Articles
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…
Get smart about leak detection
August 21, 2019 Steve GoldieIt was a beautiful summer day when I got the phone call: “Steven, I hate to bother you but water is coming out of your house.” I was sitting on a patio enjoying a craft beverage, halfway through a well-deserved…
Is the Internet of Things an HVAC thing?
August 20, 2019 Ian McTeerI developed an intense interest in science and technology while watching the adventures of Captain Kirk and crew on the starship Enterprise on an old black and white television as a kid in the 1960s. Cruising through the heavens at…
Update: Measurement Canada to approve thermal energy meters within the year
July 12, 2019 by HPAC MagazineUpdate: The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada reports that the timeframe for implementation of thermal metering regulations has been altered. The new version is found in Bulletin V-31—Implementation of thermal energy meter requirements. It updates the timelines…
Cooling systems meet the challenge of power-dense data centres
May 28, 2019 Jillian MorganIt is no easy task to cool power-hungry data centres. Operators rely on efficient and cost-effective cooling systems to combat climbing power densities, which can reach upwards of 50 kilowatts per rack – the physical structure used to house the…
Is your client’s compressor ready for the summer heat?
May 28, 2019 Dave DemmaOther than the cost there are no serious arguments against performing preventive maintenance on air-conditioning and/or refrigeration equipment. And to the customers who would balk at paying a qualified technician to merely “maintain” their equipment, the only response to them…
Luxury plumbing sees wellness, sustainable technology and natural materials trend upward
May 27, 2019 Jillian MorganThe luxury plumbing market leaves no stone unturned. From the sink to the shower, manufacturers have taken a fresh approach to functionality and style in upscale environments. The trend towards wellness and sustainability has driven a demand for natural materials,…
The overlooked technology
May 27, 2019 Lance MacNevinBy its very nature, the engineering profession is based on the constant search for new and better ways of accomplishing a task. However, there is also a well-known human tendency to do things the way we have always done them.…
Expansion tank dos and don’ts
May 24, 2019 John SiegenthalerWhen water is heated the space required for each molecule increases. Any attempt to prevent this expansion will be met by tremendous forces. If a strong metal container is completely filled with liquid water and sealed from the atmosphere it…
Multiple condensing boiler plants come of age
May 24, 2019 Rob WatersInnovative features, along with new design strategies & installation techniques address previous issues. Multiple condensing boiler plants now provide countless buildings with reliable, efficient, integrated and effective hydronic heating systems. It has not always been this way. It has taken…