features operate.

“A couple years ago I would have questioned whether ornot I’d see digital valves in the residential sector,” saidTim McDonough, vice-president of wholesale marketingfor Moen Canada. “But over the past 24 months, I’mamazed at how digital has advanced, and continues toevolve. People are going to get really used to just walkingup, pressing a button and getting a shower.”

Digital technology has become standard in so manyaspects of the home, from television to garage dooropeners. Already accustomed to these innovations athome, homeowners have recently started to notice theproliferation of digital plumbing technology in publicspaces.

“(Homeowners have) always been about the style and

the look, but they are now looking for more in the way of the technologycoming into residential applications. They’re saying, ‘I want some of thatcommercial technology now in my home,’” says Steve Dunn, trade channelmarketing manager for Masco Canada.

Manufacturers have already started catering to increasingly tech-savvy end-users. Hands-free trim has started to gain favour in bathroom and kitchenfaucets, and manufacturers agree that similar advances in digital showersare not far behind.

While homeowners look tobring commercial innovationsinto their houses,commercial properties areincreasingly trying toreplicate the comfort of

Showers going digital


Commercial gets residentially inspired

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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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SHOWERS continued from page 76

residential showers in ICIinstallations, further blurring the linebetween private and public showers.

“Ten, 15, 20 years ago, commercial wasall heavy-duty stuff,” says American

Standard’s Nunzio Di Cesare. Though it hastraditionally been more concerned with performance

than appearance, he said the commercial sector has takena cue from its residential counterpart and started placingan increased focus on aesthetics.

“The biggest demand overall is for commercial productsthat maybe don’t look so commercial,” agrees Masco’s SteveDunn. “There are certain things in true commercialproperties like say a YMCA that people want. They want a

little bit of style, even in heavy-duty use.”

There are a number of wayscommercial installations try toincorporate style, depending on thetype of property. Examples rangefrom handshowers to spa-style rainshowers that have also becomepopular in residential installations.

While hotels technically fall underthe ICI umbrella, Masco’s SteveDunn considers them a league oftheir own.

“A lot of people classify (hotels) asa commercial installation, buttypically they aren’t commercial-grade products,” he explains. “Theywant residential looking-productsthat are easy to operate.”

In the shower, as in the rest of theroom, hotels aim to create a “homeaway from home” atmosphere fortheir clients. While much of thecommercial sector is currentlylooking to improve its style,nowhere is this truer than in thehospitality sector.

“What’s happening from ourperspective is that major hotelchains in North America arelooking for a unique spaexperience, and they don’t want tolook the same as anyone else,” saysAmerican Standard’s GraemeLennox.

Hotels following style trends

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• Hotels fol lowing style trends

“We’re also noticing an increase indemand for enhanced showeringexperiences,” adds Dunn. “Many(hotel) properties now want bodysprays; they want handshowersadded in; they want either over-sizedshowerheads or multipleshowerheads added in. It’s more ofthat vertical, spa type of approach.”

This increased emphasis on style andoriginality creates an opportunity forcontractors, particularly when hotelsfind their previous designs wanting.

In new hotels, anticipating a hotel’sfuture needs can create anopportunity for repeat business. Wheninstalling showers and other bathroomfixtures, McDonough recommendsusing models that allow the valves andthe trim to be installed separately, makingit easy to return and replace fixtures astrends change.

When approaching pre-existinghotels that are ready to upgrade,your pitch should be more than the sum of its parts. Make it clearthat you understand the ways in which a hotel strives for repeatbusiness.

“Price is important. But in today’s market, in order to stand out fromsomebody else you have to offer a different product. And most of thetime that different product is the shower experience,” Dunn said. “It’sworth spending a couple extra bucks to give the customer what theywould expect in a certain type of building, to keep them coming backfor more.”

GET IN THE KNOWABOUT THE NOW

With technology makingits way into the home asdesign makes its way intocommercial settings,manufacturers agree that

the best way forcontractors to takeadvantage of thecrossover is to keepthemselves educated.

“Contractors have to becognizant of what’s on themarket,” says AmericanStandard’s marketingmanager, Graeme Lennox.“As a contractor, you haveto be aware of thosetrends so you canfamiliarize yourself withthose products.”

Hotels need to update and refreshtheir looks on a regular basis, andthey need to do it typically on afive-year cycle.”

Tim McDonough, Moen Canada

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PHOTO OPPORTUNITIESCIPH ABC 2010

1. Keynote speaker, retired general Rick Hillier, with Sean Giberson of Taco Canada.. 2. MCAC chair Bob Hoare broughtgreetings on behalf of his allied association. 3. John Wareham, with his wife Lise, receives the Order of the Bath and Bowlaward. 4. Outgoing CIPH chair Martin Deschenes presents Carl Burt of Par Four Plumbing Products with an outstandingservice award. 5. Pierre Dandurand and Anna Casella during the George Street pub crawl. 6. Tom Cochrane live, in concert onGeorge Street. 7. The Fife and Drum Band of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. 8. Members of the CIPH Board of Directorsprepare to “Kiss the Cod” as part of the screeching in ceremony. 9. An official ground breaking ceremony was held for theCIPH sponsored Habitat for Humanity build in St. John’s. 10. Mark McCarthy of McCarthy’s Party talks about the history of theregion. 11. A pair of past chairs. Honourary vice-chairman, and a CIPH past-chair, Cliff Sarjeant (left) receives a special awardfrom outgoing chair Martin Deschenes. 12. Martin Deschenes on George Street. 13. Mike and Demi McKay. 14. Bill Hooper atthe Canadian Hydronics Council luncheon. 15. Martin Deschenes celebrates becoming an honourary Newfoundlander.


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CIPH navigates business in St. John’s Russ Morgan, vice‐president, sales and marketing – Canada, with IPEX Inc. was elected CIPH chairman of the board at this year’s CIPH annualbusiness conference, held at the end of June in St. John’s, Nfld. While in the province, the association held the groundbreaking ceremony for theCIPH St. John’s Home Build, a Habitat for Humanity project made possible through the generosity of member companies. As could be expected inNewfoundland and Labrador, delegates were treated to great hospitality, solid business sessions and great entertainment. Even Tom Cochranedropped in to play a tune or two – although that may have been a Canada Day coincidence. Next year the ABC hits the other coast, heading toVictoria, B.C. ciph.com

321

Engineered for quality and durability, the Woodford RHY2-MS

is perfect for washing down cooling towers, cleaning condenser coils or

providing water for window washers and other types of roof equipment.

The hydrant support allows for installation flexibility, while its unique

mounting system secures above and below the roof deck, providing

exceptional strength and security. It also comes with a 2-degree shim

for pitch adjustment. Featuring ASSE 1052 backflow prevention and

Woodford’s freezeless technology, the RHY2-MS makes getting water on

the roof easier than ever before.

For more information, visit WoodfordMfg.com.

The choice of professionals.

Think of it as a 50-story hose.Get a convenient and reliable rooftop water source when you specify the Woodford RHY2-MS roof hydrant.

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The ductwork associated with residential heatingand air conditioning systems attracts a lot ofattention when it comes to efforts to improve air

quality in homes. This shouldn’t be surprising giventhat air handlers move thousands of cubic feet of airthrough the system each day, and have the potential totransfer pollutants from one part of a home to another.Moreover, in doing so they add or remove heat andchange the moisture content of the air and this canaccentuate or change the smell of the air emanatingfrom the vents.

Of course, both the visible signs of dust and debris infloor boots, and the fear of what they can’t see lurkingin the ducts, are also on the minds of homeowners.

That said, in over 15 years of doing comprehensiveindoor air quality investigations, I have never concludedthat dirty ducts were the source of a problem. I have, ofcourse, recommended duct cleaning as part of anoverall clean up or remediation plan.


HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC By Gord Cooke

Duct leakage and sealing Properly manufactured and installed sheet metal duct still often leaksat an amazing rate of 20 to 30 per cent. At least 20 per cent of the airintended to come out of a supply register escapes somewhere alongthe duct route.

Supply side leakage pressurizes wall cavities and floor assemblies, andthis can lead to air quality problems. For example, the rooms overgarages have supply ducts running through the insulated floor cavityand duct leakage forces warm moist air into the cold side of thecavity. This can lead to condensation.

A more dramatic issue is the practice of dumping warm air intospaces between the floor of the rooms above and the ceiling of thegarage to solve cold floor complaints. This pressurizes the cavity withwarm moist air. Often there is exposed fibreglass insulation in this

cavity. The risk is condensation in the cavity and spreading dust and fibres from the cavity into the house.

The leakage of return air ducts is even more pronounced. In fact, there are so many leakage points it is usuallyimpossible to even measure the leakage rate of return air plenums.

HVAC contractors should take every opportunity to seal supply ducts and return air plenums – preferably withmastic, but as alternative foil duct tape will do.

IAQ & DUCTCLEANING

Foggy notesonsprayingIt is important toavoid spraying orfogging duct work withbiocides or other chemicals duringor after cleaning. This procedure issometimes promoted as a way to “disinfect”bacteria or moulds that might be in the duct.

This is an unnecessary step that introducesunwanted chemicals. In fact, in one case I wasinvolved with, the chemical residue leftbehind from the biocide that was fogged intothe duct work was determined to be causinga homeowner discomfort. They had todismantle and hand wash large sections ofduct work to eliminate it.

I N N O V A T I O N I S E L E C T I O N I S U P P O R T

www.flirthermography.ca

www.extech.com 1-800-430-6754

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HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC

Gord Cooke is a professional engineer who has spent

20 years helping builders and HVAC contractors

implement innovative technologies into high-

performance homes. He has particular expertise in IAQ

and air flow management in houses, and can be

contacted at [email protected].

The smell in HVAC ducts can be an important clue inindoor air quality investigations. Ducts are a transport

mechanism for pollutants from poor or “contaminated”areas to clean areas.

Following the smell back through the return side of the ductsystem to find the source of problems is a useful technique.In the assessment it is helpful to investigate the three distinctparts – the return side, the air handler components and thesupply side – of the duct system separately.

The condition of the return air grilles or the area just insidethe return ducts may be the first clue. Heavy dust, fibres,discolouration, or “soot” on the face of a return air grille aresigns. Comparing grilles from different parts of the housemay isolate a pollutant source. Return air ducts are typicallythe dirtiest part of the system.

In most areas of Canada, we have used poorly sealed floorcavities and wall spaces as return air plenums. They areseldom smooth or straight, and the air is travelling throughthem at low velocity, so pollutants are easily dropped out.

It is important to remember that as much air leaks intoreturn ducts from around gaps in the plenums used to createthem as enters through the return grilles themselves. Thismakes the job of finding pollutant sources more difficult.

In the air handler section, the most obvious pollutant sourcewould be spillage of combustion products. HVACcontractors should be able to recognize and diagnose thetell-tale signs of this critical event – scorching, sooting,discoloration and poor flame colour.

Another important pollutant source in andaround the air handler is moisture. Waterleaking can lead to mould and bacteriagrowth. Proper drainage of airconditioning coils, combined with regularinspection and cleaning, facilitated byeasily accessible inspection panels, areindications of a professionally-maintained HVAC system.

The supply side of duct systems areusually the cleanest. They are underpositive pressure, feature smooth sheetmetal pipe, and air moving at highervelocities so they tend to collect less dustand debris. The supply side can contribute toair quality problems, however, by pressurizingwall and floor cavities through duct leakage. (SeeDuct leakage and sealing sidebar on page 82.)

Follow your NOSE

When should ducts be cleaned?continued from page 82

There is a great publication series called “About Your House” offered by theCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. One of the 60 or so short

information pieces intended to offer straightforward advice toconsumers is titled “Should You Get Your Heating DuctsCleaned?” While this publication is clear that duct cleaning isunlikely to improve air quality or improve furnacesystem air flow, it does offer sage advice as to whenduct cleaning is helpful.

Regular vacuuming of debris from the area in and aroundreturn air grilles, or from the supply air boots under floorregisters is an easy and worthwhile step for homeowners. Repeated cleaning of the entire duct system is probablyunnecessary in most households, however.

In residential systems almost all duct cleaning is done using a combination of negative and positive pressure systems. Theentire system is kept under negative pressure with a large fan and compressed air is used to agitate the inside of theducts, often enhanced with a variety of accessories like a bouncing ball or flexible rods that flail the ducts.

John Oudyk, of PowerVac Profressional Duct Cleaning, says to compare the quality of the negative pressure device usedfor the cleaning. The most powerful systems are the truck mounted units. While such specialized equipment as roboticinspection cameras can be useful in unusual cases, they are an unnecessary expense for most residential jobs.

In larger commercial and institutional applications the inspection camera and contact vacuuming of the duct work areelements of a thorough professional cleaning.

Clean Ducts:• After major renovation

or new constructionespecially when there hasbeen dry wall workdone.

• Where clients havemoved into an olderhome and the history ofpets, smoking or otherpotential pollutants inthe house is unclear.

• If there have been waterleaks that involved ductsgetting wet or as part ofan overall clean-up ofmould or other majorindoor air quality issues.

Innovate.Evolve.

Advance.Zuba-Central.

The revolution in whole-home comfort

continues.You already know Zuba-Central as the ground-breaking Canadian innovation in year-round residential HVAC. This year, the evolution continues with impressive improvements, including Energy Star compliance and a new user-friendly digital thermostat. So make the intelligent choice. Give your customers the advanced level of comfort and dramatic savings that only Zuba-Central can provide.

Get all the details at www.RethinkHVAC.ca

SAVES UP TO 70% IN YEARLY HEATING COSTS†

† Mitsubishi Electric Canada provides these figures without including obligation or liability. Figures may vary depending on application and energy provider. For complete details visit www.mitsubishielectric.ca/powerful_savings.html

INFRARED HEATING By Dave MacKenzie

86

Dave MacKenzie is the vice-president of Brant Radiant Heaters. He canbe reached at [email protected].

What is the detailed heat-loss calculationfor the building?

Accurate, standard heat-loss calculations are required for all totalspace heating applications. For estimating purposes only, a figure of35 to 50 BTUHs per square foot is used in the preplanning stages. Ifspot heating, a figure of 100 to 200 BTUHs per square foot mightbe used. These are only rules of thumb and should not replace aproper heat-loss for system design purposes. An infrared heater’s

stated BTUH inputs are used when matching infraredheaters to the heat-loss.

Can the required minimum clearance-to-combustibles be achieved?

The stated minimum clearance to combustibles for the infraredheater represents a 90 degree net temperature rise. It must benoted that some interior building products have a low heattolerance, such as vinyl (PVC), and must be protected to preventdegradation. Some manufacturers of tube-type equipment will statemore than one set of clearances. The first 20 feet of exchanger willhave greater clearances, whereas clearances 20 feet downstreammay be reduced. Clearance conflicts can be found in garageapplications with automotive hoists. Sometimes this can be resolvedwith heater lockouts – when the hoist lifts, the heater shuts down. Combustible objects can be shielded fromthe heating effects of infrared. Refer to yourprovincial gas code for more details in yourlocal area. And remember, signs should beposted in conspicuous locations specifyingminimum clearances and/or maximumproduct stacking heights. For moreinformation about infrared heater safety, visitwww.irsafetycouncil.org.

Will the heaters requireoutside combustion air dueto building contaminants,dust, solvents, etc?

All gas burning appliances require a clean air sourcefor proper combustion. Without this, combustionefficiency and equipment longevity will suffer. Thisequates to higher operating costs and service calls.Tube-type heaters typically have the option of

ducting air for combustion from outside a contaminated space.Contaminates can range from particulates such as dust, solventvapours, smoke, etc. An often overlooked application requiring

ducted fresh air is canopied patio/smoking areas.

Must the heaters be vented outside,or interlocked with an exhaust fan?

All unvented or heaters discharging the products of combustioninto the heated space must be interlocked with an exhaust fan.The interlock must be a device such as an air proving switchthat ensures air flow exists. Typical air flow requirements are fourCFM per 1,000 BTUH of heater input. Local gas codes may

dictate exhaust vent application requirements.

Will there be areas of large airexchanges such as in loading dockareas?

Infrared heaters heat the objects that the infrared raysstrike. These objects can be people, floors, metalrailings/racking, machinery, stored product, and soon. These absorbers of infrared will, in turn, heat thesurrounding area to a desired temperature. Thethermostat settings on an infrared space heatingapplication is usually three to five degrees lower thanwarm air due to radiant effect and no air movement.A properly installed system in areas with large airchanges, such as loading docks, benefit twice. First,people working in the radiant pattern will be warmedeven though air change is ongoing (spot heating). And

when air infiltration is reduced, all radiant absorbersbecome emitters to aid in the heated space recovery. Agood dock area infrared design will lessen the effect ofcold air or cold mass introduction into the space thereby

reducing the operating costs of the entire structure.

There are five factors that must be addressed beforedeveloping an infrared heating solution in a commercial,

industrial, agricultural or residential application. Before youembark on your next project, consider the following points toensure that the project starts on the right foot.

DESIGNING FOR SUCCESSFULINSTALLATIONS


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REFRIGERATION By Hernan Hidalgo

Expansion brings with it opportunities and challenges — opportuni-ties to grow and provide better customer service, and the challenge

to do so affordably and in a way that does not significantly impact theenvironment.

The people at Flanagan Foodservice, Inc. should know. The broad linefoodservice distributor recently completed a 65,000-square-foot expan-sion of its Kitchener, Ont., facility, increasing the size of the structure by50 per cent. Most of the 65,000 square foot expansion is a state-of-the-art freezer that uses technology developed and implemented in Japan,but never before built in Canada. Flanagan Foodservice caters primarilyto restaurants, including quick-serve restaurants, fine-dining establish-ments and everything in between. Its list of more than 5,000 customersalso includes bakeries, doughnut shops and healthcare and institutionalfacilities.

Flanagan’s 32-year history is matched by 32 consecutive years ofgrowth.

“With a track record like that, it’s natural to anticipate continued

PIONEERING CANADA’S FIRSTINDUSTRIAL AMMONIA/CO2 BRINESYSTEM

Hernan Hidalgo is the key account manager at Danfoss and can be reached at [email protected].

Ammonia/CO2 Brine System

- Provides 200 tons of refrig-eration affordably and

efficiently.

- Offers the efficiency ofan ammonia-based

system with the safetyof pumping cooled

CO2.

- Features four 100HP, 575-volt vari-

able frequencydrives.

- Designed with a multi-port valve station with ahigh-design working pressure of 754 psig.


Reducing ammonia charge

The refrigeration solution at FlanaganFoodservice uses ammonia in two large, insulatedcompressors that are isolated in an enclosedspace. The compressors cool CO2, which is thenpumped into those areas of the building thatrequire refrigeration, significantly reducing theammonia charge the warehouse holds.

“As a result, Flanagan enjoys the cost benefitderived from the efficiency of ammonia and feelscomfortable knowing they are pumping CO2, andnot ammonia, into their building,” explained LenPuhacz, manager of green technology projectsfor Mycom Canada, the company that suppliedthe equipment.

• Canada’s First Industr ial Ammonia/C02 Brine System


growth,” said Rick Flanagan, executive vice-president at thecompany. “However, we were at capacity in our old facilityand unable to add new customers and new product lines inour building footprint. In order to continue to grow andinvest in our future, we needed additional warehousespace.”

The expanded warehouse opened in April and brings the facility to200,000 square feet. Because much of the company’s business is in thefrozen food area, the addition was used to double the size of the facili-ty’s freezer space to 50,000 square feet, including 45,000 square feet ofregular freezer space and 5,000 square feet of ice cream freezer space.An additional 10,000 square feet of cool dock and 5,000 square feet ofrefrigerated storage completed the expansion.

The original facility relied on an R-22 system to provide 163 tons ofrefrigeration and maintain temperatures as low as four degreesFahrenheit in the regular freezer, and minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit inthe ice cream freezer.

So, the search was on for an alternative refrigeration system that couldprovide as much as 200 tons of refrigeration—and do so efficiently,affordably and in an environmentally responsible way. An ammonia-based system offered the efficiency the company sought but Flanaganwas concerned with the risk of a leak or an accident.

When considering refrigeration options to serve the new, larger facility,Flanagan admits the low initial first cost of an R-22 system – a viable

option at the time of the RFP – held someappeal, but it would not have been themost environmentally-friendly option, andwith the future cost of refrigerant to con-sider, ongoing maintenance costs becameanother factor to consider in the overallcost of the new system.

Instead, the company turned to whatFlanagan described as “an exciting newtechnology that represents the best of bothworlds” – a dual-temperatureammonia/C02 brine refrigeration packagedsystem.

“We’re looking at a payback for this systemof about 6.6 years thanks to the energy savings it offers,” reportsFlanagan. “And it’s an environmentally-friendly system that will reduceour carbon footprint and eliminate safety risks to our employees andthe products we warehouse. When you put all of that together, it’sdefinitely clear that the ammonia/C02 system is a win for us.”

Varying the speedDanfoss supplied the system’s ICF valve stations, and variable frequencydrives and pressure transmitters for the NH3 screw compressors and CO2 pumps.

“When you vary the speed, you can achieve significant energy savings,”said Jim Hower, national sales manager for Danfoss, who installed anumber of system components. “Additionally, the variable frequencydrives are easy to program and interface with the local programmablelogic controller.”

Quinn Vo, corporate engineer at Japanese parent of Mycom Canada,Mayekawa, agrees, “The programming is very user-friendly. The keypadsare transferrable from drive to drive, so once you program one, you canmove the keypad to another drive and download the settings, savingtime in the process.”

Under pressureBefore the Canadian B52 codewas amended (even prior tothe system design and com-missioning), it allowed CO2 —as long as the system wasdesigned to ambient condens-ing pressures of 1,100 psig,which is not practical in indus-trial refrigeration. The systemin use at Flanagan Foodservicewas designed to safely oper-ate at a maximum of 600 psig,which satisfied Canadianauthorities.

Factory-built components

The single, one-piece valve station in the system pro-vides ports for up to six-function-device modules thatare configured specifically for a customer’s applicationand shipped to a jobsite as a complete subassembly,ready for installation into the jobsite piping or into theOEM’s products.

“It’s really quite simple to install, requiring just twowelds,” explains Jim Hower of Danfoss. “Without thevalve station, you would need to use individual compo-nents, requiring multiple welds and additional installationtime. And because the valve is a factory-ready block, itreduces the potential for leaks that occur as the result offlanges or welds, and improves system reliability.”


The majority of plumbers and HVACtechnicians are craftsmen. Most takepride in the fact that the work they

perform is technically correct. I also believemost are willing to commit the planningtime to create a professional looking system.

It really doesn’t take much, if any,more time to install piping plumb,

level and square, (PL&S). Really, atape measure and level are all the tools needed to ensure yourpiping installations are plumb, level and square.

True, some of the equipment you install plots against you.Tappings and nipples stubbed out of equipment are notalways straight. After you level out the equipment, you mayfind the connections are not level or plumb. In this case aswing ell assembly is often the first required fitting to get you

on the straight and narrow path.Contractors who use bending tools tolessen the use of fittings can often“cheat” out this discrepancy. So as soonas you can get to a level condition, keep the momentumgoing and install the balance of the piping PL&S.

Help has arrived on the scene with products designed to easethe fittings assembly and reduce the labour hours involvedto create a professional looking installation. I don’t mean todeny you the opportunity to leave your piping legacy in

Many manufacturers now offer hydroseparators to help eliminate some of thepiping and fittings in the boiler room.These devices can replace a wall coveredwith copper tube and closely spaced teesin the piping. They provide a hydraulicstarting point. Most add some basic airelimination and dirt removal to the mix. Anice form-fitting insulation jacket helpskeep the heat inside “the box.”

Hydro Separators

HYDRONICS By Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr

YOUR LEGECY OF

COPPER



every customer’s mechanical room, assembling copper tube iswhat makes us all tick. It may even be a stress reliever for you. Iwould just encourage you to look at the unique productsdeveloped by folks like you, to ease the job and neaten up theinstallation. Make every installation the best it can be bothtechnically and visually.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing,

radiant heat and solar contractor and installer

for 30 years. A long-time RPA member and

columnist, he is manager of training and

education with Caleffi North America. You can

reach Hot Rod at [email protected].

N E W L O O K + N E W P R O D U C T S + N E W N A M E

Formerly Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc.

PROUDLYCANADIAN

Sweat and press fittings and valves help eliminate the need for transitionadapters. Look for manufacturers that offer hydronic specialty componentslike circulator pump flanges and iso-flanges withthreaded and sweat connections to eliminate a lotof the onsite hand assembly.

There really is no needto buy threaded fittingsand valves and seal inand sweat to threadedadapters to get to a copper sweat connection.The fewer the threaded connections, the fewerleaks, or at least the lower the potential for leaks.This is especially true in glycol filled systems wherethe “creep factor” plots against you on every threaded joint in the piping.

More and more press style fittings and components areshowing up on jobsites. Pipe assembly with a press

fitting methodallows you to dry fitand adjust thecomponents. Youcan easily changeand adjust beforeputting on thesqueeze. No morewiping flux out ofun-used “change ofplan” fittings. Once

Avoiding threaded leak points PRESSING FORWARD

• Hydro Separation • Avoiding threaded leak points

Pre-assembled hydronic modules can alsobe incorporated into mechanical roompiping. Modules that perform mixing,zoning, air and dirt elimination and havea heat exchanger capability are available.You will find a variety of sizes and mixingdevices offered. Thermostatic as well asmotorized mixing modules are available.Complete boiler piping packages can bepurchased to allow plug-and-play pipingto remote radiant manifolds

Similar products are available for solarinstallations. Solar pump stations are pre-assembled to provide the propercomponents in the proper position. Thesestations typically have the pump, airelimination, check valves, relief valvesand temperature gauges built into themodule. Most brands allow a solarcontroller to be nestled into the insulationjacket. Look for versions with plate heatexchangers, and larger capacity systemsfor commercial applications.

continued from page 91 TOOL TIPS

Sponsored by Milwaukee Electric Tool – a proud partnerwith Mechanical Business. Look for video tips, tools and

reviews at www.milwaukeetool.com. Be sure to visit mechanicalbusiness.com for your chance to win valuable

Milwaukee products and merchandise!

The power of cordless


When it comes to power tools, manycontractors are leaving their cords at

home and are opting to go the battery-powered route, and while selection was oncesomewhat limited, with the availability ofeverything from screwdrivers to drills and drivers tosaws and cutters, the options are endless. But if you arein the market for a cordless tool there are a few things toconsider when shopping around.

1. Actions per charge – How many cuts, screwsdriven or bolts tightened can you expect tocomplete per charging cycle? This might notseem critical for those activities that you performonce or twice a day, but if you have hundreds ofbolts to tighten, this is good information to know.

2. Charged up – Very much related to theprevious note is the time it takes to fully charge a battery. With newer lithiumbattery technology you’ll likely be able to use a pair of batteries, alternatingbetween the tool and the charger. And having a battery life indicator of some sorton the tool itself is a real plus. There’s nothing worse than trekking to the roof onlyto discover you need to go swap a battery.

3. Durability – Look for a piece of equipment that’s been constructed of top-quality materials, has the power you need and can stand up to the toughest job-site conditions you might encounter. Ever been on the roof during a snowstorm?I’ll bet your tools were up there too.

4. Compatibility –Are you able to pack one battery to run the whole array oftools you need? The ability to make use of a single battery in several tools willminimize your inventory, and will make it much easier to ensure you have a sparecharged and ready.

you have everything in place and properlysupported, you go around and press theconnections. You will now find a wide variety offittings and valves available from variousmanufacturers in press versions. Adapters tochange from copper to PEX are also available inpress style. Press ells tend to have a largerradius, which are friendlier to flow than a tightturn sweat ell.

Pre-assembled forsimplicity &performance

Hydronic Panel Systems


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DUCTED MINI-SPLITSYSTEM

Feel it to believe it: Don’t want tosee a wall-mounted unit? Let yourcustomers feel the personal com-fort brought to them by a Mr. Slimducted mini-split system. Installedabove ceiling or beneath the floor,these low profile concealed unitswork with small, short run duct-work to evenly deliver heating orcooling throughout a wide spread area. Call today for more information.

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Literature Web Reviews&

18 YEARS OF SUCCESS

HydroFlow is a green alternative tochemical water conditioning.HydroFlow not only eliminateslime scale but it also breaks downexisting lime scale in a plumbingsystem. HydroFlow requires noinvasive plumbing as it simplygoes around the pipe - regardlessof pipe material - and plugs into astandard wall outlet. The HS44uses only $3.00/yr. of hydro and ismaintenance-free throughout its30 plus year life expectancy.

w w w . H y d r o F l o w C a n a d a . c o m

NEW! TRIN & STORINDIRECT WATERHEATERS AND STORAGETANKS

With superior performance, pris-tine quality and ultra efficiency, Trin& Stor is the most comprehensiveline of indirect water heaters andstorage tanks available on the mar-ket. Available in a wide-range ofsizes, you can rest assured knowingyou always have the right productfor any residential or commercialapplication.

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LEAD FREEALTERNATIVES

Apollo Valves has always been synonymous with quality, reliabilityand North American made dura-bility. Today, that same greatApollo name is taking a leadingrole in providing its customers withoptional Lead Free valves intend-ed for potable water service. Visitour website today for a more infor-mation on the lead-free move-ment and for a list of our lead-freecompliant products.

w w w . a p o l l o v a l v e s . c o m

SOLAR WATER HEATINGSOLUTIONS

Built to be the best, BradfordWhite - Canada’s innovative lineof water heaters feature Eco-Friendly Solar products that savemoney and conserve energy.This focus on Eco-FriendlySolutions has allowed us to offerone of the most extensive solarwater heating lines for any solarheating application.

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WATER CONDITIONINGFOR PROFESSIONALS

Novo Water Conditioning is dedi-cated to supporting the CanadianPlumbing Trade. To learn moreabout Novo’s complete line of res-idential and commercial watertreatment products just [email protected] to get acopy of our newly updated 60page colour catalogue or visit ourwebsite to download. To find aNovo stocking wholesaler nearestyou please call 1-877-655-6686.

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BOILER TECH SUPPORT

Topog-E® Gasket Company formu-lates and mixes its own rubber, andmanufactures superior moldedrubber handhole and manholegaskets for steam, hot water boil-ers, water heaters, softeners,deaerators, make-up tanks, andother selected pressure vessels.Topog-E® Gaskets seal quickly,completely, preventing seepage,corrosion and pitting. Contact usfor a free Technical Specification &Usage Guide for information aboutboiler maintenance safety.

w w w . t o p o g - e . c o m

LOCHINVAR SHIELDMICRO-SITE

Lochinvar’s SHIELD micro websiteoffers contractors a wealth oftools, resources, incentives, andinformation about the innovativeSHIELD Commercial WaterHeater. A video describes howthe unique SHIELD design, fea-turing the industry's mostadvanced stainless steel heat transfer system located outside ofthe tank, eliminates the risk of lime scale buildup inside thetank, ensuring high efficiency and low operating costs through-out its life. A payback calculator and a “Where to Buy” functionare also included.

w w w . s h i e l d . l o c h i n v a r . c o m

INFRA-RED HEATING:RE-VERBER-RAY TECHNOLOGY

Independent testing has highlighted the increased energysavings, improved comfort leveland extended product life withRe-Verber-Ray two-stage technology. “Low-fire” for moderately cold days and “high-fire” for only those reallycold winter days. Contact ustoday at 1-800-387-4778 or visit brantradiant.com

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Literature Web Reviews&LITTLE GIANT NXTGEN

When you purchase a LittleGiant NXTGenTM condensatepump from Franklin Electric youare getting an industry-provenproduct, trusted by HVAC pro-fessionals. Our VCMX Seriespump offers a slimmer footprint,adaptable in even the tightestspaces. External safety switchoptions, oil-resistant tank anddurable design promote reliableperformance and prolongedmotor life.

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AFFORDABLE,VERSATILE INSPECTIONCAMERA

Use Extech's affordable BR100Video Inspection Camera toinspect hard-to-reach areas. Theflexible 1m probe is expandableto 3m and features a waterproof17mm camera. View theadjustable 6cm colour display oruse Video-Out for recording ordisplay using external devices.Includes case, extension tools(mirror, hook, magnet) and bat-teries.

w w w . f l i r . c o m

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIESHeating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada

1. Mechanical Business columnist, and CEO and chief brand officer forAtlasCare, Roger Grochmal discusses the rebranding of his company. 2. Outgoing HRAI chair Gerry Cellucci moderates a panel session. 3.Western gear was the dress code for the welcome reception at BoundaryRanch. 4. Roger Gripton (left) receives a recognition award from incomingHRAI chairman Rusty Jennings during the manufacturers division annualgeneral meeting. 5. HRAI staff joined the Gunfighters Western Stunt Clubfor a quick photo-op. 6. Keith Werner (left) and Talbot Gee. 7. HRAIchairman Gerry Cellucci and AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek sign amemorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation and assistance inproviding services to their respective members. 8. Nancy McKeraghan(right) receives the Craig McCarty Memorial Award from Ron Robinson,chair of the HRAI Contractors Division. 9. Scott Stevens discusses IAQduring the contractors division meeting. 10. Belimo Americas’ Sammy Tongtalks controls for the commercial HVAC market. 11. Members of theControls Council meet. 12. Black Bart, part of the Gunfighters WesternStunt Club, looks for the man who stole his horse. 13. Incoming HRAIchairman Rusty Jennings receives the official gavel of office from outgoingchair Gerry Cellucci.96

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Business and bears in the foothillsHRAI held its annual conference and general meeting at the DeltaLodge at Kananaskis in Alberta in August. The event featured guestspeakers, golf, business discussions and a few bear sightings. Next year’sevent is slated for August 25 to 27 at the White Oaks Conference Resortand Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. hrai.ca

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BOTTOM with David CookeLine


Here’s a confession. It only took me 10 years to figure it out, but I amgoing to share it with you now. When it comes to who is financiallysuccessful or not, one quality divides the world in two: there are saversand there are spenders. The savers succeed with certainty. The spenderssucceed by chance.

Now, the financial industry would have you believe that advice andnifty products are what guarantee success. These can help, and financialprofessionals like myself are happy to offer you both, but none of these– not the most tax efficient strategies, nor the most valiant rates of re-turn – are substitutes over the power of regular, systematic savings.

So what do I mean by savings? I mean long-term savings, be they insavings accounts, retirement plans, home equity, investments or life in-surance policies. Of course, some savings vessels offer benefits over oth-ers, but the point here is that even without the most sophisticatedadvice or products, you can prosper by simply saving.

If you and I were to jump in the car for a long road trip, job one, if wewant to move anywhere, would be to gas up. Along the way we’ll dothe same, and likely before we leave to come back as well. In otherwords: no fuel, no trip. The same is true in financial planning. If it lacksa regular infusion of cash in, a plan just doesn’t go anywhere.

A quick example: A 30-year-old,saving $100 per month at a net offive per cent interest over 35years would end up withabout $1.1 million at age65. If that same personstarted at age 45, theywould need to set aside al-most $300 per month toachieve the same result. Prettylofty goal for a household thatnever saved before!Savers get this. They’ve engineeredlife and finances to allow, withoutfail, regular savings. In their finan-

cial world, savings come first. The really smart ones do it automatically,and still don’t miss out on anything in life. I am not speaking about thecheapskate hoarders here, but those who can find a way to set aside 10or 15 per cent of income each year.

Spenders are the opposite. Even with the best intentions, savings comelast on the list. Over the years I have been treated to stories of how theroof needed to be replaced, a niece’s wedding came up, or how some-one just could not turn down the deal they got on the boat “I’ve alwaysdreamed of.”

In other words, there’s always an excuse to put off savings, usually jus-tified with the notion of “you’ve gotta live.” The most dangerous ofthese is the “Once we get the kids’ schooling and the mortgage paid…”speech. When I hear that, I know I am speaking to someone whose savings may start 20 years too late (or may never start at all).

Over time, savers develop financial traction. With enough saved, andenough going into a plan, they can take advantage of goodfinancial opportunities and overcome financial obsta-cles such as job loss or a turn in investment markets.They have more control, more certainty. Imaginethe choices you can make financially knowing youcannot fail.

No matter what tools you use, or whose adviceyou receive, there’s no substitute

for regular savings into your financial plan. Sound strategies arehelpful, decent rates of return areimportant, but they mean

nothing without fuel in the tank.And that’s the bottom line.

The fuel in the tankGetting traction

Two Financial Personalities, One Path to Financial Success

After years in the HVAC industry, David

Cooke is now a partner with Qualified

Financial’s Wealth Strategies Group. He can

be reached at [email protected].


SALES By Don Bottrel l

Putting your local showroom to work for you

The prospect of having to hold enough inventory to appealto an array of clients’ tastes and budgets just isn’t possible formost contractors. But a showroom can be your living, hands-on catalogue where your clients can touch, see and feel theitems they are looking to include in their kitchen orbathroom project – and that’s much better than simplyviewing them in a catalogue or on a computer screen.

Do customers want to test drive that tub just like they woulda car? No problem. Get in and see if it’s right. And becauseshowrooms specialize in kitchen and bath fixtures, theycarry a large range of products, at all price points, so there’ssomething for all budgets.

The simplicity of one stop-shopping for an assortment ofproducts can make life easier for a contractor. Not too long ago Iwas visited by a contractor who had established accountsthrough a variety of sources to procure products directly. After afew months of working with our staff, the contractor realizedthat the effort put in on getting products directly was actuallycosting him money, since the time spent dealing with theproduct sales side of his business was interfering with landingnew customers, and seeing to the needs of his existing customerbase.

Not only that, but he no longer had to deal with the confusionand challenges associated with coordinating product delivery

Vessel sinks are based on the dayslong before plumbing when peopleused simple basins of water to washthemselves. These sinks have becomeincreasingly popular with bathroomdesigners because of their large rangeof materials, styles and finishes, andin many cases they can truly beworks of art.

Consultant and partners

Designer’s Notepad

You might think of your local showroom as a place where the

do-it-yourself weekend renovators buy their products. So, what

then is the advantage for a plumbing contractor in developing a

relationship with their local showroom? Managed properly, a solid

partnership with a showroom should result in fewer headaches, more

profit, and happier clients.

• Consultant & Partners • Working with showroom staf f

from multiple sources, and he also didn’thave to deal with parts problems in the sameway. When products weren’t compatible, or ifthere were warranty issues, it cost him time todetermine where exactly the problem was,and who should be contacted to help sort outit out.

This is where showroom staff can not only bea great partner to a contractor, but they canalso help strengthen the existing relationshipwith his clients.

When using a showroom for all your fixtures,faucets and accessories, it’s all coordinatedthrough one central warehouse, and theproducts are delivered to the job site in onetruck, as requested by the contractor.

For sales and warranty issues, one call is allthat is needed. Situations are handled in atimely and professional manner. It doesn’tmatter if it’s an issue with a drain or a faucet;you call the showroom and let them dealwith the vendor to get the needed part.


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A smart showroom owner or managerknows better than to compromise his orher relationship with a contractor. Theyare not there to steal clients. They arethere to help serve a mutual customer,whose relationship with the contractor isalways top-of-mind. If that relationship isharmed in any way the showroom riskslosing the business of both the contractorand his clients, and that’s simply notgood for our business.

Once a certain comfort level has beenreached though, contractors often sendtheir customers into a showroom ontheir own, knowing that the productselection process can be left in the hands of a qualified showroomprofessional. This frees up thecontractor’s time to continue with other aspects of the project.

Showroom associates are well versed inall the product lines they carry, and areinvolved in continual product knowledgetraining to keep up-to-date with the latestdesigns, finishes and technologies offered

by the various manufacturers. This allowsthem to offer clients the most current andup-to-date options available.

And they are not only well versed in theproducts offered, but also with theassociated price points, so working withpre-established budgets is not a problem.

Working with showroom staff

more on showrooms on page 100

Car

oma

PLUMBING


K-45 manual and K-45AF autofeed drain cleaningmachines from Ridgid offer power up to 600 RPM.The drain cleaners are designed for 3/4” to 2 ½”drain lines and cable is offered in three sizes, 1/4”,5/16” and 3/8”, each in varying of lengths of up to50 ft. Cable can be advanced and retrieved withoutstopping to reverse the motor.

ridgid.com

We all know that every project has a budget, and whether it’s low,moderate or “sky’s the limit,” it is going to be a consideration atsome point during the project. Showroom consultants are trainedto determine a client’s needs in order to help them put theirmoney where it’s needed most.

For example, a contractor’s client might want to use a greaterportion of their budget in a powder room that gets a lot of usefrom guests, as they view it as a “showcase” room. Or if yourclients are more of a shower, versus a bath, family, then they mightwant to discuss the feasibility of a particular shower system thatboasts eight body jets, and the water pressure required to makethis a reality in their dream bathroom.

By asking your customers about their wants and needs, as well astheir habits, a well-trained sales associate can walk them throughoptions they may not have realized couldbe possible.

Budget maximization

• 98% of the kitchen sinks Taps sells are undermount, and are typically paired with solid surface counters.

• Coordinating accessories, such as soap dispensers, pull-out spray faucets, grid racks (to prevent sinks from getting scratched), sink colanders and food waste disposers, are

popular, and profitable add-ons.

• Pull-out sprays have been in fashion for 15 to 20 years but are taking on a new importance. The popularity of low-flow faucets can make some tasks more challenging, but the spray function of a pull-out can be just the thing for rinsing frying pans, fruits and veggies, cutlery, etc.

• People are going back to the timeless look of chrome (which also has a good price point) in comparison to stainless or brushed nickel. In our showroom it’s a 60/40 split between chrome and brushed nickel for bathrooms, and a 60/40 split for stainless steel and chrome for kitchens.

• Not only is stainless more popular for faucets in the kitchen because it’s better at hiding water stains and finger prints, but also because people are trying to coordinate it with stainless steel appliances. People are also using stainless steel accenting in their door hardware and lighting.

• We’re seeing a trend of moving back to cabinetry versus pedestal sinks in washrooms for the reasons of storage, hiding plumbingand they’re easier to clean.

Current trends


See us at

See us at

With a maximumoperating pressure of100 psig, the high-efficiency NovoSoft 465series of water softenersfrom Novo are EnergyStar rated and areavailable in cabinet ortwin tank models. The12-volt units haveadjustable cycle times,handle watertemperatures up to110°F (43°C) and use3/4” piping.

novowater.com

Don Bottrell is the branch manager of Taps Bath Centre in

Toronto. Don, or another member of his team can be reached

at [email protected].


QuickVic couplings from Victaulic feature the compa-ny’s proprietary grade EHP gasket material with anintegral pipe/component end stop designed to sim-plify positioning of couplings on pipe and compo-nent ends during installation. The gaskets have atemperature range of -30°F to +250°F and are ULclassified for cold and hot potable water service. AGrade T nitrile gasket is also available.

victaulic.com

Available in 50 or 75 gallon capacities, Combi2 water heaters fromBradford White - Canada are designed for a combination of domesticand hydronic heat. The heaters fire from 67,000 to 76,000 BTUHand have a 1-1/2” double-wall heat exchanger.

bradfordwhite.com

The Fill & Drain tub filler, with waste andoverflow system from OS&B has two lami-nar flow outlets rated at three gallons (13litres) per minute each. The filler, whicheliminates theneed for a tra-ditionally-mounted spout,is available in achrome-platedbrass finish.

osb.ca

The HydroVantageZGEN6200EV from Zurnincorporates a hydro generator turbine to createenergy during each flushprocess, reducing thereliance on external or bat-tery power. The turbine fea-tures chemical-resistant gas-kets and seals, and is suitedfor LEED applications.

zurn.com

See us at

See us at

See us at

See us at

The VS10, a three-piece bathtub faucetfrom Riobel is equipped with a touch-cleanspray head. The faucet uses a ceramic car-tridge and is available in chrome andbrushed nickel finishes.

riobel.ca


Finding savings through energy management

CASE STUDY By Stuart Lombard

WHAT: Three-month pilot using energy managementsystem (EMS) thermostats.

WHERE: A two-storey, stand-alone retail building,approximately 4,000 square feet.

THE EXISTING SYSTEM: The building was serviced by two rooftop units,each with its own thermostat. Each thermostat was located behind a lockedplastic box to control access to the thermostat. The retail location is openfrom 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. The average annual heating andcooling spend for the building was approximately $20,000. The retail locationis part of a network of 1,000 retaillocations which are managedthrough a central propertymanagement group.

THE CHALLENGE: Reduce energycosts through the use of moderncontrols technology.

THE SOLUTION: Two existingprogrammable thermostats werereplaced with internet-enabledEMS thermostats. The estimatedannual savings for with the EMSthermostats, not includingproductivity gains from remotediagnostics, is $3,445. This results inan ROI of 72 per cent, and apayback period of approximatelyseven months.

Through the use of internet-enabledenergy management thermostats in a

building similar in size to the onepictured above, one company was able

to achieve annual savings in excess of $3,000.

Thermostats equipped with anenergy management system (EMS)are some of the newer technologiesmaking waves in the commercialHVAC market. Their use is ideal forapplications where a simple

programmable thermostat does not provide adequate control and functionality,and where a full-scale building automation system is too complex and costprohibitive. EMS units are designed to be user-friendly while reducing a building’soperating costs and delivering increased energy conservation. Through a dedicated management portal users can remotely monitor, identify,analyze and troubleshoot performance issues. Users can manage the temperatureand operational settings from a central location and take action without having to

The benefits of EMSPh

oto:

Pad

raic

Rya

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103

• EMS = Savings


Echelon FurnaceHighest Efficient Gas Furnace in Canada

with up to 98% efficiency: • Fully modulating in 100 stages for the ultimate in home comfort

• Multi position for any application • Only 33" high

Appleby Systems has been a loyal Coleman dealer for 30years. With over four decades of first-hand field experience, BILL WOOD has this to say about the Echelon.

“The Echelon is an amazing product. At 98% efficiency, it’s themost efficient furnace in Canada.Having the best product in themarket has given me a huge leg upon my competition. I’ve had agreat deal of success with thisproduct. I can’t wait to see whatthey come up with next. Thanks, Coleman.”

Please visit us at www.colemanac.com, or call Toll Free:

1-800-668-2389 ext. 5486

Every Moment Deserves Coleman Comfort!send a technician on-site reducing the need for truck rolls. Once installed, users can manage an unlimited number ofthermostats in multiple locations across diverse geographies.The configuration protocol allows for grouping of thermostatsand multiple users, with the flexibility to provide each userwith varying degrees of accessibility and operatingpermissions.

Within the first three months of installation, the propertymanagement group received two service calls from the retaillocation because the temperature at the location felt

Putting the EMS to work

Making use of remote control

Defining the return on investment

The two EMS thermostats wereinstalled at a cost of $1,000 each ($750 cost and $250 installation).

Cost: $2,000.The estimated annual savings for the

EMS thermostats, not includingproductivity gains from remote

diagnostics, is $3,445. This gives the system an ROI of 72 per

cent, with a payback time ofapproximately seven months.


The existing programmable thermostats in use at the retaillocation were not programmed in the same way as the EMSunits, and were not programmed as unoccupied duringweekends and holidays – when the building was unoccupied.In addition, one of the thermostats was programmed asoccupied from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., while the other thermostatwas programmed as occupied from 8 a.m. until midnight.Because the original thermostats were not connected to theinternet it was virtually impossible to detect these types ofdiscrepancies. The revised control strategy, using EMStechnology, allows thermostats to begrouped together so that all thermostatsin the system use the same setback and

holiday schedules without having toprogram the thermostats individually. Byrunning the standard program andprogramming for weekends andholidays the estimated savings became$2,324 annually.


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CASE STUDY continued from page 103

uncomfortable, and the branch manager requested a temperaturechange from 72ºF to 70ºF. Normally this would have required a truckroll to service this request (to unlock the plastic box and make thechange). The cost for a service call is $200. The EMS system engaged in this application allows temporary holdactions to be performed at the retail location within a limitedtemperature range. In addition toallowing these changes to be madedirectly at the retail location, they canalso be made by the property managerthrough the EMS web portal. Local control (or remote controlthrough the web portal) saved the costof two truck rolls in the first threemonths. By providing limited localcontrol the property manager was alsoable to lower the occupiedtemperature from 72ºF to 70ºF, furtherreducing energy costs withoutimpacting comfort and productivity.The annual estimated savings fromallowing the change to be madethrough the EMS web portal andreducing the occupied temperature is $1,121.

Stuart Lombard is president & CEO of ecobee,a green technology company that offers EMSas part of its product platform. ecobee.com

QUICK TIPIn locations where programmable thermostats

are not in use, the ROI will likely be higher,and the payback much quicker.

During the initial test period, one of the rooftopunits stopped working correctly over theweekend. This caused the temperature in thebuilding to drop below 57ºF. The EMS sent out alow-temperature alarm and allowed an operatorto diagnose this issue and arrange a support callover the weekend, when the retail location wasnot being used. With the previous programmablethermostats, this situation would not have beendetected until staff arrived on Monday morning,resulting in a branch closure for some period ofthe workday, impacting customers and staff.

Reducing downtime withremote diagnostics

HVAC/R


Multi-stage gas furnaceBryant's Plus 95s condensinggas furnace is designed forultra-high efficient operationwith up to 95 per cent annu-al fuel utilization efficiency(AFUE). The unit is equippedwith a multi-stage gas valve,and a variable-speed blowerand inducer. Sizes range from60,000 to 120,000 BTUH.

bryantcanada.com

Having an AFUE rating upto 96 per cent, the AMVCseries from Amana rangesin output size from30,800 BTUH to109,000 BTUH. The fur-naces are compatible withComfortnetCommunicating Systemsand incorporate aSureStart silicon nitrideigniter.

amana-hac.com

Gas-fired boilersWith a maximum allowable work-ing pressure of 160 psig, theDynaForce series of boilers fromCamus have heat exchangers madeentirely of stainless steel. The unitsare available for hydronic anddomestic hot water heating, havean efficiency rating up to 99 percent and can be fired with naturalgas or propane. They are ratedfrom 300,000 to 5 million BTUH, with a 5:1 turndown.

camus-hydronics.com

Wireless diagnosticsExtech and Flir have introducedMeterLink, a Bluetooth-based technology that wirelessly connectsFlir infrared cameras to Extechmeters. Using MeterLink for diag-nostics, readings from the meter are transmitted to the camera andcan be recorded with the on the corresponding IR image. Onboardimages or reports can be sent to aUSB memory stick for file sharing.

flir.comextech.com

See us at

With up to eight hours of battery life, the SRL2K7infrared refrigerant leak detector from Fieldpiecedetects CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and blends. The detector has auto-recalibration, a 15” probe and can be set to take readings down to 0.1 oz/yr.

fieldpiece.com

VEHICLE UPFITTING By Adam Pletsch


OPTIONS CUSTOM

THESTORAGEMYTHVanterior’s Brent

Maclean says a heating and A/C guyneeds to know how refrigerants andother compressed gasses must becarried. He says many people believethe myth that refrigerant tanks mustalways be stored in an upright position.

“Nowhere in Transport Canada[documentation], in the Transportationof Dangerous Gases, is there anythingindicating that that’s the case. Wheneversomebody has told us that we’ve alwayssaid ‘Please send us the documentationthat supports this myth,’ and nobody’sbeen able to supply it.”

The business of upfitting a cargo van for commercial use is a lot moresophisticated than it used to be, and that’s a very good thing for acontractor buying a vehicle. He can customize a van or pickup to suit

any application – no matter how industry specific it may be. But how can he also make sure he gets good pricing and advice when

upfitting? The first step is to talk to a dealer. Canadian auto dealerships offernumerous deals to clients using vehicles for business.

For example, Barb Tate, fleet manager at Applewood Chevrolet Cadillac, ofMississauga, Ont., offers commercial buyers the GM Business Choice Program.This program offers business owners several commercial upfit packagesincluding shelving, liners and partitions for vans or rack, rail and toolboxpackages for pick up trucks. For buyer’s who qualify there’s no extra cost. Theysimply choose the option that best suits their needs.

“It’s a fantastic deal because it’s worth over $2,000,” says Tate, “and if thecustomer qualified for the GM fleet account number they would get that upfitat no charge. The key is to find the fleet manager from the get-go at thedealership and deal with them (rather than a retail salesperson).

Qualified fleet customers are also entitled to a fleet rebate, which varies bymodel, but on a full-sized cargo van it can represent another discount,sometimes into the thousands of dollars, that a retail customer wouldn’t get.“A lot of times, depending on the business the company is doing, they may wantto put something extra on like ladder racks or graphics,” says Tate. “So we canarrange all that for them.”

ABOUND

SAFE – AND SOUNDS In the interest of saving money, contractors sometimes tell their dealers they will transfer the

shelves from their old truck into their new truck. Larry Tierney of Colony Ford tries to set them straight.

“I say, ‘Wait a second. Your truck is old and beat up, and those shelves are old and rusted. You could get a new set for free. And, by the way, thatladder rack isn’t certifiable anymore because the bolts are rusted. If you stop in a hurry you’re going to launch it into the guy in front of you!’”

Also, he says most contractors are genuinely surprised to find out there are free programs tohelp them subsidize more racking or a free bulkhead. Tierney says when contractors go right

to the upfitter they return sounding like kids who’ve been in a candy store.

For example, an older contractor who may have trouble getting a ladder off the roof ofhis van is sometimes pleasantly surprised to learn that new ladder racks allow them

to just grab onto a handle to bring the ladder down to the side of the vehiclefor easy access.

Also, some older metal shelves make so much noise it’s hardto concentrate. Tierney reports there are quieter optionsnow available. “Some shelves are made out of a heavy vinylmaterial, and the things don’t rattle to drive you crazy. The guy can talk on his cell phone while he’s getting set up forhis next stop.”


CHECK YOUR TIRESWhen it comes to tires, Timm Slaney, of Murray Chevrolet, will generally suggest a 16-inch LT tireover a similarly priced and smaller passenger tire, despite cries of protests from some clients. Thisis because they will provide a circumferal span of 44 inches – 14 inches more than a passenger tire– and therefore turn 20 per cent fewer times, saving them 20 per cent of the cost of the tire.

“Looking at the type of work these guys do, a lot of them are on gravel roads and a lot of themare run up against curbs… there’s a lot of tire damage,and simple things like tires can be expensive.”

DO THE MATHFOR LONG-TERM SAVINGSTimm Slaney, fleet sales manager atMurray Chevrolet in Winnipeg, says heoften has to discourage clients from“buying a 1500 series van andcheapening it up.”

Preconceived notions ofwhat is most economical

often don’t pan out,since replacingworn out parts

and components, or“making do” with

improvised solutions, often endup costing much more than anticipated.

After a simple cost-based analysis(life cycle costing) demonstration, hisclients are often singing a differenttune. “Once they’ve seen that properlydone, something will end up costing 66cents a kilometre, whereas improperlydone, it’s 110, it doesn’t take an awfullot of math to convince them whichpath to choose.”

Plus, small businesses with only one or two vehicles can still qualify for someprograms, such as the Ford Commercial Connection program. That can mean free racks and bins.

“It’s the programs that are available from Ford that help the little guy outfit his van for a lot less than if you were to go to a private shelving company,” says LarryTierney, fleet manager at Brampton Ont.’s Colony Ford.

But dealers such as Applewood Chev and Colony Ford don’t do everythingthemselves. They have connections to upfitters who can handle more specialized or sophisticated work.

Tierney says one of the best ways for contractors to get what they want, over andabove what the dealer is offering, is to visit an upfitter in person. They can then see theactual shelves, and in some cases see what the installation looks like. It’s far easier tomake an informed decision.

One of the busiest Canadian upfitters is Mississauga, Ont.-based Vanteriors. BrentMaclean, vice-president of sales and marketing for the company, says its programs arenational and it has preferred distributors spread throughout Canada offering its upfittingpackages.

Maclean says a major advantage of going to an upfitter – besides warranty and service– is expertise. The upfitter will understand what certain types of contractors require, andcan also advise clients on regulations around shelving design and other features.

For example, a plumber’s vehicle might need reinforcements on the shelves, sinceplumbers carry a lot of fittings and longerpipes. Some want raised floors to keep pipinginside.

Marc Belliveau, fleet andcommercial truck sales at OntarioChrysler, says fleet vehicle buyershave the choice of asking hisdealership to go to Vanteriors and handle arequested upfitting or just go there themselves.

“To us it doesn’t really matter because wedon’t really mark up that product. If I sell a$40,000 truck to someone who needs $5,000worth of upfit, he can pay me $45,000 and I’llpay Vanteriors, or he can deal directly withthem.”

What Belliveau can offer is one-stop-shopping, so that “whatever invoice Vanteriorsgives to him goes to the customer. A lot ofcustomers find that really simplifies things.”

GET A GOODINSTALLER

When it comes to upfittersthere are good ones and badones. The best advice, says

Larry Tierney, is to seek out acertified installer – one that is

approved by themanufacturers.

“They won’t put the screwholes in the wrong place or

punch holes in your brake lineor your fuel tank, and that thework is certified, so you don’thave any problems with theMinistry of Transport, or with

any of the shelves falling apartor letting go in an accident.”

Tel: (800) 668-2389www.colemanac.com

Tel: (877) 780-3316www.goodmanmfg..com

Tel: (800) 644-9599www.grundfos.ca

Tel: (905) 761-6161www.apollovalves.com

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Tel: (800) 665-3336www.edenenergy.com

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Sales & Marketing Inc.

Tel: (866) 594-0767www.aquatech.ws

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Tel: (416) 845-2587www.hydronicpanels.com

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Tel: (800) 265-9271www.glcopper.com

Formerly Wolverine Tube (Canada) Inc.

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FAX THE TEAR-OUT CARD WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION INFO TO:

905.272.8569

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®

WATCO

Tel: (816) 796-3900 www.watcomfg.com

Tel: (877) 655-6686www.novawater.com

Tel: (519) 756-5760www.madok.com

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Tel: (877) 314-6040www.osb.ca

Tel: (800) 363-5874www.saniflo.ca

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Tel: (918) 587-6649 www.topog-e.com

Tel: (800) 387-7373www.viessmann.ca

Tel: (888) 208-8927www.wattscanada.ca

Tel: (719) 574-1101www.woodfordmfg.com

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HYDRONICS By Paul Wil l iamson

Paul Williamson is a technical supportspecialist for tekmar Control Systems.

He can be contacted by email [email protected].

Control the water temperature

Why heat the system to the same temperature on milddays as you would on the coldest day of the year? Withoutdoor reset, energy is saved with lower systemtemperatures and reduced stack heat loss for most of theyear. As a bonus, condensing boilers reach higherefficiencies at lower temperatures.

Divide the building into zones

Want to offer scheduled floor warming in the master bathand hallway? Are there areas, like a guest room ora basement, that are rarely occupied? Zoningallows for customized, energy-efficientcontrol of diverse building areas.

Install communicatingthermostats with indoorfeedbackCommunicating thermostats can alert asystem control when room temperaturesare increasing due to factors likeappliances, or the sun. This allows thesystem control to lower supply watertemperatures and save more energy whilereducing the chance of overheating.

Ensure the system isconvenient to useThis is a big one when it comes to heatingsystems. Many customers perceive them tobe too complicated to bother with.Providing extras like a user switch or timercan make a huge difference when it comesto customer perception. Imagine showingcustomers that all they have to do is press a button toswitch between economy and normal temperatures.

Offer extras, like floor warmingHow many times have you heard that the floorsdon’t feel warm, only to have to explain that ifthe air temperature is high enough the floorsmight not be? When you add a floor sensor tocertain thermostat types they can operate thefloor to a temperature independent of the airtemperature. Put floor warming on a scheduleand homeowners can wake up to warm floorsany day of the year. Now that’s delivering on acomfort proposition.

One of the key selling points for hydronic systems over the past decade has been the controlledcomfort that they provide to home and business owners. Numerous controls strategies have

emerged to fine-tune the experience in almost any room, and if the budget will accommodate it, thesky is the limit when it comes to zoning and delivering the heat where and when it is wanted. So, wehave the technology, but are you doing everything possible to maximize the performance of thesystems you install? Here are a few things to consider as you plan your next hydronic project:

STEPS TO HAPPY HYDRONIC CUSTOMERS5

1 5

2

3

4


E V E N T SC A L E N D A R O F

14th Canadian National Conference onDrinking WaterOctober 30-November 2, 2010Saskatoon, Sask. www.cwwa.ca

RMC AGMNovember 3, 2010Mississauga, Ont. www.refrigerantmanagement.ca

CIPHEX WestNovember 3-4, 2010Calgary, Alta.www.ciphexwest.ca

RSES 2010 ANNUAL CONFERENCENovember 9-13, 2010Tucson, Ariz. www.rses.org

National Geoexchange Technical andPolicy ForumNovember 15-16, 2010Montreal, Que.www.geo-exchange.ca

CIPH ONTARIO BUSINESS MEETINGSNovember 16, 2010 – Mississauga, Ont.February 10, 2011 – Mississauga, Ont.April 7, 2011 – Belleville, Ont.May 12, 2011 – Mississauga, Ont.www.ciph.com

Construct CanadaDecember 1-3, 2010 Toronto, Ont. www.constructcanada.com

Solar Canada 2010December 6-7, 2010 Toronto, Ont.www.cansia.ca

International Builders' ShowJanuary 12-15, 2011 Orlando, Fla.www.buildersshow.com

2011 AHR Expo January 31-February 2 Las Vegas, Nev. www.ahrexpo.com

F.A.S.T. 2011April 6, 2011Vaughan, Ont. www.wolseleyinc.ca

MCEEApril 20-21, 2011Montreal, Que.www.mcee.ca

KBIS 2011April 26-28, 2011Las Vegas, Nev.www.kbis.com

Oilheat 2011June 21-22, 2011Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.www.coha.ca

CIPH ABC 2011June 26-29Victoria, B.C. www.ciph.com

HRAI ConferenceAugust 25-27, 2011Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.www.hrai.ca

2 0 1 0

2 0 1 1

AquaTech Sales & Marketing Inc.

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary as a Manufacturer’s Representative

Celebrating 15 Years with Lochinvar

Manufacturer’s Representative

Come to our Burlington, Ontario Facility and take advantage of our new

Knight Boiler Hydronics Tech Centre

Contact us at www.aquatech.ws or call (866) 594-0767 and talk to one of our Customer Service Representatives


If your organization has a conference, tradeshow or other event coming up, send details to

[email protected] it all online at


GOT AN EVENT? SPREAD THE WORD!

HYDRONIC


Solar collectorSuitable for a wide range ofapplications, the Vitosol 200-Tfrom Viessmann direct-flowvacuum tube solar collector issuited for DHW/combinationspace heating. The collectorscan be installed on roofs, wallsor be free standing.

viessmann.ca

Radiant heating systemRauplate double-channel, heat-transfer plates fromRehau are affixed to the underside of a sub floor to

eliminate the need to change or add height to theexisting floor above. With one pipe-channel on

each edge, the pre-drilled, heat-transferplate securely clips in two runs of

1/2” pipe.

rehau.com

The Wilo Stratos wet rotor circulator with ECMmotor technology offers flows from 10 to 285USGPM, and between 2 and 40 ft. of headdelivery. The pump provides constant pressurecurves, inclining pressure curves, temperature-controlled set points, and an infrared communi-cation module to any Windows Mobile basedPDA. It is also fully compatible with buildingmanagement systems.

wilo-canada.com

Residential boiler fill fittingA one-piece brass service andisolation valve, the RBFF fromWatts Canada combines a three-way ball valve, drain port, pres-sure gauge, and standard 1/2”NPT connections. It has a maximum working pressure of 125 psi and maximum inlettemperature rating of 250°F.

wattscanada.ca See us at

See us at

See us at

See us at

See us at

Flow-limiting valvesThe Low Flow Circuit Sentry from Bell& Gossett is designed for automaticflow limiting style balancing of bothHVAC cooling and heating circuits. Thecircuit setter valve features an integrat-ed P/T port with T-handle shut-off, anoptional P/T port for flow verification,and a union-ended tailpiece.

balancevalves.com

HYDRONIC


See us at

Save 10-20% on your home heating costs and help save the planet in the process. Guaranteed!

Intellidyne microprocessor-controlled economizers provide savings based on real time dynamic load analysis. Affording less pollution, continued comfort, and verifi able energy reduction.

For installation information, contact your local heating specialist or Intellidyne at 866-216-0777.

303 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite 75Plainview, NY 11803-1508, USAOffice: (516) 676-0777 • Fax: (516) 676-2640www.intellidynellc.com

Hot Water Heating System Fuel Economizer for systems rated up to 300,000 BTU.

IntelliCon ®- HW+

Forced Air Heating System Fuel Economizer for commercial and residential systems rated up to 300,000 BTU.

IntelliCon ®- FA

SAVINGSGUARANTEED

10%

Wet rotor circulatorsDesigned for domestic hot water and lightcommercial closed hydronic systems, theAstro 2 series from S.A. Armstrong featurestandard components, such as a three-speedmotor. Circulators include liquid-seal cableconnectors and a removable check valve.The circulators cover flow rates up to 18gpm.

armstrongintegrated.com

Copper boilers & water heatersThe Futera III’s symmetric air/fuel premixtechnology is designed to ensure properair/fuel mixture at all firing rates by constant-ly monitoring combustion air and fuel flow,and adjusting each input for optimal combus-tion. The boilers, manufactured by RBI,range in sizes from 500,000 to 1,999,000BTUH with a continuous turndown ratio.

rbiwaterheaters.com

Electronic controlsTaco’s electronic controls areoutfitted with composite coversthat display front-mounted LEDlights for diagnostics. The unitsuse HVAC nomenclature,designed to be contractor-friendly.The units use low-voltage electronicsand solid-state relays.

taco-hvac.com

See us at


Estimating software

Portable torch kitThe deluxe TurboTorch portable torch kitfrom Thermadyne is contained in a compacttool bag designed to hold two 14.1 ozMap/Pro or Propane cylinders (sold separate-ly) along with all the tools needed for solder-ing and brazing. Also included include are aself-lighting PL-4T tip, a PL-812 heat shieldand a one-pound roll of VIPER SX solder.

turbotorch.com

Lithium ion toolsDEWalt offers a line of sub-compactLithium Ion products that includes the12-volt maximum drill driver and impactdriver combo kit (DCK211S2). TheDCD710 12-volt maximum 3/8" drill/dri-ver features two speed transmission (0-400 / 0-1,500), and the DCF815 12-voltmaximum 1/4" impact driver featuresthree LED lights. Battery packs, bit tipand fast charger are included.

dewalt.com

The Handy-Stand from General Pipe Cleaners can turnthe company’s hand-held drain cleaners into countertopor floor machines. Balanced for stability, the portableunit will fit Super-Vee, Power-Vee and Handylectricmodels. The stand can be positioned either horizontallyor vertically, and it features a quick-release clamp forsecuring the drain cleaner into position.

drainbrain.comMounting bracketsSnap Clamps from Thermo are available for a variety of pipe-mounting applications. Made from recycled materials,the clamps can be used for residential or commercial installations. They are UV-protected and come in five sizes,ranging from 7/16” to 3”.

thermopan.com

With a complete line of spec-driven to non spec-drivenestimating products in its enterprise family of software,Accubid Systems offers project estimation tools. Pro &BidWinner Plus is a spec-driven estimating softwarepackage designed specifically for plumbing, piping andmechanical contractors.

accubid.com

See us at

See us at

W RLDVIEWJeff Patchell


Yellow plumbing the next green?Phosphorus mining has had a fairly ugly past in many parts of theworld, some of this ugliness continues today. The use of urine-sep-aration toilets might be helpful in reducing the risk of accidents incollecting the element.

Ironically, the phosphorus chemical element let-ter is P – and guess what, our urine (or Pee) isloaded with phosphorus. It therefore goes with-out saying that if we can capture and recoverurine in sizeable quantities, it could become avaluable commodity.

Urine diverting toilets are one of several feasiblepaths being investigated to collect phosphorus.The first of these units came out of northernEurope. In Australia, we are now starting toexperiment with them.

Australia already has a couple of small-lot instal-lations in place which are being monitored. WhatCynthia detailed was how the University ofTechnology is planning to introduce a urine-sepa-rating facility at her own university to study thetechnology at close quarters.

A key aspect to this project is how to store andtransport the urine for re-use. This is currentlybeing considered in the investigation stage of theproject.

Speaking of transport, thattanker in front of you on the

freeway in the not too distantfuture might be carrying urine insteadof milk or beer.

Yellow plumbing – it could be the nextbig thing!

Each year, my company hosts an industry forum for theplumbing supply sector. The Forum, held in Sydney, Australia,invites representatives from all different industry sectors toupdate their peers on current plumbing events. Topics rangefrom the state of the construction industry, to the importanceof dry drains research and manufacturing issues.

This year, one speaker stood out, not only for the manner inwhich she delivered her presentation, but also for the topic ofher presentation.

Professor Cynthia Mitchellleads a team of researchers atthe Sydney-based Institute forSustainable Futures (UTS),which is attached to theUniversity of Technology.Professor Mitchell and herteam are researching the ben-efits of urine diversion toilets.

Too often we hear from sci-entists and technocrats whoare so wound up in their sci-ence that they forget to giveenough consideration to real-world drivers – the needs thatdrive technology and ideas tobecome viable in the market-place. What set professorMitchell’s presentation apartwas the strong business caseshe cited.

ProfessorMitchell’spresentationwas titledIntroducingthe UTSFunny DunnyTrial. While her talk was primarily about urine-diversion toiletsystems, the real driver of this potential technology, she said,was the world’s disappearing supply of phosphorus.

It is believed we are reaching peak production of phosphorous(particularly phosphorus rock mining). This means that, aswith other vital dwindling resources, we need to look at alter-native mining methods – especially with the world’s popula-tion that continues to grow at an considerable pace.

Jeff Patchell is managing director of ConnectionMagazines Pty Ltd. He operates www.worldplumbinginfo.com,

an online plumbing industry knowledge bank.

Phosphorus is a vital element in theproduction of agricultural crops andhas many other uses in industry.

FASTFACTThe colloquial slang for toilet in Australia is “Dunny.”


PM# 41536047Postmaster: Please send all address changes or undeliverable copies to:

Mechanical Business, 19 – 1525 Cornwall Road, Oakville, ON L6J 0B2

TIME TO POTTY!

SOURCE: HRAI, Johnson Controls Institute for Building Efficiency, NAIMA Canada; StatsCan

HEALTHCARERETROFITSThe healthcare sector hasimplemented a variety ofmeasures to achieveenergy efficiencyimprovements.

Where are healthcare facilities making changes?

57% are making adjustments toHVAC controls

56% are installing occupancy or daylight sensors

56% are upgrading or improving building automation systems

41% are replacing inefficient equipment ahead of schedule

19.11.10November 19 is World Toilet Day

AC SHIPMENTSON THE RISESecond quarter shipments of ductless splitsalmost doubled this year, when comparedto Q2 of 2009. Categories showing increases were:

Compiled by Mechanical Business

CANADIANWATER USAGE

The latest figures reveal we’re athirsty bunch in Canada when itcomes to water usage. Thermal-electric power generation weighs in as the heaviest consumer.

Use, per year:Thermal-electric power generation 27.8 km3

Manufacturing 5.7 km3

Residential 3.8 km3

Commercial & institutional 1.1 km3

35 will get you

70 in Calgary;100 in Edmonton

Spending $35 a month, as part of a mortgage,to purchase a package of energy efficiencyupgrades was found to return a monthlyenergy savings of about $70 in Calgary, and$100 in Edmonton.

+94% Ductless split systems+31% Residential AC+30% Chiller bookings+8% Commercial AC

How did your summer compare?

Did you know?One km3 of water weighs 1,000,000,000,000 kg.

Screwless does not mean Faceless.

Introducing the revolutionary new 7030™ ABS Waste & Overflow System from OS&B™. Featuring a unique screwless design, our new Slide-on Faceplate is a perfect complement to today’s popular modern and minimalist tub designs.

Visit us at CIPHEX West – Booth 635

rethink Originality

Simplicity&Boldness

A new Face at OS&B™

To learn more about 7030™, scan the QR-code with the QR-code reader on your smart phone.

If you don’t have a QR-code reader, from your mobile browser download one

from www.2dscan.com

When it comes to protecting the health and safety of people, why choose anything but the best?The Watts SilverEagleTM Series backflow assemblies incorporate the latest design features to pro-

tect against contamination at health hazard cross-connections. The SilverEagle series is themost compact, the lightest and offers the most flexibility of any backflow assembly in the

industry. Specify the valve with safety at its core! For additional information and to viewthe latest SilverEagle approvals, visit our website at www.wattscanada.ca

or call 1-888-208-8927.

Safety Isn't Just Skin Deep...

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Specify Superior Backflow Protection from Watts

Documents

September/October 2010