Articles
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.…
A wide angle view of your business
August 31, 2017 Patti LowesPart-time CFOs may be an answer for small- to mid-sized businesses. I had lunch with an old friend recently. Matt has a family owned HVAC business – it is now in its second generation. “You must be feeling good,” I…
LEAPing ahead in sustainability
August 31, 2017 Michael PowerThe Coquitlam Centre’s new heat recovery chiller (HRC) system wins HOOPP’s LEAP award, helps cut GHG emissions by 35 per cent. Sustainability has transformed from a “nice-to-have” aspect for businesses to a core component of operations for many organizations, both…
How to improve commercial building design
August 30, 2017 Judy PetersThough not a new concept, the intentional practice of calculating in detail how a building will use energy is a critical, yet often overlooked, step in building development. At its core, energy modeling is the practice of using software to…
Melting snow is a beautiful thing
August 30, 2017 Lance MacNevinLEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC AT MODERN HYDRONICS-SUMMIT 2017. LANCE WILL BE DISCUSSING HYDRONIC SNOW AND ICE MELTNG SYSTEMS IN MORE DETAIL AT THE SUMMIT. As I write this it is hard to think about winter, but I am pretty…
How water behaves in hydronic systems – Part II
August 29, 2017 Mark OlsonTwo common problems resulting from poor water quality are excessive corrosion and limescale accumulation. In Part I (HPAC, February 2017) we examined corrosion. The following is a closer look at limescale accumulation. In North America the dissolved mineral content from…
Calling all wetheads: Take advantage of special contractor pricing
August 28, 2017 by Kerry TurnerClick here for sneak peek into Robert Bean’s presentation and the opening Siggy & the Bean session. Modern Hydronics-Summit 2017 will be held September 14, 2017 at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON. From the trade show floor where more…
Distribution efficiency: An often overlooked benefit of hydronics
August 24, 2017 by Kerry TurnerDuring the 35+ years that I have been involved in the North American hydronics industry there have been significant improvements in the thermal efficiency of hydronic heat sources. The 1960s vintage ranch house that I grew up in is a…
How to properly apply a TEV for a given application
August 23, 2017 Dave DemmaIn my travels I have many opportunities to visit and interact with HVAC/R contractors. In the course of these visits, a frequent topic of discussion is refrigerant conversions. After the typical “what’s the best replacement for R-22”, and “do we…
Register now for the hydronics event of the year!
August 21, 2017 by HPAC MagazineModern Hydronics-Summit 2017 will be held September 14, 2017 at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON. From the trade show floor where more than 50 exhibitors will be available to talk to you, one-on-one, about the latest hydronic product offerings,…
Change is in the air
August 20, 2017 Michael PowerStrengthening regional representation and ensuring money earmarked for climate change projects is spent wisely are among top priorities for Bruce Passmore, who was appointed chair of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) at the organization’s 49th-annual…
Making sense of boiler ratings
August 16, 2017 by Kerry TurnerWhen it comes to the selection and sizing of your boiler many people get a little confused as to what all the different ratings mean and which rating you should use. Take a look at a manufacturers’ specification sheet and…
Are you overcharging cooling systems?
May 17, 2017 Ian McTeerEvery industry has its heroes, including HVAC/R. People such as Michael Faraday, Willis Carrier, Fredrick McKinley Jones and Thomas Midgley Jr. provided a large measure of inspiration for me as I progressed through the science of refrigeration and air conditioning.…
Service Vehicle Report: Heavy-duty changes in 2017 offering
May 16, 2017 Jil McIntoshWhile consumer vehicles are constantly being tweaked to capture buyers’ interest, commercial vehicles are more about practicality than pizzazz. The most remarkable changes in the commercial vehicle offering for 2017 are in the heavy-duty pickup segment, with an all-new Super…
A tale of two plumbing inspections
May 16, 2017 Steve GoldieOver the years I spent as a plumber I was probably involved in at least two hundred plumbing inspections. I actually used to enjoy the ritual of getting my work prepared for inspection, filling the stacks, pressurizing the water lines,…
Insights on refrigerant flammability and safety
May 16, 2017 Spencer FullerAfter the Montreal Protocol began the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants in 1987, the HVAC industry began to test alternative refrigerants. Since then, the industry’s primary concern has been “safety first.” This does not mean just environmental safety, but also…