Articles
Building performance and comfort: Human factors and their influence
March 3, 2018 Robert BeanOver the course of your career you have probably used a number of strategies to compete for projects. Maybe your choice de jour was to do battle using a lowest price model. Maybe you got tired of dealing with headaches…
Taking the mystery out of electricity in HVAC
March 2, 2018 Curtis BennettHow many times have you heard someone say “Who let the smoke out?” in a mechanical room. You see the infamous “black smoke” come out of a piece of electronics and everyone starts pointing fingers. We have all done it.…
Getting it right – part II: Troubleshooting hydronic controls
March 1, 2018 Mike MillerAs it was noted in Part I of this series (see HPAC February 2018), control systems are often blamed when something is not operating as expected. More often than not, if hydronic controls do not perform as needed, something happened…
Virtual reality: A new frontier for HVAC training
February 23, 2018 Robert WatersWhen most people think of Virtual Reality (VR), they often think of video games and big, geeky looking goggles covering most of the user’s face. That perception is about to change. The world of VR is exploding with new applications…
Tax planning tool in CRA’s sights
February 23, 2018 Hank BulmashIn 1982, a businessman named Melville Neuman had a bright idea. He thought he had figured out a way to split income with his wife using a family holding company (holdco). Neuman had his wife incorporate a company. She took…
Boiler modulation – is more better?
February 23, 2018 David ConnorsThe benefits of boiler modulation are threefold; it reduces cycle losses, it reduces the wear on the components, and it can (but not necessarily as shown later in this article) result in higher thermal efficiencies. But aside from the benefits,…
Lowering the bar – part I: Modifying high-temp distribution systems
February 23, 2018 John SiegenthalerWhat characteristic do solar thermal collectors, hydronic heat pumps and thermal storage tanks supplied by biomass boilers have in common? Answer: They all perform best when coupled to distribution systems that operate at low supply water temperatures. But that is…
Getting it right – part I: Troubleshooting hydronic control systems
February 23, 2018 Mike MillerControl systems are often blamed when hydronic systems are not operating properly. While that may sometimes be the case, always look at what else may be influencing performance. While control systems are not flawless, consider that they are developed in…
Lowering the bar – part II: Using heat emitters
February 23, 2018 John SiegenthalerIn Lowering the bar–part I, we discussed how to size supplemental heat emitters that allow the supply water temperature to an existing distribution system to be reduced. The next step is to pipe those supplemental heat emitters into the existing…
Traditional to digital marketing for HVAC, plumbing businesses
February 23, 2018 Jillian MorganJames Memije and Aaron Bond often pose a simple question to new clients: “How did you find out about us?” Typically, the answer is Google. Memije and Bond are co-owners of Toronto-based AccuServ Heating and Air Conditioning. But other businesses…
Hybrid heat: One way to reduce costs
February 23, 2018 Ian McTeerI found this definition of a hybrid heat system, sometimes called a “dual-fuel system” in Wikipedia: “a hybrid heat system reacts to changing temperatures and automatically adjusts to the most efficient energy saving method available to heat or cool a…
Event to host largest ever education program
December 20, 2017 by Kerry TurnerThe 2018 ASHRAE Winter Conference takes place January 20-24 at the Palmer House Chicago with the co-sponsored AHR Expo being held January 22-24 at McCormick Place. The AHR Expo seminar program features over 120 sessions, including over 70 free one-…
Steam heating applications on the rise
December 19, 2017 Dave BurggrenHistorically, steam has been a powerful resource for space heating in homes and commercial buildings. Steam has proven extremely effective at providing controlled, consistent heat to distribute throughout a building without the need for pumps by simply using a durable…
Consider alternatives when a pipe blockage or leak occurs
December 19, 2017 HPAC StaffEmergency pipe repair does not have to mean an entire system has to be shut down. This is music to the ears of residential and commercial customers – no more ripping out walls in search of the site of the…
Let’s Talk Stink
December 19, 2017 Robert BeanOut of all the senses, the olfactory sense is one of the strongest for creating lasting impressions.i Odour memories also influence the way new smells are perceived. As a survival tool it serves as an early warning signal that something…
Hydronic circuit purging: The basics
December 18, 2017 John SiegenthalerNearly all closed loop hydronic heating and cooling systems are supposed to be filled with water, or a mixture of water and antifreeze. The only intentional air in the system is contained in the expansion tank. The only exception to…
Keep the Heat on with HVAC system checklist
December 18, 2017 Richard BoothmanWinter can be hard on heaters of every type, but a step-by-step approach to preventive measures and maintenance of HVAC systems will help you to prepare for the harshest season of the year. From gas supply to air movers and…
Water, Water, Everywhere
December 15, 2017 Ian McTeerAlthough I did not shoot an albatross with my crossbow, I certainly felt a bit like Samuel Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as I sloshed through my backyard this summer. “Water, water, everywhere/nor any drop to drink.” I…
Steps to Ammonia System Safety
December 15, 2017 Dave DemmaAmmonia is a colourless gas, composed of one nitrogen molecule and three hydrogen molecules. It is produced naturally in the human body, as well as in nature (water, soil, air and so on). It has a very distinct pungent odour,…
Strive for perfection in hydronic system design
October 28, 2017 John SiegenthalerWe live in a world where, for the most part, theoretical ideals can only be approached rather than fully realized. For example, imagine a building with heat loss characteristics such that the rate of heat loss always matched the rate…
9 Top Trends in Bathroom Design
October 27, 2017 Sebring ServicesWhen you are involved in a bathroom renovation, you are not just creating a practical bathing space. For most people, the bathroom has become a personal sanctuary. It is not just a place to wash off the grit. It is…
A great preventive maintenance program will partner with end users over equipment’s entire life
October 26, 2017 Jonathan MosterdBuilding automation and advancements in efficiency have exponentially increased over the last few decades, bringing about a new era in industry. With this, a whole new series of electronic devices have been integrated in large commercial buildings and in industrial…
What you need to know about the industry workhorses
October 25, 2017 Ian McTeerEveryone involved in HVAC and refrigeration works with electric motors almost every day. Whether designing new products, specifying equipment, installing, maintaining or repairing a variety of heating, ventilation or cooling products, an electric motor and its needs are regularly the…
Packaged indoor air quality systems work for contractors
October 23, 2017 Aaron EngelCold winter months keep Canadians indoors a great deal more than their southern climate counterparts. Staying indoors longer can be detrimental to health, particularly when you consider the trend toward tighter and more energy efficient home construction mandated by recent…
Advancements help commercial bathrooms go greener
October 22, 2017 David ScelsiEconomic challenges. Droughts. Green initiatives. Laws and standards. It is hard to pinpoint one single reason water has risen to the forefront of the sustainability conversation in the past few years. But one thing is certain, as demand for greener…
Contemplating a chiller replacement?
October 18, 2017 Dave DemmaWhen I was in high school, the cost of gasoline was seldom of concern. I drove a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, with a modified 409 engine in it, and I do not think I ever thought to check what the…
How to solve water heater installation errors
October 17, 2017 Robert WatersInstalled in every building, water heaters are one of the most common mechanical appliances, with thousands installed every day in Canada. Installations are done by anyone from skilled mechanical contractors, to do-it-yourselfers, and anyone in between. In most cases a…
Optimize productivity and worker safety
October 1, 2017 Justin KissingerUsing an oversized lift on indoor worksites is sometimes like attacking a mosquito with a baseball bat. It is impractical, unsafe and might do more damage than good. Low-level scissor lifts are great tools for indoor projects, such as installing…
Change is in the air
September 10, 2017 Michael PowerAttendance ramped up compared to last year for the 49th-annual conference of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) in Quebec City. Held August 16-18, the event saw changes to the organization that included Bruce Passmore appointed…
Top ten heat pump start-up tips
September 1, 2017 Ian McTeerIt’s hard to stop a…” Admit it; I know you just filled in the blank. That’s OK, years of persistent marketing works wonders, but it does not mean other top brands aren’t capable of providing reliable service year after year.…