Articles
Guide to refrigerant regulation and policy
January 21, 2020 John Sheff and Dean GroffThe HVAC/R industry is working to make sure the transition to low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant goes as smoothly as possible.
Prompt Payment and a proper invoice
January 17, 2020 Catherine DiMarcoWhat all parties to a construction project need to know going forward in Ontario.
Going hybrid for heating efficiencies
January 14, 2020 John MillerConsider the benefits of combining a non-condensing with a high-efficiency condensing boiler to get the best of both technologies in commercial/institutional heating applications.
Variable speed ‘shuttle’ pumps for boiler protection
January 7, 2020 John SiegenthalerIntroducing a thermal clutch to protect a boiler from sustained flue gas condensation.
Never take drainage for granted
January 5, 2020 Steve GoldieUsing the right tools will ease the clearing of blocked drains, and you never know what you’ll find.
Thermostatic expansion valve troubleshooting
December 23, 2019 Jeffery StaubOften misdiagnosed, take a system-wide approach when searching for root cause problems with AC and heat pump systems.
HVAC/R system troubleshooting
December 17, 2019 Dave DemmaTake a logical and systematic approach to determining the final cause of equipment failure, and then take it a step further to determine the actual root cause.
The Agility of IoT
December 17, 2019 Megan HoeglerSmart technology developed by PCL Construction and Microsoft is simplifying tradespeople and developers’ jobs through crisis prevention and cost savings.
Top five new residential gas furnace tests
December 11, 2019 Ian McTeer“We owe it to our customers and to the environment to be sure that newly installed gas appliances will operate at peak efficiency.”
Bird’s Eye View
November 4, 2019 by Jillian MorganThe costly consequences of falls at heights demand a culture shift.
Remote technologies offer a win-win for customers and contractors
November 1, 2019 George TsintzourasMuch like GPS or smart thermostats, remote A/C diagnostics and air conditioning monitoring systems belong in every technician’s truck.
‘They really hate us:’ New prompt payment rules may help mend relationship between GC’s, subtrades
October 29, 2019 David Kennedy“It’s not dislike, it’s not that they’re upset– they really hate us.”
Sealing Building Envelopes
October 28, 2019 by Jillian MorganBlower door testing offers opportunity for contractors.
An Untapped Energy Savings Opportunity
October 24, 2019 Steven GravesThe return on investment from re-staging with an active sensing system can be as low as 12 months.
Enhancing facility safety with integrated HVAC controls
October 23, 2019 Michael HughHVAC systems are one example of a foundational building component business owners and facility directors recognize as a critical part of an overall connected safety strategy.
Within Reach
October 21, 2019 by Jillian MorganMechanical systems find a place in 3D printed structures
The Oldest Technology
October 18, 2019 Ian McTeerSuper insulation combined with zoned radiant heating has the potential to push fossil fuel heating into obsolescence.
High-performance Design Matches High-performance Athletics
October 16, 2019 Ralph KittlerWorld-class sports facility presents unique IAQ and air distribution issues.
Dealing with the Products of Combustion Part II
October 15, 2019 Robert WatersDealing with liquid condensate must be done properly to avoid damage to the building, problems with appliance operation and angry customers.
Benefits and Advantages of Thermostatic Expansion Valves
October 15, 2019 Jeffrey StaubTXVs are one of the most common type of adjustable orifice throttling devices in air conditioning and refrigeration systems worldwide. But how do TXVs compare to other throttling devices?
Hydraulic Dieting
October 11, 2019 John SiegenthalerThink about reducing head loss to reduce the kilowatts per hour of electrical energy required to operate the system.
Best practices for maintaining water flow in plumbing supply systems
September 3, 2019 David DesjardinsMinimizing bacteria growth in plumbing supply systems has become increasingly important in the plumbing industry in recent years. This is done largely through the control of temperature and flow maintenance. Plumbing engineers, installers and facility operators are particularly concerned with…
Tips on major boiler retrofit options
August 28, 2019 Rakesh ZalaOne-third of a facility’s energy bill stems from the boiler room, and system inefficiency just adds to high energy costs. If replacing a boiler is not an option due to budget constraints, retrofitting an old boiler is one way to…
Top ten tips to getting paid
August 27, 2019 Dan LeducThe attention to prompt payment legislation at the federal and provincial level proves the ongoing and entrenched knowledge that the construction industry is premised on cash flow and therefore capitalization is, if not the primary, at least one of the…
IoT permeates market, contractors pushed to get on board
August 26, 2019 Curtis BennettI literally remember hearing that 9600 baud modem squeal for the very first time. Reerascheeeram, yes that is how you actually spell it, so do not try to look it up. It was weird – I thought why the heck…
How to select heat transfer surfaces
August 26, 2019 Dave DemmaThere are many textbook definitions for the term refrigeration, but one of the most straight forward and easy to understand definitions is as follows: “the achievement of a temperature below that of the immediate surroundings.” In this article, when the…
Dealing with the products of combustion: Part 1
August 26, 2019 Rob WatersContractors who install gas-fired condensing boilers know that dealing with the products of combustion is a big challenge when installing these appliances. Flue gases exiting the appliance are laden with moisture, and liquid condensing from the combustion chamber and vent…
Factors to consider when specifying boilers
August 23, 2019 John MillerWhether for a single-family home, large-scale apartment complex, or commercial or industrial facility, building owners, facility managers, engineers and contractors seek boiler systems that meet specification requirements, installation ease, serviceability, reliability, lower operating costs and higher performance. Once these major…
Think ahead: What will hydronic systems look like in 25 years?
August 23, 2019 John SiegenthalerAlthough I have worked with hydronic heating for four decades and designed systems around just about every possible heat source, I would be hard pressed to predict what might be available as hydronic heat sources 25 years from now. Fifty…
Online reviews are the new word of mouth for contractors
August 21, 2019 Jillian MorganFor mechanical contractors building their digital presence, online reviews are unavoidable. The potential customers searching for HVAC and plumbing contractors can be quickly enticed – or thwarted – by star rankings on websites such as Google, Yelp and Facebook. Positive…